January

A new baby beefalo, belonging to Autry and Peggy Andress, graced the front page, along with her buffalo mother, Gladys.

It was a busy month for the City Council, which passed a noise ordinance, and heard complaints about the death of a pit bull at the hands of a former DeLeon police officer.

The Comanche County Medical Center Board terminated the top two hospital executives -- Chief Operating Officer Mike Hare and Chief Executive Officer Evan Moore.

Josh Beaty showed the Grand Champion Market Steer at the local show.

Dustin Sparger’s Spotted gilt was judged the top market pig at the local show.

Will Dickey showed the top market swine at the County Show.

Tyler Lettunich showed the Grand Champion market steer.

Burglars stole numerous packs of cigarettes from Freddie’s Short Stop.

February

McCullough County Judge Randy Young entertained the crowd at the 2007 Chamber of Commerce Banquet (on January 29). Gayle Stroud was selected “Woman of the Year” with “Man of the Year” going to Dr. Mike Burk. The “Golden Deed” honorees were Betty and Cedric Bettis and the “Business of the Year” went to Golden Oak Milling.

The Cinderfella contestants were the talk of the town, and the subject of several Free Press photos, including a huge front page depiction of all the contestants. The ultimate winners were, Howena (Howard) Dickey in the Senior Miss category, and Ms. Jwana Coconut (M.J. Stewart) in the Junior Miss category.

Four DeLeon residents -- Judy Sadberry, Marlene Cox, Barbara Helberg and Karen Wilkerson -- traveled to Austin for Comanche County Day.

Long-time Comanche County Extension Agent Bob Whitney resigned to work in Amman, Jordan.
Joe Burnett was selected as “Fireman of the Year.”

Kurt Meyer was selected the interim administrator for Comanche County Medical Center.

March

Several grass fires were pictured on the front page.

Boyd Waggoner resigned from the Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District Board.

Young barrel racer Macee Steigleder, 5, was featured on the front page.

Laura Brown was a candidate for School Board, as were Kelly Dickey, Brad Sanders and Dwight Dold.

Marion Quade was a candidate for City Council, as were Gayle Stroud, Avery Carlisle, Fred Turner, Benny Morris and Roy Dale Freeman.

Gayland Daugherty was a candidate for Hospital Board, as were Billy Ray Evans, Janna Morris and Marvin McKinnon.

The School Board called for an $8 million bond proposal for a new high school.

Promontory Park had a new fire truck.

Truman Childress, Comanche County veterans service office, announced his retirement.

April

A Tuesday morning power outage affected many businesses, including the Free Press. According to TXU representatives, line crews were working replacing poles on a high voltage distribution line along Hwy. 6 just west of DeLeon.

Flooding along the Sabanna River was a front page photo feature.

A late season snow, on April 7, left much of north and central Texas, including DeLeon, covered in a blanket of white. Snow-covered bluebonnets were a front page Free Press feature.

The cast and crew of the DHS One Act Play advanced to state competition.

Shortly after winning first place in regional One Act competition, cast and crew members were photographed with a large banner reading “This is for you, Kelsey” in honor of injured classmate Kelsey Menzel. Kelsey sustained extensive injuries in a two-vehicle accident, Sunday, April 8, one day after participating in the area One Act competition.

Due to safety concerns, DeLeon City Council members voted to not open the City Pool for the summer.

May

DeLeon High School students participated in a mock crash involving innocent victims and a driver charged with DWI.

Kevin Storey was hired as Chief Executive Officer for Comanche County Medical Center.

Joe Locke filed for re-election on the hospital board, and Becky Golden announced her decision to seek re-election to the school board.

A gallon can of peaches served at the DeLeon Elementary Cafeteria was the prime suspect in several student illnesses.

Ed Dittfurth was appointed to the Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District Board to replace Boyd Waggoner.

All of DeLeon and some nearby areas got a reminder of how much our lives depend on electronic communications when the links to the greater world were suddenly severed when a break occurred in a fiber optic cable somewhere west of Santo.

