Sheriff's Report Number 491- Female Roughneck too hot, carrying to ER in private vehicle. Yep, summer is here. And in Kirvin area, a 26 year old has same symptoms. The cure for these problems is plenty of good old fashioned ice water with you at all times….No, not one 12 ounce bottle…..Carry something that'll hold 2-3 gallons, use it often.

Lady at Mickey D's locks keys in car. DPS Jones and FEMs to roll-over, East 84. Loose cattle FCR-1200 at Service Road. Black cow out, FM-2547, Dep. Shaw to same. Dep. Harrison to Domestic Troubles on FCR-500, one slammed a door on the other's fingers, slammer left, slammee stayed. FEMS to Post Oak, breathing troubles. Dep. Shipley to Teague Club Lake, Family Disturbance.

Deputy Shaw, FEMS and Butler VFD to rural residence on FCR-281, daughter can't get Dad to doors or windows, trying to check on him. Found on floor, carried to ER in Palestine. Smell of gas from gas meter on Fairway, Atmos contacted. Lady at Laundromat in Teague calls, just lost a bunch of quarters, put 'em in, then the machine would not start. Dep. Elom to complaint of fast oilfield truck stirring up the dust. Also to FM-488 and FM-416, same dude there again as about a month ago….Parks his car, raises the hood, pretends car is disabled, when folks pull over to offer assistance he puts out a hard luck story that revolves around needing a cash donation in order to get his clunker running. IT IS A SCAM!!! Just drive on by. He's just looking for free money, no less, no more.

Game Warden Craig Hernandez to abandoned fawn in west part of County. WPD Keathley to Jail with man choking his sister, Assault Family Violence. Dep. Harrison to Hwy. 75, oilfield property entered, 50 gallons of diesel stolen, air and electrical lines on truck cut. TPD Howard to Elm, man says wife gone crazy, throwing things at him. Man calls, Girlfriend took his car, won't give it back.

THDEMS to Jefferson, Lady having suspected stroke. FEMS to FM-2570, employee having possible heart attack. WPD Peters, Mexia EMS and Wortham VFD to East San Saba, man believed possibly deceased. JP #4 Mays to scene for Inquest. Deputies to residence on FCR-930, boyfriend reportedly inappropriately touching two girls, ages 15 and 13. DPS Putz to accident, S. 75. FEMS and Butler VFD to FM-489, Lady fell on porch, now has back pain.

FEMS to North 75, 26 year old Lady has fainted. Deputy House arrests man at residence on FCR-1053, a Domestic Disturbance turned really nasty, gun involved, charged with Assault and Interfering with Emergency Call. THDEMS to McGee, chest pains. Deputy McGowan finds open gate in Donie area then sees lock has been cut. Owner called, comes to scene, 12 foot trailer stolen.

Deputies to report of house vandalized, US-84. Complaint of fast truck traffic, FM-1451. Eight cows out on US-84, west of Mexia, Limestone Co. S.O. advised. Woman reported on her knees in middle of road in Oakwood, Leon Co. S.O. advised of same. Caller advised was just outside of a Church, may be praying, but did think be safer and more appropriate inside the Church. I concur 100%! Deputies arrest two men at residence in Wortham, one on Warrants for Bail Jumping, Bond Forfeiture and Failure to Identify, the other for Hindering Apprehension.

Dep. House to loose cow, FM-27. More on FCR-1200. Dep. Shaw to Loud Music, FCR-1220. Deputy McGowan stops vehicle leaving local Burger Joint, registration expired, arrested, trying to conceal the Meth hidden in his waist band. On FM-489, Deputy McGowan stops motorist, found to be DWI, DPS Rickey Jones arrives, while attempting to place him in patrol car, he decides to run….Re-apprehended, to Jail, DWI Felony plus Evading Arrest Detention. And not to be outdone, TPD Sykora comes in with another, this one a female DWI off of South FM-80.

We had a very special group of visitors in our County this week at Sam's Restaurant eating supper. Not just any supper either….This was their Official High School Graduation Dinner, with family and staff members of Mexia State School. A group of very well-dressed, well behaved young scholars, every one of them super polite and friendly. We wish every one of them the Very Best that life has to offer. A pleasure to visit with them.

Wortham VFD and Mexia EMS to West Brazos, 54 year old with chest pains. Officer Peters, Streetman VFD and THDEMS to 18 Wheeler rolled and wrecked, IH-45 at FM-80. TPD Scott Sykora to Jail with driver who tested more than four times drunk. FPD to Walker Lane, someone has broken in residence. TPD Sykora to report of stolen bicycle on S. 6th. DPS Putz and FEMS to accident at State Park.

FEMS to N. Cotton, wife passed out. TPD Cordova to Main at Rail Road, big truck stuck on the tracks. Problems on FM-1512, Bounce call advises of slashed tires, transferred to Limestone County S.O. DPS Jones to accident on West 84, one arrested for DWI. Dep. McGowan arrests motorist and passenger on FM-80, one for three Warrants, the other drunk. One good point….At least the sober one was driving!

