News

By Jeremy Weber
jweber@campcountynow.com

Dozens packed the First Baptist Church at noon Wednesday as the Pittsburg Rotary Club hosted Panola County District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson.
Mr. Davidson has served as Panola County’s DA since 1995 and is most well known for his role in the murder trial of Berne Tiede, which inspired the 2011 movie, Bernie. The part of Mr. Davidson was played by Matthew McConaughey in the movie.
Mr. Tiede’s case has been back in the news recently as Mr. Tiede has filed a motion that may cut his jail sentence short. Mr. Tiede was found guilty of shooting and murdering Marjorie Nugent of Carthage in 1999 and sentenced to life in prison.
According to several news reports, Austin criminal defense lawyer, Jodi Cole, says she has come across new evidence which, if it had been divulged at the Bernie Tiede trial

The Pittsburg Police Officers received a report of a sexual assault of a child that had already occurred on Jan. 9.
A subsequent investigation showed that a 15 year old white female had been sexually assaulted. On Jan. 24, Pittsburg Police Officers arrested Joseph Hayden Terrell, 19, a Troup resident.
Terrell was booked into Camp County Jail after being charged with sexual assault of a child.

By Lauren Shortnacy
lshortnacy@campcountynow.com

Laura Hall and Jerry Sinkey proudly announce the upcoming wedding of their daughter, Lechia Marie, to Leo Nicholas Brittain of Sanger, son of Bryan and Lisa Brittain, of Lago Vista, north of Austin.
The bride-elect is a Northeast Texas Community College student and is currently working at Fulton Supply in Gainesville.  The groom is a University of North Texas graduate and is currently working for Highland Homes as a Construction Manager in McKinney. Miss Sinkey’s grandparents are Floyd and the late Nancy Hall, and Gerry and Kenneth Moad.
Mr. Brittain’s grandparents are Anthony and Georgia Nucci, Arlene Ward and Leo and Karen Brittain. The couple will marry June 14 in Gainesville at the Lone Oak Ranch and Retreat.

The new owners of Bunn Flowers in Pittsburg celebrated their ribbon cutting Friday, Jan. 24 at 12 p.m.
Jake Davis and Jessica Gallegos purchased the business Nov. 1.
Mr. Davis is a high school graduate of North Lamar in Paris and attended college at The University of Texas. He graduated with his Bachelor in Business Finance in 2010.
Mr. Davis had been in and out of Pittsburg most of his life.
“I have so much family here, so I would visit often,” Mr. Davis said.
Jessica Gallegos has lived in Pittsburg most of her life. She is a high school graduate of Pittsburg and met Mr. Davis while working at Brookshire’s.
“He was ringing the bell for the Salvation Army during the holiday,” Ms. Gallegos said. “Let’s just say that I donated money to the Salvation Army that day. He probably made close to $100 that day.”
On top of owning the new Bunn Flowers, Mr. Davis and Ms. Gallegos are also celebrating their new engagement.

There will be a birthday reception for Edna Winkle Carson Sunday, Feb. 9 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. Mrs. Carson will be celebrating her 100 birthday. She was born Feb. 7, 1914 in rural Wood County, out of Winnsboro.
She moved to Pittsburg in 1939 and began teaching in Pittsburg in 1940. Mrs. Carson also taught at “Forest Home” school for a year, Clearwater in Wood County for two years and at Leesburg, when they had a school for about a year. Mrs. Carson retired from teaching in 1972.
The family request that no gifts be brought at the celebration.

10 Years Ago
During a routine discussion on the monthly finance reports at the Northeast Texas Community College board meeting that was held on Jan. 27, board member Chuck Johns shared his concerns about the debt of the athletic program. Mr. Johns said he did not like to raise the college’s tuition and fees so expenditures could go toward the baseball program. Rather the program to pay its own way.
Local residents Ned Muse and Michele Ragsdale took home Man and Woman of the Year awards from the annual Camp County Chamber of Commerce banquet.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at Northeast Texas Community College on Jan. 27 to start part of Phase 1 of the 2002 bond election. To many this celebration was known as “The Miracle on 1735.”
20 Years Ago
Bill Jones elected president of local AARP Chapter. Floyd Scott is vice president.

The City of Pittsburg is improving the water infrastructure and fire protection for Collins Circle located on Highway 556 and once that is completed will begin work improving the water infrastructure on Mount Pleasant Street. Pictured above is Tim Reynolds, Public Works Director for the City of Pittsburg and a city of Pittsburg employee .
 

Shannon Davis of the Winnsboro Livestock Commission, 903-365-2201, reported a total of 892 head of cattle moved through the auction on
Jan. 31, at the following prices:
•Steers, under 300 pounds, $1.75-$2.90 a pound; 300-400 pounds, $1.60-$2.40 a pound; 400-500 pounds, $1.50-$2.30 a pound; over 500 pounds, $1.40-$2.10 a pound.
•Heifers, under 300 pounds, $1.60-$2.80 a pound; 300-400 pounds, $1.50-$2.30  a pound; 400-500 pounds, $1.40-$2.20 a pound; over 500 pounds, $1.30-$2.00 a pound.
•Packer cows, 60 cents - 98.5 cents a pound.
•Packer bulls, 80 cents - $1.20 a pound.
•Cows and heifers, $1050 - $1900 a head.
•Cow/Calf Pairs, $1200-$2000 a head.
• Baby calves, $20 - $390 a head.

Border Lows Campout
The “Border Lows” Local Chapter of “Loners on Wheels” will be having their monthly camp out on Feb. 6 through the 9 at Clear Springs Campground.
The campground can be found at Wright Patman Lake near Texarkana. All singles are welcome to attend.
For more information call Ruth at 903-678-3714 or Dorothy at 903-701-4907.
 

Douglass Center Valentine’s Dance
The Douglass Alumni Association cordially invites everyone to the Valentine’s Day Dance on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. til 1 a.m. at the Douglass Community Center.
The center is located at 408 Terry St. in Pittsburg. Music will be provided by DJ EZ Earl. The event is for everyone age 21 and over and security will be provided.
For more information please call Cheryl Neal at 903-855-0951.