Lady Birds Win First District Game
Children Share Wishes With Santa
Page 1-B
Special Section Today
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Merry Christmas from everyone at VonDerAu Ford!
Economic news still bright, city sales tax up 1912 S . Mechanic, El Campo
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Copyright ® 2013
Volume 129 Number 80 • Wednesday, December 18, 2013
42 Pages, 3 Inserts
75¢
EC police capture alleged robbers
On Santa’s Knee
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com
Detectives believe men held up store in October
When it comes to the economy, El Campo finds itself in better condition now than at the start of 2013 as far as one state indicator is concerned. With more than $3.5 million in the bank, the city has collected about 4 percent more in monthly sales tax rebates this year in comparison to 2012. The December check from the state comptroller’s office totals $326,711, up almost 22 percent from $267,940 in December 2012. It’s good news for the city which counts on sales tax dollars to fund 44 percent of El Campo’s $8.5 million general operating fund. “Sales tax figures are on target for Fiscal Year 2014, should we continue the remainder of the fiscal year at last year’s pace, we’ll still
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com
El Campo police believe they’ve tracked down two men who robbed a convenience store at gunpoint two months ago. John Matthew Mingo Galvan, 19, of Houston and 19-year-old Julio Ceasar Jaramillo of 1423 Thrift in El Campo were arrested last week, each on a single charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. Police believe Galvan and Jaramillo were the two men who walked into Quick N Easy No. 1, 703 E. Second, on Oct. 7. With one brandishing a handgun, they demanded cash from a female
(See CITY BUDGETS, Page 7-A)
Inside:
“(One of the suspects) had fled to Houston and was hiding there since the robbery,”
– Lt. Russell Urban
Today’s Spotlight With her roots firmly planted in El Campo, Troyla “Troy” Washington has moved on to pursue her dreams of producing and reporting the news.
A hesitant Bryce Krenek, right, seems to have caught his sister Bella by surprise, as he asked Santa for Legos and a Wii game at the recent Breakfast with Santa. Bella also wants Legos along with a Dream Light. The event was hosted by the Pilot Club of El Campo at the Taiton Community Center. Bryce, age 6, and Bella, age 5, are the children of Russell and Tasha Krenek of El Campo. L-N Photo by Quala Matocha
(See ROBBERY, Page 8-A)
– See Page 1-C ALSO INSIDE: VIEWPOINT......................................Page 4-A OBITUARIES.....................................Page 7-A SPORTS.............................................Page 1-B LIFESTYLE.........................................Page 1-C CROSSWORD...................................Page 4-C CLASSIFIEDS & REAL ESTATE........Page 5-C
LOCAL WEATHER Wednesday
Patchy Fog/Mostly Cloudy DAY: 0% HIGH: 72º NIGHT: 0% LOW: 57º
Thursday
Chance of Showers DAY: 20% HIGH: 76º NIGHT: 30% LOW: 65º
Friday
Chance of Showers DAY: 30% HIGH: 76º NIGHT: 40% LOW: 68º
Saturday
Chance of Thunderstorms DAY: 50% HIGH: 76º NIGHT: 0% LOW: 54º Last Week: Avg. High: 60º • Avg. Low: 37º
R ain G auge
Last 7 Days............................... .07 In.
Last 30 Days........................... 2.02 In. Same Time In '12...................... 2.29 In.
Year To Date......................... 26.07 In. Year To Date '12..................... 39.08 In. Data Collected by LCRA at El Campo Memorial Hospital
B urn B an : LIFTED COUNTY’S MEAN KBDI: 214 Burn Ban is put into effect when the mean KBDI reaches or goes above 500.
clerk, the only person in the store at the time. She wasn’t harmed, but the two got away with money from the cash register and cigarettes. Jaramillo was interviewed by police early in the case, Lt. Russell Urban said Monday, but additional evidence and statements were needed before any charges could be leveled. Galvan, the detective said, “had fled to Houston and was hiding there since the robbery.” Last week, the two-month investigation came to a close. “Officer (Mark) Biskup and Sgt. (Robert) Holder received information where Galvan was at,” Urban said. “They contacted our Houston PD con-
65.7% of ECISD students struggle with poverty By JODY LARIMER reporter@leader-news.com
Texas repeatedly ranks as the number one state to do business, but it also ranks as 42nd to be a child, based on poverty levels. “Although poverty is certainly not destiny, poverty is still arguably the most important predictor of how kids are doing,” Texas KIDS COUNT project director Frances Deviney said. Despite economic recovery in the state, Deviney says Texas and Wharton County kids are still
struggling and child poverty remains too high. Too many kids are uninsured, dropping out of school and having babies while in their teens. “I don’t disagree,” El Campo ISD Superintendent Mark Pool said in response to the report, adding that the educational statistics are similar at ECISD. Based on a report from the district, 65.7 percent of today’s ECISD students are economically disadvantaged. The rate grew steadily from 60.4 percent in 2003 to its peak of 67.9 percent in 2010, so some recent recovery has been made. Investments in pre-kindergarten help reduce
the education gaps for economically disadvantaged children and is something the district continues to address. “We have increased the number of pre-k classes,” Pool said. “We changed from half days to full days about three years ago and added two classes this past year. The only thing that’s holding us back now is space, physical space.” One idea the district is investigating is the possibility of adding classrooms to Hutchins Elemen(See PRE-K CLASSES HELP, Page 8-A)
Louise ISD starts track replacement Scheduled completion set for March 2014 By JODY LARIMER reporter@leader-news.com
Replacement of Louise ISD’s 55-year-old track began last Thursday. As long as everything stays on schedule, the job should be complete by March 1, 2014. Officials have considered replacing the track for 30 years, but the board had not approved the work until this year. The district’s good financial shape and increasing fund balance made the project possible, Superintendent Mike Seabolt said. Although the project has only begun, progress is being made. “Currently, they are excavating the old track which seems to be going very fast,” Seabolt said Monday, “The old track was not constructed nearly as well as they anticipated and was therefore very easy to demolish.” So far, there have been no delays, and the project is (See LISD TRACK, Page 7-A)
Caroling, Caroling
L-N Photo by Jody Larimer
Iris Danielson smiles for the camera before the big performance as last Wednesday the children of Michelle’s Daycare performed Christmas carols at Prairie Village for the seniors and disabled. Service Coordinator Jaime Johnson and Robyn Debo from Texas State Healthcare and Hospice Care coordinated and hosted the event.