Spring Fling Flowers Page 8-A
: apert Ads P s ’ day en In To ploym an Em re Th s! 21 o M n g Fillin itio
Ricebird gridders looking ahead to 2014 season
Page 1-B
Pos 2 5
www.leader-news.com
Copyright ® 2014
VOLUME 130 NUMBER 1 • SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014
2 arrested in murder of EC grad
75¢
14 PAGES, 3 INSERTS
High-Speed Chase Leads To Arrest
By NATALIE FRELS news@leader-news.com
Two suspects have been arrested and charged with first degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Caleb Ormand, whose body was found on County Road 216 near the El Lobo addition early Tuesday morning. John Anthony Castro, 18, of Wharton was taken into custody by the Wharton County Sheriff’s Department and charged around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. The following morning, officials arrested and charged Ryan Edward Belasquez, 17, also of Wharton. Both suspects were taken into custody just 48 hours after investigators arrived at the scene at 8:08 a.m. after a passerby spotted Ormand’s body from the road and alerted authorities. Belasquez, a minor, and Castro will both be tried as adults, District Attorney Ross Kurtz said. The Travis County Medical Examiners Office determined that Or(See MURDER, Page 7-A)
Inside: Taking Suspect Into Custody Pierce Station Department of Public Safety Trooper Justin Nixon (center) assists as Fort Bend County sheriff’s deputies handcuff the driver of this Lexus sedan Tuesday afternoon. The vehicle was pursued from near Beasley in Fort Bend County to the Hillje area before shots fired into the rear tires brought it to a halt. Photo Courtesy DPS
2-county chase ends with trooper’s shots LEADER-NEWS B-DAY
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com
Your hometown newspaper celebrates its 130th year of existence in the community with this edition. Though the mastheads have changed, our commitment to relevant coverage of our area has stayed the same.
Six shots fired from a highway patrol sergeant’s pistol Tuesday brought a two-county vehicle chase to an end near Hillje. Once the fleeing 2000 Lexus sedan was stopped, law enforcers were able to take the lone occupant – 32-year-old Eduvige Perez of Goliad – into custody without incident. The chase started in Fort Bend County at 12:04 p.m. “One of our deputies saw a 2000 Lexus speed past him and he attempted to stop the vehicle at the intersection of U.S. 59 Southbound and FM 360 in Beasley,” said Bob Haenel, public information officer for the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department. But the Lexus didn’t pull over and the chase
– SEE PAGE 3-A ALSO INSIDE: VIEWPOINT .....................................Page 4-A OBITUARIES ....................................Page 7-A SPORTS.............................................Page 1-B LIFESTYLE ........................................Page 3-B CHURCH LISTINGS .........................Page 4-B CLASSIFIEDS & REAL ESTATE.......Page 5-B
LOCAL WEATHER SATURDAY
Chance of Showers DAY: 30% HIGH: 73º NIGHT: 30% LOW: 62º
SUNDAY
Chance of Thunderstorms DAY: 20% HIGH: 65º NIGHT: 20% LOW: 42º
MONDAY
Mostly Sunny DAY: 0% NIGHT: 0%
HIGH: 65º LOW: 48º
TUESDAY Sunny DAY: 0% NIGHT: 0%
HIGH: 75º LOW: 54º
LAST WEEK: AVG. HIGH: 68º • AVG. LOW: 49º
R AIN G AUGE
Last 7 Days............................... .17 In.
Last 30 Days........................... 1.26 In. Same Time In '13 ....................... .33 In.
