The Brownwood Police Department, Early Police Department and TxDOT held their official kick off for the 12th annual Click it or Ticket seat belt safety campaign Monday morning at the Brown County Law Enforcement Center.

Texas Department of Transportation Safety Specialist Jeanni Luckey gave a bit of history related to vehicle safety.

Emergency responders were called to the scene of a vehicle versus pedestrian accident near the intersection of Vine and Bonita Monday afternoon.

At approximately 12:00 noon, a male subject on a Yamaha scooter was struck by a Volkswagen passenger car, occupied by two male subjects.

The Brownwood Chamber’s Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon will be held on Friday, May 17 at Brownwood Country Club from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.  This event is intended to honor the men and women in all aspects of law enforcement—who work together to keep the community safe.

Representatives from the Brownwood and Early Police Departments, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Brown County Justices of the Peace and other agencies will be on hand to announce special honors earned by their department and/or officers.  Each of those agencies or departments has been offered the opportunity to announce their Officer of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Investigator of the Year, or whatever awards may be appropriate for their agency.  Other invited Law Enforcement officials will be recognized, such as District Judge and Attorney, County Judge and Attorney, Constables and other agencies that serve and protect the citizens in Brown County.

Brown County Commissioners appointed former Constable C.T. Ham Monday to fill the position of Constable Precinct 3 after the recent resignation of Keith Varner.

Wayne Coffman, a retired game warden, stated his support of this decision due to Ham’s experience.

“I’d like to say that with C.T.’s background and training, it’s only logical.  It won’t cost the county anything to train him; he knows the county better than probably anybody, especially that precinct, so I am in favor of it.”

An audience member and citizen Bob Steger stated that he agreed with Coffman, “I agree with the gentleman, one because Mr. Ham can hit the ground running at no expense to the county.”

Constable Precinct 4 Jim Byars made a statement supporting the decision as “best for the county.”

The Bereaved Parents Support Group will hold its annual Balloon Lift-off at Coggin Park, Tuesday, May 21,2013 at 7 P.M., on the comer of 1st Street and Parkway.

This is a yearly event that allows the group a chance to send their love to heaven in the form of a note inside a helium filled balloon. Everything is provided for participants, except the personal note to send (the lighter the paper the better). This is a chance for entire families to gather and remember loved ones who have passed away.

Also, at 6 P.M. on the opposite (picnic side of park) side of park, the group will meet for an informal finger food supper.

Everyone is asked to bring enough for their family and one more. Paper products, water and desserts will be furnished.  Anyone who has lost a loved one is invited to participate.

Do you have an interest in Range/Wildlife Management? Do you want to find out about some proposed changes concerning endangered species which could potentially impact the way you manage your livestock/wildlife on your own land? If so then mark your calendars for Wednesday May 29, 2013. That is the date of a range/wildlife management field day for landowners, managers and brush control contractors operating in possible endangered species habitat.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct the meetings in cooperation with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative and the Texas Section Society for Range Management.

Registration for each site will last from 7:45 – 8:15 a.m. followed by the programs which should conclude by 4:15 p.m.

The field day is set for May 29 at the Muse Wildlife Management Area located on County Road 478 about a mile and a half north of Farm to Market Road 1467 in northeastern Brown County.

Several local high school athletes made a good showing over the weekend at the UIL state track and field meet held in Austin.

Brownwood took home two 3A medals thanks to a 2nd place state finish for Victoria Henry in the shot put and 3rd place for Lexie Lewis in the 200 meter.

Blanket’s Rowdy Johnson secured the state 1A division II 1st place finish in the boys 200 meter, and the Blanket 4x100 relay team brought home silver.

Zephyr’s Haven Rogers was 3rd in the Girls 1600.

Santa Anna’s Hannah Hartman brought home two medals; silver in the pole vault and bronze in the 100 meter hurdles.

See local results from the state meet below.

DATES TO REMEMBER

May

13 – Livestock Judging Meeting 5:30 p.m. at Extension Office

14 – State Qualifying Consumer Decision Making Practice 5:00 p.m. at Extension Office

14 – Brownwood 4-H Club Meeting 6:30 p.m. at Extension Office

14 – Early 4-H Club Meeting 6:30 p.m. at Early First Baptist Church

17 – Deadline to Register for State 4-H Roundup

27 – Extension Office Closed for Memorial Day

31 – Deadline to Enter District Horse Show

8:32 p.m. UPDATE - Final results posted for Blanket ISD and City of Blanket elections.

8:15 p.m. UPDATE - Final results posted for Early ISD.  Anna Allen and Mark Rome elected to the Early School Board.

8:03 p.m. UPDATE - Final results posted for City of Bangs elections.  Waymond Sheppard and Rick Phelps win the at large seats on the Bangs City Council.

7:25 p.m. UPDATE - Early voting results released for Blanket ISD and City of Blanket.

Polls closed at 7:00 p.m. in the elections for Early ISD trustees, City of Bangs, Blanket ISD trustees and City of Blanket.

