SEALY NEWS THE
Zach Konieczny advances to state PAGE 6
Serving Sealy and Austin County since 1887 • Home of Elenora Frazier
Volume 125 Number 10
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Trustees suspend Scott Kana as superintendent By AMBER GONZALES Staff Writer
The Sealy News/ASHLEY TOMKINS
Traffic passes law enforcement vehicles parked on the side of Interstate Highway 10 near the Pyka Road exit Tuesday morning during a manhunt to find a suspect who shot at a Sealy police officer during a traffic stop earlier in the morning. Above, a Sealy police officer blocks traffic on the overpass.
Eagle Lake man shoots at Sealy officer, charged with attempted capital murder By ASHLEY TOMPKINS Editor & Publisher
An Eagle Lake man is charged with attempted capital murder after shooting at a Sealy police officer Tuesday morning following a traffic stop. Travis Oneal Blunston, 30, fled the scene near FM 3538 and Interstate Highway 10, on foot at roughly 3:38 a.m. after being pulled over by Sealy police officer Eric Gum for a traffic violation. He was detained in Wharton County by Wharton County Sheriff’s Office the same day around 1 p.m. after being at large most of the morning. Earlier that morning, Sealy Police Department issued a warrant on charges of attempted capital murder. Bond on the
NEWSBITS Relay Caregiver nominations wanted The 2012 Relay for Life, sponsored by the Austin County Unit of the American Cancer Society, will be held on April 27 and 28 at Sealy Tiger Stadium. During the luminary ceremony, the Caregiver of the Year will be announced. Nominations are requested. The nominee must have been the caregiver for a cancer patient and used their abilities to go beyond what was expected. Please submit a brief essay explaining why you think this person deserves to be ■ NEWSBITS, page 2
TODAY'SOBITUARIES ■ Lois Henderson ■ Elizabeth "Betty" Snyder ■ Elizabeth Ann "Liz" Wohleb
BIBLEQUOTE Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. Psalm 150:6
warrant was set at $500,000. Gum had stopped Blunston’s vehicle off of FM 3538 and I-10 for a traffic violation. While the patrolman was walking back to his vehicle, the suspect drove away south on FM 3538. He turned the vehicle around, drove toward the officer and fired several shots that hit the car. Blunston then drove west on I-10 and exited Pyka Road, lost control and crashed into a ditch. Then he fled on foot. Gum, who works as the department’s K-9 officer, was treated at the scene for minor injuries and was released. He was not shot. Blunston’s vehicle was still sitting in a ditch Tuesday morning at about 9 a.m. as officers blocked off roads leading to the ■ CAPITAL MURDER, page 14
By AMBER GONZALES Staff Writer
Elery Kimes of Bellville was named the interim county treasurer by the Austin County Commissioners’ Court on Monday. Kimes will be sworn in as soon as possible, when the bond issued to that position goes through. “Welcome to Austin County,” said Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski following Monday’s decision. The former treasurer, Cathleen Frank, gave notice effective Friday, March 16, saying that under the budget restraints the Austin County Commissioners’ Court would not allow her to increase staff, which included herself and a deputy treasurer, she wrote. Kimes formerly worked as an auditor’s assistant looking at school and city finances at Belt Harris & Associates, LLLP until June of 2010. He has also worked as a junior auditor, office/operations manager and as a reserve officer ■ COMMISSIONERS, page 13
The Sealy News/ASHLEY TOMPKINS
The Easter Bunny made an early stop in Sealy last week, announcing plans to take part in a community Easter egg hunt. Pictured above are Jill Waters, Lauren Waters, Leslie Ellis, Lesley Blanks, Wyatt Blanks, Jackson Blanks, Allana Lindsay, Bonnie Carr, Matt Salazar and Susie Zapalac.
Hoppy Easter
Candidates use last Community Easter egg hunt planned minute filing period to Easter run for county offices Editor & Publisher
Thank a
everyday
■ KANA, page 13
Travis Oneal Blunston
Commissioners' court names Elery Kimes interim county treasurer
By ASHLEY TOMPKINS
Veteran and Serviceman
After a crowd of about 60 people cheered for Scott Kana, chanting his name and giving him a standing ovation, Sealy ISD school board trustees unanimously voted to suspend him as superintendent at a special meeting March 7. Kana’s suspension is with pay and the timeline is undetermined, according to board President Dr. Bill Hermann. Scott Kana Sealy ISD Assistant Superintendent Mary Hlozek now serves as interim superintendent. The suspension came just days before the district closed for spring break. Trustees would not disclose why they suspended Kana from the position he’s held for roughly a year-and-a-half, saying it was a personnel issue. However, those gathered at last week’s special meeting were at a loss for why the suspension came so suddenly. Kana has made no comment and has since sought legal counsel. Hermann would not say specifically how the issue surrounding grounds for Kana’s suspension was brought to the board’s attention, citing potential legal action involved with the issue. Although the exact reason could not be confirmed, the suspension may be due to Kana breaking district policy. Kana took students from the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) to the Sealy home baseball tournament, which was held all day Thursday and Friday, March 1-2. Witnesses saw him with the kids and
Three Austin County residents took advantage of a new filing period for local offices, with Reese Turner filing for Precinct 1 commissioner, Gary Kollatschny as Precinct 3 commissioner and incumbent Janice Kokemor as the county’s tax assessor/ collector. Turner and Kollatschny filed as Republicans while Kokemor filed as a Democrat. The three added their names to the long list of residents looking to fill county offices in a special filing period that ended last Friday after the state’s redistricting issues were
Get ready for an Easter Eggstravaganza. Thousands of colorful, decorated eggs will soon call Sealy’s Levine Park home at a community-wide Easter egg hunt planned for Sunday, April 1. The egg hunt is open to the community and will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Children 9 years and younger will be able to hunt for thousands of eggs with lots of candy and even some big prizes, thanks to First United Methodist Church of Sealy, St. John’s Episcopal Church and YMCA of Sealy, all of which are putting on the event. All children need is an Easter basket and a keen eye to spot the colorful treats. And, once the eggs are gone, families will have plenty to do. The event will also
Eggstravaganza April 1 1 to 4 p.m. Levine Park
feature bounce houses, face painting, pictures with the Easter Bunny, cookie walks, train rides and much more.
■ CANDIDATES, page 14
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