Friday, April 26, 2024
The past year was full of many significant events in Gatesville and Coryell County, whether good, bad or somewhere in between.
Some of the memorable events for 2022 included:
WILDFIRES
Raging wildfires threatened significant portions of the county and also took a big toll on Fort Hood, resulting in local, regional and state assets being called to respond to the threat.
Damage done by the fires — and the strain placed on local fire departments — resulted in County Judge Roger Miller declaring the county a disaster area and seeking federal funds to offset expenses.
When fires at Fort Hood in late March burned out of control and even resulted in the evacuation of the community of Flat, local fire departments responded in a big way in helping to contain the threat.
Nine volunteer fire departments in Coryell County, as well as the Copperas Cove Fire Department, were all involved in responding to a massive blaze on the Army base that scorched more than 38,000 acres and was named the Crittenden Complex Fire. The volunteer fire departments involved were from Coryell City, Evant, Flat, Gatesville, Jonesboro, Levita, Oglesby and Turnersville.
Coryell County Judge Roger Miller said he appreciates all the effort and sacrifice made by local firefighters in responding to the massive fire, and he is thankful for those who served on the frontlines of the blaze to help avert tragedy.
"I want to highlight what a great value our volunteer fire departments are to our county," Miller said. "It's not just in the fire protection services they provide. We have seen a significant increase in the number of medical calls the firefighters respond to, and several volunteer firefighters have worked to become EMT (emergency medical technician) certified.
"Sometimes it takes an event like this to truly appreciate and highlight all that is involved and the great efforts our fire departments make in helping to keep our communities safe."
When the Crittenden Complex fire raged, "every fire department in Coryell County was involved," Miller said.
He worked with state officials and representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on plans to reimburse local fire departments for the expenses incurred in responding to the blaze on Fort Hood.
"The total cost to our local departments in responding to that fire was $70,030.74, using a FEMA cost analysis," Miller said.
JAIL EXPANSION/JUSTICE CENTER
The days before Christmas were not kind to Coryell County leaders looking to finalize funding plans for a new justice center off Leon Street, as well as expansion of the Coryell County Jail.
An unexpected $3 million rise in the expected cost estimates from Butler-Cohen, the construction firm selected to build the facilities, posed at least a temporary delay until details could be worked out. Although the price increase was not expected to have nearly as much of an impact on the jail expansion, all plans were tabled for at least one meeting of the Coryell County Commissioners Court, which took place Dec. 19.
On Dec. 27, the commissioners court members were scheduled to revisit the issue.
In November, after a prolonged period of being placed on the state's noncompliance list for the county jail, county leaders approved a stopgap measure that will soon alleviate overcrowding and also reduce the number of inmates being sent to other counties.
The current jail was to be expanded to help address the problems, giving the county additional time to formulate plans for a more longtime solution.
The Coryell County Commissioners Court also approved plans to build a new justice center at the corner of Leons and Eighth streets, which will house two justice of the peace precincts. The old building the JP’s office was located in was referred to as unacceptable by a county facilities committee, and was made a top priority, along with the jail concerns.
MURDER ARRESTS
Multiple arrests were made following the murder of a Waco woman, Elizabeth Ann Romero, in April of 2022.
Jessica Colleen Robinson was arrested in connection with Romero's death on May 19 and was charged with murder and theft of property over $100 and under $750. She was taken to the Coryell County Jail and held on bonds of $1 million for the murder charge and an additional $1,500 for theft.
In November, the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested Coryell County fugitive Erin Baily Finchum on Nov. 21 at a residence in Hamilton.
Finchum, 36, was wanted by the Coryell County Sheriff’s Office on warrants alleging murder and tampering/fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair related to Romero's death.
Also arrested in connection with the crime was Betsy Ayers Robinson, who was charged with murder and tampering of evidence.
INMATE ESCAPES
On the morning of Sept. 26, Coryell County Jail inmate Brandon Hogan escaped from a work detail at Seton Cemetery in the Leon Junction area.
