January 4, 2010

Pilot looks back at 2009 news makers

By BECCA MURPHEY

In the newspaper business the good, the bad and the ugly always make the headlines. There are those headlines that inspire, those that anger, and still others that make your heart ache.

In 2009 the Cedar Creek Pilot had a little of each, and is taking a look back at those headlines that moved us.

Whether it be family or business, prayers answered or dreams lost, the Pilot was there to bring those stories to the homes of our readers.

For one local family, 2009 ended the 15 year run of unanswered questions. The main question, who killed little Kasey Roberts and his grandmother Robbie Biggar?

For most of us from the area the 1994 murder of 23 month old Kasey Roberts and his grandmother, 53 year old Robbie Jean Biggar of Lancaster, remains in our minds.

This year brought those much needed answers and closure to the child’s parents, former Mabank police officer Kevin Roberts and his wife Cheryl.

The arrest of Galen Boyd, 48 of Katy, and the formal charge brought against Larry Samples, 61, boyfriend of the late Mrs. Biggar, said it all.

Boyd and Samples were both charged with the double murder after two of Boyd’s ex-girlfriends told authorities that he had bragged to them about being responsible.

And, although Samples was a prime suspect from the beginning, investigators could not arrest him due to a lack of evidence linking him to the crime.

This year ended the questioning and allowed the healing process to begin.

At the Cedar Creek Pilot, the staff started the year on a mission of their own; a rescue mission.

Five tiny kittens were abandoned at the back door of the newspaper office. Some were easy to catch and happy to be rescued.

And a couple were not. They tried hard to get away, but to no avail.

The staff was intent on saving the lives of these kittens, and worked together to reach them all sitting on top of the retaining wall.

After all of them were in the hands of their rescuers, one of the staff members called Tina Hamilton of Happy Tails to help out.

Hamilton came and picked up the little critters, and within one day all had been adopted into new homes.

Bealls Department Store found a new home this year.

In April, the store moved into its new location just two doors down in the Gun Barrel Village Shopping Center.

The space was a larger and much nicer one than their previous home, and it allowed them to offer their customers a larger product line.

Other businesses who found themselves in a new location, Main Street Grill opened in what was previously Shuck-a-peel on Highway 334, and Vicki’s Steak and Seafood claimed the space formerly known as The Alamo Mexican Restaurant.

Local business, Tri-County Ford, stands as an example to businesses new and old, that perseverance and hard work can pay off.

The locally owned car dealership celebrated it’s 75th year of business in the lake area.

Other local entities, like the Volunteer Fire Departments in Tool, were undecided as to whether this year brought positive or negative changes.

Depending on who is asked, the creation of the City of Tool Volunteer Fire Department, not to be confused with the Volunteer Fire Department within the Emergency Service District No. 4, could or could not be of great value to the community.

After six years of tax payers money funding two-thirds of the costs for the District No. 4 Volunteer Fire Department, there are those in the city that feel the citizens money will now be better focused on the specific needs of the city and it’s residents.

Although, the new volunteer fire department has received help from fire departments in neighboring towns, some members still feel that the division was a mistake.

There are those for whom 2009, unfortunately, did not bring about positive change.

Fuddruckers, the national restaurant chain, did not last but a few months before closing it’s doors permanently.

For some, the closing of Klassie Kennels, the puppy mill raided in Kaufman County, was unfortunate, but for others it was a blessing.

When Margaret Boyd, 72, asked for help feeding her animals she had no idea what that would lead too.

The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake and the Humane Society of the United States along with numerous volunteers, rescued over 500 dogs and cats from Boyd’s property.

Many of the animals were ill and dying, and had to be put to sleep.

Others were transported to shelters all over the country to be rehabilitated and adopted into loving homes.

Boyd however, faced animal cruelty charges, and lost her business as a result.

Saving the lives of innocent animals is an act that this community steps up to take part in.

The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake found itself almost out food, and in desperate need of help.

After WFAA News Channel 8 publicized the need, an outpouring of support came from all over the community.

The shelter, located in Tool, received food and monetary donations, but most importantly adopted out 25 animals over two days time.

Other locals were not discouraged by the closure of Fuddruckers, nor any of the local businesses, and brought their businesses right in.

Hibbett Sports in Gun Barrel City and Tony’s Pizza in Seven Points opened for business this year as well as Fiesta Grill in Mabank.

Although Fiesta Grill recently suffered an electrical fire, owners were not deterred.

They continue to offer their customers great Mexican food at a reasonable price.

This ‘year of change’ affects those locally and nationally, and one lake area youth got to experience that national change first hand.

Dalton Simeone, a 16 year old Malakoff student, witnessed in person the inauguration of the 44th president, who just happened to make history as the United States first black president.

And, unlike most, the Cedar Creek  Pilot had Simeone as an inside source, keeping the staff updated via text message as to the goings on in Washington D.C.

Simeone was chosen as one of 7,500 high school students nation wide participating in the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference.

Those students traveled to Washington D.C. to not only witness history, but also attend conferences and hear speeches from prominent leaders such as former Secretary of State General Colin L. Powell (Ret.), former vice president and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore and others.

An experience that most can only imagine, but will never get.

The year of beginnings is not over for Simeone yet.

Later in the year, the high school junior found out that he had been accepted to one of the best military academies in the nation, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.

Like Simeone, former Eustace student Chris Underhill found 2009 to be full of opportunity.

Underhill joined the Army National Guard, was quickly promoted to the rank of Specialist, and was getting ready to fight for his country in Afghanistan.

This came as a surprise to some because for them Underhill was remembered as the kid who made a “hit list” at school.

Although there never was any such list, it took attorney Brian Schmidt 46 days to get Underhill released from Henderson County Jail.

The teenager spent his 19th birthday in jail, but would not be dissuaded.

He would not let false accusations stop him from reaching his goal of representing his country at war time.

There are those in this community who do not think twice about helping those around them and expect nothing in return.

In February, The Make-A-Wish foundation, Frances Collier of Fairfield, and three employees from Wal Mart helped make Malakoff Senior Amanda Morrison’s dream of a boat trip a reality.

The eighteen year old was born with PVL, a form of cerebral palsy.

Over the course of her lifetime she has developed scoliosis and is now legally blind. Those few hurdles did not stop her from doing the things she likes, including boating on Cedar Creek Lake with family and friends.

Amanda and her family left Galveston on Valentine’s Day headed for Cozumel, Mexico, and then on to the Bahamas.

That small act of kindness may seem insignificant to some, but to others, especially the Morrison family, the sentiment spoke volumes.

Judge Dan Moore spoke volumes with the words “not guilty” on the evening of Friday, January 30.

Eustace Mayor Laura Ward had waited more than a year for the verdict after being charged with assault, a second-degree felony, and she faced 20 years in prison.

Ward was accused of punching Trisena Mooring, 30, causing her to fall and hit her head on the concrete sustaining a near-fatal head injury at a local bar and grill.

Supporters in the courtroom looked on as Ward and her husband, Jack, embraced and thanked the jury for their decision.

In 2009, Cedar Creek Pilot readers encountered an abundance of community news, some good and some bad.

The staff at the Pilot read through all the headlines for the year and voted on the ones we felt were the top five.

Those stories can be found on the front page.

E-mail Becca Murphey at reporter@cedarcreekpilot.com