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Gonzales Nixon Smiley Moulton Shiner Waelder Yoakum Luling Flatonia Hallettsville Cuero and More

Vol. 3- Issue 13

CannonThe GonzalesWWW.GONZALESCANNON.COM

Area Republicans kick off 2012 campaign season Page B8

Politics

ChristmasChristmas Greetings, Letters to Santa Sections D, E

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Guess whos coming to town?

By CEDRIC IGLEHART

County wont extend deal on oil leaseA light agenda was addressed during Mondays regular meeting of the Gonzales County Commissioners Court. After a brief discussion, the court declined to act on an extension agreement oil, gas and mineral lease with TNT Land & Minerals. The lease was for a nearly three-acre plot of land near the cemetery in Saturn. Gonzales County Clerk Lee Reidel informed the court during the public comments session that the deadline for filing to run for office in the upcoming election has been pushed back to 6 p.m. on Feb. 1. The election will also be delayed from its usual date in March. This has to do with the redistricting thats going on, she said. The election is going to be sometime in April, but right now its about as clear as mud and subject to change. In other business, the court approved appointments to the countys Archives and Records Center Advisory Board. The members are William (Bill) Hallmark, Pct. 1; Olen Malaer Jr., Pct. 2; Dorothy Nell Gilkey, Pct. 3; and Janice Williamson, Pct. 4.

newseditor@gonzalescannon.com

... and I want ...

Smiles were broad and in abundance when Santa Claus paid his annual visit to the Gonzales Healthcare Systems Foundations annual Christmas event Dec. 15. Santa normally arrives via Air Flight helicopter, but poor weather wasnt a problem as the Gonzales Volunteer Fire Department was ready to step up and handle transportation duties. This weeks Cannon features 24 pages of Christmas greetings and Letters to Santa in Sections D and E. (Photo by Dave Mundy)

Energy WatchWednesdays PricesNymex Oil Futures $98.24/bbl Nymex Gas Futures $3.16

Recent cases raise questions about bail proceduresBy CEDRIC IGLEHARTregion@gonzalescannon.com

Consistent justice, or a confused system?

Inside This Week:Agribusiness..................... A7 Arts/Entertainment........A9 Business.............................. A7 Classifieds.......................... B4 Comics................................ C6 Crime Beat........................ A2 Faith & Family................... B3 In Our View........................ A4 In Your View...................... A5 Obituaries.......................... A8 Puzzle Page...................... C5 Regional............................. B1 Sports.................................. C1

Lucas Energy Inc. LEI $2.08

A civic icon turns 80

Come and Hear It! Tune in to radio station KCTI 1450 AM at 8 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Tuesday for weekly updates from Gonzales Cannon news editor Cedric Iglehart and General manager Dave Mundy with KCTI personality Egon Barthels.

A surprise birthday party was held for Gonzales resident Lawrence Fryer Sr. on Dec. 17 at the Edwards Alumni Association Building. Fryer, who turned 80, was honored by several civic leaders including (top) Gonzales Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture director Barbara Hand, who hugged Fryer as Gonzales City Councilman Bobby Logan enjoyed a laugh; and Gonzales Mayor Bobby ONeal presented Fryer with a proclamation commemorating the special occasion. (Photos by Cedric Iglehart)

Two extremely polarizing cases currently going through the criminal justice system in Gonzales County have sparked several outbursts of public outrage. The source of aggravation for people interested in both cases center around the amount of bond set in each issue one generally regarded as so low an accused murderer was immediately freed on bail, the other seemingly as too high in relation to the charges. Tyrone Milton Mitchell, who was arrested and charged with the murder of Dyron James Green on Monday, Dec. 12, was arraigned the following day and set free after posting a $50,000 bond. The bond was set by Gonzales County Precinct One Justice of the Peace Deidra Voigt. On Wednesday, Dec. 14, James DuBose, who is accused of assaulting a Gonzales County Sheriff s deputy last February, was returned to custody in lieu of two bonds set at $500,000 each for charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assaulting a public servant. On the surface it appears a gross inBONDS, Page A3

Thursdays Forecast: Partly cloudy. High-67, Low-42. Winds from the west at 5 mph, 66% relative humidity. UV index: 4 (moderate)Friday: High-57, Low-39 Partly Cloudy Saturday: High-49, Low-36 Showers Sunday: High-58, Low-36 Sunny Monday: High-60, Low-40 Partly Cloudy Tuesday: High-62, Low-40, Partly Cloudy Wednesday: High-64, Low-44 Sunny

