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Friday, 17 February 2012 20:30 |
By Krystle Taylor
Editor
HUGO –– After a two-day long trial, a Choctaw County jury found Bryan Houston Daniel guilty on Wednesday of possessing material with the intent to manufacture CDS and conspiracy in March, 2011.
The seven-man, five woman jury deliberated for almost two hours before returning to the court of presiding judge Jana Wallace to announce the verdict. Prosecuting the case was assistant District Attorney Cheryl Cerda.
“A lot of credit goes to the employees of Wal-Mart for doing a very good job of paying attention and taking the proper steps in notifying HPD, who also did a great job of investigating and considering the seriousness of this case. The jury gets a lot of credit as well. Their’s was not an easy task. It is not a simple decision to make,” Cerda said.
According to officers’ statements from the Hugo Police Department, Daniel was witnessed by Wal-Mart employees shoplifting lithium batteries on March 9, 2011. Daniel also, reports stated, purchased pills containing pseudo-ephedrine, which are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. After further search of the subject’s vehicle, Hugo Police found other ingredients used for the manufacture of controlled substances, reports stated.
Daniels was sentenced to 14 years for the charge of possession of material with the intent to manufacture CDS and fined $5,000 for conspiracy. |
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Friday, 03 February 2012 17:17 |
By Karen Lyles
Hugo School Superintendent
Growing up, my mother would say to me when she saw a run-down building or house, “They need to jack that up and run another one under it.” Don’t you wish we could do that at Hugo High School?
In 1930, when my mother graduated from Hugo High School, it was not new. Can you imagine the deterioration that has occurred over the years?
If you have not been in Hugo High School in several years, I encourage you, the citizens of Hugo, to go take a tour.
Mr. Stamper addressed some of the structural problems in his editorial last week. Is it wise to keep putting more and more dollars into an unsound building?
Daily, the majority of our students spend a minimum of seven hours in HHS. The safety of these students should be a major concern of all parents and our community.
Conditions on the basement floor include a boiler so antiquated parts cannot be purchased. When it breaks, parts have to be manufactured because it is so old they are no longer available. The flooring through the hall has rotted in places and has had to be reinforced but cannot be leveled. The one useable student restroom is also on this floor, five stalls each, accessible through a hallway so small two people cannot pass. Students on the third floor have to go to the basement to the restroom.
No doors will close as the building has shifted. In one room, water seeps through the walls during a heavy rain storm. Cracks are readily visible throughout the basement.
The main floor has cracks that have been plastered again and again, and are still cracked. Doors will not close as the building has shifted. A crack in the north wall runs from roof to the ground. Plaster has fallen from one classroom, forcing the teacher to move to another classroom. The outside doors have to be chained at night after everyone leaves the building because none of them will lock. Use of computers on the main floor is a continuing problem—the building isn’t wired for the technology. One of the leaks on this floor is over the main frame computer station. At the present, a heavy piece of plastic serves as a funnel to prevent flooding of equipment. Another leak is over a science classroom. Ceiling tiles are constantly being replaced. Repairing the roof is a major problem as there are three different roof types on this building. The oldest part has a foam roof; the newer part a vinyl one; and the gym area roof is metal.
The third floor has many of the same issues. Heating and cooling issues abound on this floor. It may be warm on the first floor still cold on the third. This floor too, has issues with cracks, uneven flooring, lack of access to technology, and leaks.
In spite of all the problems and safety hazards mentioned, Hugo High school has many dedicated teachers. They teach in this facility that is more than 90 years old, move around puddles, over wires, and either freeze or melt depending on the season, and do so without complaints.
We know they are effective because we have graduates who attend major universities and colleges and compete with the best of the best. They are to be commended for their dedication.
Our school district was fortunate to reach a settlement with Siemens’. The settlement has allowed us to pay off two major debts incurred during the year of the mold issue. We are being very conservative and hopefully can build up a fund balance so when school begins in August, we can meet payroll and survive until state aid is received.
Our current budget does not in any way generate money for a new school. Districts now have to rely on passing bond(s) to build schools.
I hope you will agree with me; our students deserve a much better facility than what we are offering. Will you be a part of the solution?
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Wednesday, 08 February 2012 17:37 |
By Krystle Taylor
Editor
HUGO –– Members of the Hugo City Council addressed concerns from citizens regarding an incident that occurred at Hugo High School on Jan. 30.
