Reporter-News Archives

July 31 -- Prison officials: Successful suicides are rare in Big Country: Myron Williams was adamant he wasn't going back to Oklahoma to face charges he molested his daughter.

July 31 -- Albany to talk about its grief: ALBANY -- "Albany, we're praying for you," reads a sign on the community marquee near the Shackelford County Courthouse.

July 31 -- Coleman averts train disaster, but will others?: COLEMAN -- Coleman was fortunate Tuesday when a train derailment near the downtown area failed to cause a major disaster, despite carrying hazardous chemicals.

July 31 -- Reverend fights to save his daughter's life: The Rev. Andrew Penns was always a praying man.

July 31 -- Two indicted for pushing homeless man from overpass: BIG SPRING -- Two Big Spring men, both on parole from Texas prisons, were indicted Wednesday for the murder of a homeless man who died from injuries when he fell 20 feet from an Interstate 20 overpass.

July 31 -- Ballinger names superintendent: BALLINGER -- If Ballinger ISD students look to their new superintendent as a role model, they will be well-rounded.

July 31 -- Jailers charged with sex and drug violations: BROWNWOOD -- For the second time in eight months Brown County jailers have been charged with having sexual relationships with inmates or charged with other crimes.

July 31 -- Coke County fire envelopes buildings: COKE COUNTY -- Firefighters from Nolan, Mitchell and Coke counties contained a range fire just as it reached the Silver community in far northern Coke County on Thursday, but not before some buildings near the town were destroyed.

July 31 -- Eastland auditor gets raise, maybe: EASTLAND -- If 91st District Judge Steven Herod's wishes are followed, Eastland County Auditor Don Hazelip will get a hefty salary increase for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

July 31 -- Loraine bank robbery: A local job?: LORAINE -- Mitchell County Sheriff Patrick Toombs said he believes the July 15 robbery of the First Bank of West Texas was committed by a resident of Colorado City or Loraine.

July 31 -- Cab company helps distribute fans to those in need: Tommy McDeane, 48, became the 25th casualty of Dallas County's unrelenting heat Wednesday.

July 31 -- 200 bales of hay burn: BLANKET -- More than 200 round bales of hay were destroyed in a fire Wednesday at the Jerry Damron Dairy just east of Blanket.

July 31 -- Throckmorton school board hires two teachers: THROCKMORTON -- Two new teachers have been hired for Throckmorton High School, one as result of a $194,000 computer grant received by the school district.

July 30 -- Stenholm's office hearing about TV ad that he says 'lies': An advertisement now running on local television stations shows a man gagged and wrapped in tape, helpless to protect himself from the torrent of new legislation that rains down on him.

July 30 -- Grand jury to consider murder case again: BAIRD - The Callahan County grand jury will convene today to consider further evidence in the April 1997 murder of Ted Saunders, longtime Clyde businessman and Army Reservist.

July 30 -- Condemned killer won't get new trial: A federal judge has denied condemned killer Garry Dean Miller's appeal for a new trial.

July 30 -- Cattle outlook not very bright: The mood at auction barns around the state is not good.

July 30 -- CTO executive director terminated: COLEMAN - Emmett Payne has been terminated after five years as executive director of Central Texas Opportunities Inc., a social service agency operating in eight Big Country counties.

July 30 -- Sweetwater getting federal 'heat funds': Sweetwater's People for Progress announced Thursday that $126,000 has been made available to help residents deal with the heat in Nolan, Scurry, Fisher and Mitchell counties.

July 30 -- Young boy learning how to live, be successful, with diabetes: Miles Mayfield, 9, remembers when he was told he was diabetic. At an age when most children's greatest worry is whether the monster in the closet is real, Mayfield was forced to learn about such grown-up ideas as insulin shots, watching what he ate and learning new ways to take care of himself.

July 30 -- Day care operator's husband charged with sexual assault of girl, 7: The husband of an in-home day care operator allegedly sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl, authorities said.

July 29 -- Despite end in sight to GM strike, local 'effects are far-reaching': Negotiators reached a tentative settlement Tuesday to end United Auto Workers strikes against two General Motors Corp. parts plants that had virtually shut down the No. 1 automaker, the union announced.

July 29 -- Merkel man with 'emaciated' dogs arrested: MERKEL - Taylor County deputies arrested Merkel dog owner John Scott Lanford on Tuesday afternoon on animal cruelty charges.

July 29 -- Federal aid coming to Big Country to help pay high electricity bills: AUSTIN - The Big Country will receive more than $850,000 to help pay high electricity bills, fix broken air conditioners and buy air conditioners for low-income families suffering from the scorching heat.

July 29 -- Marijuana confiscated in Nolan County: SWEETWATER - Eighty-two pounds of marijuana was found hidden in a vehicle stopped on Interstate 20 in Nolan County Monday night, said Billy Schat of Abilene, commander of the West Central Texas Interlocal Task Force.

July 29 -- Barber and Colorado City police at odds over bunting, "rights": COLORADO CITY - Colorado City police might just be wishing they had never seen attorney Pat Barber's "bunting." Barber, who put up a "Just Say No to Searches" sign late last month on Interstate 20, went on the warpath Tuesday against perceived police retaliation.

July 29 -- Izzard outlines his own ideas on home health care: Nearly three weeks after local home health care workers picketed Congressman Charles Stenholm's office to protest caps on Medicaid reimbursements, challenger Rudy Izzard outlined his own ideas on home health care as part of a package of rural health care initiatives.

July 29 -- Stephenville begins water plan: STEPHENVILLE - The city of Stephenville issued a mandatory water conservation plan, effective immediately, to help deal with the oppressive heat and increasing water needs.

July 29 -- So far, Abilene has escaped heat-related water main breaks: The weather created tough problems for Fort Worth water supply this weekend, though Abilene has thus far escaped such severe water line breaks.

July 29 -- Man found incompetent to stand trial to be committed to state hospital: Chris Jackson, the 21-year-old Abilene man who was found mentally incompetent to stand trial on a robbery charge three weeks ago, will be committed to a maximum-security state hospital. A jury ruled Tuesday that he is mentally ill.

July 29 -- Gunman killed by Brown County deputy: BROWNWOOD - A man brandishing two guns was shot and killed in a brief standoff with a Brown County deputy sheriff Monday night.

July 29 -- AISD administrators study budget, curriculum, renovated plan at retreat: Budget concerns, a renovated crisis management plan and new curriculum efforts constituted the meat of a four-hour Abilene school administration retreat Tuesday.

July 29 -- Cyclists beating heat, wind through the Big Country: Many endurance cyclists participating in the 2,900-mile Ensure Race Across America continued to fight the heat and wind through the Big Country Tuesday, but the leader was already sailing through Arkansas.

July 29 -- Commissioners OK new signs for Expo Center: Taylor County commissioners approved spending $14,883 Tuesday on new signs for the improving Expo Center.

