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Jackson County Herald Tribune
Frenzel, Thompson Win Local Races
Jackson County closed voting last week and several local races were decided. Doug Frenzel won the race for County Commissioner Precince 1 over Clinton Shefcik. Steve Thompson won the race for County Constable Precinct 2 over Dwayne Taylor. Ted Cruz and Michael Cloud won, receiving over 88% and 75% respectively state wide. The race for State Representative District 30 however, has not been decided. Jeff Bauknight narrowly edged A.J. Louderback by 431 votes. Bauknight received 42.06% compared to 40.27% for Louderback. Since neither candidate brought in the required 50% plus one vote, a run-off election...
Shelby Park Usage Discussed at City Council Meeting
By Beth Foley Staff Writer Concerns over the City of Edna’s stricter policies governing access to Shelby Park dominated the City Council meeting Thursday night. Local resident Mickael Jordan spoke with council members, Mayor Lance Smiga, and City Manager Gary Broz for nearly 45 minutes early in the meeting, voicing his concerns about locked gates to the baseball and softball fields as the start of Little League games rapidly approaches. City staff had placed Jordan on the posted agenda to allow the council the chance to discuss the matter with him in the meeting rather than just listen...
Butterfly Ball Planned for March 23
By Beth Foley Staff Writer A group of Jackson County residents is taking steps to help local cancer patients with expenses related to treatment and not normally covered by insurance. The organization, Jackson County Cares, decided to step up after community members who had raised money for national cancer campaigns for years became frustrated when county residents didn’t receive the benefit of their efforts. Thus was born the inaugural Butterfly Ball, so named because butterflies represent life and death of cancer patients. The event will be held March 23 from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at the Jackson County...
Maidens rally, hang on to down Weimar in big district victory
By Michael Brooks Editor/General Manager When the 2024 softball season began, Ganado Maidens fans marked four district games as “can’t miss” games. On Tuesday night, Ganado faced Weimar, in the first of those four games, and walked away with a 6-4 victory. But the victory didn’t come easy as the Maidens had to fight from behind and then had to hold on to the lead to end the game. Weimar touched up freshman pitcher Saylor Bures for two runs in the first inning, but Bures was able to keep Weimar off the scoreboard until a very tense final...
Angelita Salinas convicted in "Tank" murder
By Jessica Coleman Contributing Writer Angelita Louisa Salinas has been sentenced to two concurrent 55-year sentences in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for her role in the 2021 kidnapping and murder of Vanderbilt teen Benjamin "Tank" Loera. Salinas, who was was the fourth and final defendant convicted in the case, was a juvenile at the time of the crime but was tried as an adult. In a plea agreement, Salinas pleaded guilty to Murder and Aggravated Kidnapping. In front of Judge Jack Marr, Salinas admitted to intentionally and knowingly abducting Loera, using threats of deadly force, as well as shooting him with a firearm. Three prior defendants, Casey Wayne Jenschke, Kyler Ray Rector, and Yolanda Rodriguez Salinas (who also uses the surname Simek), were convicted in February 1, and sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the killing. Loera's Mother, Jessica McKinney, was present in the courtroom and submitted a Victim's Impact Statement in writing Check the March 13 issue of the Jackson County Herald-Tribune for more information on this conviction
Romero enters not guilty plea
By Jessica Coleman Contributing Writer Rafael Govea Romero, who stands accused of the December 2023 murder of 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina, did not appear in the courtroom today, March 7. Court officials said it is common for those in custody to not appear in the courtroom for arraignment. His attorneys, Ross Reifel and Chris Iles were present. Romero has entered a plea of not guilty and is set for the April 4 motion docket. He is not eligible for bond and is being held in the Jackson County Jail.
From Desert Storm to Pastor
By Beth Foley Staff Writer Don’t discount the voice of God. Relenting, listenng, and then following through have made all the difference for Pastor Eldridge Stewart and his wife, First Lady Kecia Stewart, of Deliverance and Restoration Church of God in Christ. Heeding God’s calling on his life brought him to a place he had never intended to be, the pastor of a small multiracial congregation of around 30 members and the superintendent of a group of four churches in Edna, Louise, Victoria, and New Braunfels. But as challenging as it may have been at first, stepping...
