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JANUARY 2010       

FEBRUARY 2010

MARCH 2010

WHEELER DEATH UNDETERMINED

3.17.10

IT WAS ALMOST A YEAR AGO WHEN KSHN RADIO FIRST REPORTED THE DEATH OF CLEVELAND CITY LONG TIME FIRE CHIEF AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR, STEVE WHEELER.  THE 56-YEAR OLD MAN WAS FOUND IN A CHAIR AT HIS FARM ABOUT 400 YARDS OFF FM 787, NOT FAR FROM THE CLEVELAND AIRPORT, MARCH 30, 2009.  THE LIBERTY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED CHIEF WHEELER DIED FROM A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHEST. JUSTICE OF THE PEACE JOE MACINALLY ORDERED AN AUTOPSY.  THROUGH A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST KSHN RADIO NEWS OBTAINED A COPY OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE DEATH OF STEVE WHEELER. WHILE THE CAUSE OF DEATH IS CLEAR IN THE REPORT... IT SAYS  A CLOSE RANGE GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHEST, THE MANNER OF THAT DEATH HAS BEEN RULED AS UNDETERMINED - THAT IS A SURPRISE REVELATION SINCE THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS DONE AT THE TIME BY THE LIBERTY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT SUICIDE WAS THE CAUSE OF DEATH. AGAIN, THE OFFICIAL AUTOPSY INDICATES THE MANNER BEING UNDETERMINED.  THAT FINDING WAS ARRIVED AT BY DR. TOMMY BROWN BACK IN SEPTEMBER.  KSHN RADIO WAS UNAWARE OF THAT REPORT UNTIL THE LAST FEW DAYS.  JP #5 JOE MCANNALLY TOLD US THAT KSHN RADIO'S WAS THE ONLY REQUEST FOR THE AUTOPSY REPORT. THAT FINDING OF UNDETERMINED MANNER OF THE MARCH 2009 DEATH OF CLEVELAND FIRE CHIEF STEVE WHEELER IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE INVESTIGATIVE CONCLUSION REPORTED BACK THEN. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, DR. TOMMY BROWN OF BEAUMONT SAID, IN HIS COMMENT SECTION,  THE DISTANCE OF THE GUN WAS ESTIMATED TO BE FROM ONE TO 9 INCHES FROM WHEELER WHEN FIRED.  IT GOES ON TO SAY, THE GUNSHOT OCCURRED WHILE STEVE WHEELER WAS SITTING AT A TABLE WITH CLEANING EQUIPMENT, AND THE PISTOL USED WAS OF AN UNFAMILIAR RECENT PURCHASE. INCIDENTALLY, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT STATEMENT ON WHEELER'S DEATH CAME IN AN INTERVIEW, ON THIS RADIO STATION, WITH SHERIFF'S CAPTAIN HARRY KELLEY. HE REPORTED THAT EVIDENCE GATHERED OF THE FIRE CHIEF'S DEATH RESULTED IN THE CONCLUSION OF SUICIDE WITH A RECENTLY ACQUIRED AND UNFAMILIAR GUN. