Archive for the ‘Bastrop County’ Category

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MLK march set in Elgin on Jan. 17

Friday, January 7th, 2011

Elgin, Tx–The annual Bastrop County march to commemorate the life and birth of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr will not take place in Bastrop as scheduled this year.

Instead the county’s 22nd annual march is set for Jan. 17 in Elgin, beginning at 10 a.m. from Veterans Memorial Park downtown. The event will conclude with speeches and music at Booker T. Washington Elementary School.

Normally the event rotates each year among Bastrop, Elgin and Smithville, but is headed back to Elgin this year because a suitable gathering place for indoor ceremonies could not be arranged in Bastrop, said organizer Dock Jackson. The school district’s performing arts center auditorium could not be used without paying a $1,400 fee, which the organizing group does not have, said Jackson.

The gathering has grown too large to be held in other potential Bastrop sites including the Opera House or Kerr Community Center, according to Jackson.

The 2012 march will take place in Smithville, ending at the city’s recreation center. Jackson said he expects the event to be back in Bastrop by 2013 with ceremonies taking place at the city’s new convention center, expected to be completed this spring.

The event which will remain in Bastrop this year is the annual fund-raiser for the local MLK Scholarship Committee. That event will take place at 7 p.m. at Paul Quinn AME Church, 1108 Walnut St.

Posted in Bastrop County, Bastrop School District | No Comments »

Jack Griesenbeck, Bastrop County political leader, dead at age 93

Tuesday, December 21st, 2010

Bastrop, Tx–Jack Griesenbeck, a dynamic leader in Bastrop and Bastrop County public affairs during three decades, died Dec. 21 following a brief illness. He was 93.

Funeral plans were not immediately announced.

A Bastrop native, Griesenbeck and his wife Ruby opened an appliance sales and repair shop on Main Street following his service during World War II. He rose to political prominence following his election to the city council in 1963. That was followed (1964-66) by a term in the mayor’s chair before he won election as county judge, a post he held from 1967 to 1982 and again in 1984-86.

The Griesenbeck years were marked by conservative fiscal policies and innovative programs aimed to promote growth and development, often aided by federal programs and initiatives. As mayor and county judge Griesenbeck was active in creation of the Bastrop Housing Authority, Bastrop Hospital Authority, Smithville Airport, Aqua Water Supply Corp. and Combined Community Action, a local agency that administers a variety of federal programs in the area.

He was also active in the formation of the Capital Area Council of Governments, serving as its first executive board chairman, as well as a related spin-off organization, the Capital Area Housing Finance Corp. As county judge Griesenbeck also expended significant political capital, in the face of some popular opposition, to bring a federal prison to Bastrop on a site formerly part of the World War II Army training camp at Camp Swift.

Veteran political observers say his achievements include building a formidable coalition of supporters and allies extending from Washington, DC to Austin, to local bankers, other business owners and power brokers while including a web of support which extended to every part of Bastrop County and across racial and ethnic lines.

In his later years the retired judge was especially proud of his role in launching Aqua Water which extended retail water service to rural areas of Bastrop County and paved the way for significant population and business growth in the decades since. “Aqua opened up the county to development,” said former Bastrop mayor David Lock, who noted that water supply was a significant growth restraint especially in western and southern parts of Bastrop County for many years.

Griesenbeck is survived by his wife, Ruby; two children, William Griesenbeck and Jo Ann Cantrell; and a number of grandchildren.

Posted in Bastrop City, Bastrop County, Local Politics | No Comments »

Bastrop area murder-suicide probed

Monday, November 29th, 2010

Bastrop, Tx–Following a 911 telephone call Nov. 24 Bastrop County Sheriff’s Department officers found the bodies of a 2-year-old boy and his 40-year-old stepfather at a residence on Pine Tree Loop near Bastrop.

The 5:05 p.m. emergency call reported a suicide and a “missing” 2-year-old, according to an announcement today from the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Department.

Investigators found the bodies of Jason Ackley and his stepson, Hunter James Stephens, at the house, the announcement said. Both had suffered gunshot wounds. The Travis County Medical Examiner’s office ruled the child’s death a homicide and Ackley’s death a suicide.

Ackley, who lived in the Houston area, was reported to be visiting relatives near Bastrop over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Investigation into the deaths is continuing, said the sheriff’s department.

