Karnes Co. TX - NEWS - February 2005 This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Kimm Antell Copyright. All rights reserved. http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ February 3, 2005 Area A&M student killed in mishap BRYAN - A 22-year-old Texas A&M University student originally from Karnes City was killed Saturday evening when he stepped into oncoming traffic on state Highway 6 in Bryan. J. Luke Patton was killed as he attempted to cross the highway, also known as North Earl Rudder Freeway, for unknown reasons just south of the Briarcrest exit. Patton was a passenger in a pickup that had stopped along the northbound lane on the right side of the roadway, said Walt Melnyk, public information officer with the Bryan Police Department. A 21-year-old Texas A&M student, driving a 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass, hit Patton as he crossed the left-hand lane. Patton was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace George Boyett, who also ordered an autopsy. Neither autopsy reports nor toxicology reports were available yet. "I believe they have done a preliminary autopsy and it will be a minimum of two weeks for toxicology results," Melnyk said. The driver of the Cutlass was treated and released from St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan. "We are not expecting any charges to be filed against him," Melnyk said. Patton was a postgraduate student at the university. A graduate of Karnes City High School, Patton graduated in December of 2004 from Texas A&M with a bachelor of science degree in Animal Science. **************************************** Four killed in collision HOBSON - Four people, including the pastor of a Kenedy church, died in a two-car head-on collision Tuesday morning on U.S. Highway 181 south of Hobson. Sharon Truelson, 60, of Kenedy was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck, which also claimed the lives of three people from the San Antonio and Schertz areas. Their names were not released Tuesday pending notification of relatives, said Department of Public Safety Trooper Al Alejos. For about four years, Truelson was pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, located on U.S. Highway 72 at Kenedy. Alejos said the wreck occurred about 9:55 a.m. Tuesday as Truelson, who was northbound in a 1998 Buick, attempted to pass another vehicle with limited visibility at the end of a passing zone. Her car struck head-on with a 2001 Saturn driven by a 44-year-old man with two occupants, a 15-year-old boy and a 45-year-old woman, Alejos said. The collision occurred between two guardrails, he noted. Assisting at the scene were Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Caroline Korzekwa, Karnes County EMS, Karnes County Rescue and Karnes County Sheriff's Office. Runge chamber dinner is Sunday RUNGE - The Runge Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Sweetheart Dinner and Dance Sunday at Runge VFW Hall. A dinner consisting of roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, fruit salad, bread, cake, and coffee or tea will be served from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Meals are $6 each. Plates-to-go or dine in are available. The dance, featuring Chris Rybak, will start at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. A silent auction will be held throughout the day and winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m. **************************************** Faith Academy loses opener KENEDY - Ana Espinoza had four hits, including a three-run home run and two doubles, and Priscilla St. John hit a grand slam to lead Kenedy to a 20-10 win over Faith Academy in its season opener. Kenedy (2-3) scored 10 runs in the second inning and led 14-5, before the Lady Cougars pulled within four in the top of the fifth. But the Leopards scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth and two in the bottom of sixth. NON-DISTRICT Brazoswood 13, Memorial 1 Brazoswood 1.....0.....3.....6.....0.....3.....--13..... Memorial 0.....1.....0.....0.....0.....0.....--1..... WP: Tasha Rotramel (6-1). LP: Jordan Perez (3-2). Highlights: (B) Kelly Cato 3-for-4, 3 runs, 2B, RBI; Lisa Paul 2-for-2, 2 runs; Kristin Kappler 3-for-4, 2 runs, 4 RBIs; Lindsey Rushing, 2-for-4, run, 2B, HR, 3 RBIs; Vanessa Flores 1-for-1, 2B, RBI; Katie Fleming 1- for-2, run; Rotramel 6 IP, 6 hits, 0 earned runs, 8 strikeouts; (M) Danielle Austin 3-for-3; Amy Tupa 1-for-3; Jill Banda 1-for-3, run, 3B; Kristen Brown 1-for-2. Records:Memorial 3-4; Brazoswood 7-1. St. Joseph 10, Edna 0 Edna 0.....0.....0.....0.....0.....0.....