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On July 31, 2007 Larry Don Womack was presented the "Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture" Award at the Texas County Agriculture Agents Association meeting held in The Woodlands, Texas.

Larry is the third generation Womack to own, operate and manage Womack Nursery in the same location in DeLeon.    >>Full Story<<

By Laura Kestner, Editor

The Texas Education Agency recently released the 2007 school accountability ratings -- based in part on the most recent Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores and the DeLeon Independent School District received an “academically acceptable” rating.

Individually, DeLeon High School, Perkins Middle School and DeLeon Elementary also received academically acceptable ratings. While this is the same rating for both the high school and middle school, last year the elementary school received a “recognized” rating.

Dr. Randy Mohundro, DISD superintendent, said he was pleased in the growth the district is seeing in math and reading, and that the programs which have been implemented have been successful.

“However,” Dr. Mohundro said, “we’re nowhere near where we need to be, and we will continue to strive for further success.”

The Comanche ISD also received a rating of academically acceptable. Individually, three of the four Comanche campuses also received academically acceptable ratings, while Jefferies Junior High received a rating of “recognized.”

The Dublin ISD received a rating of academically acceptable, as did all four campuses.

The Gorman ISD received an academically acceptable rating, as did Gorman High School, while Maxfield Elementary received a recognized rating.

The 3rd annual October Doodle Bug Excursion Train ride between Dublin, DeLeon and Gorman has been canceled due to flood damage along the route.

Cliffa Vaughn of Gorman, who originated the idea of reviving the Doodle Bug ride and spearheaded its successful runs in 2005 and 2006 said, “We are disappointed, but Fort Worth & Western Railroad considers the rails to be unsafe for passenger train travel and we concur that passenger safety has to be our number one priority.”

Vaughn said the railroad plans to begin repairs on the section of track, which is known as the Peanut Line, in September. The project will not be completed for several months. FWWR will work with the three communities sponsoring the annual passenger train excursion to reschedule a new date, Vaughn said.

Members of the Doodle Bug planning committee have been calling the 200 ticket holders notifying them of the cancellation. “People love train rides so it is a disappointing message we are delivering,” Vaughn said, “but we are telling them about the Austin Steam Train which runs in the Hill Country in case they just can’t wait for us to shout ‘All Aboard the Doodle Bug’ again.”

According to Vaughn, many people booked their rides for 2007, before the completion of the 2006 ride.

“The 2007 Doodle Bug had been fully booked almost from the moment we pulled into the station last year and we already had more than 100 passengers reserving spots for 2008,” she said. The passengers names will be transferred to the next trip unless they asked to be removed from the list.

The Doodle Bug is the name given to the train that slowly doodled it way from Waco through West Texas making passenger and mail stops at every town. Vaughn came up with the idea of reviving the train ride between the three communities when Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation representatives from the three cities were looking for a joint project. For information contact Vaughn at 254-734-3619 or P.O. Box 686, Gorman, Texas 76454.

By Laura Kestner, Editor

Despite the timing (one week before school is set to begin) and the somewhat hectic atmosphere (staff meetings, planning sessions, etc.) the new DeLeon High School principal, Jimmie Cearley, took the time earlier this week to talk about his hopes and plans for the school.

“I have an excellent staff,” Cearley said, “and we’re going to make sure the kids have high-order thinking and learning skills. We want to make sure we get them ready for college -- or the job market.”  >>Full Story<<

On August 14, 2007, the Comanche County Grand Jury returned 19 indictments. Those that can be released at this time include:

Michael Earl Palmer, DeLeon, driving while intoxicated;  Eloy Leal, DeLeon, assault-family violence-with prior conviction;  Geraldo Garza, DeLeon, possession of methamphetamine;  Laura Beth Burnett, DeLeon, possession of methamphetamine;  Justin Colt Harris, Gustine, possession of methamphetamine;  Dustin James Woods, Comanche, evading arrest with vehicle;  Melissa Sue Cash, Comanche, forgery;  Melissa Powell, Comanche, possession of methamphetamine;  Matthew Wayne Kellems, Blanket, possession of methamphetamine;  Braulio Cresencio Cardenas, Comanche, unauthorized use of a vehicle;  Braulio Cresencio Cardenas, Comanche, burglary of a habitation;  Debra Kay Saxon, Dublin, possession of methamphetamine;  Michael Dale Montgomery, Jr., Comanche, criminal mischief;  Ross Joseph Babb, Lubbock, possession of dihydrocodeinone;  Cynthia Sabedra, Hamilton, possession of methamphetamine;  David Jones Loewen, Brownwood, possession of methamphetamine;  Alvaro Rodriguez Rojos, Dublin, driving while intoxicated;  Ralph Lopez, Jr., Comanche, evading arrest with motor vehicle;  and Tommy Lawrence, Gustine, theft.

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