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Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Volume 32, Issue 21
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Special Graduation Edition
Graduation will be May 28th from 7:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. Congrats, Grads!
Sheriff's Office Retrieve Stolen Items
Sheriff Brian Hawthorne reports that May 20th at approximately 7:40 a.m. Chambers County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to IH - 10 near FM 1410 for a possible theft in progress. A TxDOT worker observed a suspicious vehicle towing a flat bed trailer with a welder/ generator near their property and notified the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies quickly located the Chevrolet pickup truck and trailer and a traffic stop was initiated but the driver, later identified as Sherees Franklin, 40 year old female from Texas City, Texas failed to stop, and fled from deputies and Texas DPS – State Troopers. A tire deflation device was successfully deployed and Franklin was taken into custody. Additional deputies along IH - 10 near FM 1410 in Winnie, located a stolen box trailer and arrested William Day, 21 year old male from Hitchcock, Texas,
for being in possession of the stolen trailer. Deputies also located a stolen mini-excavator in the woods on IH - 10 near FM 1410 and silver box trailer near Liberty Wallisville Road. An investigation revealed that the pickup truck, flat bed trailer, two box trailers, generator and excavator had all just been stolen from business in Orange, Texas. The stolen items were recovered and released back to their rightful owners. Franklin was arrested for the following offenses: • Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle – State Jail Felony • Evading Arrest/Detention with a Vehicle – State Jail Felony • Theft of Property >=$30,000<$150,000 – 3rd Degree Felony Day was arrested for the following offenses: • Theft of Property >=$2,500<$30K –State Jail Felony.
The Trinity Bay Conservation District Board of Directors met in regular session on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 9:00 am. in their offices located at 2500 State Highway 124 in Stowell, Texas. One of the first items of business was to consider the appointment of a new director to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Tommy Gilbert. Heather Coggins had been to a previous meeting and voiced her desire to be on the board and three other gentlemen made an appearance at this meeting to throw their name into the mix. Brodgerick Dargan, a 25 year resident of Wallisville and an Army veteran, Les Hankamer, who has lived in the area his entire life, and Lucas Wilson, a Hankamer resident who has served on the Anahuac ISD Board of Trustees, all made presentations as to their skills and abilities to serve on the board. The board retired to executive session for 35 minutes and emerged to approve a motion to place Lucas Wilson on the board. Mr. Wilson will be sworn in at a future meeting.
Several people made public comments including Hazel Meaux, Donnie Self, Ritchie Devillier, and Rick Nicely. Those comments ranged in topic from appointing a female to the board(Hazel), balancing the budget without raising rates(Donnie), and drainage issues(Ritchie and Rick). The financial report was approved with a cash balance of $7,611,798.50 with $2,859,606.23 of that restricted for utility deposits and bond payment covenants. Security needs at the meetings were discussed, but tabled as well as early retirement packages discussions were tabled. Discussions then ensued to address the shortfall in the water and sewer fund. Ultimately, the board voted to raise the minimum water bill by $12 per month per meter. The current $36 minimum water bill will become $48 and the minimum water and sewer bill of $46 will now be $58. This increase will take effect on June 1, 2021. (contd on page 3)
East Chambers Holds Baccalaureate Service
Pastor Sammy Little of First Baptist Church, Stowell gives the welcome speech to begin EC Baccalaureate 2021.
By Wade Thibodeaux East Chambers High School graduating class of 2021 held their Baccalaureate Service last Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 7:00 pm. in the High School Auditorium. Pastor Sammy Little of First Baptist Church, Stowell gave the welcome and the introductions, followed by Leah Smith of Cornerstone Church with the opening prayer. Haily Trevino from St. Louis Catholic Church provided a scripture reading and then music was provided by the Youth Band of First Baptist Church, Winnie. Pastor Kevin Griffin of Cornerstone Church gave the address and Morgan LeVeck of First Baptist Church, Stowell provided the benediction. East Chambers graduation ceremony is this Friday, May 28, 2021 at 7:00 pm.
Rows of Seniors attend the 2021 version of East Chambers Baccalaureate.
East Chambers Holds 2021 Athletic Banquet
TBCD Appoints New Director, Water Bill Going Up
Pictured left to right is Rori Stevens, EC Athletic Director Russ Sutherland, and Ernest Ceasar III. Rori and Ernest received the JD Hudson Award at the EC Athletics Banquet. Photo from East Chambers ISD Facebook page. By Wade Thibodeaux The 2021 version of the East Chambers Athletic Banquet was held last Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the East Chambers Cafeteria. About 550 people were in attendance, including almost 200 athletes who participated in
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activities this past year. Cadence Ridgaway provided the blessing for the meal and then the Master of Ceremonies, Athletic Director Russ Sutherland, turned the microphone over to Superintendent Scott Campbell who presented Connie Lee
Connie Lee poses with the bouquet of flowers that she received for earning the Buc Backer Award at the East Chambers Athletics Banquet. with the "Buc Backer" award. Meredith Cart introduced all of the cheerleaders and then each coach presented awards to their players in their respective sport. Superintendent Campbell once again took the microphone and announced that Ernest Ceasar,
III and Rori Stevens were the recipients of this year's JD Hudson award. Lee Thornton provided the farewell address and this year's banquet was concluded.
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