COLDSPRING 3/2/2023
SJC JURY CONVICTS JESSE RODRIGUEZ
30 Years with no possibility of parole was the sentence handed down today for the crime of 'Continueous Sexual Abuse of Young Children' for abusing his own grand children. The abuse occurred in several locations including San Jacinto County.
Judge John Wells presided over the case and 1st ADA Robert Freyer led the efforts to put Rodriguez away for a long time. SJC DA Todd Dillion thanked the SJC Sheriff's Dept, the Safe Harbor facility, counselors and many others for their help in bringing this case to a successful conclusion. The same Jury who convicted Rodrigues also assessed his punishment without delay.
SHEPHERD 11/25/2022
SIXTH ANIMAL FOUND ON WRIGHT BLVD
A rash of dead cow/calf carcasses have been dumped on or near Wright Blvd in Shepherd in the last year or so. This is at least the fourth incident ranging from one to two animals at a time being left on the side of the road.
Each of the incidents has been investigated but no answers yet. Commissioner Marrs has been tasked with removing the animals and has not been able to state any obvious sign of trauma that caused the deaths.
Anyone that has information pertaining to the death and/or dumping of these animals is asked to please come forward with the information.
COLDSPRING 11/8/2022
FINAL
FAULKNER 8448
Shirley who? 140
WEBB 2708
JOY 449
In what may well be the largestvote ratio of defeat in any election in SJC History, Shirley Brandon lost her bid for the judge's office by thousands of votes in just the early voting numbers. 5040 to 105.
Ms. Webb took the Pct 4 JP race easily also 1762 to 293 in early voting..
Faulkner has proven himself to the voters of SJC for many years. Brandon proved herself by messing up the best 911 addressing system in the state.
As for the JP Race in Pct 4, I wrote one article on Ms Webb and told her, "You don't need me" because she is a winner for the voters here. Not only is is she bright, articulate and educated, she has a background in law enforcement and noble goals for herself and our county.
Congratulations both candidates.
A note to Sam Houston. You just keep following shirley brandon's methods and keep spreading the BS rumors on your opponent and come get you some of the same. Her rumor was mild compared to the demented rumors you are spreading but what do you expect from a man who hires a sexual predator for a captain?
POLK CO 11/9/2022
TWO POLK CO ADA'S ON TRACK TO WIN HARRIS CO JUDICIAL RACES
Beverly Armstong is running on the democrat ticket and Tami Pierce on the Republican.
Typical of a demoncrat strong hold, the final vote count is delayed.
JASPER CO 6/25/2021
RANGER ARREST REVEALED
Local man and CAD employee, Dylan Walker was arrested and charged in the death of Samuel Olson and a press release made today. Like the other two defendants, Walker was charged with evidence crimes, NOT the killing of the child.
The initial arrest occurred the evening of the 1st of June in the north end of San Jacinto County. The Sentinel first broke the story early the next morning but witheld the name and location because the investigation was on going. If you read the story below, the Ranger did confirm an arrest at the specific location we told them but denied it had anything to do with the Samuel Olson death. My open records request directly to DPS did confirm the next day that the investigation was into the death of little man Olson.
There is a limited information channel 2 video published that released his name and this mug shot but not much more. We have not received any public release about Dylan Walker's arrest despite the fact that we were the first to request it. According to another channel news, Walker was indicted by a Jasper Co Grand Jury on the evidence tampering charge and arrested a couple of days ago.
A family member did confirm that Walker's phone was confiscated as part of the investigation the same day his truck was impounded. Another source with direct information stated that Walker was approached by Balboa to give her a ride and help move some of her stuff. The source stated further that Walker agreed and after he picked her up, they stopped by a storage unit and picked up several plastic totes she had previously stored. According to the same source, it was down the road near where he gave Balboa a ride to that Walker got out of his vehicle and smelled the odor of decomposition. Walker is said to have then called police to inform them of what he had smelled and where Balboa was. A recent news article clarified that Walker did NOT call police directly but rather gave the tip through the 'Crime Stoppers' system.
We do know that Walker either was arrested near the first of the month and made bail or was just recently arrested or both because he was at work the last week. He did decline the opportunity to give The Sentinel an interview.
SHEPHERD 3/7/2018
COOPERATION CLEANS UP TOXIC WASTE SITE
SJC Environmental Officer, Dale Everitt spearheaded an effort to deal with a toxic waste site that had devolved into being a 'tax sale' tract in the middle of a residential neighborhood in SE SJC. TCEQ had the site on the books but it had slipped through the cracks when a business was no more. The Sentinel investigated and reported on this situation last year and recently did a follow up to see if the assurances of Pct 2 Commissioner Donny Marrs and SJC Judge John Lovett had been met. TCEQ stepped up to the plate and cleaned the tract up. All of the drums were gone, the ground and the water all looked clean and there was new growth.
"Oh yes that one was completed and the process is moving forward on the 'Our Road' site as we speak", E.O. Everitt said. "T.C.E.Q. has really gone the extra mile when it comes to these clean up efforts", he added.