Year To Date .......................... 3.39 In. Year To Date '13 ...................... 5.24 In. Data Collected by LCRA at El Campo Memorial Hospital
B URN B AN : LIFTED COUNTY’S MEAN KBDI: 205 Burn Ban is put into effect when the mean KBDI reaches or goes above 500.
was on. After traveling about five miles on U.S. 59 through the western portion of Fort Bend County, the pursuit crossed into Wharton County. “The suspect exited the highway several times, taking several side roads and then getting back onto U.S. 59 Southbound,” Haenel said. Wharton County Sheriff’s deputies and Pierce station Department of Public Safety troopers joined in as it passed through the Hungerford area, Wharton, Pierce and headed for El Campo. “We had five units that jumped in to help,” DPS Sgt. Matt Ochoa said Tuesday. As the chase reached El Campo, “the fleeing suspect reached speeds in excess of 110 mph and utilized both improved shoulders to over-
EC citizen planners to examine high school
take and pass southbound vehicles nearly causing several crashes,” he added. El Campo police deployed a spike strip in an effort to stop the racing Lexus, but its driver was able to swerve off the main lanes and avoid it, the sergeant said. At that point, pursuers, communicating among themselves and their agencies, made the decision to bring the chase to a halt as quickly as possible. “We didn’t want it to keep going,” Ochoa said. “Eventually, he was going to kill himself or somebody else.” Ochoa got ahead of the pursuit pack as it passed through El Campo, brought his vehicle almost level with the suspect’s and pulled his Sig Sauer .357 pistol. (See DRIVER, Page 6-A)
Spring Break Fun
By JODY LARIMER reporter@leader-news.com
El Campo ISD’s community facilities advisory committee will visit campus facilities to assess possible renovations necessary at Tuesday’s meeting. “We will meet at the high school,” Superintendent Mark Pool said. “We will look at the high school auditorium, library and the athletic facilities.” The group consists of four subcommittees focusing on elementary schools, finances, FFA project center and fine arts. The finance subcommittee will be given information shared at the last board meeting regarding current funds available for projects, Pool said. Several scenarios are currently being reviewed and could add additional funds for project work. The (See COMMITTEES, Page 7-A)
For The Birds Several local businesses planned activities for kids on spring break this week and on Tuesday several showed up at the El Campo Museum and were taught how to make bird feeders. Pictured from left are Haylee Hermenitt, Daniel DeLuna, Sarah Thaysen and Alexis Contreras. L-N Photo by Jody Larimer
Page 6-A
El Campo Leader-News • Saturday, March 15, 2014
COMMUNITY
Express Inc. CONTRACTORS NEEDED!
Goerig leaving MCMC staff
By JODY LARIMER reporter@leader-news.com
Mid Coast Medical Clinic family doctor Brian Goerig is leaving his hometown after nearly eight years, accepting a position in College Station. “I’m happy about where we’re going,” Goerig told the Leader-News Monday. “But it’s really bittersweet. I have greatly enjoyed the time I have worked in El Campo. I consider it a blessing that for almost the last eight years I was able to work with such great patients. I truly loved going to work each day. I also enjoyed being a team doctor for the Ricebirds. “I am sad that changes in the way health care and hospitals are managed have forced me to make the decision to leave my hometown.” Goerig, his wife and three children “with another one on the way,” will be transferring to College Station Medical Center later this year. “I’ll be working at one of their clinics and working with one of their hospitals as well,” Goerig said. He will remain at Mid Coast until the end of May and said they have been busy letting patients know about the change. “We’ve been telling our patients and, at some point, an official letter will go out,” Goerig said. El Campo Medical Hospital CEO Tisha Zalman confirmed the pending letter. “A formal announcement will be published in the local newspaper and patients will receive a letter explaining their options,” Zalman said. “As usual, the patients have the option of selecting another provider at our clinic or choosing a provider somewhere else for which, at the patient’s request, we will transfer their
medical records.” However, whether or not a replacement is needed and to what capacity is still being considered. “At this time, the board has not made a decision on the replacement of Dr. Goerig’s position,” Zalman told the LeaderNews Tuesday. “We wish Dr. Goerig and his family much success and happiness in their new location.” Goerig also serves as medical director for the El Campo EMS and, for now, he will keep this post. “At this time, Dr. Goerig has agreed to stay on as the medical director for El Campo EMS,” EMS Director Chase Nielsen said. “With technology available today, very few requirements of a medical director require a certain geographical proximity. Dr. Goerig will still be available to teach CE (Continuing Education) periodically throughout the year. Paperwork can mostly be handled online as well as his review of our patient care reports. El Campo EMS will continue to keep our eyes open for a local doctor who would like to serve as medical director, but we are not up against the clock so to speak.” Originally from El Campo, Goerig graduated from ECISD in 1994, then attended Texas A&M for four years followed by medical school at Texas Tech in Lubbock. The West Wharton County Hospital District and the state of Texas shared the expense of Goerig’s medical education in exchange for a four-year contract. When asked if he might return someday, Goerig said, “Never say never. I will always have strong ties to this community, as my family still lives here, and it will always be my hometown.”
