News
Waller County residents weigh in on water well project
Posted on March 7th, 2013
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WNR photo by Johnny Griffin
A large crowd turned out at Royal High School on Tuesday night for a presentation concerning applications for 10 water wells located in Waller and Austin County to supply water for Rosenberg and Richmond.
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Waller County Judge Glen Beckendorff convened a Commissioners Court Workshop at Royal High School near Brookshire on Tuesday night. The stated agenda of the workshop was to provide information about applications by Electro Purification LLC for authorization to drill, operate and aggregate 10 new wells for production of groundwater within the district, including out-of-district transport of groundwater for the beneficial use of Fort Bend County. The wells could produce an aggregate amount of 20 million gallons of water per day.
Three Waller County Commissioners were present; John Amsler, Pct. 1, Jeron Barnett, Pct. 3 and Stan Kitzman, Pct. 4.
Judge Beckendorff opened the meeting with the introduction of Zach Holland, General Manager of the Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation District (BGCD). Holland explained the purpose of a groundwater district is to preserve, conserve and protect the resources of the district. He went on to explain the application process with particular reference to the 10 new wells planned for the district by Electro Purification LLC.
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Numbers, numbers, numbers
Posted on March 7th, 2013
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Another large group of concerned area residents met at Royal High School near Brookshire for an informational meeting concerning the permitting of 10 new water wells in southern Austin and Waller Counties on Tuesday night.
Numbers were a large part of the topics discussed at the meeting. Most of the questions from the crowd concerned whose numbers should be considered during the approval or disapproval process now facing the Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation District.
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Area residents hear pitch for area water
Posted on March 2nd, 2013
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Around 250 interested Austin and Waller County residents showed up at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville for an information only meeting concerning the planned drilling of three wells in Austin County and seven wells in Waller County. Applications have been filed with Bluebonnet Groundwater Conservation District (BGCD) for these wells to produce an aggregate twenty million gallons of water per day. It is intended to sell $10 million gallons per day to the cities of Rosenberg and Richmond with the remaining $10 million going to unspecified, non-wasteful municipal and industrial uses.
The water wells are to be located in the Brazos River bottom on private property that is within a mile or so of the Fort Bend County Line.
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Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to display in El Campo
Posted on July 13th, 2012
WNR photos by Joanie Griffin
A Fallen Soldier’s Battle Cross stands in the shadow of the American Flag.
On July 11-15 the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be displayed in El Campo at Wyatt Elementary.
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall passed through Wharton County with several recognition and honor stops on the way July 10.
On July 11, the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be set up at Myatt Elementary at 501 W. Webb and Blossom Meyer in El Campo. Public viewing will be available from 4-9 p.m. on July 11. The Wall will remain through July 15 with public viewing from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. TAPS will be sounded each evening at 9 p.m.
On July 13, from 9 a.m. until noon there will be a salute and reunion for World War II veterans. Veterans will be honored with a ceremony and a reception to follow at the Veterans Hospitality Tent. All are invited to attend.
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Preliminary report issued on fatal glider crash near Wallis
Posted on July 13th, 2012
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WNR photo by Johnny Griffin
The IAR Brasov glider that crashed near Wallis on June 17 is pictured after being removed from the impact site.
The preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) inspector concerning the glider crash on June 17 at the Greater Houston Soaring Association Wallis Gliderport was issued on June 29. The crash took the lives of Fred Blair, of Wallis, his daughter-in-law Matilda Blair and his grandson Andrew Blair. Fred Blair, a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) in gliders was the pilot. The glider, an IAR Brasov model IS-28B2 glider, N6388V, was registered to and operated by Greater Houston Soaring Association. (more…)
Three die in crash at Wallis Gliderport
Posted on June 21st, 2012
WNR photos by Johnny Griffin
NTSB Investigator Tom Latson, left, and members of the Greater Houston Soaring Association stand at the impact site of a glider crash that killed three people near Wallis on Sunday afternoon.
Wallis residents Louis Heckmann, in tractor, and Garry Toman along with Don Golden with the Greater Houston Soaring Association remove the glider wreckage from the cotton field to the turn row on Monday morning.
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
A glider crash at the Greater Houston Soaring Association Wallis Gliderport took the lives of Fred Blair, 68, of Wallis, his daughter-in-law Matilda Blair, 32, and his grandson, Andrew Blair, 3, on Sunday afternoon. Matilda and Andrew lived in Houston.
