The Texas Comptroller’s office released May sales tax allocation numbers for cities across the state today showing a slight increase for Brownwood and Early.

Brownwood sales tax was up 1.82% for the month compared to May of last year.   Early’s sale tax allocation was also up by 4.99% on the month.

Statewide, State Comptroller Susan Combs will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts their May local sales tax allocations totaling $668.5 million, up 5.6 percent compared to May 2012.

“Sales tax collections were up in a range of sectors from construction and manufacturing to restaurants,” Combs said. “As expected, the rate of growth in state sales tax revenue is moderating compared to double-digit growth rates we recently experienced.”

District Attorney Micheal Murray reports that several felony cases were recently heard in Brown/Mills County District Court, Judge Stephen Ellis presiding.

William Jeffery Carlisle pled guilty to the felony offenses of Assault Public Servant and Burglary of a Building and was sentenced to 20 years, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division.

Wynndi Marie Caldwell, on probation for the felony offense of Delivery of a Controlled Substance-Drug Free Zone, was adjudicated and sentenced to 15 years, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division.  Further, Caldwell, on probation for the felony offense of Delivery of a Controlled Substance-Drug Free Zone, was revoked and sentenced to 10 years, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division.

Christopher McCabe pled guilty to the felony offense of Forgery and Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information-Aggregated and was sentenced to 8 years, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division.

Trevor Norman pled guilty to the felony offense of Aggravated Robbery and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and was sentenced to 8 years, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division.

Awareness of seat belts and risks of not wearing them play a critical role in saving lives.

Texans wear their belt buckles with a certain Lone Star pride, but it’s the buckles in their vehicles that could save their lives. More functional than fashionable, life-saving seat belts first debuted 45 years ago when Lyndon B. Johnson’s National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and The Highway Safety Act went into effect mandating that all automobiles have seat belts as a standard feature. To honor President Johnson’s pioneering dedication to safety, the Texas Department of Transportation today launched its 12th annual Click It or Ticket campaign at the LBJ Library in Austin with a car show demonstrating the progression of seat belts through the ages.

“The cost of not wearing seat belts is far greater than a ticket or fine,” said Phil Wilson, TxDOT executive director. “Simply put, a seat belt could save your life. Public awareness is working, but we still see some teenagers, pickup truck passengers and rural Texans who aren’t buckling up.”

Taking a cue from LBJ’s leadership, Texas has made seat belt safety a major priority and is proud to be one of the most buckled up states in the union. When the Click It or Ticket campaign began in 2002, only 76 percent of Texans buckled up. Today, 94 percent are wearing seat belts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates the Click It or Ticket campaign has saved nearly 3,700 lives and prevented more than 50,000 serious injuries since its launch. The increase in seat belt usage also has saved an estimated $10 billion in wages and productivity losses, medical expenses, insurance premiums, taxes and other costs.

Early Voting ended Tuesday in elections for Early ISD trustees, City of Bangs, Blanket ISD trustees and City of Blanket.

According to Brown County Election officials, early voting totals for these elections are as follows:  City of Blanket – 15 ballots cast, Blanket ISD – 39 ballots cast, Early ISD – 257 ballots cast, and City of Bangs – 35 ballots cast.

Election Day will be Saturday May 11th from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:

Early ISD ballots will be cast at Early Lions Club Building on 419 Garmon Drive, Hwy 84/183 for that day.

The City of Bangs ballots will be cast at the Bangs Housing Authority, 406 Spencer in Bangs during the same times on Election Day, May 11th.

Election Day for both Blanket elections will be the 11th of May from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the United Methodist Church - Main Street in Blanket.

Click HERE for sample ballots for these elections.

Brownwood Police Chief Mike Corley released crime statistics from the police department for the month of April along with year-to-date numbers for 2012 and 2013.

Corley releases Brownwood Police Department crime statistics on a monthly basis as a program to have a department that is more transparent to the public.  Corley stated that he also looks at these numbers to see where the department needs to focus.

Corley reports that there were 119 reported crimes in April which is increased from the previous month.  Of these crimes, 43.7% were cleared either by arrest or after further investigation.  Of note, reports of larceny theft significantly increased by 21 incidents, up 62%, from the previous month.  April statistics show that reports of assault also increased by 14 incidents or 40% during the month of April as compared to March.

