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Front Page Headlines

One fifth of DISD students struck by illness

By LAURA KESTNER, Editor

DeLeon school children returned to class Tuesday, October 13, after a five-day opportunity for many of them to recover from illness.

DISD officials sent word to parents Wednesday, October 7, 2009, that classes had been canceled for Thursday and Friday, October 8 and 9, due to an outbreak of flu.

“Monday will remain a holiday, as is, on the calendar,” said Dr. Randy Mohundro, DISD superintendent, “and school will reopen on Tuesday, October 13.”

According to Dr. Mohundro, 133 students were absent on Tuesday, October 6, campus-wide, and 129 on Wednesday.

Mohundro said that 51 students were absent from the elementary school on Tuesday, October 6, 42 at the middle school and 40 at the high school, with 13 staff also out.

On Wednesday, there were 43 absent at the elementary school, 40 at the middle school and 46 at the high school – and 16 staff members were out.

While the schools were closed, Mohundro said that all school buildings were cleaned and sanitized.

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Council approves Rowell promotion to Sergeant

By LAURA KESTNER, Editor

DeLeon City Council members approved a pay raise and a promotion for Ben Rowell, a three-year member of the DeLeon Police Department, during their most recent meeting, Thursday, October 8, 2009. Rowell, formerly a corporal, received his new sergeant’s badge immediately following the meeting.

In the absence of Mayor Danny Owen, Mayor pro tem Gayle Stroud conducted the meeting. Also present were members Bobby Schuman, Billie Lightfoot, Pauline Villarreal and Lee Childers.

Others present and participating were Karen Wilkerson, administrator/secretary for DeLeon; Rob Duncan, public works administrator; Police Chief Ralph Dickey, Sgt. Ben Rowell, and Linda Levens, chamber executive director.

During one of the first agenda items, council members announced that “nothing was wrong” with Rebecca Amadore’s water meter.

Amadore had appeared before council members on September 10, protesting a more than $500 water bill that she’d received during the previous month, in which it stated that she’d used 70,000 gallons of water. Her normal water usage has been under 5,000 gallons per month.

Council members voted then to have the meter pulled and tested, providing that Amadore also have a plumber determine that there were no leaks on her side of the meter.

“Rob (Duncan) sent the meter off and there were no problems with it,” Stroud said Thursday night. “So we don’t know what could have happened except that she used that much water.”

Although Amadore was not present her son was, and he expressed disbelief that a small family could use that amount of water in one month. And he also noted that the plumber had found no leaks when he’d inspected the home.

“Well when we’re reading meters, the guys make note of people filling swimming pools, and people doing heavy watering, and we’ve got several people around town that have bills for $700 to $1,000 month (sometimes),” Duncan said at one point.

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2009 property tax season is quickly approaching

By GRACE EVERHART, Tax Assessor/Collector
Special to the Free Press

The 2009 property tax season is quickly approaching and this year may be difficult for a lot of good folks who have been paying taxes and visiting with Juanita Gray for the past 30 plus years. She was an amazing person with much knowledge, experience and expertise and it was evident she enjoyed the rapport she shared with her customers.

This year, I, Grace Everhart, and Margie Reyna are available to assist you at the DeLeon Tax Office. I returned to DeLeon in August 2006 when I retired from the U.S. Navy after 23 years of service. I began working at the Tax Office in October 2006 and was appointed as the Tax Assessor/Collector in June 2009. I have taken many courses through Texas Association of Assessing Officers and completed my last course and passed the final certification exam this month.

Margie Reyna joined the Tax Office in September 2009. Margie moved here in 1978 and has worked in DeLeon for many years. She was manager at Perry’s from 1987 until 1997 when the store closed. She joined the DeLeon Free Press staff in December 1997 and left there last November.

We want to ensure everyone has the following information:

• The DeLeon City and ISD Tax Office is located at 424 S. Houston St. (old hospital building). We are open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.   …

For full article, subscribe to the DeLeon Free Press. E-mail edition is only $20/year.

Comanche County Characters
Lesley: the last casualty

By JON AWBREY, Publisher

Sometimes a man is taken before his time, before the talents and abilities that are native to him are allowed to fully shine.

Nothing could be more true of that than the case of the legendary Robert Lesley, the last casualty of the Indian wars in Comanche County. He was a tough frontiersman, as tough as any, but more than that he was a brilliant man who managed to succeed in a world that gave him few material possessions and few options for obtaining them. But somehow, through his own initiative, and using his own muscles and mind, Robert Lesley became a success story during the short years of his life.

