VOLUME 27, NO. 130 WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2012

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Shocking Animal Cruelty: A 26-year-old Liberty County man, Lachain Dever, has been charged with animal cruelty. Authorities say he tied his own pony to a post, and then allowed his two pit bull dogs to brutally attack the defenseless animal. Because of its injuries, the pony was destroyed at the man’s property on CR 676 near Dayton. The dogs have been quarantined at the Liberty County Veterinarian Clinic. Their fate is up to a Justice of the Peace following a hearing. Lachain Dever has been charged with animal cruelty. JP Bobby Rader set bail on the class “a” misdemeanor charge at $2,000.

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Commissioners: Liberty County Commissioners voted to table a budget transfer from one portion of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department budget to the department’s fuel budget yesterday. Prior to the vote, Liberty County Auditor Harold Seay told commissioners he received two calls claiming Sheriff Henry Patterson said they were not to order anymore fuel and if the patrol cars ran out, park them. Sheriff Paterson was not in commissioners’ court yesterday, but when we spoke with him, he categorically denied making such a comment.

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Hunger Busters: Organizers say the Liberty Hunger Busters free lunch program is off to a roaring start at 7 sites throughout the Liberty school district plus one location in Dayton. Hunger Busters is funded with federal grant money through state coffers. It’s administered locally by volunteers and Liberty ISD to make sure children have a nutritious mid-day meal during summer months when school is not in session. So far this summer, the program has provided more than 21,000 free meals to local children. That’s an average of 840 meals each day.

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Early Voting: Early voting for the July 31 party primary runoff election is July 23 – July 27. Early voting will be at the Liberty County Courthouse, Dayton Community Center, the Cleveland Annex and Hardin City Hall.

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Obituaries: Debra Kay Johnson Wuneburger, 55 of Highlands. Services 10 a.m. Saturday at Pace Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. Mary Loraine Cashat DeJohn, 76 of Liberty. Graveside services tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Palms Memorial Park in Dayton.  

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*Lake Release: 1,420 CFS – Liberty Bridge: 6.75 ASL*