Approval of golf course, pool repairs make headlines
By LISA CARNLEY Staff Writer

District 54 State Rep Jimmie Don Aycock, left, was on hand to congratulate Kempner residents, including Mayor Gene Isenhour, upon the city's 10th anniversary celebration.

Many news events graced the front pages of the Lampasas Dispatch Record during 2007.

A sampling of the major happenings for the second half of the year follows.

JULY

The Board of Trustees of the Lampasas Independent School District authorized the issuance of school building bonds and voted to levy an ad valorem tax to support the bonds. They also executed a bond-purchase agreement and other matters related to the $48.85 million bond issue approved by voters in May.

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Copperas Cove resident Hidi Gower, who was murdered at the Kempner VFW in east Lampasas County on July 4, was the victim of a murder-for-hire plot instigated by her husband, officials said. Five persons, including a Lampasas man, were arrested in connection with the crime.

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Kirby Crow and Kelsea Moyer were named Miss Spring Ho and Little Miss 2007, respectively, at the annual beauty pageant.

Sheriff Gordon Morris announced his retirement after more than 35 years of law enforcement service.

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A Lampasas woman was hospitalized after she was stung more than 500 times by Africanized bees just inside the eastern city limits. Her husband was stung about 100 times. Miraculously, their toddler was not stung by the swarm of bees.

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Lampasas saw an increase in crime rates for a variety of offenses, particularly those relating to alcohol and drug charges and to felony cases. Police Chief Tim Angermann said arrest statistics for the first six months of 2007 showed a dramatic increase in many categories compared to 2006.

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LISD trustees granted a 2.5 percent employee pay raise and increased stipends for employees in various positions.

* * * Citizens packed the district courtroom to near capacity at a jail hearing, protesting everything from the proposed facility's cost to its design and possible location after the county purchased 12.65 acres for a new jail about a mile south of the Lampasas city limits on U.S. Highway 183.

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Walter L. Prugh was honored at his retirement after 36 years of service on Kempner Volunteer Fire Department's executive committee.

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Texas Eagle Forum President Cathie Adams offered a discussion on border security at a gathering sponsored by the Lampasas County Conservative Club. She also encouraged defeat of the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor.

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Residents turned in a petition opposing a county jail site along U.S. 183 with more than 1,165 signatures, making a November bond election likely.

AUGUST

Two Copperas Cove men were charged in connection with breakins at the automated teller machines of two Lampasas banks along Key Avenue. Crimes similar to the ones in Lampasas had been reported to Killeen, Copperas Cove, Florence and Harker Heights police.

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Results from Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests show that Lampasas ISD students are at or above state averages on all but four of the measures. Gains were noted in nearly every subject tested from 2006 to the most recent test administration.

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A group of southwest Lampasas residents went before City Council members to protest the council's decision to keep automobiles off Naruna Road until completion of bridge repairs near the golf pro shop, which could take as much as six months.

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Citizens collected enough signatures to force a jail bond election, but county commissioners discussed selling the land behind the Lampasas County Office Building. If commissioners find a buyer, the county could recoup some of the funds to be expended if a new jail proposal passes voters' muster.

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The city agreed to apply for a $1 million grant in an effort to keep Oil States Industries in Lampasas. Council members will seek approval for a Texas Capital Fund "jumbo" grant that would provide for water and sewer extension at the industrial park on U.S. 183, since Oil States officials said the company needs room to expand to maintain its business.

SEPTEMBER

Winds of almost 80 miles per hour blew through the Horseshoe Bend neighborhood, caving in a travel trailer roof and knocking down several trees. Winds also tore off a tin roof from an overhang covering a riding mower in one yard. Several other yards were littered with large limbs and downed trees. Some power outages also were noted.

* * * Scully Energy Corp., a Saladobased company, is concentrating its well-drilling efforts in Coryell and southeast Lampasas counties. Of seven wells drilled in Lampasas County, six are ready for connection to a natural gas pipeline -- once energy explorers find suitable infrastructure.

* * *

Officials from Metroplex Health System and Temple-based Scott & White Hospital signed a Letter of Understanding, taking the first step in forging an agreement that will augment healthcare options for Killeen and the surrounding communities. The understanding calls for Scott & White to acquire a onethird interest in Metroplex and for the Scott & White Health Plan to consider applications from more Metroplex-based physicians to become participating providers.

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Lampasas County Sheriff Gordon Morris announced his plans to retire after his term ends in 2008. He will close the door on a law enforcement career that has spanned more than 35 years.

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Longtime Lampasas businessman Paul A. Brown, 98, died. He opened Paul's Electric and ran the company until 1997.

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Brittany Ham was named Homecoming Queen during halftime festivities at a Badger football home game.

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Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson made a stop in Lampasas to encourage voter registration for November elections.

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Lampasas Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Brant Myers was awarded his first pay increase -- to $118,400, up from $105,000 -- since Myers signed his original contract at his hiring in October 2005.

OCTOBER

A former Lampasas High School student was slated to stand trial for the Feb. 24 death of Jordan Brittnie Evans, a 16-year-old LHS sophomore.

