For most of the citizens in Liberty County it may be a news flash if you were to sit down and talk to any of the victims of the “carrot and the stick” approach our county commissioners have taken in their fiduciary duties as the keepers of the county budget over the years. But it has been extremely bad and extremely counterproductive for this county to have the budget used routinely to offer a combination of rewards and punishment to induce behavior by department heads within county government.
It may seem like a soap opera to some to even think that judges, county and district clerks, district attorneys, and justices of the peace all across Texas are subject to a system that can in the worst cases be used like blackmail by commissioners to force all of these elected officials to act like the local commissioners want them with what is sometimes little or no consideration for what is good for the county.
As we have said, using taxpayer money to force people WE THE PEOPLE have elected to jump through the hoops commissioners want them to can be very counterproductive to any department trying to do the people’s business. Perhaps unknown to the county’s taxpayers have already had to suffer through District Attorney Mike Little using the power of his office to extort people to do the things he wants them to do. And the taxpayers have already had to endure the wastefulness of the quarter of a million dollar trade off deal Commissioner Brown with his colleagues around election time every year so he can buy votes with temporary and expensive road repairs in strategic areas.
Liberty Dispatch is aware of the responsibilities the Founding Fathers placed on the press and the protections given to the press in the Constitution and just as we have begun to do with the abuse of office and selective prosecution in the District Attorney’s office, and just as we have done every four years when Commissioner Brown blows $250.000 we will not hesitate to report and investigate the abuse of the county’s budget process in the coming months.
The question that always remains important when evaluating public servants is “are they serving the public’s interest” or in this case “who do commissioners act like they are working for?” We expect taxpayer money to be spent wisely and to be spent getting the job done we have elected people to do and beyond that we expect smart, conservative asset management.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE VANESA???
One of the major responsibilities of a local newspaper is to keep their readers informed about what is going on in county politics and in the courthouse. Because it is out of hearsay range, there is no city more dependent on good reporting than Cleveland, Texas. Geographically, Cleveland is further away from the courthouse than any of the larger cities in the county. The Cleveland Advocate could serve as readers’ eyes and ears, but they don’t. What is the matter Vanesa Brashier, has the cat got your tongue about what is going on in Liberty?
Take six stories Vanessa has read on this website: 1) Allegations that District Attorney Mike Little raped a male prisoner – Blue vs. Little, an active case heating up in Liberty County and now even the focus of the national news media. 2) Allegations District Attorney Joe Warren threatened his next door neighbors with a gun he brought with him to their house. 3) Former Liberty County Detective Chip Fairchild is accused of a number of serious crimes along with his brother Russell – among them are swindling the taxpayers and even alleged murder and conspiracy to commit murder. 4) Former District Judge Rusty Hight stole nearly every book in the law library attached to the 253rd District Judge’s Chambers allegedly along with the help of attorneys Baker and Zbranek. 5) Liberty County Constable Royce Wheeler’s part in illegal ammunition schemes and monies derived from county owned property. 6) Liberty County DA Mike Little’s selective prosecution and official oppression of political enemies. Etc…
Has Vanessa reported any of these stories? Of course not... “Why not” is the question? Is she currently investigating these stories? That is doubtful. The stories could have been looked into weeks, months and even years ago. Does Vanessa think there is nothing to any of these stories? If she does we invite her to go on the record by sending us a comment stating that position. But she won’t do that because there is plenty of evidence on some of these stories. Is it that she is incapable of investigating and fact finding? If she is, she would never claim that as a reason. Then why is it she will not report these stories?
The answer is really quite simple. Vanessa Brashier lacks objectivity and honesty. The one claim to fame she has in “investigating” courthouse crimes was the FEMA/Fitzgerald/Groce case. But that case does nothing to show any objectivity because Vanessa was given her information and a green light to go after that case by part of the group that she lacks the ability to do objective and honest reporting on.
So even though The Cleveland Advocate may do a good job reporting the local sports scores and the garden club meetings and the want ads and the obituary, their lack of reporting on local elected officials and the courthouse is causing their readers to have a false sense of being informed. Readers of The Cleveland Advocate, just like listeners of the Liberty radio (KSHN), are getting their news from people who have an agenda they have not revealed to the people of Liberty County.
If that is not true and the cat doesn’t have your tongue Vanessa, then comment on the stories mentioned above. Eventually the facts will come out and your comments will be on record.
No one is holding their breath to see her honesty or objectivity, all something to remember when you support the Cleveland Advocate or the Dayton News.
Take six stories Vanessa has read on this website: 1) Allegations that District Attorney Mike Little raped a male prisoner – Blue vs. Little, an active case heating up in Liberty County and now even the focus of the national news media. 2) Allegations District Attorney Joe Warren threatened his next door neighbors with a gun he brought with him to their house. 3) Former Liberty County Detective Chip Fairchild is accused of a number of serious crimes along with his brother Russell – among them are swindling the taxpayers and even alleged murder and conspiracy to commit murder. 4) Former District Judge Rusty Hight stole nearly every book in the law library attached to the 253rd District Judge’s Chambers allegedly along with the help of attorneys Baker and Zbranek. 5) Liberty County Constable Royce Wheeler’s part in illegal ammunition schemes and monies derived from county owned property. 6) Liberty County DA Mike Little’s selective prosecution and official oppression of political enemies. Etc…
Has Vanessa reported any of these stories? Of course not... “Why not” is the question? Is she currently investigating these stories? That is doubtful. The stories could have been looked into weeks, months and even years ago. Does Vanessa think there is nothing to any of these stories? If she does we invite her to go on the record by sending us a comment stating that position. But she won’t do that because there is plenty of evidence on some of these stories. Is it that she is incapable of investigating and fact finding? If she is, she would never claim that as a reason. Then why is it she will not report these stories?