Traffic accidents for April remained at 8, the same number of incidents for the month when compared to March.  Incidents of driving while intoxicated are increased by 5 cases this month than in the previous month.

Year-to-date, 2013 appears to be continuing a decreasing trend of crimes across the board than 2012, with 26.9% less total crimes.  Of those crimes 44% were cleared as compared to 24.4% for the same timeframe during the previous year.

Law enforcement arrests and reports released Tuesday, May 7, 2013.

Monday, May 6

*7:56 AM – Brownwood Police responded to the 1600 block of Avenue A regarding the burglary of a vehicle which had occurred overnight.  Items stolen included a woman’s billfold, cash and gift cards totaling $583, a military ID/passport, social security cards, various debit and credit cards, and the victim’s checkbook, the report states.

*2:39 PM – Brownwood Police received an anonymous report of animal cruelty.  According to the report, investigation of the call led the officer to visit the residence, where the two dogs were observed to have adequate water, food and shelter.

*6:22 PM – Brownwood Police were called to the 2800 block of 4th Street regarding an assault.

*7:25 PM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to Wal-Mart regarding theft.  According to the report, this call led to the arrest of 29-year-old Lora Lyn McClara of Zephyr for theft greater than $50 less than $500 and on a Van Zandt County warrant for motion to revoke related to possession of a controlled substance penalty group 3 less than 28 grams.  A 16-year-old juvenile was also arrested.

*Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested 43-year-old Rodney Sherman Clayton on a warrant for theft.

Brownwood City Council recognized May 5-11, 2013 as “Drinking Water Week” in the city of Brownwood at their meeting on April 23rd.

A proclamation was issued regarding Drinking Water Week, which was presented by Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes to David Harris, City of Brownwood Assistant Division Director of Public Works which stated that water is our most valuable natural resource.

A Brown County man was arrested on drug charges over the weekend while a Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy was searching for a woman who ran away from the officer while on a traffic stop.

The deputy made a stop on a vehicle for an expired registration on Friday, May 3rd on Hwy 279 near Chaparral Drive.  According to the deputy’s report, the driver was determined to have a suspended driver’s license and did not have current insurance on the vehicle.  The deputy informed the woman that she would be going to jail for the offense of driving while license invalid and for failure to maintain financial responsibility, the report states.  While a consensual search of the vehicle was being conducted, the driver fled on foot from the area and the deputy was unable to locate her.  A warrant is being sought for her arrest.

When the deputy was attempting to locate the female suspect who fled on foot, he made contact with a male, identified as 36-year-old Harley Griffin, at his residence on Chaparral Drive.  During a consent search of Griffin’s residence, numerous narcotics were in plain view, the report states.  During the search, the deputy observed packaging materials, scales, and money located with the narcotics, and Griffin told the deputy that he had sold the narcotics, the report states.  Narcotics located were 18.8 grams of methamphetamine in various packaging and 20.2 grams of marijuana in all of its packaging, according to the report.  Griffin was arrested and charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance penalty group 1 greater than 4 grams less than 200 grams.  Griffin is being held in the Brown County Jail on bonds totaling $28,000.

Reports released for the week of April 28 – May 4, 2013 from the Brownwood Fire Department include 30 medical emergencies, 3 fire calls, 3 motor vehicle accidents, and 2 lock-in calls.

Reports of interest include:

Monday, April 29

*3:04 PM – BFD responded to a two-vehicle accident with entrapment in the 500 block of E. Hall Street in Bangs. Firefighters used rescue tools to extricate the patient from the vehicle.

Tuesday, April 30

*2:48 PM – BFD responded to a two-vehicle accident in the area of Main and Adams Streets. Firefighters checked for injuries and provided first aid.

4:13 PM – BFD was dispatched to a fire call in the 500 block of Main.  Firefighters were responding to a structure fire.   When they arrived on scene, nothing was showing.  Upon entry, the fire was out with light smoke coming from apartment. The incident was determined to be a grease/cooking fire.  The apartment was ventilated and the occupant was instructed on how to extinguish a grease fire.

*4:34 PM – BFD was called to the 2400 block of Coggin Avenue where a small child was locked inside a vehicle.  Firefighters unlocked the car and returned the child to its parent unharmed.