According to the reporting parties, five juveniles, who were suspended from school, jumped and assaulted another student as school was ending, and are continuing to threaten and harass said student.
Citizens, as well as Hugo superintendent, Karen Lyles and high school principal, Doyle Patterson asked the council for police assistance and security at the high school. The school administration and the city officials are looking to apply for grants that would make it possible to employ a security guard at the school.
A possibility of lowering the city curfew and enforcing a fine to the parents for their children’s bad behavior was discussed. The members of the council agreed to have an officer patrol the school and surrounding area when the final bell rings.
Councilman Layton Cox assured the concerned audience that all of the concerns will be followed up on. “It takes citizens working with the police department to get this under control. We will stand together and fix this problem,” Cox said.
After hearing a proposal from code enforcement officer Ricky Britt, the council approved his request to go out for bids for the demolition of condemned property.
Thirty dwellings are on the list to be demolished. By hiring an outside source, it would leave the street department free to continue work on the street projects, Britt said. The council approved Britt’s request, with the stipulation that one bidder will get the entire job, and will get paid upon completion of each individual structure.
The condemned property includes:
• 510 S. H.
• 509 N. A.
• 511 N. A.
• 706 E. Trice.
• 501 N. H.
• 1104 W. Duke.
• 311 W. Sterrett.
• 802 S. H.
• 1102 N. G.
• 1005 E. Medlock.
• 200 block of W. Central.
• 801 N. I.
• 607 S. D.
• 910 W. Jackson.
• 204 N. J.
• 111 Broad.
• 614 S. Second.
• 610 S. Second.
• 302 S. Webb.
• 708 S. C.
• 808 S. J.
• 803 N. J.
• 1110 S. K.
• 1204 W. Second.
• 708 W. Dalton.
• 509 N. Broadway.
• 303 & 305 S. Third.
• 1010 MLK.
• 312 S. Dewitt.
• 1106 S. C.
Action regarding the approval for a tourism coordinator was approved by the council, with payment totaling $300 a month for three months with an additional $100 for each two-day event that is booked. This is only required for an event that hasn’t been previously booked by the city of Hugo.
Also approved by the council was the $74,200.76 payment to W. Brown for the sewer project lift station that was installed east of Highway 70 and Highway 93.
Council members discussed the possibility of renaming softball field No. 4 during lat night’s meeting and after a motion by councilman Bart Tedder, it was approved to rename it. In recognition for his efforts and commitment in the building and funding of this field, the Hugo city council designates softball field No. 4 at Walter Leonard Park as the Stan (Stanford) Payne Softball Field.
Another proclamation was approved by the council during the meeting regarding Hugo resident Cecil Bell. Bell was born Feb. 19, 1922 and courageously served our military with 511 days of combat, eight major battles, five invasions with the 45th Division General Patton and on occasion of the 90th birthday of Bell, the city of Hugo proclaimed Feb. 19, 2012 as Cecil Bell Day.
Approved by the council were the minutes of the Jan. 17 meeting, financial statements and purchase order lists. Hugo mayor Stan Payne and city attorney Gary Brownsworth were absent.
Hugo
Municipal Authority
Meeting
The Hugo Municipal Authority met in regular session Tuesday night to discuss the repair of headworks at the sewer plant. According to city manager, Jeff Rabon, all the parts to repair the headworks are available at the plant.
The item was tabled to allow the mechanic, who is on medical leave, a little more time to get released. If the mechanic is not cleared by his physician, the council will have to hire out the job for around $16,000.
Approved by the council were the minutes of the Jan. 17 meeting.
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Friday, 27 January 2012 19:36 |
By Krystle Taylor
Editor
HUGO –– City of Hugo residents may have noticed a change on their water bills this month, that includes an extra $1 contribution or donation to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Members of the Hugo City Council voted last November to add a new line item to the monthly water bills to allow willing residents to make a $1 contribution to Parks and Recreation. The extra proceeds will be used for upgrading park facilities and city streets and electricity payments for the street lights throughout downtown Hugo.
This voluntary donation appeared on this week’s water bill, but was not clear on the breakdown of charges due to a temporary malfunction. City manager, Jeff Rabon is working with the computer programmer to develop a better format and breakdown so that the residents of Hugo will have a more clear understanding of how this voluntary program will work.
Anyone with questions is asked to contact the Water Department at 580.326.2344. |
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