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For The RecordThe Cannon

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Today in Texas HistoryDecember 22, 1836 On this day in 1836, the General Land Office was established by the First Congress of the Republic of Texas. John P. Borden, the first commissioner, opened the office in Houston on October 1, 1837. He was enjoined by law to superintend, execute, and perform all acts touching or respecting the public lands of Texas. Much of the early business of the office consisted of translating and registering Spanish and Mexican land grants, and issuing headrights, military bounties, homestead preemptions, and veteran donations. Extensive land grants have been used to fund the public debt and education and to develop railroads. Texas is the only public-land state with complete control over its public lands and over the proceeds resulting from the administration and sale of lands.

Thought for the Day

New bond set in assault caseBy DAVE MUNDYmanager@gonzalescannon.com

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. Laura Ingalls Wilder

Bond was revoked and re-set at $1 million Wednesday for the man accused of assaulting a Gonzales County Sheriffs deputy last February, and he was returned to custody of the county jail. Judge Dwight Peschel revoked the two $100,000 bonds previously set for James DuBose of Gonzales and set those bonds at $500,000 each on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assaulting a public servant. DuBose remained in custody in Gonzales County Jail on Thursday. The earlier bond had been set with the stipulation that DuBose wear a GPS electronic monitoring device and with travel

restrictions. DuBose is accused of attacking a Gonzales County sheriffs deputy from behind, causing severe injuries, after the deputy had been called to the home of DuBoses ex-wife to break up an altercation between two women. The District Attorneys office asked that bond be denied, a request Peschel initially honored in March of this year, but Peschel set bond at $100,000 on each count during a hearing in April. District Attorney Heather McMinn at the time told The Cannon that The conditions of his bond include no contact with his victims or their family members, a curfew and only traveling from work to school and home, and he is not allowed to step foot in Gonzales County.

Gonzales Police ReportGonzales Police Department Report From Dec. 15-18 December 15 14-Year Old Female Issued Citation To Appear In City Court Charged With Disruption Of Class At 400 Blk College St. Reported Unauthorized Use Motor Vehicle At 2000 Blk Water St. Sheila Marie Herrera, 23 Of Gonzales, Issued Citation To Appear In City Court Charged With Theft At 1600 Blk Sarah Dewitt Dr. Reported Burglary Habitation At 900 Blk Cuero St. December 16 Reported Theft At 200 Blk St. Louis St. Reported Theft At 2800 Blk St. Joseph St. Reported Deadly Conduct At 1400 Blk St. Paul St. Miguel Angel Garcia ,18 Of Gonzales, Arrested And Charged With No Drivers License At 2100 Blk Water St. December 17 Reported Criminal Mischief At 1300 Blk Cavett St. December 18 Frederico Torres Santillan, 39 Of Gonzales, Arrested And Charged With Assault Family Violence At 1400 Blk Michael St. Thomas Presley Knight, 20 Of Hallettsville, Arrested And Charged With Possession Of Marijuana At 1700 Blk College St.

Gonzales Co. Sheriffs Office ReportGonzales County Sheriffs Office Sheriffs Report 12/11/11 Sanchez, Roberto Clemente, 02/1976, Harwood. Local Warrant Theft of Services. Released Paid $361.00 Fine. Local Warrant Fail to wear Safety belt. Released paid $248.00 fine. Local Warrant violate Promise to Appear. Released Paid $314.00 Fine. Local Warrant Public Intoxication. Released Paid $365.00 Fine. 12/12/11 Mitchell, Milton Tyron, 10/1975, Gonzales. Murder. Released on $50,000 Bond. Alvarez, Esteban, 09/1984, Edinburg. Requires $100,000 Bond. Remains in Custody. Barboza, Jose Luis, 04/1983, Fort Worth. Requires, $2,500 Bond. Tarrant County Warrant Assault Family/ Household Member Impede Breathing/Circulation. Remains in custody. 12/13/11 Hernandez-Rodriguez, Jorge Livito, 12/1974, Unknown. Evading Arrest/Detention with Vehicle. Requires $15,000 Bond. No Drivers License Issued. Remains in Custody. Espinoza, Illish Ivan, 06/1982, Smithville. Local Warrant Child Support Capias. Travis County Warrant Driving while Intoxicated. Requires $2,500 bond. Remains in Custody. Brown, Anthony, Wayne, 01/1967, Victoria. Local Warrant Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1 $20K 50 lbs $50