Sheriff’s Report Number 476- DPS Purnell arrests motorist, Mile 205, three Arlington Warrants. DPS Zotz and Deputy Mcgowan to accident, FCR-141, pickup vs. tree, FEMS, Fairfield VFD and Doctor Chopper also involved. Teague and Fairfield VFD’s to trailer house afire on Grayson. WPD Keathley meets with group, another had just tried to bump them off road, other party took off toward Mexia.

TPD Reed and Martin to Romeo, husband giving her problems and she wants to leave. Hey, I don’t know any of the particulars, but this is close to Valentine’s Day…..Think it over, both of you. Wortham VFD to San Saba, flames around a wall plug. Loose horses, FM-489 and IH-45, owner on scene. Teague VFD to gas meter leak by Brookshire Bros. Dep. Richard McGowan to complaint of loud party, Southern Oaks.

Deputies Shipley and Harrison to FCR-497, father had son under truck, son hit head, lots of cussing and hollering, one threw a table…..separated for 24 hours. Butler VFDv and FEMS to FCR-300, 79 year old man feeling very ill, breathing troubles. Navarro County advised of loose cows, Hwy. 14. FEMS to Sunset, 90 year old weak, confused. Two Ex’s having troubles on Church Street over who gets the kids. Deputy Shipley to Civil Standby, FCR-867.

Deputy Shaw and Deputy McGowan to Moody Street, Oakwood, that small portion within our County, disturbance, two men drunk, one with stick, the other with knife, left scene prior to arrival by our Deputies or Leon Co. Deputies who also assisting. Deputy McGowan also on deal at residence on Church Street man where being called by drug dealers wanting to talk to his brother.

“Send the Cops” a Lady on Heather 911’s…..”What’s going on?”……”They’re fighting out there.” FPD and Deputy Travis Robertson to same speedily, but our pugilists had fled the scene to locations unknown. More oxygen problems on FM-489, man needs same, but expects others to make all arrangements and deliver.

Lady 911’s, car broke down on IH-45, motor dead to the point of rigor mortis….When asked where she was at, narrowed it down somewhere between Buffalo and Dallas, but she knew she was on IH- 45, that ought to count for something! Gave names and numbers for multiple tow trucks, hope they found her somewhere within Dallas, Ellis, Navarro, Freestone or Leon Counties! Man calls from new steak house, says just assaulted by another, FPD routed to same. Very ill man dials 911, seeking medical help, Retha stayed on line with him until Anderson County ambulance could arrive.

Grown son in Teague at father’s residence feeding dog, the son pushed the father causing him to fall and lose his glasses, 911 dialed and TPD Cordova spots the grown son at Dairy Queen with his son. Red lights were turned on but the grown son refused to stop, and drove to his residence on Spruce. When grown son exited his vehicle he was arrested. Admitted to shoving his father. When asked why he would not stop for the red lights, said he wanted to make it to his own residence so his vehicle would not be towed. Now in Jail, Assault Family Violence and Evading Arrest.

Man asks Constable Bonner to place him in Jail on Dallas County Probation Warrant…..Buck complied! DPS Putz, four Deputies and Dew VFD involved with accident, Mile 193, driver ran off afoot from scene, arrested in field by Deputies by FCR-660, a bit DWI, plus wanted on outstanding Warrants for Assault. Plus still later his vehicle found to contain 4 ounces of “Ice”, but not the frozen kind like comes out of the refrigerator. Bailiff Dusty Brewer to Jail with man from Courthouse, Contempt of Court, did not pay his Child Support.

Deputy Shipley assists with traffic control, Mile 201, car tangled in the median cable. County Road Crew Supervisor Herbert Barrentine Sr. finds stripped Dodge Dually on FCR-496, Deputy Hendrix to same. Not reported stolen but registration shows owner from Frankston. When contacted, owner says he dropped it off at a garage for repair in Athens. Garage owner contacted, yep, apparently stolen after closing time.

Big rain again on Monday, vehicles hydroplaning, Mile 201, Mile 198, US-84 and others. Fence jumping cows on FCR-261, tearing up Lady’s yard. Electricity out in Fairfield on Reunion. Deputies Robert Willis and Cory House to FCR-841, pickup driving by popping fire crackers in front of residence. Also to loose black cow, FCR- 502.

