5/25/2024  UPDATE

No official identity has been released but the original Sentinel sources close to the family have assured us that the family has all been notified and that the young woman is Makenzie Green.  It is likely that an over dose will be the cause of death.   According to other news sources, The S.O. is awaiting autopsy results to confirm the girls identity.  

CONFIRMED at 6:00 pm

5/23/2024 SHEPHERD

VERBAL REPORTS OF BODY FOUND 4 pm

Citizen reports claiming the body of a female was found on private property  in the Shepherd area have surfaced.  The Sentinel is seeking confirmation from official sources.

9 PM  It has been confirmed that the victim is a white female, 17 to 19 years old.  An autopsy has been orderd and a white male was on the scene, called the Sheriff's dept and has provided a voluntary statement.  No further info is available for publication at this time.

     At almost the same time as the call for the Shepherd death came in, another call came from the other side of the county where a two year old child was fatally injured.  Initial reports claim the death was caused by a falling TV according to unofficialsources.  That death in the New Waverly area is under investigation.

2/25/2024 SHEPHERD

OPEN RECORDS REQUEST EFFORT DEEMED, "ATTACK"

Records obtained via a Public Information Act (P.I.A.) request prove Shepherd I.S.D. Supt Hewitt locked down the schools, sent lockdown notice via FB to parents over a group of 'auditors'walking onto the Administration building  property seeking open records.   The records obtained also prove the ISD contacted the FBI in New Braunsfels as a "soverign citizen" data center'/  The records requested stated in writing that the school was, "Attacked" by the auditors mandating the continued surveillance of the three until they left town.  Dr. Hewitt ordered his I.S.D. Police to criminally trespass the trio.  The Sentinel published that story.

    Now, due to Dr. Hewitt's quick action, there is a permanent record on file that these three citizens "Attacked" the shepherd schools simply for seeking public information.  What an example he set for our future leaders.  

  Dr. Taulton at Coldspring, met the trio, took their open records requests and even brought his I.S.D. Police chief in on the conversation.  

    What a stir when the three showed up at the school board meeting in Shepherd.  9 cops including two state troopers for three people with a camera and some questions.  Oh did I mention a T shirt with a vulgarish  '1st amendment' word on it?  An 'F' Bomb contraction with, 'koruption'.  White did turn the shirt inside out when requested and they attended the meeting.  

1/18/2024 SHEPHERD I.S.D. SJC PCT 3

LOWERY LEVELS, LAWYERS LIE

Recent events in the search for truth regarding allegations against a constable candidate in SJC Pct 3 brought some interesting returns.   The first was the rambling legalese response at left.  My sumation of the letter is that they have the records I asked for but want me to make them sole arbiter of what records we the people  are entitled to.   If I didn't, a plain threat to fight me every step of the way.  

LOL Mr. Walsh of the esteemed law firm of, Walsh GallEGOs out of Houston, Texas.  None can ever say I have been known to back up from a fair fight.  Some would go as far as to say, I seem to enjoy a good scrap.  Ask the ISD's former law firm of Bracewell and Gulianni after I forced them to give up Ruby Wells' employment file.  Or the City of Houston's lawyers that ended up having to give me Royce Well's file.   My opinion is that you and an office full of hired hands oughta be fair against me and my Advocate.

   Here are my questions Mr. Walsh of the esteemed Houston law firm of, Walsh GallEGOs.

1) Were you lying when you wrote claiming to have the records and threatening to fight me tooth and nail to keep me from getting the records if I didn't sign away the people's right to know?

OR

2) Were you lying a week or two later when sending me the code allowing schools to not retain employee records after four years then claiming you didn't have the records because they had not been retained?

 That is the classic, "Neither answer is good" routine I am sure your recognize.  Mr. Walsh of Walsh GallEGOs  But then I have one more question.  Did you delete or advise your client to delete the records AFTER the open records request had been filed?  Did you realize that to take it to the OAG for opinion would mean you had to send the requested records to them unredacted?

