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Jourdanton man electrocuted
Gerald Black, News Editor - Wednesday, February 03, 2010

This warning sign was ignored by alleged thieves at the Karnes Electric Coop substation off of Highway 97 in Pleasanton. An electrical arc most likely caused the death of 44-year-old Guy Bayles Harlan in the early hours on Friday, January 29.

Guy Bayles Harlan, age 44, of Jourdanton, was killed by an electrical shock he received early Friday morning, January 29.

Atascosa County Sheriff’s officials allege Harlan was trying to steal copper wire from a substation when he was hit with 69,000 volts of electricity.

Karnes Electric Coop and dispatchers at the sheriff’s office began receiving calls around 12:30 a.m. concerning power outages in the eastern part of the county. The substation where the incident occurred is located in the 3800 block of Hwy. 97 east of Pleasanton, close to IH-37.

Harlan’s body was discovered inside the substation grounds when Karnes Electric Coop District Manager Daniel Sauceda drove to the substation and found where someone had cut a hole in the fence and spotted the body.

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Matthews new Poteet city manager
Gerald Black, News Editor - Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Poteet City Manager LaNell Matthews

Former Mayor of Poth looks forward to new job.

LaNell Matthews began her first day of leading the City of Poteet on Monday, February 1.

One of her first official acts as City Manager was going around town, introducing herself to residents and meeting business owners.

LaNell served several terms as a council member for the City of Poth in Wilson County. After a couple of years off the council, she ran and was elected Mayor of Poth. She has lived in Poth since 1989.

“It’s a small town, so you have to handle several jobs,” Matthews stated. As the mayor, she took on the “double duty” as City Manager. She served two terms as the Mayor of Poth.

LaNell Matthews and her husband bought a business and operated it until they sold the busines...

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Sheriff says folks can help fight crime
., . - Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Responding to the increased number of citizens wanting to assist law enforcement officials and build a stronger partnership in the fight against crime, Sheriff Tommy Williams today announced that Atascosa County Citizens are being invited to become Associate Members of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas.

Membership invitations will go out in the mail over the next several weeks. Associate member funding allows the sheriff’s Association of Texas to provide critical training, technical resources and legislative support on key criminal justice issues to law enforcement officers across the state.

In addition, dues will be used to support crime prevention and awareness programs, promote public safety, fight drug abuse, provide additional training for sheriffs and their depu...

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Jobless rate up in many counties; Atascosa holds for third month
Gerald Black, News Editor - Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Unemployment in Atascosa County has remained at 7.8 percent for October, November and December 2009. That was after a drop from 7.9 percent in October.

Most other area counties have had slight increases in unemployment rates. The rates for Texas in December were 8.3 percent (seasonally adjusted) and 8.0 percent (not adjusted; like the counties). Nationally, unemployment rates in December were 10.0 (adjusted) and 9.7 (not adjusted).

The Texas Workforce Commission had this to say:

AUSTIN — The Texas seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent in December, up from 8.0 percent a month ago, but continued to trend well below the U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December of 10.0 percent. Total nonagricultural employment in Texas decreas...

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Sales were down, but still good for McMullen County show
Gerald Black, News Editor - Wednesday, January 27, 2010

McMullen Countyâ€™s Grand Champion (Heavy Weight) Steer, exhibited by Laramie Starr, sold at auction Saturday for $5,500 to Energy Transfer, represented by John Barnes.

After six consecutive years of record breaking sales totals, coupled with a sluggish economy, it was a bit of a disappointment that the McMullen County Jr. Livestock Show did not reach the total sales marks of the past two years. But, it was still considered a pretty good year.

The grand total at the 2010 auction reached $186,517 â€” $49,783 less than the 2009 record-setting sale of $236,300.

This yearâ€™s included a decrease in animals, from 2009â€™s 86 exhibits to 72 in 2010. The price (average) per animal also declined from $2,748 to $2,591 in 2010.

Grand Champions

Laramie Starr, who also won the Beef Showmanship award, exhibited the 2010 Grand Champion Steer, which sold at auction for $5,500. She also showed the top steer in 2009 and won S...

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Home alarms saved lives
., . - Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Express photo by Joe David Cordova

Firefighters worked hard and quickly to extinguish this home fire on County Road 430 early on Wednesday morning, Jan. 20. Volunteer firemen from two departments, Jourdanton and Pleasanton, teamed up when the fire alarm sounded around 4 a.m. Jourdanton Fire Chief David Prasifka said later that two-thirds of the home was untouched by the blaze. â€œI canâ€™t stress enough about having good working fire alarms installed in the homes. If the fire alarms had not sounded and awakened the residents they would have died within a few minutes. The rooms were already filled with smoke,â€ Prasifka said. The home, southeast of Jourdanton, belongs to Shane Curbow. Each fire department arrived with three trucks and Jourdanton provided the tanker unit....

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Election guide
., . - Wednesday, January 20, 2010

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