Sheriff's Report Number 451- Uh, oh….Hang on to your hats…..Don't have this problem in our County very often…..Someone stuck inside the elevator at B-RI elevator…..Have someone with key just arriving to assist on the outside. Chances of this happening are probably one in a gazillion since we have such a sparsity of these devices. Reckon we'll ever see the day when we have an escalator in our little County? Probably none of us today will ever see it, but you never know.

Teague VFD to assist Mexia on grassfire. Many reports last few weeks of folks loaning vehicles to others, then later, when vehicle not delivered back, or seen driving in another place than originally stated, wanting to turn them in as stolens. Mighty hard to state it's stolen when you hand them the key. Three Amigos on motorcycles cutting in and out of traffic, IH-45. Car reported driving crazy, Mile 181. Happens every weekend.

FPD Tyner to West Moody, assault reported, a family problem….It was reported that one did bring a tire tool to this particular Family Problem, sounds like definitely not going to be a back-slappin', glad to see you type Family Reunion…..And since he wasn't reported as rolling a tire and wheel into the residence with him, when they forced their way in, one must assume that he had another purpose in mind for the tire tool!

Lady on Jefferson harkens back to Edgar Allen Poe….." Heard a tapping, Gently rapplng, Rapping on her kitchen door." Actually, it may have just been a window…..But when TPD Reed arrived he found no tappers, nor rappers, gently or otherwise, front or back door. And exactly the same was the case for Deputy Clayton Aldrich, responding to a loud music complaint in the area of FCR- 441. Folks hear the calls dispatched to the officer over the police radio on their scanners, turn the music off, turn off the lights, then the Officer arrives to a sleeping neighborhood.

TPD Reed to complaints of a party going on for two days at apartment building. TPD to Housing Authority complaint, people going door to door, claiming to be with the electric company but have no company ID to show. Attention Fairfield Firemen…..Doctor Chopper coming in at the hospital….ETA 10 minutes. DPS Thornton and Purnell to Service Road, Dew, SUV pulling a truck, chain broke, truck hit tree.

TPD Howard stops reported reckless driver, US- 84…..Driver just extra tired, coming in from San Antonio. 911 Bounce advises of tree blocking ACR2933, Anderson County SO notified. FEMS to N. Mount, 90 year old Lady fell, struck head.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Shipley on the birth of a brand new daughter. Mother and daughter reported doing fine……uncertain about Deputy Shipley!

Deputy House to loose cow, FM-1366. Water line breaks, Wortham. Puppy picked up on S. 7th. FEMS, THDEMS, Streetman VFD and DPS Adams to accident, IH-45 North. Loose cow wandering around parking lot, Love's Truck Stop. Hope she don't get on 27 and add to the traffic congestion always present. Two reported fighting on N. 6th, TPD Cox to same. Man chasing woman after jumping out of pickup near Training Center, Deputies Aultman and Howerton to same, assisted by TPD Cox…..Arguing over a pair of shoes!

Teague and Fairfield VFD's to water heater fire on south 75. Mexia EMS to Monroe, blood sugar troubles, local ambulances both tied up on other calls. Dep. Aultman to report of missing backhoe, FM-80. Mr. Elom gets words of written praise from property owner after seeing that discarded trees were removed from man's property, back to where they were felled and drug from. Had dinner today as a guest of the Rotary Club. Sandy Bell, Museum Curator gave a very interesting talk on the Museum and County History.

Three black cows, one calf, loose on Service Road. FEMS to Lady with medical troubles, McDonald. Mexia EMS to MLK, Lady weak, no strength. Navarro Co. Co-op contacted, power line sparking against tree, FM-27. Louisiana car appears to have been intentionally attempted to be torched, FM-489, Butler VFD and Deputy House to same. Two backhoes stolen from Fairfield business, 10:30PM, spotted nearly immediately by Deputies McGowan and Aldrich, driving down Steward Lane. When the thieves spotted the Deputies, they abandoned ship…..Jumped off the backhoes and took to their heels…..The only problem was, as the Deputies were jumping out of the patrol car, they realized that both backhoes were still in gear, moving along, both driverless! And this only two blocks north of US-84, in a residential area. One backhoe caught and thrown out of gear just a few feet shy of an electrical pole…..The other headed straight for a house when caught and stopped. Of course, this little flurry of activity gave our fleeing thieves a big head start, and though a cordon was thrown up and carefully searched, they escaped without capture, unfortunately. Our Deputies are to both be commended for the choice they made…..They placed protecting the public above immediately pursuing the bad guys. My Thanks, gentlemen. Good Work!