Although law enforcement was immediately mobilized and participated in a wide search for the fugitive, Hogan was able to elude authorities.
Hogan, 37, a white male, 5 fett, 9 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, was conducting grounds maintenance at the Seaton Cemetery as part of a three-inmate crew supervised by the Sheriff’s Office Community Service Manager when he scaled a fence surrounding the cemetery.
Hogan had been in custody at the Coryell County Jail since Aug. 1, charged with assault of a family member impeding breathing/circulation with previous convictions, theft of a firearm, burglary of a habitation and criminal mischief.
He was added to the Texas Department of Public Safety's 10 Most Wanted List in October.
Authorities said Hogan was to be considered dangerous.
Coryell County Sheriff Scott Williams, during an October news conference, said, "We're going to look for you and never quit." He said Hogan would have to get lucky every day to avoid capture, "and we only have to get lucky once (to find him)."
GISD BUDGET CRUNCH
Responding to a budget shortfall, Gatesville Independent School District leaders enacted significant budget cuts that reduced the district's expenses by $1.7 million.
"It's a sad picture, and we've made some pretty major cuts," said Darrell Frazier, chief financial officer for the district. He noted that $674,000 of the cuts were made in the district's human resources department.
On a positive note, he said, "there have been no layoffs" and GISD employees will still be receiving salary increases for the 2022-23 fiscal year. However, "we have cut just about any open positions. There have been no (current) personnel cuts, but there have been some cuts by attrition" (people retiring or leaving the district and not being replaced).
The GISD Board of Trustees gave final approval to the 2022-23 budget and tax rate during a special meeting on Aug. 30, setting the budget at $29,717,793 and the tax rate at $1.0546 per $100 property valuation.
CHARLIE WISE DIES
Local philanthropist and community leader Charlie Wise, who has made a significant impact on the community through his charity work and previously as a business leader, died in July.
About a month earlier, he had been honored as the Gatesville Lions Club's Lion of the Year.
Wise had served as president of Medical Plastics Laboratory, a company started with two medical doctors and a dentist in a garage. During his leadership, the company grew to a multi-million-dollar enterprise that still employs many Gatesville citizens.
Wise has said it was divine guidance that has directed his life and the life of his wife, Mary Alice Wise.
“There's no doubt in our minds that God sent us to Gatesville, but it wasn't particularly to be in business; it was for us to get in the prison ministry," he told Baylor Magazine in 2010. "There's such a need inside the prisons, and many people don't see that's an opportunity to be a minister to those people's needs. There's a dynamic church inside the prison."
That ministry has also extended outside prisons, through the Hospitality House, which provides free lodging, food, fellowship and support for the families of those incarcerated in Gatesville. It also gives Hospitality House volunteers an opportunity to pray with those whose lives have been touched by difficulty, disruption and tragedy.
GATESVILLE LEADERS LEAVING
Gatesville Police Chief Nathan Gohlke and Gatesville City Manager Bill Parry both announced their retirement from those positions.
Gohlke's retirement is official as of Jan. 31, while Parry's departure will be at the end of February.
Gohlke became police chief in March 2005 and had a 31-year career in law enforcement, with nearly 25 of those years in Gatesville.
He is transitioning to a new career as a funeral planner and director with Scott's Funeral Home in Gatesville.
Parry became Gatesville's city manager in June 2015, and he has overseen a time of growth and significant investment in infrastructure upgrades.
Before coming to Gatesville, Parry had served as executive director of the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance, a non-profit organization that advocates for Fort Hood and all defense-related industry, organizations and institutions in the Central Texas region. He retired from the Army after 27 years of service, culminating with his final assignment as the Garrison Commander of Fort Hood from June 2001 through August 2004.
RIGHTEOUS ROOTS HOME
The Righteous Roots outreach secured a much larger building to minister to clients, taking over the former Scott Funeral Home building just off the Coryell County Courthouse Square. The organization's move-in day was in December.
The non-profit serves area families, and assists those who are dealing with abuse, recovery and various other types of crises.
