Mineola Monitor (Mineola, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Page: 3 of 14
fourteen pages : ill.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Mineola Monitor • Wednesday, January 13,2016 3A
Federal indictments returned
on joint investigation
Deputy resigns
after investigation
Wood County Sheriff's De-
partment investigators conclud-
ed their part of an investigation
of a large-scale methamphet-
amine distribution network that
resulted in the indictments of
several people in federal court.
The sheriff's department pro-
vided a release last week about
the investigation stating that the
55 indictments "of multiple de-
fendants from Wood County"
were for conspiracy to distrib-
ute methamphetamine and for
the use of firearms to further
that crime.
The release stated that agents
with the Bureau of Alcohol, To-
bacco, Firearms and Explosives
along with the Texas Depart-
ment of Public Safety special
agents worked jointly with the
sheriff's office investigators.
As a result of this effort, over
a pound of methamphetamine
was seized and taken off the
streets.
"This investigation is a great
example of multiple agencies
working together to benefit all
the citizens of Wood County,"
Sheriff Jim Brown said. The
sheriff said the other federal
agencies did not want to release
the number of people indicted,
although it was "probably in the
single digits" or names until all
have been taken into custody.
He also said his department's
portion of the investigation was
concluded in December.
Walters pretrial hearing set next week
A pretrial hearing on the Jason
Walters murder trial is slated
for Tuesday in the 402nd Judicial
District Court.
Walters is charged with mur-
der in the death last Father's
Day of Christopher Griffin in
the alley behind E-Z Mart. The
trial is planned for March 14.
The trial was originally set for
last August but a continuance
requested by the defense was
granted.
The shooting occurred after an
argument took place inside the
convenience store and Walters
and the man arguing, who was
not Griffin, decided to take their
disagreement out behind the
store. Griffin was shot during
the incident and died from his
injury. Walters was at the scene
with a gun when police arrived.
District Attorney Jim Wheeler
said the defense asked for the
continuance so a firearms expert
could examine the gun that was
used. The state had had the fire-
arm examined by the Southwest
Institute of Forensic Science.
"Our report came back in a way
that encouraged a request from
the defense to seek their own re-
ports," Wheeler said.
The district attorney has said
for months his office is prepared
to try the case. Walters' defense
team is headed up by a former
district judge, Cynthia Kent,
with Brett Harrison and Buck
Files.
Wastewater
From page 1A
The other was not of great concern.
The basin, which is a little bit
smaller than a football field,
Crump explained, is 46 years old
and construction practices were
different then. Rebar was used in
the basin, but only metal wire in
the defective part. It is believed the
pressure from the weight of the
water (capacity is about 2 Vi mil-
lion gallons) in the basin plus what
poured in as a result of the rain cre-
ated the cracks.
The city's engineer looked at
the pond last week and the Texas
Commission on Environmental
Quality is expected to be here this
week. During the meeting Crump
said the TCEQ opinion was the
matter would be classified as a
liner failure "because there is raw
sewer water touching the ground."
He said water did not spill or spew
out of the basin. The superinten-
dent said the city's engineer still
has a set of plans on the pond.
Also during the special meeting
Watkins noted that early voting for
the city of Mineola election would
have to be done in Quitman due
to the use of electronic ballot ma-
chines, which the county owns.
He noted that the school district
would have the same situation and
said William Bjork learned the ma-
chines cost about $16,000. Rushing
noted the situation was the same
last year. On Election Day the
county will furnish a machine in
Mineola.
It was also noted that finally all of
the photographs of all of the city's
mayors are arranged nicely on the
north wall of the council meet-
ing room. Rushing said that was a
project of Margret Quintana, a city
hall employee, and two "very pre-
cise young men" who helped un-
der Quintana's watchful eye. "She
did a great job," Rushing said.
In the positive light, a letter from
a man who lives in the city who
had had a backed up sewer line at
his home was read during the spe-
cial meeting. The man expressed
appreciation for the two city work-
ers, Rolando Ortega and Francisco
Zurita who went on the call. Even
though it was determined the prob-
lem was his responsibility, the two
were very helpful "all the while be-
ing very cheerful and friendly." He
said the two men were "an asset
to your team" and he commended
them as being exemplary.
From Mineola's first mayor Isaiah Huffmeister to Ken Pearce the display of all of Mineola's
elected mayors who have completed their terms in office has been grouped nicely all on one
wall in the council meeting room at city hall. The framed photo of current Mayor Rodney
Watkins is off to the side of the arrangement.
A Wood County deputy tendered his resignation
Friday morning after being the subject of an internal
investigation after police were called to his home in
Mineola last month.
The 28-year-old deputy, Brad Cates, submitted his
resignation in writing, Sheriff Jim Brown said Friday
morning. "I just lost a good man," the sheriff said.
Cates was working for the sheriff's department when
Brown took office and he kept him on.