--0..... St. Joseph 1.....0.....2.....0.....2.....5.....--10..... WP: Courtney Rigamonti (1-0). LP: Frances Wittenburg. Highlights: (STJ) Rigamonti 3-for-4 and 6 IP, no-hitter, 0 walks, 15 strikeouts; Deena Smith 1-for-4, run, 3B, 3 RBIs; Danielle Oliva 2B, 2 RBIs; Brittany Eichhorn 3B. Records:St. Joseph 4-2. Kenedy 20, Faith Academy 10 Faith Academy.....4.....0.....0.....1.....5.....0.....--10..... Kenedy.....3.....10.....0.....1.....4.....2.....--20..... WP: Priscilla St. John (1-0). LP: Becca Williamson (0-1). Sv. Marissa Infante Highlights: (FA) Williamson 1-for-3, 2B.(K) Ana Espinoza 4-for-4, 3-run HR, 2 2B; St. John 2-for-4, grand slam; Infante 3B. Records: Faith Academy 0-1; Kenedy 2-3. Calhoun 9, Ganado 1 Ganado 1.....0.....0.....0.....0.....0.....0.....--1..... Calhoun 3.....0.....0.....5.....1.....0.....x.....--9..... WP: Xandra Alford (2-0). LP: Megan George. Highlights: (C) Alford pitched a 1-hitter, 2 hits, 2 RBIs; Erin Grantland 2-for-3, 3 RBIs. Records: Ganado 2-4; Calhoun 2-3. JV: Ganado 6-0. Gonzales 4, Pleasanton 1 Gonzales 0.....1.....0.....2.....1.....0.....0.....--4..... Pleasanton 1.....0.....0.....0.....0.....0.....0.....--1..... WP: Bethany Stefinsky (2-1). LP: Rivera. Highlights: (G) Justyn Davis 2-for-3, 2-run HR; Stefansky pitched a 1-hitter with 14 strikeouts. Records: Gonzales 3-1; Pleasanton 0-5. JV: Tie 8-8. Sweeny 5, Van Vleck 2 Sweeny 0.....2.....0.....0.....0.....0.....0.....0.....0.....3.....-- 5..... Van Vleck 1.....0.....0.....0.....1.....0.....0.....0.....0.....0.....--2..... WP: A. Bonner. LP: S. Sykes. Highlights: (V) D. Rymer solo HR; (S) Brunner 2B, Bonner 2B, Koether 2B. Records: Sweeny 7-2, Van Vleck 3-2. **************************************** February 27, 2005 Woodsboro .....82 San Antonio Stacey ......76 KARNES CITY - Four players scored in double figures and the Woodsboro Eagles overcame a four-point halftime deficit to defeat the San Antonio Stacey Tigers in a Class 1A, Division I area playoff game. Woodsboro (27-5) advances to the regional semifinals and will face Snook in a 7 p.m. contest Tuesday at a site to be determined. Stacey ends the year at 24-2. Matt Jones and Jentry Gillespie combined for 44 points to lead the offensive attack for the Eagles. Jones finished with 24 points, while Gillespie added 20. Morgan Lamprecht chipped in 17, with Darin Hadden adding 10. Jarrett McGriff paced the Tigers with a game-high 28, while A.J. Galvan added 10. Sheriffs want help with state inmates ROBIN M. FOSTER Victoria Advocate KARNES CITY - Karnes County's sheriff is beset with managing court dates for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and with holding some of its prisoners in his tiny 12-man jail. He's hoping the 79th Legislature will provide some relief later this year. David Jalufka and others with the Sheriffs' Association of Texas met with their local legislative representatives in Austin earlier this week to push for new laws and changes to old ones. Among the issues topping Jalufka's list are blue warrant inmates - those accused of violating state parole - being housed in county jails, and medical costs for indigents and mental patients who wind up in jail. A blue warrant is issued when a state prisoner violates the terms of his parole. If a county arrests one of these inmates on county charges, it has to hold him until the state has a hearing, which can take 45 days or longer, even if the county has disposed of its case. The sheriffs' association is asking the Texas Legislature to amend existing statutes and relieve counties from holding its inmates. In some cases, these inmates are indigents and in need of medical care. Jalufka said the county last month paid nearly $8,000 for care of indigent prisoners, one of whom is being held on a blue warrant. The sheriffs' association also is asking legislators to increase funding for mental health services and endorse efforts to divert mental health patients from county jails. Also, Jalufka said, the TDCJ, which operates the medium security Connally Unit at Kenedy, uses Karnes County District Court to hear its cases against inmates who violate laws in prison. Local juries serve in those cases, which costs Karnes County money, he said. Jalufka is among 70 newly elected sheriffs in Texas. Since taking office, he has scrambled to ready the jail for its inspection by the Texas Jail Commission, which it passed on Feb. 9, and automate the office with reporting systems used by other law enforcement agencies. He also is working to schedule training for personnel. Robin M. Foster is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361- 275-6319 or cueroadv@vicad.com.