Woman gets black Eye on Black Friday

Mother claims toddler caught in the middle
of supercenter melee

LIVINGSTON — A Houston woman spent the final moments of her Thanksgiving holiday in jail after a physical altercation at the start of the “Black Friday” sale at the Livingston Walmart Supercenter. 

Rhonda Lynette Bland, 42, of Houston was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct,  both Class C misdemeanors at about 11 p.m. Thursday.

Det. Leon Middleton of the Livingston Police Department said Bland was weaving her way through the crowded store and was being belligerent to other customers and using foul language. 

Alicia Spore, 22, of Livingston said her mother “suckered” her into helping her bag bargains at Wal-Mart. Spore said she had never before been to Black Friday events. 

Rhonda Bland

Spore was attempting to push her shopping cart down the aisle with her 2-year-old child inside between 10:30 and 11 p.m. Thursday when another shopper’s cart collided with hers. 

“I just stopped. I didn’t want to start anything because it was so crowded,” Spore said. “A woman behind me started cussing and this woman (later identified as Bland) stuck her finger in my face and said “you’re not going to talk that way in front of my f---ing child.”

Spore added that throughout the ordeal that ensued, she never saw a child with Bland. 

DPS Trooper Sammy Lattner was working security at the store Thursday night with Middleton.

Both officers said Bland swung at Spore and missed. Spore, who could not escape from Bland due to the crowd, swung back and — as is apparent in the photo taken by Polk County jailers — her punch hit Bland in the eye.

Lattner said witnesses believe the toddler was also struck in the “free for all” that followed.

Middleton said military personnel who were also shopping in the store broke up the fight. A store manager escorted Spore and her child to the front of the store where officers interviewed her. 

During that interview, witnesses pointed out Bland and identified her as “the woman who caused all the trouble.”

Lattner added that of the approximately 25 witnesses who came forward, all blamed Bland for the incident. 

Spore said she asked Bland to back up.

“Our noses were almost touching,” Spore said. 

“She pushed me in the face and told me to back up. I leaned over the buggy and put my arms over my child to protect her. Then (Bland) swung at me.”

Spore said she shouted for her girlfriend, Winona Osborn who is a recent Livingston High School graduate who served as student commander of the JROTC, and now is a criminal justice major and ROTC cadet at Angelina College.

Spore pushed her buggy toward Osborn and Osborn took charge of the toddler.

Spore said she then punched Bland in the face, sending her into a glass display case. 

Osborn told Spore that five men lifted her up and away from Bland. While Spore was in the air she kicked her foot and landed another blow on Bland’s face.

Spore said the men put her down to help quiet her daughter who was screaming for her. Someone had begun escorting Bland to the front of the store. 

Another store manager who Spore identified as “Dwayne” escorted her and her family to the front of the store. 

Det. Middleton emphasized that the incident was not due to customers fighting over a bargain, but was solely due to Bland’s intoxicated state.

“We were talking to Ms. Spore when witnesses pointed out Ms. Bland and said, ‘that’s the woman that caused all the problems, and I think she’s drunk’,” Middleton said. 

“When we confronted her she was definitely intoxicated and she was arrested for public intoxication right there. We gathered more information and charged her with disorderly conduct for fighting,” Middleton added. 

An ambulance was called at Spore’s request. 

She said her daughter was evaluated at Memorial Medical Center-Livingston because she was afraid that the youngster would develop signs of a head injury later in the night. 

During the interview Friday, Spore said the child only had a small red mark on her cheek and was fine.

Spore’s shirt was ripped off during the fight, which left her with “sort of a burn mark.” Spore said, fortunately she was wearing an undershirt. She has another bruise from where Bland grabbed her by the arm.

Cpl. Lattner said the rest of his shift was uneventful. 

“By 1 a.m., it was a cakewalk,” Middleton said. “It was as quiet as a routine week night at the store.”

Both Lattner and Spore said they’ll pass on spending any part of future Thanksgiving weekends fighting the crowd.

Texas history on CSPAN 3 for the Thanksgiving weekend

Save Texas History Symposium session on the Mexican retreat after San Jacinto to air

AUSTIN — The nation will feast on some Texas history — among other things — this weekend when CSPAN 3 airs a session from the 2011 Save Texas History Symposium.

