409-296-BANK
Volume 33, Issue 2
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
EC Board Mulls Additional Bond Projects
High Speed Chase and Shootout
50 cents
East Chambers ISD Board of Trustees were greeted with a sign of appreciation as well as cakes and goodies for School Board Appreciation Month at their regular monthly meeting last Monday.
An architectural rendering of a new Junior High was presented to the EC Trustees at their regular monthly meeting last Monday. By Wade Thibodeaux The East Chambers ISD Board of Trustees received their first look and information about a new bond project proposal last Monday, January 10, 2022 during their regular monthly meeting. The estimated $10Million bond election, if approved, would provide for a new Junior High School, some Elementary School additional space, renovations to the old homemaking building to provide new culinary arts space and a new cosmetology program, expansion of the often filled livestock barn, expansion of the Ag Building, turf for the softball and baseball fields, and some parking
lot renovations. Doug Witt, bond counsel for the District explained to the trustees that with current extremely low bond interest prices, all of these additions would be projected to only cost the taxpayer an additional $0.08 per $100. of valuation or about $2.50 per month for a $100,000.00 house. The board took no action on the presentation, but would have to call for the election on or before February 18, 2022 to place the bond on the May 2022 uniform election date. The item is expected to be on the February 14, 2022 agenda for the next regular meeting. A complete accounting of the meeting will be in next week's The Hometown Press.
Shoot Like a Girl Event Held
A certified instructor(in camouflage) points towards the various weapons as interested persons mill about. was held at Bass Pro (contd By Wade Thibodeaux The Shoot like a Girl event on page 8)
Sheriff Brian Hawthorne reports, on Thursday, January 6th, 2022, at approximately 12:18 p.m. Deputy Ethan Kahla with the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office noticed a gray in color 2019 Chevy Trax, traveling east bound on IH-10 near the Trinity River bridge without any license plates attached to the vehicle. Deputy Kahla initiated a traffic stop on IH10, east bound, near the Wallisville exit. As Deputy Kahla approached the vehicle, the driver took off in the vehicle, and began evading the deputy. Deputy Kahla began pursuing the vehicle and was soon joined by Chambers County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Cody Burk as well as Troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety. The suspect vehicle took the Highway 61 exit at speeds around 120 miles per hour and ran through the stop sign at Highway 61 at over 100 miles per hour. The suspect continued to travel east bound down the IH-10 frontage road as well
as IH-10 with speeds in excess of 120 mph at times. The driver drove through the median on several occasions and was continually swerving in and out of traffic. Deputies and Troopers continued the chase east bound through Chambers county, into Jefferson County where the suspect exited Hamshire Road. The suspect traveled at high rates of speed on Hamshire Road through a school zone, near Hamshire Fannett High School. The suspect turned around to continue back to IH-10 and was able to drive around a set of spike strips that had been deployed by Deputies. Shortly after, the suspect fired multiple rounds from a handgun at Deputy Kahla and Deputy Burk. Both Deputies returned fire during the pursuit. The suspect still continued to refuse to stop and comply. When the suspect reached the end of Hamshire Road, back in Chambers County, Deputy Kahla used his vehicle to disable the suspect’s vehicle as more shots were fired.
The suspect was taken into custody and it was discovered that he had received an injury to his face which appears to be a bullet wound. The suspect was identified as 25 year old Hispanic male Audel A. VillafuerteMora, of Aurora, Illinois. Mora was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont to be treated, and has now been placed in custody at the Chambers County Jail for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Evading Arrest, Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant and Attempted Capital Murder.
“I am thankful that the Deputies and Troopers were uninjured in this high speed pursuit and gunfire exchange. I want to personally thank the Jefferson County Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s Offices, Beaumont Police Department, DPS Highway Patrol, and the Texas Rangers as well as the Chambers County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance and unwavering support in the securing of evidence and the thoroughness of investigation to bring this violent criminal to justice,” said Sheriff Hawthorne.