VOLUME 24 NO. 4, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2009

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New Speaker: Rep. John Otto of Dayton says he is supporting Rep. Joe Straus of San Antonio as Speaker of the House. Straus and Otto both began serving in the Texas House in 2005.  Despite his short tenure, Rep. Straus is unseating 3 term speaker Tom Craddick.

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Fontenot Sentenced: Former Hull Daisetta School Trustee Alfred Joseph Fontenot of Raywood was sentenced Monday to 15 months in federal prison and ordered the forfeiture of $50,000 in seized cash and assets. In June 2008 Alfred Fontenot pled guilty to federal drug violations in the U.S. Eastern District Court of Texas. He must surrender to federal authorities within 45 days to begin serving his sentence.

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Death: One person is dead as a result of injuries sustained in that Saturday night motorcycle wreck in Baytown. According to the Baytown Police Department, Cheryl Huiet was pronounced dead upon her arrival to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. Her husband, Ross Huiet, is expected to survive.

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City Burning: Much of the debris inside the City of Liberty from Ike had been hauled to the city dump on Bowie and turned into compost, however the city recently learned an application for that process had never been approved, and the city must burn the remaining debris and compost.  Fire Chief Fred Collins said the city has been issued that burn permit and the material at the dump will be burned when conditions dry up at the site.

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Green & Dugat: The Houston cable television station, channel 55 is conducting an online poll allowing folks to vote on who they think is the offensive high school player of the year, and A.J. Dugat as well as Cody Green of Dayton, are among those for which votes can be cast. The Houston TV stations website is www.houstons55.com.

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Funerals: Jessie Fregia, Jr, 82 of Hull. Services tomorrow at 2 p.m. at New Life Assembly of God Church in Batson. Carol Joan Martin Parker, 77 formerly of Dayton. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Dayton. Billy Dwayne Warren, 53 of Dayton. Memorial service today at 10:30 a.m. at Houston National Cemetery.

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*LAKE RELEASE: 1,500 CFS - LIBERTY BRIDGE: 6.51 ASL*