Archive for December 3rd, 2009

Bastrop County to dedicate first park on Saturday

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Cedar Creek, Tx–Bastrop County officials and other dignitaries will gather at 10 a.m. Dec. 5 for ceremonies dedicating the first county-owned and operated park. It adjoins Cedar Creek Elementary School on FM 535, cost roughly $1 million and came to reality only after a decade of planning, controversy and compromise.

Among others to be honored in connection with opening of the project will be the late businessman and philanthropist James Voss, a Cedar Creek native and oil company executive, who contributed to the park’s development. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department put a $500,000 grant into the effort and the Bastrop school district made available the 44-acre park site bordered by Cedar Creek.

Perhaps appropriately, weather for the event is expected to be chilly. Weather forecasters are predicting the first hard freeze of the season on Friday night, with a chance of light snow before morning. From the time the park was first proposed by former Pct. 1 County Commissioner Johnny Sanders, it had enthusiastic supporters but also faced deep skepticism and doubt in some quarters, hence the much-delayed development process.

In later phases of development the park was championed by Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald.

Convicted ex-cop free on bail pending appeal

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Former Elgin police officer Orville Roger Miller Jr., 48, was released from Bastrop County jail Dec. 2 after posting $5,000 bail. Miller was sentenced to three years in prison and a $15,000 fine Nov. 13 for possession of child pornography by a jury in Bastrop.

Miller pleaded guilty to the charge but asked the jury to assess punishment. He was eligible to be released on bail pending the outcome of an appeal because his sentence was for less than 10 years in prison.

Miller fell under suspicion and was fired from the Elgin Police Department after he was linked to a portable digital storage device, or “thumb drive,” found by another officer in the department’s squad room.