   Fortunately, A reader submitted Mr. Lowery's personal phone number to me and unlike you, he answered my call.  In that interview, Mr. Lowery did confirm that he had worked part time for the Shepherd ISD.  He also stated that there was some fuel thefts alleged and that he did quit before anyone was asked to resign  "It was gasoline that was stolen and my truck was diesel", Lowery clarified adding, "I quit because I just didn't need the aggravation."

SHEPHERD 12/2/2022

CITY FORMS NEW POLICE DEPT

he constable deputy under Ray Atchley Clint Headley has accepted the appointment and will kick off the effort with a budget of 180 K for this first fiscal year.  

The city has also approved a second position in order to meet the standards TCOLE has set for forming a small PD.  The new chief has not publically announced his choice for the patrolman position but will share that information once the city council votes on the candidate of their choice.  

   The city has made arrangements with long time and highly respected JP 2, Harris 'used to be Red' Blanchett to act as the city judge along with his JP duties.

   A long time fixture in SJC, Judge Blanchett retired from the Texas Highway Patrol and was your worst nightmare if you brought an overloaded rig onto these Texas roads.  He has been the JP for many years and his, 'tough but fair' reputation along with the credentials the new 'Chief' will be bringing to the table bodes good things for the little city that should.  

    In other news around Shepherd, There is a new development going in near the high school and Lilley Rd that will be over a dozen new homesites.  Accross from McClains will be a new convenience store.  The big RV park project has not taken flight yet but is still a possibility for the future.  The influx of people and the needed infrastructure to meet the needs of the growth will cause some growing pains but as any parent knows, rubbing a little alcohol on the knees will help get through it.  

     As Houston presses north there are changes, like it or not sometimes. 

     One of those growing pains is what development money goes where?  

       How will we pay for what the public demands?  

10/31/2022  MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED

ROBERT DALE CLARY was arrested for the 2019 murder of shepherd resident, Rhonda Richardson.

4/12/2018

MULTIPLE OFFENSES STACK UP ON COOK

After going to trial on the newest charge of Assault on a Public Servant and earning 5 years in TDCJ for it last year, Robert Howard Cook III plead out on multiple charges garnering himself quite a few years overall.  

    His case was the subject of a Sentinel investigation, both in the field and the Clerk's office that showed he had several offenses already, was out on bond for agg sexual assault of a child and then was arrested again for the same charge.  We wrote the story when Cook was given a low bond again by the JP PCT #1, Beth Sewell.   

      Asst Prosecutor Bomeo handled the trial that saw him convicted and then pushed the other cases through to completion.

UPDATE 10/17/2016

HUMBLE ISD ANSWERS QUESTIONS

In response to questions posed by The Sentinel, Humble ISD did confirm that Michael Coker was employed by their ISD Police department on a provisional basis but did not make it out of training before his past caught up with him.  "He passed two forms of background check", an Humble ISD official explained, "including running his finger prints."  Hired June 26, 2016 according to their records, it is noted that he was placed on administrative leave on July 12th when it came to light that Michael was being investigated somewhere else.  "He never got a paycheck here" the administrator assured The Sentinel, "and he resigned on July 25th".  Hats off to the Humble ISD for thier extensive efforts to protect their students from a man who will lie, steal and sexually harass those under his authority.  The booking report on his arrest in SJC shows that Michael had moved to Porter, Texas soon after his resignation here. 

UPDATE 10/16/2016

EX MAYOR SURRENDERS TO WARRANT

Ex Shepherd mayor, Michael Coker was arrested and booked into the San Jacinto County Jail last week after he surrendered himself to face the charges against him.  Judge Harris 'Red' Blanchette issued a PR bond on Coker and he was booked in and out of the jail in short order and was never issued his orange jump suit according to sources. 