Council members heard complaints about musical events at the Festival Grounds.

Newly-elected Council members -- Benny Morris, Roy Dale Freeman and Gayle Stroud -- were sworn in by City Secretary Karen Wilkerson.

Mary Katherine Dickey was named DHS valedictorian, and Kelsey Menzel was named salutatorian.

Thirty-three students were graduated from DeLeon High School.

Staff Sgt. Kristopher Allan Higdon, the son of Ollie L. Little, and the grandson of Ollie J. Little, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

Joe Locke, Janna Morris and Gale Easley were pictured drawing to determine their term of office after being elected, or re-elected to the Comanche County Medical Center Board.

June

The Peach and Melon Festival Queen candidates included Candace Houston, Mercedes Chupp, R-Leigh McLearen, Kendra Howard, Latisha Abbey, Kimberly Arnold, GeorgeAnne Landreth and Courtney Caraway.

Joe Powers, 58, was killed in a a tractor-rollover accident near Beattie.

The DeLeon Fire Department BBQ was deemed successful.

Toby Morris and John Fair received minor injuries in a two-vehicle accident on Hwy 16 South in which both vehicles flipped over.

Flooding in rural areas, on June 17, made for an interesting night for law-enforcement personnel as they made several high-water rescues.

The P&M Festival offices were moved from within the Chamber office to a location across the street.

The renovated and refurbished Masonic Lodge building on Texas Street was the subject of a front page feature.

Firemen responded to a fire (caused by lightning) in the home of Larry and Linda Keith.

Several DeLeon residents participated in a Texas Truck and Tractor Puller’s Association pull at the Festival grounds.

Flooding at Lake Proctor was featured on the front page.

July

Water being released over the spillway at the Proctor Lake dam was pictured on the front page.

DeLeon Police Officer Waverly Inman was injured in a motorcycle accident.

Whit Weems was appointed the Comanche County Extension Agent.

The DeLeon Area Produce Market opened on Texas Street past the railroad tracks.

City Council members voted to change electricity providers.

DeLeon Volunteer Firefighter Mike Murphy was stranded in flood waters for several hours and was finally rescued by his fellow firemen. Murphy had earlier assisted in the nearby rescue of a stranded motorist.

The hospital board agreed to sell the old DeLeon Hospital and Clinic to DISD.

County Commissioners discussed seeking financial aid for flood damage to roads and bridges in the area.

August

Latisha Abbey was crowned Peach and Melon Festival Queen and Jaclynn Pierce was crowned Little Miss. Kendra Howard was named Miss DeLeon.
Middle Trinity GCD board members discussed the dangers of unplugged, abandoned wells after a DeLeon area couple were sickened due to a contaminated well near their property.

A dedication ceremony for the Armstrong Masonic Lodge was held on July 26 (and reported in the first August issue).

A heavily-loaded tractor trailer collapsed after breaking in half while turning west at the signal light at Hwys 6 and 16.

A house fire on Carnes Street kept DeLeon Volunteer Firefighters busy. The house was unoccupied and was a total loss. Another fire, at the home of Mike and Janna Wright, occurred later in the month.

City Council members approved increases in the water, sewer and solid waste rates.

Avery Carlise filed election to the DeLeon City Council. The special election was called to fill the vacancy left by the sudden death of Councilman Benny Morris.

Ireland and Liberty Hugg were pictured on the first day of school in front of DeLeon Elementary School.

County Commissioners approved tax abatements for a proposed windfarm near Comanche.

The new DISD “faces” were introduced which included: Elaine Gibson, Jody Janek, Shelly Stone, Jennifer Rucker, Kalli Hare, Heath Gibson, Michael Nix, Brad Janek, Kevin Bartley and Dustin Altmiller.

September

Vandals destroyed more than 200 watermelons belonging to B.B. and Pauline Villarreal.

