Authorities Continue Search for Missing Man

May 13, 2010 at 8:47 am • Posted in General InformationNo comments yet

Several local law enforcement agencies formed a cooperative effort to search Lake Brownwood on Wednesday for a missing Aquilla man.

Richard Gary Parker, 76, drove away from his home on April 24th and his relatives have been looking for him ever since. Parker’s pickup truck was found parked and abandon at Lake Brownwood’s Mountain View Lodge. There was no sign of Parker with the truck, which had been parked at Mountain View at least since April 26. (CLICK HERE for more info about Parkers disappearance in our previous article)

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office is heading up the search with assistance from the Brownwood & Early Police Departments, Texas DPS, Game Warden, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Officers from Gatesville (with their K-9 unit & horses) and Lake Patrol officers. Sheriff Bobby Grubbs said that officers are using several means to search the rough terrain at the lake including a blood hound, horses, 4-wheelers, a helicopter, and boats to check the shorelines. Grubbs said that so far no signs of the man have been found.

Missing Hill County Man Sought At Lake

May 12, 2010 at 4:51 pm • Posted in General InformationNo comments yet

Missing Man Richard Parker

Law enforcement officials from Brown and Hill counties searched the area of the Mountain View Lodge and Marina at Lake Brownwood Wednesday after learning the pickup of a missing Hill County man had been found there.

Richard Parker, 76, has dementia and left his home on April 24 driving a 2004 Dodge Ram, Sheriff Bobby Grubbs said.

Parker’s pickup was found near an RV parking spot at the Mountain View facility on April 26, and the owners called a towing company on May 7 to have it towed, Grubbs said.

Someone with the the towing company, which Grubbs did not identify, contacted the Department of Public Safety Tuesday to have the license plate run, and the plate came back to the missing Hill County man, Grubbs said.

Parker has been the subject of a large search by law enforcement in Hill County, according to area newspaper and television news reports.

Grubbs said the sheriff’s office was notified around 3 p.m. Tuesday, and investigator Brian Lundy and DPS Sgt. Roy Parrack went later Tuesday to the area. Family members of the missing man began arriving Tuesday night, Grubbs said.

He said there was no record Parker had checked in at the Mountain View Lodge.

Grubbs said Wednesday morning his office was in the process of coordinating a search. By Wednesday afternoon, a command post had been established at the Mountain View facility. The search included the use of a Department of Public Safety helicopter, tracking dogs from the state prison unit in Gatesville, four-wheelers and boats and included several other agencies including the Texas Parks and Wildlife and Lake Patrol.

“At this point there doesn’t appear to be any sign of foul play in the vehicle that we can tell,” Grubbs said. “We’re hoping for the best outcome on this, but we’re prepared for the worst.

“Right now all we’ve got is the vehicle and a starting place. We’re hunting for the proverbial needle in a haystack. We’re trying to cover all the bases that we can cover. Right now we’re searching the shore line and boat docks.”

Grubbs said using the tracking dogs was “a long shot” because of the amount of time that has past since Parker’s truck was found.

“We’ll run the dogs and see where they go, if they’ll go anywhere,” Grubbs said.

He said Parker had not driven for about two years before he drove away away from his home the night of April 24.

In addition to suffering from dementia, Parker also is in need of medication for Type 2 diabetes, according to a flyer Grubbs’ office sent to the media.

Parker’s son, Richard Parker Jr., said the family doesn’t know what prompted his father to leave home that night. He said dementia suffers can experience fits of frustration, and he said his father might have also been affected by a new medicine had had started taking.

He said his father would have had no connection to Brown County other than having visited a campground here many years ago. He wondered if the memory of that visit might have prompted his father to drive here.

Parker was last seen wearing a short-sleeve plaid shirt, dark blue jeans, black tennis shoes and metal-framed glasses, and was also known to wear a ball cap, according to the flyer.

He is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds.

