News

Fri
06
Jan

Jury summons cancelled

The Monday, Jan. 9 Jackson County district court jury has been cancelled. If you received a jury summons in the mail, you do not need to show up.

Wed
04
Jan

First Official Jackson-Calhoun County bird count is in the books

Diane Nunley and Ron Weeks

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
What is, to most people, a flit in the corner of their peripheral vision, Ron Weeks sees as a Savannah Sparrow. He can identify a Turkey Vulture or a White Tail Hawk at distances at which some people can’t even distinguish between a bird and a crop duster. He can tell you where to find any given species of bird, and what time of day they are most active. His 40 years of birding experience was put to good use on Dec. 27, during the first official Jackson-Calhoun County Christmas Bird Count.
Weeks, a Lake Jackson resident, joined 40 other birders at the Formosa Tejano Wetlands in the predawn hours of Dec. 27. Close to 300 combined years of experience graced the small classroom usually used by Jackson and Calhoun County schools, as birders broke up into teams, plotted their courses and planned their day before setting out to see what they could see.
What they saw were 186 species of birds.

Fri
30
Dec

County appoints assistant DA

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    Keith Weiser wears many hats. He is a husband, a father, a pet owner, and a beekeeper. He is also a 31-year veteran of the legal profession. He’s spent time as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney.
    Most recently, Weiser, a Victoria resident, has taken on the role of Jackson County Assistant District Attorney. After the election of former District Attorney Bobby Bell as District Judge, which led to the Appointment of Pam Guenther as District Attorney, the slot for A.D.A. was left open. After a discussion with Bell, and then one with Guenther, Weiser said the move just made sense to him.
    After speaking with Guenther, Weiser sat down with his wife, and did some calculations.

Wed
28
Dec

Two arrested in area thefts

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    A string of burglaries that swept Jackson and other counties last month has been discovered to be connected to a burglary ring out of Rosenberg, said Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jason McCarrell.
    The crimes, which always happened in the daytime while people were at work, have occurred in a seven-county area, including Jackson, Waller, Wharton, and Victoria Counties as well as three other unnamed counties, according to McCarrell. Primarily guns and electronics were taken, but jewelry and other valuables were also reported stolen. 
    So far, two arrests have been made in connection with the case, and more are expected soon. Nelsin White and Dennis Rivers, both of Rosenberg, are in custody in Fort Bend County and Wharton County, respectively. White is expected to be moved to the Jackson County Jail.

Wed
21
Dec

Fire destroys barn in Morales

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    A Morales barn was gutted by fire in the late hours of Tuesday, Dec. 20, or early hours Wednesday, Dec. 21, firefighters believe.
    Ronald Gates, who leases County Road 283 property, said he checks on the place when he goes out to check his cattle, and found it smoldering nearly half a day after firefighters believe the blaze began. The property owner, Jeannette Gandy, does not reside in Jackson County.
    Two camper trailers, a utility vehicle, and a utility trailer were destroyed by the time firefighters got there.
    Fire crews were dispatched at 1:22 p.m. and arrived on scene at 1:41 p.m.
    Captain Nick Strauss of Emergency Services District 3 said that because of the way the barn was built, with steel structure and tin panels, it remained relatively structurally sound, and did not collapse, however, it would be a total loss and need to be torn down.

Tue
20
Dec

Hospital to hold Platelet Drive to benefit Adam Garcia

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    Jackson County Hospital will host a platelet blood drive on Thursday, Dec. 22 to benefit Adam Garcia, who has been battling cancer.
    Anyone interested in donating platelets is asked to eat a good meal before donating, to bring a photo I.D. and to refrain from taking aspirin or asprin-containing products for 48 hours beforehand. Most pain relieverq, including Motrin, Aleve, Excedrin, Nuprin, and others contain some aspirin. Donors are also asked to avoid garlique, ginseng, ginkgo biloba and ginger for 48 hours prior to donation.
    Donors must weigh at least 100 pounds and be at least 17 years old. People with tattoos or piercings may donate as long as they were done in a state licensed facility more than two weeks before the date of donation. Most cancer survivors are excluded from donation, although basal cell carcinoma of the skin and carcinoma in-situ of the cervix are exceptions.

Wed
07
Dec

Angel exhibit opens at museum

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    The Eleanor Brackenridge Literary Club has made a goal of sprucing up the Texana Museum and luring Jackson County residents back inside.  
    If you haven’t been in a while, ELBC President Diann Walleck said December is a great time to go back in, since they just put up their annual Christmas exhibit. This year the museum is filled to the brim with angels, a heavenly follow-up to last year’s Santa Claus exhibit. 
    Walleck said most of the visitors to the museum are campers at Texana and Brackenridge parks.
    “The majority of the people who come are people from out at the lake, who are camping. The whole point of our activities at the museum is to encourage attendance, and to encourage interest in our area through the history.”

Wed
07
Dec

Ganado Townhall Players’ first show wows crowd

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    By all accounts, Ganado’s Townhall Players knocked it out of the park with their inaugural performance on Friday, Dec. 2. The production, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, starred Jackson County locals, including more than a handfull of Ganado children.
     Over 30 cast members, as well as numerous crew, managers, and technical team members had their hands in making the first Ganado community theater event come to pass.
    “Oh my gosh, its a dream come true,” said Director Jonel Knuppel, “It was so much fun. The kids were unbelievable. Their talent is incredible, and for so many of them this was their first time they’ve ever done anything like this and they were just natural on the stage.”

Wed
30
Nov

What's Cooking With Katherine

    Thanksgiving has come and gone in a whirlwind! We were invited to go on a trip this year for the week of Thanksgiving. 
    Usually I hate to travel at the holidays but, because my daughter and her fiance were going to be in Florida for a vacation this year, we accepted. As fate would have it bronchitis struck one of the other families going and just before we were set to leave late Monday afternoon our trip was canceled. 
    I am a planner by nature, so this news really flustered me. I had not decorated for fall at all and my college freshmen was en route home to a house without a bite of food in it because in addition to not shopping for a holiday meal I also was trying to clean out the refrigerator in anticipation of being gone for a week. 

Tue
29
Nov

Program will ID criminals

Sheriff A.J. "Andy" 'Louderback with Patrick Contreras of ICE Houston

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    On Nov. 22 , Jackson County Courthouse hosted a meeting which invited press from Jackson and Victoria Counties, announced Jackson County’s recent approval for participation in a program that will permit two Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies to access a database that would prevent illegal immigrants who commit crimes in the U.S. from being released back onto the streets. 
    In attendance were Jackson County Sheriff Andy Louderback, Victoria County Sheriff T. Michael O’Connor, Lavaca County Sheriff Micah Harmon, and Chief Deputy Brian Cantrell of Waller County, gathered with representatives from Homeland Security’s Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Division. 
    Section 287(g) of the  Immigration and Nationality Act allows for certain officers or representatives of local law enforcement to access data and perform duties otherwise limited to immigration officials.

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