Quite Zone Could Cost Bellville $138,000
The Bellville Times
• The cost of the railroad quiet zone for Bellville has appeared to have skyrocketed well out of the anticipated price range. Executive Director Larry Kuciemba said the expected cost has grown from $183,000 to more than a half-million dollars. The BEDC began initial work on a proposed railroad quiet zone back in 2012, but this dramatic increase could put the brakes on the project. Kuciemba said construction costs have gone way up since the beginning of the year and it goes back to the railroad because they are not a supporter of quiet zones. They have held it off for so long.
Brenham Banner-Press
•Three people were injured after a late-night shooting in Washington County. According to a release from Sheriff Otto Hanak, deputies responded to a shots fired call shortly after midnight on May 16 in the 18000 block of Highway 105. Upon arrival, deputies learned that numerous shots had been fired and that three people, ranging in age from 29 to 40, were wounded. They also found that a building and several vehicles were damaged by the gunfire. The three victims were transferred by helicopter and ambulance to hospitals in Bryan/College Station. Hanak said their conditions appeared stable as of Sunday morning. The investigation is ongoing and is being led by the Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Texas Rangers. Hanak said numerous leads into the identity of the suspects are being investigated and asked anyone with information related to this crime to call 979-277-7373.
• Several reports of lightning damage were received from the storms Tuesday evening. The First Christian Church in Brenham received apparent lighting damage to their steeple Tuesday night. Numerous shingles were blown off the structure as well as one corner received heavy damage. The Brenham Fire Department also responded to a lightning strike to a home in the 1800 block of Shady Lane. The lightning strike caused a fire in the attic above the garage.
Yoakum Herald-Times
• A two-vehicle accident on April 29 in Yoakum resulted in Hallettsville High School senior Sloan Machacek taken to a San Antonio hospital with serious injuries. According to a report from the Yoakum Fire Dept. EMS unit, a call came in around 3:02 p.m. of an accident that took place at the intersection of Hwy. 77-A and Herder Rd. The accident took place when a red Chevrolet Sonic, driven by 17 Machacek, collided with a Ford Ranger pick-up, driven by Jim Moore of Yoakum. Machacek was traveling in the southbound lane of Hwy 77-A while Moore was turning onto the highway from Herder Rd. and headed south as well. Unable to stop in time, possibly due to wet road conditions, after colliding Machacek’s vehicle then ran off the roadway and struck a tree. At the University Health Hospital in San Antonio Machacek underwent surgery for a broken vertebra in her lower back.
Giddings Times & News
• It was an unusual chase as a man driving a white Chevrolet pickup pulling a boat led officers from three counties on a pursuit and obeyed speed limits, for the most part, zig-zagging around and avoiding several spike strips on May 15. The relaxed driver never appeared to be in a hurry during the hourlong joy ride and the female passenger seemed even more relaxed. When the duo finally decided to pull over and surrender to law enforcement they did it in a peaceful manner. The ordeal started when a State Park Police Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Game Warden from Bastrop County attempted to stop the pickup. When the truck reached Winchester, Lee County deputies were called to assist since it was believed the chase would be turning northbound onto FM 48 toward Giddings. The driver, Brandon Wayne Bingaman, 35 of Panama City, Florida, was booked into the Lee County Jail for evading arrest/detention with vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.