SAN JACINTO COUNTY MEMORIAL DAY 2019
CORRECTION: The San Jacinto Special Utility District (SJSUD) DID NOT remove the Cross of Christ from the water tower because they got a threat letter as previously reported in The Sentinel. According to an official reply to our open records request, there was no threat letter, no meeting, no memo, no work order or any minutes related to the decision. SJSUD folded and removed the cross because the county got a threat letter. The spokesperson who came forward at the Commissioner's Court meeting made some misleading statements that led to our error.
COLDSPRING 5/8/2019
600 PLUS ATTEND MEETING
The SJC Commissioner's Court voted 5/0 to keep the crosses on the courthouse. A last minute announcement was made by an employee of the local water company, a taxing entity, that their response to a similiar threat to sue letter was to fold and take the cross down off of the water tower. It has been removed. Former Judge Lovett has agreed to an interview about his thinking and research before having the crosses put up during his tenure. We are seeking an interview with the local person who complained but will shield their identity in hopes of getting their views out for both sides of the story. Stay tuned for more on this story.
COLDSPRING 5/7/2019
COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING MOVED
The new Coldspring Community Center will be the venue for the San Jacinto County Commissioners Court meeting scheduled for tomorrow, May 8th. The Grand Hall will be used to accomodate the crowds expected from the community stir the FFRF threat letter to sue SJC over the cross in our courthouse window has caused. This photo is a Sentinel file photo of the window before the lighted Christmas decorations were added. The Christian Craftsman built the cross right into the window sash and mullion. The lights only highlight this historical architectual feature of our beloved courthouse.
COLDSPRING 5/6/2019
CHANNEL 2 PICKS UP CROSS STORY
The Channel 2 van was parked on the square about 4 this after noon. The 6 o'clock newscast had a story from Coldspring and they said a more indepth report will be broadcast on the ten o'clock broadcast. More interviews and even one pastor is slated to be interviewed.
COLDSPRING MAY 1, 2019
FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION TAKES AIM AT SJC COURTHOUSE CROSSES
According to the Commissioner Court agenda dispersed today, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has taken aim at SJC and hopes to force the removal of the highlighted crosses hung on all four sides of the SJC Courthouse during former Judge John R. Lovett's tenure. The group was recently successful in Pennsylvania after a federal lawsuit in forcing the removal of a Christian Cross from the county seal and flag of Lehigh County.
In a similiar case much closer to home, the FFRF attempted to force a Montgomery County JP to stop allowing volunteer chaplains from various faiths to open his court proceedings with prayer each day. Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton went to bat for the Texas Court and had a victory. The two stories about that case are HERE and HERE.
The threat letter is published below.
POINTBLANK 2/3/2019
THE DEVIL NEXT DOOR
December 6th of 2018 was eventful for the Pointblank Community when Vance May, a wanted felon, was closed in on by the SJC Sheriff's Dept and members of The Gulf Coast Area Task Force at his home and shot himself just as the lawmen closed in.
This is more than just a statistical event in the fact that Vance May is was the neighbor who was responsible for putting a bullet through my oldest son's
kitchen window that, other than for the Grace of God and a 5 lb bag of sugar on the pantry shelf, would have blown my daughter in law's brains all over my grand daughter.
He was also the Vance May that was responsible for another bullet whizzing right by my baby boy's head on video on a different occasion and richoetting off his momma's car that she had just exited. This first photo is one I took after I got home that day and went up the hill to tell May if one more bullet came our way, I was going to kill him. He wouldn't answer his door. We called the law both times but nothing was done other than getting May to pay for the window. My frustration at that prompted me reaching out to another agency for help. One of the emails in the exchange is below:
Fast forward a little and it is also the same Vance May who was shot in an officer involved shooting in downtown Pointblank. According to sources, May was armed at the time but did not get a shot off at the officer. The young deputy had only been on the force a few days at the time and there was a storm over the shooting because the officer had been involved in two shootings in his last jurisdiction. The Beaumont press was ready to crucify the young deputy but for The Sentinel stepping up for him. We documented that both Jefferson county shootings were determined to be justified. One was a clean kill shot on a gunman holed up with hostages in a trailer park in the line of duty. The other was self defense according to the DA's investigation. The shooting in PtBlank was investigated by The Rangers. According to offiical sources, May was inadvertantly discharged from the hospital after a months long recovery w/o the Rangers being notified.
According to reliable and official sources, the SJC Sheriff dept and Task Force came in from the direction reccomended by the local hunter using the barn for cover and were at May's door unseen until too late for May to "Shower Down" on anyone. Those same sources say that May shot himself in the bathtub almost immediatly after they called out and began to make entry. Thank the Lord and some concerned citizens that none of our LEO's were killed.
NEW OAG Letter confirms CPS Case
WORLD WIDE WEB 10/28/2017
LEO'S TAKE AIM AT SENTINEL . . AGAIN
Former probation officer, Keith Black, Corrigan detective, Christopher Lima and SJC Pct 3 constable deputy, (Former SJC sheriff deputy) Nathan Deweese have teamed up (conspired) together and continue their campaign of negative and false information attacks against The Sentinel and me personally. Due to the nature of the false allegations they are collectively making, these corrupt lawmen, each of whom have been the subject of expose' Sentinel article(s), have and continue to physically endanger my family and myself. We have compiled evidence that we have been collecting for several years.
