Former Blue Bell CEO Free of Listeria Outbreak Charges
The Banner-Press
• Former president and CEO of Blue Bell Paul Krause is free of all charges related to the 2015 listeria outbreak that killed three people and left several ill. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman dismissed the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Kruse was originally charged in May with one count of conspiracy for allegedly concealing positive listeria test results and six counts of wire fraud and attempted wire fraud for allegedly never disclosing or misrepresenting positive test results to retail chains and sales employees through email. Chris Flood, Kruse’s lawyer, believes the U.S. Department of Justice is out of time to take any further action against Kruse.
Burleson County Tribune
• Longtime Cade Lake Pastor Jim Heckman and his wife Diane were killed late Monday, August 3, in a truck-car collision on FM 908 and U.S. Highway 77 about a mile southeast of Rockdale. The Heckmans served the Cade Lake Community Chapel and many Cade Lake and Caldwell area residents throughout the years. The accident occurred when Jim Heckman, headed southeast on FM 908 in a 2008 Mazda MX-9, approached the 908 and US Highway 77 intersection. The Heckmans failed to yield the right of way to a southbound 2016 GMC Sierra Denali pickup, driven by Justin Rodgers, 34 of Frankston, who was pulling an 18-foot utility trailer. Rodgers’ truck collided with the driver’s side of Heckman’s car as Heckman entered the intersection. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Bellville Times
• For the first time in years, the actual boundaries of the City of Bellville have grown. It is a small growth but growth still the same. During the July 21 meeting, the Bellville City Council approved the annexation of a 5.26-acre recreational vehicle park at FM 2429 and Highway 36. The property had been in the City of Bellville’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and during the June meeting, the council unanimously approved an RV park for that location if the developer/owner agreed to be annexed into the city.
The Bastrop Advertiser
• As of August 11, around 11 a.m. the now-28-acre fire is 100% contained. The fire started in the state park approximately two miles east of Pine Hill Drive. The fire was moving northeast on state park property. Smoke will likely continue to be generated for days. Crews from Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 2., Bastrop Fire Department, Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department, STAR Flight, Texas A&M Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management have all been on the scene. No structures appeared to be immediately threatened by the fire. The Navasota Examiner
• Local K9 Remington has been named the 2020 Search and Rescue Dog of the Year by the American Humane Hero Dog Awards. Remington, now age 9, began his training at six months old with a volunteer search and rescue team, Special K-9s. They are a cadaver detection team only, so Remington began his training detecting human remains. Since his first training, he has completed 345 hours of formal search and recovery training and has held many certifications. Handler Rachael Crivelli said he has come a long way from the tiny, furry, filthy, flea-ridden puppy she first laid eyes on. “I knew from the very start he would be the one rescuing me,” she said.
• The community has enjoyed getting to know the goats from Rent-A-Ruminant who were hired by the city of Navasota to clear a portion of Cedar Creek. On July 30 tragedy struck as one of the beloved goats was attacked. Navasota Police and Navasota Animal Control responded to the 500 block of Brule Street to reports of a goat being attacked by a dog. The goat suffered multiple bite wounds. The goat was transported to Beard Navasota Veterinary Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries three days later.
What the Neighbors Are Talking About
A look at what's making news just over the county line.