July 28 -- JP has a money-saving deal commissioners 'can't refuse': Justice of the Peace Sam Matta's staff would be axed and his pay slashed under a plan fellow Judge Rex Andrew crafted to save taxpayers the costs of a settled lawsuit against his embattled colleague.

July 28 -- AISD superintendent's budget 'an admittedly grim plan': Abilene school officials proposed a budget Monday that could hike the district's tax rates 9.4 percent in what the superintendent called an admittedly grim plan.

July 28 -- Girl, 15, commits suicide in juvenile: A 15-year-old girl apparently hanged herself in the Taylor County Juvenile Detention Center on Monday morning.

July 28 -- Jailer saves inmate from hanging in Sweetwater: SWEETWATER - A Nolan County jailer has been credited with saving the life of a 38-year-old inmate who attempted to hang himself Sunday.

July 28 -- Local WWII vets say movie is 'pretty close': The movie "Saving Private Ryan" is being hailed by moviegoers and critics as one of the most accurate portrayals of war ever produced by Hollywood.

July 28 -- Times lean for localy recycling companies: The fortunes of local recycling companies have always risen and fallen with volatile market prices for paper pulp, aluminum, copper and the like, but with prices down across the board, times are especially lean.

July 28 -- Parents honor Abilene State School staff: Verdene Long and Joan Umfress-Seay have much in common. Each has a daughter at Abilene State School, each has been a volunteer at the school since the early 1990s, and on Monday each was on potato chip detail.

July 28 -- Haywood wants criminals to repay taxpayers: County inmates would be forced to pay a portion of their incarceration costs under a "don't-do-the-crime-if-you-can't-pay-the-time" measure state Sen. Tom Haywood will sponsor next year.

July 28 -- Racers Across America love Big Country hospitality ... but not the heat: THROCKMORTON - Sunburned and all but delirious, bicyclists who are racing across the United States express a love-hate relationship with the Big Country.

July 28 -- Petition supports Sheriff Wedeking: ANSON - A petition asking that Jones County's 911 services not be moved to the courthouse basement but remain at the sheriff's office was presented to Jones County commissioners Monday.

July 28 -- Comanche jail to cost less than expected: COMANCHE - Construction bids for the 96-bed Comanche County Jail expansion came in at about $88,000 less than the $1.9 million commissioners expected to spend.

July 27 -- AISD superintendent to propose budget: Superintendent Charles Hundley will propose a preliminary budget to the Abilene school board today. Hundley's top 10 things to know about the budget process

July 27 -- Area News Roundup: Gorman to close school campuses ... Mitchell County Crime Stoppers targeting burglary

July 27 -- Dog owner accused of cruelty to animals: MERKEL -- John Scott Lanford is having a doggone bad time with county animal control officers.

July 27 -- Sweetwater school tax hearing set: SWEETWATER -- The Sweetwater school board has set a public hearing on a tax increase for Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m.

July 26 -- This year will go down as one of the worst economically: Accountants still have to mark their ledgers, but 1998 will likely go down as one of West Central Texas' worst economic years.

July 26 -- Woman waiting for double lung transplant has a little more time: Deborah Collier received a reprieve in her wait for a double-lung organ transplant.

July 26 -- Former publisher hung out to dry (Ken Ellsworth): CROSS PLAINS - Jack Scott, 88, the longtime editor and respected publisher of the Cross Plains Review, former West Texas Press Association president and former Cross Plains mayor, wrote me the other day responding to my recent column about Comanche County and its multitude of historical markers.

July 25 -- Taylor County to receive $2.1 million in tobacco settlement: AUSTIN - After months of legal wrangling, Texas Attorney General Dan Morales signed papers Friday that settle disputes regarding the state's historic $17.3 billion settlement with the tobacco industry.

July 25 -- Woman awaiting double lung transplant returns home: After waiting near five months for a double-lung transplant in Houston, Deborah Collier returned home Friday.

July 25 -- Adopted Ukrainian teens finally at home in Abilene: To the cheers of about 40 "instant relatives," two teen-age Ukrainian girls stepped off a plane at Abilene Regional Airport Friday, two years after their journey began.

July 25 -- Attorney claims state trying to silence his message: COLORADO CITY - Attorney Pat Barber says he can prove state transportation officials are "selectively enforcing" highway beautification provisions against him.

July 25 -- Apartment complex won't be built near Fairway Oaks: A proposed Fairway Oaks apartment complex didn't make the cut Friday when the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs earmarked 55 affordable housing developments statewide for federal tax credits.

July 25 -- Dyess dormitories dedicated: Under a mercifully breezy sky and to the occasional roar from a departing B-1 or returning C-130, about 70 Air Force personnel gathered Friday morning at the dedication ceremony of two newly refurbished dormitories at Dyess Air Force Base.

July 25 -- Man upset over marriage fires shots, surrenders to SWAT team: Distraught over a marital difficulties, an Abilene man allegedly fired several shots Friday night and later surrendered to tactical officers at Lake Fort Phantom Hill.

July 25 -- Local woman close to Capitol shooting: During the buzz of the Capitol crisis Thursday, a young Abilene woman interning for the senator phoned her mother to assure her of her safety.

July 24 -- Lawsuit alleges murder-for-hire in Clyde man's death: BAIRD - Murder victim Ted Saunders' parents claim in a lawsuit filed here Wednesday that Saunders' wife and son hired someone to kill the longtime Clyde businessman and Army Reservist in April 1997.

July 24 -- Video helps police crack 'smash and grab' case: An ID match on a surveillance video helped detective Chris Smith crack a string of recent "smash and grab" burglaries and implicate five suspects, authorities said.

July 24 -- Hottest political race (Aggie Blood Feud) reaches Abilene: State Comptroller John Sharp and Texas Farm Bureau leaders campaigned in Abilene on Thursday in what is becoming the state's tightest political race, the contest for lieutenant governor between Sharp and Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry.

July 24 -- Sheriff strikes back at commissioners decision: ANSON - Jones County Sheriff Robby Wedeking has written a letter to "the citizens and taxpayers of Jones County" apologizing for having to close his office.

July 24 -- Agent challenges proposed tower ordinance: David Buskirk could have learned something from one of Rob Beckham's self-described "folksy" sayings. "When you want to get honey, you don't go up and slap the beehive," the Abilene city councilman said Thursday.

July 24 -- Teen-ager saves family members during Merkel house fire: MERKEL - The quick thinking of a 13-year-old boy saved his sister and grandfather from tragedy Thursday afternoon during a fire that destroyed their home.

July 24 -- Dallas Cowboys raising spirits, revenues in Wichita Falls: WICHITA FALLS - When a 35-year-old employee at a Michigan lab equipment firm announced she was going to Wichita Falls to watch the Dallas Cowboys practice, co-workers asked where Wichita Falls was.