The internal investigation was the result of Mineola
Police responding to a disturbance at Cates' home
on Jan Street. Captain Joyce Box said that Cates girl-
friend said she was assaulted by him, but she did
not want to file charges. She told police that he had
slapped her. There was no visual evidence, Box said.
The disturbance was no longer going on when Mine-
ola officers arrived and the girlfriend had left and
then gone back to the location. Another deputy was
at the location, but did not witness the alleged inci-
dent.
The sheriff said that Cates was placed on paid ad-
ministrative leave and did not return to work after
the incident, pending the results of the investigation.
The sheriff said spousal abuse (the couple were liv-
ing together) is something "we investigate whether
it's ourselves or anyone else. We can't enforce some-
thing if our officers are committing it. It's zero toler-
ance.
He had said the investigation would be completed
Wednesday or Thursday. But, Friday morning the
sheriff said, "He just resigned pending disposition
on the disciplinary action."
The sheriff said that Cates resigned by his choice,
and that it was a founded allegation, in that there was
a base to the allegation. However, he said there were
no witnesses and the alleged victim did not want to
pursue charges on it.
Mineola November sales tax rebate hike
Mineola's sales tax rebate for this month increased
slightly less than one percent over this time last year.
The city's January rebate from the state comptrol-
ler's office on monthly sales made in December in-
creased 68 one-hundredths of a percent over the
same month last year.
Mineola's rebate check was $143,452, compared to
$142,483 last year. For the year to-date, the city's re-
bates are up just under one percent.
Countywide, rebates were up 10.39 percent for the
month. Quitman saw a 30.84 percent increase while
Alba's rebate increased 3.02 percent. Winnsboro saw
an increase of 14.76 percent and Yantis a 3.74 percent
increase. Hawkins saw a 32.5 percent increase.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said recently that
state sales tax revenue in December was $2.33 billion,
down 1.1 percent compared to December of last year.
"As with the previous two months, December sales
tax revenue was down largely due to spending re-
ductions in oil and gas-related sectors," Hegar said.
"This was expected, given ongoing weakness in oil
and natural gas prices. Remittances from other sec-
tors, such as construction and information, contin-
ued to grow."
GOP Women announce state candidate debate
The Republican Women of Wood County an-
nounced the state candidate debate for Texas House
District 5 and Senate District 1 will be held Thursday,
Jan. 28 at the Quitman High School Auditorium on
Highway 154.
The moderator will be Neal Barton from KETK.
Those participating in the debate include Randy Da-
vis, Phillip Hayes, Cole Hefner, Jay Misenheimer,
Red Brown, Bryan Hughes and David Simpson.
/ T \
Hilliard Funeral Home
Fairway Crematory
Direct
Cremation 0 J*
903.963.8831 www.hilliardfuneralhome.com /
PLAY CHARITABLE BINGO IN QUITMAN!
Up to $5000 is Awarded Nightly
Tuesday and Friday Sessions
Play Bogins at 7:00pm {Doors a Concession Open at 5:30pm)
Fv<>t-ye>iie ft Welcome* Bingo Computers are Available!
benefitting The Forever Young Activity Center
404 SOUTH MAIN ** QUITMAN. TEXAS ** 903-7&3-B2D1
The Care You Need
When You Need It.
Now Accepting New patients
Family Physician for over 46
years. Striving to improve
an individuals quality and
longevity of a healthy life.
Same Day Appointments
W. McDonald St. aj
W. Blair St.
y^ilgatrickSt^
415 mi
• RAPID REFERRALS * WOUND REPAIR
• DIRECT ADMIT TO HOSPITAL OF YOUR CHOICE
• LESION REMOVALS * WEIGHT LOSS MANAGEMENT
• PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
• long term family care (pediatrics to adult)
Robert m. Elliott, m.d. facep
415 W. KILPATRICK
MINEOLA, TX 75773
CALL: (903) 569-2006
T
HEALTH CENTER
Q
Speed Queen,
"They doWt \AAa\zt 'tvvi
like they us>ed to...
we do."
BETTER
WARRANTY
GRADE
BUILT IN
THE U.S.A.
HUGHES
APPLIANCE & AIR CONDITIONING
903.569.5440
fft'1 COLIN
KOVIC
Foy
CONSTABL
PRECINCT 2 WOOD COUNTY
• 35 year resident of Mineola.
• 18 years with the Wood County Sheriffs Department
working in patrol, civil, and criminal investigations.
• Experience in serving civil papers and writs as well as
numerous criminal investigations from simple
assaults to aggravated sexual assaults and capital murder.
• Over 4200 hours credits of TCOLE (Texas Commission
on Law Enforcement) training.
• Certified TCLOSE instructor and TCLOSE firearms
instructor
• 11 years as a certified probation officer with the
Wood County CSCD (Adult Probation)
COMMITTED TO SERVE...
COMMITTED TO YOU!
POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID FOR BY J. MABE
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Newman, Doris. Mineola Monitor (Mineola, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 13, 2016, newspaper, January 13, 2016; Mineola, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth899846/m1/3/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Mineola Memorial Library.