031013 1 man, 2 entities 220500 open records requests

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the sunday

lufkin news

march 10, 2013

sports

Questions answered Through the first two days of the Pete Runnels Tournament, Lufkin’s biggest question mark was at the plate, where it had been held to a total of seven runs in three games. On Saturday, those problems were no issue for the Panthers as they banged out 13 runs on 12 hits en route to a 13-3 romp over Marshall. PAGE 1C

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open records

1 man, 2 entities: 220,500 open records requests Officials with city, health district say emailed requests crashed computers

By STEVE KNIGHT The Lufkin News A Lufkin man claims to have made open records requests with the city of Lufkin and the Angelina County and Cities Health District for more than 200,000 documents that he believes to be

■ Editorial: Sunshine Week

Page 2D

relevant to convicted serial killer Kimberly Saenz’s case. Representatives of both public entities said the emailed requests crashed

their computers. David Stua, who has made hundreds of open records requests using the Texas Public Information Act to several municipalities and other governmental

bodies in Angelina County in the last couple of years, told The Lufkin News he requested 126,000 records from the city of Lufkin and 94,500 from the Angelina County and Cities Health Dis-

trict. An Angelina County jury in April 2012 convicted Saenz of killing five dialysis patients by injecting them with bleach and sentenced her to life in prison with no chance of parole. The case is

community

under appeal. “I want to try to find exculpatory evidence to free Kim,” Stua said. “With the city of Lufkin, the police department is where the records are being requested from. They concern text messagSEE RECORDS, PAGE 3A

business

‘Restaurant Impossible’ chef cooking up a surprise Host of Food Network show mum about changes at Bryan’s Smokehouse By RHONDA OAKS The Lufkin News

day that will keep them busy and keep them having fun. Art activities that are planned will include painting, drawing and clay molding, so there is something

The commotion at the corner of Denman Avenue and Timberland Drive in Lufkin on Saturday wasn’t simply a little remodeling going on at Bryan’s Smokehouse. It was the filming of an episode of the realirvine ity show, ‘‘Restaurant Impossible,’’ which airs on the Food Network. As dozens of onlookers crowded near the orange-coned areas along the edges of the streets trying to get a glimpse of network stars and officials, volunteer workers were busy demolishing and rebuilding the longtime restaurant that Chef Robert Irvine, host of “Restaurant

SEE SPRING BREAK, PAGE 3A

SEE RESTAURANT, PAGE 3A

Andy Adams/The Lufkin News

Doyle Wright of Lufkin walks with his fishing poles alongside the Z&OO Railroad train as it crosses Ellen Trout Lake on Saturday afternoon. The zoo and other Lufkin attractions — including the Museum of East Texas, the Texas Forestry Museum and the Naranjo Museum of Natural History — will be open to spring break visitors throughout the week.

Attractions plan kid-friendly events for spring break

By RHONDA OAKS The Lufkin News

here in Lufkin for plenty of opportunities that promise to take up the hours and create a few memories. Parents who may be looking to keep J.P. McDonald, executive director of their spring breakers busy this week The Museum of East Texas, said the muwon’t have to look any further than right seum offers events beginning today that

will be fun-filled for young and old. “We always want to see the children come in on spring break,” she said. “We really look forward to seeing them, and we want them to come to the museum anytime. We have something every

community

Lufkin woman offering a daily prayer to help comfort her fellow man one phone call at a time By JESSICA COOLEY The Lufkin News At 80 years old, Lufkinite Emmie Leach said she felt she was being called by God to do something to help her fellow man. After a lot of thought and prayer, she had her son Phillip, who is a minister, help her to set up a toll-free prayer hotline — “A Daily Prayer for You.” “I’m 80 years old and this is way beyond me technologically,” she said with a laugh. “My son tends to all of this for me.”

Every day Emmie calls in to a company her son found online to record a new prayer, usually out of the Book of Matthew, guided by what she feels God has put on her heart. “I felt in my heart the Lord was calling me to do this, and I’ve put it all in his hands. I try to listen each day and put a prayer that will be meaningful — applying scripture to real life,” she said. “The messages are very simple and very short. I don’t imagine a call would last more than three minutes.” While she hopes her service will be helpful to anyone, she said her mission

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60 61 60 55 Co mp l ete fo re cast, Page 7A

Books & Travel.......................... 5E Bridal Page............................... 2E Charm Lifestyle......................... 1E Classified...............................1-6F Crossword................................. 4E

Dear Abby.................................. 4E East Texas............................. 1-4B Janice Ann Rowe.......................1B On the Record........................... 5A Opinion.....................................2D

JESSICA COOLEY/The Lufkin News

From her Southwood Drive home, 80-year-old Emmie Leach is helping her fellow SEE PRAYER, PAGE 3A man one phone message at a time. The toll-free number is (888) 664-8792.

Index

Today’s weather 8 a.m.

is to target those who may be ill and confined to their homes. “My whole point in this was to get to people who are homebound, in nursing homes — people who can’t get to church. I know how that would help some people,” she said. “I’ve been trying to get my cards out to nursing homes, the hospitals, home health and hospice.” She originally wanted to remain anonymous, but after some encouragement from her son she opted to get the word out by sitting down with The

Outdoors...................................6C Sports................................... 1-8C TV Listings.......................... 1-20G Weather..................................... 7A

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for meritorious public service Volume 107 No. 34 56 Pages © The Lufkin Daily News

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time change

Did you remember? Daylight saving time begins. Did you remember to set your clock forward one hour this morning? Clocks fall back when standard time returns.


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031013 1 man, 2 entities 220500 open records requests by Beverly Johnson - Issuu