July 24 -- Another death investigation under way in Callahan County: CLYDE - The Callahan County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a 46-year-old Clyde man whose body was found in a ditch between here and Abilene Thursday morning.

July 24 -- Dyess granted money in two spending plans: WASHINGTON - A House-Senate conference resolved the differences in two Dyess Air Force Base spending plans by granting Dyess all the money in both plans Thursday.

July 24 -- Officials to discuss Fina annexation: BIG SPRING - City officials have met twice with Fina Refinery officials to discuss the possible annexation of the Fina property into the city limits, according to City Manager Gary Fuqua.

July 24 -- Trusty faces theft charges in whiskey bottle incident: ASPERMONT - A Stonewall County Jail inmate faces possible theft charges in connection with stealing a whiskey bottle from a deputy's office, Sheriff Bill Mullen said.

July 24 -- 'Walk With Pride'' giving away school shoes: More than 600 youngsters will "Walk With Pride" to their first day of class thanks to a project sponsored by the Abilene Board of Realtors.

July 24 -- Family offers reward for missing man: SWEETWATER - The family of Loy Cosby, 87, last seen June 2 in the Lake Sweetwater area, is offering a $3,000 reward through the Nolan County Sheriff's Department for information leading to the discovery of the man's whereabouts.

July 24 -- Commissioners hope to solve water line controversy: BAIRD - Baird city commissioners have recently adjusted water prices for Callahan County Water Supply and appointed a committee that will consider selling part of a Baird-installed water line to Clyde.

July 23 -- 'Unique health identifier' causing a stir: Two years after Congress charged federal officials with creating a "unique health identifier" for every American, Congress and the medical community are scrambling to have their say on the issue.

July 23 -- Robert Lee judge killed in house fire: ROBERT LEE - An electrical short is believed to be the cause of a house fire that killed Robert Lee's municipal judge.

July 23 -- Haskell couple relates experiences of cruise ship fire: HASKELL - A five-day, four-night cruise to Key West, Fla., and Cozumel, Mexico, was something Jimmy and Dawn Howard had been looking forward to for years.

July 23 -- Clyde enjoying a building boom: CLYDE - The weather isn't the only thing that is hot in Clyde these days. The Callahan County town is enjoying a building boom that has seen almost 20 grand openings of new, expanded, renovated or relocated businesses in the past few months - and with more scheduled.

July 23 -- Woman recounts agony of Lyme disease: The tiniest thing, unnoticed at the time, can change your life forever. It happened to Rhonda Washer, whose love for the outdoors proved her Achilles heel - or leg. As best she can figure, on an early spring day in 1992 as she enjoyed a greening Pennsylvania countryside, a tiny, almost invisible deer tick bit her leg.

July 23 -- Local police recognized as having the 'right stuff': Officer Shannon Couch and Lt. D.W. Havins have got the right stuff. On Wednesday, the two policemen were named Officer and Supervisor of the Year, respectively.

July 23 -- Workshop teacher talks about importance of Sunday School: Instead of just passing on information to children, Sunday School teachers need to develop relationships with them and teach them what church is about, a specialist in the field said he believes.

July 23 -- Recycling company won't move from entranceway to city: Despite promises of help by two city boards, two Abilene business owners have decided not to move their recycling company off the eastern entranceway to the city.

July 22 -- Taylor County would receive $2.1 million in first-year tobacco settlement: Taylor County would reap a projected $2.1 million as its first-year share of the Texas tobacco settlement's for local governments that pay for indigent health care. The deal was hammered out last weekend. Area Counties Tobacco settlement figures

July 22 -- No drought contingency plan to be implemented this summer: Little can make summer heat more unbearable than a dead lawn, a dirty car or, more importantly, a half-filled pool.

July 22 -- Public-private partnerships for housing at military bases not a fast starter: WASHINGTON - The military's effort to build housing through public-private partnerships, including one project in Abilene, has gotten off to a slow start and may pose more problems and fewer advantages than originally believed, a new federal report says.

July 22 -- Youngster recovers from surgery to ride again: Back in the saddle again. In March, Casey Deary was dragged by a spooked colt, whipped into a gate, had seven teeth smashed out and endured 16 hours of reconstructive surgery.

July 22 -- DCOA OKs $1.3 million in funding requests: The Development Corporation of Abilene approved annual funding requests totaling almost $1.3 million at its meeting Tuesday afternoon.

July 22 -- Huge boiler removed from Loop 322: Crane operators hoisted a toppled-over 120-ton boiler and moved it away from the road shoulder near Loop 322 on Tuesday evening.

July 22 -- Meningitis outbreak has people concerned in area: Dirty hands, not swimming pools, are the culprit behind an outbreak of viral meningitis that has hospitalized at least 25 people in the past three weeks, a health official said.

July 22 -- Race across America traverses Big Country: The 100-degree temperatures scorching Texas may seem like a breath of fresh air to several dozen superbly trained athletes who are due to cross the Big Country within the next week.

July 21 -- Investment policy recommendations approved: The Abilene school board approved four recommendations from the administration Monday to help maintain accountability in any investments it makes.

July 21 -- Hearing scheduled on parent's complaint: An Abilene man told school board members his son suffered racial discrimination while riding an Abilene school bus earlier this year.

July 21 -- 11 area probation departments to share funds: AUSTIN - Big Country probationers with substance abuse problems can get free treatment through a Texas Department of Criminal Justice grant announced Monday.

July 21 -- Controversial billboards help earn award for city: Myrtle and her controversial billboards helped make Abilene the No. 1 city in Texas in fostering public awareness of the need to take care of the environment.

July 21 -- High-tech phone system to greet university students after all: McMurry and Hardin-Simmons students returning for the fall semester on Aug. 17 should have the high-tech phone service they were promised when they left in May.

July 21 -- Council expected to vote on tower ordinance Thursday: Closing out what City Manager Roy McDaniel calls a "pretty simple agenda," the Abilene City Council is expected to vote Thursday on the amended antenna tower ordinance.

July 21 -- Couple hopes to open a Coca-Cola museum in downtown Albany: ALBANY - In the home of Sam and Sandi Conway, Coke is it. From ceiling to floor, the Conway home is filled with Coca-Cola memorabilia. Much of it was gathered during Sam Conway's 37-year career with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, one of the longest in company history.

July 21 -- 'Camp Cousins' organized by two local women: Two of Wynetta Blackburn's grandchildren missed their usual camp at Abilene Christian University this summer.

July 21 -- Injunction against F&H Santa Fe to hold until trial: The legal fight between F&H Santa Fe Rail of Graham and the Big Country users of the rights-of-way of the old Santa Fe Railway will go to court Nov. 9 at the 46th District Court in Quanah.

July 21 -- Dairy worker charged with kidnapping: STEPHENVILLE - An Erath County dairy worker was charged with aggravated kidnapping Monday after he drew a gun on an acquaintance who was trying to do him a favor.