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT AND THAT OF THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT INDICATED NO NOTES FOUND.  DR. TOMMY BROWN ADDED, IN HIS REMARKS, THE PROFILE OF THE INDIVIDUAL, MEANING STEVE WHEELER, WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH A SUICIDE.  ALLEGATIONS OF FINANCIAL WRONG DOING WITH THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT DUES ACCOUNTS, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE CORONERS REPORT, WERE LATER CONFIRMED - WERE CONSIDERED AS A POSSIBLE MOTIVE FOR SUICIDE.  HOWEVER, DESPITE THAT INFORMATION DR. TOMMY BROWN, THE BEAUMONT MEDICAL EXAMINER CONCLUDED THE EVIDENCE AND DATA ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE TO RENDER AN ACCIDENTAL OR SUICIDAL MANNER OF DEATH.  IF, DR. BROWN SAID, OTHER EVIDENCE, INFORMATION OR INVESTIGATION PROVIDES AN UNEQUIVOCAL MANNER OF DEATH, THE AUTOPSY WILL BE AMENDED.  THIS NOW A NEARLY YEAR OLD REPORT BUT WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS CHANGED FINDING UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO AND SINCE THE MANNER OF DEATH FOR CLEVELAND FIRE CHIEF STEVE WHEELER HAVE BEEN RULED  UNDETERMINED SINCE SEPTEMBER WE KNEW CITIZENS NEEDED TO KNOW THAT.. WE ALSO CHECKED WITH TEXAS RANGER SGT. FRANK HUFF -WHO TOLD US THAT, HE AND, THEN SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATOR, EDDIE MATTHEWS LOOKED AT STEVE WHEELER'S DEATH FOR A LONG TIME. HE SAID THEY EXAMINED MANY VARIABLES AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ENOUGH INFORMATION TO DEFINE OR CONCLUDE THE MANNER OF DEATH ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. WE ASKED IF THAT MEANS YOU ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE FINDINGS OF DR. BROWN'S AUTOPSY AS TO THE MANNER OF DEATH BEING UNDETERMINED... HIS RESPONSE WAS, ABSOLUTELY. RANGER FRANK HUFF ALSO AGREED WITH DR. BROWN'S STATEMENT THAT IF NEW INFORMATION IS DISCOVER LATER THE INVESTIGATION COULD BE REOPENED.  AGAIN, ORIGINAL REPORTS BY MOST LOCAL NEWS MEDIA INCLUDING KSHN RADIO INITIALLY INDICATED CLEVELAND FIRE CHIEF'S MANNER OF DEATH AS SUICIDE NOW WE CAN REPORT THE FINDINGS OF BOTH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, THE TEXAS RANGERS AND THE LIBERTY C0OUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AS WHAT THEY CALL EQUIVOCAL OR MORE SIMPLY STATE, UNDETERMINED