The answer is really quite simple. Vanessa Brashier lacks objectivity and honesty. The one claim to fame she has in “investigating” courthouse crimes was the FEMA/Fitzgerald/Groce case. But that case does nothing to show any objectivity because Vanessa was given her information and a green light to go after that case by part of the group that she lacks the ability to do objective and honest reporting on.
So even though The Cleveland Advocate may do a good job reporting the local sports scores and the garden club meetings and the want ads and the obituary, their lack of reporting on local elected officials and the courthouse is causing their readers to have a false sense of being informed. Readers of The Cleveland Advocate, just like listeners of the Liberty radio (KSHN), are getting their news from people who have an agenda they have not revealed to the people of Liberty County.
If that is not true and the cat doesn’t have your tongue Vanessa, then comment on the stories mentioned above. Eventually the facts will come out and your comments will be on record.
No one is holding their breath to see her honesty or objectivity, all something to remember when you support the Cleveland Advocate or the Dayton News.
KICKING THE BUMS OUT, PAYING OFF
First let‘s all have a collective congratulations for ridding the county of some of the public officials that were causing the problem, then let’s talk about dealing with the approximately $6.4 million deficit Liberty County faces next budget year.
Anyone keeping up with the local news knows a public workshop was held by the Liberty County Commissioners Court two weeks ago in Liberty to discuss the problems of borrowing and spending by previous administrations. But first let’s face the facts; several of the people in those previous administrations were in that meeting. They were (and still are) a big part of the problem taxpayers face today.
When we read a quote by County Auditor Harold Seay that says, “I’ve tried to get us back to a balanced budget which we haven’t had for years but we’ve been taking money out of the fund balance each year” - We can look past his politeness and pinpoint that is still around that caused the problems.
When we read a quote by County Judge Craig McNair that says, “I’ll get to the point: it’s grim. I know some of you are looking at what you can buy or expand, but this is not the time. Now is not the time to buy equipment but to maintain it” - We know he still has some of the same public officials salivating over another scheme to increase their budget at taxpayer expense as we have had for years.
Commissioners Fontenot, Hunt, and Brown were already lined up at the public trough to start their pet projects when this meeting started – and the proposed expenditures they were transparent about then are of course not the only ones taxpayers need to be concerned about in 2011.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Todd Fontenot infamous for being the first commissioner in history to demand an office and a reserved parking spot at the courthouse - has uncorked his new project. Fontenot requested $81,000 to build a new barn facility in order to reduce drive time and fuel expenses. He said that materials and equipment could be stored at the new facility instead of transporting it back and forth from the current location. Fontenot is obviously hoping voters have forgotten the very public protest the local Republican Party had when he pushed to stretch his precinct across the six miles between Liberty and Dayton. Several citizens stood up and testified that Fontenot’s plan would cost more in fuel and travel time than was practical. In fact, he was told publicly that if his plan passed it would cause financial hardship on taxpayers eventually and that he would become enemy number one in any bid he made for re-election. (Todd Fontenot had better get ready for a battle and to start looking for a new job) The Fontenot name is doomed to the same place as the Zbranek's name.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Melvin Hunt who has always bragged that his roads are the best in the county at the same time he came to Commissioners’ meetings with his hand out for more money, has been making deals and allowing, if not orchestrating, borrowing schemes that would exclude the taxpayer from being able to vote on them. Hunt said that any additional money that his department receives will be spent almost entirely on roads. Hunt has been very clever in using taxpayers’ money and spending it where people that helped him get re-elected told him to. What will Hunt do? Will he be intimidated by the DA?
Commissioner Precinct 4 Norman Brown requested a pay increase for two of his employees. He also requested this year’s budget be increased from $136,000 to $145,000 for next year – for fuel – and from $35,000 to $45,000 for lease equipment. Good ole Norman has a habit of requesting a quarter of a million dollars around election time to temporarily blacktop and patch constituent roads and his buddies all barter for votes for something they want. The taxpayer is left holding the bag in this process. Norman could have used that money for fuel and patchwork rather than votes, but his priorities are not necessarily ours. (Norman Brown has clearly demonstrated he is still a Democrat; he has shamelessly bastardized our local Republican Party)
The absence of former Commissioner Lee Groce and former County Judge Phil Fitzgerald and their failed Walmart scheme-like ideas and FEMA ventures will no doubt make tax relief at least a possibility in the coming years. But the presence of these others may mean that it will be a battle to meet the demands of our economic times without bludgeoning the taxpayer with higher bills.
Those who have wondered when our newly elected Republicans would begin changing things may not have long to wait. All of the big spenders mentioned above were Democrats. Commissioner Brown switched parties and is at least officially a Republican, but it remains to be seen if he will switch his thinking along with his party affiliation.
County Auditor Harold Seay predicted that next year, the county’s fund balance could be reduced to between $10 and $13 million. That is only the most recent result of the spend and tax Democratic regime voters just partially defeated in the last election. The fund balance is an amount of money set aside by the county for emergencies and as a financial cushion. That still leaves us looking at about a $6.4 million deficit between our expenditures and our revenue.
