Trials Set in Blue Bell and Skull Creek Cases

The Brenham Banner-Press

A date has been set for the trial of former Blue Bell Creameries president Paul Kruse. Federal Judge Robert Pitman signed the amendment scheduling order that remains enforced for jury selection and trial, set for Aug. 1 in Austin. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin has jurisdiction over the case. Kruse was indicted in October 2020 on wire fraud and conspiracy charges in connection with a 2015 listeria outbreak, after the company agreed to pay $19.35 million in fines, forfeitures, and civil settlement payments related to two misdemeanor charges. The payment was the second largest monetary penalty of a food-safety matter in history, according to the Department of Justice in May 2020.

The Columbus Citizen

The pre-trail hearing for the criminal case brought by The State of Texas against David Polston is set for Aug. 5 at 9 a.m. in the 390th District Court of Travis County. Polston, former president of Inland Environmental, was indicted on two counts of intentionally discharging waste in January of this year. The charges stem from the discovery of industrial waste being discharged into Skull Creek in Altair, a Colorado River tributary. Both Inland Recycling LLC and Polston were indicted on the third-degree felony counts. If convicted, Polston could face up to five years in prison and a fine up to $100,000. Inland Recycling LLC could face a fine of up to $250,000.

Hill Country News

Leander City Council candidates won their respective races on Saturday by sizeable margins. McDonald was running for the open Place 3 seat vacated by Jason Shaw. Czernek was running for re-election to his Place 5 seat. Both were forced into a runoff after failing to secure more that 50% of the vote in the general municipal election on May 7. Turnout was among the lowest seen in a Leander runoff in a decade. In Williamson County, 2,406 voters cast ballots for a turnout of just 7.26% of registered voters.

The Gonzales Inquirer

A local business owner on St. Joseph St. recently voiced her frustration regarding a sewer problem within the building. Suzanne Zaitz, owner of Spaces Sublime, has been dealing with a sewer smell inside her building for more than a year and a half. The problem started when the city replaced a pipe in front of the property at 507 St. Joseph St., and was believed to have cracked on of the clay pipes under her business, according to Zaitz. Zaitz complained to her landlord, Ken Morrow, about the continuing smell from the sewer and that it was a health concern. Morrow speculated that there might be an unconnected sewer line under the building that is causing the smell. Zaitz, Morrow and the city crew met at Spaces Sublime Tuesday, June 14, for a second smoke test of the building, and determined it was the clean-out drain. The whole pipe would need to be replaced with a PVC pipe without damaging the floor of the business, according to Morrow.

The Shiner Gazette

Shiner’s emergency responders have received multiple complaints now about people at the site of the recent Union Pacific derailment taking photos and possibly even taking “souvenirs.” “Where the wreckage site is considered private property, owned by the railroad,” Police Chief Kevin Kelso said. “And though it may look like random junk, all the wreckage is still the property of Union Pacific.” Removing any part of it is considered theft, the chief said.

Lexington Leader

A home in Dime Box was completely consumed by fire early Sunday morning, June 12, just before 8 a.m. Verlene McNeil called the 911 dispatched system at 7:59 a.m. to report that her house, located on CR 430 was on fire. Dime Box Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched, along with Giddings VFD and Lincoln VFD. Sergeant Ray and Corporal West with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office also went to the scene. When fire fighters arrived, they found the wood frame home fully engulfed and the fire had spread into the surrounding area, consuming vehicles and other items in the yard. The cause of the fire was determined to be a pan of grease on the stove. Water was used to try to extinguish the fire by a home member, which caused the burning grease to splatter everywhere. Everyone got out of the home and no one was injured.

Giddings Times & News

The Giddings ISD Board of Trustees approved funding for a contract with Giddings Police Department to provide a full-time School Resource and Truancy Officer (SRO). Giddings Police Officer Sgt. Landis Lehmann will be joining the district when the new school year begins this August. He will be responsible for the security at all four campuses, Monday through Friday, during normal school hours. When school is not in session, Lehmann will continue working patrol for the Giddings Police Department.

The board unanimously approved the approximate $52,000 salary for the new SRO at the last regular board meeting May 19.