The Brazosport Facts from Clute, Texas • Page 1

Qultt Show pulls covers off fall COUNTY SPORTS Angtoton crop-dusting pilot killed In remote West Texas crash Page6A Jackets have tough time with Vikings Page IB FRIDAY Vol. 82, No. 196 Copyright 1995 BRAZOSPORT Facts SEPTEMBER 22, 1995 Clute, Texas 77531 50 cents Optional road meeting hits legal detour By Greg Rabel The Brazosport Facts CLUTE A meeting Thursday to discuss a unit road system for Brazoria County became a legal lesson on whether county commissioners could attend the meeting and voice their opinions on the issue. County Judge John Willy and the county's four commissioners were invited to attend the meeting at the Brazosport Area Chamber of Commerce office in Clute, and chamber officials later said they were unaware that scenario could Broaddus: Clute must apologize to get repairs By Peggy O'Hare The Brazosport Facts CLUTE A conflict between Clute officials and Precinct 1 Commissioner Ronnie Broaddus is holding up the city's efforts to have several streets repaved. For several months, Mayor Jerry Adkins has unsuccessfully sought Precinct 1's assistance with the repair and overlay of Wilson Road, Flag Lake Road and the west end of Brazoswood Drive.

Adkins has been asking Broaddus since April to assist with the paving work through the city and county's Interlocal Agreement. That agreement stipulates because the residents of the city pay county taxes, they are entitled to see some benefit from the county's road and bridge funds. Under the agreement, the county normally provides personnel and equipment for the work, and the city typically provides the necessary materials. On Thursday, Adkins informed Clute City Council of a meeting he had with Broaddus on Aug. 29, after three letters he sent to the commissioner went unanswered.

Adkins said Broaddus wili not honor the city's request because the commissioner said he lacks trust in some city officials including the mayor, City Manager Barbara Hester and some council members. Broaddus also told Adkins the city of Clute owes him and Precinct 1 employees an apology for its investigation on the removal and storage of materials from the now-destroyed Castaway Apartments. No charges were filed against Broaddus as a result of the Castaway investigation. Contacted at home Thursday night, Broaddus confirmed Adkins' account. "I told him Precinct 1 employees and myself deserve an apology because we were falsely accused of stealing junk out of the Castaway Apartments," Broaddus said.

"I BROA60US, 8A IN TODAY'S FACTS for Mostly cloudy a 60 percent today with chance of rain with a high in the upper 70s. Astrograph Weekend 11-12A Comics Weekend Dear Abby Editorials 4A MinJPage Weekend Obituaries Television Weekend What's Going On In Saturday's Facts: What's next for the Optional Road and Bridge Law violate the open meetings law. About 40 persons attended the meeting which was sponsored by the chamber's transportation committee. If a quorum of the Commissioners Court had attended the meeting, they would not have been allowed to comment on the issue because official notice had not been posted as required by the Texas Open Meetings Act. So when Willy, Precinct 1 Commissioner Ronnie Broaddus and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Patterson a quorum of commissioners arrived at Thursday's meeting.

Patterson did not stay. Broaddus later said Precinct 3 Commissioner Billy Joe Plaster had planned to attend but stayed away to avoid violating the law. A memorandum from the District Attorney's Office, requested by Patterson, advised against a quorum of commissioners attending the meeting since the topic was one within the commis- sioners' jurisdiction. Scott Richardson, representing the District Attorney's Office, told chamber officials that no more than two commissioners could attend if they planned to speak on the issue. "It never entered my mind that we had a legal problem." Jack Taylor, the chamber's transportation committee chairman, said.

"We're trying to keep the chamber's position neutral." A unit road system would consolidate all road and bridge operations into one department and See ROAD LAW, Page 8A Angleton's stormy skies Elementary school students react after possible funnel sighting Special to The Facts: T.C. By Julie Myers The Brazosport Facts ANGLETON Adults stood outside and gaped at the slender tornado sighted at about 10:45 a.m. Thursday as it whirled above the ground from the east to the southeast part of town. The funnel cloud never touched ground and no injuries or damage were reported. Staff "Sgt.

Alex Olivarez and Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Karn stood in front of the Texas Army National Guard armory on County Road 428 for about 15 minutes watching the twister. A co-worker quickly called the Angleton Independent School District administration building to alert them of severe weather before calling nearby Southside Elementary. Olivarez said the funnel cloud didn't appear to drop within 200 feet of the ground. Southside Principal Patsy Hejl received a call from the administration building telling her to begin moving children out See STUDENTS, Page 8A STORMS: Angleton police officer Ron Gentry, left, directs traffic at the intersection of Highway 288-B and Highway 35 as Sgt.

