The Daily Press http://sweetwaterreporter.com http://sweetwaterreporter.com/apfeed.xml--1 Copyright The Daily Press 2013-05-20T14:41:10-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:87952013-05-20T14:41:10-04:002013-05-20T12:52:46-04:00Copyright 2010 Sweetwater ReporterThrough prayers, songs, pictures and shared memories, Hailey's friends, family and schoolteachers gathered Sunday at Colorado Middle School — where she was a student — to remember a young girl whose remains were found in March."Hailey was a doer. She set an example for others to follow. She will always be one of us in spirit," Mark Merrell, the middle school principal said.Even after she went missing, she had an influence, he noted, recalling how students came together to print banners and hold a "Hailey Week."The mystery, though, remains unsolved.Hailey's mother, Billie Dunn, reported the girl missing Dec. 28, 2010. Dunn's boyfriend at the time, Shawn Adkins, told police he had last seen Hailey a day earlier, when she said she was going to visit her father, Clint Dunn, and a friend. She did neither.For a time, police called Adkins a person of interest in Hailey's disappearance, but he has not been charged. In March 2011, Billie Dunn was charged with lying to police about her boyfriend's whereabouts. She pleaded no contest and received a suspended 90-day jail term with probation.In March, human remains were found near Lake J.B. Thomas in Scurry County, about 20 miles northwest of Hailey's hometown, Colorado City. In April, officials confirmed the remains were Hailey's. But they have not released a manner and cause of death. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains open.For one day, however, at the memorial service, a community focused on Hailey as she will be remembered. Large flower bouquets decorated the front of the auditorium along with a picture of Hailey in her cheerleader uniform. Purple flowers, Hailey's favorite color, were used to spell out her name. Attendants were handed purple candles and asked to light them. A montage of pictures flitted across a screen, country and western music playing in the background.Hailey's teenage brother, David, sobbed, embraced by their parents.Once, the family recalled, when Hailey was young, her father walked in to find her holding scissors and sporting a brand-new buzzcut, one she had just given to herself.The day Hailey was born, her mother said, she and her ex-husband said thank you.Sweetwater, TXNo author availableHundreds remember Hailey DunnSweetwater Reporterurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8795Change0Usable2013-05-20T12:52:46-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:87942013-05-20T12:51:48-04:002013-05-20T12:51:48-04:00Copyright 2010 Sweetwater ReporterShown are (back row) Katy Nixon, Jaelynn Page, Garrett Ehlert, Jacob Treviño, Daniel Avila, Kiante McCoy, Kurt Wetsel, Jessica Poe, (third row) Trent Hicks, Eva Ornelas, Skylar Flores, Jonathan Magee, Lati Burnett, Mason Maxwell, Ky Hoover, Andrew Melendrez, Jacob Coppedge, (second row) Tiana Santiago, Isak Alvarez, Kade Kent, Kalei Hayes, Kobe Clark, Griselda Villarreal, Graciela Villarreal, Santana Zapata, (front row) Delia Zuniga, Tristan Longoria, Alex Perez, Joshua Browning, Bella Peña, Serra Martinez, Sonora Medellin and Aubrey DeLaCruz. Sweetwater, TXNo author availableNJHS members inductedSweetwater Reporterurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8794Change0Usable2013-05-20T12:51:48-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:87932013-05-20T12:45:50-04:002013-05-20T12:45:50-04:00Copyright 2010 Sweetwater ReporterAs stated during City Manager Eddie Brown's report during the May meeting of the City Commission, Enprotec/Hibbs However, Brown noted that Stage II drought conditions will be considered as the summer months progress. The mandatory requirements from Stage II would include watering during the hours of midnight to 10 a.m., auto turn offs on hoses and the restoration of public water; anyone not in compliance with the second stage guidelines could face fines around $100.Also mentioned was the recent meeting with TSTC (Texas State Technical College) President Gail Lawrence on the PEG, or Public Education Government, cable television station partnership between the city and the school. The city has savings totaling around $48,000 which can specifically be used on this venture.TSTC has shown some interest in possibly setting up some courses or even a program involving the potential station. However, the partnership is still in the planning stages and city staff intends to follow up on the initial meeting.In addition, the results from the recent auction held on Saturday, May 4 were announced. After commission costs, the sales from Sweetwater--which included old police cars and other city equipment--totaled around $14,000.Doug Alexander from Doug's Auction conducted the auction, which was cited as a successful event with a good turnout. A few other entities took part in the auction, bringing the grand total of money raised to $33,000.Sweetwater, TXBelinda SerranoSweetwater remains in Stage I drought planSweetwater Reporterurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8793Change0Usable2013-05-20T12:45:50-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:87882013-05-20T09:20:45-04:002013-05-20T09:20:45-04:00Copyright 2010 Sweetwater ReporterTonight will be mostly clear with a low around 66. Winds will be from the southwest at 5 to 15 mph, becoming southeastern after midnight. Gusts could top out at 20 mph.Sweetwater, TXNo author availableMonday's local weatherSweetwater Reporterurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8788Change0Usable2013-05-20T09:20:45-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:87832013-05-18T18:30:52-04:002013-05-18T18:30:52-04:00Copyright 2010 Sweetwater ReporterSweetwater, TXNo author availableSweetwater loses to AndrewsSweetwater Reporterurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8783Change0Usable2013-05-18T18:30:52-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:87812013-05-19T12:49:08-04:002013-05-18T12:24:06-04:00Copyright 2010 Sweetwater ReporterSweetwater Chief of Police Brian Frieda stood among several former and current local law enforcement officers. "It was brought to my attention when I became Chief of Police that something happened at the Sweetwater Police Department in the past. There is no reason why this person should not be lifted up and praised when this person could have quite easily lost her life."Chief Frieda went on to talk about the year 1977. "We didn't have body armor back then. Law enforcement officers just did what they did. They answered the call of duty and if they walked away unscathed, it was a good day."He went on to say, "Today, we want to make up for a non-intentional oversight for a local law enforcement officer that showed tenacity, strength, wisdom and leadership after an injury she received in the summer of 1977 here in Sweetwater."Chief Frieda called for former Sweetwater PD Sergeant Edyth Brothers and presented her with a Purple Heart.The tranquility of a Fourth of July holiday morning was shattered by gunfire in Sweetwater on July 4, 1977, resulting in the serious wounding of Brothers and the death of three Sweetwater residents. Killed were Tony, Gonzales, Jr., his sister, Erlinda Garcia, 27 and her estranged husband, Daniel Rangel Garcia, 31.Police received a call at 6:50 a.m. that morning reporting a domestic disturbance at 511 W. Oklahoma. Brothers arrived at the scene first and was going through the door of the residence, the home of Ynes Gonzales, mother of Gonzales and Mrs. Garcia, when Sergeant Johnie Rose of the Sweetwater PD arrived in another vehicle.Police said Brothers was in the house as Rose left his car. Then he heard what he thought was a gun shot and saw Brothers stagger through the door, onto the front porch.Rose then called for an ambulance and backup help before he heard several other shots in the house.Police reported that Garcia, who shot Brothers using a 38-caliber pistol, then shot his estranged wife who was sitting in an armchair in the living room.Gonzales then tried to run to the kitchen when he was shot in the back and killed by Garcia.George Albert Santana of Abilene, brother-in-law of Gonzales, shot at Garcia with a 23-caliber Browning rifle, but missed. Garcia then fired back at Santana, also missing with the last bullet in his revolver.Santana fired again, wounding Garcia, who then charged toward him, being wounded several more times before reaching Santana, who hit him with his rifle stock.Rose, backed up by then Chief of Police Gerald Byrd, three Nolan County Sheriff's Department deputies and a district attorney investigator, reported that Santana then came to the front door and threw the gun into the yard.All three victims of the shootings were pronounced dead on arrival at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital where they had been taken by ambulance.Officer Brothers underwent surgery at RPMH. The bullet had entered the right side of her chest and lodged in the lower left part of her back. She lost one kidney and a small part of her liver.Reports state that upon entering the house, Brothers inquired as to what was the problem. One of the men in the house said, "This man does not live here," pointing at Garcia.When Brothers asked Garcia if that was true, he turned and shot her.Brothers was carrying a gun when she entered the residence, but had not drawn it when she was shot. She had been with the Sweetwater Police Department for 14 years, serving as a dispatcher until a year before the shooting, when she became an officer.SGT Brothers retired in 1999 after 34 years of service. She is known at the Sweetwater PD as "Sergeant Mom."Sweetwater, TXTatiana RodriguezFormer Sweetwater police sergeant presented with Purple Heart 36 years after being shotSweetwater Reporterurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8781Change0Usable2013-05-18T12:24:06-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:87802013-05-19T11:48:49-04:002013-05-18T12:22:30-04:00Copyright 2010 Sweetwater ReporterThe architect is very close to finishing the plans; upon their completion, this approval grants permission for the city to begin obtaining bids. Other bids were discussed during the meeting as well. Approval was given to allow staff to go out for bids to sell five surplus, real properties owned by the city.A minimum bid--the latest, certified values from the Nolan County Appraisal District (NCAD)--will also be set for the properties. The purpose for setting the minimum bid is that in the past, the cost of advertising has not been justified by the costs received from the bids.The properties will be advertised as a bundle in order to absorb the publishing costs and so the city can get them back on the tax rolls. Interest has been seen in some of the properties, in which three are located on West Colorado while the other two are on Tom Green and SW Georgia.In addition, unsolicited bids from C.D. Trimble Properties, LLC which were delivered by the NCAD were opened and considered. The bids were sealed, thus the commissioners had no prior knowledge on the potential costs. As back taxes are owed, any money made would go back to the appraisal district, which would be sent to the entity. The bids for Lots 6, 9, 10, 11 on Block 20 of the Southside Addition totaled $216.15, while