Memory Gardens raises funds
By Beth Foley Staff Writer As funeral costs continue to rise, more people are choosing cremation rather than traditional burials. In an attempt to offer more options to grieving families, the Memory Gardens Cemetery is raising funds to add a granite columbarium to hold up to 72 niches for urns with loved ones’ ashes. A columbarium is similar to a mausoleum, but is smaller and designed to hold urns with cremated remains above ground. Each niche can hold two urns and would be sealed, with an engraved plaque with the interred person’s name and dates. The cemetery already has raised $38,000 for the columbarium itself...
Local athletes earn All-State awards
Awards keep coming for several local high school football players. The Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association, the Padilla Poll and the Texas High School Coaches Association all released post-season All-State and Super Elite teams with several players from Edna and Ganado high schools. The most recent, the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association All-State teams released last week, featured five players from Edna and three from Ganado. Edna finished 11-3-1 overall, reaching the Class 3A Division 1 state semifinals for the second consecutive year. Ganado, which finished 12-3, also reached the Class 2A Division 1 state...
Cowgirls lose heartbreaker in Area round, 66-65
The Edna Cowgirls couldn’t quite overcome a 40-point performance by Lytle’s Calyssa Sevier and lost 66-65 Fri., Feb. 16 in the girls Class 3A Region 4 Area playoffs at Seguin High School. Sevier came out firing, scoring 15 of Lytle’s 22 points in the first quarter as the Lady Pirates jumped out to a 22-16 lead. Edna adjusted in the second quarter and pulled even at halftime, 32-32. From that point on, the teams remained close until the end, when Edna held a two-point lead with less than a minute to play. Sevier hit a three-point shot to put the Lady Pirates up...
Cowboys cruise by Randolph, 74-55
Junior Braylen Harris posted a double-double Tuesday night to help lead the Edna Cowboys to a 74-55 win over Universal City Randolph in the Class 3A Region 4 boys Bi-District basketball playoffs. Harris scored 19 points and pulled in 13 rebounds, while also dishing out eight assists, seven deflections, and six steals against only three turnovers. Senior point guard Markel Soto scored 12 points with five rebounds and senior post Jaiden Clay battled for 10 points and five rebounds. Myles Randall also provided big minutes defensively, as did Kalub Caesar. The Cowboys (17-8) will play District 28-3A runner-up Lytle (26-7) at Seguin...
Former Edna A.D. sentenced to probation
By Jessica Coleman Contributing Writer Former Edna ISD Athletic Director Jerry Don Long was convicted on Thursday of having an improper relationship with a student, almost five years after his arrest. The former educator and coach agreed in a plea deal to serve four years probation, to permanently surrender his teaching certificate, and to have no contact with his victim or relatives thereof. He also agreed to pay various fees and court costs. Failure to uphold these terms could result in four years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Long appeared alongside his attorney, Stephen Cihal, and admitted in front of Judge Eli Garza to soliciting a student via text message, with the intent to meet her in person for sexual contact. Long was hired in 2017 as Athletic Director at Edna ISD, a tenure that ended abruptly in April of 2019 with his resignation and arrest. He has been out on a $50,000 cash bond.
Accused killer of Lizbeth Medina indicted for Capital Murder
Contributing Writer The man accused of murdering Edna teen Lizbeth Medina on December 5 has been indicted by a Jackson County grand jury on one count of Capital Murder. The indictment, dated February 5, charges Rafael Govea Romero with intentionally causing the death of Medina while in the course of committing or attempting to commit burglary, robbery, or aggravated sexual assault. The indictment accuses Romero of causing Medina's head to strike a firm surface, striking her head with "a hard object unknown to the grand jury," and "repeatedly stabbing or cutting Lizbeth Iniguez Medina with a sharp object or edged weapon, unknown to...
