Hood County News from Granbury, Texas • Page 1

125th Year Number 103 Local, zone(s): 3 sections 42 pages plus supplements State: 2 sections 26 pages KICKOFF IS APPROACHING: Area high school teams open the regular season this weekend. Get previews of Granbury, Tolar, Happy Hill and Cornerstone. 1B-6B. BUSINESS CALENDAR CROSSWORD EDUCATION KIDSCOOP. LIFE OBITUARIES SPORTS More than a newspaper.

A Hood County legend since 1886 News News Hood County Hood County Published Wednesday and Saturday Granbury, Texas 76048 Wednesday, August 24, 2011 www.hcnews.com 75 cents Have an opinion? Write a letter to the editor, Include your name and city. How would you face death? Probably not like her BY KATHY CRUZ HOOD COUNTY NEWS Debbie Hildebrand Hounshell is exceptional, and not just because she looks a lot healthier than most people who are dying of cancer. exceptional because of the way handling it. just full of positive energy and kept me she said. Her continued existence has surprised medical staff who said when she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer last Julythat she had six months, a year, tops.

was difficult when I first found said Hounshell, who moved into her house in Acton three months ago. She has other family here as well two sisters, a daughter, a son-in-law and two teenage grandchildren. It may be hard to believe, but since the diagnosis she has seen nothing but blessings surrounding her, even on days when she doubles over in pain. In fact, when she contacted the Hood County News about her cancer fight, the subject line of her email said good all about gratitude and she said. just get up and put one foot in front of the other and see what the day What in the world is there to feel grateful for? Everything, according to Hounshell.

Take, for instance, Facebook. Since she has little to do except spend time on the Internet, Hounshell has discovered social networking. She has reconnected with childhood friends, some of whom have driven to Granbury to meet with her after losing touch decades ago. Just last week, she and a childhood friend met for lunch at One of the Hounshell said, has been drawing to her daughter, closing the gulf that was created by cocaine addiction back in the 1980s when she was a stressed single mother trying to make ends meet. As further evidence that Hounshell is different from most, in 1989 she managed to kick her addiction.

She went on to earn a degree in psychology, and became a licensed chemical dependency counselor. She moved to Fort Worth, and worked at a treatment center. It was at that point that her life took a dramatic turn. One night while working alone, she made the mistake of unlocking the door, thinking the knock was coming from a woman who had left her sweater. Hounshell was brutally attacked, and suffered just full of positive energy and kept me Debbie Hildebrand Hounshell PLEASE SEE LIFE 2A Melancholy Melanie Heather Hammond comforts her daughter Melanie before classes began Monday morning at Emma Roberson Elementary.

Melanie was just a bit wary of entering into pre-k, but her teacher Sue warm welcome and big smile made her fi rst day a little easier. Granbury, Lipan and Tolar classes opened Monday morning. MARY VINSON HOOD COUNTY NEWS Ready to repeat? Pirates looking for playoff trip again GET THE rundown on all area teams in our preview. PAGES 1-6B. BY RICK MAUCH HOOD COUNTY NEWS Last season the Granbury Pirates did something they had not done since before the Dallas Mavericks were even an NBA franchise.

They reached the bidistrict playoffs in football for the first time since 1977. The Mavericks played their first game in 1981. Now, just like the defending NBA champion Mavericks, the Pirates have back-to-back on their mind. Granbury, which returns seven offensive and four defensive starters, will try to return to the postseason. Texas the Bible of high school football in the state, has them picked to be one of four playoff teams from 7-4A.

The first step toward that goal comes Friday when the Pirates travel to Saginaw for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Tolar opens the season that same night at home against Olney at 7:30, while Happy Hill hosts Stonegate Christian at the same time Friday in a six-man game. Cornerstone Christian, making its varsity six-man debut, will travel to Waco Parkview to face Bell County ECHO at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Pirates, 6-5 last season Friday Granbury (6-5 last season, lost in bidistrict) at Saginaw (0-10), 7:30 p.m. Olney (2-8) at Tolar (2-8), 7:30 p.m. Irving Stonegate at Happy Hill (2-7), 7:30 p.m. Saturday Cornerstone (varsity debut) vs. Bell County ECHO at Waco Parkview, 3 p.m.

SEASON OPENERS PLEASE SEE FOOTBALL 2A PORTRAIT OF COURAGE: Debbie Hildebrand Hounshell poses with lion of a stuff ed animal given to her by a friend. The former licensed chemical depen- dency counselor has stage 4 colon cancer, but is determined to live her fi nal days with a positive attitude. MARY VINSON HOOD COUNTY NEWS Sex abuse suspect pleads guilty BY MARK WILSON HOOD COUNTY NEWS A highly anticipated case involving accusations of sex crimes committed against children, including one who was 10 at the time of the offense, never made it to a jury. Stephen Wayne Johnson pleaded guilty to four second-degree felony counts Monday morning in 355th Judicial District Court. Judge Ralph Walton was to decide punishment, but that ruling had not been made as of press time Tuesday morning.

One incident allegedly happened on a boat during a fishing trip with only Johnson and the victim on board, according to the statement given to prosecutors. There originally were six counts in the grand jury indictment brought against Johnson on Feb. 2. He had pleaded not guilty to all counts following his arraignment. Count 2 and Count 4, in effect, were dropped.

District Attorney Rob Christian emphasized that there was no deal made with the defense in the case. state was able to proceed on four (of the counts), and he pleaded PLEASE SEE CASE 2A Johnson New city manager brings job changes BY KATHY CRUZ HOOD COUNTY NEWS New Granbury City Manager Wayne McKethan on Monday announced restructuring of some positions at City Hall, as well as other changes. McKethan said the changes will allow citizens to deal directly with department heads on some matters and will give him a more ability to monitor city business. Changes include the creation of a new department called Neighborhood Services, which will fall under the auspices of health inspector Becky Mauld- PLEASE SEE CITY 2A Enrollment up slightly FIRST-DAY ENROLLMENT District 2011 2010 6,420 6,406 Lipan 294 280 Tolar 589 587 BY ROGER ENLOW EDITOR Granbury school district enrollment was up on the first day of school after showing a decline the last two years. Enrollment was 6,420 Monday, 14 more than opening day last year.

The number is expected to climb. At least 15 new high schoolers were at the campus after enrollment was taken. our numbers will continue to increase as the year Superintendent Ron Mayfield said. New charter and private schools, and students home- schooled are believed to be the cause for enrollment drop in recent years. PLEASE SEE SCHOOL 2A HIGHWAY 377 WORK Traffi will be moved to alternate lanes today on Highway 377 while an overlay is applied on 377 between Loop 567 and Holmes Drive.

Work will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Granbury head coach Scotty Pugh.