County Judge Craig McNair, District Judge Chap Cain, District Judge Mark Morefield, and County Court at Law Judge Tommy Chambers (all Republicans) have been working on some big money saving plans, including reducing the reducing amount of time non-violent offenders spend in jail while awaiting trial. And including reducing the amount of time they spend in jail (using probation to monitor any bad behavior). The amount of savings from these ideas could add up to a couple of million dollars, but still leaves the need for a more conservative approach in other areas. County Clerk Paulette Williams said that she found $32,000 in her budget that can be returned to the general fund. District Clerk Donna Brown has also found significant savings in her first five months in office as has Judge Chambers. Chambers office had to bite the bullet and spend money on a court reporter in order to ensure proper court records and therefore justice (and also to avoid potential lawsuits against the county) - but he has also significantly reduced the amount of money the county will spend on public defenders. Encouraging defendants who request a public defender to pay what they can on their defense bill should more than account for the additional expense of a court reporter in the long run. County Court-At-Law Judge Tommy Chambers said that his department will end the year under last years budget, a first in Liberty County history.
Liberty County voters may have cleaned part of the courthouse just in time as our economy continues to be on shaky ground. An opportunity to bring more a conservative, more business-like approach to county affairs comes up again in November 2012. Even if the economy has improved, it will be a great opportunity to continue to add new people and new ideas to help us continue to build a more successful and fiscally responsible community.
Liberty Dispatch will be watching and reporting…
Anyone keeping up with the local news knows a public workshop was held by the Liberty County Commissioners Court two weeks ago in Liberty to discuss the problems of borrowing and spending by previous administrations. But first let’s face the facts; several of the people in those previous administrations were in that meeting. They were (and still are) a big part of the problem taxpayers face today.
When we read a quote by County Auditor Harold Seay that says, “I’ve tried to get us back to a balanced budget which we haven’t had for years but we’ve been taking money out of the fund balance each year” - We can look past his politeness and pinpoint that is still around that caused the problems.
When we read a quote by County Judge Craig McNair that says, “I’ll get to the point: it’s grim. I know some of you are looking at what you can buy or expand, but this is not the time. Now is not the time to buy equipment but to maintain it” - We know he still has some of the same public officials salivating over another scheme to increase their budget at taxpayer expense as we have had for years.
Commissioners Fontenot, Hunt, and Brown were already lined up at the public trough to start their pet projects when this meeting started – and the proposed expenditures they were transparent about then are of course not the only ones taxpayers need to be concerned about in 2011.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Todd Fontenot infamous for being the first commissioner in history to demand an office and a reserved parking spot at the courthouse - has uncorked his new project. Fontenot requested $81,000 to build a new barn facility in order to reduce drive time and fuel expenses. He said that materials and equipment could be stored at the new facility instead of transporting it back and forth from the current location. Fontenot is obviously hoping voters have forgotten the very public protest the local Republican Party had when he pushed to stretch his precinct across the six miles between Liberty and Dayton. Several citizens stood up and testified that Fontenot’s plan would cost more in fuel and travel time than was practical. In fact, he was told publicly that if his plan passed it would cause financial hardship on taxpayers eventually and that he would become enemy number one in any bid he made for re-election. (Todd Fontenot had better get ready for a battle and to start looking for a new job) The Fontenot name is doomed to the same place as the Zbranek's name.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Melvin Hunt who has always bragged that his roads are the best in the county at the same time he came to Commissioners’ meetings with his hand out for more money, has been making deals and allowing, if not orchestrating, borrowing schemes that would exclude the taxpayer from being able to vote on them. Hunt said that any additional money that his department receives will be spent almost entirely on roads. Hunt has been very clever in using taxpayers’ money and spending it where people that helped him get re-elected told him to. What will Hunt do? Will he be intimidated by the DA?
Commissioner Precinct 4 Norman Brown requested a pay increase for two of his employees. He also requested this year’s budget be increased from $136,000 to $145,000 for next year – for fuel – and from $35,000 to $45,000 for lease equipment. Good ole Norman has a habit of requesting a quarter of a million dollars around election time to temporarily blacktop and patch constituent roads and his buddies all barter for votes for something they want. The taxpayer is left holding the bag in this process. Norman could have used that money for fuel and patchwork rather than votes, but his priorities are not necessarily ours. (Norman Brown has clearly demonstrated he is still a Democrat; he has shamelessly bastardized our local Republican Party)
The absence of former Commissioner Lee Groce and former County Judge Phil Fitzgerald and their failed Walmart scheme-like ideas and FEMA ventures will no doubt make tax relief at least a possibility in the coming years. But the presence of these others may mean that it will be a battle to meet the demands of our economic times without bludgeoning the taxpayer with higher bills.
Those who have wondered when our newly elected Republicans would begin changing things may not have long to wait. All of the big spenders mentioned above were Democrats. Commissioner Brown switched parties and is at least officially a Republican, but it remains to be seen if he will switch his thinking along with his party affiliation.
County Auditor Harold Seay predicted that next year, the county’s fund balance could be reduced to between $10 and $13 million. That is only the most recent result of the spend and tax Democratic regime voters just partially defeated in the last election. The fund balance is an amount of money set aside by the county for emergencies and as a financial cushion. That still leaves us looking at about a $6.4 million deficit between our expenditures and our revenue.
County Judge Craig McNair, District Judge Chap Cain, District Judge Mark Morefield, and County Court at Law Judge Tommy Chambers (all Republicans) have been working on some big money saving plans, including reducing the reducing amount of time non-violent offenders spend in jail while awaiting trial. And including reducing the amount of time they spend in jail (using probation to monitor any bad behavior). The amount of savings from these ideas could add up to a couple of million dollars, but still leaves the need for a more conservative approach in other areas. County Clerk Paulette Williams said that she found $32,000 in her budget that can be returned to the general fund. District Clerk Donna Brown has also found significant savings in her first five months in office as has Judge Chambers. Chambers office had to bite the bullet and spend money on a court reporter in order to ensure proper court records and therefore justice (and also to avoid potential lawsuits against the county) - but he has also significantly reduced the amount of money the county will spend on public defenders. Encouraging defendants who request a public defender to pay what they can on their defense bill should more than account for the additional expense of a court reporter in the long run. County Court-At-Law Judge Tommy Chambers said that his department will end the year under last years budget, a first in Liberty County history.
