EC Boys, Girls Win At Wharton
Ready To Spruce Up For Spring? Inside Today
Page 1-B
Spring SPRUCE UP
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014
Volume 130 Number 4 • Wednesday, March 26, 2014
www.leader-news.com
Copyright ® 2014
ECPD nabs four teens for school vandalism
Spike in killings prompts concern
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com
Three murders in 90 days puts a strain on the area’s reputation as quiet and peaceful – as does the six men awaiting trial for those Wharton County crimes. Over the past decade roughly, Wharton County averages only about one murder a year.
Four teenage boys have been charged in the 2013 burglary at Myatt Elementary which caused thousands of dollars in damage. And two of those children also face criminal charges for more recent acts of vandalism on the El Campo Middle School and Myatt campuses. The cases were closed, El Campo Police Lt. Russell Urban said, thanks to a surveillance system at the elementary. Two 14-year-old El Campo boys were captured on Myatt video Friday, March 14, when an assortment of items were broken on the school grounds including a sign, potted plants and a wooden swing. The two were brought in for questioning and reportedly admitted not only to that crime, but also placing gold spray-painted satanic graffiti on ECMS walls sometime
County usually averages one murder per year, now three in 90 days By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com
But are times changing? “It’s been a very violent six months or so,” District Attorney Ross Kurtz told the Leader-News as he continues prosecution preparations. “It’s a trend I hope stops soon.” Four of those suspects have already been indicted by the Wharton County Grand Jury. Two more – arrested just two weeks ago – await that citizen jury’s verdict on whether Kurtz has enough evidence against them to proceed with his case. The DA’s office still has up to two and a half months to present its evidence in that closed hearing. Kurtz said he’s confident each will face the pos-
30 Pages, 2 Inserts
sibility of a murder trial and a possible punishment range of five to 99 years or life in prison. He declined comment on whether he would consider the possibility of a lesser plea agreement for any of the alleged killers. Maybe Murderers
Five sit in the Wharton County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. The remaining one is currently held in Matagorda County also in lieu of a $1 million bond. (See DA: ‘MENTALITY’, Page 7-A)
ECISD eyes $2M refund on tax note for projects
Hot Time For Hospice
By JODY LARIMER reporter@leader-news.com
El Campo trustees discussed refunding an old tax note at Monday’s meeting, and although not approved yet, the school district will pursue an option generating $2 million for district improvements. “This money could not be used for new construction,” Superintendent Mark Pool said. “What we discussed is using the money towards phase one of the high school auditorium renovation.” Two options on refunding the 2005 maintenance tax note were presented by district financial advisor Lewis Wilks at last month’s board meeting. One option would produce $1 million and the other $2 million. While choosing the $1 million option “wouldn’t hamper cash flow much,” trustee J. J. Croix said, the $2 million option could finance phase one of the high school auditorium and the remaining money could go
(See ECPD CHARGES, Page 8-A)
Inside:
Today’s Spotlight Outdoor 4-H Club member Clay Glaze not only claimed the Reserve Grand Champion title for Junior Market Turkey at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, but he also set the world record, according HLSR officials.
– See Page 3-B ALSO INSIDE: VIEWPOINT......................................Page 4-A OBITUARIES.....................................Page 7-A SPORTS.............................................Page 1-B LIFESTYLE.........................................Page 3-B CROSSWORD...................................Page 6-B CLASSIFIEDS & REAL ESTATE........Page 7-B
LOCAL WEATHER Wednesday
Chance of Showers DAY: 50% HIGH: 63º NIGHT: 50% LOW: 60º
Thursday
Chance of Showers DAY: 40% HIGH: 74º NIGHT: 20% LOW: 66º
Friday
Chance of Thunderstorms DAY: 20% HIGH: 81º NIGHT: 20% LOW: 60º
Saturday Mostly Sunny DAY: 0% NIGHT: 0%
HIGH: 77º LOW: 53º
Last Week: Avg. High: 71º • Avg. Low: 55º
R ain G auge
75¢
(See PROJECT PLAN, Page 6-A)
Hungry?