Fred Blair was the pilot of the aircraft which crashed on takeoff shortly before 5 p.m. on Father’s Day.
According to National Transportation Safety Board Air Safety Instructor Tom Latson, the aircraft was under tow to the south on the gliderport runway. At a height of around 75 feet, one or both pilots released the tow rope. The glider went into an aerodynamic stall and made impact with the ground.
“NTSB and all of the first responders feel the horror and hurt of the victims and their families,” said Latson.
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Teen arrested in woman’s murder in Sealy
Posted on June 21st, 2012
On Monday June 18, at approximately 8 p.m., Sealy Police working in conjunction with the Texas Rangers detained a 15 year old male for the murder of Lisa Camille Land, a white female, age 30, who lived in Sealy.
On Friday, June 15, at approximately 5:02 p.m., Sealy Police responded to a disturbance at the Best Budget Inn located at 1241 N. Circle Drive in Sealy. Upon arrival officers discovered Land’s body. She appeared to be a victim of an assault.
At the time of the incident, the juvenile suspect was residing at Best Budget Inn with a family member. Investigation revealed the suspect is from the East Bernard area and had just recently taken up residency in Sealy. The suspect is currently being held at the Fort Bend County Juvenile Facility.
Sealy Police responded and were assisted by Texas Rangers, Austin County Sheriff’s Department, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department, Sealy I.S.D. Police, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Austin County EMS and Sealy Fire Department.
Mize trial set for November 5
Posted on June 21st, 2012
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
A trial date of Nov. 5 was set at a hearing in the 155th Judicial District Court in Bellville on Monday, June 18, concerning Theft charges against Karen Mize, of Wallis. Mize was the former Chief Clerk in the Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace office in Wallis. She was indicted in January for Theft by Public Servant of $100,000 or more, but less than $200,000. The Theft charge amount of $100,000-$200,000 is normally a Second Degree Felony, but the Public Servant aspect increases the charge to a First Degree Felony.
Following the hearing on Monday, Waller County Assistant District Attorney Ross Macha, said there will be a pretrial hearing on Oct. 9.
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Brandes wins Sheriff’s race, Clark takes Constable contest
Posted on June 1st, 2012
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Jack Brandes has won the Republican Primary for the Austin County Sheriff’s race with a total of 2,499 votes. There will be no runoff, as Brandes compiled 56.09 percent of the vote against three opponents. Other candidates for the Sheriff’s race in the Republican primary were Paul Faircloth, 783 votes, Charles R. Holmes, 742 votes and Tobey Baggerly, 392 votes.
Incumbent James Clark won the Republican Primary for Austin County Constable Precinct 4 with 466 votes over challenger Matthew McArthur with 271 votes.
Neither Brandes nor Clark will face opposition in the November election.
In other contested Republican Primary races for Austin County, incumbent David Ottmer was defeated for Commissioner Pct. 1 by challenger Reese Turner. Turner received 658 votes to 594 for Ottmer. Incumbent Randy Reichardt received 518 votes for Commissioner Pct. 3 to retain his position over challenger Gary Kollatschny, who received 351 votes.
There were no candidates for Commissioner in Precincts 1 or 3 in the Democratic Primary.
There are a total of 17,754 voters registered in Austin County. There were a total of 4,893 votes cast in the primaries on Tuesday with 4,606 cast in the Republican Primary and 287 votes in the Democratic Primary. Voter turnout countywide was 27.56 percent.
Austin County Republican Primary races mirrored statewide races for President and Senate. Mitt Romney carried Austin County with 2,792 votes or 63.99 percent. Romney claimed Texas with 69 percent of the vote and picked up enough delegates for the Republican nomination.
David Dewhurst had 2,122 Austin County votes or 49.27 percent and Ted Cruz received 1,560 votes for 36.22 percent. The two will be in a runoff as statewide Dewhurst received 45 percent of the vote to 34 percent for Cruz.
Complete Austin County vote results are available at the Austin County website.
Election results for Brazos ISD
Posted on May 13th, 2012
Election results for Brazos ISD on May 12, 2012 are as follows:
Myles Marek 216
Mark Fernandez 153
Tanya Doss 22
Total voters 391
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