Hallettsville PD to Get New Tech Upgrade
Hallettsville Tribune-Herald
• The Hallettsville Police Department will get new technology hardware after the city council approved the purchase. Peacemaker Technologies from New Braunfels was awarded the quote of $40,120 for the mobile data computers. Peacemaker did not have the lowest quote but the company offered antimicrobial tablets which the others did not have. Included in the tablets is Bluetooth, Wi/Fi, front and rear cameras, a docking keyboard and a no fault accidents warranty. The money will come from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund which the city is expected to receive 100% ($148,115).
The Brenham Banner-Press
• Washington County Commissioners Court has approved an amendment for inmate payphone and tablet services with GTL Enhanced Services, LLC. The amendment will bring roughly 20 tablets to the Washington County jail, averaging about one tablet for every four inmates. “This is something that a lot of jails are moving towards, especially during this time with the coronavirus,” said Capt. Eric Hensley. “Inmates haven’t had any visitation since May. This will be able to provide them with a little bit of access to family and friends. It also provides a library for them to research their cases, CED courses, and a leisure library. We can get rid of all of our paperback books which we are having to search for contraband all the time.” Account Manager Lesley Hernandez of GTL added, “Just to make this clear, we are not giving iPads to inmates. These are communication devices. There is no getting onto the internet with them. Everything comes from a server. These are not the tablets you get from the store; there is no Facebook, no Google, none of that stuff.”
New Ulm Enterprise
• The New Ulm Vol. Fire Department reports that they had several calls about a chemical odor in the area and upon investigating discovered the smell was coming from railroad ties on train cars parked on the tracks here in town. It appears that there are times no one smells it but when the wind shifts you may get a whiff of it. The Fire Department stated, “We are not sure how long they will be there but wanted to let everyone know what it is they are smelling. Never hesitate to report an odor, that is what we are here for.”
The Colorado County Citizen
• A two-item Colorado County Commissioners Court Agenda on Nov. 16 turned into a three-hour marathon of sorts. During public comments, six pros and cons of the proposed proclamation to the Governor asking that businesses be allowed to open at 100 percent capacity. Chris Christensen, a member of the Barn Builders, advocates for opening businesses to full capacity, said he felt that the public is “acting out of fear because of misinformation.” He then introduced scientist Rodney Sturdivant, one of the co-signers of the Great Barrington Declaration. Superintendents from all three school districts in the county were also present to address the court. Each commissioner weighed in on the matter as well. There were three “Yes” votes to rescind the amended proclamation and one “No” vote.
Yoakum Herald-Times
• Lavaca County EMS Chief Michael Furrh and Capt. John Schultz recently traveled to South Bend, Ind. where they were able to view the production of their two new ambulance units at the Medix plant located there and pick up a few pointers on maintenance and repair of of those units. The trip was provided by Southwest Ambulance Sales, the company from which the county is purchasing its two new Type 1 ambulances, thanks to generous grants provided by the Dickson-Allen Foundation.
The Bellville Times
• A former country music star who attempted a comeback to the charts while living in the Bellville area has passed away. Doug Supernaw, who had hits in the early 1990s with “I Don’t Call Him Daddy” and “Reno,” passed away on Nov. 13 at the age of 60. Many in Bellville will remember the fall of 1999 when the brahma football team was fighting to make its first state playoff trip since 1992. Supernaw, who had not charted in several years, shot a music video during the Bellville Brahma home football game aganist Columbus that season. Bellville won the game 17-14 to clinch a state playoff berth. The name of the song was “21 to 17.”