Liberty County voters may have cleaned part of the courthouse just in time as our economy continues to be on shaky ground. An opportunity to bring more a conservative, more business-like approach to county affairs comes up again in November 2012. Even if the economy has improved, it will be a great opportunity to continue to add new people and new ideas to help us continue to build a more successful and fiscally responsible community.
Liberty Dispatch will be watching and reporting…
Friday, May 20, 2011
END OF WORLD 05/21/2011- ACCORDING TO CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT
According to a small Christian movement, yes, it will.
The movement, led by Harold Camping, who runs the Evangelical network Family Radio, is predicting that mid-May of this year will bring about Judgment Day — the time when, according to some, the earth will be destroyed because of mankind's sins and all Christian believers will ascend to heaven.
(More on TIME.com: See more on Harold Camping and Judgment Day.)
Apparently Camping believes this will occur on May 21 on the basis of a mathematical system he created to interpret prophecies hidden in the Bible.
While the prediction is pretty eerie in light of the mysterious animal deaths in Arkansas, it's worth noting that this isn't the first time that Camping has predicted the end of the world.
He originally used his mathematical system to predict that Sept. 6, 1994, would be Judgment Day.
Time News Feed
Sunday, May 15, 2011
CONGRATULATIONS CLEVELAND, TEXAS
05/14/11- CLEVELAND TEXAS ELECTION RESULTS
CLEVELAND MAYOR
Jill Kirkonis: 606
Barbara McIntyre: 454 (D) (ROFL)
POSITION 1 COUNCIL SEAT
Niki Coats: 745 (No Opposition)
POSITION 2 COUNCIL SEAT
Brian Eoff: 548
Walter Williams: 383
RECALL OF COUNCILWOMAN BARBARA MCINTYRE (D) (lol)
Yes: 593
No: 454
RECALL OF COUNCILMAN CEDRIC MCDUFFIE (D) (lol)
Yes: 599
No. 442
RECALL OF COUNCILWOMAN DURLENE DAVIS (D) (lol)
Yes: 603
No: 448
CLEVELAND ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Danny Lee: 467
Lynn Coffman: 209
Skye Hamilton: 713
Billy Ross: 468
Toby Tullos: 695
Kent Dark: 226
CLEVELAND MAYOR
Jill Kirkonis: 606
Barbara McIntyre: 454 (D) (ROFL)
POSITION 1 COUNCIL SEAT
Niki Coats: 745 (No Opposition)
POSITION 2 COUNCIL SEAT
Brian Eoff: 548
Walter Williams: 383
RECALL OF COUNCILWOMAN BARBARA MCINTYRE (D) (lol)
Yes: 593
No: 454
RECALL OF COUNCILMAN CEDRIC MCDUFFIE (D) (lol)
Yes: 599
No. 442
RECALL OF COUNCILWOMAN DURLENE DAVIS (D) (lol)
Yes: 603
No: 448
CLEVELAND ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Danny Lee: 467
Lynn Coffman: 209
Skye Hamilton: 713
Billy Ross: 468
Toby Tullos: 695
Kent Dark: 226
Sunday, May 8, 2011
THE PUBLIC CARES: Continuing Abuse in the Cleveland Rape Case
The victim in what has become known as the Cleveland gang rape case has had many disappointments – her parents, the District Attorney, and the news media – but she now should at least realize the public does care deeply about her well being.
If the psychological profile of extremely promiscuous pre-teens is true and their behavior is born out of both abuse and neglect and the need to know someone cares, then the twelve year old Cleveland Junior High student has finally found that “caring” in our community. An outpouring of love and concern and money, etc. for the girl’s family has been widely reported, but rather than celebrate what we already knew about the giving spirit of this community, we would like to take a realistic look at the long list of people who have contributed to her current problems and how they have benefited from her.
Of course many have wondered where her parents were while such a young child was running around for over a year and having solicited sexual liaisons with so many people. So number one on the list has to be the two people who brought her into the world. Reports have indicated that before any of this happened her father was unemployed. That piece of information leaves some of us wondering how the young girl could have been left alone unsupervised and unprotected if her father is at home when she leaves for school in the morning and at home when she comes home from school in the afternoon. Never mind the reports that say her mother is a “cocktail waitress and dancer”, if they cared about their child the father could have guarded, protected, advised or even chaperoned her.
But they didn’t chaperone her. And they are not likely to chaperone her to Mexico like many Hispanics might in similar circumstances. No, all of the media attention that might normally cause a victim of rape and protective parents to wish they could disappear has instead caused a massive outpouring and the irresponsible parents have hit the jackpot. Furniture from ‘Mattress Mac’ and all kinds of other donations adding up by some estimates to $100,000 plus, all point to keeping their daughter here and her case in the media for Mom and Pop.
The infamous District Attorney, Mike Little, is surely enjoying the possibility of ongoing media coverage with his name highlighted in report after report as the embattled politician faces his toughest re-election bid to date. Little hopes to keep a lid on accusations that he himself raped one of the male inmates in the local jail. If the District Attorney can avoid indictment and a Blue vs Little rape Cleveland case, all of the posturing he can do in this high profile 19 defendant Cleveland case could help him get another 4 years as DA.
