Hood County News from Granbury, Texas • Page 2

2A Hood County News FROM PAGE ONE Saturday, August 27, 2011 www.hcnews.com CIRCULATION For delivery or billing questions, subscriptions and vacation stops Phone 817-573-7066 or 817-279-9718 Delivery in county: Granbury, Lipan, Tolar, Paluxy, Cresson, Bluff Dale, Glen Rose, Rainbow and Nemo 6 mo 1 Year $45 2 Years 3 Years $118 Delivery to remainder of Texas: 6 mo 1 Year $65 2 Years 3 Years $169 Delivery to out of state: 6 mo 1 Year $89 2 Years 3 Years $239 CLASSIFIED Have a car to sell? Want to rent your house? Planning a garage sale? Phone: Metro Toll Free: Fax: email: Classifi ed billing questions? Call 817-573-7066 and ask for classifi ed billing. CLASSIFIED DEADLINES Wednesday issue ...................1 p.m. Monday Saturday issue ......................1 p.m. Thursday RETAIL ADVERTISING The Hood County News P.O. Box 879 1501 S.

Morgan St. Granbury, Texas 76048 Other questions? Call 817-573-7066 or 817-279-9718 Penny Holloway executive Lisa Riley executive Karen Chandler executive Bonnie Espin assistant www.hcnews.com INFO 125th Year USPS 249-520 P.O. Box 879 1501 S. Morgan St. Granbury, TX 76048 www.hcnews.com Phone: 817-573-7066 Fax: 817-279-8371 The HOOD COUNTY NEWS is published at 1501 S.

Morgan Granbury, TX 76048 twice a week. Periodicals postage paid at Granbury, Tx. 76048. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the HOOD COUNTY NEWS, P.O. Box 879, Granbury, Tx.

76048. Any erroneous refl ection upon character, standing or reputation of any person, fi rm or corporation, which may occur in the HOOD COUNTY NEWS will be gladly corrected once brought to the attention of publisher or editor. The publisher is not responsible for copy omissions or typographical errors that may occur other than to correct them in the nearest issue after it is brought to his attention and in no case does the publisher hold himself liable for damages further than the amount received by him for actual space covering the error. The HOOD COUNTY NEWS is an award-winning member of the Texas Press Association, North East Texas Press, West Texas Press and National Newspaper Association. Publisher, Jerry Tidwell Asst.

publisher, Joe Thompson manager, Rick Craig Editor, Roger Enlow Sports editor, Rick Mauch Press, Dan Martin or Vincent Hernandez Newspaper In Education, Martha Pyron WELCOME TO THE HOOD COUNTY NEWS 2011 Hood County News, All Rights Reserved HOW TO CONTACT US YOUR LOCAL WEATHER Sat Sunnyskies. Veryhot. High108F. WindsNNE at10to15 mph. Sun Mainly sunny.Highs 107to111F andlowsin thelow80s.

Mon Mostly sunny.Highs 106to110F andlowsin thelow80s. Tue Partly cloudy. Highs104to 108Fand lowsinthe low80s. Wed Sunshine. Highs101to 105Fand lowsinthe upper70s.

LOOKING BACK 30 years ago, 1981: Liz Hamilton captured fi rst place in the championship fl ight while Lynn Ashmore was the top golfer in the fi rst fl ight contest for the Pecan Plantation Golf Association regular play day. 20 years ago, 1991: Retired Granbury schools administrator Willie Crossland received a Favorite Teacher Award at a teacher appreciation lunch given by the school board. 10 years ago, 2001: Connie James was chosen for by a Hood County News reader. Freedom to Bathe Safely Freedom to Bathe Safely BEST BUY BEST BUY WALK IN BATH TUBS WALK IN BATH TUBS 817-326-3003 www.bestbuywalkintubs.com Granbury Chamber of Commerce member Locally owned and operated Now VA approved Family-owned, Texas-built Lifetime Guarantee against leaks Fits any standard bathtub or shower space Full Installation available Great for circulation, arthritis, stiff joints and relaxation Call for Pricing and other details No high-pressure sales tactics A83683 HEARING TESTS ARE IMPORTANT Everyone should have their hearing checked at least once ayear.If you have a hearing problem of any kind, you owe it to yourself to have a hearing check up to determine what can be done to help you. These check ups are free, and will only take about 20 minutes of your time.

Wecan also look into your ear with ourearcamera. Your hearing difficulty may just be wax. see what we see! Since 1959, Jones Hearing Centers have been helping those who arehardof hearing. Use of the latest electronic equipment will pinpoint your problem. Wewill explain some of the causes of hearing loss and diagrams of how the ear works will be available.

