The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 158, Ed. 1 Friday, May 3, 2002 Page: 1 of 20
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SPORTS
■im
FRIDAY
Baytown, Texas
Torres
continue to cooperate with the ongo-
month later, the Harris
After the no-bill announcement,
result of the incident, was not part of both the Baytown Police Department
See GRAND JURY on Page 7A
Lee College
'■'■I
K ‘4
names new
Ellis
Photo by Carrie Pryor-Newman
rnuiu uy uainc riyumcniiian
e Goose Creek school district honored top teachers and administrators Thursday. From, left,
f
Ank
See TRIAL on Page 7A
See LEE on Page 7A
See STARS on Page 7A
ment would require four firefighters at each of the five fire stations at all times.
I
4
Thain’s friend
testifies about
fetal shooting
The Goose Creek school district honored top teachers and administrators Thursday. From, left,
Karen Coffey, administrator of the year, Karen Edwards, secondary teacher of the year, Joan
Linares, elementary teacher of the year. The event was held at Lamar Elementary.
Goose Creek salutes its stars
Hispanic chamber neutral on firefighter charter vote
After hearing presentations from Lt. Tom Carr and City Manager Monte Mercer,
the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Baytown unanimously decided to
take a neutral stand on the proposed charter amendment.lf approved, the amend-
COMMUNITY
Mont Belvieu
—Lturnout of City Council
candidates at political forum
PAGE 2A
By LIA MARTIN
Staff writer
By MATTHEW COOK
Staff writer
. HOUSTON — A Harris County
grand jury Thursday cleared three
By ALLYSON GONZALEZ
Staff writer
of Texas State Technical
College's Waco campus, was
selected from a field of 60
candidates.
______ ■ ■' •
honored,” Ellis said Thursday
By WHIT SNYDER
Sun correspondent
KT"......
drag
Wjje 33aptoton
SINCE 1922
president
BAYTOWN—A handful of teachers and an
administrator were presented a crystal trophy,
a rose <
“2001-2002 Salute to the Stars” awards cere-
mony at Lamar Elementary on
applauding teachers of the Goose Creek
school district who have gone beyond normal
efforts to shine. _—
WASHINGTON
Farm bill
Election-year expansion in
form subsidies passes House
PAGE4B
Baseball playoffs
. Sterling shellacked at Dome;
Barbers Hill needs extra innings
PAGE IB
Officers to remain on desk duty
pending administrative investigation
to head to the polls Saturday.
City spokesman Gary Smith said
new state requirements change how
ballots are verified and how the ballot
boxes are handled at the voting down following the new rule.”
HOUSTON — At least three
A times during Blake Thain’s trial
on Thursday, witness James
“Jay" Mitchell denied "state-
ments in police affidavits
signed by him last June.
Mitchell was the final witness
of the day in the second day of
Thain’s trial. Thain is charged
with the June 15, 2001 killing
of Kaci Fink, then
a junior at Sterling
High School.
If convicted for
the murder, Thain
could be sentenced
to life in prison
and fined up to
$10,000.^ .
Mitchell con-
tested his statements signed by
him on June 15 and June 19,
2001..
District Attorney Tammy
Thomas asked Mitchell to clari-
fy the June 15 comment in
which Mitchell stated, “I saw
Blake jump from the car."
Mitchell said he never made
the comment.
Mitchell also contested two
June 19 statements. First, that
he saw Thain running from
www.baytownsun.com 50 cents ’
Grand jury declines to indict
Baytown cops in man’s death
lots will be tallied at Tucker Hall. Results also will be posted on the
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 newspaper's Web site baytownsun.com.
it
* Tf
Regent Keith
Coburn, - who
headed the search
committee, said
college officials
hoped to hammer
out specifics with
SPORTS
Gander football
Lee’s high-flying offense must
replace its big men up front
PAGE IB
B •’ i
RppTM I
i
|
Joan Linares was chosen the “Elementary
School Teacher of the Year,” Karen Edwards
was chosen the “Secondary Teacher of the
Year” and Karen Coffey was chosen the
and multiple standing ovations at the Administrator of the Year at the awards
ceremony.
Thursday, One teacher from each school was chosen as
a “star” for that school by a vote of teachers.
I-
“It’s appalling. My reaction right now
is one of anger and disappointment.”
Ruben De Hoyos
Baytown Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
“They didn’t do anything criminal-
ly wrong.”
Chris Cagle, Baytown officers’ attorney
■ ■ ■’ -
“The message is it’s oppen season to
kill Mexicans and get away with it.”
Johnny Mata, LULAC
■ ■ ■
“The conduct of those officers goes by
their training. It goes by the book.”
