VOLUME 27, NO. 109 MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012

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Drowning: A 51-year-old man from Mexico living in Aldine drowned in the Trinity River near the State Highway 105 bridge Saturday evening. Liberty County Sheriff’s Captain Rex Evans said area fire departments helped search the river Saturday until about 9:30 p.m. Then, at daybreak Sunday, Texas Equusearch joined the search with the aid of the group’s new and very specialized sonar equipment. At press time, the man’s body had not been recovered, and the sheriff’s department had not released the drowning victim’s name.

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Lawsuit: Liberty County officials and news media from far and wide are eyeing a civil lawsuit filed in Dallas County pertaining to a news story last June. That’s when reports began falsely claiming there was a mass grave here in Liberty County. The libel and slander suit was filed by owners of the property where the lengthy search was conducted by local law enforcement. The suit was filed by Joe Bankston and Gena Charlton. Those being sued include the unnamed psychic who claimed there were more than 30 bodies on that property, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department, Belo Inc – owners of Channel 11 in Houston, the New York Times, Reuters News Service, CNN and ABC News.

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Porchia Enters Plea: A second adult suspect has entered a guilty plea in the Cleveland gang rape case. On Thursday, Marcus Anthony Porchia admitted to one count of sexual assault of a child before 75^th District Judge Mark Morefield. Porchia was sentenced to 15 years in prison. That sentence will run at the same time as another 15-year sentence he received back in February after pleading guilty to an unrelated sexual assault of a child charge. So far, all six juveniles plus 2 of the 14 adults charged in the Cleveland gang rape case have pled guilty.

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Hunger Busters: Organizers say the Hunger Busters Free Summer Lunch Program is off to a great start with an average of 550 meals served each day at seven sites throughout the Liberty Independent School District. Now, those free lunches will also be passed out for the first time at a location in Dayton. Extension Agent Alexis Cordova said, in addition to the seven sites in Liberty, volunteers will also serve meals at the First Assembly of God Church on FM 1960 in Dayton from 11 a.m. to noon. For information, call 936-334-3230 during normal business hours.

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*Lake Release: 1,170 CFS – Liberty Bridge: 6.43 ASL*