Kory Dean Porter was charged with intoxicated manslaughter stemming from a one-vehicle accident about six-tenths of a mile south of U.S. Highway 190 near Kempner in which Miss Evans was killed and four other LHS students were injured.

* * *

Kempner City Councilwoman Alicia Ford submitted her resignation. She is headed to Phoenix, Ariz., to be nearer her family. Mrs. Ford served six years on the council.

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Lometa Mayor Mike McGarry died at his residence in Lometa after a lengthy illness. McGarry served as the Lometa mayor after filling the unexpired term of then- Mayor Bob McClinton in January 2005. He was re-elected in 2006.

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Project Graduation's 2008 Cow Patty Bingo event was canceled after organizers were notified by the Texas Lottery Commission the event is illegal.

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Lampasas Independent School District officials noted they are taking every precaution to assure that staph infection is not being spread among students. Officials also said the LISD has its lowest number of cases this year, and that rumors of staph incidents have been greatly exaggerated.

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Lampasas City Council joined other area municipalities in fighting gas utility rate increases proposed by Atmos Energy Corp.'s Mid-Tex Division. The company has proposed a $51.9 million annual rate increase.

NOVEMBER

The Lampasas City Council awarded a $406,111 bid for Hancock Park Golf Course bridge repairs to M.W. Hail Construction Inc. for the replacement of the pro shop and No. 6 bridges damaged after extensive flooding in the summer.

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Lampasas Police Department officials have received an increasing number of complaints about trucks speeding and veering across the center stripe on Howe Street as travel has increased from a Burnet County quarry on Farm-to-Market Road 1478 (Naruna Road).

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Lampasas County voters rejected by nearly a two-to-one margin a proposition for a new county jail and expansion of the Lampasas County Office Building. The proposal would have authorized the issuance of a maximum of $20 million in certificates of obligation.

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Vision Downtown Lampasas! drew a large crowd of supporters to kick off the Downtown Task Force's revitalization efforts. Visitors were given an overview of the action plan developed by the task force and were encouraged to make the dream of a revitalized downtown a reality.

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Population growth is fueling trustees of the Library Foundation of Lampasas, Texas Inc. to outline preliminary plans for a two-story expansion project for the Lampasas Public Library that would meet the community's needs for the next 20 to 25 years.

* * *

Kempner residents, City Council members, city staff, former council members and others crowded into Kempner City Hall to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the city, which was incorporated after Copperas Cove officials took steps to annex most of the community, including a six-mile strip along U.S. 190 from FM 2657 to the Lampasas River.

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After four hogs on his property died from poisoning, Mike Hail offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest or grand jury indictment of those responsible. A local veterinarian determined the hogs died from massive amounts of the poison Temik -- a powerful aldicarb pesticide.

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Jennifer Snyder, a volunteer reserve police office and certified law enforcement officer, was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Kempner City Council member Alicia Ford, who recently moved.

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Lampasas City Council awarded a $416,635 bid for the Hanna Springs Swimming Pool project to Aquatic Renovation Systems Inc. Funds will replace the gutter and provide installation of a PVC liner in the pool.

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Kempner Water Supply Corp. looked into an agreement to sell to the city of Lampasas some of the water treatment and pipeline capacity KWSC owns through the Central Texas Water Supply Corp.

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A recent water well screening conducted by the Texas Cooperative Extension Service showed that of the 79 samples screened, about eight percent or 10 tested positive for fecal coliform, indicating that feces from animals or humans may have contaminated the wells.

DECEMBER

The Lampasas Colored School, backed by a group of citizens concerned about losing a piece of the county's history, continued work toward the building's restoration, bolstered by a $30,000 Texas Preservation Trust Fund Grant through the Texas Historical Commission.

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Lometa Mayor Pro Tem David Ivey was appointed to fill the unexpired term of mayor, replacing Mike McGarry who died last month.

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Amanda Wade was named the new chairman for Vision Downtown Lampasas!, which is pushing for revitalization of the city's downtown historical district.

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Trustees of the Board of the Lampasas Independent School District approved design plans for renovation and new construction projects.

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The city of Lometa has been awarded a $350,000 grant from the state Office of Rural Community Affairs for improvements and additions to the Lower Colorado River Authority water supply that serves the city. Funds, along with a grant from the LCRA, will cover the cost of building a secondary transmission line.

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The city of Lampasas is awaiting official notice of approval from the Texas Department of Transportation for new hangar construction at the Lampasas Municipal Airport. About $400,000 was approved for the airport.

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Gene Overton, co-founder of the Lampasas County Conservative Club, died after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 76.

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Lampasas native Paul Nelson was named chief of the Burnet Police Department. He follows in the footsteps of his father, who has had a long law enforcement career with Lampasas County.

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The arrest of two men solved the case of the slaughtering of two pigs on a local ranch. Officials determined the case is not related to the recent destruction of livestock on the Mike Hail place.

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December sales tax payments to Lampasas County entities were strong, closing 2007 on a solid note. The city of Lampasas recorded a 3 percent gain over 2006, while Lometa finished the year with an increase of 9 percent over last year.