Don Smyth, assistant district attorney
May 3. 2002
Volume 80 No.j-58
New state requirements rule means slower election results
By DANIELLE LYNCH
Staff writer
L'.
’ V J
“We will continue to provide them
t we
have,” he said. “Our community
regrets this unfortunate incident.”
BAYTOWN — The city might expe-
rience a delay in the results of the elec-
tion to choose a mayor, council mem-
ber and whether to amend the city char-
ter. s
With 1,103 early votes cast, city offi-
cials are expecting at least 4,000 people results probably won't be ready until be affected by the new requirement. U.S. mail from a government entity.
10:30 p.m.," Smith said. Goose Creek ballots will be counted at ”
The public is allowed to watch vote
"Running the ballots through the the school administration building, tabulation or to check for results on the
machine is no problem but I expect 1450 Market St. and Lee College bal- city’s Web site www.baytown.org.
well experience a significant slow " ' ~ '
Baytown police officers of criminal the grand jury's investigation, Smyth and Baytown City
wrongdoing in the in-custody death of said. Hall held back-to-
Luls Alfonso Torres. The announcement touched off a back press confer-
“They were presented with the firestorm of criticism from Hispanics ences Thursday after-
options of everything from murder to in Baytown and Houston.
manslaughter to criminal negligent Ruben De Hoyos, president of the
Attorney Don Smyth. “The law was had feelings of indignation and disap-
explained to them in all regards. They pointment about the decision.
decided to no-bill each of the officers “My -—----
for every possible criminal offense.” anger and disappointment,” he said.
.Torres died Jan. 20 after he strug- I o L’ L_
gled with officers Micah Aldred, Bert Citizens spokesman Johnny Mata said
noon.
Interim Police Chief Byron Jones
homicide,” t said Assistant District Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said read from a prepared statement.
“The Baytown Police Department
has repeatedly confirmed its corifi-
“My reaction right now is one of dence in the criminal justice system,"
.6 2 2L.„ri™ L~ -22. he said. “We respect the decision of
League of United Latin American the grand Jury.”
p.m. Saturday. Though a voter registra-
tion card is not required, Smith says it
is helpful.
Other forms of identification that will
be accepted are drivers license or DPS-
issued identification card, photo identi-
fication, employee identification, birth
* precincts. The Goose Creek school board and certificate, U.S. citizenship papers,
u "Because of the new requirements, Lee College regents elections will also .passport, preprinted checks, or official
&
INSIDE
Business 3B
Classifieds 5B
Comics 9B
Community 6A
Obituaries 3A
Opinion 4A
Police Beat . rrr.. .6A
Sports LB
Television .8B
Weather 2A
LOTTERY
Wednesday drawings
Pick 5: 25-206-21-19
Pick 3 Day: 4-7-8
Pick 3 Night: 2-9-2
During his press conference, Mayor
Dillow and Sgt. Rodney Evans. A the organization was “profoundly dis- Pete Alfaro told reporters the city will
month later, the Harris County appointed” by the decision. f—
Medical Examiner s Office ruled “This sends a clear message that it's >ng FBI investigation.
Torres' death a homicide due to open season to kill. Mexicans, ./" I
mechanical asphyxia and blunt impact Hispanics, African-Americans and witF any and all information that
trauma. other minorities because you’re not 1
Officer Chad Billeaud, who has also going to get punished,” he said.
been reassigned to desk duty as a
BAYTOWN -"-After almost
. seven months of searching, Lee
College’s Board of Regents
officially named Dr. Martha
Ellis as the new president Ellis t^e n‘ew president
Thursday. j-jy. early next
^Ellis, currently thejpresident week. Ellis will officially take
t„„i i ^e reigns on Aug. 1.
Steve Evans, dean of finan-
cier services has been serving
, as interim president since
“I am very excited and very january.
honored,” Ellis said Thursday ”
night from her home in Waco. EHjs
“These kinds of opportunities
don’t come along very often. Wayne Gray. “She brings, a
Lee College has a wonderful wealth of knowledge and expe-
reputation.'It is academically rience from her community
very strong and has a reputation conege career. She has been a
for strong community support top candidate throughout the
as well.’ sr^arch process. She will mesh
Ellis will be offered a three- wen with our college family
year contract with the details to
be negotiated and approved by
the college attorney.
“We are pleased to have Dr.
as the next president of
Lee College,”- stated Regent
Lee College has a wonderful wealth of knowledge and expe-
. * ' T‘ ' ' rience from her community
County . appointed” by the decision.
Torres' death a homicide due to open season to killMexicans,
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Cash, Wanda Garner. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 158, Ed. 1 Friday, May 3, 2002, newspaper, May 3, 2002; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1185129/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.