L-N Photo by Quala Matocha
Barbecue cooking team Code Blue member Jerry Salazar tempts passersby with a rack of ribs Friday as the annual Heating It Up For Hospice cook-off got under way. The Matagorda Regional Hospital team included Sheri Ziegenhals of El Campo. The cook-off had 39 participating teams while others offered their support during a Texas Hold’em tournament, 5K run, auction and motorcycle poker run.
Three-day event draws $115K for hospice efforts throughout area nament at Muldoon’s Saloon,” Gold said. “We had 22 players at four tables.” The games began around 6 p.m. and ended around Trophies, plaques and prize money were awarded 12:15 a.m. with a meal provided by Greek Brothers for poker, strolling and riding at the 10th Annual during a break. Heating It Up For Hospice “It looked as if everyone had Bar-B-Que Cook-Off this past a nice time,” Gold said. weekend. Friday morning and most of “We were blessed “Attendance was great,” the day was dedicated to setagain this year,” Hospice Organizer Reneau ting up for the cook-off. Gold said. “We were out there all day – Reneau Gold setting “We were blessed again this up and getting ready,” year and the weather was fine. Gold said. It was scary for a while when Inside Muldoon’s, a VIP it looked like rain, but it all room catered to underwriters, sponsors and special worked out just fine.” guests, which included the three men responsible for Total estimated income so far is $115,874, up starting the event 10 years ago: Marc Zapalac, Rob$3,805 from last year’s $112,069. bie Hutton and Tim Ryan. It all began with a poker tournament on Thursday, A bucket raffle featuring 23 items was provided by March 20. “We held a No Limit Texas Hold-em Poker Tour(See BARBECUE TEAMS, Page 6-A) By JODY LARIMER reporter@leader-news.com
EC gunpoint robber now prison-bound for five years By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com
A Hungerford man is prison bound almost a year and a half after the gunpoint robbery of an El Campo store. Standing in Wharton County’s 329 District Court, 25-year-old Justin Deshawn Crump, 25, of 7509 Habermacker entered a guilty plea on March 13. In return, District Judge Randy Clapp sentenced him to five years in prison for the Oct. 7, 2012 robbery of the 1415 E. Jackson Valero station. The sentence, Wharton County District Attorney Ross Kurtz told the Leader-News, came as the result of a plea bargain offer. “He’s a young individual (who was) already on probation,” Kurtz said. “I wanted to be sure be was sent to prison. “But I hope he can turn his life (See ROBBERY, Page 6-A)
Last 7 Days............................... .44 In.
More jobs coming with convenience store expansion
Year To Date........................... 4.21 In. Year To Date '13....................... 5.28 In.
By JODY LARIMER reporter@leader-news.com
Last 30 Days........................... 1.12 In. Same Time In '13........................ .14 In.
Data Collected by LCRA at El Campo Memorial Hospital
B urn B an : LIFTED COUNTY’S MEAN KBDI: 213 Burn Ban is put into effect when the mean KBDI reaches or goes above 500.
An expansion is under way at El Campo Speedy Stop, a move which will increase services and add jobs. “We love El Campo,” said CL Thomas Director of Operations, Marketing and Food Service Scott Campbell. “We’re investing money in El Campo. We’re expanding our building and expanding our food offerings.” Part of that expansion includes adding the fast food franchise Subway.
“Additional staff will be needed at the Subway,” Campbell said, adding that how many jobs the expansion will create is unknown at this point. The other part of the expanded food offerings will involve adding items to their already existing menu, which includes fresh, made-to-order breakfast tacos, salads, sandwiches and ready-togo items like burritos. To accommodate all this food, the building will be expanded to the north where new coolers will be housed. For those who have vehicles requiring diesel fuel, new pumps will be added just north of the
existing car wash on the location. Parking will be added off North Washington Street along with a rear entrance to the building. Besides the additional food offerings, truck diesel and parking in the rear, basic clean-up will be done. “We will do an overall cleanup and refresh of what it is today,” Campbell said, adding one example is new LED lighting. Renovations began earlier this month and are expected to be completed by June, weather-per(See EXPANSION, Page 8-A)