Robert “Bob” Lesley was born on Feb. 25, 1828 in Henry County, Georgia, son of Robert Lesley and his Cherokee wife Sequio, according to descendants.

When he was 18 years old, Lesley marched with Zachary Taylor’s army into Mexico as a volunteer during the Mexican War. Following his youthful service, Lesley returned to Georgia and married Louisa Adaline Reeves, daughter of Jonathan and Bethany Mayfield Reeves.

Robert and Adaline Lesley left Fulton County, Georgia in 1855 and traveled to Texas in an ox-wagon train. They brought with them three children – James, Robert and Sarah – and what few possessions they required to begin new lives on the Texas frontier. Among the other early settlers that joined the Lesleys in their settlement of the wilds of Texas were a number of relations including Adaline Lesley’s sister Meeky Blair, who settled near Desdemona with her husband Charles and established what became known as Fort Blair, and Robert’s younger brother James Lesley, who worked with Lesley as a stock raiser.

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Warren wins again with absolutely perfect pick ‘em

By JILL SMITH, Reporter

Billy Warren wins another week with his perfect picks. Not only did Warren correctly pick all the games, but he guessed the exact score of the tie breaker game. Way to go Warren.

Two other perfect pickers who guessed a little low on the tie breaking score were Kyle Coker and Thom Clayton. Kyle only missed it by six points.

Twelve other contestants were close on their trail missing it by one game. The games that kept most of them from being among the “perfect pickers” included Perrin-Whitt’s victory over Gorman, which was missed by 72 percent of the panel, and Florida’s win over LSU, which was the second highest missed game this week by 41 percent.

A perfect prediction from all of the panel was DeLeon’s big win over Ranger. Two other wins correctly picked by 99 percent of the contestants were both shut-outs, Cisco’s victory over Anson and Sidney’s demolition of Jonesboro.

The panel was much improved this week on their college picks, however 41 percent missed Florida’s win to LSU, and 25 percent picked wrong when Oklahoma State took a five point victory over Texas A&M.

There are four more weeks left in this contest with a chance for someone else to pocket the $50 prize. Good luck and study up, may the best picker win.

Coming Events

Call 893-6868 if you have an event to list

Cub Scout Sign Up Night!

Boys in 1st through 5th grades are invited to sign up for Cub Scouts this Thursday night, October 15, at DeLeon City Hall from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Cub Scouts hike, fish, learn to shoot BB guns and bows and arrows safely, swim, play games and sports, make craft items and much more -- all in a safe environment with trained leaders. For more information, call Lesa Pearson at 254-485-1842, or Les Zimmerman at 254-445-2190 or 325-660-4928.

CCMC Book Fair

CCMC Healthcare Volunteers will hold a book fair in the hospital lobby, Thursday, Oct 15 from 1 to 6 p.m. and Friday, Oct 16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hogtown Hootenanny

A Hogtown Hootenanny is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, in Desdemona, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. There will be a craft show, music, food and games.

Trick or Treat

The DeLeon Chamber of Commerce announced this week that Downtown Trick or Treating will be held Friday, October 30, and that Elaine Gibson, of Gibson Images, will take Halloween photos at the DeLeon City Hall auditorium from 4:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, including costs for photos, call 893-2083.

Winter Princess Pageant Contestants

For the first time DeLeon will host a Winter Princess pageant, which will be sponsored by the Women’s Division Chamber of Commerce. This pageant is open to girls age 5-10 years-old, or kindergarten through 4th grade. The pageant will be held November 27, 2009, at City Hall starting at 6 p.m. Entry forms are available at the DeLeon Elementary School office. The last day to enter is November 6, 2009.

Indian Artifact Show

The 3rd Annual DeLeon Indian Artifact Show will be held Saturday, November 14, 2009, at the DeLeon City Hall auditorium, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call Linda Levens at 254-893-2083.

DeLeon Arts and Crafts Fair

The DeLeon Arts and Crafts Fair, is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2009, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the City Hall auditorium. This year’s event will include vendors, food, silent auction, chili supper, a Winter Princess pageant, a parade, a stew lunch, and much more.

Danny Owen, the Mayor of De Leon, has a personal website.

Open Danny's website by Clicking Here

Scott Hall has creating an Internet website with history & photos of our town.

Click Here to visit his website

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