Freestone County Sheriff’s Report

Ralph Billings Denton man reports 18 head of cattle missing off his land in our County. Missing for a week. After filling out the paperwork at S.O. and returning, he dials back…..All present and accounted for, all in his pasture! Quickest solved Missing Cattle Report in History!!

Family problems in Donie, man knocked two women to the ground on Calloway, one unconscious, Dep. House arrives, arrests man, assault Causing bodily injury of Family Member, to Jail, one of the Ladies left in THDEMS ambulance.

Man turns self in to begin serving Jail Time resulting from DWI. THDEMS to Kilgore Trailer Park, Lady thought to be in labor. WPD Crowley to S. Avenue B, Lady reports a rock just broke her window. Dep. Elom to Kingswood Addition, kids reported up and down street on ATV. Booming music on FCR-231, all windows rattling, but caller advises they left area after reporting same. TPD Taylor to more of same on Old Airport Road.

Lady calls, says afoot, being chased by a man in a car on Reunion, FPD advised. Fairfield VFD to South Fairway, neighbor spotted too much smoke coming out of vent on roof. JP Debbie Hamilton to ER, Death Inquest on out of County man. TPD Taylor to missing items from residence, Old Airport Road. TPD Cordova arrests two out of car on US-84, Possession of Mary Jane. TPD Howard to Crestview, keys locked in car.

DPS Putz, DPS Conner, Deputies House and Robertson and Oakwood VFD to accident US-79, one vehicle on fire but Oakwood got it out pretty quick. WPD Essary to Longbotham, someone trying to break into a truck. FEMS to FCR-525, possible stroke. Lime green motorbike reported racing up and down 2nd Street and Hwy. 14, Wortham, WPD Essary to same. Crossing arm troubles, IH-45 at FCR-1080.

Presidential Contenders starting to thin out. Have a feeling that it will thin a bit more after the upcoming vote in South Carolina in the next few days. Meanwhile, one of the world’s richest men, Warren Buffet, has offered to match, dollar for dollar, with every Republican member of Congress, any contribution they make directly to the government, of ONE MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE, to go toward reducing the National Debt. I don’t know why he made this challenge only to the Republicans…..I feel certain there are also some Democratic Members of Congress who would also qualify by having enough bucks stashed back to cover the same! Our National Debt is in the trillions. Even if EVERY Member of Congress, whether Democrat, Republican, Tea Party or whatever, contributed the million out of their own pocket, and Mr. Buffett matched it dollar for dollar as he offered…..it would still be like putting a single drop in an empty 55 gallon drum. Not enough, plain and simple….. But, as a Nation, we must cut our spending…..and this will affect every one of us, directly or indirectly, big or small, young or old……we’ve either got to cut our expenses…. or buy a quicker printing press to make the money with! And, I think the former will be the wiser choice. Can we do it? You betcha we can!

I had the pleasure of addressing the Fairfield Rotary today. Oh, I mentioned a few weeks back…..Rotary International was very instrumental in seeing that Polio is nearly a forgotten disease in our world today. India has not had a case of Polio in over a year now. That leaves just three nations still having problems with the disease; Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Let us all hope that it will be totally eradicated from all nations within our lifetime. And when that happens, Rotarians worldwide will be a big part of the reason that it occurred. I salute their efforts. And say, when you see any of our local Rotarians, tell ‘em thanks for their efforts. They do good stuff. They never seek praise. They identify a problem, seek to correct it, and move on to their next endeavor, usually with little fanfare or attention. Most commendable.

Loose horses by Lide Tank. THDEMS to West 84, possible heart attack. THDEMS and Donie VFD to FM-80, man with chest pains. FEMS to breathing troubles, FCR-301. THDEMS to S. 13th, man non-responsive, JP Theresa Farris enroute for Death Inquest. Also to FCR- 976, man passed out. FEMS and Doctor Chopper assisting man on FCR-601, recent head surgery, mental state now altered. FPD notified of complaint from Burger King, man using Wi-Fi, stranger threatened him. FEMS to FCR-530, man ill.

Three year old missing/ found, Poplar Street. FEMS to Peachtree, Lady ill. Man reports residence burglarized while gone, guitars, electronics, etc. missing. Deputies Aldrich and Shipley start their rounds….Next day, observe two men at front of a resale shop, one had two guitars…..Yep, same ones stolen, matched to a T, both confessed…..Both to Jail, Burglary of Habitation, multiple stolen items returned to owner. Well Done, Clayton Aldrich and Jeremy Shipley….. well done, indeed!

Dep. Robert Willis arrests man in parking lot on Warrant. THDEMS to S. 5th, man feeling weak. Report of man openly urinating on side of IH-45. Loose Longhorn, FCR-421, owner enroute. More on Church Street at IH-45. Loose Horse, Grove Island area. Dep. Elom to FM-416, Lady has someone pecking on windows. TPD Martin to Civil Standby on Spruce.