The local LULAC Council received their charter certification. The first officers were Eddie Prado, Pauline Villarreal, Dora Rangel and Maria Segura.

A turning lane was completed in front of the Comanche County Medical Center.

Marion Quade filed for the Place 3 Council seat.

Corporal Robert Kluge resigned from the DeLeon Police Department.

The 2007 Homecoming King and Queens nominees were Cody Welch, Whitney McDonald, Hunter Golden, Bonnie Gilder, Kevin Smith, Kristen Powell, Tanner Winkles and Emily Auvenshine. The winners, Taner Winkles and Kristen Powell, were announced during the September 21 Homecoming Game.
The Coming Home Queen was Joyce Kimmell Chupp.

An unknown person, or persons, most likely from Dublin, spray-painted “Dublin Lions” on the Bearcat Stadium track sometime prior to the morning of the game.

October

The first Tractor Pull was held at the new Community Park. The event, organized as a fundraiser by the DeLeon Truck and Tractor Pull Council, drew participants from many nearby towns and was deemed successful by organizers.

A front page feature on the Clear Creek Ranch Bird Farm reported that Richard Chetney is raising some 45,000 pheasants, chukars and quail on Highway 2921.

Slade Gooden (pictured with Chief Doyle Rone) was one of the many kindergarten students who traveled to the fire station to learn more about fire safety.

The Mighty Maroon Band received a Superior Rating in UIL competition at Brady, and advanced to the Area Marching Contest in Belton.

Fall Festival King and Queen contestants were Austin Koonce, Allison Martinez, Austin Johnson, Kaitlyn Wilkerson, Jorge Hernandez, Jessica Flores, Ashley Davis and Josh Beaty.

November

A hit and run at the First United Methodist Church resulted in both interior and exterior structural damage to the Heritage Hall section.

Tom Broom, 86, of Gorman, was killed in a tractor accident between Duster and Gorman.

The Free Press became available by e-mail subscription.

It was announced that the Houston Street entrance to the old DeLeon Hospital building was the new place to pay taxes.

Tom Letz was hired as the Chief Financial Officer for Comanche County Medical Center.

DeLeon’s first Indian Artifact Show (at City Hall) attracted large crowds.

Kaitlyn Wilkerson and Austin Johnson were crowned Queen and King of the Fall Festival.

The DeLeon Bearcats made it to the play-offs and took on the Collinsville Pirates at Elk Stadium in Burleson. The Bearcats lost 41-6.

New polycart trash containers, and new rules regarding trash disposal, were delivered to each house in the city limits.

The DeLeon FFA Public Relations Team placed second in the Area IV Leadership Development Event Contest at Tarleton, and advanced to state competition in Huntsville.

Avery Carlisle was sworn-in as the new Place 3 City Council member.

Three separate accidents were caused by icy bridges in the area.

District Attorney B.J. Shepherd announced his decision to seek re-election.

County Attorney Charles Williams announced his decision not to seek re-election.

December

Sheriff Jeff Lambert announced his decision to seek re-election, as did Constable Mark McDonald.

Craig Willingham announced his decision to run for Comanche County Attorney.

Mike Carlin announced his decision to run for Precinct 3 Commissioner.

Two new police officers -- Heather Harding and Donna Turnbow-- were sworn-in by City Secretary Karen Wilkerson.

The Country Christmas at City Hall attracted a large crowd of young people (and the young at heart) to visit with Santa Claus and do some Christmas shopping.

Dock Green filed for Place 1 County Commissioner.

Gay Green filed for re-election as Comanche County Tax Assessor-Collector.

Sherman Sides filed for County Commissioner Place 3.

Pamela McLearen, 46, died in a one-vehicle crash just west of the Leon River Bridge in an early morning accident on December 13.

Sid Miller, St. Rep District 59, announced his decision to seek re-election to the Texas House.

Bearcats receiving Academic All-State honors were Mitch Barefoot (1st team); Josh Beaty (2nd team), and Kevin Smith (honorable mention).