What’s Up Doc?
of El Campo welcomes guest speaker:
Lieutenant General
Ricardo S. Sanchez U.S. Army Retired to the
L-N Photo by Jody Larimer
Go Painlessly® with THERA-GESIC.
THG-12902
“We got out of town to make sure there was not a lot of traffic,” Ochoa said, adding this decision was made to ensure public safety. “I fired three shots into the right rear tire,” Ochoa said, adding the tire blew out, but the Lexus driver didn’t stop. Moving to the opposite side of the suspect vehicle, the sergeant – taking aim through his own passenger side window – fired three additional shots. These struck the left rear tire, blowing it out as well. At that point, Perez lost control and the vehicle slid to a stop in a Hillje-area ditch at 12:32 p.m. near the intersection with CR 315. Neither Perez nor any law enforcers were injured during the chase, but the suspect reportedly suffered a seizure after being taken into custody.
He was transported to El Campo Memorial Hospital for assessment and treatment before being released to Fort Bend County Sheriff’s deputies. Perez was booked into the Fort Bend County Jail in Richmond at 7:53 p.m. Tuesday on charges of evading arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while license invalid. Agencies assisting Fort Bend County deputies in the pursuit included DPS, Wharton County Sheriff’s Office, Wharton City Police Department and El Campo Police Department. As of press time, Perez is still being held at the Fort Bend County Jail on a $2,000 bond, Haenel said. He is charged with evading arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with no license.
***Best FSC in the Industry, No Agents or Brokers, Paid Permits/ Escorts, Advancement Opportunities, a CSA favorable company*** Get on board with a proven leader today! Call Erik or Nicole at 1-800-669-6414 or apply at www.dailyrecruiting.com
Dr. Brian Goerig (r) discusses a patient with LVN Raessa Korenek. Goerig will be leaving Mid Coast Medical Clinic at the end of May, after nearly eight years, to take a position in College Station.
—Driver held on $2k bond (Continued from Page 1-A)
Daily Express, a leader in Heavy Haul and Specialized Transportation, is in need of safe & skilled Contractors to pull our step-deck and lowboy trailers! We now offer 3 eets! NEW Daily Expedited – An open Deck High Mileage Division of Daily Express. Daily Heavy Haul – Oversize & Overweight, the standard for quality within the heavy haul and oversize industry. Special Equipment – 100% heavy & 100% oversized, an elite operation moving 7-13 axle combinations. Have your own Step-deck or RGN? Bring it on board or pull company trailers AT NO COST!
Maximum strength analgesic creme for temporary relief from: • Joint and Muscle soreness • Arthritis • Back aches
READ IT! YOUR WAY
Home Delivery • e-Edition • Leader-News website
More services at no additional cost to subscribers.
22nd Annual Scholarship Banquet El Campo CiviC CEntEr
Saturday, april 5, 2014 Tickets $15.00 per person Gold Tables $300 Reserved Tables $150 Doors open at 6:00 p.m. / Dinner & Program 7:00 p.m. For tickets please call Bobby Perez 979-257-9288 Mary Arredondo 979-541-6271 or any HEP member Net proceeds benefit the Hispanic Education Project Scholarship Fund
TPA Division 5 Newspaper of the Year