While Little is laboring under the shadow of public allegations of routinely using selective prosecution, official oppression and politics in his application of discretion, he is setting this case up to come out to his advantage. A gag order helps to contain any reports of rampant well known continued promiscuity on the part of the underage victim and helps to silence critics that want to point out these were multiple incidents over a long period of time. The gag order silences anyone with the audacity to ask why this District Attorney did not intervene and isolate the victim in order to prevent months of further abuse. Along with the gag order, recent media reports have lowered any expectations or hard work for the District Attorney – reporting that if 19 cases an average cost of are pursued at $50,000 it would cost Liberty County nearly one million dollars.
It is very clear there has been an outpouring of concern and love for the victim in this case. But because of the publicity and the money and power involved in this case, when this case is over there may not be any evidence at all that anyone other than the public cared about her. The parents have a new lease on life. The media has its storyline. Mike Little has his high profile case seven months before candidates announce they will run for office. And 19 males from the age of 15 to 27 and a now 12 year old girl will just have to read the script that all of those who benefit from this give them.
If the psychological profile of extremely promiscuous pre-teens is true and their behavior is born out of both abuse and neglect and the need to know someone cares, then the twelve year old Cleveland Junior High student has finally found that “caring” in our community. An outpouring of love and concern and money, etc. for the girl’s family has been widely reported, but rather than celebrate what we already knew about the giving spirit of this community, we would like to take a realistic look at the long list of people who have contributed to her current problems and how they have benefited from her.
Of course many have wondered where her parents were while such a young child was running around for over a year and having solicited sexual liaisons with so many people. So number one on the list has to be the two people who brought her into the world. Reports have indicated that before any of this happened her father was unemployed. That piece of information leaves some of us wondering how the young girl could have been left alone unsupervised and unprotected if her father is at home when she leaves for school in the morning and at home when she comes home from school in the afternoon. Never mind the reports that say her mother is a “cocktail waitress and dancer”, if they cared about their child the father could have guarded, protected, advised or even chaperoned her.
But they didn’t chaperone her. And they are not likely to chaperone her to Mexico like many Hispanics might in similar circumstances. No, all of the media attention that might normally cause a victim of rape and protective parents to wish they could disappear has instead caused a massive outpouring and the irresponsible parents have hit the jackpot. Furniture from ‘Mattress Mac’ and all kinds of other donations adding up by some estimates to $100,000 plus, all point to keeping their daughter here and her case in the media for Mom and Pop.
The infamous District Attorney, Mike Little, is surely enjoying the possibility of ongoing media coverage with his name highlighted in report after report as the embattled politician faces his toughest re-election bid to date. Little hopes to keep a lid on accusations that he himself raped one of the male inmates in the local jail. If the District Attorney can avoid indictment and a Blue vs Little rape Cleveland case, all of the posturing he can do in this high profile 19 defendant Cleveland case could help him get another 4 years as DA.
While Little is laboring under the shadow of public allegations of routinely using selective prosecution, official oppression and politics in his application of discretion, he is setting this case up to come out to his advantage. A gag order helps to contain any reports of rampant well known continued promiscuity on the part of the underage victim and helps to silence critics that want to point out these were multiple incidents over a long period of time. The gag order silences anyone with the audacity to ask why this District Attorney did not intervene and isolate the victim in order to prevent months of further abuse. Along with the gag order, recent media reports have lowered any expectations or hard work for the District Attorney – reporting that if 19 cases an average cost of are pursued at $50,000 it would cost Liberty County nearly one million dollars.
It is very clear there has been an outpouring of concern and love for the victim in this case. But because of the publicity and the money and power involved in this case, when this case is over there may not be any evidence at all that anyone other than the public cared about her. The parents have a new lease on life. The media has its storyline. Mike Little has his high profile case seven months before candidates announce they will run for office. And 19 males from the age of 15 to 27 and a now 12 year old girl will just have to read the script that all of those who benefit from this give them.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Hitler and Liberty County DA Mike Little.
Readers need to know any credibility District Attorney Mike Little had with us has long been gone because of his behavior not our politics. We are aware that those who have read our assertions of political persecution and selective prosecution who still believe in this District Attorney fall in two categories. Some are friends or family or have a financial connection to Mr. Little. This article or any other information that may come to light in the near future is unlikely to change the opinion of those who fall in this category. Then there is another category- those who smell a rat but think that Mr. Little is odor free. Most of us have been raised to have great respect for law enforcement and we require a reason to distrust them over their accusers.
We know there are many reasons to distrust Mr. Little, but we also he has made quite an effort to discredit anyone who challenges him. So this article really asks readers to think about one aspect of the case he has against two of Liberty dispatch’s contributors. This article ask you to consider the hundreds of thousands of dollars he has spent in the last few years on the case he claims to have against Eddie Shauberger and Ray Akins. We have repeatedly asked one simple nagging question that we have been unable to even make up an answer to that Mr. Little would want to admit. Today we have one question we want those who tend to be like us and give law enforcement the benefit of the doubt: “What about the handwriting samples?”
Two years ago this May Mr. Little asked that Eddie Shauberger and Ray Akins provide handwriting samples in anticipation that his case would be dismissed if he could not prove that some of the documents in the case had forged signatures. Despite requests, the District Attorney has failed to present these results to the attorneys of the accused or to the court (or to the media). What about those results, Mr. Little?
Could it be it takes longer than two years to get such results?
In the 1980s, a man named Konrad Kujau, a supposed collector of Nazi memorabilia, approached a German publishing company with 60 handwritten journals purported to be written by Adolf Hitler that had, according to seemed to be genuine, and Kujau had an apparently good reputation, so the publishing company paid $2.3 million for the lot. The diaries were immediately published in installment form in a German newspaper owned by the same publishing company, and syndication rights were sold to several international publications, including The London Times. It was The Times that requested a professional handwriting analysis to ensure authenticity. Three international experts in forensic handwriting analysis compared the diaries to exemplars that were apparently known to be written by Hitler. All agreed that the diaries were written by the same person who wrote the exemplars. The diaries were for real. All of this analysis was done in six months, leaving us to still wonder -what about the results, Mr. Little?
