Brown County Commissioners authorized the county’s financial advisor, 1st Southwest Company, to move forward “looking into the issuance of tax notes totaling $9 million for road and infrastructure improvements" on Monday.

George Williford of 1st Southwest Company spoke to commissioners' court, giving details of the cost for the tax notes to be paid back within 7 years.   He explained that tax notes are much more “streamlined” than issuing certificates of obligations which can be paid off in a longer period of time but take a longer more complicated process to issue.

Williford also outlined the timeline it would take to issue the notes which could be funded as early as July 10th.

Commissioners approved Williford to look into the issuance of the tax notes; however, Williford stated that his company would gather information, ask for bids from banks as to the interest rates they would offer, and then would report back to the court before June 10th.  Until this date, his company and the bond counselor would be working on a contingency fee only.

The debt service fee for the tax notes is estimated at $85,000 to $95,000.  The cost for repayment on the taxpayers would be approximately $0.0659/$100 value or more simply stated approximately $48.65 on the average $70,000 home, according to County Auditor Nina Cox.

Law enforcement arrests and reports released Friday, May 3, 2013.

Wednesday, May 1

*11:56 AM – Brownwood Police were called to Wal-Mart regarding theft.  According to the report, $30.81 of merchandise was stolen from the store and a female suspect was being detained.  Management stated that the store would like to pursue criminal charges, the report states.    A citation was issued to the suspect.  Items stolen included mostly clothing and make up.

*7:42 PM – Brownwood Police were called to the 100 block of W. Commerce regarding a male subject who was “panhandling” and jumping in front of vehicles.  Contact was made with the male subject who was identified as 44-year-old Chad Beasley and determined to be intoxicated.  Beasley was arrested and charged with public intoxication.

Thursday, May 2

*1:48 PM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to the 900 block of 7th Street regarding a domestic disturbance.  According to the report, the complainant stated that two male friends had gotten into a physical altercation at her residence.  Both subjects declined pursuit of criminal charges.

*11:44 PM – A Brownwood Police officer was flagged down in the 300 block of Main Street, Kroger, regarding theft.  According to the report, the call led to the arrest of 40-year-old Thomas Stewart and 33-year-old Bobby Michalski for theft of property greater than $50 less than $500. Items including ham, Italian sausage, lunch meat, chicken thighs, bacon, a pork roast, pork spareribs, pork chops and beer were stolen from the store, the report states.

According to Brownwood Police, an investigation of a burglary of a home early Monday morning involving an assault and has led to the arrest of a Brownwood man.

Officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of 1st Street at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Monday, April 29th regarding the burglary.  Detectives with BPD’s Criminal Investigations Division also responded for follow-up investigations.  According to Sergeant James Kidd, evidence was gathered at the scene which led to the arrest of 40-year-old Dempsey Douglas Webb for burglary of a habitation with the intent to commit another felony, an assault.

Kidd stated that Webb allegedly entered the home through an open bedroom window and inappropriately touched a woman in her early 20s.  The home at the time of the assault was occupied by the victim and her other family members, said Kidd.  She had been asleep in her bedroom with her young child, when she was awoken by the unexpected touch of the intruder, Kidd stated.

When the victim awoke and initiated a light on her cell phone, Webb was reported to have fled through the same unlocked and open window he had entered, explained Kidd.  Investigators state that the incident took place in a very short period of time.  No injuries were reported related to the assault; however, it is classified as an assault because of the inappropriate touching, according to Kidd.

Law enforcement arrests and reports released Thursday, May 2, 2013.

Wednesday, May 1

*9:42 AM – Brownwood Police were called to the 1500 block of Terrace Drive regarding criminal mischief.  According to the report, the complainant reported that an unknown suspect(s) broke a window in one of the bedrooms of her apartment.

*10:21 AM – Brownwood Police received a report of the burglary of a habitation via telephone.

*10:55 AM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to the 500 block of E. Commerce regarding an unwanted person.  According to the report, the female subject was issued a criminal trespass warning and left the area without further incident.

*1:17 PM – Brownwood Police met with a complainant at the law enforcement center regarding an assault.  According to the report, the complainant stated that her mother assaulted her.  The incident was documented, the report states.