July 21 -- Possum Kingdom to get water funds: BRECKENRIDGE - The Possum Kingdom Water Supply Corporation will benefit from a $6.5 million project to provide a new regional water supply system for Stephens and Palo Pinto counties.

July 20 -- Dublin group seeks to purchase beautified 'corner lot': DUBLIN - For more than 20 years, the lot at the corner of Patrick and Blackjack streets in Dublin was nothing but a pile of rocks on an otherwise empty lot.

July 20 -- Crime victims funds will be made available to other agencies: When the innocent victim in a robbery, assault or murder is sent to a hospital, counselor or funeral home, who foots the bill?

July 20 -- Working with mules 'teaches you patience': Payton Lynn Brackeen wants to major in psychology a couple of years from now, but she's not sure whether she should count her experience with mules an asset.

July 19 -- School board to review investment policies: Reviewing investment policy is top priority for the Abilene School board meeting tonight. The board, by law, has to review it every year, and no changes will be made this year, said David Polnick, deputy superintendent for business and finance.

July 19 -- Lobbying effort could put end to housing project: The developer of a proposed low-income apartment complex near Fairway Oaks conceded a stiff lobbying effort against the project could "kill the deal" when the state weighs giving it tax credits this week.

July 19 -- Basketball program not really about basketball: Call it the underdog syndrome.

July 19 -- Miss Rodeo Texas earns her name (Ken Ellsworth): ABILENE -- Danyelle Rideout has a fitting last name. She is a cowgirl that is always on the go, either on horseback or on the road traveling to her next appearance.

July 19 -- Railhead vendors unlock door to successful venture: COLORADO CITY -- An Odessa couple has keyed in on a profitable hobby.

July 19 -- Rotan teen dies after fall from pickup: ROTAN -- A Rotan High School sophomore died after she fell from the bed of a pickup truck late Friday night.

July 19 -- State officials say attorney's sign violates regulations: COLORADO CITY -- Attorney Pat Barber's "Just Say No to Searches" billboard violates highway beautification regulations, state transportation officials said.

July 18 -- Charitable cyclists pass through Big Country: HASKELL -- A group of 34 determined cross country bicyclists who left San Francisco June 15, spent Thursday night in Aspermont and stopped in Haskell for a few minutes Friday.

July 18 -- Area News Roundup: Superintendent hunt narrowed to 3 ... Coleman coach resigns ... Counterfeit money found in Big Spring and Sweetwater ... Stephenville swelters in the heat ... Powerful wind gusts damage Sweetwater ... Roby school board gets new member ... Hamlin revises school dress code ... Dublin man indicted in sexual assault case

July 18 -- JP announces plan to take over colleague's duties: Justice of the Peace Rex Andrew fired off a fresh salvo Friday in his ongoing quarrel with Taylor County's other Precinct 1 justice of the peace, ending any hopes that the justices' jurisdictional feud was waning.

July 18 -- Lawmakers review 'capital' designations: AUSTIN -- Some Abilene customers recently shopping in Betty Henson's antique store in Baird noticed that downtown was more crowded than they remembered.

July 18 -- Native American firefighters join efforts against area blazes: HAMBY -- The Navajo Scouts battle wildfires with hand tools and their own sweat, grit and strength.

July 18 -- Children escape serious injury in three-vehicle wreck: Two YMCA vans collided with a Chevrolet Suburban Friday afternoon on the Winters Freeway, sending 16 adults and children to area hospitals with mostly minor injuries.

July 17 -- Drug council loses city funding: Abilene City Council members lauded the 1998-99 budget Wednesday for being straightforward and easy to negotiate.

July 17 -- Bruce ends long career with ARN: It doesn't take much space to list the jobs Bob Bruce hasn't had in an Abilene Reporter-News career spanning four decades:

July 17 -- Bus driver provides transportation, aid to sick child: A cool, calm and compassionate CityLink bus driver proved the crucial link in getting a tot suffering seizures the timely medical attention she needed early Tuesday afternoon.

July 17 -- Stenholm doing well in fund-raising for campaign: WASHINGTON -- As Congress this week debates campaign finance reform, Rep. Charlie Stenholm filed fund-raising documents showing he is doing well under the current system.

July 17 -- New giraffe's name chosen: Asha, she is. Lawre Alexander's name for the Abilene Zoo's new female giraffe, an African word meaning "life," was announced as the winner at a Thursday morning press conference at the Nelson Park facility.

July 17 -- County commissioners approve area health care clinics: Taylor County's rural indigent health care clients need no longer travel to Abilene for medical care after county commissioners approved adding three area clinics to the program Tuesday.

July 17 -- Search continues for Loraine bank robber: LORAINE -- Law enforcement officers continued to search Thursday for the armed man who robbed the First Bank of West Texas in Loraine of an estimated $9,000 Wednesday.

July 17 -- Dueling justices continue arguing over duties: Relations between Taylor County's dueling justices of the peace continued to simmer Thursday afternoon, sending baffled reporters from one judge's office to the next.

July 17 -- Abilene man given probation in bomb-threat case: A man who threatened to hurl a Molotov cocktail at his father-in-law's home received four years probation Thursday for possessing a prohibited weapon.

July 17 -- CIP meetings seek public's input: Undeterred by being outnumbered three to one by city staff, Loretta Cooper interrupted Andy Anderson's presentation on capital improvement needs Thursday morning to ask about activities for children in her neighborhood.

July 17 -- New director named for Stamford EDC: STAMFORD -- Kristi Muehlstein, 25, a Stamford native, has been named director of the Stamford Economic Development Corporation.

July 17 -- State school superintendent may make management personnel changes: Abilene State School Superintendent Bill Waddill may make some changes in management positions in the wake of three weeks of regulatory turbulence.

July 17 -- Woman settles case with Wal-Mart: A woman who said a container of baby formula fell on her head while shopping in a Big Spring Wal-Mart settled with the discount store this week for an undisclosed sum.

July 17 -- Zoo School broadens children's love, knowledge of animals: Six-year-old Katie Thompson knows what "oviparous" means.

July 17 -- Area News Roundup: TSTC plans new degree program ... Wreck victim stable after surgery ... Ranger liquor store burglarized ... Brownwood officers search for escaped youth ... Cross Plains chamber honors citizens ... Brown County water customers to get price break

July 16 -- Contract signed for building's sale: A contract has been signed for the sale of the 700,000-square-foot Wes-Tex Industrial Center on Interstate 20 in northeast Abilene.

July 16 -- Anson man arrested on theft charges: An Anson man, who allegedly operated a contracting business with stolen farm and construction equipment, was arrested in Jones County Tuesday by the state auto theft officers.

July 16 -- City Council adopts budget: The city manager's budget is now the Abilene City Council's budget.