CHARGES DROPPED
The Texas Attorney General's office has filed motions with the 440th District Court to dismiss human trafficking charges against nine people who were arrested and charged in June 2021.
Charges have been dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could be re-filed in the future. When a charge is dismissed with prejudice, that means they have been permanently dismissed.
"We believe the dismissals speak for themselves and we have no further comment at this time," wrote Patty Ramon, press secretary for the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in an email response to The Messenger asking about the dismissed charges.
GISD ADDS POLICE
The Gatesville Independent School District's Board of Trustees voted to form a district police force, and the transition was made during the fall school semester.
Previously, the city of Gatesville had provided school resource officers for the district.
Gary Stiles, a former Texas Department of Public Safety and Gatesville police officer, was selected as the first GISD police chief.
OLD HOSPITAL DEMOLISHED
The former location of Coryell Memorial Hospital on Lutterloh Street across from H-E-B was demolished in early December because the building had fallen into disrepair.
"After Winter Storm Yuri (in 2021), we had extensive water damage there," said County Judge Roger Miller. "Central County Services (which provides mental health services) had previously occupied the building. There was extensive damage to the floor, walls and ceiling (as a result of the winter storm) that made it cost prohibitive to repair."
Miller said the insurance proceeds the county received will pay for the building to be demolished, but those funds would not have covered repairs.
"We believe (demolition) is in the best interest of the taxpayers of Coryell County," he said. "We believe it will enhance the value of the property. It could be utilized by the county or we could sell it."
Miller said the building's historical significance is not forgotten.
A lot of us can say we were born at that hospital," he said. "It served our community well and the building stood for 82 years — I believe it was built in 1940."
RED KETTLE REVIVAL
After a year of not having a local Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, the Gatesville Lions Club stepped up to make sure the charity fundraiser was back for 2022.
All proceeds raised by donations to the Gatesville Red Kettle Campaign stay in the area.
Stephen Schmidt, pastor of First Methodist Church in Gatesville and a member of the Gatesville Lions Club and Ministerial Alliance, said when the Red Kettle program for Gatesville was announced earlier this year that it makes a big difference in the community.
"It is vitally important to those who have needs in our community," Schmidt said. "These funds help so many people, and without the Red Kettle Campaign, it makes a significant difference, and not in a good way. These funds are needed to help the community."
GROWTH CONCERNS
Oglesby area residents made their presence felt at multiple Coryell County Commissioners meetings to voice their concerns about a large subdivision that was being built in their neighborhood.
Among the concerns were that the area did not have the infrastructure — including water and roads — to support the massive growth expected as a result of major construction.
Blayr Barnard of Oglesby said she is not an opponent of development and growth, but a proposed 592 house subdivision that would be located near here has raised several concerns for her and several other neighbors.
Barnard voiced her concerns during the Sept. 13 meeting of the Coryell County Commissioners Court. She recently organized and hosted a town hall meeting for area residents on a Sunday earlier this month. That meeting was attended by County Commissioners Scott Weddle and Kyle Matthews.
"I am submitting 139 letters for review from concerned citizens," she told the commissioners court.
"It's been said I'm against development and growth. That's not true, I worked in development previously, and that's why I had no qualms hosting a town hall meeting with two days' notice."
Barnard said she has concerns about those who want to profit from the development of the land, and that they don't care about the impact it will have on the community.
BAND EXCELS
The Gatesville High School band advanced to the state's University Interscholastic League state marching band contest for the first time since 2008.
Dedication, hard work, and the ability to overcome adversity helped the GHS Band achieve a goal that few bands in the state accomplish — the opportunity to compete in the UIL state contest.
In addition to musicians, the color guard, dance team, directors, assistants and family members all played a role in helping the GHS band program reach the lofty milestone. Following the announcement in area competition, those associated with the band felt a surge of excitement and energy that kept them up well past midnight.
"We still have not come down from that feeling," said head band director Jose Sanchez, whose bands at Gatesville have come tantalizingly close in the past — and finally managed to earn the long-awaited prize.
The state contest was held Nov. 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