PCT 3 SJC 7/30/2018
LIFELONG SJC COWBOY 'GOES HOME'
Thomas Bonds, long time SJC Commissioner for Pct 3 passed away at his home Monday afternoon. A well known figure who got his start taking care of the roads in Pct 3 riding on his dad's knee as he bladed the roads for the county when Thomas was just a boy.
With a reputation for a straight forward style and no time for games, Thomas Bonds will be missed in SJC. He will be missed by the senior men's Sunday School class at Magnolia Baptist Church. He will be missed by every reporter that ever wanted an honest answer. Thomas Bonds has a servant's heart and is one man that never stooped to the 'political process' to gain or hold his office. He always stood on the Truth even though it took his voters a few years to realize it one time. Thomas Bonds represented his precinct and our county well. His boots will be hard to fill in quite a few places.
COLDSPRING 4/30/2018
SJC COMMISSIONERS APPOINT FRITZ FAULKNER AS INTERIM JUDGE
In a brief but intense one agenda item special called meeting, SJC Commissioners discussed and then voted to fill the void left by the removal of Judge John Lovett Jr. after his recent arrest. Faulkner, who was in county court defending a client, was informed of the decision. The auditor left to prepare the bond and arrangements are being made to swear Judge Faulkner in. This makes at least 3 times Fritz Faulkner has been appointed to the Judge's office to fill a vacancy.
COLDSPRING 11/20/2017
SJC TAX ASSESSOR HAS RESIGNED
No official confirmation has been obtained but more than one Sentinel source indicates that Kelly Selmer Wineinger did submit her resignation via email this morning effective the first week in December. We have submitted open records requests but it may well be after the holidays before we have a confirmation.
(Sentinel comments in red)
Mr. Watson,
1. I would like to correct a few things you have wrong in your article about me. If your going to write something about me maybe you should speak to me first before publishing it for true and correct answers instead of RUMORS.
1. My medical leave is my business and no one else’s. (Actually, whatever causes you to abandon your duties that we elected and pay you to do is our business. Agreed that your personal medical information is private but you being gone from office and unable to do your duties is completely our business.) It’s no ones business why I am not in the office. (See last answer) As well you know an elected official isn’t bound by hours and days to be in the office. (And as you know, elected officials ARE bound by an oath and THE LAW to do their duty.) I work remotely and can do anything from the house that I can do sitting at my desk. (I won’t even address that stupid statement. It just proves you think we are all idiots.) I spoke with the commissioners about my leave before I ever left. (What a small world. I have spoken with all the commissioners about your leave too.) They know why I am gone not that I needed to tell anyone. (Why you seem to think you can just drop out of site and not owe the taxpayers an explanation baffles me)
2. If your going to use someone’s name you should make sure you spell it correctly. My chief deputy’s name is spelled Sommer Brinkley (My Apology – I stand corrected)
3. As for me resigning don’t know why it still comes up. I have no plans to resign on January 1..I have made it clear to all the commissioners in and out of open court that I’m not resigning but I probably would not stay the whole three years left on my term. Whoever told you this is a complete liar! (Someone is a complete liar. You sure it is my sources?)
4. Regarding me wanting Sommer appointed. Of course I would like to see the Chief Deputy be appointed when I decide to leave. What Tax Assessor wouldn’t want her chief deputy to take her place. (That will be up to and the duty of the commissioners to decide. From what I can gather, there is a consensus among several that a new set of eyes on the books might not be a bad idea. Lots of questions we will get to after this.)
5. The signs on Sommer car are not there to falsify anything or anyone. I had two sets made like two years ago. They have been on her car for nearly two years (Thanks for that confession) except during my re election time during the voting. I spoke with the tax attorney before ever ordering two sets to make sure it was ok she had them on there. He said it was fine. So if I am breaking the law I will have Sommer remove them as I’m not the kind of person to be breaking the law or trying to pull one over on the taxpayers. I again didn’t hand over her “MY” set of magnets. (So she stole them?) She has her own just as I do. (You can’t give someone the right to identify themselves as our SJC Tax Assessor Collector. Only the voters or, in the event of abandonment and/or removal, our elected representatives can do that. Those decals on Sommer’s car are YOURS by default)
6. As for Sommer moving into my office. You are really pulling at straws. Again she moved in there last March 2016 about a year and half ago. (That is about when you started dating Randy L. Wineingar, Hunt Co Tax Collector and quit showing up to work regular if I am not mistaken) We took over doing pay agreements from the attorneys and I thought it would be more private for her to have the taxpayers come in my office rather that have their business being taken care of out in public through the window. So again nothing is meant by her being in my office.
In the future if you want to know something about me and or my office and staff please come to me first by email. I have nothing to hide nor am I trying to pull anything over on the taxpayers or the county.