April 30th, 2009
By: Colleen Parker
ETU’s annual sorority and fraternity talent show continues to receive a record-breaking number of applications for the fourth year in a row. The application deadline to participate in next month’s show was last Friday, and the Campus Life office reports 74 entries in this year’s competition. This is up from 65 entries last year.
“I’ve always known that we have an extrememly bright, gifted group of students here at ETU. I’m pleased that so many are demonstrating those talents this year,” said Campus Life Director Carol Keller.
The talent show has been gaining in popularity as the shadow of tragedy from fades from the student body’s collective memory. Today’s seniors were only freshmen when seven students died unexpectedly during the show. Since then, the show’s organizers have worked tirelessly at recovering from the subsequent plumment in participation by implementing strict new rules to insure safety.
Those rules include:
- No outside food or drink.
- No performance enhancing drugs
- No pyrotechnics.
- No unapproved electronic devices
Dr. Keller adds, “Remember, this is a talent show, not a science fair. Let’s have fun showing off our natural talents and leave your academic achievements in the labratory.”
Tags: talent show
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April 30th, 2009
By: Steve May
The body of an unidentified woman was found near the railroad tracks in southern Golan County Sunday. It was found by Byron Brown, who lives in the area.
“I saw something blue in the ditch, and stopped to see what it was. It was the girl’s blue jacket,” Byron stated.
Sheriff Butch Anderson stated that “We are doing everything we can to identify the body and the cause of death and will release that information to the public when we know.”
When asked if the woman was murdered, Sheriff Anderson replied, “We don’t know yet. It could have been some sort of animal attack. We just don’t know yet.”
The body has proven difficult to identify as the fingerprints are not on file and the head is currently missing from the scene. Anyone with information about this case is asked to immediately contact the Sheriff’s department at 409-555-1224.
Tags: Add new tag, Anderson, Body, Butch, Sheriff
Posted in Current Events (news) | No Comments »
April 30th, 2009
By: Dorine Mercy
ETU residents this morning woke up to find multiple flyers with pictures of the Black 13 egg posted throughout most of town. Not a single bulletin board was left untouched, each and every one containing the flyer. The flyer featured color pictures of the egg and red writing along the bottom stating “It is real.”
This year’s Easter egg hunt was very successful, however it being the 13th event, this year’s rumors of the unlucky Black 13 egg were stronger then ever. While it has been almost two weeks since the event, it is apparent that some believers in the Black 13 egg are still thinking about the Easter holiday and trying to get their message out.
Authorities are looking for evidence of those responsible at this time but so far have come up short of answers.
Tags: black 13
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April 27th, 2009
By: Colleen Parker
Missing teenager Lateesha Wilson was found unharmed in nearby Cavalas, TX after a two week manhunt. An Amber Alert was issued for the missing girl 15 days ago when her mother reported that she never came home from school. The investigation quickly focused on a secret online relationship she had been having with someone claiming to be a 15 year old boy from Oklahoma. Police were forced to admit that that line of investigation had run dry four days later when it was clear that the boy was real and there was no evidence to indicate that they had met in person.
Volunteers with Texas Equine Rescue searching areas of the Big Thicket and boaters on Lake Greystone recently paused their efforts until more information might arise that would help them narrow their searches. The family never gave up hope and continued to canvass the area with photos of their missing daughter.
Wilson walked into the Cavalas dollar store wearing the same clothes as on the day of her disappearance. Her family says that their daughter is healthy and apparently unharmed. So far the teen has claimed amnesia, not even realizing that two weeks had passed. She has been unable to explain to authorities her whereabouts or how she ended up in Cavalas.
At a press conference earlier today, Golan County Sheriff Butch Anderson said “We’re just glad to have Lateesha back safe and sound. Now that she’s home where she belongs, there’s plenty of time to figure out whether this was a runaway case or something else.”
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April 27th, 2009
By: Dorine Mercy
photo by: Wikipedia
Pinebox Elementary was temporarily evacuated yesterday afternoon because an unusual pest was discovered on the grounds. Yellow crazy ants, normally found in Australia, were found in the west end parking lot.
The yellow crazy ants, named for their erratic movements when disturbed, were seen and identified by Jennifer Lanhert a botany student at ETU.
“I was digging through my purse when I caught movement near my shoe. I have never seen any pests like that around here — and I grew up here.” Jennifer Lanhert stated. “In studying plants I have always looked also to the critters that affect plant life; I knew this one was unusual.”
Yellow crazy ants are one of the largest invasive ant species in the world, but are not often found in the United States. While these ants do not sting or bite, they protect themselves by spraying a formic acid. This acid is powerful enough to cause blindness in adults and especially in children.
Officials are unsure of where these particular ants came from but agree it might be possible it was deliberately planted on school grounds. Pest control and officials will continue to sweep not only the grounds of Pinebox Elementary but the surrounding areas for more evidence.
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April 27th, 2009
By: Thomas Alvarez
This was the message scrawled on an envelope waiting for me this morning when I got to my office. It had been slipped under the door sometime during the night and no one was present to see who dropped it off. Inside the envelope were several over-developed photographs; each consisting of a field of white with occasional dark blotches. The patterns between them were dissimilar and none held any discernible form.
Attached to the photographs were newspaper clippings. One article from May 2008 speaking of Pinebox Elementary opening a separate building to house its daycare. Another dated October 1998 that wrote about the fires that destroyed half of the Indian Summer Trailer Park. A third dated August 18th, 1939 regarding a girl named Sally Mayfair undergoing special psychiatric care in the city’s hospital. Five more were included from various periods over the past century, all with no immediate connection.
While the package is more than likely nothing but some kind of hoax, its delivery comes at a very interesting time for Pinebox. One can’t help but notice oddities amongst recent news both through the Report and other local news agencies. Upon comparing national newspapers, and even more local articles written in Dallas and Houston, Pinebox news tends to possess themes that most other cities would find absurd. Locals may just be used to it, but here on campus—where a good portion of us come from places far outside the Texas border—our perspective must be different. The photographs I received, as well as the newspaper clippings are interesting. And given the city’s history and present I’m not entirely willing to toss it into the shredder, though a feeling in the pit of my stomach is telling me that I’d be smarter doing just that.
Tags: those with no eyes
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