diva night

news story

03.17.10

it’s a special night just for women, but the deadline to get your ticket is this friday. dayton chamber of commerce is hosting "country diva night" on thursday, march 25, in the ballroom of the new dayton community center. dayton chamber executive director tammy pratka said a number of activities are planned, including pamper stations, shopping, a fashion show, food, music, a CHOCOLATE FOUNDATION, and much more. ticket prices are based on the number of pampering services desired. country diva night will be hosted by the dayton CHAMBER OF commerce and sponsored by the village bistro and liberty county farm bureau – alma lopez agent. this special night for women is THURSDAY, march 25, from 6 to 10 p.m. in the dayton community center ballroom. however, tickets must be purchased by this friday. for information, call dayton chamber at 936-257-2393.

city tours BOOMERANG

news story

03.17.10

LIBERTY CITY COUNCIL TOURED THE NEW BOOMERANG TUBE MANUFACTURING PLANT TUESDAY AFTERNOON TO GET A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT THE MASSIVE FACILITY. KSHN HAS reported EXTENSIVELY since 2008 on boomerang’s plans to locate its oil field pipe manufacturing facility in liberty. they purchased the old national pipe and tube facility from triple s steel of houston and have been making needed upgrades to that 489,690-square-foot building. DURING TUESDAY’S TOUR, boomerang MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR JOHN DUNCAN SAID THE BUILDING IS ½ MILE LONG WITH 11 ACRES UNDER ONE ROOF. PLANT MANAGER KEN LONG SAID THERE WILL BE TWO PIPE MILLS, AND THE PROCESS WILL START WITH SPOOLS of coiled steel WEIGHING UP TO 72,000 POUNDS per spool. THEY WILL PRODUCE mostly 3 products - CASING, LINE PIPE, AND TUBING. ACCORDING TO KEN LONG, ONE MILL WILL BE CAPABLE OF producing 300 FEET OF PIPE PER MINUTE WHILE THE OTHER WILL MOVE AT A slower RATE OF 200 FEET PER MINUTE. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CONTRACTORS MAKING those NEEDED UPGRADES to the FACILITY. EACH NEW MACHINE WILL REQUIRE A BASE STRUCTURE, AND SOME WORKERS ARE POURING PIERS TO SUPPORT THE HEAVY machines. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PLANT MANAGER POINTED TO BUILDING DIAGRAMS SHOWING ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT REQUIRES MORE THAN 60 PIERS. EACH ONE OF THOSE PIERS MEASURES TWO FEET IN WIDTH AND EXTENDS 40 FEET down INTO THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, COnstruction crews ARE ELEVATING THE PLANT FLOOR PLUS DIGGING WATER AND COOLANT PITTS. plant manager KEN LONG SAID BOOMERANG SHOULD START HIRING SHIFT WORKERS IN MAY. PLANS CALL FOR TRAINING TWO SHIFTS AT ONE TIME AND THEN GOING OPERATIONAL. WHILE THE PLANT MANAGER SAID THEY WILL START WITH TWO SHIFTS, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, BOOMERANG TUBE WILL eventually MOVE TO A 24 HOUR, 7-DAY A WEEK OPERATION IF product DEMAND SUPPORTS IT. OFFICIALS WITH BOOMERANG TUBE HAVE SAID THEY WILL INITIALly hire ABOUT 250 PEOPLE with plans to employ 350 when fully operational. THE COMPANY HAS PROJECTED ANNUAL SALES OF AT LEAST $500 MILLION. REPEATING, DURING A TUESDAY MEETING THAT BEGAN AT NOON, LIBERTY CITY COUNCIL TOURED THE BOOMERANG TUBE FACILITY, SEEING FIRST HAND THE PROGRESS BEING MADE ON THE 489,000-SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY. INCIDENTALLY, that is well over double the size of the wal-mart super center here. BASED ON INFORMATION AT THAT MEETING, THE MANUFACTURING PLANT COULD BE OPERATIONAL BY LATE MAY.

lisd bond election

news story

kshn has been reporting on the march 2 decision by liberty isd trustees to call for an $18.27 million bond election. it will be held may 8^th in conjunction with the district’s school board election. liberty isd superintendent dr. cynthia lusignolo said some have questioned the timing of this bond election given the condition of the local, state and national economies. however, dr. lusignolo there are several factors which make the timing good for passing the bond package now.

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thE $18.27 MILLION bond amount was recommended to school trustees by a liberty isd facilities task force of 30 citizens, parents and teachers. the money would fund renovations to the district’s aging facilities plus construction of a new administration and co-op building. of note, that co-op building was constructed 73 years ago in 1937. the administration offices were built in 1954 – that’s 56 years ago. both were built for other purposes and have been altered several times since construction. the new construction portion of the bond package also calls for a new wing for computer and science labs at liberty high school. that campus stands now as the oldest EDUCATIONAL facility in liberty isd. it was built in the late 1970s when the personal computer was not in use. REGISTERED LISD VOTERS will have their chance to weigh in on this $18.27 million bond PROPOSAL during the may 8^th school board election. there will be several early voting OPPORTUNITIES to be ANNOUNCED. IF APPROVED, THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO MAKE WHAT TRUSTEES CALL much-needed technological improvements and renovations to liberty high school, liberty elementary school, the football stadium, and san jacinto elementary. in addition, the bonds would build a new ADMINISTRATION and co-op office building. liberty superintendent dr. cynthia lusignolo said the current cost of construction and historically low interest rates make now a good time to pass these bonds and enable the district to better FULFILL its mission for every student.