Parker had credit cards and a small amount of cash – possibly as much as $50 – when he left home, Grubbs said. There has been no activity on the credit cards, he said.

Parker lives in Aquilla, a town of less than 200 located 12 miles southwest of Hillsboro, according to Handbook of Texas Online.

Grubbs wasn’t sure Wednesday afternoon how long an active search for Parker will last.

“Everyone’s actually doing pretty good,” Richard Parker Jr. said. “Our best hope is that he got confused, found his way into a vacant residence and we find him healthy and safe.”

But Parker said with his father being missing for 18 days, the outcome could be different.

Area Conservation District Takes Fish Stocking Orders

May 10, 2010 at 8:59 am • Posted in General InformationNo comments yet

The Pecan Bayou Soil and Water Conservation District is again offering a fish stocking program for area pond owners. The last day to order and pay for the fish is June 16.

Offered as a public service of the Pecan Bayou SWCD, the program was established to provide local pond owners an opportunity to purchase fish for stock ponds while making available information on pond management including fertilizing, clearing, aquatic weed control and stocking species and rates. Natural Resource Conservation Service and District personnel will be available to make recommendations concerning specific ponds.

Fish available for purchase through the program include: Channel Catfish 4-6 inch – .45, 6-8 inch – .85; Bluegill 1-3 inch – .45, 3-5 inch – .85, Hybrid Bream (Bluegill) — 1-3 inch – .45; Largemouth Bass — 1-4 inch – .75; Bluecat Catfish — 4-7 inch – .90; Redear Sunfish — 1-3 inch .55; Fathead Minnows – $12 per pound; Shinner Minnows – $12.00 per pound; Grass Carp — 12 inch – $15 each, and Goldfish – $12 per pound. Minimum order on most fish is 25. Other sizes and species are available upon request.

The fish, all in healthy condition, will be delivered on June 20. Each order will be filled by placing fish in a large plastic bag filled with oxygenated water.

The bags will contain enough oxygen to enable the buyer to get the fish to their pond in good condition. 50 pound paper feed sacks are needed as carriers for the plastic bags.

To place an order, individuals should visit the local Natural Resources Conservation Service office at 2608-B Highway 377 South in Brownwood to prepay for the fish. The fish stocking program in one of several public service projects offered annually by the Pecan Bayou Soil and Water Conservation District.

Just Texas

May 6, 2010 at 8:33 am • Posted in General InformationNo comments yet

To all Texas residents, including those now in exile in other states:

This is a must read for all Texans, used-to-be Texans, adopted Texans or wanna-be Texans, even if it’s been around before…

  • Pep, Texas 79353
  • Smiley, Texas 78159
  • Paradise, Texas 76073
  • Rainbow, Texas 76077
  • Sweet Home, Texas 77987
  • Comfort, Texas 78013
  • Friendship, Texas 76530

Love the Sun?

  • Sun City , Texas 78628
  • Sunrise , Texas 76661
  • Sunset, Texas 76270
  • Sundown, Texas 79372
  • Sunray , Texas 79086
  • Sunny Side , Texas 77423

Want something to eat?

  • Bacon , Texas 76301
  • Noodle , Texas 79536
  • Oatmeal , Texas 78605
  • Turkey , Texas 79261
  • Trout , Texas 75789
  • Sugar Land , Texas 77479
  • Salty, Texas 76567
  • Rice , Texas 75155
  • Pearland , Texas 77581
  • Orange , Texas 77630

And top it off with:

  • Sweetwater , Texas 79556

Why travel to other cities? Texas has them all!

  • Detroit , Texas 75436
  • Cleveland , Texas 75436
  • Colorado City , Texas 79512
  • Denver City , Texas 79323
  • Klondike , Texas 75448
  • Nevada , Texas 75173
  • Memphis , Texas 79245
  • Miami , Texas 79059
  • Boston , Texas 75570
  • Santa Fe , Texas 77517
  • Tennessee Colony , Texas 75861
  • Reno , Texas 75462
  • Pasadena , Texas 77506
  • Columbus , Texas 78934

Feel like traveling outside the country? Don’t bother buying a plane ticket!

