Hood County News from Granbury, Texas • Page 1

three other alleged victims had come forward, resulting in a six- count indictment. The first victim was 16 when the alleged incidents occurred; the others were under 14, said Christian. All are male. Johnson could face anywhere from 12 to 120 years in prison. 125th Year Number 46 Local, zone(s): 3 sections 46 pages plus supplements State: 2 sections 22 pages RESCHEDULED BUSINESS.

ENGAGEMENTS. HORTICULTURE. LIFE 1B-3B OBITUARIES. 7A SPORTS 8A-11A WEDDINGS More than a newspaper. A Hood County legend since 1886 News News Hood County Hood County Published Wednesday and Saturday Granbury, Texas 76048 Saturday, February 5, 2011 www.hcnews.com 75 cents A EEK OF INTER BY KATHY CRUZ HOOD COUNTY NEWS Heroes always ride a white horse.

Sometimes they save the day from the seat of a tractor. And sometimes damsels in distress tied to railroad tracks; spinning in circles on a school parking lot. Though this wintry weather frosted the good humor of many, others let icy roadways cool their enthusiasm for coming to the aid of others. They braved freezing temperatures to pull motorists from way. Sheriff Roger Deeds said that one man with a tractor helped pull as many as 15 vehicles from ditches along Temple Hall Highway Tuesday, the first day of what was to be several days of record-breaking freezing temperatures.

Though Deeds know the name, saved the day for those stranded and my deputies trying to help On Wednesday, Granbury Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Sonny Roy said a crew rescued a woman who get out of the iced over parking lot at Granbury High School. At Station 70 at Oak Trail Shores, five volunteer firefighters, aided by three local residents, worked from about 6 a.m. Tuesday until dark rescuing motorist after motorist whose vehicles were sent sliding down hills and around curves. Even a tow truck and its driver had to be rescued. roads are just a solid sheet of ice, and everybody was sliding down coming out the front gate of Oak Trail Shores and sliding across the intersection into the ditch by said Greg Lewis, a 19-year veteran of the volunteer fire department.

Throughout the day and into the evening, the volunteers rescued motorists on FM 4 and also on Tin Top Highway. Some had to leave their cars because the icy road conditions were too treacherous for rescuers. On Wednesday morning, Lewis said, a vehicle containing a man Good Samaritans brave ice to rescue others Johnson faces more child sex charges No school, just skating Granbury Middle School eighth-grade students Jonas Aquirre (left) and Jordan Hashbarger slide their way through the Granbury City Park Thursday afternoon. Area students enjoyed a four-day holiday from classes due to icy roads. Longtime Hood Countians say this was one of the longest icy periods.

MARY VINSON HOOD COUNTY NEWS Clearing the way Inch by inch, Andy Parker cleared his long driveway of ice Thursday afternoon at his residence on Travis Street. Parker needed to make a trip to the post offi ce and was going nowhere fast until he made a path to the road. MARY VINSON HOOD COUNTY NEWS Johnson PLEASE SEE RESCUE 2A BY KATHY CRUZ HOOD COUNTY NEWS The grand jury on Wednesday handed down an indictment, as well as a surprise, to a Granbury man arrested last October on three counts involving sex with a child. District Attorney Rob Christian said that Stephen Wayne Johnson was not aware until after the grand jury met that All six counts are second- degree felonies, Christian said, each carrying possible prison terms of two to 20 years. If he is found guilty, District Judge Ralph Walton could stack the sentences, Christian said.

Johnson would have to serve half his sentence before being eligible for parole. Three charges are tied to the PLEASE SEE CHARGES 2A TUESDAY, FEB. 1WEDNESDAY, FEB. 2THURSDAY, FEB. 3FRIDAY, FEB.

4 A winter storm blasted Hood County about 3 a.m. with sleet, snow and bone-chilling fierce wind. A layer of ice made driving treacherous. Scores of accidents occurred, mostly minor with vehicles sliding off the road. The county came to a virtual standstill with schools, government offices and many businesses closed.

Controlled power outages usually lasting about 20 minutes began in the morning, saving on energy and trying to meet the high demand for electricity. Icy roads remained, and schools stayed closed. Many evening church services were canceled. Space heaters were sold out in most Granbury stores. apparently began to emerge with more vehicles appearing on the roadways.

Driving was still challenging, however, because freezing temperatures kept the ice from melting. Schools again remained closed. People, especially youngsters, bundled up and skated on icy sidewalks and parking lots. A new winter weather event occurred as Hood Countians woke to a 3-inch snowfall, making roads more hazardous than the previous days, Sheriff Roger Deeds said. Again, schools, government offices and many businesses did not open their doors.

High school athletic events were postponed. Controlled blackouts best overall Striking beauty This red cardinal looks beautiful against snowfall. MARY VINSON HOOD COUNTY NEWS Area residents who endured controlled power blackouts early Wednesday may have been unhappy, but the situation could have been far worse if those steps had not been implemented. A severe winter storm early Tuesday morning accompanied by extreme cold temperatures in the area brought on extraordinary demand for electric power as residents tried to stay safe and warm. As one power company spokesman pointed out, 20-minute blackouts during such a power emergency situation are preferable to being without electricity for several days.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), a state agency that conducts controlled, rotating power outages when peak usage threatens to compromise the power grid, ordered the action. February ice, cold paralyze county BY MARK WILSON HOOD COUNTY NEWS Sleet, snow and raw, subfreezing temperatures producing one of the coldest weeks on record for this area paralyzed most of Hood County. Schools, government offices and many businesses were closed for most of the week because of icy roads. Precinct 3 County Commissioner Leonard Heathington, a lifelong Granbury resident, said this is the worst winter icing event he can remember since 1983. He said people that winter were skating on frozen Lake Granbury near the Highway 51 lake bridge.

Temperatures stayed below freezing for almost two weeks. Heathington, as many other longtime Texans have observed, noted that we get (ice) two or three days, and Hood County residents who may have been anticipating that Friday might bring a break woke to find a 3-inch blanket of snow, which began Thursday night, on PLEASE SEE WINTER 2A BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL Arlington Seguin at Granbury, Monday, girls 6:30 p.m., boys 8 p.m. Lipan at Graford, Monday, girls 6 p.m., boys 7:30 p.m. Newcastle at Lipan, Wednesday, girls 6 p.m., boys 7:30 p.m. Happy Hill boys at Denton Selwyn, today, 3 p.m.

Happy Hill boys at Irving Stonegate, Monday, 4 p.m. SWIMMING Class 4A Region IV Meet at Mansfi eld (involving Granbury), preliminaries 5:30 p.m. Monday, fi nals 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The change is not noted on Page 8A.

GIRLS SOCCER FW Arlington Heights at Granbury, Monday, 7:15 p.m. BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL Granbury at Crowley, girls Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., boys 8 p.m. Lipan at Strawn, girls Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., boys 8 p.m. Boyd at Tolar, girls Tuesday, 6 p.m., boys 7:30 p.m. Happy Hill at Brownwood Victory Life, Tuesday, girls 6 p.m., boys 7:30 p.m.

LOW: 21 HIGH: 58LOW: 13 HIGH: 21LOW: 14 HIGH: 18LOW: 18 HIGH: FORECAST HIGH AT PRESS TIME REGULARLY SCHEDULED GAMES.