Come in for your free hearing consultation. We carry a variety of hearing aids. Our professional experience assures you of personal understanding and expert help with amost important problem hearing impairment. Our Granbury office is located at 509 West Pearl. Call for an appointment: 817-279-8866 Repair service and cleaning areavailable for your present hearing aid, no matter what brand or whereyou bought it.

Call for your appointment: 817-279-8866. Debra Crawford Clinical Audiologist Pd. Adv. PERKS: No extra $7,200 FROM PAGE ONE JOHNSON: have sinned FROM PAGE ONE case. An office representative for the judge returned the call and said response was that case is subject to appeal.

Therefore, he has no comment about the sentence right Johnson, who had been free after posting $50,000 bond, was handcuffed and taken into custody after his guilty plea Monday. He was handcuffed again after the trial and the victim statements were read, then escorted out of the courtroom. He will remain in the Hood County Jail until he is transferred to a state prison. The stepfather of one victim, who testified Tuesday, said he thought that the sentence was appropriate, given age. got the maximum sentence, so I was satisfied with he said.

INTERVIEW Christian played to Judge Walton parts of a DVD interview Johnson had on Oct. 16 with Robert Young, an investigator for the D.A.’s Office. The defendant made some admissions during that interview, although he was not under arrest. lived with a personal issue. attracted to young Johnson told Young.

Johnson stated on the DVD that he had served as a counselor at a summer church camp for about or five until one mother complained about the I had with her When asked about the criminal incident described in Count 1, Johnson said something happened involving a bet made with that victim during a private fishing excursion on a boat, then added, was the adult. sure I was at Johnson was questioned by Young about hiring teenage boys to work for him at his accounting office. He was accused of making all-male pornography available to them to any possible interest they might show in it. Johnson suggested during that interview that the criminal charges against him would be to harm his wife politically. His wife was a member of the Granbury City Council at that time, but no longer holds office.

be used to destroy both of Johnson told Young. would be behind something like Young asked. I have no Johnson replied. be surprised that anything might be politically Christian had a blunt assessment of Johnson, who victimized children ages 16, 13, 12 and 10, according to the indictment. never seen this case as anything but bringing a serial child molester to Christian said.

Four individual children had been named in the indictment. A fifth name was brought up in questioning by Christian when Johnson took the stand. victimized him as well, Christian asked Johnson. I ask to speak to my Johnson asked. After conferring with Hattox, answer to question was, than those five, have there been any Christian asked, to which Johnson replied, believe there was one Johnson decided to take the stand and testify on his own behalf before Walton, shortly after defense attorney Richard Hattox told the judge his client was acting against his advice.

After the trial, Hattox indicated to the HCN that Johnson wanted an opportunity to apologize. On Monday, Hattox had also said Johnson wanted to spare the victims from having to testify. think he wavered from wanting to Hattox said. (taking the stand) was the only means he had KEY ELEMENTS Christian had lofty praise for the work done by his investigator. work on this case was critical to seeing that justice was done Christian said.

believe no one does a better job investigating these cases. His demeanor helped the victims maintain their confidence in the system, and what we were Christian emphasized that another key to the case was young concern that there were other victims. One of the victims, now married and in his 20s, was convinced by his wife to speak with a pastor about the incident in Count 1. From there, the criminal investigation was set in motion after the District Office was notified. The woman testified that her husband was ashamed about what had happened with Johnson, and was manipulated into he should keep it a secret.

agreed it was the right thing, to come she said of him changing his mind after discussing it with their pastor. VICTIM STATEMENTS Two young men who read victim impact statements to Johnson after the sentencing were emotional and convincing. years ago, I was the victim of your deviant one of them stated on the stand. had everyone fooled, and now the truth is out and everyone knows what kind of person you The other young man expressed to Johnson how he experienced years of holding back a deep, dark skeleton of what a demented person you noting that Johnson will now be occupying a 5 by 8 in prison, like I have the last 15 years of my Christian said, happened to have three strong young men that had the strength to come forward, and they let this ruin them. But it makes me wonder how many more are out there that come Christian said the victims were to do if it had been necessary to testify and spell out details of what happened.

Johnson tearfully indicated on the stand that he only recently accepted the fact he had built a of concerning his crimes, stating have sinned so He stated, always had a heart for children and wanted to help children. part of what makes it so Johnson also said that pornography played a part in his actions. allowed me to believe that some of the actions I took with boys were things they he said, adding later that he had asked for forgiveness. Also among those testifying in the punishment hearing Tuesday was a father of two of victims. He stated he has known the defendant 15 or 16 years.

He and his wife were good friends with Johnson and his wife, at least until they learned of what happened to their sons. believe it to be true, because I knew him so well. I thought I the man said. m.wilson@hcnews.com 817-573-7066, ext. 254.

