Caldwell ISD DAEP Admin Found Not Guilty of Injury to a Child
Burleson County Tribune
• Brad Vestal, the former DAEP/ACE administrator for the Caldwell School District, was found not guilty by District Judge Carson Campbell last week following a trial on an injury to a child charge in connection with a March 2019 incident at the district’s DAEP building. Vestal was indicted on Nov. 20 2019, by a Burleson County Grand Jury and accused of pushing a student into a wall, according to the indictment. The case was tried before Judge Campbell without a jury, and Campbell found him not guilty on Tuesday, Feb. 1. The state’s witnesses included Laurie Parker, former Caldwell ISD superintendent Andrew Peters, Detective Chris Peschel of the Caldwell Police Department and the student. Caldwell police investigated the case after being notified by Pacer Lednicky, the Caldwell ISD school resource officer, and a Burleson County deputy on March 27, 2019. Vestal was interviewed by police with his attorney on April 30, 2019 and Vestal said he did not mean to hurt the student. He was only intending to place him outside in an attempt to calm him down. Then Caldwell School Superintendent Andy Peters said previously that Vestal resigned on March 27, 2019, and the district had immediately investigated the concerns of a parent. Peters said the case was turned over to the police department.
The Colorado County Citizen
• The Health and Behavioral Wellness Council of Greater Colorado County presented a donation of nearly $165,000 to County Commissioners to help the county hire a mental health resource deputy at their Feb. 14 meeting. Dr. Mazie Leftwich advised the court of increased mental illnesses, substance abuse/addiction and developmental disorders nationwide, more specifically in Colorado County. The council was started a year ago, and the committee had nine meetings last year. Leftwich said there are now over 170 individuals involved with the cause, and the Texas A&M University School of Public Health’s assessment has been beneficial to the group as well.
Hallettsville Tribune-Herald
• Following several vehicle burglaries over the past week, the Hallettsville Police Department is reminding residents to secure their unoccupied vehicles to help prevent a theft of items left inside. In a press release from HPD, residents are reminded when they leave their vehicle to always lock their doors and take whatever valuables with them. Currently, the police department is investigating three burglary of motor vehicle incidences where property was stolen from the vehicle. According to HPD, the first incident was reported around 7:15 a.m. on Feb. 7. The report said officers responded to the 300 block of S. Glendale St. in regards to two vehicles having been entered unlawfully, and items stolen from the vehicles having been entered unlawfully, and items stolen from the vehicles. The report said was was stolen from the center console of a 2002 Chevrolet pickup and two iPhones were taken from the console of a 2010 Chevrolet pickup at the location. Both vehicles were left unlocked. Another incident was reported the same day, Feb. 7, around 9:50 a.m. Officers responded to the 700 block of Texana St. involving the same type of incident. A purse/wallet was stolen from the front seat of a 2013 Dodge Charger. This vehicle was believed to be unlocked as well. A third vehicle burglary was reported around 8:20 a.m., Feb. 10. The caller was out of town and HPD will follow up on the case.
The Bellville Times
• The Bellville High School sports teams will find themselves districting with some familiar faces for the next two years. The University Interscholastic League announced its realignments on Feb. 3. The Brahma football team is firmly planted in Region III in District 10-4A Division II. They will be in a seven-team district with La Marque, Brookshire Royal, Sealy, Sweeny, West Columbia-Columbia and Wharton. Columbia is the only team that was not in Bellville’s football district over the past years. While Brahma football is Region III, Bellville’s basketball teams and volleyball are now in Region IV, both in District 25-4A. They will both be in seven-team districts with El Campo, Navasota, Needville, Brookshire-Royal, Sealy and Wharton. Needville is a district newcomer while El Campo, Navasota, Royal, Sealy and Wharton have been together for the past two years. Baseball/ softball and soccer had not been officially announced, but baseball has often followed the same as volleyball/basketball. Soccer will be different because of the classifications as well as the number of teams playing.
The Brenham Banner-Press
• At the Brenham school board meeting on Feb. 10, the board announced Danny Youngs as the new athletic director/ head football coach. Also at the meeting, the board introduced the new chief financial officer, Thad Lasater. According to a Brenham ISD press release, Lasater will start his new role in mid-March. “Mr. Lasater brings with him to Brenham ISD over 12 years of school district business office experience.