SHEPHERD 9/24/2016

EX SHEPHERD MAYOR INDICTED

Former mayor, Michael Coker (No known relation to the Coker family that has served our District Courts for 3 generations)had a true bill returned by the SJC Grand Jury the 16th of this month on a 'Theft of Firearm' charge according to several reliable Sentinel sources.  An AR-15 style assault rifle that had been purchased by Sheperd Police Dept (Chris Simmons) prior to the city disbanding that department shortly after forming it, came up missing during Michael Coker's limited time in the seat of power in Shepherd Texas.  Michael  was being investigated by The Sentinel for some fraudulent F.E.M.A. funds he was claiming a storm related culvert purchase and a sexual harrassment case toward one of his female clerks.  We were aware of but did not write about the missing automatic weapon to keep from compromising the law enforcement investigation.  Coker resigned under pressure, the city withdrew the fraudulent culvert money request and the clerk's husband gave him a fat lip.  After his resignation, The Sentinel did request his employment file from Houston PD where Michael worked for many years and did get an eyefull in the results.  He was reprimanded several times and almost fired once for giving a false report.  Michael lied on a report claiming a hit and run driver had struck his patrol car when it was him who had damaged the car by his own fault.  Sentinel sources indicate that he is working or was working for Humble ISD police department.  Confirmation of his exact status with them is being sought. 

SHEPHERD 10/14/2016

COMMUNITY UNITES TO HELP A FRIENDS BABY

In a major outpouring of support, Shepherd, SJC and area residents and businesses rallied together to raise nearly 65K dollars to help a local family in need.  Little Ms. Shrader was on the hearts and minds and in the prayers of many who stepped  up to help the cause.  Even the Honky Tonk Tree guitar did a part in the hands of an excellent autioneer.  With just a homemade cooker, a beat up old guitar and a beautiful hand made quilt, he parted over 6K dollars from the participants with the first three items.  A music lover and a great lady who loves the little girl with all her heart and soul paid over 4K for the Honky Tonk Tree guitar, giving it a new home.  Thanks to Mr. Milford for showing up to verify the authenticity of all of the signatures and confirm that the guitar was the original.  According to Sentinel sources, he has an unopened cd and release poster that he offered to provide just to sweeten the mix some.  Thanks to all the donors and bidders of course but let us be careful to remember the family, friends and neighbors who organized such an awesome event.  The outpouring of support began immediatly and made a huge dent Saturday but there is a long row to hoe out front that we all need to fertilize with fervent prayer.  Even some of yall that aren't too convinced that God is real, it wouldn't hurt nothing to bend knee for this baby 'just in case' He is. 

UPDATE 5/6/2016

GUITAR TO BE OFFERED IN FUND RAISER AGAIN

According to sources close to a Shepherd fund raiser, The Honky Tonk Tree guitar has been donated to their cause and will be auctioned off to raise money for a very sick little girl. 

LEGENDARY GUITAR CALLS SJC HOME

A guitar that was ‘created’ in 2001 to commemorate the release of ‘The Honky Tonk Tree’ album featuring Bobby Boyd, Willie Nelson, Cory Morrow and Pat Green has come back to it’s roots in San Jacinto County.  The guitar is autographed by all four artists on the album and includes Roy Head’s signature as well.  The Album was produced by local investor and long time friend of Willie Nelson, Doug Milford of Shepherd, Texas.  He is also the creator of the Honky Tonk Tree Guitar and widely credited with catapulting Pat Green’s Career into orbit by choosing to include the young man on this album.  In the upper left corner of the photo is this Honky Tonk Tree guitar hanging on the wall as half of a matching set with the Willie Nelson, 'Farm Aid' guitar hanging near the butt of the rifle.   Producer Milford donated the Honky Tonk Tree guitar for one of the fund raisers in the past and a lady bought it for 5000 dollars and gifted a musician friend with it.  From there it goes on like the story of the sisterhood of the traveling pants only it was the Brotherhood of the Traveling Guitar instead.  The guitar was eventually pawned while the owner was in jail with no proof of authenticity of the signatures.  It languished there beyond the loan period and was put up for sale.  A young man who recognized the guitar from his teenage years purchased the guitar and brought it back to San Jacinto County.  When he owed his dad some money he gifted the old man with the guitar and his debt was forgiven.   Then the old man gave it to his granddaughter.  Now it is sitting dormant again.  I wonder where it will travel to next?