Wharton pediatrician and “avocational archeologist” Dr. Gregg Dimmick tells the story of the Mexican Army’s retreat after the battle of San Jacinto in the segment, which will air at 10:20 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 27; at 5:20 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 3; and at 4:20 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4 on CSPAN 3.  For schedule updates, check http://www.c-spanvideo.org/schedule/

Dimmick was one of the speakers at the 2011 Save Texas History Symposium, held at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center Oct. 1. Proceeds from the annual Save Texas History Symposium go toward the General Land Office’s Save Texas History program, which promotes education and preservation of historic documents and maps.

Dimmick, author of Sea of Mud:  The Retreat of the Mexican Army after San Jacinto, tells of his work that literally rewrote the history of the Mexican Army’s ill-fated 1836 retreat from Texas, in which more than 2,500 Mexican soldiers and 1,500 female camp followers became bogged down in the muddy fields of what is now Wharton County.

To learn more about Save Texas History, visit www.SaveTexasHistory.org.

NWS update

As of 3:21 p.m. National Weather Service meteorologist Kent Prochazka says the most intense portion of the thunderstorms are currently directly over Onalaska, tracking along the Trinity County line and headed for Leggett and Moscow.
Smaller cells are moving through Segno and the Alabama-Coushatta reservation, also headed for Moscow and Corrigan.
"More showers and thunderstorms are moving into the area and there is definitely more rain ahead, so enjoy it while you can," Prochazka said.
He added that the City of Livingston was outside the track of the worst storms.
The tornado warning for Polk County has expired. A severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect until 5 p.m.

TORNADO WARNING

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for western Polk County, central San Jacinto County and southern Trinity County until 3:30 p.m.
Doppler radar indicates a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado. This storm was located near Coldspring, moving north at 30 mph. This storm has a history of producing tornado damage.
Locations in the tornado warning include but are not limited to Leggett, Lake Livingston State Park, Seven Oaks, Onalaska and Livingston.
Precautionary/preparedness actions,
The safest place to be during a tornado is in the interior hallway or a room such as a closet on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Use blankets or pillows to cover your body and always stay away from windows.
If you are inside a mobile home or vehicle, evacuate them immediately and seek shelter inside a sturdy building. As a last resort, seek shelter in a culvert, ditch or low spot and cover your head with your hands.
A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 4pm CST for the warned area.

Severe thunderstorm watch through 4 p.m.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Eastern Texas and coastal waters.   Effective from 9 a.m.  until 4 p.m. CST Tuesday: Hail to 1.5 inches in diameter...  thunderstorm wind gusts to 70 mph... and dangerous lightning are possible in these areas, the NWS said. The Severe Thunderstorm Watch area is approximately along and 105 statute miles north and south of a line from 45 miles south southwest of College Station Texas to 45 miles east southeast of Lufkin Texas. Remember... a Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes. As the upper wave shifts eastward through southern Texas and air mass continues to destabilize... thunderstorms are expected to intensify through the day.  Elevated storms developing over portions of southeastern TX will have an increasing chance for severe hail the next couple of hours. As the air mass continues warming...  the wind threat should increase this afternoon. Aviation... a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 1.5 inches.  Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with  maximum tops to 450. Mean storm motion vector 24030.

DETCOG board to meet at Cho-Yeh Thursday

LIVINGSTON – The Board of Directors of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) will hold their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011 at the Camp Cho-Yeh Convention Center in Livingston.  A luncheon will be served at noon, with the board meeting to follow.

Welcoming members and guests to Polk County will be Polk County Judge, John Thompston; Polk County Commissioner, Bob Willis; the Mayor of Livingston, Clarke Evans; Livingston City Commissioner, Ray Hill; Alabama-Coushatta Representative, Ronnie Thomas;  Trinity River Authority Representative, Bill Holder; and Polk County Minority Representative, Elgin Davis.

DETCOG’s President, Lonnie Hunt, would like to extend an invitation to the meeting to all interested parties.  Anyone needing information concerning these meetings may contact the Deep East Texas Council of Governments office in Jasper at 409-384-5704.

DOJ rejects Texas' redistricting plan

DC Court denies summary judgment for preclearance of State House, State Senate and Congressional maps. Court will draw interim maps.