Fairfield VFD, FEMS and DPS Purnell to vehicle in median, Mile 204. Dep. Diana Willis to cows on road, FCR- 601. Deputies Shipley, Diana Willis and Rick Howerton to Dew to attempt Warrant Service, man inside trailer house found deceased, JP ordered autopsy. WPD Peters to Main in Wortham, kids threw rock, broke window. Deputy Willis dealing with problem on FCR-1070, wife conked husband over head with a cell phone.

TPD Reed and Martin to N. 8th where Mom and Son doing battle. Loose cow, FM- 1451, owner to check on. Deputy House to FCR-1055, lock cut 8 head of livestock missing. Truck stuck FM- 2570, Dep. Robert Willis to same. DPS Zotz jails motorist, Mile 206, Invalid License. Dep. Howerton assists Lady who locked self out of house, FCR-1240. Area Ranchers- 16 rolls of hay reported stolen in last few days from different locations, keep your gates locked, count it daily. Game Warden to Post Oak Road, injured deer.

News just in that the rumor mill created a major deal in Dew with the death of a man behind one of the truck stops in an abandoned trailer house. First reports from the autopsy came in by phone today. This man suffered from a massive brain tumor, which doubtful that he knew about. At this time the forensics experts believe this was the cause of death, not believed to be the result of foul play.

DPS Purnell to car through fence, Hwy. 164. Received very nice words of praise for Deputies Harrison and Hendrix for assistance rendered recently from Jack and Shirley Fisher of Teague. Always thankful for comments of this type. Loose horses, FM-489 at FCR-240, owner contacted. FEMS to FCR-231, legs numb, heart racing. THDEMS to Busby, someone just passed out.

Nitrogen cylinder falls off truck at 84 and 45. FEMS, Butler VFD, DPS Curtis Putz and Dep. Howerton to rollover, East 84.

DPS Purnell and Southern Oaks VFD to pickup on side, FM-416. DPS Zotz and Fairfield VFD to vehicle fire, Mile 193. THDEMS and Teague VFD to West 84, female unresponsive. Donie VFD and DPS Purnell to another wrecked pickup, Hwy. 164. Another wrecked vehicle US-84. Of course, all of these accidents were due to falling snow and slushy roads…..

Yep, we did get snow. The Weather guys said we would see a mix, but we did get enough of the white stuff that every kid in town was redfaced, excited and eyes a’dancing. This was a wet snow, just right for snowballs and snowmen.

We had a very unique visitor stop by this week…..No, I won’t mention his name, because I don’t want to publicize what he has in his possession, due to the risk of a burglary….. But, back to the point….Our visitor is the owner of something very symbolic of many people’s childhood….. The matched set of Colt Single Action pistols with fancy black gun belt, originally owned and worn by Clayton Moore. Now many of you will recognize and know this name, some will have forgotten it, and, depending upon age, it may mean nearly nothing for our younger readers….. But there was a time in my early childhood, when the strains of what I would later come to know correctly as The William Tell Overture, would blare forth from our old, reliable RCA, mahogany boxed, upright television, and I would know with certainty that I could lose myself for thirty minutes riding with a Masked Man and his trusty Indian Companion, Tonto…..I held the guns and belt of The Lone Ranger! Myself and several of our employees couldn’t wait to get our pictures taken with this famous pair of guns. What we viewed as a once in a lifetime opportunity, available to a very small number of people…..And, I might add, one that I will always be most appreciative of.

*During this same week in February, 1836, volunteer Davy Crockett arrived at San Antonio with a small band of friends and fellow volunteers. Certainly none could guess their destiny as regards Texas History at a place called the Alamo. As an aside, one of my ancestors by the name of Phillips, had led a large group of families from Tennessee at the same time that Crockett was making his trek, they came as settlers, Crockett’s group was adventurers. My ancestor was a Methodist preacher and very opposed to traveling on Sunday. Crockett and his men fell in and traveled with the Phillips group, but as they were traversing Arkansas, word was filtering back of a potential showdown brewing between the Texans and Mexico. Crockett and his men apparently were itching to get to the looming ruckus and departed the Phillips group somewhere in the vicinity of Texarkana, free to travel on Sundays and unhampered by wagons, family and slow travel. I have kicked myself for several years as I either lost or loaned out the small booklet, put out by the Phillips Family Descendants about 30-40 years ago, which mentioned this tale.