The Office phone rang several days ago…..I immediately recognized the voice on the other end, but very apparently he had dialed the wrong number, and at first had no idea with whom he was conversing. My caller was Roy Casey III…..Most know him even yet as Little Roy, to differentiate from his Daddy, Roy Junior, or……. as Roy Casey, Capital Eye, Capital Eye, Capital Eye. Little Roy has a distinctive voice, so there was no doubt for me as regards who was on the other end. The conversation went something like this…..Ring, Ring…. “Hello”…… “Whatcha doin’?”…… “Well, a bit of paperwork, it never ends”.…. “Well, how you been?”… “Oh, top side up and both feet on the ground.” About this time I could sense that Little Roy was starting to suspicion that he had dialed the wrong number for there was a short pause, then I said, “You don’t know who this is, do you Little Roy?” He paused and I could hear the gears turning….. “Is this the Sheriff?…….Aw, aw, aw heck, I dialed the wrong number, I was trying to get such and such. I knew that sounded like your voice” We laughed a bit and hung up…….Two minutes go by…… The phone rings. I answer the phone again..…. “Hello”….. “Whatcha doin’?”…… “Oh, still doin’ this paperwork, Little Roy.”……… “ Sheriff! Did I get you again? How’d I do that? I thought I looked up the right number…… And, and, and…….Got you again!”…..I then had a stroke of brilliance…..It happens every now and then for all of us……and said, “Tell you what Little Roy, you give ME that other feller’s phone number, and I’ll call him FOR YOU……And tell HIM to just call YOU! I believe that’ll be quicker for ALL of us!!!!”

TPD Noll arrests female on Magnolia on Warrant. WPD Crowley gets another on Riley in Wortham. Horses out again near Lide Tank, Dep. Brewer to same. Dep. Diana Willis to dispute over items being sold by family members, FCR-300. FPD Kindon arrests female motorist, Driving While License Invalid.

To Annual VFW Post 5872 Voice of Democracy and Awards Program. Area Firefighters, EMS and Officers recognized, as well as a most outstanding group of young essayists representing area schools whose endeavors had been judged the best. A big crowd, with lots of proud parents and grandparents supporting their kids. I salute the VFW for their annual undertaking.

Staggering man, US-84, trying to thumb a ride, arrested by Dep. Harrison, Public intoxication. Dew VFD had some mighty fine chili yesterday at Dew School Cafeteria. Lots of chowhounds present. Mrs. Allen and I sat together and visited with a big bunch as they passed by. And Mrs. Betty Land Brantner present, still wearing that snowshoe affair on one foot, but going strong. She’s keeping Robert in hand…..and that is a full time job! Very good chili, as always, and talk about homemade desserts! Yes Sirree! They had ‘em.

Gingrich comes from behind for big win in South Carolina. Florida next, and that’ll be a battle with the gloves off. FPD Frasier jails DWI, US-84. DPS Seelinger jails another, DWI, from accident, US-84 at FM-2777. DPS Purnell jails two, FM- 1365 arrests driver and passenger, DWI and common drunk. Suddenly, a lot of drunks out and arrested for one weekend, it appears. FPD Hartley arrests man, East Commerce, Assault Family Violence, stomps woman’s head after he pushes her to floor. Deputies summoned to disagreeing parties at some type of a party in a field, East 84. Getting complaints on political signs appearing on various properties, put up without owner’s permission. Have advised owner’s, to merely disassemble the signs, lay them down, and let those who put them up either contact them directly for permission, or pick the signs up for display at a different location. Here are the State’s rules in a nutshell. Political signs cannot be placed on public property (right-of-way) or power poles. Should be displayed on private land. Should have landowner’s approval prior to putting up. This applies to everybody. Also, all of these signs that we see for various paving, roofing, cell phone, or home repair businesses…… Same rules apply to them, too. Notifications on garage sales tacked on power poles on the right of way, or on a tree on the right-of-way….. another no-no, if not done with owner’s permission. The State has it all clearly enumerated in print.

FEMS to Inmate chest pains, Boyd Unit. Deputies Howerton and Brewer to West 79, man reported pushing and choking woman, one arrested. Butler VFD to house on fire, FM-489. DPS and Deputies to accident, West 84. TPD Cordova arrests two very drunken men on parking lot, Dap’s.

TPD Noll to Filmore, items taken. TPD Cordova, on traffic violation, arrests female driver on Limestone County Warrant. Young man driving poor, too fast, ran Stop Sign, Old 75, arrested by DPS Conner, DUI Minor. DPS Purnell arrests another DWI, FM-1365, also wanted on limestone County Warrant, to Jail. And, FPD Frasier jails another, arrests another, McDonald Street, on City Warrant. Fairfield and Butler VFD’s to Greenbriar, smoke in attic. Teague VFD to woodpile on fire, N. 7th. Man calls from filling station, another just showed him a “bomb”, made of “TNT”, plans to blow up NASA with it, he says. Turns out to be in Leon County…..hope they got it handled! Deputy Howerton to Mary Grace, 15 year old/parents problem. Fatherly counsel from Rick hopefully quelled the problem.

Unusually warm for January. Still dry. Maybe we’ll get more in a few days they say. Been trying to wage war on my little friends the gophers on my place. A never-ending battle. Gopher mounds in abundance everywhere in County where the soil is loamy.

Until Next Week….. RALPH BILLINGS.