Posted in Bastrop County, Crime | No Comments »

Murdered woman found in Elgin

Monday, November 29th, 2010

Elgin, Tx–A Bastrop County Deputy Sheriff who stopped Nov. 27 to investigate some bedding beside Old McDade Road about 9:20 a.m. found the body of a murdered white woman, later identified as Donna Marie Self, 40.

Following an autopsy the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office ruled that Self was a homicide victim, according to an announcement today by the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Department.

The announcement did not suggest how Self died, where she lived or other details.

Deputy Molly Davis was on routine patrol duty when she stopped to investigate the “suspicious bedding” in the 900 block of Old McDade Road, the announcement said.

Posted in Bastrop County, Crime | No Comments »

Electric co-op suit stays in Bastrop

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Bastrop, Tx–A civil lawsuit for money damages against Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative in Bastrop County can move ahead, but the trial will not be moved to a neighboring county, a state district judge ruled Nov. 10.

Owners of homes and businesses damaged by a wildfire which broke out on a Bluebonnet electric transmission line near Alum Creek between Bastrop and Smithville on Feb. 28, 2009 have sued the power co-op, alleging negligence. The blaze, known as the Wilderness Ridge Fire, burned some 1,500 acres along with scores of homes, businesses, vehicles and other property. It was the largest wildfire in Bastrop County since 1984.

At a hearing Wednesday before 335th District Judge Reva Towslee Corbett, lawyers for Bluebonnet’s insurance carriers sought to have the suit dismissed. Corbett ruled the case can move forward.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs sought to have the trial moved to adjoining Travis County because so many of Bastrop County’s potential jurors are also customers and members–that is, part owners–of Bluebonnet that an unbiased jury could not be seated. The judge rejected that motion also, saying she will now set a schedule for the completion of pre-trial matters and a date to begin selecting a jury.

Jury selection is not expected to begin before next summer.

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Bastrop County incumbents hammered by GOP surge

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Bastrop, Tx–Bastrop County Republicans knocked open a few more Courthouse doors in Tuesday’s local elections, shoving aside Democratic incumbents seeking re-election as county treasurer, district court clerk and justice of the peace for Pct. 1.

Two other incumbents, both veteran Courthouse Democrats, turned aside GOP challengers at the same time, however.

Sarah Loucks, in her second run for the office, edged incumbent Cathy Smith out of the district court clerk’s office by a vote of 9,923 to 8,482. Laurie Ingram also unseated incumbent county treasurer Kathie Schroeder by 9,788 to 8,850.

First term Democratic Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Bill Weddle was ousted by Republican challenger Donna Van Gilder by a 3,087 to 2,639 vote.

At the same time veteran County Clerk Rose Pietsch survived a challenge by Republican Jason Ledlie. The vote was 9,898 to 8,418.

And in Elgin, Pct. 4 Commissioner Lee Dildy, a Democrat, was re-elected to a sixth four-year term over challenger David “Rocky” Palmquist by a vote of 2,274 to 1,712. As recently as last week, Dildy got an unusual boost from a published endorsement from Pct. 2 Commissioner Clara Beckett, a Republican.

In another closely watched election contest Tuesday, voters in the Elgin school district agreed to join the Austin Community College tax district, while voters in the Bastrop school district said no to the same issue. McDade school district voters also turned down the ACC opening.

Posted in Bastrop County, Local Politics | No Comments »

Airport fallout: critics blast county leaders

Monday, October 25th, 2010

Bastrop, Tx–A dozen-odd angry Bastrop County residents spent most of an hour Monday berating county commissioners and the judge for encouraging the development of a private general aviation airport and associated industrial projects on more than 1,000 acres west of Bastrop.

One after another they took the podium at a regular meeting of commissioners during a “citizens comment” section of the agenda. Some said they felt betrayed by the county signing a development pact for the project with veteran developer James Carpenter of Carpenter & Associates who has publicly pushed his plans for more than 18 months.

Others accused commissioners of “selling out” to developer interests. Many called for a public hearing on the airport and associated development projects. Some called for the development agreement to be scrapped outright.