Perhaps Mr. Little would say some cases are more difficult and require more time. But again if we look at the case of the Hitler diaries we find such difficulties and the handwriting analysis was done in a fourth of the time Mr. Little has already taken. With the Hitler diaries it was an analysis of the ink and paper used to write the diaries that revealed them as fakes. An ultraviolet-light examination revealed that the paper contained an ingredient that wasn't used in paper until 1954. Hitler died in 1945. Further forensic tests on the ink showed it had been applied to the paper within the last 12 months. As it turns out, though, the handwriting analysis was in fact correct - the person who'd written the diaries had also written the exemplars. Kujau, later found out to be an experienced con artist, had also forged the exemplars the police were using as comparison documents.
Where are your results Mr. Little? Handwriting analysis results will be one more nail in your case, but where are they? Could it be that he doesn’t want to drop the case because he knows his attempt to settle a political score for himself and others will backfire when he does? He considers the time and the money he has spent on this personal vendetta an investment. Never mind that it is taxpayer money and never mind he is yet to find a charge to successfully prosecute, he is still searching for a charge he can imprison his political enemies on. Never mind that the facts lead to a crime that would imprison Eddie Shauberger’s ex partners and totally vindicate Shauberger and Ray Akins.
Please... If you have believed KSHN and i-dineout’s innuendos, please consider the fact Mr. Little refuses to present the results of handwriting analysis he requested and begin to wonder if this case is just what we have said it has been all along.
For over 700 days, the court record will clearly show, Liberty County DA Mike Little has gotten up in court and baldfaced lied to first Judge Hight and then Judge Mark Morefield over and over again about these exemplars and motions that have not been heard. Mike Little has made a complete mockery of the 75th Judicial District Court with his lie after lie.
We know there are many reasons to distrust Mr. Little, but we also he has made quite an effort to discredit anyone who challenges him. So this article really asks readers to think about one aspect of the case he has against two of Liberty dispatch’s contributors. This article ask you to consider the hundreds of thousands of dollars he has spent in the last few years on the case he claims to have against Eddie Shauberger and Ray Akins. We have repeatedly asked one simple nagging question that we have been unable to even make up an answer to that Mr. Little would want to admit. Today we have one question we want those who tend to be like us and give law enforcement the benefit of the doubt: “What about the handwriting samples?”
Two years ago this May Mr. Little asked that Eddie Shauberger and Ray Akins provide handwriting samples in anticipation that his case would be dismissed if he could not prove that some of the documents in the case had forged signatures. Despite requests, the District Attorney has failed to present these results to the attorneys of the accused or to the court (or to the media). What about those results, Mr. Little?
Could it be it takes longer than two years to get such results?
In the 1980s, a man named Konrad Kujau, a supposed collector of Nazi memorabilia, approached a German publishing company with 60 handwritten journals purported to be written by Adolf Hitler that had, according to seemed to be genuine, and Kujau had an apparently good reputation, so the publishing company paid $2.3 million for the lot. The diaries were immediately published in installment form in a German newspaper owned by the same publishing company, and syndication rights were sold to several international publications, including The London Times. It was The Times that requested a professional handwriting analysis to ensure authenticity. Three international experts in forensic handwriting analysis compared the diaries to exemplars that were apparently known to be written by Hitler. All agreed that the diaries were written by the same person who wrote the exemplars. The diaries were for real. All of this analysis was done in six months, leaving us to still wonder -what about the results, Mr. Little?
Perhaps Mr. Little would say some cases are more difficult and require more time. But again if we look at the case of the Hitler diaries we find such difficulties and the handwriting analysis was done in a fourth of the time Mr. Little has already taken. With the Hitler diaries it was an analysis of the ink and paper used to write the diaries that revealed them as fakes. An ultraviolet-light examination revealed that the paper contained an ingredient that wasn't used in paper until 1954. Hitler died in 1945. Further forensic tests on the ink showed it had been applied to the paper within the last 12 months. As it turns out, though, the handwriting analysis was in fact correct - the person who'd written the diaries had also written the exemplars. Kujau, later found out to be an experienced con artist, had also forged the exemplars the police were using as comparison documents.
Where are your results Mr. Little? Handwriting analysis results will be one more nail in your case, but where are they? Could it be that he doesn’t want to drop the case because he knows his attempt to settle a political score for himself and others will backfire when he does? He considers the time and the money he has spent on this personal vendetta an investment. Never mind that it is taxpayer money and never mind he is yet to find a charge to successfully prosecute, he is still searching for a charge he can imprison his political enemies on. Never mind that the facts lead to a crime that would imprison Eddie Shauberger’s ex partners and totally vindicate Shauberger and Ray Akins.
Please... If you have believed KSHN and i-dineout’s innuendos, please consider the fact Mr. Little refuses to present the results of handwriting analysis he requested and begin to wonder if this case is just what we have said it has been all along.
For over 700 days, the court record will clearly show, Liberty County DA Mike Little has gotten up in court and baldfaced lied to first Judge Hight and then Judge Mark Morefield over and over again about these exemplars and motions that have not been heard. Mike Little has made a complete mockery of the 75th Judicial District Court with his lie after lie.
THE CHICKEN, NOT THE EGG
Sometimes in the course of our very busy and our sometimes very hectic lives we need a reminder or a brief recounting of the background of what all has gone on to get us where we are today on a situation. Today we will look at one situation and remind readers of the facts in order to try and slow down the lies of what has become an entrenched community of public prosecutors who would rather be lazy and political and defensive than to simply do their job.