sales tax ytd

news story

sales tax allocations across texas are down 8.8 percent for the month of march, the thirteenth consecutive month of declines in the lone star state. locally – it’s worse, much worse. payments made to cities in liberty county were down 22.7 percent this month. in chambers county, sales tax revenue fell 25.07 percent for march. sales taxes collected by retailers in january are sent to the state in february and arrive at cities and counties in march. these revenues are then used by the GOVERNMENTAL entities in their budgets. taking a look statewide, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said after eight straight months of double-digit declines, this month’s statewide drop of 8.8 percent shows sales tax losses have begun to MODERATE. in REAL DOLLARs, payments made this month to cities In liberty county were down a combined $131,746. totaling the first three months of 20-10 that drop in city revenue across liberty county is $550,272. taking a look at this month’s payments from the state to INDIVIDUAL cities, liberty was down 31.63 percent. DAYTON saw a drop of 11.92 percent, and cleveland fell 16.52 percent. it continues to be bad in devers where sales tax income PLUMMETED 52.47 percent. it was even worse for the city of north cleveland – they’re down 58.17 percent. again, these numbers are for march sales tax allocations, which were collected by the state in february for january sales. now, we’ll take a look at more positive numbers. for ames the payment was up 27.39 percent. daisetta experienced a 32.77 percent rise. turning our attention SOUTH to chambers county, mont belvieu saw a decline of 22.76 percent while anahuac dropped by a staggering 53.96 percent. kshn also compared allocations for the first quarter of recent years. in the city of liberty, total sales tax receipts for january, february and march were $651,934. That is off $329,489 or 33.57 percent from 2009. it is also less than payments for the same months in 2007 and 2008. in fact, you have to go back to 2006 to find a weaker first quarter for the city of liberty. While the decreases are smaller for dayton – this year’s first quarter sales tax revenue is also worse than 2009, 2008 and 2007. in cleveland, you have to go back to 2007 to find lower payments for the first three months of the year as compared to this year’s payments.

CHAMBER LUNCHEON

LOCAL NEWS

03/17/2010

THE LIBERTY DAYTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MONTHLY LUNCHEON IS WEDNESDAY AT NOON AT THE LIBERTY CENTER AT CITY HALL. THIS MONTH’S LUNCHEON FEATURES CHARLES TEEL OF THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU. HE WILL TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 2010 CENSUS NOW UNDERWAY. LUNCH IS CATERED BY POPEYE’S CHICKEN IN LIBERTY FOR $8. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE LIBERTY –DAYTON CHAMBER OFFICE AT 936-336-5736.

DAYTON TEENS ARRESTED

LOCAL NEWS

03/18/2010

TWO DAYTON TEENS WERE ARRESTED WEDNESDAY AND CHARGED WITH THEFT. ACCORDING TO LIBERTY POLICE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER HUGH BISHOP, OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A CALL OF A THEFT IN PROGRESS IN THE RIVER BOTTOM AREA KNOWN AS TEXACO ROAD. THERE THEY FOUND TWO YOUNG MEN DETAINED BY DWIGHT LUMPKINS, A SAMSON OILFIELD SUPERVISOR. MR. LUMPKINS TOLD POLICE HE HAD CAUGHT THE PAIR TAKING OILFIELD EQUIPMENT FROM THE SAMSON COMPANY PROPERTY. LIBERTY POLICE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED ABOUT $6,400 WORTH OF EQUIPMENT HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE PROPERTY. THAT EQUIPMENT WAS RECOVERED, BUT OFFICER BISHOP SAID THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO FENCING AND LOCKS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED. 18-YEAR-OLD BILL KNEER (KUH-NEER) AND BRANDON LICHTENWATLER (LICK-TEN-WALTER), 19, BOTH OF DAYTON WERE ARRESTED. BOTH MEN WERE CHARGED WITH THEFT, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF AND IN THE CASE OF BRANDON LICHTENWALTER- POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA. BOTH WERE JAILED AND AWAITING BOND AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT. LIBERTY POLICE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER HUGH BISHOP SAID THERE HAS RECENTLY BEEN AN INCREASE IN CALLS TO THE TEXACO ROAD AREA, MOSTLY FOR TRESPASSING AND THEFT. LIBERTY POLICE RECOMMEND THOSE WHO WANT ACCESS TO THE TRINITY RIVER GO TO THE BOAT RAMP AT THE PORT OF LIBERTY. DO NOT TRY TO GET THERE BY WAY OF TEXACO ROAD. THERE’S ALWAYS THE RISK OF A PERSON NOT KNOWING THE PROPERTY LINES ARE AND ACCIDENTALLY TRESPASSING.