Monday’s outpouring of anger was prompted in part by an announcement by Carpenter in Austin on Oct. 19 that four business ventures, including the conglomerate Toshiba,have made agreements to locate new facilities near the prop0sed airport.

In April 2009 Carpenter first laid out the project at a public meeting before commissioners and a hostile crowd which packed the meeting room. At the time County Judge Ronnie McDonald said residents would be able to pose questions about the plans at a future public session.

But no such session took place before commissioners approved a development agreement with Carpenter earlier this year, to the consternation of some critics. A key provision of the pact calls for Carpenter to invest a minimum of $150 million before the project is eligible for a rebate of 75 percent of county property taxes on the site and improvements for 30 years. Property taxes assessed by school districts and other taxing jurisdictions are not affected.

Commissioners did not respond to the critics during Monday’s meeting, nor did they offer any defense of the project or the deal with Carpenter.

Outside the meeting, however, some of them questioned whether Carpenter will be able to meet the $150 million investment threshold. At the Oct. 19 announcement in Austin, Carpenter said he hopes to begin construction later this year.

Posted in Bastrop County, business plans | No Comments »

Ex alcohol agent faces trial for teen sex assault, oppression in Bastrop

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Bastrop, Tx–A former law enforcement agent for the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission was ordered on May 25 to stand trial in Bastrop on charges of official oppression and sexual assault of a child younger than age 17. The state grand jury for Bastrop County returned two indictments against former TABC agend Joe Chavez this week.

Chavez was released from the Bastrop County Jail on $225,000 bail last June 12. The alleged incident, involving a teen and sting operations aimed at alcohol sales by local retailers, took place May 30, 2009, according to investigators. The grand jury indictments, which are not evidence of guilt, name Chavez on charges of sexually assaulting the girl as well as official oppression,that is, acting “under color of his employment as a public servant, namely as a law enforcement agent for the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission.”

Following the arrest of Chavez, TABC officials announced a state wide review and overhaul of rules for sting operations involving field agents and and underage informants working with them.

No trial date has been set.

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Posted in Bastrop County, Crime | No Comments »

Grand jury orders teen’s trial in Mom’s murder

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Bastrop, Tx–A 15-year-old from McDade was ordered to stand trial for murder in the August 2009 death of her mother, 42-year-old Tracy Belllard. Haley Bellard was 14 at the time of the incident.

Last week 423rd District Judge Chris Duggan in Bastrop ruled that Haley Bellard can be tried as an adult for her alleged role in her mother’s death. On May 25 the state grand jury for Bastrop County returned an indictment against the teen, in effect sending the case to trial . An indictment indicates that grand jurors decided there is enough evidence to warrant a trial. The action also serves as formal notice of a felony charge against a defendant. An indictment is not evidence of guilt in any case.

Since Duggan’s ruling earlier this month, Haley Bellard has been held in the Bastrop County Jail under $100,000 bail. Previously she had been held in a juvenile facility in Seguin.

Also charged in the death of Tracy Bellard is 18-year-old Joseph Douglas. He is in the Bastrop County Jail under $750,000 bail. Criminal investigators believe Tracy Bellard was shot to death in her McDade home last Aug. 14 after she tried to break up a romantic relationshiip between her daughter and Douglas.

Prosecutors said it could be another year before the case comes to trial.

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Girl, 15, can be tried as an adult in Mom’s shooting death, Bastrop judge rules

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Bastrop, Tx–After a hearing today a state district judge ruled that 15-year-old Hailey Bellard can be tried as an adult for the shooting death last August of her mother, Tracy Bellard, 42, of McDade. The teen was immediately arrested on a murder charge and ordered held in the Bastrop County Jail under $100,000 bail.

Hailey Bellard had been held in a juvenile detention facility since she and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Joseph Douglas, were questioned in August 2009 about the disappearance of Tracy Bellard, who worked at the family restaurant, Mimi G’s, on FM 1441 north of Bastrop. Douglas, also charged with murder, remains in jail under $500,000 bail.

District Attorney Bryan Goertz said he will seek a grand jury indictment against Hailey Bellard next week. Grand jury action is required to send any felony case to trial.

Criminal investigators believe Tracy Bellard was shot to death at her McDade home after she repeatedly tried to interfere with a romantic relationship between her daughter, 14 at the time, and Douglas.

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