The District Attorney’s office and the County Attorney’s office seem to be hoping the public will believe either of two stories as they continue to defend themselves rather than change the way they conduct their business.
One of their defenses has been to tell people that they have “secret strategies” that only lawyers would understand. The endless delays, the cases that go on for years, the known crimes they fail to pursue, the corruption they ignore and the feds prosecute, etc. etc. – these are all part of their secret “supersmart” strategy they say us voters are simply too ignorant to comprehend. Liberty Dispatch has talked to several of the elite in the legal field in Liberty County and several outside this community and all have had similar reactions. They all either cocked their heads back and laughed or they immediately shook their heads in frustration.
The second of their defenses simply requires a little review to get the same laughter or head shaking reaction. Their second defense is to say all of their criticism is coming because of politics or more exact because they are prosecuting criminals and not pursuing people that there is no evidence to prosecute. Among the most infamous on their list of people they failed to pursue is ever growing and includes former County judge Phil Fitzgerald (currently under federal indictment) and Lee Groce (currently under federal indictment). Readers also are aware of others such as Liz Beausoliel (video evidence connects her to mail theft and possible other crimes), Chip Fairchild (for crimes so numerous we will save time by referring you to past stories, Russell Fairchild (ditto), Terri Fairchild (ditto), Delia Sellers (crimes related to document fraud linked to a minimum of five real estate deals), C.T.”Rusty” Hight (theft), Richard Baker and Zack Zbranek (alleged reception of stolen property), Royce Wheeler (alleged theft of almost two thousand rounds of ammo), and the list goes on and on. The common denominator is they are all Democrats and that their appears to many that there is plenty of evidence that has already been uncovered to go to a grand jury on all of these cases.
So who have they pursued. Two Republicans. Was it for public corruption? No, in fact the two Republicans just happen to be long time enemies of the District Attorney and activists who have vowed to dedicate themselves to emptying the courthouse of Democrats. So how do District Attorney Mike little and County Attorney Wes Hinch spin this. They simply try to get the public to forget which came first. They want to say this website and these two men all came about to pressure them because they are doing their job – which they want us to believe is spending four years and hundreds of thousands of dollars on Liberty County vs Akins and Shauberger. The only problem with that is the evidence. Not withstanding the fact that the evidence shows that Akins and Shauberger are clearly the victims of two criminal business partners, the answer to which came first, District Attorney Mike Little’s persecution or their political activism is simple. Democrats frustrated by losing their grip on controlling on what was being said and revealed about their activity championed former Sheriff Greg Arthur (a Democrat) and former District Judge C.T. “Rusty” Hight (a Democrat) and District Attorney Mike Little (a Democrat up for re-election in 19 months) on a search and destroy mission to shut up their opponents.
Just like the age old question “which came first the chicken or the egg” has a factual answer that is connected with all kinds of other truths so does the question of “which came first aggressive public Republican protest by Akins and Shauberger or their alleged “crimes”. The chicken came first for anyone who is a Bible believer. If someone or something has convinced you otherwise, then all of the other truths in the Bible may be a matter of conjecture.
One main difference in the ridiculous claim by Little and Hinch however is that in the matter of the Bible it requires faith no matter which you believe came first. But their argument that they are being unfairly maligned because they are simply prosecuting criminals and some of them have decided to respond publicly requires more than faith to believe. It requires people to forget the criticism came first. It also requires people to totally forget all of the selective prosecution based on politics we have seen from these prosecutors. It requires us to totally ignore recent revelations of their lack of responsible prosecution and oversight of juvenile delinquents. It requires us to ignore their strong arm tactics involving the budget and its relationship to the actual results they achieve as prosecutors.
The chicken came first. And the corruption in this courthouse is why there is criticism and why there will be more arrests, more indictments, and more trials. If some fall for the “shoot the messenger” or the “indict the messenger and drag him through years of expensive wrangling” strategies, theN perhaps even more will see through it and continue to pass on the truth and throw these people out of office.
The District Attorney’s office and the County Attorney’s office seem to be hoping the public will believe either of two stories as they continue to defend themselves rather than change the way they conduct their business.
One of their defenses has been to tell people that they have “secret strategies” that only lawyers would understand. The endless delays, the cases that go on for years, the known crimes they fail to pursue, the corruption they ignore and the feds prosecute, etc. etc. – these are all part of their secret “supersmart” strategy they say us voters are simply too ignorant to comprehend. Liberty Dispatch has talked to several of the elite in the legal field in Liberty County and several outside this community and all have had similar reactions. They all either cocked their heads back and laughed or they immediately shook their heads in frustration.
The second of their defenses simply requires a little review to get the same laughter or head shaking reaction. Their second defense is to say all of their criticism is coming because of politics or more exact because they are prosecuting criminals and not pursuing people that there is no evidence to prosecute. Among the most infamous on their list of people they failed to pursue is ever growing and includes former County judge Phil Fitzgerald (currently under federal indictment) and Lee Groce (currently under federal indictment). Readers also are aware of others such as Liz Beausoliel (video evidence connects her to mail theft and possible other crimes), Chip Fairchild (for crimes so numerous we will save time by referring you to past stories, Russell Fairchild (ditto), Terri Fairchild (ditto), Delia Sellers (crimes related to document fraud linked to a minimum of five real estate deals), C.T.”Rusty” Hight (theft), Richard Baker and Zack Zbranek (alleged reception of stolen property), Royce Wheeler (alleged theft of almost two thousand rounds of ammo), and the list goes on and on. The common denominator is they are all Democrats and that their appears to many that there is plenty of evidence that has already been uncovered to go to a grand jury on all of these cases.