County teams learn their district destinations
By Beth Foley Staff Writer The Lavaca River Showdown will now open the 2024 high school football season after the UIL moved Industrial High School moved out of district with neighboring rival Edna. The UIL released its reshuffled districts for football, basketball, and volleyball on Feb. 1. Other sports will be released later in the spring. The biannual realignment takes effect in August. Edna remained in Class 3A Division 1, while Industrial shifted to Class 3 Div. 2. Ganado remained in Class 2A Div. 1. Cowboys athletic director and head football coach Jimmie Mitchell said he was pleased to see his team stay where it’s...
Three sentenced to life for murder of Benjamin "Tank" Loera
By Jessica Coleman Contributing Writer Casey Wayne Jenschke, Kyler Ray Rector, and Yolanda Rodriguez Salinas all pleaded guilty to Murder and Aggravated Kidnapping with a Deadly Weapon for their roles in the October 2021 kidnapping and murder of 16-year-old Benjamin “Tank” Loera. In exchange for two concurrent life sentences apiece, to be served in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Salinas, Jenschke and Rector agreed to testify in any trials related to the murder. In front of Judge Eli Garza, all three admitted to killing Loera with a firearm after abducting him by restricting his movement and threatening him with deadly weapons...
From addiction to recovery to GRAMMY nominations to Edna
By Beth Foley Staff Writer Joseph Habedank knows rock bottom from the worst days of his pain pill addiction. He’s well versed in the cold coffee and cigarette smoke from recovery meetings in church basements in Nashville, and he’s felt the pull of the pills. But Habedank, an award-winning sing- er-songwriter, uses the story of his own struggle to encourage others on a similar path to keep pushing forward, that hope lies ahead. “We’re not out here selling a product, you know, we’re selling hope, and that’s what we do,” Habedank said duringa phone interview on Tuesday. “When I say selling, I don’t mean...
Ganado teen assists in apprehension of armed suspect
By Jessica Coleman Contributing Writer Ganado Sophomore Landon Hicks was settled in for a day of hanging out with friends. It was Christmas Eve, school was out, and nothing seemed amiss. He had no way of knowing he would become a hero by the end of the day. It started when one of them thought they saw a friend outside. “When I walked outside, he was walking down the street, and he looked exactly like one of my friends,” said Landon. To catch up with their buddy, the group jumped into the car and tried to catch...
Foster wins award
By Beth Foley Staff Writer It was one of those “I didn’t see it coming” moments, but Monica Foster appreciates that it happened. Foster, the Jackson County Tax Assessor-Collector, was attending the 41st annual V.G. Young School for County Tax Assessor-Collectors in Waco last November, and was stunned to hear her name called as the 2023 Carl Smith Tax Assessor-Collector of the Year during a luncheon on the final day. “I almost cried,” Foster said when talking about the award luncheon recently. “I didn’t think it was going to be me. There were three others nominated out of 254 counties and 16 regions. The...
Industrial school bus struck by car, students uninjured
By Beth Foley Staff Writer Industrial ISD students headed home from school on Bus 101 were jolted out of boredom Tuesday afternoon when a car lost control and skidded along the side of the bus. According to Texas Dept. of Public Safety Trooper Ruben San Miguel, the DPS Public Information Officer in Victoria, the bus was traveling north on FM 234 toward Highway 59 when a southbound 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage, driven by Randall Stone, struck the bus. “For reasons still under investigation, the car struck the bus on the left side, went down the whole side, and took off the (outer rear) wheel on...
Lugo charged with attempted capital murder of a peace officer
A man who shot at police and was wounded twice in the return fire has been discharged from the hospital and booked into the Jackson County Jail. 32-year-old Martin Lugo Jr., of Vanderbilt, was apprehended on Friday, December 29 shortly after a call to Sheriff's dispatchers that he was walking around Vanderbilt with a rifle. When deputies made contact, he opened fire, and deputies wounded him twice, in the lower abdomen and femoral artery. He was sent to a Houston hospital via medical helicopter. Lugo's criminal history includes multiple Driving While Intoxicated convictions. He is also awaiting court on a Family Violence charge in which he failed to appear in October of 2023. He is charged with Attempted Capital Murder of a Peace Officer, with a $2 million bond. Additionally, he is being held for previous charges of Failure to Appear/Bail Jumping, and Continuous Family Violence. He is also being held on a parole warrant, meaning that despite his other charges having bond amounts, he is not eligible for release.
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