April 14th, 2009
By: Roy Ryder
photo by: Pinebox Nature Society
The Big Thicket is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, and now biologists have added one more to the list. In a weekend conference in Austin, amature botanist Mary Ann Wilkinson revealed that she had discovered a previously unknown species of flowering plant in the area of the Big Thicket commonly known as Tunny’s Run.
Wilkinson described how she made the discovery by accident.
“I was in the thicket hunting mushrooms and I thought I heard someone call my name. I followed the noise and came across a small clearing in the trees. There among the grasses was this stand of plants that I’d never seen before. I’m pretty knowledgable about plants and ferns and instantly recognized that this was something new.”
The plant grows to approximatly one foot tall and has small white flowers that open only at night. The deep purple center and marking on the petals give it the appearance of a bird in flight. This has sparked Wilkinson’s imagination and she has determined that it’s common name will be Ravenstar. The academic name is still being decided.
“This is really exciting,” said Dr. Timothy Dolby, a professor of biology at ETU. “Unlike Southeast Asia or Africa, we in Texas don’t get a lot of opportunity to add to the known flora. I’m looking forward to our first expedition to the area and collecting samples of this Ravenstar.”
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April 14th, 2009
By: Steve May
photo by: The Ninevah Weekly
The town of Ninevah has experienced several unexplained fires in the past month and Fire Chief Levins is stumped. “We just don’t know what’s causing these fires. They do not appear to be maliciously set, and there is no source that we have been able to identify.”
The fires have “spontaneously” broken out throughout the town in no regular pattern. The first occurred at Jan’s Deli during lunch service. “It was in the corner beneath the television set. One second everything was fine, then boom, flame was everywhere,” Jan Corey, the owner of the Deli stated. “We thought it was probably an electrical fire, but the investigation could not explain it.” Ms. Corey also said that the insurance agency was not helping her rebuild as they are wanting a cause of the fire to be determined.
“It’s a real catch 22. They won’t give me any of the insurance money until the cause of the fire is determined, and the Ninevah Fire Department can’t determine the cause,” she said.
Other fires of similar nature have occurred at Marshall’s Warehouse, Toys 4 Kids, Newberry’s Restaurant, and Big Green. “Of course there may be an arsonist behind all of these fires, but if we can’t find a cause, it makes the investigation very difficult,” said Chief Levins.
“We keep hoping these fires will end, but it seems another is happening daily. We’ve been lucky that no one has been seriously hurt so far, but at this rate, it may only be a matter of time.”
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April 14th, 2009
By: Steve May
photo by: Pinebox Voter's Society
Mayor John Flowers has served two years in office, since the untimely death of Red McCombs, and polls indicate he should be reelected by a landslide this Fall.
“I love this town,” he said at Tuesday’s press conference. “Pinebox has been good to me, and I promise that I’ll always be good to it.”
Mayor Flowers’ only challenger is newcomer Bradley Ferrer, who recently took over the Texas State Raven’s Bank and Trust. “I know I’m facing an uphill battle, but this is my home now and I can make it better for everyone,” Ferrer responded to an email question by this reporter. “There are too many unanswered questions in our lives. Does anyone really think a bear killed Mayor McCombs?”
Sheriff Butch Anderson was quick to respond to the criticism of the bear theory, “Ferrer is an outsider and he just don’t understand our lives here. He wants to bring big city politics to our little piece of paradise. We don’t need that. Not in Pinebox.”
Ferrer’s office chose not to reply to Sheriff Anderson’s statement.
Mayor Flowers and Ferrer are in discussion to set up a public debate sometime in September. “I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Mayor Flowers said. “I’m sure the best man will be elected.”
Tags: mayor, Politics
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April 14th, 2009
By: Steve May
photo by: Jake Miller
The Caddoan Hainais were driven out of Golan County by the Texas Rangers in the early 1840s, and eventually were forced onto reservations in Oklahoma. Now, some are coming home again.
Chief Lyle Redman stated, “This is still our land. Dale Island is our land, and we want it given to us, so we can worship at the home of our ancestors. It is our First Amendment right, and we have hired lawyers to look into this matter.”
Dale Island is a small piece of land out in the old part of Lake Greystone, and its history is closely tied to Golan County. It is currently privately owned and the owners were not available for comment.
“I understand their pain,” Mayor Flowers responded to Chief Redman’s words. “I even agree that they should be given a place for them, but we can’t just go take private property and give it to others. That would be socialism. We don’t do that here. I hope we can work together to come to an equitable agreement.”
Over twenty Hainais have come to Golan County and are currently camping on the shores of Lake Greystone, and have been protesting everyday the past week, carrying signs and speaking to anyone who will listen.
Local Mart Johnson, a fisherman who lives in the Blackburn Community stated that, “They are scaring the fish. That all happened a long time ago. They need to move on.”
“It’s not about moving on, but recognizing the way the Nation of Texas treated our ancestors, and getting back the smallest portion that we are due,” stated Gregory Linden, a Hainais representative. “We are here to stay, until we get some sense of recognition by the Governor and the people of Texas.”
Tags: Dale Island, Politics, Redman
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April 9th, 2009
By: Dorine Mercy
photo by: Sara Marshall
On Tuesday, April 8th the ETU Track and Field team delayed their training due to the rainy weather conditions. Coach Donald Peterson rescheduled the meet for that evening at 6pm. While there is nothing unusual about these types of rescheduling on campus, this Tuesday appeared to be a very strange evening indeed.
As the team gathered, Peterson noticed a student clad in ETU uniform running at a brisk pace around the track. Peterson noted, “Something wasn’t quite right about him, he was wearing one of the old uniforms from about a decade ago. So, when he starts running toward us, I figure out that it’s Justin Pawlak.” Pawlak– who still holds the university record of a 9.8 second 100m–was reported missing in April of 1999 and had not been seen by friends or family since.
According to Peterson, “Pawlak ran by, and when I shouted at him the kid just kept going.” As Justin completed his loop, he ran from the field out onto the street and disappeared – literally.
Peterson reported the incident. Pinebox PD and campus security organized a search party and combed the campus and nearby thicket for evidence. After several hours the search was ended. Pawlak left no trace of his passing; footprints along what Peterson described as Pawlak’s path could not be found.
A committee made up of Peterson, former ETU alumni and ETU Athletics Director Bill Simms will meet tonight with parents and local officials to determine how best to continue Pawlak’s search.
Tags: disappearance, missing, search, track
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