*2:11 PM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to Wal-Mart, 401 W. Commerce, regarding theft.  According to the report, a male and female were observed removing tags from store merchandise and concealing the items in a purse.  The couple was then observed passing all points of sale without any attempt to pay for the items, the report states.  The total amount of the items recovered was $106.59, according to the report.  This call led to the arrest of 54-year-old Ricky Gale Crawford for theft of property equal or greater than $50 less than $500.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Brownwood District will begin a project May 13 to preserve area highways with seal coating.

More than 223 miles of state-maintained roadways are part of the district’s 2013 seal coat program.  Roadways in Brown, Comanche, Eastland, Lampasas, McCulloch, Mills, San Saba and Stephens counties will receive $6.3 million worth of preventive maintenance seal coat work.

“Maintenance and system preservation is our largest expenditure, and seal coating provides a variety of benefits to the roadway, including a waterproof surface that prevents moisture from entering and weakening the roadbed,” said Brownwood Area Engineer Bart Fris, P.E., who is overseeing the project. “Seal coating also reduces deterioration and cracking of the asphalt surface, which will prolong the life of the pavement.”

Weather permitting; the work will be complete by late June. Motorists can expect lane closures and a pilot car to guide traffic through work zones. Drivers are asked to be on the lookout for workers and to avoid distractions.

Law enforcement arrests and reports released Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

Thursday, April 23

*6:48 AM – Brownwood Police were called to the 100 block of Market Place Blvd regarding the burglary of a building.  According to the report, the investigation is ongoing and surveillance video was requested from Home Depot.

Monday, April 29

*9:27 AM – Brownwood Police met with a complainant at the law enforcement center regarding an assault.

Tuesday, April 30

*11:11 AM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to the 1100 block of 15th Street regarding the burglary of a building.  According to the report, the complainant stated that an unknown subject entered the storage building without the consent of the owner between the hours of 12:00 PM and 10:00 PM on April 29th.  Numerous items were stolen, the report states.

*12:21 PM – Brownwood Police met with a complainant at the law enforcement center regarding an alleged sexual assault of a child.   An investigation is ongoing.

Reports released for the week of April 21 - 27, 2013 from the Brownwood Fire Department include 24 medical emergencies, 5 fire calls, 1 motor vehicle accident, 1 agency assist, and 1 hazardous materials call.

Reports of interest include:

Sunday, April 21

*8:03 AM – BFD responded to a two-vehicle accident on FM 2126 and US Hwy 183. Firefighters packaged patients for transport with Guardian EMS.

*3:39 PM – BFD was dispatched to a fire call in the 1100 block of Fisk Avenue where a smoke detector had activated.  The incident was determined to have been caused by Ramen noodles burned in a microwave. No fire was found.

Monday, April  22

*4:37 PM – BFD was called to a fire in the 2500 block of Brady.  Fire crews arrived on scene to find a dumpster on fire in the alley.  The fire was extinguished.

Tuesday, April 23

*8:29 AM – BFD was dispatched to a fire call in the 500 block of W. Commerce.  An alarm was found to have activated because of saw dust.

It was a special day at the Early Volunteer Fire Department as members gathered to see the new Rosenbauer tanker truck arrive at the station on Wednesday morning.

Brian Peters with Daco Fire Equipment of Fort Worth drove the new tanker to Early, arriving at approximately 10:30 a.m.   Several of the EVFD members were present to see the new tanker.

Law enforcement arrests and reports released Tuesday, April 30, 2013.

Wednesday, April 24

*10:18 AM – Brownwood Police met with a complainant, an inmate at the Brown County Jail, who wished to report an alleged sexual assault-forcible rape, aggravated kidnapping, and assault with injury family/house member.  An investigation is ongoing, the report states.

Monday, April 29

*3:00 AM – A Brownwood Police officer made a traffic stop in the area of Belle Plain Street and W. Commerce after he observed a defective license plate lamp on the vehicle.  This stop led to the arrest of Wenga Walker and Riley Kiwahn Young, both 19 of San Angelo, for possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces.

*8:20 AM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to the Dollar General Store on U.S. Hwy 377 regarding an incident of criminal mischief which had happened in the 1800 block of 4th Street.

*10:08 AM – Brownwood Police were called to the 1200 block of Duke Street regarding theft of a license plate from a utility trailer.  According to the report, possible suspect information was provided.