Advocate 9 08 15 final

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E V E R Y T H I N G ' S

O N L I N E

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

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Local Postal Customer

GeorgetownAdvocate @Advocate_TX

W W W . W I L C O O N L I N E . C O M

Central Texas’ Award-Winning Local News Source

JP3 Court Expunges 2200 Countywide Truancy Records HOUSE BILL 2794 GOES INTO ACTION Page 3

Georgetown Police Chief Wayne Nero, and “Thank Blue” organizer Mac Byneham

Citizens Can

THANK BLUE

Saturday at San Gabriel Park

CUTTING EDGE EMS Page 4

On Saturday, September 12,

between 4 and 8 p.m. at the Community Center in San Gabriel Park a “Thank Blue” event will be held so that the Georgetown community can show its support for the Georgetown Police Department. This informal gathering will allow citizens the opportunity to meet the men and women of Georgetown law enforcement individually in order to thank them for their dedicated service in keeping Georgetown one of the safest cities in Texas. Local resident Mac Byneham, a retiree living in Georgetown, came up with an idea for an event that would give the community an opportunity to thank the Georgetown police officers for the good work they do each day. According to Mr. Byneham, he started thinking about doing something for our local police after seeing “some national stories coming out of Ferguson, Missouri and other places, which in some cases, lead to protests that injured people and destroyed property. I believed that police in general were being unfairly criticized and something See Blue, page 3

In a historic move, on

September 3, Williamson County Attorney Dee Hobbs presented 2018 truancy records and nearly 200 additional cases related to or resulting from truancy charges to Judge Bill Gravell for expunction. The Texas Legislature voted to decriminalize truancy beginning September 1, 2015. The more than two-decadesold law witnessed tens of thousands of children ticketed for their unexcused absences. As a result of truancy, many of them now have criminal records. Mr. Hobbs was joined

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at the County’s table by Georgetown ISD Superintendent Dr. Fred Brent, Florence ISD Superintendent Paul Michalewicz, and Jarrell ISD Superintendent Dr. Bill Chapman. Judge Gravell thanked the superintendents for their efforts to this point, which have again put Williamson County in the forefront of reform, and begun to influence other ISDs across the state. “This has been a contentious matter however,” Hobbs said. “The Legislature has created new laws and this law will soon be in effect. As this Court will, all

Top: County Attorney Dee Hobbs, Terra Tucker and Judge Bill Gravell. Inset: Jarrell ISD Superintendent Dr. Bill Chapman

KING’S CAMPAIGN KICKOFF Page 9

Courts in Texas should follow the new laws. In the interest of justice and to protect our children, our Court will be expunging and dismissing all cases filed prior to September 1, 2015. We are excited about the new truancy laws going forward to protect our kids,” stated Judge Bill Gravell. “I am extremely proud of the way Williamson County Judges have handled truancy cases in

this county. The Judges have proven over time they are about solving problems regarding truancy without sacrificing the best interest of the student. Today reinforces my faith in Judges’ ability to exceed expectations when dealing with the youth of Williamson County. The Legislature passed new laws this session that give courts new tools

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