The nonprofit group the Lone Star Project is reporting that a three-judge panel in the DC Federal District Court denied a motion by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott that all three Texas redistricting plans be approved without a trial on the merits of the plans.
The Court ruling has the practical effect of blocking the use of the Republican plans for the 2012 elections.
Congressional, State House and State Senate plans used for the 2012 elections will now be drawn by a three judge federal panel in San Antonio. The Texas Court is expected to order new plans by the end of November.
"Texas Republican's opted to draw illegal redistricting plans by undermining the rights of millions of Texas voters, said Matt Angle, executive director of the Lone Star Project. "The DC Federal Court rebuked that strategy today."
"The Court has justified the efforts those with the courage and tenacity to fight Texas Republican leaders. Leaders like Representative Marc Veasey, Senator Wendy Davis and Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks deserve credit for standing up for Texas voters."
Texas Republicans have pursued a cynical strategy to draw overtly partisan maps by undermining the voting strength of Hispanic and African American voters. They attempted to avoid strong enforcement of the US Voting Rights Act by avoiding the US Department of Justice and seeking approval directly from the federal courts. The GOP strategy has failed badly. After squandering hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars in taxpayer money on legal and administrative fees, the GOP plans cannot be used for the 2012 elections.
The Court order states:
"Having carefully considered the entire record and the parties’ arguments, the Court finds and concludes that the State of Texas used an improper standard or methodology to determine which districts afford minority voters the ability to elect their preferred candidates of choice and that there are material issues of fact in dispute that prevent this Court from entering declaratory judgment that the three redistricting plans meet the requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act." (emphasis added)
and  "the District Court for the Western District of Texas must designate a substitute interim plan for the 2012 election cycle by the end of November.

See the Court Order Here

Additional weather alert

The National Weather Service is reporting that conditions are favorable for tornadoes and hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter for the Southeast Texas area, including Polk County. 
Wind gusts of up to 70 mph are predicted with dangerous lightning possible. 
The watch area extend 50 miles north and south of a line from 40 miles southwest of Huntsville to 45 miles northeast of Port Arthur. 
A tornado water means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and near the watch area. Be on the lookout for threatening water. 




This weather alert is NOT part of a planned nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. At 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, all broadcast media wil air a 30-second test of the national EAS system. Viewers should not confuse this planned test with any current weather information.

Tornado Warning

Good news: It's raining.
Bad new: We're under a tornado watch until 8 p.m. tonight. We're report any serious weather-related news or warnings here as the situation changes.

One car rollover traps driver Friday


Livingston Police Officer Kaleb Barker examines an overturned vehicle on U.S. 59 South at the intersection with Business 59 that occurred at about 7 p.m. Friday. The driver was freed from the vehicle by Livingston firefighters and  taken to Memorial Medical 
Center-Livingston by Americare EMS. The cause of the crash is under investigation. When the vehicle came to rest, the sign was resting on top of it. TxDOT crews were called to attempt repairs or erect temporary signage.
Officer Dallas Early and 
Sgt. Darrell Newman spoke to several witnesses at the crash scene. 

TxDOT to hold I-69 open house in Cleveland Thursday

AUSTIN—The I-69 Segment Two Committee will host an open house this week to give Texans another opportunity to talk to members and to comment on the group’s recommendations and priorities for the development of I-69.

Citizens are invited to attend Thursday’s open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Civic Center, 210 Peach Avenue. No presentation will be given so citizen can come and go at their convenience. 

The informal setting is designed to give people a chance to talk to committee members and provide feedback on proposed recommendations.

Background information will be available on the purpose and history of the I-69 Advisory Committee as well as the five I-69 Segment Committees. Also available for viewing will be an I-69 informational video and maps with the Segment Two Committee’s preliminary comments, recommendations and priorities. Citizens are encouraged to review the maps and contribute ideas and feedback. 

“Citizen input and participation is important in the Segment Committee process,” said Andy Dill, Segment Two Committee member and President of the Community Chamber of Commerce of East Montgomery County.  

“I encourage citizens to attend the open house because their comments and ideas will be used in the Committee’s final recommendations.” 

The I-69 Segment Two Committee is one of five regional citizen advisory groups meeting throughout the I-69 system to help the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plan projects along the route to meet local and regional needs and improve mobility throughout the area.  Committee members represent Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO), cities and counties and other groups with an interest in transportation such as chambers of commerce and economic development organizations.

Members of the five segment committee’s will finalize priorities and recommendations later this year and submit a report to the I-69 Advisory Committee. 

The advisory committee will use the recommendations to craft a plan to guide I-69 development in Texas. This plan will then be presented to the Texas Transportation Commission. 

Visit www.txdot.gov/DrivenByTexans or call 512 334-3841 to learn more about I-69 Texas and how to submit comments.

I-69 Segment Two Committee Open House

Thursday, November 3, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Cleveland Civic Center

210 Peach Avenue

Cleveland, TX