The Llano News (Llano, Tex.), Vol. 112, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 20, 2000 Page: 1 of 28
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Volume 112 No. 28 • Llano, Texas 78643 • www.hillcountrytexas.com • 28 pages 2 sections
llano County jury hands
down 20-year sontanco
on local drug conviction
Assistant District Attorney
Todd Ward of the Thirty-third
Judicial District Attorney’s office
once again successfully pros-
ecuted a felony drug case in the
Thirty-third Judicial District
Court of Llano County.
James Alan Davenport, of Bur-
net County, was charged by in-
dictment for delivery of mari-
juana, less than five pounds and
more than one quarter ounce, a
state jail felony carrying a pun-
ishment range from 180 days to
two years confinement and a
possible fine not to exceed
$10,000.
However, the District Attor-
neys’ Office later enhanced the
charge to a second degree felony
which has a punishment range
of two years to twenty years con-
finement and a possible fine not
to exceed $10,000. The enhance-
ment was possible because Dav-
enport had previously been con-
victed to two prior felonies, es-
cape and criminal deviate con-
duct, in the State of Indiana.
The trial began Monday, April
10, and the evidence revealed
that Davenport was appre-
hended by the Thirty-third Ju-
dicial District Narcotics Enforce-
ment Team for the delivery of
one and a quarter pounds of
marijuana on March 20. The
jury began to deliberate on the
case late in the morning of April
11.
After returning a guilty ver-
dict, the jury heard evidence at
the punishment phase of the
trial. This was the first time that
they were informed of his two
prior felonies. Late Tuesday af-
ternoon the jury of seven women
and five men assessed
Davenport’s punishment at
twenty years confinement in the
Texas Department of Correc-
tions-Institutional Division and
a $5,000 fine.
“I anticipate the jury’s verdict
and sentence to send a strong
message of ‘^ero tolerance,’”
Ward commented shortly after
the trial. “Our community will
not tolerate the possession or de-
livery of marijuana, regardless
of the amount. I hope the verdict
and sentence persuades other
drug users and drug dealers to
either quit the illegal practice or
take their poisonous activities
elsewhere."
Arena set for May 6
City Council election
Early voting for the May 6 Ll-
ano City Council election started
April 19 and will run through
May 2, 2000 at City Hall, 301 W.
Main from 8 a m. to 5 p.m. Mon-
day - Friday, with the exception
of April 21, 2000 which is a le-
gal holiday.
Five candidates have been
listed to fill three seats to be
vacated. Incumbents Randolph
Franklin and Joe David Yates
along with newcomers Sarah
Franklin, Terry Mikulenka and
Esther Laird will also vie for a
position on the council.
Following is a brief profile of
each candidate (listed in alpha-
betical order)
Randolph Franklin:
Franklin is seeking a fourth
term in office as his sixth year
is winding down. He hopes to see
the completion of several
prbjects already in the works as
well as to continue to serve the
people of Llano.
Franklin lists the completion
of the new water treatment
plant, completion of phase II of
the southwest sewer project and
the Llano River Park as his top
three issues.
“I believe we need to carefully
study all aspects of water SUP'
ply for the city in order to insure
long-term water supply in the
most economical way,” Franklin
said of Llano’s future water
needs.
He said he believes the city
government is headed in the
right direction. “We have seen a
lot of improvements and will
continue to progress,” he said.
“I am encouraged to see new
business coming to Llano and
would like to see this continue,”
added Franklin.
Sarah Franklin:
A life-long resident and current
business owner in the city,
Franklin lists a desire to serve
the community
She lists as the top three issues
facing Llano, adequate water
supply, maintenance and expan-
sion of present city services and
{
responsible spending of tax dol-
lars.
About future water needs, she
said, “The Llano River is our only
source of water. Wisely qualified
committee has been appointed to
study how to preserve and ex-
pand our present water supply.
We should listen to their recom-
mendations.
Franklin said she feels there is
always room for improvement in
any government and Llano is no
exception. “If you cease to im-
prove, you stagnate.”
She also said she would like to
see more cooperation between
the city and county governments
as well as the city and chamber
of commerce to aide businesses.
Esther Laird:
Laird has been a life-long resi-
dent of Llano and is business
owner.
“I believe Llano has a lot to of-
fer and will continue to grow,”
Laird said. “We need to remem-
ber the basic needs for the citi-
zens of Llano and to get ready
for the future for our children
and grandchildren.”
She lists, as top issue facing
Llano, to be water, controlled
growth and better cooperation
with county and state govern-
ments.
“A water for the future commit-
tee has been appointed to study
the issue of the future options for
the needs of the city,” she said.
“We need to study and support
the reports on this issue and find
an alternative source of water in
addition to the one we have.”
Laird added that more busi-
ness means more jobs. “(We need
to work) together with our cham-
ber of commerce, civic and politi-
cal organizations for beautifica-
tion and improvements for fu-
ture events to bring more income
to our city."
Terry Mikulenka:
Mikulenka is a 24-years resi-
dent of Llano and is currently
employed by Llano County as an
equipment operator.
He hopes to help maintain the
Continued on Page 27
shortage of the “mud bugs" didn’t hinder the 11 th Annual Uano Crawfish Open from another record year as thousands
flocked to Robinson City Park for crawfish and barbecue. Record numbers of visitors attended, record numbers of
participants golfed and shot sporting clays and record numbers were on hand to participate in the team roping event.
