Expanded News Staff

There are new reporters in town. Please feel free to drop a line:

Zone 1 (Midlothian, Maypearl, Venus)
Kamra Bourgeois
knbourgeois@yahoo.com

Zone 2 (Italy, Milford, Avalon, Bardwell)
Richard Davis
richard@richardandthepallbearers.com

Zone 3 (Ennis, Palmer, Ferris, Garrett, Alma)
Jennifer Salinas
jenniferms78@gmail.com

Zone 4 (Red Oak, Waxahachie, Ovilla, Oak Leaf, Pecan Hill)
Megan Gray
flowerchildtoday@gmail.com
The investigative unit (team) is a separate category. For now these are the news reporters for four “zones” that I’ve come up with. Both cities and school districts are included.

Midlothian: CFARG Signs Taken Down?

Open government activists allege that the City of Midlothian forced down these two signs because they weren’t “political.” We’re still getting details on this thing, but the signs are back up around town.

This might be a First Amendment fight Midlothian doesn’t want to wage…

This Post Sponsored By:
Law Offices of Todd Phillippi
200 E. Main St.
Midlothian, TX 76065
972-723-9090

JGD: My First Car

I’ve been asked for photos of my first car by a few law enforcement officers who used to race or who helped in the D.A.R.E. program.

I hate to brag, but yes, my 1970 Camaro (RIP - got hit by a diesel truck) could outrun probably anything outside of the Texas Motorplex within reason.

And believe it or not, I never received a single ticket in that thing — my dad drove it a few times and he got pulled over more times than I did, but interestingly, Midlothian school board candidate K.C. Bernard was the security guard at Midlothian High School during the time this car was parked there. I probably hold the record for the most “keyings” of anyone; Bernard’s response? “We can’t do anything…”

Eh.

Ennis: Soldier’s Deaths in the DMN

The Dallas Morning News takes Ennis and highlights the Ellis County town and what toll this war in Iraq has taken.

Call me a Ron Paul on this one, but I think it’s way past time to start bringing our troops home.

Milford: Something’s In the Water

Milford residents reportedly received a letter from the city stating chemicals in the water supply are so dangerous that serious side-effects and illnesses have been reported off them.

Whether or not Milford folks have contracted these sicknesses is another story, but the city sent out letters and I’ll be obtaining one shortly.

Stay tuned.

TAGG to Stay Neutral in April 8 Run-Off

 The Taxpayers Alliance for Good Government voted Wednesday night to remain neutral in the April 8 GOP run-off between James Ledbetter and Johnny Brown.

The winner of the April 8 race will face Libertarian Mike Treis in November.

- Jeremy Phillips

Do We Need a Traffic Division

In looking at the candidates for sheriff, there’s a distinct and clear message James Ledbetter and Johnny Brown is giving: (a) we need more revenue; (b) we don’t need a traffic division.

Does the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department really need a traffic division, as Ledbetter’s campaign suggests? Isn’t that more of a liberal position than a conservative plank?

- Jeremy Phillips

McKinney to Endorse Ledbetter

There’s a lot of talk in local political circles that Constable Steve McKinney is set to endorse sheriff candidate James Ledbetter very soon.

No word from the McKinney camp as of yet, but April 8’s run-off will feature very few voters from the 10,000+ that cast a ballot March 4.

There were rumors going around this morning that there’s a photo of Ledbetter supposedly hob-nobbing with former Congressman Martin Frost, a longtime Democrat from the 24th district; (conservative activist Ed Harrison of Ovilla came within two percentage points of knocking Frost off in 1994)

Letter to the Editor Regarding Midlothian Annexation

[sic] 

To the editor

During the arbitration hearings on service, Fire Chief Schrodt was quizzed about the impact of Mayor Whatley’s annexation plan.

Subdivision ordinances state fire hydrants may be no more than 400′ apart. Chief Schrodt testified, “I would have to tell you that because of the way we fight fire and because of my experience in Midlothian, the exact spacing of fire hydrants is not that critical in our fire suppression activities.”

If fire Hydrants locations are not important, why is this requirement in the subdivisions ordinance. Is this ordinance just to harass the developers. I think not!!.

How many of you people have ever been in a house fire?? Or even saw one where lives were lost?? Well I have and I’m here to tell you, its terrifying! I was in a fire that went to 7 alarms, and my best girl friend lost her 7 brothers and sisters in a bad fire. It was pointed out that fire hydrants are about 1000 feet or more apart in the tracts to be forced into annexation. Chief Schrodt testified “I don’t know that there is sufficient fire flow in any particular hydrant at any given point in time to fight the fire.
Even in The City.”

Midlothian Residents, with our fire services already stretched, isn’t it time to tell the Mayor & the City Council to stop annexing? Visit us at www.rcaa.us to learn more.

Sincerely

Name JoEdythe Yindrak

Phone Number (972) 723-6038

Media: Letters Slam Ex-JP Perry

Just to be fair and honest - since the Waxahachie Daily Light has shown that it’s not under those two mantras - the two letters to the editor in response (Thursday, March 13 issue) to Paul Perry’s Sunday WDL column are Democratic Party officials.

Mary Howe is a Democratic precinct chair in the Midlothian area and Larry Harris is the Democratic Party chair.

Perry, a former JP from Precinct 4 (Midlothian) and county judge candidate (vs. Al Cornelius), is a regular contributor to the WDL. He’s a big Ron Paul supporter too.
Anyway, the public would be well served if these letter writers had their titles and occupations attached to their names; it’s no surprise that Howe and Harris got so offended. But to be fair, their roles play a big part in why the wrote the editorials.