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Tue s day, July 3 1, 2012
STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS H CITY OF CHAMPIONS
75 cen t s
BRUNER MOTORS
‘It’s been a great ride’ Mr. B celebrates 50 years with Chevy
VIDEO EXTRA
Check out video coverage of this story in the multimedia player at www.yourstephenvilletx.com
BY MICAH MOORE
micah.moore@empiretribune.com
Nothing defines American ingenuity and power quite like the automobile industry and nothing defines local commitment and friendliness quite like Dwain and Carolyn Bruner, who celebrated their 50th consecutive year selling Chevrolet vehicles Monday. General Motors recognized the milestone of one of its longest standing partners during a 50th anniversary reception held at the Chevrolet dealership, and the Bruners unveiled a new company name and logo tying all their dealerships together under one local brand: Bruner Auto Family. Friends and colleagues sat beneath the canopies at the Bruner lot beside Chevrolets
Tim Hughes of General Motors honored Dwain and Carolyn Bruner for 50 consecutive years selling Chevrolet vehicles Monday during an anniversary celebration at the Bruner Chevy dealership in Stephenville. MICAH MOORE/E-T
See BRUNER on Page 2
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Drug dog changes ownership
Distinguished friends and guests commended the Bruner family for their longstanding tradition of personal, friendly service as Dwain Bruner reached a milestone 50 years with Chevrolet. The Bruners are pictured through the windshield of a Chevrolet Corvette at the 50th anniversary celebration hosted by General Motors Monday.
ELECTION 2012
FIRE DANGER
Election Day arrives
Polls open from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m.
BY SARA VANDEN BERGE
sara.vandenberge@empiretribune.com
BY MICAH MOORE micah.moore@empiretribune.com
Lucky the drug dog is here to stay after a generous out-of-county donation and the canine’s former owner recognizing the important role she played in Erath County. Global Training Academy in Somerset, Tex. supplies drug, bomb and other canines to law enforcement agencies across the country, including some Erath County agencies. After costs of the local school drug detection program overran last year, Global decided to abandon its north Texas school watch operations and began making plans to take Lucky back to her San Antonio area headquarters. Local investigators immediately began working to save the narcotics detection program, facing a $7,200 price tag to purchase Lucky from Global. Sheriff ’s investigator and canine handler Greg Stewart asked the Nolan River Kennel Club in Johnson County, which sets aside money for local drug and police dogs, for assistance and they came through. Nolan River donated $3,600 for Erath County to permanently acquire Lucky, and Global matched that with an in-kind donation. See DOG on Page 2
Steve Hallmark and other volunteer firefighters extinguished a fire that consumed a truck and came close to two structures Monday. Fire officials urge residents to postpone all outdoor Check out video coverage of this story in the multimedia player at burning and activities that can spark www.yourstephenvilletx.com flames. MICAH MOORE/E-T
VIDEO EXTRA
Officials advise against outdoor burning BY MICAH MOORE
micah.moore@empiretribune.com
Erath County moved up to the second worst drought index rating and a high risk of wildfire over the weekend, prompting officials to rush commissioners to call a burn ban before their next scheduled meeting. Until a ban is in place, fire officials are urging residents to put off all outdoor burning and activities that can spark a wildfire. “Even though a burn ban is currently not in effect, we recommend postponing all outdoor burning until conditions improve,” Erath County Volunteer Fire Rescue Coordinator Chris Gable said Sunday afternoon. On Monday a fire destroyed a farm truck about a mile north of Stephenville on U.S. Highway 67. Sparks flying from an abrasive cut-off saw into dry grass ignited a fire that approached two
structures until firefighters arrived. The Texas Forest Service updated the local Keetch-Byrum Drought Index rating to 600-700 Saturday, which coincided with a heightened risk of fire danger. TFS elevated the risk for wildfire outbreaks from moderate to high in Erath and Hood counties on Saturday. The 14-day outlook predicts drought conditions will worsen with portions of eastern Erath County expected to climb to the worst drought rating of 700-800. County officials are currently weighing options to call a burn ban as soon as possible. “The county judge can issue a sevenday burn ban at anytime or he can call a special commissioners meeting to issue a 90-day ban,” Gable said. “Either way, we need one in place today.” County Judge Tab Thompson returned from out of town late Monday night and will determine the best course of action Tuesday.
The day so many have been waiting for has finally arrived. When various races weren’t settled in May, they were bumped to today’s runoff election. Polls will be open at the Erath County Courthouse from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Elections Clerk Sara Caudle is reminding voters the courthouse will be the only place to cast a ballot - and she is expecting a big turnout. “We had 2,318 participate in early voting,” Caudle said Friday. “I am very impressed with the turnout and look to have about that many on Election Day.” Those anxious to learn about tonight’s election returns won’t have to wait until Wednesday’s edition of the Empire-Tribune to find out what happened. We will once again “Cover It Live” tonight from the courthouse through our website at yourstephenvilletx.com. Simply register a user name and log on to the interactive site that will give readers live updates as election returns come in and an opportunity to interact with other users. Several local and state races will be settled today including the highly-anticipated race for district 59 between State Representative Sid Miller and challenger J.D. Sheffield, and the race for commissioner of precinct 1 between incumbent Jim Pack and challenger Dee Stephens.
J.D. Sheffield
See ELECTION on Page 2
Dee Stephens
Sid Miller
Jim Pack
Only at... Good morning, Subscriber Richard Burney,
Stephenville, Tx
8 pages H Vol. 112, No. 150 H ©2012
Not only have we made it incredibly easy to buy a new car (the price you see is the price you pay), we’re so confident you’ll love your new Chevy that we’ll event give you 60 days to return it, no questions asked.
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