Parking problems at pharmacy, Teague. Railroad Crossing Arms malfunction in Teague on Main reported. TPD Sykora to Dap's, rolled up on several cars in parking lot with fight in progress. Commissioner Clyde Ridge advised of tree across FCR- 971. Atmos to strong gas smell on West Sabine with Wortham VFD, dissipated, unable to determine source.

Donie VFD turned out…..grassfire, FCR-781. Dep. Rick Howerton jails man on Felony Theft Warrant, and another on Motion to Revoke Probation. Dep. Diana Willis to kids doing donut on 4-Wheeler in yard, FCR-742. THDEMS to Post Oak Road, high fever. Child custody dispute during funeral at Wortham, WPD Peters to same. Several Deputies, DPS Adams and FPD Kindon assist with Hit and Run, IH-45.

Reported stolen trailer house and pipe last week…..After several days, many phone calls and lots of time invested found out none of it was stolen, was moved by company employees to another location. DPS Thornton to accident, Leon/Freestone County Line, Old 75. Officer Carter to Familt Troubles, Lincoln Alley. Frantic 911 Call comes in from Teague, caller's sister being threatened by irate husband…..In Tulsa, Oklahoma…..Tulsa contacted by Dispatcher, Officer enroute. Another call was from deep Southeast Texas, mentally challenged grown son may have been brought to this County, against caretaker's (mother's) wishes, and totally without her knowledge.

Deputies House and Aldrich to FM-833, wife hit husband with a lawn chair, husband reports. The wife made her own call, claiming she has received a punctured lung. Certainly, this sounded very serious so FEMS was dispatched. Loose cattle, FCr- 141. Dew VFD to Jeep on fire, Dew Truck Stop. Deputy Robertson to/from Waco, prisoner transport. Dep. Howerton to theft of items from oilfield camper trailer, FM-489. And another prisoner transport from Athens. Teague PD Cox and JP Hamilton to Oak Street, deceased person.

Railroad Crossing Arms malfunction in Donie. FPD notified of three unwanted visitors on S. Fairway. Deputy Howerton dealing with another case of Mail Box Assault, FCR-930. Window broken, air conditioner and fan stolen from Furney Richardson School. Break-in at Streetman Exxon just over the County line. TPd Sykora to N. 7th, family problems. Dep. Harrison to Donie, loose horses, FM-80. Teague VFD and THDEMS assisting man with Pacemaker Troubles, S. 7th.

Dep. Harrison to Big Lake on report of jewelry and clothing missing from Lady's house, the only one who has been there was the housesitter. For second consecutive night, Deputies to Hemale/Shemale Troubles, FM-833. Mother/Daughter Troubles concerning phone usage, FCR-1250. Fairfield VFD assisting to get Lady into house, just released from Hospital, tripped and fell as returning home.

FEMS to possible stroke, FCR-603. TPD Sykora dealing with report that son assaulted father on JA Brooks. THDEMS to S. 10th, 2 year old fell out of bed, head injury. Deputy Hendrix dealing with telephone problems between two former family members. Deputy Diana Willis to divorce settlement going awry. THDEMS to breathing troubles on S. 7th.

Fairfield VFD to possible electrical troubles just north of the Courthouse Square. THDEMS and Teague VFD assist Lady at Church, having a seizure. Deputy Howerton into the Oil Patch on report that a dozer had been "borrowed" by parties unknown, overnight. A joy ride then ensued with several trees knocked down. The D-6 was then returned to its original location, parked and abandoned. This wouldn't be too bad a tale (discounting the trees) except for the fact that thousands of dollars worth of damage was done to the Caterpillar when both hydraulic rams were returned bent!