July 16 -- Judge dismisses claim against Hendrick Medical Center: A federal judge has dismissed a claim that Hendrick Medical Center was partly responsible for Gary Crenshaw's death, ruling that the inmate was likely brain-dead before a Hendrick nurse could treat him.

July 16 -- Education Council names new manager: Ashley Gillespie was named manager of the Abilene Education Council Wednesday during a meeting of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce board.

July 16 -- Branch boosts usage of library materials: Brandon Mansfield no longer has much need for Abilene's downtown library.

July 16 -- Loraine bank robbed of $9,000: LORAINE -- A ski-masked gunman robbed the town's only bank at closing time Wednesday afternoon, escaping with an estimated $9,000.

July 16 -- Matta announces he will no longer accept criminal filings: Lame-duck Justice of the Peace Sam Matta is refusing to accept criminal complaints in his court, a decision that has fellow Judge Rex Andrew demanding Matta shoulder other duties or take a pay cut.

July 16 -- Warm heart helps cool nursing home residents: ANSON -- When Judith Kennedy walked into her mother-in-law's room at the nursing home one night last week, she noticed it was "awful warm."

July 16 -- Sewer lines to be rehabilitated: During the next few weeks, several 60-year-old sewer lines in downtown Abilene will be rehabilitated.

July 16 -- State school cleared but placed on probation: Abilene State School was let out of the Department of Human Services' doghouse Wednesday morning, though on a 30-day leash.

July 16 -- Couple to renovate downtown hotel for business use: Downtown's 72-year-old Uptown Hotel is entering the computer age.

July 16 -- Area News Roundup: New teachers hired at Baird ... Brownwood to survey dilapidated buildings ... Howard County library to close on Saturdays ... Bike theft leads to breakup of juvenile ring ... Early studies sexual law ... Wreck victim stable after surgery ... Santa Anna City Council approves secretary's request

July 16 -- Homeless man's background mostly mystery: Louis "Louie" Ahrens left behind few clues about who he was.

July 15 -- Taylor County makes changes in release program: Taylor County has tweaked its no-bond release program to screen jailed defendants more closely and reduce the numbers freed, but Abilene bail bondsmen remain peeved over the effort.

July 15 -- Area News Roundup: Oil fires destroy three oil battery tanks ... New high school principal hired in Brownwood ... WTC OKs 2 percent budget increase ... $7 million LEC planned in Brownwood ... Fire's cause under investigation ... Jury selection date set ... Pence named acting chief at Breckenridge ... Board hires five new teachers ... Ranger-Early classes delayed until spring

July 15 -- Timetable for PUC response uncertain: Several days will pass before the Public Utilities Commission responds to a complaint filed Tuesday by two Abilene universities and an Internet service provider.

July 15 -- Council members begin discussion of city budget: Don Drennan didn't try to hide how he felt after leaving the Abilene City Council's first day of budget discussions.

July 15 -- Foundation chairman upset by organization's claims: The chairman of the Abilene Cultural Foundation is outraged at what he calls "outright lies" being disseminated by the Christian Coalition opposing funding of the National Endowment for the Arts.

July 15 -- Escapee gets maximum penalty: A Taylor County Jail work crew member's brazen but futile dash for freedom nine weeks ago will cost him about a year behind bars for every 5.3 minutes he was on the loose.

July 15 -- HSU student honored for life-saving efforts: Despite Taylor County commissioners' proclamation, June 26 -- not Tuesday -- was Meghan Webb Day.

July 15 -- County approves settlement in sexual harassment suit: Taylor County commissioners approved a $100,000 payment to former clerk Mary Landeros on Tuesday to dismiss her sexual harassment claim against the county and Justice of the Peace Sam Matta, her ex-boss.

July 15 -- Woman arrested in connection with husband's shooting: A woman, arrested Tuesday afternoon in Aspermont in connection with shooting her husband in the head Sunday, told Abilene police "she did not believe the gun was functional."

July 15 -- Ranger commissioners' meeting nearly turns violent: RANGER -- Bickering threatened to turn violent as the mayor's son and a commissioner's husband nearly came to blows Monday night at a Ranger City Commission meeting.

July 15 -- Answered question creates new problems for state school: An answer to a misunderstood question about staffing has thrown another roadblock in Abilene State School's path back to the favor of the Department of Human Services.

July 15 -- Sweetwater goes to water plan: SWEETWATER -- An alternate-day watering plan was adopted Tuesday by the Sweetwater City Commission.

July 15 -- TIF board recommends baggage building be occupied by candy maker: One vote by the Abilene City Council and downtown could get a whole lot sweeter.

July 15 -- Storm causes truck wreck: BAIRD -- A sudden thunderstorm caused a Texas Department of Transportation dump truck driver to lose control of his rig and overturn on the north edge of Baird Tuesday afternoon.

July 14 -- Widow of gunned down 96-year-old appeared calm on 911 call: GORMAN - Maxine Poynor, the wife of 96-year-old Euell Poynor, was concerned but did not appear to fear for her life when she called 911 the night her husband was shot and killed by local law enforcement officers, according to a tape made available by the Eastland County dispatcher's office.

July 14 -- Universities, ISP to file complaint with the PUC against Southwestern Bell: Two Abilene universities and an Internet service provider will file a complaint today with the Public Utilities Commission against Southwestern Bell for not providing promised high-tech services in a timely manner.

July 14 -- Maintenance workers find body of transient: Transportation Department maintenance workers taking a break from the sweltering midday sun Monday made a startling find when they sought the shade of an Interstate 20 underpass. A 61-year-old transient with a last known address in Arizona was found dead at the top of the Hayten Road underpass in west Abilene, apparently of natural causes.

July 14 -- Storm moves business roof across street: A leaky roof was the least of Phil Nichols' worries Monday. The fact it was sitting crashed and smashed in the Taylor County Courthouse's parking lot was of far-greater concern.

July 14 -- Hobbs named executive director of Boys and Girls Club: After serving more than seven months as interim executive director, Linda Hobbs was named Monday as executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Abilene.

July 14 -- State School gets final inspection Monday; results due soon: Abilene State School's final exam began Monday, but officials won't learn if it earned a passing grade until late today at the earliest.

July 14 -- Wylie ISD to hold all expenditures except payroll: Payroll will be the only expenditure level to raise with the 2 percent budget increase for Wylie schools, Superintendent Cecil Davis said at a budget workshop that launched Monday's board meeting.

July 14 -- Brownwood library to get some of Bullock's left-over campaign funds: AUSTIN - The Brownwood Public Library is among the schools, museums, libraries and charitable groups to benefit from Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock's retirement.

July 14 -- Storms do damage to roofs, sheds, mobile homes in Tye: Calling insurance adjustors, retrieving broken tree limbs and replacing utility poles that weigh more than 1,000 pounds each were top priorities Monday for western Taylor County residents and electric co-op employees.