So who have they pursued. Two Republicans. Was it for public corruption? No, in fact the two Republicans just happen to be long time enemies of the District Attorney and activists who have vowed to dedicate themselves to emptying the courthouse of Democrats. So how do District Attorney Mike little and County Attorney Wes Hinch spin this. They simply try to get the public to forget which came first. They want to say this website and these two men all came about to pressure them because they are doing their job – which they want us to believe is spending four years and hundreds of thousands of dollars on Liberty County vs Akins and Shauberger. The only problem with that is the evidence. Not withstanding the fact that the evidence shows that Akins and Shauberger are clearly the victims of two criminal business partners, the answer to which came first, District Attorney Mike Little’s persecution or their political activism is simple. Democrats frustrated by losing their grip on controlling on what was being said and revealed about their activity championed former Sheriff Greg Arthur (a Democrat) and former District Judge C.T. “Rusty” Hight (a Democrat) and District Attorney Mike Little (a Democrat up for re-election in 19 months) on a search and destroy mission to shut up their opponents.
Just like the age old question “which came first the chicken or the egg” has a factual answer that is connected with all kinds of other truths so does the question of “which came first aggressive public Republican protest by Akins and Shauberger or their alleged “crimes”. The chicken came first for anyone who is a Bible believer. If someone or something has convinced you otherwise, then all of the other truths in the Bible may be a matter of conjecture.
One main difference in the ridiculous claim by Little and Hinch however is that in the matter of the Bible it requires faith no matter which you believe came first. But their argument that they are being unfairly maligned because they are simply prosecuting criminals and some of them have decided to respond publicly requires more than faith to believe. It requires people to forget the criticism came first. It also requires people to totally forget all of the selective prosecution based on politics we have seen from these prosecutors. It requires us to totally ignore recent revelations of their lack of responsible prosecution and oversight of juvenile delinquents. It requires us to ignore their strong arm tactics involving the budget and its relationship to the actual results they achieve as prosecutors.
The chicken came first. And the corruption in this courthouse is why there is criticism and why there will be more arrests, more indictments, and more trials. If some fall for the “shoot the messenger” or the “indict the messenger and drag him through years of expensive wrangling” strategies, theN perhaps even more will see through it and continue to pass on the truth and throw these people out of office.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Suit Dropped against Republican Activist Ray Akins in Liberty County
Back in 2008- the Palmarez brothers, partners of Edward Shauberger in a prior business relationship sued Ray Akins. Shauberger had filed suit against his ex partners for forgery, fraud, conversion, embezzlement and more. At some point due to the Palmarez Brothers finding a favorable judge willing to persecute Ray Akins, they sued Ray Akins in the 75th Judicial District- Judge CT Rusty Hight. Rusty Hight was the son-in-law of Lester Wisegerber, someone who held a strong vendetta against Akins for Akins' work to reform the local Republican Party. After multiple trumped up indictments by alleged corrupt Liberty County DA, Mike Little- the Palmarez brothers allegations which resulted in indictments of Akins and Shauberger were so baseless, all the associated civil charges against Akins and Shauberger have vaporized and recently dismissed.
Then on 12/21/10- comes Ray Akins and Edward Shauberger and files a civil case in Liberty County suing Robert Palmarez, Albert Palmarez, Karie Spell, Klint Bush, Kim Bush, local attorney- Bruce Mintz, Houston Attorney- John Stewart Fason and his partner- Gary Freeman. They are being sued to fraud, forgery, conversion, conspiracy, theft, filing false documents, breech of fiduciary duty and negligence.
Then on 04/15/11- Ray Akins sued Allen Youngblood/i-dineout and Bill Buchanan/Trinity Valley Broadcasting/KSHN FM radio. Akins has sued for civil rights violations, privacy violations, intentional distress, conspiracy and defamation among other damages.
The worm has turned and the true guilty parties are finally being brought to justice.
Sources indicate the IRS is exploring criminal charges against the Palmarez brothers for their continued failure to pay income taxes since 2007 while making millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, Liberty County DA, Mike Little continues to peddle his trumped up criminal charges against Akins in the hopes he can quiet Ray Akins and Liberty Dispatch so he can have a chance at getting re-elected. As of this date, two challengers have stepped up to the plate to run against Little.
Liberty Dispatch will announce future candidates at the appropriate time.
Then on 12/21/10- comes Ray Akins and Edward Shauberger and files a civil case in Liberty County suing Robert Palmarez, Albert Palmarez, Karie Spell, Klint Bush, Kim Bush, local attorney- Bruce Mintz, Houston Attorney- John Stewart Fason and his partner- Gary Freeman. They are being sued to fraud, forgery, conversion, conspiracy, theft, filing false documents, breech of fiduciary duty and negligence.
Then on 04/15/11- Ray Akins sued Allen Youngblood/i-dineout and Bill Buchanan/Trinity Valley Broadcasting/KSHN FM radio. Akins has sued for civil rights violations, privacy violations, intentional distress, conspiracy and defamation among other damages.
The worm has turned and the true guilty parties are finally being brought to justice.
Sources indicate the IRS is exploring criminal charges against the Palmarez brothers for their continued failure to pay income taxes since 2007 while making millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, Liberty County DA, Mike Little continues to peddle his trumped up criminal charges against Akins in the hopes he can quiet Ray Akins and Liberty Dispatch so he can have a chance at getting re-elected. As of this date, two challengers have stepped up to the plate to run against Little.
Liberty Dispatch will announce future candidates at the appropriate time.
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