Early voting results were released from the Brown County elections office for the Early ISD and City of Bangs elections.  Blanket early voting results have not yet been released.

Results will be posted as they become available in each election.

Results are considered unofficial until canvassed.

On Friday, May 17th, the second-annual Little Lion Olympics will kick-off a day of healthy athletic competition and Olympic-style events with the Opening Ceremony at 9:00 a.m. Fourth and fifth-grade students from Coggin Elementary and Brownwood Intermediate School will enter the field carrying their custom-made flags and take part in the National Anthem, the reading of the Olympic Oath and witness the lighting of the torch and the release of doves, before the games officially begin.

The Little Lion Olympics was formed last year from collaborative ideas generated from the School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC).

“My love for running and track and field was established at an early age because I was lucky enough to go to a school that had elementary track meets,” said Stefenia Phipps, Intermediate P.E. Teacher, coach, and Little Lion Olympics coordinator.  “I hope this event gets students enthusiastic about being involved in track and gives them an experience they will never forget.”

“An event this size requires a lot of team work and support,” noted Phipps. “Both schools, Coggin Elementary and Brownwood Intermediate, have to work closely together to get students and teachers organized.”

Coaches from both schools coordinate the students and events.  Coach Green (Coggin P.E. Teacher), Coach Brown (BIS P.E. Teacher), and Coach Phipps prepare students for their events and get them placed into their races. “Coach Hood has been a vital part in supporting all schools and organizing track meets for our students,” said Phipps. “The support staff at each school is invaluable for sending out communication to teachers and students. The SHAC committee members also do a great job of raising money and generating ideas to make Little Lion Olympics bigger and better each year.”

Phipps noted that community support is also very important to the success of the Little Lion Olympics. “We are thankful that our local businesses see the importance of getting youth involved in activities,” said Phipps.  The top sponsors for the Little Lion Olympics include Pepsico, Barr Fabrication, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, Runaway Train, Blaylock Funeral Home, and Guardian EMS. The list of top sponsors is also available online at www.brownwoodisd.org/llosponsors.

Brownwood emergency responders were called to a two vehicle accident at the corner of Austin and Center Avenues involving a Brownwood school bus on Friday afternoon just after 3 PM.

According to emergency responders, the 26 seat bus was full of Brownwood ISD school children, and there were no injuries reported.  The bus was traveling south on Austin Avenue after just it picked up students from Northwest Elementary School shortly before the accident occurred.  Worried parents began showing up to the scene shortly after they heard about the accident.

The tithe from Good Samaritan Ministries’ Empty Bowls Project this year again went to Food for the Hungry – this year for an education and recreation center for Loma Pampa and Monte Olivos in central Bolivia.

The $1,650 will be joined with other monies set aside for the project to bring the rec centers to fruition.

Sam Goff, Food Security and Agriculture Program Coordinator for Food for the Hungry, said the money from Good Samaritan will primarily be used to provide a twice-weekly meal to the children and youth.

Goff said Loma Pampa and Monte Olivos are migrant neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city of Cochabamba in central Bolivia. Many families come to the neighborhoods from the rural areas hoping for a better life than the one they left. In many families, children and teenagers are left alone during the day as their parents work long hours to gain an income that is generally insufficient to meet the needs of the family. At night, many of these same children and teenagers are out on the streets without parental control and subject to illicit behaviors, unwanted pregnancies and the negative influences of gangs.

These neighborhoods are far from the city center with no safe places for children, teens or adults to become involved with healthy recreational activities.

Goff said that Food for the Hungry in Bolivia will partner with two churches – El Buen Pastor in Loma Pampa and La Asamblea de Dios in Monte Olivos – who have already begun to take steps to help the children and teens in the area.

Law enforcement arrests and reports released Friday, May 10, 2013.

Wednesday, May 8

*3:35 PM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to Wal-Mart regarding theft.  This call led to the issuance of a citation for theft under $50 to one individual.

*4:51 PM – Brownwood Police were called to the area of 12th Street and Avenue C regarding a fight in progress between two minor girls.  A report of disorderly conduct-fighting was filed.

*10:10 PM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to a Brownwood residence regarding an assault which had occurred in Coggin Park.  According to the report, two females stated that both had been threatened and one was pushed in the chest by their ex-stepfather.  The responding officer spoke with both the girls and their grandmother.  The incident, according to the girls, occurred after they had seen the suspect drive by Coggin Park and “mouthed off” at him, which made him stop the car and confront them, resulting in the verbal altercation and pushing, the report states.  The incident was documented by police.

Care Nursing and Rehabilitation will hold their 2nd Annual Parade and Auction on Friday, May 17th to benefit Relay for Life.

The event will take place from 10:30 AM to 3 PM at Care Nursing located at 200 County Road 616 in Early.

The Iron Horse Club and Henderson’s Mule and Wagon will be in the parade and participants are encouraged to bring their motorcycle, wagon and bicycles for the parade.  Heart of Texas EMS will also be selling hamburgers and chips.

Auction items will also be available.

Call 325-646-5521 for more info or to donate an auction item to the cause.