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.”

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.”