Lot 23 on Block 16 of the Southside Addition received a $55.62 bid.Due to the costs, however, the commissioners rejected the bids, which was approved.Finally, two bids were opened for three pickup trucks to be used for city operations. City staff reviewed the bids before making the recommendation to go with the bid from the Buy Board of Texas, which came from Caldwell Country Chevrolet in Caldwell, Texas.Sweetwater, TXBelinda SerranoAuthorization given to obtain bids for new police stationSweetwater Reporterurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8780Change0Usable2013-05-18T12:22:30-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:87792013-05-19T11:48:48-04:002013-05-18T12:21:37-04:00Copyright 2010 Sweetwater ReporterChapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances, entitled "Miscellaneous Provisions and Offenses," dealt with allowing freight and portable storage containers in certain zoning districts. The ordinance was previously passed, but after a request by the commissioners, it was reconsidered by the city to make it more business friendly.The original ruling was that the containers needed to be painted and anchored, but a concern was raised that some containers are only used on temporary job sites. But with 65 containers already in town, the amendment would allow for more container industrial zones K, L and M within the city.Thus, four containers could be spaced four feet apart (for mowing purposes). All permanent containers would need to be anchored and painted, while temporary containers--like those used in construction--would need to be registered with the city.Although these changes were posed by the city, City Manager Eddie Brown felt that they would be hard to maintain. However, the amended ordinance added that containers cannot be stacked and used for dwelling purposes.While the complaints were first heard in the K zone--which is mainly near Interstate 20, all three zones are under the same guidelines. Even though zones L and M--located mostly at the city entrances--are at a higher level, exceptions cannot be made for one particular zone.Because of the continued discussions, approval was given to table the item. It will be considered once again at the May 31 meeting, which will include a Strategic Planning retreat that will deal with zoning, among other concerns.Ordinances on recreational vehicles and RV parks were also read and approved. A second reading was conducted, which adopted the ordinance amending Chapter 17 of the Code of Ordinances, which is entitled "Licenses and Business Regulations."The change will provide uniform development of RV parks, as definitions, standards and construction requirements were laid out during the first reading at last month's meeting. Additionally, approval was given on the first reading to change Chapter 19 of the city's code of ordinances--"Motor Vehicles and Traffic", through the amendment of Article 6 ("Stopping, Standing and Parking"), Division I ("Generally"), Section 19-171 ("Parking of Trailers; Mobile Recreation Equipment on Public Property or Streets") in order to define mobile recreation equipment. The language was clarified to help the local police department enforce the ordinance.Initially discussed during the February meeting, the change will specify the 72-hour parking period for a recreational vehicle. While loading and unloading can take place in this time frame, the section outlines that people cannot park and live in the RV in a residential area.Furthermore, an emergency reading was conducted and approved on an ordinance adopting the rate schedule for Atmos Energy.The rate schedule RRM (rate review mechanism) will now be used, as the Atmos Steering Committee decided it was the best way to deal with increases. As an emergency reading, only one reading must be conducted.The new schedule was negotiated between Atmos and the committee; Sweetwater is one of over 150 cities in Texas on the steering committee.Sweetwater, TXBelinda SerranoVarious ordinances presented at city meetingSweetwater Reporterurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8779Change0Usable2013-05-18T12:21:37-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:87782013-05-19T10:45:25-04:002013-05-18T12:20:40-04:00Copyright 2010 Sweetwater ReporterMorales was born and raised in Sweetwater. She graduated from Sweetwater High School in 2001 and then again from Texas State Technical College in 2007 with a degree in digital imaging and design.She and her partner of 12 years, Adon Reyna, have three children together — Miguel, 11, attends Sweetwater Intermediate School; Victoria, 9, attends East Ridge Elementary; and youngest, Desire, 5, attends Southeast Elementary. Spending time as a family is important, so the couple take their three children to the drive-in theater in Abilene most weekends. "In the summer time, we take the kids every weekend to see a movie," said Morales. "The drive-in has two showings and we try to see both movies, as long as it isn't anything scary."As an advertising executive, Morales sells advertising space in the Sweetwater Reporter for local businesses. She works directly with business owners to ensure they receive their maximum advertising potential.Sweetwater, TXMelissa WinslowEmployee welcomed back to staffSweetwater Reporterurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8778Change0Usable2013-05-18T12:20:40-04:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:87772013-05-18T11:47:22-04:002013-05-18T11:47:22-04:00Copyright 2010 Sweetwater ReporterSweetwater, TXNo author availableHonk rally sends off MustangsSweetwater Reporterurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8777Change0Usable2013-05-18T11:47:22-04:00