Serving The People Of Tyler County For 86 Years
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Thursday, January 3, 2013—Vol. 86, No. 1
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A look back at the Top Stories of 2012 by Jim Powers, Editor It is always interesting to take a look back over 52 weeks of the Booster. We are aware, of course, week to week what is going on, but we are completely focused on each issue. We’ve covered a lot of stories 2012. Fortunately, we didn’t have to report on a major hurricane this year. We’ve lost some long-time Tyler County residents who have made major contributions to our community over the years. And we’ve celebrated all the annual events that make Tyler County a destination for out of town visitors. On this page I’ll share some of the stories I believe were the most interesting to folks in the county. Hopefully, your favorites will be included.
Some of the Marijuana plants from a bust of a 100 acre grow is shown above. Two men were arrested and the investigation continues.
Tip leads law enforcement to 100 acre Marijuana grow Library 2, 2012 Section, Texas Rangers, Tyler County on Thursday, Vasquez, age 36 of Houston, Clint Sturrock of the Tyler or was made available to Texas Forestry Service, July 26. and the recovery of approxi- County Sheriff ’s Office. them. The marijuana was awarded August by Emily Waldrep Homeland Security, the US The agencies executed a mately 4,700 marijuana The marijuana grows were probably taken to Houston Enforcement Agency search warrant off of County plants. located in remote loca- for processing to be later $100,000 Tyler County Sheriff ’s Drug (DEA), Immigrations and Road 4380 between Spurger “I’ve been with the Sher- tions near a deer lease in distributed throughout the Office, along with the Customs Enforcement and Hillister, which resulted iff ’s Office for over 20 years a highly-dense thicket of US. Because of the thick grant Montgomery County Sher- (ICE) and other agencies in the arrest of two suspects, now, and this makes one pine and yaupon. The plants canopy created by our forJuly 26, 2012 A $100,000 grant has been awarded to Allan Shivers Library for renovation of the main library by T.L.L. Temple Foundation. Library Director Rosemary Mosey-Bunch announces the award with the July 12 letter. The Temple Foundation awarded the maximum sum to the library based upon a list of criteria. Mr. Buddy Zeagler, Deputy Executive Director and Controller of T.L.L. Temple Foundation, commented “it is our opinion Allan Shivers Library…be ranked first overall.” Mrs. Bunch and the library staff are excited to begin planning.
iff ’s Office, DPS Criminal executed one of the largest Mario G. Vasquez, age 43 of the biggest busts in this had their own water pump Investigators and Aircraft drug busts in the history of of Hillister, and Mario C. county,” said Chief Deputy systems and ‘the grow’ was a very large-scale operation. The ‘camp’ also had its own tents for living quarters and storage areas set up.” June 28, 2012 There was also evidence that the operation dried and Texas AG Commissioners processed the marijuana on and local officials break location, but sent it elseg round on Bio-Mass where to be packaged and project—After several sold. years of planning and per Sheriff David Hennigan mitting, constr uction said, “It is very likely that officially began June 26 on none of the marijuana ETEC’s Woodville Renewgrown at this operation able Power Project. Texas ever touched the hands of Agricultural Commissioner any Tyler County citizens Todd Staples, members of area electric cooperatives, and local officials gathered Tuesday at the new plant’s location south of Woodville for the Ground breaking ceremony. The project is projected for Fall 2014 power to approximately generate $25 million to the 250 construction jobs and completion. It will supply 35,000 area homes, and will economy. It will also create 25 full-time jobs.
Construction begins on Renewable Power Project
ests, this makes for an ideal geographical area for keeping hidden grows such as this, and it is highly doubtful those responsible for such a large operation would allow any local usage of their product grown here.” The marijuana seized during the bust had an approximate street value in excess of four million dollars, but the Sheriff ’s Office reported that the actual value of the marijuana before it was processed and sold was under a million dollars.
George ‘Bo’ Isaacks Bomb Threat Evacuates Chester Schools Stadium March 15, 2012 the following Polk County threat,andTyler County Sher- search of the entire school,”said Schools: Big Sandy, Chester iff ’s department responded Hennigan, “A Texas Ranger dedicated by Kelli Barnes and another school whose to the school immediately. from Lufkin assisted, along October 25, 2012
The whole town of Warren, and a good number of residents from all over Tyler County, remember an amazing football announcer named George “Bo” Isaacks. His entire teaching career and life was spent in Warren and if anyone remembers anything about past Warrior football games, they remember Bo Isaacks voice booming from the press box. Now, with the completion of the new Warren press box, the entire town of Warren has a chance to honor Bo Isaacks’ legacy.
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with our deputies, constables and the superintendent.” The caller who made the threat specifically said “at 1:20 p.m.,” so the Sheriff ’s department had the school disengage the school’s alarm/ bell system until everything was searched and 1:20 p.m. had come and gone. “The school set the alarm/bell system again for a check as a final precaution,” said Hennigan. In spite of the serious situation,Chester students enjoyed food brought in by McDonMay 31, 2012 alds and Brookshire Bros. The closely watched County Sheriff ’s race head¬lines this year’s Primary, and challenger while waiting in their safe BryanWeatherford ended up on top, defeating incumbent Sheriff David Hennigan location for parents to pick 1,859 to 1,695. Weatherford took 52 percent of the vote. them up.
A search dog from Fort Polk spent part of the day at Chester ISD because of a bomb threat early Friday morning. According to Don Campbell, program director for KETX Radio station in Livingston, a female caller threatened
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According to Tyler County Sheriff David Hennigan, as soon as Chester superintendent Kenneth Graham received the information, the students were evacuated to a safe location according to protocol set up by the school district. “We did an extensive
Weatherford defeats Hennigan in Tyler County GOP Sheriff’s Race
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name they couldn’t understand.Only three schools were threatened,contrary to original reports. Campbell said Polk County Sheriff ’s Department is having the radio station trace the phone records in an effort to find the caller. Chester ISD was listed in the
Editor Jim Powers
0editor@tylercountybooster.com 0 00 1 7
Index Obituaries................ 2A Columnists................ 3A Sports........................ 4A Society....................... 5A Church, Official Rec.. 6A Classifieds................ 1B
Tyler County SPORTS, 4A
Dustin Ivey Passes To Keaton Whitworth
‘It Can Wait’ Winner—Troy Moore, a freshman student at Warren High School, was the lucky winner of the Tyler County Booster ‘It can wait’ campaign. Moore won a blue tooth unit, for hands free cell phone use in a vehicle. Moore qualified for the drawing by signing a contract, making a commitment to not text while driving, along with 492 other Tyler County students. Moore is pictured with his father, Burt. The Booster wants to remind everyone to have a safe and Happy New Year.
Obituaries 2A Edna Flowers Diboll Debbie Greenwood Woodville Mildred Watts Chester Carl Muller Woodville
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Columns 3A Ed Sterling Capital Highlights Bob Bowman East Texas Sandy Taylor Heritage Village Will Webb
‘What do you do when a cow blocks outhouse door?’