News

Multiple fire departments sprung into action to contain a fire sparked when a lightning bolt struck an oilfield tank and two wells on a property near County Road 1106 and County Road 1107 July 14. No injuries were reported as a result of the blaze. Photo by Nick Gibbons/The County Eagle

County officials received a welcome bit of good news last week with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards removing the VZC Jail from its list of non-compliant facilities. The jail was placed on the non-compliant list after an inspection conducted in early February revealed multiple shortcomings, including failures to properly document medication distribution and not enough face-to-face observations for violent inmates housed at the facility.

A heat wave across the state is exacerbating the extreme drought conditions plaguing Texas agriculture. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agents and regional specialists around the state have reported a wide range of issues related to triple-digit temperatures and worsening conditions for livestock and crop producers.

David Yager, 29, pleaded guilty July 12 in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas to violating a detainee’s civil rights by using excessive force against him. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston for the Eastern District of Texas; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division; and Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno of the FBI Dallas Field Division made the announcement.

The 2022 Texas hay production outlook appears in doubt due to high fertilizer prices and widespread drought, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. Joe Paschal, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension livestock specialist, Corpus Christi, and Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension forage specialist, Overton, said dry weather, high temperatures and reduced inputs like fertilizer have inhibited warm-season grass production across much of Texas.

Each year, children get heat stroke or die from being left unattended in a hot car, but a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service passenger safety expert says there are ways to avoid tragedy. Bev Kellner, AgriLife Extension traffic safety project director, said as temperatures increase, so does the likelihood of heat stroke and death for children left alone in a vehicle.

The City of Van Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Van Area Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored a Business Network Reception June 30 at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott in Van. Among those in attendance were left to right, Van Area Chamber of Commerce President Pat Valentine, City of Van EDC Director Tammy Weidman and Fairfield Inn by Marriott General Manager Deanna Terry.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released spring 2022 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) results for Grades 3-8. The results include exams in mathematics and reading for grades 3–8, 5th and 8th grade science, and 8th grade social studies. This year’s STAAR results show across-the-board improvements in all grades and subjects from 2021, with significant gains in reading.

Steven “Craig” Shelton, 61, pleaded guilty July 6 in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas to violating an arrestee’s civil rights by using excessive force against him. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston for the Eastern District of Texas, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno of the FBI Dallas Field Division made the announcement.

Traffic along County Road 243 near County Road 2512 was closed for close to three hours July 5 after a two-vehicle accident at approximately 2:30 p.m. According to reports, a truck pulling a flatbed trailer was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler while attempting to turn. No major injuries were reported as a result of the accident, and the roadway reopened to traffic after the debris and vehicles were cleared. Photo by Nick Gibbons/The County Eagle