July 14 -- Huge brush fire burns hundreds of acres: ROBY - A massive brush fire burned from 500-700 acres in Fisher County before it was brought under control shortly before 9 p.m. Monday, according to the Fisher County Sheriff's office.

July 13 -- Local woman questioned in fatal shooting: An Abilene man was fatally shot about 2 a.m. Sunday at a south Abilene residence, and a 40-year-old woman was being questioned in the shooting.

July 13 -- Storms sweep across area, cool down Abilene: A robust thunderstorm system raked a wide swath of the Big Country late Sunday evening and chased record heat from the area. But only temporarily.

July 13 -- Wylie trustees to OK cafeteria prices: Wylie school trustees are expected to adopt the same lunch and breakfast prices as last year during their meeting at 7 p.m. today.

July 12 -- 'Family Away from Home' helps long-distance health care go easier: HOUSTON - Four months ago, they were mere acquaintances. In that time, three people - Jan Schneider and Hector and Ana Maria Beltrami - have become like a temporary family for Abilenian Deborah Collier.

July 12 -- Young mother needs double-lung transplant or she will die: For Deborah Collier, the minutes continue ticking away. She needs time, and there's just not enough of it. The young mother is biding her time waiting for a double-lung transplant, without which she will die from a rare respiratory ailment.

July 12 - Re-enactors give treat to Old Settlers Reunion visitors: BUFFALO GAP - The sound of gunfire on any other weekend would have caused alarm among local residents. On this particular weekend, however, the discharge from a pistol was quite acceptable.

July 12 -- Family questions imprisonment of mentally ill man: When prosecutor Tamara Osborne announced to the jury pool Wednesday that she actually agreed with the defense attorney and thought Chris Jackson was mentally incompetent to stand trial for robbery, a few ears perked up.

July 12 -- City officials to be taking input from citizens on capital improvement needs: Hoping for more community input on capital improvements than they traditionally receive, Abilene city officials are taking their show on the road. City representatives will for the next two weeks be conducting public meetings throughout town to gather information from citizens about possible capital improvement needs.

July 12 -- Fire breaks out near Eskota road: SWEETWATER - A major brush fire flared up Saturday afternoon East of Sweetwater along the North service road of Interstate 20 at Eskota Road and came close to wiping out two homes.

July 11 -- Stenholm, Izzard debate whether they are going to debate: WASHINGTON - They haven't agreed to a formal debate, but Rep. Charles Stenholm and GOP challenger Rudy Izzard still may be seen on stage together discussing the issues before the Nov. 3 election.

July 11 -- Mother and son reunited: STEPHENVILLE - A Chinese child custody case that wound up in Stephenville has ended happily with a 10-year-old boy being reunited with his mother at her attorney's office in Dallas.

July 11 -- D.A. counters talk of intimidation by local task force: Taylor County District Attorney James Eidson on Friday countered allegations a local task force relies on intimidation and scare tactics in its drug interdiction program.

July 11 -- Former Eastland youth minister indicted: EASTLAND - An Eastland County man has been accused in 19 indictments of sexually assaulting children, reportedly while he was their church youth minister.

July 11 -- Picketing locals protest cuts in federal funding: "What would you do if it was your mother?" That was the question asked by one of the dozens of placards carried by home health care workers picketing Congressman Charles Stenholm's Abilene office Friday afternoon.

July 11 -- Briefs: Animal Appreciation Day ... Roscoe highway work begins

July 10 -- Council approves Carver Neighborhood Plan: It took two years of work by organizers and officials to get the Carver Neighborhood Plan in front of the Abilene City Council. The prize for approval: more work.

July 10 -- Cramping, diarrhea disease hits local daycare centers: An outbreak of shigella, an illness characterized by diarrhea and cramping, has prompted the local health unit to put daycare centers on alert.

July 10 -- Airport officials want study to document problems with pricey tickets: AUSTIN - Texas airport officials, tired of pricey airline tickets and shrinking flight options, decided Thursday to fight back and seek funds for a statewide study to document the problems.

July 10 -- Man who broke baby's leg is free on bond: A man who allegedly broke his baby's leg while changing her diaper is free on bond after prosecutors agreed to reduce his bail in exchange for conditions to protect the child.

July 10 -- Former Jones County jail employee admits sex in jail charge: ANSON - A former Jones County sheriff's dispatcher got five years deferred adjudication Thursday after he admitted giving a female prisoner cigarettes in return for oral sex.

July 10 -- Grand jury indicts man on murder charges: Taylor County grand jurors indicted Luis Carlos Sabogal II on murder charges Thursday, alleging he strangled his 16-year-old wife with his hands and a bedsheet in May.

July 10 -- Mend-A-Child closing doors temporarily: Staff Writer Mend-A-Child has temporarily closed its doors because an unexpected resignation from its secretary conflicted with the executive director's vacation plans.

July 10 -- Officers no-billed in Gorman shooting of 96-year-old man: EASTLAND - The Eastland County grand jury refused to indict two law enforcement officers who killed a 96-year-old Gorman man in a hail of gunfire May 29.

July 10 -- Indictments dropped against guards in inmates death: ANSON - State District Judge Quay Parker dropped the indictments Thursday against three Robertson Unit guards involved in inmate Gary Lee Crenshaw's death.

July 10 -- Girl to undergo facial surgery: COLORADO CITY - An Arkansas girl struck in the face by a jet ski July 4 at Lake Colorado City is scheduled to undergo surgery today in a Lubbock hospital.

July 9 -- $10 million lawsuit filed in Gorman shooting: EASTLAND - The widow of a 96-year-old Gorman man shot to death by law enforcement officers on May 29 filed a $10 million damage suit against Eastland County, the city of Gorman and several officers Wednesday.

July 9 -- Robbery charge dismissed because man diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia didn't take medication: A robbery charge against a 21-year-old Abilene man was dismissed Tuesday after jurors found him incompetent to stand trial and unlikely to regain competency in the foreseeable future.

July 9 -- Bangs native to get Purple Heart - after 54 years: BROWNWOOD - Combat veteran W.D. Townsley still vividly remembers the German machine-gun slug that struck his hip on D-Day, 54 years after the fact.

July 9 -- Amended tower ordinance coming before City Council: Industries bent on building telecommunications towers in general commercial areas will have to reassess their game plans should the amended tower ordinance pass the Abilene City Council.

July 9 -- Stamford teens face prison in murder: ANSON - A Stamford teen-ager is being held in the Taylor County Jail after allegedly violating the probation he received for his part in a 1996 murder.

July 9 -- Appeals court rules Brown County man to die for raping, killing stepdaughter: AUSTIN - A Brown County man convicted of raping and killing his 12-year-old stepdaughter will die for his crime, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Wednesday.

July 9 -- Return to 3-digit heat sends Abilenians to pools, not ERs, though: Three days of 100-degree temperatures have sent more Abilenians streaming to the pools and to the stores that sell air conditioners - but not, fortunately, to the emergency room.

