VOL. 1, ISSUE NO. 3
WWW.THEOWENNEWS.ORG
FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 2024
White sentenced to 60 years By Nicole DeCriscio Correspondent Elizabeth “Bizzy” Stevens’ three-year-old daughter will never remember what it was like to be held by her mother.
“You and you alone stole the opportunity from this little girl,” Stevens’ grandmother, Linda Wood, said of her great-granddaughter. “She will not remember her mom’s touch.” When the young child wants to give her
mom a hug, she goes to Chambersville Cemetery to hug the only thing she can – Stevens’ headstone. “To [her], Biz is a picture,” Julie Feguson, Stevens’ mother, said during her victim impact statement as part of the nearly two-hour
sentencing hearing held last week. Stevens was found dead with a gunshot wound to the back of the head on Texas Pike on Sept. 14, 2021. On April 24th of this year, an Owen County jury found 39-year-old Jay White
LEGACY
By Hannah Amos Correspondent
Lt. Col. Dave Allen, founder of JROTC program, passes away
S
elfless, genuine, patient, loving, the epitome of good are just a few of the many words used to describe the late Lieutenant Colonel Carl “Dave” Allen who passed away recently
following complications from a nearly sixyear long battle with cancer. Allen’s legacy throughout the community includes starting the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program at Owen Valley High School (OVHS) and serving the community
ALLEN | PAGE 15
FROM LEFT: Carl “Dave” Allen poses for a photo at a school board meeting. Allen was elected to the Spencer-Owen Community Schools school board in November of 2022. // Dave Allen poses for a photo with his wife Julie. PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY KATIE ALLEN.
anniversary, Turnbull looked to the Owen County community for inspiration and chose A classic ‘tale as the beloved title. old as time’ will hit the “We thought it Tivoli’s stage for the would be nice to tip Owen County Civic our hat to people that Theatre’s (OCCT) 10had been involved in year anniversary. With a cast of more a production over the than 60 being directed last two years that was not part of our group as by Jessica Turnbull, well,” she said. the “resourceful” Along with the non-profit is working community being a part to put on the Disney classic “Beauty and the of the decision making, Turnbull’s love of fairy Beast.” Due to the tales also motivated her
to direct and put on the show. With every performance OCCT does, Turnbull hopes to educate and bring the arts to the community. “I’m bringing the thought of community to this,” she said. “I think that’s always a much bigger reason for me doing anything here. I love the arts, and I love bringing that to the community. So, anything I do, I’m trying to do through that lens.”
To continue their work in the Owen County community, The Owen News was awarded a Large Impact Grant of $30,000 from the Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF). Nicole DeCriscio, The Owen News Board President, said the grant will allow the nonprofit paper to continue to print monthly without financial stress, while also providing time for the paper to strengthen community bonds with advertisers to a sustainable point through to 2025. “The financial support provided by the OCCF allows The Owen News to continue to report verified local information and is a catalyst for a re-energized local economy due to a reformation of a common community spirit,” Tom Wallace, OCCF Board Chairperson, said via email. Another aspect of the grant will be budgeted to help pay some correspondents, DeCriscio said. The correspondents and
GRANT | PAGE 12
Two candidates spend big in local election Staff Report
One way Turnbull keeps “the thought of community” in mind is through the audition process. She’ll “rarely turn people away,” and instead, she’ll focus on what they can bring to the production. She aims to have the community involved in the process as well as providing them a learning experience. “It’s important to utilize as many people and as many skills as
Campaign finance reports filed in May show two local political candidates spending thousands of dollars on their respective 2024 primary election campaigns, while many others spent a few hundred dollars or less. The two candidates reporting the greatest expenditures also identified sizeable monetary contributions from individuals in their bid for seats on the Owen County Board of Commissioners and Owen County Council. The Owen News reviewed all available campaign finance report filings covering Jan. 1 to April 12, the end of the pre-primary reporting period. It should
OCCT | PAGE 8
SPENDING | PAGE 7
OCCT to perform ‘Beauty and the Beast’ By Hannah Amos Correspondent
WHITE | PAGE 6
OCCF awards ON grant
LASTING
By Nicole DeCriscio Correspondent
guilty of murder and obstruction of justice. Approximately 30 individuals were present at the sentencing hearing. At the start, Prosecutor Ben Kim and defense attorney Megan