REPUBLICAN RUN OFF ELECTIONS

LOCAL NEWS

03/17/2010

THE BALLOT FOR THE APRIL 13^TH REPUBLICAN PARTY PRIMARY RUN OFF ELECTIONS IS NOW SET. LIBERTY COUNTY VOTERS WHO CAST BALLOTS IN THE MARCH 2^ND GOP PRIMARY ELECTION OR WHO DID NOT VOTE AT ALL WILL BE VOTING IN FOUR LOCAL REPUBLICAN RUN OFF RACES AND ONE STATEWIDE CONTEST. AS REPORTED, NO CANDIDATE IN THE RACES FOR LIBERTY COUNTY JUDGE, PRECINCT #2 COMMISSIONER AND JUSTICES OF THE PEACE FOR PRECINCTS #4 AND #5 ON THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BALLOT GOT MORE THAN 50% OF THE VOTE AS REQUIRED. THEREFORE, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOMINATION FOR THOSE OFFICES WILL BE DETERMINED APRIL 13^TH. THE GOP RUN OFF FOR COUNTY JUDGE IS BETWEEN CRAIG MCNAIR AND STEVE STEPHENS. MARCUS BRAND AND CHARLOTTE KEY WARNER ARE VYING FOR THE GOP NOMINATION FOR PRECINCT #2 LIBERTY COUNTY COMMISSIONER. THE RUN OFF FOR PRECINCT #4 JP IS BETWEEN BARRY GRAVES AND LARRY WILBURN, WHILE WADE BROWN AND DAVID MARTIN ARE IN THE RUNNING FOR THE PRECINCT #5 JP REPUBLICAN PARTY NOMINATION. ADDITIONALLY, AS EXPECTED, THE STATEWIDE RUN OFF RACE FOR PLACE 3 ON THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT. OF THE SIX CANDIDATES SEEKING THAT OFFICE IN THE PRIMARY, DEBRA LEHRMANN AND RICK GREEN RECEIVED THE MOST VOTES. EARLY VOTING FOR THE GOP RUN OFF ELECTIONS IS FROM MONDAY APRIL 5^TH THROUGH FRIDAY APRIL 9^TH AT THE LIBERTY COUNTY COURTHOUSE, THE HARDIN COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE ANNEXES IN CLEVELAND AND DAYTON. THE EARLY VOTING HOURS HAVE NOT YET BEEN SET, PENDING APPROVAL BY LIBERTY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT THEIR NEXT MEETING. GOP PARTY OFFICIALS SAY ELECTION DAY VOTING IN THE RUN OFF ELECTIONS WILL BE CONSOLIDATED AT 12 POLLING LOCATIONS. THOSE ARE THE RYE ELECTION BUILDING, HARDIN COMMUNITY CENTER, THE DEVERS SCHOOL, THE LIBERTY COUNTY COURTHOUSE, CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN MOSS BLUFF, THE CLEVELAND CIVIC CENTER, OAK SHADE BAPTIST CHURCH IN TARKINGTON, THE DAYTON COURTHOUSE ANNEX, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN HULL, THE KENEFICK COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE WESTLAKE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. AGAIN, THE BALLOT FOR THE TUESDAY APRIL 13^TH REPUBLICAN PARTY RUN OFF ELECTIONS IS NOW SET. REGISTERED VOTERS IN LIBERTY COUNTY WILL BE DECIDING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOMINEES FOR COUNTY JUDGE, COMMISSIONER PRECINCT #2, JUSTICES OF THE PEACE #4 & #5, AS WELL AS VOTING IN STATEWIDE THE RACE FOR TEXAS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE PLACE 3. REMEMBER, ONLY THOSE WHO VOTED IN THE GOP PRIMARY OR WHO DID NOT VOTE AT ALL ON MARCH 2^ND, CAN VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN RUN OFF ELECTIONS.