  • Athens , Texas 75751
  • Canadian, Texas 79014
  • China , Texas 77613
  • Egypt , Texas 77436
  • Ireland , Texas 76538
  • Italy , Texas 76538
  • Turkey , Texas 79261
  • London , Texas 76854
  • New London , Texas 75682
  • Paris , Texas 75460
  • Palestine , Texas 75801

No need to travel to Washington D..C.

  • Whitehouse , Texas 75791

We even have a city named after our planet!

  • Earth , Texas 79031

And a city named after our State!

  • Texas City , Texas 77590

Exhausted?

  • Energy , Texas 76452

Cold?

  • Blanket , Texas 76432
  • Winters, Texas

Like to read about History?

  • Santa Anna , Texas
  • Goliad , Texas
  • Alamo , Texas
  • Gun Barrel City , Texas
  • Robert Lee, Texas

Need Office Supplies?

  • Staples, Texas 78670

Want to go into outer space?

  • Venus , Texas 76084
  • Mars , Texas 79062

You guessed it. It’s on the state line.

  • Texline , Texas 79087

For the kids…

  • Kermit , Texas 79745
  • Elmo , Texas 75118
  • Nemo , Texas 76070
  • Tarzan , Texas 79783
  • Winnie , Texas 77665
  • Sylvester , Texas 79560

Other city names in Texas , to make you smile……

  • Frognot , Texas 75424
  • Bigfoot , Texas 78005
  • Hogeye , Texas 75423
  • Cactus , Texas 79013
  • Notrees , Texas 79759
  • Best, Texas 76932
  • Veribest , Texas 76886
  • Kickapoo , Texas 75763
  • Dime Box , Texas 77853
  • Old Dime Box , Texas 77853
  • Telephone , Texas 75488
  • Telegraph , Texas 76883
  • Whiteface , Texas 79379
  • Twitty, Texas 79079

And last but not least, the Anti-Al Gore City ….

  • Kilgore , Texas 75662

And our favorites…

  • Cut n Shoot, Texas
  • Gun Barrell City , Texas
  • Hoop And Holler, Texas
  • Ding Dong, Texas and, of course,
  • Muleshoe , Texas

Lake Brownwood Drowning Victim Identified

May 3, 2010 at 5:07 pm • Posted in General InformationNo comments yet

A 5-year-old boy who drowned at Lake Brownwood Saturday has been identified as Joseph Paul Lovell Jr., according to Chief Lake Patrolman Bob Pacatte.

Lovell drowned Saturday night at the lake. The boy and his dad, both from Odessa, were attending a family get-together.

Pacatte said there is no new information on the incident and autopsy reports have not returned.

Hook & Ancor Customer Appreciation Day

May 3, 2010 at 9:00 am • Posted in General InformationNo comments yet

Aaron Watson to preform at Hook & Anchor's On the Water Concert

Hook & Anchor Marine and Water Sports is having their annual customer appreciation day on Saturday May 29th. They will be having greats deals going on in the store and they will serve lunch from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Then they will have an “on the water concert” featuring Aaron Watson. He will be playing on the Wilson’s Hook & Anchor Marine dock that is located just east of the bridge on Highway 279. There will be a lot of fun and excitement, so come out and join the fun at Hook & Anchor Marine located at 9230 Highway 279. A quarter mile north of the bridge on Highway 279 or give them a call at  (325)784-7676.

Child Drowns at Lake Brownwood

May 2, 2010 at 8:45 am • Posted in General InformationNo comments yet

A 5-year-old boy drowned Saturday afternoon  in the Kirkland Dock area of Lake Brownwood according to the Lake Patrol.

Authorities received a 911 call at approximately 12:20 pm reporting that the child was found in the lake and was not responsive.   Family members and Lake Patrol performed CPR at the scene while waiting for an ambulance.

