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Empire-Tribune STEPHENVILLE
Your Community. Your News. Your Website: www.yourstephenvilletx.com
F r iday, July 2 7, 2012
The opening ceremonies of the London Olympics, “Isles of Wonder,” will air tonight, and area residents are looking forward to watching the world’s foremost athletes compete in 32 sports, ranging from canoeing to diving and wrestling to fencing. Staff Writer Micah Moore hit the streets and asked residents what is their favorite summer Olympic sport.
VIDEO EXTRA
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Chris Chew
Amber James
Jennifer Flores
Sharon Mainord
Debby James
75 cen t s
ELECTION 2012
Residents ready for Olympic Summer Games
Peggy Ballard
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STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS H CITY OF CHAMPIONS
MAN ON THE STREET
Joe Cooper
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Joe Cooper I had two high school buddies involved in swimming. Ronnie Mills won gold in freestyle. He was a friend of mine at Arlington Heights High School in the late 60s. The stamina it takes to do that sport and all they do to get ready in training is amazing, so I always watch the swimming competitions. Peggy Ballard Of course the opening and closing ceremonies are fantastic. It’s always so amazing to see all that energy they put out to do all of this and get a glimpse of the home country. It will be interesting to see what London has to offer Friday night. And the swimming competition is my favorite. Chris Chew I will be watching soccer. I really enjoy the Europe championships and I am anxious to see how the U.S. fares against some of those teams, especially Spain. Amber James Gymnastic and tumbling is the best part of the Summer Games. I do some tumbling myself and it takes a lot of hard work to compete at their level to be the best in the world. Timing is always difficult and it’s exciting to see the gymnast perform. They have to have everything spot on. Jennifer Flores I never miss the track and field events. I used to run track myself and the races are so suspenseful. You have your favorites picked going into the races and I can’t breathe the entire time they’re running. Track displays athleticism more so than any other sport. It amazes me that people can be so athletic. Sharon Mainord I’m looking forward to sand volleyball the most. My daughter Allee and I love watching it together. We think the girls are some of the most extreme athletes. Sand volleyball is always the funnest to watch, but we are also watching swimming and equestrian. Debby James I love watching swimming. The diving is very impressive and I like to watch how fast they can actually swim, especially the turns. You know they have put so many hours into it and it’s heartbreaking when the swimmers aren’t able to fulfill their Olympic dreams.
Last day to cast early ballot
Turnout higher than expected in runoff BY SARA VANDEN BERGE
sara.vandenberge@empiretribune.com
Things have been steady at the Erath County Courthouse this week, where early voting in the July 31 runoff election got under way Monday. By Thursday afternoon, nearly 1,500 residents had cast early ballots, a number that Elections Clerk Sara Caudle said she was pleasantly surprised with. “It’s been a good week,” Caudle said. “Turnout has been higher than expected.”
HONOR BY DONNIE BRYANT
donnie.bryant@empiretribune.com
A
nticipation for the summer Olympic games is reaching a near feverish pitch, and the Opening Ceremony in London is to air tonight. But there is one local family who has a tie to the games that doesn’t involve a relay or a timer. Former Stephenville High School student Leighton Autrey has been given the honor of a lifetime. He was one of just 12 artists from around the world invited to display a piece of art at the 2012 Olympics Art Show in the JL Gallery near Olympic Park. Last March the Olympic Committee sent out a worldwide open call for art work of all subjects and mediums. Leighton submitted two, and one was chosen to join 11 other pieces. It is ironic the piece decided upon is entitled “Wavering, James 1:2-8.” “The scripture is a direct correlation for what has happened to me. It says not to doubt God,” Leighton explained. But it was a lesson the young man learned through a period of difficulty in his life. At one time, Leighton’s world revolved around America’s favorite past time, baseball. “I only cared about my baseball dreams - to be a See ART on Page 2
Sid Miller And that’s good news for candidates who worried that getting voters back to the polls would be difficult. Sid Miller is fighting to keep his
J.D. Sheffield seat as state representative of district 59. He is facing a challenge from J.D. Sheffield. See ELECTION on Page 2
OLYMPIC ART Faith leads Stephenville native to Olympic art show
Larry, Phyllis, Garret, J.T. and Leighton Autrey display the visible evidence of their close family ties. Photos contributed
Leighton Autrey’s painting, “Wavering, James 1:2-8,” is featured at the 2012 London Olympics Art Show.
UPDATE
Burn ban coming as fire season heats up BY MICAH MOORE
micah.moore@empiretribune.com
The number of wildfires in Erath County is down this year by almost half compared to 2011’s extended summer fire season. Despite fewer fires, however, vegetation has quickly dried while temperatures have neared or pushed 100 degrees. Commissioners will likely call a burn ban on Aug. 13, according to Erath County Fire Rescue Coordinator Chris Gable. Eastland, Palo Pinto, Parker, Hood, Somervell and Bosque counties have already instated bans on outdoor burning while Erath, Comanche and Hamilton have not. On Thursday, drought conditions were moderate, but will likely worsen next week, Gable said. Erath’s drought Keith Howell (left) and John Tadlock are prepared for See BAN on Page 2
a wildfire outbreak as the driest month of the year approaches. Firefighters expect a greater risk for wildfires in August. MICAH MOORE/E-T
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