Crawfish Open a big hit
The long-awaited 11th Annual
Crawfish Open has come and
gone and organizers continue to
be impressed with the crowds of
“mudbug” eaters who converged
on Llano this past weekend
Record numbers of people were
on hand to enjoy music and lots
of spicy food.
According to President of the
Crawfish Open, Inc., Jason
Leming, the help from the hun-
dreds of volunteers again helped
things to run smoothly.
“We can’t say enough for all of
the people who give up their
time to work for this worthy
cause,” Leming said.
While the numbers are still
coming in as to the amount of
money raised for local charities,
early indications are it was an-
other record-setting year.
Over the course of the past two
months, 15 faculty members
have opted to take advantage of
the early retirement incentive
offered by the Llano ISD Board
of Trustees.
In a regular meeting Monday,
the school board accepted four
additional resignations. To date.
A1 Jewell, Judeth Robbins, Ken
Barington, James Saucier,
Frances Costner, Carol Dodgen,
Neva Kemper, Billie Laning,
Candace Hauser, LaNell Cham-
pion, Lynn Mosier, Sally
Steinpreis, Brenda Fleming, Jan
Golf Tournament:
This year more teams than ever
participated in the annual golf
tournament as 514 golfers com-
peted in the event.
Doug Gillow, Donnie Zavala,
Billy Hoy and Keith Harris com-
bined to fire an 18-under, 53 Fri-
day Morning to walk away with
the coveted Crawfish Open Title.
A scorecard playoff determined
second and third from at least
three teams that posted a 54
The foursome of Jime Ed
Overstreet, Scott Tyson, Colin
Moseley and Keith Mcpherson
took the second prize while
Lauren Loyd, Ken Robins,
Tommy Mott and TV Rucker fin-
ished third.
There was also a closest to the
pen contest on par 3 holes. Golf
Professional Ross Johnson re-
Patterson and Anna Shipp have
announced plans to retire.
In a February meeting, the
school board voted to offer quali-
fied professional and paraprofes-
sional employees 75 peicent of
their annual salary paid out over
the five year period as a retire-
ment incentive. Additionally,
Mary Ruth Wallis, Zee
Underwood and Joan Myers, all
paraprofessionals, have taken
the incentive.
'With the annoucement of the
retirement of Robbins, the Assis-
tant Superintendent, the board
ported that there were a few
near misses for hole-in-ones.
Bill Abell, who hit 22 inches
from the pin on No. 4, and Gary
Mahaney hit 24 inches from the
pin to No. 7 to win a set of Wil-
son Fastshaft Irons. Two other
golfers, who were closest to the
pin on Nos. 9 and 15 — Ken Rob-
ins and Gary Metcalf respec-
tively -- won a new Wilson
Driver
“We appreciate all of the hard
work of the v olunteers who made
the tournament run smoothly,”
Johnson said
Sporting Clays:
More than 190 shooters turned
out to compete in the sporting
clays tournament that grossed
over $17,000. Watch next week’s
issue of The Llano News for more
details on the shooting event.
also voted to move High School
Principal Dennis Hill into that
position. Hill has been the high
school principal for 15 years.
In other action the board ap-
proved the employment of a new
assistant baseball coach, Mark
Elder, who will come to Llano
from Bastrop where he served
under Larry Don Williams, the
replacement for Barington.
Current Assistant Baseball
Coach Saucier will remain on
staff next fall under contract to
coach eighth grade football only.
See Page 9 of this publi-
cation for local and area
Easter Services.
Some 200 entries are ex-
pected in the upcoming Bret
Justis Memorial Team Rop-
ing event, to be held at the
Llano County Arena Satur-
day, April 22.
Organizers are planning to
hold the roping in remem-
brance of the late Justice,
who was an avid team roper
in the area. Plans are to cre-
ate a memorial scholarship
that will be awarded to stu-
dent interested in entering
college in the agriculture
field
According to Bubba Bollier,
one of the organizers of the
event, local champions Tee
Woolman, Tyler Magnus,
Rich Skelton and Speedy
Williams will be competing
along with several local
ropers.
For more information con-
tact Bert Mvers 915-247-
3679, Bollier 915-247-5721
or Peggy Irvin 915-247-2206
WEATHER
APRIL 2000
High Low
Rain
April 11
78
65
.09
April 12
74
57
1.44
April 13
75
48
.00
April 14
80
53
.00
April 15
76
59
.00
April 16
87
64
.00
April 17
66
59
.00
Rain this week:
1.53
Rain this month:
2.04
Total for yean 2000
6.06
Data collected by Luke Rogers,
Wolf Mountain Ranch, Llano,
Texas.
FORECAST
Courtesy of Bob Rose,
LCRA Meteorologist
Thursday:
Partly cloudy skies, a high in
the upper 80's.
Frlday-Saturday:
Partly cloudy, a low near 60
and a high in the lower 80's
all weekend.
River Flow
Llano River flowing at
88 CFS as of Tuesday
Deaths:
LmmE. Davis
William Martin Kuykendall
Llano ISD...
Several opt for early retirement
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Stephenson, Jimmy. The Llano News (Llano, Tex.), Vol. 112, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 20, 2000, newspaper, April 20, 2000; Llano, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1037930/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Llano County Public Library.