Lady out of gas and out of cell phone minutes, FCR-321. FEMS and Streetman VFD to Runnels, Lady non-responsive. Babysitter 911's, advises brother is destroying the house and the 10 and 5 year old both threatening to kill themselves…..Believe I'd be hunting for another part-time job, Sis! Now you know why you got to babysit!

TPD Solly to funeral home, troubles over which members of the family can go in for visitation. Deputies to the continuing saga on FM- 833. Loose cattle, FCR-790. FPD to local Burger Builders, employee terminated, causing problems, one arrested, drunk. Folks attend party on FCR-1220, get ready to leave and find their vehicle missing. Vehicle equipped with OnStar. OnStar notified, Deputies Aldrich and McGowan, following this electronic lead are told the vehicle is close. They drive to that location, find vehicle, one of the party goers passed out in seat, note damage to front of vehicle. Later find the gate he'd attempted to drive through. In Jail now, Unauthorized Use of Vehicle and Criminal Mischief. Another call of same problem at truck stop in Dew, but witnesses were there to corroborate the story.

Man calls, wants to leave 10 acres to Dispatcher Leslie when he passes away. She's too honest for that, suggests he leave it to the Library or some other non-profit group. He thinks that's a good idea. Kid troubles at Laundromat in Teague. Loose horses, Moody Street in Oakwood. TPD Howard to Father/Son Troubles on Pecan. Fairfield VFD to grass afire, FCR- 221…..And yet another missing car deal on FCR-301, she loaned it to her brother on the 29th, not returned as of yet.

FEMS and Southern Oaks VFD to chest pains, Fisherman's Point. Dog Problems, two gang up on one, FCR-1095. Loose cattle, FM-2570. Truck jackknifed, high-centered, Old 75 at FM- 833, Deputy Shipley to same. Butler, Fairfield and Dew VFD's to structure fire, FM- 489 at FCR-240. Wortham VFD and Mexia EMS to N. 5th, possible seizures. TPD Solly jails man with cocaine in wallet, N. 3rd. Large dog reported in Teague with a small puppy tied to it, just being drug in leaps and bounds, Animal Control notified. Loose cattle, FCR-141.

DPS Purnell arrests driver on Anderson County Warrant, Mile 211. Songleader #1 missing at Church this week. Songleader #2, also missing. And to compound the confusion, Songleader #3 missing, too. I don't know if they cast lots, threw chicken bones or what, but somehow or another, I was drafted. Now folks, I can talk…..BUT I SURE CAN'T SING. I know this now with certainty, once again. We stumbled through a couple of songs at Opening, thankfully, the congregation sang pretty loud, covered up my vocal indiscretions, didn't throw any hymnals…..All was well…..So I thought. But when the message was delivered, say about two minutes before the Closing Prayer, it suddenly dawned upon me that I would have to lead the closing song. We close with it every week…..week after week. I sing it without the book, from memory alone….We all do…..Every week…..But today, with the closing quickly coming into reach…..I couldn't remember how to start it! Words or tune! Finally, the opening words came to me, I hurriedly flipped through the hymnal, found it (God Be With You), just knowing that I now held the key to my success….I now had all of the words before me……. Oh yes, how stupid of me, this is so simple, right there they are, every word….But how about the tune? Reading music is not my…..Well, to be honest, I don't even know how. My daughter teaches Band, she can read the stuff…..But I can't. To me, it's just parallel lines on the paper with little dots scattered throughout, left to right. Means something to somebody…..BUT NOT ME! It might as well be Braille or Lithuanian. But you know what, Divine Intervention stepped in as I was taking those slow steps to the front to confess to all that I couldn't remember the tune, which would have led to the necessity of asking one of the Ladies to get me started….. GOD above must like that song and must have been tuned in, wanting to sing along….For at the last possible moment, that tune popped back into my head….Oh, I'll be honest, I butchered it once again, but the congregation once again most thankfully was loud enough that not many knew….. mostly I guess…… just He and I. Just like every day and every action.

Until Next Week . . . RALPH BILLINGS