Hood County News from Granbury, Texas • Page 1

125th Year Number 84 Local, zone(s): 3 sections 48 pages plus supplements State: 2 sections 28 pages BIRTHS. CALENDAR. EDUCATION HORTICULTURE. LIFE 1B-3B OBITUARIES. OPINION.

SPORTS Need a Classifi ed ad? Give us a call! 817-573-7066 More than a newspaper. A Hood County legend since 1886 News News Hood County Hood County Published Wednesday and Saturday Granbury, Texas 76048 Saturday, June 18, 2011 www.hcnews.com 75 cents ONTINUING ANGER HE HILD ENTERING THE SYSTEM: Jeff Spencer walks through the security checkpoint at the Hood County Justice Center for a fi nal CPS hearing. A former meth user, Spencer won the confi dence of caseworkers after a year of clean drug tests. He left the Justice Center on June 1 having won custody of his daughter and another child whose father is in prison on a drug charge. Though Spencer was able to navigate the system successfully, other parents are not so lucky.

MARY VINSON HOOD COUNTY NEWS Societal illness can prove for parents BY KATHY CRUZ HOOD COUNTY NEWS hose who work in the justice system agree that Protective Services (CPS) caseworkers have a difficult job. What they always agree on is how well doing it, and whether the court gives the social workers too much power. The law allows CPS plenty of latitude for the removal of children from their homes, though it is the district judge who ultimately makes the decision. Court files containing caseworker reports detail children allegedly living in dangerous, horrific conditions. The Hood County News conducted a months-long examination of CPS cases by using court files, court testimony and interviews with those involved in the process.

Findings include: Drugs particularly methamphetamine (meth) are at the heart of the majority of cases. Those who become entangled with CPS tend to be those with limited financial means, even though parents living in middle class and upscale neighborhoods are also using the highly addictive drug. There is debate as to the accuracy of mouth swabs used by CPS to determine drug use. Some parents who have tested positive on those tests have paid out of pocket for tests at independent labs. The county pays the tab for attorneys to represent CPS parents and children.

Some parents and attorneys claim disparity in treatment of clients, as well as inaccurate testimony from caseworkers. A former Hood County CPS caseworker is facing a criminal charge for allegedly falsifying client reports. Although the government bureaucracy will always have its critics as well as its allies, a review of CPS cases reveals one indisputable fact: The use of meth that has become so prevalent in Hood County and across the nation is posing a danger to the JUSTICE Hood County AN EXAMINATION of CPS cases. PAGE 6A. CPS SHOULD pay for faulty drug tests.

EDITORIAL, 4A. Goodwill to replace Russells? BY KATHY CRUZ HOOD COUNTY NEWS The Granbury Planning and Zoning Commission at its meeting Monday evening will consider whether to grant a Special Use Permit (SUP) that would make way for a Goodwill resale shop and outdoor drop-off. The request by J.C. Pace is to allow the Goodwill store to be located on South Morgan Street, with a drop-off area behind the building. The agenda, as well as letters that were sent to nearby businesses, state that the location of the proposed Goodwill is the building by Russells clothing store.

Russells currently leases that space, and is open for business. The owner declined comment Thursday. Although the proposal is for used clothing store with outdoor Community Development Director Scott Sopchak said there are no plans for outside sales or display of merchandise. The he said, is for the collection point in the back of the The will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in council chambers at City Hall.

Sopchak said the matter is expected to go before the City Council on July 5. Sopchak said that Pace will be required to and the particulars of the drop-off area and, if it is approved, he will be held that 817-573-7066, ext. 258 Runoff vote today, 7-7 A final determination will be made today in the runoffs for two seats on the Granbury City Council. At stake are the Place 4 and 6 seats. Nin Hulett and Debra Davis are on the ballot for Place 4.

For Place 6, incumbent Mickey D. Parson and Ian Moore. Elections Administrator Lois Joplin said that turnout for early voting was higher than expected. In all, 440 ballots were cast during early voting 431 in person, and nine by mail, according to an office staffer. Polls will be open from 7 to 7 at Annex 1, 1410 W.

Pearl St. Results will be posted at www. hcnews.com. A IR ONDITIONING EATING TACLA29191E 817-279-0582 www.daffanac.net 817-279-0582 www.daffanac.net 817-279-0582 www.daffanac.net 817-279-0582 www.daffanac.net Solar AC is here! Solar AC is here! Find out how your Find out how your next AC bill can be next AC bill can be Anniversary trek As viewed on Highway 51 North near the Hood-Parker county line on Wednesday morning, members of Boy Scout Troop 353 embark on a trek to Worth Ranch in Palo Pinto County, the same trek the troop took 10 years ago. As a celebration of the 10-year anniversary, Scouts decided a trek would honor the occasion.

Hiking and camping all the way, the group loves to discuss and draw strength from two Scouts who took the fi rst trek. They are now Marines serving in active duty. MARY VINSON HOOD COUNTY NEWS County bans aerial fi reworks for 4th holiday BY MARK WILSON HOOD COUNTY NEWS If you have an uncontrollable urge to see fireworks soaring into the air as part of your Independence Day celebrations, Hood County authorities would like to pass along a message. Get over it. Local officials also have a great second option to come out and watch spectacular fireworks display on the Fourth of July.

The Commissioners Court approved a 90-day burn ban on Tuesday, and added a ban on that includes with and with Although a previous announcement earlier in the week stated that the routine sale and use of fireworks would be allowed, blistering weather temperatures and bone-dry fuel conditions changed the situation since then according to Fire Marshal Brian Fine. the time of the previous (news) release, the conditions were not to the point that would allow any type of Fine said. is amazing what a few days of 100-degree temps will do. is a high danger of wildfires similar to what have been seen around the state. Currently there are 209 counties in Texas that are under a burn Fine went on to point out that, Granbury Chamber of Commerce has a great fireworks show planned that takes place in a controlled environment and is done by professionals.

I recommend people attend that show if they want to see aerial fireworks. have nothing against the fireworks vendors and understand it is a business with 90-day burn ban approved, including no with and with fi PLEASE SEE FIREWORKS 2A Public works director offers water-saving tips BY KATHY CRUZ HOOD COUNTY NEWS only mid-June, and already temperatures are in the triple digits. Not a good sign. While most people may be focused on avoiding heat stroke, Granbury Public Works Director Alva Cox wants to make sure no one strokes out when they open their water bill. Cox said that most Texas lawns require only one inch of water per week during the summer months to stay healthy.

The convenience of sprinkler systems can cause people to over-water their lawns, resulting in higher wa- PLEASE SEE WATER 2A A hit-and-run vehicle accident led to more serious woes for a Round Rock man Tuesday night, according to Granbury Police Captain Alan Hines. After 911 dis- Search yields drug arrest PLEASE SEE SEARCH 2A Walker.