July 9 -- Craig named to ACU post: Tom Craig, public relations coordinator for Hendrick Medical Center, has been selected as director of media and community relations for Abilene Christian University.

July 9 -- Big Spring farmer gets 5 months for misusing payments: BIG SPRING - A Howard County farmer has received a five-month federal prison term for misusing $80,000 in crop insurance payments.

July 9 -- Hundley at conference in New York: Abilene Superintendent Charles Hundley joins 50 other educational leaders today for the prestigious 57th Annual Superintendents Work Conference in New York City.

July 9 -- Naming giraffe deadline is Friday: The deadline for submitting a name for the Abilene Zoo's new giraffe is noon Friday.

July 8 -- Some council members think proposed budget for 1999 is 'a good start': After looking over City Manager Roy McDaniel's proposed budget for a day, some Abilene City Council members feel it's a good start.

July 8 -- Project Alpha informs teens about consequences of pregnancy: Babies can interrupt more than basketball. Project Alpha, a collaboration of the March of Dimes and the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, brought that message to the participants of the city's late-night basketball program Tuesday.

July 8 -- HSU's Gillette leaving for Houston: Dr. Jimmie Monhollon will serve as interim dean of the Hardin-Simmons University School of Business, replacing Dr. Lynn G. Gillette, who is moving to Houston.

July 8 -- Gorman shooting of man, 96, going to grand jury: EASTLAND - A newly empaneled Eastland County grand jury will be asked today to investigate the fatal shooting of 96-year-old Euell Poynor of Gorman.

July 8 -- Veterans remember Berlin Airlift: Fifty years ago this summer the Western Powers began one of the greatest humanitarian missions in the history of air transportation. To the airmen involved, it was "Operation Vittles." To the rest of the world it became the Berlin Airlift.

July 8 -- Abilene native was one of first airlift casualties: An Abilene native who wanted to fly "more than anything in the world" became one of the first three fatalities of the Berlin Airlift 50 years ago today.

July 8 -- Area Digest: Clyde accident injures three

July 8 -- Applicants for city librarian job not as many as expected: After two months of advertising, a mere 10 people have applied for Abilene's vacant city librarian job. The dearth of applications has stalled initial plans to hire a head librarian by mid-month. City administrators are waiting to see if a job posting at a national library conference last week attracts more interest.

July 7 -- Local organization will try to help revitalize city's neighborhoods: Brenda Coleman, director of the Abilene Neighborhoods in Progress, would have offered chairs to those at a press conference Monday morning, but there weren't any.

July 7 -- Roy Rogers was 'so aware of people' ... even in Abilene: Roy Rogers left a lot of memories when he last appeared in Abilene. Recollections remain strong, surprisingly so since it was July 1975 when the King of the Cowboys filmed "Mackintosh and T.J.," his last major film role, on the 6666 Ranch north of town, near Guthrie.

July 7 -- State Bar files suit against local lawyer: The State Bar of Texas has filed suit against an Abilene attorney seeking disciplinary action for his alleged failure to perform work for which he was paid.

July 7 -- Middle-schoolers have busier summer thanks to new policy: Abilene middle-schoolers have been beneficiaries this summer of a new half-million dollar state grant awarded to revitalize Abilene's summer school program.

July 7 -- Stenholm, Izzard spar over tax reform: Charles Stenholm worked Monday to clarify his stance on tax reform, an issue on which Republican challenger Rudy Izzard has accused him of treading water.

July 7 -- New ordinance for antennas revealed: The Planning and Zoning Commission gave its long-awaited recommendation Monday for approval to a new ordinance for antennas and antenna towers.

July 7 -- Breckenridge city fathers fire police chief: BRECKENRIDGE - The Breckenridge City Commission voted unanimously Monday night to fire Police Chief Ronnie Pendleton and also unanimously refused to say why.

July 7 -- Abilene City Manager proposes budget for next year: City Manager Roy McDaniel on Monday proposed a new budget with no property tax increase but calling for 10 new police patrol officers.

July 7 -- Trial date set for Coleman capital murder suspect: COLEMAN - A Nov. 3 trial date has been set for capital murder suspect Denis Aiken, but the trial probably won't be in Coleman County.

July 7 -- Council to consider revitalization plan: After more than two years of planning and 25 citizen meetings to brainstorm, the Carver Neighborhood Revitalization Plan will be considered for adoption by the City Council at its Thursday meeting.

July 6 -- SSI debates put some families on emotional rollercoaster: Almost $500 a month provided Tina Mutchler and her 2-year-old daughter, Serenity, with a meager but manageable existence: enough to pay the rent for their dilapidated house skirting I-20. Enough to pay for food.

July 6 -- Social agencies in Abilene to help needy beat the heat: The recent heat-related death of a 68-year-old Dallas woman, the third there this summer, raises the question of what assistance is available in Abilene for people with no air conditioning or those who can't pay their utility bill.

July 6 -- Our Slice of Texas: Colorado City plans goat cook-off, etc.

July 5 -- State school investigation worries staff, parents: A festive spirit was less evident at the Abilene State School this Fourth of July than in years past because of a recent "family" tragedy.

July 5 -- Rains flood parts of Brownwood, scattered showers elsewhere: BROWNWOOD - Herman Anderson figures he could have "taken a flat-bottom boat and traveled from one side of his front yard to the other" Saturday afternoon. "It was literally like a river," Anderson said.

July 5 -- Dying vet says his disease came from army transfusion: Martin Howard, 43, is dying for his country. Hepatitis C, its presence visible from cancerous warts on his foot and cancer spots on his calves, is ravaging his body. Howard's liver has all but lost its ability to function.

July 5 -- Abilene woman killed in head-on wreck: LUBBOCK - An Abilene resident died in a head-on accident Friday afternoon near Lubbock that killed both drivers, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

July 5 -- Comanche's history is written in metal (Ken Ellsworth): COMANCHE - Comanche County is one of the oldest counties in the area, sharing that distinction with Young, Palo Pinto, Erath and Brown counties, since all were created in 1856.

July 5 -- Female soap box derby drivers not intimidated by boys: SWEETWATER - May the best girl win. Despite being outnumbered by her male counterparts in Saturday's Texas Midwest Soap Box Derby, Heather Dickinson was one happy driver.

July 5 -- Local citizens celebrate Fourth in variety of ways: Many Fourth of July celebrations took place in Abilene Saturday well before the first crack of a firework lit up the sky.

July 5 -- Hundley proposes time schedule for his replacement: Already gearing up for the big search, Superintendent Charles Hundley proposed a calendar to the Abilene school board for filling his position.

July 4 -- Street construction to affect seven sites by end of October: Abilene motorists will soon have their view of the Big Country marred by construction signs. City officials have plans to renovate seven sites before the end of October. By fall, the state will step in to begin an $8 million renovation of Winters Freeway.