Power outage in Lakewood. WPD Carter arrests man on Traffic Warrants. DPS Putz to another wreck, North 75, one arrested for DWI. Navasota Electric Coop contacted on power out, FM-489, line sparking. Family Troubles on Maple, TPD Sykora to same…Now all he has to contend with is an ex-wife, an exhusband and a new girlfriend….. but he’d better hurry…..the ex-husband is trying to get in pretty hard and the ex-wife does not desire the pleasure of his company…..either with or without his new galfriend!

Hot wire down, sparking and arcing, 4th and Chestnut. FEMS to US-84, female with chest pains. More wrecks due to weather, South 75, US-84, IH-45,Hwy. 164 too numerous to mention. FEMS to hip pain, East College. On FCR- 540 breaker box smoking, Fairfield VFD to same. FPD arrests man on Traffic Warrant. TPD Noll to jail with man, Assault Family Violence, threw another into the sheet rock in a house, breaking same.

Big crowd on hand Friday in Teague for Firemen’s Annual Chili Fundraiser. DPS Putz to accident, FM-27. Deputy Shipley to report of camp house burglary sometime in last three weeks, FC R-481, tools, refrigerator TV missing, locks cut. FEMS to Walnut in Kirvin, man passing blood. Deputy McGowan assists man on IH-45, out of gas. DPS Purnell arrests DWI with children in vehicle, US- 84 at FM-80. TPD Noll to Jail with man at Teague City Park, glass pipe with Meth residue.

THDEMS to shortness of breath on Jefferson. Young Lady calls, little dog crawled under the house, won’t come out….Can we send the Fire Department to crawl under the house? Oh no, no, no, missy let’s sit a bowl of dog food out by the opening, he’ll get hungry, forget he’s pouting, then come on back out. DPS Purnell to vehicle/horse accident, US-84 West. Officer Carter to Pease Street, blocked by young men, street reopened. Donie VFD assisting young man on FM-489, breathing troubles, can’t get around well.

FEMS to Stonewall on Big Lake, Sister fell, injured leg. Donuts cut in pasture, plenty of beer bottles left at scene, Deputies get stuck in mud trying to go to same, FCR-381. TxDOT to malfunctioning traffic lights, 75 and 84. Power out on Bond Street. Deputies Harrison and Taylor to report of pickup stolen, FCR-1266. During traffic stop on IH-45, Officer Carter arrests three men, Possession of Marijuana and Felon in Possession of Firearm. DPS Purnell gets another DWI, US-84, East limits of Teague. FPD Warren finds Marijuana on young man at motel, now lodging furnished by County Jail. Officer Carter to meet man just assaulted, Wortham.

Wortham, Streetman and Kirvin VFD’s to house fire, FM-246. Loud music on Atwood.

By the time you read this, President’s Day will have come and gone, the banks will again be open, and we’ll be back in the humdrum of daily living……But give thought to each of those men who have served our country. None of them perfect by any means….But, come to think of it, no different than all of us. We’ve all made wrong decisions, done things we later wished we hadn’t, had dark secrets, said things…Oh, you know what I’m talking about. With television for the last 60 years, we have been able to see those men age visibly, and quickly I might add, due I’m sure in large part to the stresses and troubles of leading our Nation. Today it is the Economy and Terrorism. Before that a Civil War, Two World Wars, a Police Action, evicting the Indians, the Cold War, the Great Depression….the list goes on and on. By and large, we’ve actually had a remarkable group of individuals serve in that office. We elect them, then talk about them for four to eight years, elect another, then talk about that one for another four to eight years. We’re pretty hard on those guys when they’re in Office, but I think all of them have had good intentions…..And look out, Boys…..One of these days we’re going to have a female Biscuit Builder sitting in that Oval Office!!

Until Next Week . . . RALPH BILLINGS