Exemplary. Crossland staff is the best I have ever worked she said. two children attend Weatherford school. Her husband Andy is a Weatherford elementary principal. have limited time left with my kids before they leave home for college, and it is time to put my family first above my she said.

ext. 245 FINES: Could be unpopular FROM PAGE ONE do not believe you should be getting insurance when a lot of the people in this town do not have Terry Wray admonished the council Tuesday night. Council member Mitch Tyra said he had no intention of voting for what amounted to a pay increase, and said he stated that intention at a public meeting earlier this month. think reached the reasonable plateau of $1,000 (per he said. Pratt said he had made the suggestion about health insurance out of concern that ordinary citizens might not be able to afford to seek elected office.

Though serving on the City Council is considered a part-time responsibility, council members at times must attend daylong budget workshops and specially called meetings. They also spend time after hours reviewing matters set to come before the council. Council member Tony Allen said he would like to have the health insurance, but said: do the best job I can, with or without reasoning about the health insurance sounded familiar because it was the same explanation given back in 2008 by then-Mayor David Southern, whom Pratt defeated last year. Two other council members have been defeated since the pay controversy began. The council has since lowered its compensation.

The mayor now gets $18,000 (down from $45,000) and council members receive $12,000, reduced from $18,000. Angry citizens were quick to take to the podium Tuesday night to remind council members about the issues they had campaigned on issues that for some of them included lower pay and fewer perks. The recently re-elected Parson did not address the pay issue head-on, but noted that the budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year shows $30 million in revenues and more money directed at promoting tourism. think got a good budget. It looks good to he said.

Laurel Pirkle said, need the money. I want the The newest member, Nin Hulett, said that he is additional pay or benefits. 817-573-7066, ext. 258 Citizens invited to school budget, tax hearing Granbury school trustees will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget and tax rate Monday starting at 6 p.m. in the school board meeting room, corner of Morgan and Bridge.

The proposed budget of $67.9 million with $63 million for operations and $4.9 million for debt service in- cludes a total tax rate of $1.15 per $100 of property valuation. The maintenance and operations tax rate would remain at $1.04, while the rate for debt service would increase by a penny to 11 cents. The possible increase is due to an 8 percent decrease in local property values to fund interest on previously issued bonds, Superintendent Ron Mayfield said. The average market value of residences dropped from $151,000 to $149,500. The proposed school taxes due on the average residence would decline from $1,378.26 to $1,375.34.

extra jurors for a high profile case heard in district court this week, out of fear that not enough jurors would answer their summonses. Messina said he is researching the issue and plans to review amounts of fines collected from from 1995 through 2005. Hitt told the Hood County News last week that few fines have been paid by no-show jurors for a number of years, and most of those were paid unsolicited by doctors who did not want to reschedule medical procedures. She said that although her office accepts the fees when they are paid, it is the judges who have the authority to impose and enforce them. When asked if the 10-year study might show that little revenue had been raised because judges simply had not actively enforced the penalties, Messina said the reasons would be because people had moved, had exemptions from jury service, died or had some other excuse that would release them from jury Messina stated that in Johnson, Parker, Somervell and Tarrant Counties, the names of no-shows are simply placed back into the pool to be called again.

There may be a difference of opinion as to whether most jurors who fail to show do so intentionally. Hitt said that jurors are notified a month in advance, and if they have moved from the address that is on file, the summons is returned to her office. As well, citizens are supposed to contact her office in advance of jury day to claim any allowable exceptions. already gotten all those she said. (no-shows) are the people that flat respond.

They disregarded and just Although imposing fines could be unpopular with many voters, reinstating the practice could conceivably pump enough money into the coffers to help prevent the loss of jobs or services to citizens. The money could also fund additional deputies or patrol cars, among other things. Hardline enforcement would be burdensome and costly, Messina noted. However, Hitt said she believes that at least a percentage of the no-show jurors would pay up if they received a letter from a judge on the letterhead. Messina said via email that his research showed that 2006 was the last time fine letters went out of our He said the letters stopped being sent from office at the same He said he has instructed his bailiff to regularly obtain the lists from the district office so that fine notices can be sent.

am going to send out the judge wrote to the Hood County News. only point I have not yet decided upon is whether they will go out in the old form under my signature line or mine. As an experiment I may try both and see which one is the most 817-573-7066, ext. 258 POOL FROM PAGE ONE Former tax assessor-collector Sandy Tidwell Gilmore, who pleaded guilty last November to a Class A misdemeanor charge pertaining to her actions during an election campaign, is seeking an early release from probation. District Judge Ralph Walton is scheduled to address the motion Tuesday.

The charge against Gilmore was tied to the release of a tax lien document against her employee, Teresa McCoy, whom she did not support as her replacement. McCoy said Thursday that she does not support early release and noted that she has served only half of her probation time. McCoy is up for re-election next year. Since she was not convicted of a felony, Gilmore would be free to seek public office again if she chooses, according to election officials. Gilmore seeks probation release.