July 4 -- Jerry Slaton does all the cooking at home and on the range: STAMFORD - Somewhere behind a gray mustache that could easily hide a sourdough biscuit, is a fellow who just loves to cook all the time.

July 4 -- Holt tells Oldtimers they should never lose their humor: STAMFORD - Legendary farm newsman Harry Holt told the Texas Cowboy Oldtimers Association it can be easy to get down after months of drought and extreme heat. But he advised Oldtimers to keep their spirits up.

July 4 -- Remember the law when popping those fireworks: When the Black Cats, Big Bears and Dancing Dragons come out to play tonight, at least some of them will be running from the law.

July 4 -- Man saves snake from suspicious fire: An apartment dweller's first instinct Friday night was to save his two-year-old boa constrictor "Red" from what investigators called a suspicious fire.

July 4 -- Police chief on city agenda: BRECKENRIDGE - Police Chief Ronnie Pendleton, who has held the post for nearly 20 years, may be facing termination at Monday's meeting of the City Commission.

July 4 -- Uncle Sam is less hated this Fourth of July: The anger and frustration of Americans with their government, which burned white hot just a few years ago, has cooled significantly, according to a new Scripps Howard poll. Well, some people are still a little mad

July 4 -- July 4th city roundup: Several activities are planned today to help Abilenians celebrate the Fourth of July:

July 4 -- The Bugs of Summer: Heat causes univited house guests: What to do when it's a long, hot summer and you have six or eight legs, antennae and a hard outer shell? Head indoors, like everyone else.

July 4 -- Stephenville site of international child custody battle: STEPHENVILLE - A mother from Beijing who came to Stephenville seeking custody of her son won her day in court but still left the courthouse empty-handed.

July 3 -- DHS accepts Abilene State Schools revised remediation plan: Abilene State School took a large step closer to the renewed good graces of the Department of Human Services when the DHS accepted the school's revised remediation plan on Thursday.

July 3 -- Drought damage in billions now even if it rains: Even if some rain falls on your Fourth of July weekend, the drought is far from over. The damage from months without rain and a long string of triple-digit degree days already have done billions of dollars in damage to Texas.

July 3 -- Firefighters gear up to protect West Texas: Hamby became the command center Thursday for fighting wildfires in West Texas - and not just for the July Fourth weekend.

July 3 -- Man indicted in Abilene Towers death: Grand jurors indicted a 60-year-old man on murder charges Thursday, alleging he pushed a deaf woman from a 12th-floor window at the Abilene Towers in April.

July 3 -- Rotan man honored for life saving efforts: ROTAN - Robbie Hoffman, a TU Electric/Lone Star Gas customer field technician in Rotan, has been given the company's President's Award, the utility's highest honor, for saving a man's life using CPR.

July 3 -- Kaiser chosen as aging agency director: Gail Kaiser of Abilene has been named director of the West Central Texas Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging.

July 3 -- Financial help sought after baby's liver transplant: An Abilene couple is in need of assistance to cover medical expenses involved with their baby's recent liver transplant.

July 2 -- Hospitals endorse Republican candidates: Breaking with its leadership statewide, a group of local hospitals voted unanimously Wednesday to endorse Republican lieutenant governor nominee and current agriculture commissioner Rick Perry.

July 2 -- Abilene State School's plan to fix training deficiency not accepted yet: Abilene State School's proposed fix for a training deficiency cited after the death of a resident was pitched back Wednesday with a grade of incomplete, though not failing.

July 2 -- Abducted woman leaps from speeding truck: SWEETWATER - A Louisiana trucker remained in Nolan County Jail on Wednesday, charged with kidnapping a 21-year-old Abilene woman, who subsequently escaped by jumping from the cab of a moving truck.

July 2 -- Abilene ICAN to build Oprah House: Wanda Merritt, Abilene's community development administrator, has helped a nonprofit revitalization group get with the program. She will appear on today's Oprah Winfrey Show on behalf of the ICAN Foundation. The show will air at 4 p.m. on KTAB Channel 32 (cable channel 10).

July 2 -- Missing man a mystery case: SWEETWATER - A month has passed since the disappearance of an elderly Lake Sweetwater man - and the case remains a mystery, Nolan County Sheriff Donnie Rannefeld said.

July 2 -- Sweetwater-Abilene call now a local affair: SWEETWATER - Abilene became a local call Tuesday for residents of Sweetwater, the result of Expanded Local Calling.

July 2 -- Local woman has mixed feelings about exhumed remains: With the Pentagon's announcement Tuesday that the remains of the Vietnam War soldier from the Tomb of the Unknowns were those of Michael Blassie, one more family has found closure.

July 2 -- Rowena celebrating 100th anniversary: Rowena, population 500, will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Saturday and organizers expect several thousand visitors to its streets, town square, meeting halls and two churches for a day filled with food, music, reminiscing, contests and entertainment for all ages.

July 2 -- 560-bed prison opens in Big Spring: BIG SPRING - Within the next two weeks, Big Spring's population will increase by nearly 600, but the newcomers will not be ordinary residents. Instead, they will be inmates at Big Spring's latest prison facility - the Cedar Hill Unit.

July 1 -- Commissioners' money-saving program irks bail bondsmen: Slashing Taylor County's no-bond release program would yield more savings than a recent expansion of the effort, a move that has whittled into the bail bond business, bondsmen told county commissioners Tuesday.

July 1 -- Texas will lose $1.8 billion from lost cotton production: The USDA announced its cotton planting figures Tuesday, which Texas A&M economists used as baseline numbers to calculate titanic drought losses to the state's dryland cotton.

July 1 -- Heroic lifesaving efforts praised: "Thank you for saving my life." The message was a brief but heart-felt expression of love - and the love of life - in the aftermath of a near drowning last Friday morning at Abilene State Park.

July 1 -- Ground broken for ARMC Women's Center: Women and their medical needs got their day in the sun Tuesday at Abilene Regional Medical Center, though it took place in the shade. ARMC officials, medical staff and advisory board members broke ground for a $15.6 million Women's Center due for completion in about 13 months.

July 1 -- Stenholm, Center for Public Integrity at odds over pesticides: WASHINGTON - Congress has watered down efforts to regulate pesticides while accepting millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the pesticide industry, a government watchdog group charged Tuesday.

July 1 -- Case of missing Stonewall money now in hands of judge: ASPERMONT - Embattled, veteran Stonewall County Tax Assessor-Collector Joyce McNutt testified Tuesday she has complied with all but one of the recommendations made by an independent auditor critical of her office's practices.

July 1 -- Hundley plans to retire in two years: Charles Hundley launched another trademark two-year plan Tuesday - in two years he plans to step down from the superintendency of the Abilene schools.

July 1 -- Bikers passionate at local candidates forum: If politics is truly an American circus, then a huge tent should have been raised over American Legion Post 57 during a candidates forum staged by the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association.