Guardian EMS responded and continued CPR while en route to Brownwood Regional Medical Center where the boy was later pronounced dead.

The family was from Odessa visiting the lake for the weekend.   “The father went looking for him and located him floating face down and called for help, ” said Lake Patrol Officer Tony Henderson.  Authorities suspect that the boy slipped on a rock and hit his head rendering him unconscious.   An autopsy has been ordered to confirm the cause of death.

The identity of the child is being withheld at this time.

Lake Brownwood Weekly Fishing Report

May 1, 2010 at 8:27 am • Posted in General InformationNo comments yet

Water stained; 65 degrees; 4.75′ low.

Black bass to 6 pounds are excellent on Bass Hogg spinnerbaits, sunrise crankbaits, and Grande Bass Finesse soft plastic worms.

Hybrid striper are slow.

White bass are excellent on Li’l Fishies, small Rat–L–Traps, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits.

Crappie are excellent on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jigs over brush piles in 1 to 3 feet.

Channel catfish are good over baited holes in 8 to 10 feet.

Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait.

Stolen Items Connect Four to Lake Brownwood Lions Club Burglary

April 22, 2010 at 8:22 am • Posted in General InformationNo comments yet

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested four people on Tuesday for theft of property connected to the Lake Brownwood Lions Club building burglary which occurred last week. Suspects arrested include William Meyer (22, of Lake Brownwood), Jodi Smith (21 of Early), Jason Inglet (22, of Lake Brownwood), and Danielle Wells (19, of Brownwood). All were charged with Theft of Property and booked into the Brown County Jail.

The Sheriff’s office is not releasing any further information at this time pending their investigation.

Items reported missing from the burglary include a safe containing approximately $1,700, a large flat screen television still in the box, numerous packaged toys, several cooking related items new in the box, and numerous packaged electronics.

The report also states that an eye screening machine was also damaged during the burglary and no longer functioned. It is valued at $5,000.

Sheriff’s office officials indicated that charges could be upgraded depending on the results of the investigation.

Historical Data Used to Convince FEMA of Brown County Flood Level

April 20, 2010 at 8:12 am • Posted in General InformationNo comments yet

FEMA officials discuss Brown County's base flood elevation at Brownwood City Hall

Brown County received some promising news Monday after representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) came to Brownwood to discuss their two-year long re-mapping project that has threatened to raise the area’s base flood elevation levels.

Representatives from FEMA met with Brown County Commissioners, City of Brownwood officials, Brown County Water Improvement District Board Members and other officials to discuss the issue that has been a hot topic in the last few months. Gary Zimmer and Ron Wanhanen of FEMA discussed with officials their findings after an initial study by Ron Morrison of Morrison Hydrology was analyzed and found that the base flood elevation of the county needed to be at an opposed elevation of 1438 mean sea level (msl). This would be an increase of 3 feet over the current level which could make insurance premiums all over the county rise.

Local officials have made the argument that using actual historical flood data from the lake area should be considered over the computer models used in the studies. After receiving some historical data of flooding dating back to when Lake Brownwood was constructed (1933), Morrison reevaluated his initial analysis since he did not initially have this information. Taking this into consideration along with rainfall data, Morrison stated that the models he initially used were not accurate and that the lake level and gauge records of rainfall would make 1435 msl (the current flood elevation level) a more accurate flood plain level.

Zimmer of FEMA stated that with some technical clarification of the historical data, FEMA would consider leaving the flood elevation level unchanged for the city and the county.

“We (FEMA) just have to have clarification of some levels…” Zimmer said, “Separate technical discussion would do us all good.” He added, “To leave it alone, with the old analysis on the map…leaving it up to the city and county on how they use the information.”

Area officials at the meeting were pleased overall with the outcome of the meeting.

“This is a very fruitful meeting,” Morrison said. “I feel really good about it now.”

Morrison committed to getting the final information to FEMA in the next month to hopefully get their final decision.