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Front Page Headlines

Police officer resigns

By JON AWBREY, Publisher

Police Officer Tim Fanning resigned effective immediately Friday evening from the DeLeon Police Department during a special called meeting of the DeLeon City Council.

Fanning reported that his hours as a full time police officer and a full time EMS had begun to be too much.

“I’m sad to leave,” said Fanning, “but I’ve been very happy to have served you all. It’s been a privilege and an honor.”

Council also discussed hiring former DeLeon Police Officer James Elliott, who had only recently resigned from the DeLeon Police Department in November to pursue a similar position in Brownwood.

The council unanimously approved Elliott’s hiring after a short closed session.

“We’re really glad that you decided to come back to us,” said council member Gail Stroud to Elliott, and council member Bobby Schuman offered similar sentiments.

Schuman said that he was well pleased with the police department, and thought that it was in as good a shape as it had been in a long time.

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100 Days of School

100 DAYS OF SCHOOL. DeLeon kindergarteners celebrated 100 days of their first school year Thursday with their annual 100 day celebration. Among the many crafts and activities the students participated in, the creation of their own personalized t-shirts seems to have been a particular favorite.

May 8th Elections

City:  Owen, Childers and Villarreal seek reelection

Click Here

Court hears road dispute, declines to get involved

By JON AWBREY, Publisher

Unusually, Comanche County Commissioners Court was hotbed of emotion Monday morning, as nearly two dozen county officials and residents witnessed a fiery spat regarding an abandoned county road.

Eastland County resident Roy Johnson, known for a highly publicized conflict with the windfarm near Desdemona last year, appeared before the court opposing efforts by two Comanche County landowners to have an abandoned county road returned to them.

Johnson opposed the return of the road to the landholders, he said, out of a fear that they would close the road and deprive him access.

Johnson also claimed that he and former Commissioner Clyde Brinson had struck a deal in 2001 ensuring the road would stay open.

Johnson said that a road closure would endanger his property as it would deprive energy companies access to maintain their wells.

“I have no minerals, I have not received a dime of compensation for damages. I have no soft feelings for them,” Johnson said of energy companies, before complaining that injection wells were polluting his property.

Without the road being open, it would be difficult for energy companies to maintain the wells, thus possibly increasing the potential for pollution.

Closing the road “will cost me considerable expense,” said Johnson, “will cost the oil people considerable expense, and right now its not costing anything.”

“I’ve talked to the county commissioner, and he says I don’t have any legs to stand on,” said Johnson, “ask BP if I stand or not.”

Jim Parker, legal counsel for the landowners, argued that he could not see how returning the road to the landowners would affect Johnson in any way, as the landholders agreed to continue allowing Johnson to use the road.

Johnson said he had been using the road for 30 years.

“I plan to keep using it,” said Johnson, “because the county and I had a deal... If the county wants to welch, so be it. I have adverse possession.”

Parker continued to insist that the landowners in question had no interest in closing the road, but Johnson was adamant that they were indeed planning to shut him out.

County Attorney Craig Willingham stated matter of factly that the road in question was in fact not a county road at all, and the county had no responsibility for it.

He did, however, raise the possibility that Johnson could take the landowners to court based on his longtime use of the road.

Landowner Eddie Lindley then offered to sign an easement with Johnson to allow him to keep using the road, but then said the issue was really not about the road, but about Johnson building a fence on Lindley’s property.

That property, said Lindley, “does not belong to Mr. Johnson. It belongs to me and Monty Stewart, and he can’t build a fence on my property.”

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Boy Scout memories remain alive in DeLeon

By LAURA KESTNER, Editor

Kerry Grisham and Cliff Coan, two of the 1975 Boy Scouts pictured above, shared a few memories this week about what the DeLeon scouting program has meant to them.

Kerry Grisham (back row, left) Troop 37 scoutmaster for the past 13 years, said “scouting meant everything to me.”

“Now days, it's nothing for a kid to get to go camping with their dad,” Grisham said, “but back then, camping out was something I didn't get to do. So an opportunity to go camping with the scouts was great -- it was the way I got in touch with the outdoors.”

Grisham said that he considers his years with the scouts, including those as a leader, as time well spent. He said he credits the scouting program for many of the best things in his life -- and that they still each all about the important things in a boy’s life.

“Boy Scouts, family values and Christian values, it all goes together,” Grisham said.

He added that the merit badge program is important because it, “shows you what you might have an aptitude for in life -- whether it be work or hobbies.”

Grisham said he was especially grateful for the Boy Scout supporters in town, including some who have supported them for many years.

Grisham said he remembers the Philmont trip (pictured above) very well.

"It was Mr. Perkins first group to take to Philmont,” he said, “and I'm so proud to have been a part of that. All of those memories go with me every campout I go on. I draw from the old, for the new.

Grisham said, as a scoutmaster, he tries to follow Mr. Perkins' creed, and “let the boys be boys.”

Cliff Coan, back row, center, also has fond memories of Scoutmaster Perkins.

“I came into Scouting in the fifth grade, and I've been involved in it off and on in some capacity ever since,” Coan said. “James Perkins was the scoutmaster back then, and for many years after, and he came to our fifth grade classroom to recruit us. It sounded like fun – my parents had grown up during the Depression, and that had pretty much exhausted any need they felt to ‘rough it,’ so we didn't do much camping in our family.

Coan said scouting has always been “fun with a purpose.”

“Hundreds of campouts have helped me learn quite a few things,” he said. “Even the disastrous campouts – and in all those years, there've been a few – were learning experiences, often based around natural consequences. You didn't pay attention and pitched a tent in a gully? When the rain started, you got wet. Didn't pack the right kind of food? You went hungry. Packed too much stuff in your backpack? You wore yourself out. You learned, through experience, to improvise, adapt and overcome; and you learned basic skills for getting along with others and a host of leadership skills.

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Coming Events

Call 254-893-6868 if you have an event to list

Cinderfella Pageant

First United Methodist Church will hold a “Cinderfella” pageant as a fundraiser for their youth program on Saturday, February 13 at the DeLeon City Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. The pageant is open to men and boys ranging from high school age and older.

DHS Alumni Softball Game

A DHS Alumni Softball Game is scheduled for Saturday, February13 beginning at 2 p.m. at the field on Ballpark Loop.

“Books Are Fun” Book Fair

CCMC Healthcare Volunteers are sponsoring a "Books Are Fun" Book Fair, Thursday, February 18 from 1 to 6 p.m. and Friday, February 19, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Comanche County Medical Center Lobby. Proceeds go for equipment for CCMC. Lots of great gift ideas as well as books.

Ricky Boen and Texas Mud

Ricky Boen and Texas Mud, a well-known Texas Swing Band, will perform at the DeLeon City Hall auditorium Thursday, February 18, 2010 beginning at 7 p.m.

Chili Cooks Wanted

Local Chili Cooks are wanted for the DeLeon Rodeo Association Chili Cookoff (CASI sanctioned) on February 20-21 at the DeLeon City Hall auditorium. Sign up is at 9 a.m., beans need to be turned in at 12, and chili at 2 p.m. There will be a silent auction from 9 a.m. til 4 p.m. For entry fees and rules, contact Jamie Ballenger at 254-485-2877.

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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