18 Wheeler turning from Old 75 onto FM-833 gets stuck in ditch, disabled until crane arrives, DPS Jones, Adams and Purnell and Dep. Aldrich to same. DPS Purnell to vehicle/cow accident, South 75. FEMS to State Park, person involved in car accident there yesterday now having chest and neck pains. Navarro County S.O. advised of grass fire.

A friend mailed me a news clip from the Austin Statesman paper dated May 18, 2010 which dealt with a rather delicate problem now at the forefront in our neighboring County of Limestone. I had not given thought in recent years to the problem, but harking back to my youth well remember the simple fact that rural residents, besides being late in attaining rural electrification, well after their city cousins, had also to wait equally long for pressurized water systems, also. Now this may seem inconsequential to many today but hand in hand with these two deficits automatically was ruled out the construction of a modern bathroom. Now, to get to the problem in Limestone County….It seems that Limestone County Judge Burkeen was called to task by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality because Limestone County hunters, on deer leases, have the audacity to make use of old-fashioned outhouses! No, not the well-known Porta- Potty types seen at construction sites, but rather those antiquated holes in the ground, four walls, seats made out of 2X12's, one swinging door types. You know, the same kind that every generation of your family used from the dawn of time right up until 30-60 years ago. The State said these trusted old relics are "strictly prohibited." I have a sneaking hunch, in total agreement with Judge Burkeen, that there are far larger problems that our good friends in State Government could spend their investigative efforts on than this one!

Driver in Anderson County 911's, being chased by a motorcycle….The motorcycle pulls up close, throws things at his vehicle, then backs off, reloads, pulls back up and throws more….Anderson Co. S.O. advised of the call, transferred to them. Bet there is a heck of a story behind these strange antics! THDEMS to FCR-830, Lady having chest pains while cleaning house, Doctor Chopper advised to get ready.

Deputy Thomas Hendrix to scene of theft of tools from construction storage trailer at new house site. DPS Purnell jails DWI, FM-27. Deputy Robertson to dogs barking heavily, as if prowler around, gateway Village. Deputy Robert Willis and DPS Purnell combine efforts to jail another DWI, driving bad, IH-45. DPs putz and Fairfield VFD to rollover, Mile 201. Call comes in from Buffalo on Railroad Street, 4-wheeler on fire, transferred to Dispatch in Leon County. One arrest by Deputy on charge of Indecency With a Child. Stolen ring recovered. Grand Jury met this week, many indictments.

Streetman VFD to grassfire, Mile 210-213. Complaint of dead/starving horses, FCR- 751, Deputies to same, had food and water. WPD Peters to East San Saba, purse stolen from vehicle. Southern Oaks VFD to Rustling Oaks, 4- Wheeler collision in Navarro County. Game Warden Craig Hernandez to report of two kids clowning on a Jet Ski near Fisherman's Point. TPD to loud party on Crestview. TPD Sykora arrests one for Mary Jane on Heights.

FEMS to McDonald, Lady fell, busted lip. Fairfield VFD to grassfire, Mile 205. Loud Party at Teague City Park….Shut down. Deputies Elom and McClelland to FCR- 976, 11 year old awoke to find his parents gone, returned while Deputies on scene. Much help from a neighbor. Parents received a stern lecture on leaving the child. Laid to Rest this week is Mrs. Pauline Sembera of Teague, a fine Christian Lady.

DPS Putz arrests motorist, Mile 206, Possession of a flat tire…..and a Controlled Substance! TPD Cox to report of starving/dead cattle in pasture. FEMS to Fairfield Elementary Cafeteria, food worker with chest pains. FEMS to FCR-1260, respiratory distress.

Another Memorial Day will have rolled around by the time this hits print. A time reflection and remembrance for us all. Lots of flowers and flags will grace our cemeteries this week. From reports, many more on the road this year compared to last, gasoline cheaper than last. This is one of those rare holiday times when gas prices have dropped just prior to the holiday. Wonder if all of the Big companies haven't caught heat over the seemingly never ending BP problem in the Gulf and just want to lessen risk of complaints? Many now harping that our government needs to step in and take over the problem in the Gulf. What in the world for? Those oil companies and their consultants have far more expertise in their field than anyone in government would. would be like comparing thimbleful of knowledge to full sized barrel. No, they better keep knowledgeable individuals in place making attempt to staunch the flow instead of bringing in sociologists, attorneys and graduates of some State University's School of Governmental Studies. We could send best that government has offer but they would be totally out of their element. The adage is true: you can't beat man at his own game. Those oilfield guys are in their element, doing what they've been doing all of their adult lives. We'd better leave them there in place until they figure the solution that will work.

Until Next Week . RALPH BILLINGS