R.T. Ramos gets a radio update on minor street flooding Thursday. Heavy rains left some streets covered and spawned at least one funnel cloud east of town. Facts photo: Dwight C. Andrews Vivian Tomlinson, left, Gary Parker and Fair Manager Anita Rogers look over a program for Thursday njgnt appreciation event.

Page 6A Dispute over bid sparks resignation of C-BISD chief Facts photo: Chris Matuia By Jamie Rege) The Brazosport Facts WEST COLUMBIA Preston Bullard. interim superintendent, resigned Thursday amid allegations of improper bidding practices at Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District. Bullard did not return phone calls to The Brazosport Facts, but Nate Moore board president, confirmed the resignation, which is effective immediately. "He has (resigned)." Moore said. "There's a letter.

It's deep regret that receive this letter, hut it has happened. We'll have to deal with it and move on." A copy of the letter was later taxed to The Fuels office. Bullard. a former superintendent for Pearland ISO. was hired by C-BISD June to temporarily fill the position vacated by Dr.

Virgil Tiemann. The district agreed to pay Bullard a salary of $250 a day plus gas expenses. The resignation apparently was sparked by a conflict between Bullard and Trustee Bob Walker, who pressed the superintendent for information about how the district got prices for a printing job. After his questions about how the print job was awarded to a Brazoria company went unanswered at Tuesday's school board meeting. Walker made several attempts Thursday to get copies of any records associated with the project.

Walker said he called Eric Grimmett. director of administrative services, who referred him to Bullard. Walker said Bullard declined to give him the information, saying the board president had told him not to release the records 10 anyone. Walker said when he pressured Bullard for the data and told the superintendent he was going to talk to a Facts reporter. Bullard said he would resign if he talked to the newspaper.

In his resignation letter. Bullard said he regretted leaving the district, but that. "Due to a conflict with board member Bob Walker, I do not feel I can continue to be effective as Buliard interim superintendent." Following Tuesday night's board meeting. The Facts made repeated attempts to obtain the printing bid records, but Grimmett referred all questions to Moore, who did not return phone calls, and to Bullard. who refused to speak to a reporter.

Thursday afternoon, before learning of Bullard's resignation, The Facts tiled an Open Records Act request with C-BISD. About 6:45 p.m. Moore faxed to the newspaper a chronology of the quote process in a memo prepared by Grimmett. In the memo. Grimmett said his goal was to act as a "good steward of district funds." "I am bothered with the implications that this situation was handled improperly." Grimmett said.

"Rather. 1 felt my actions were prudent and wise on behalf of our district." Moore said Grimmett's memo was not ready until noon Thursday, and he did not receive it until 2 p.m. He later learned of Bullard's resignation and spent the rest of the afternoon contacting board members. The printing issue unraveled at Tuesday night's board meeting when Walker questioned two bills submitted by Country Printer Inc. forSS.438andSl.199.

C-BISD Business Manager Sallie Cadenhead said the larger bill was for the printing of 199596 student handbooks and possibly registration cards, while the other bill was likely for letterhead. C-BISD policy does not See C-BISD, Page 8A Women, children escape injury in barrage of gang gunfire By Rlvka Gewlrtz The Brazosport Facts FREEPORT Two women and five children, ranging in age from 7 months to 12 years, escaped injury Tuesday night when their car was hit repeatedly by bullets from a rifle and shotgun in a gang-related incident of mistaken identity- The women and children were visiting friends in the area and were not connected with any gang, Freeport Police Capt. Henrietta Gonzales said Thursday. Two adults and five minors were charged with aggravated assault in the shooting, which occurred in front of a residence in the 1700 block of West 6th Street about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Charges of engaging in organized crime activity and reckless conduct with a firearm are pending on all of those arrested, Gonzales said. Bond on each suspect was set at S350.000. The adult suspects, Nija Townsend and Maria Townsend. ages unknown, are a married couple who live at the residence where the shots originated, police said. The suspects, who are thought to be gang affiliated, were standing in front of the house when they allegedly fired at the moving car, barely missing the women and children inside, Gonzalez said.

One of the bullets sliced through the air just above the 7-month-old baby sit- ting between the women in ihe front seat. The other children in the car were ages 4. 5. 9 and 12. Two houses on ihe street also were hit by the gunfire but no one was injured.

Gonzalez said. She said there is no way of knowing how many shots were fired. The shooting came one day alter a gang related drive-by shooting Monday nigh in the 600 block of 6th Street. Police arrested one person allegedly involved in the Monday night shooting, bui are still searching for a second sus- peci Gonzalez said she does not know if Tuesday's shooting was a retaliation, but she said it is a continuation of Monday's incident. Facts photo: Chris Matuia NO INJURIES: Freeport police say this vehicle was shot at in a gang-related incident..