Sunday, March 14, 2021
PANTHER TO CRUSADER
SPORTS, 6
$1.50 - SEGUINGAZETTE.COM
THE SEGUIN
STUDENTS VOLUNTEER TAX PREP
COMING UP
★
GAZETTE
DELIVERING LIFE TO YOUR DOORSTEP SINCE 1888
SOME RAIN - 76 47
Jaws of Life snatched from New Berlin FD Felicia Frazar The Seguin Gazette The New Berlin Volunteer Fire Department prides itself on helping its neighbors. But recently, someone helped themselves to items inside the department’s station 2 located in Olmos, including a Jaws of Life set of tools,
New Berlin Fire Chief Kurt Strey said. “It’s disheartening, angering, frustrating,” he said. “It just burns me up. Our volunteers are already stretched and are taking on various projects. There’s always something to do. Then when something like this happens, it’s like a kick in the shin when we’re
already working hard to keep things moving.” The burglary was discovered the week following the winter storm, Strey said. Firefighters were at the station on Tuesday, Feb. 22 for their weekly meeting and when they returned on that following Thursday in response to an emergency call,
they found several items missing. A deeper look around the fire engine and station revealed the extent of the burglary, Strey said. “A lot of the stuff they took is what I would call minor in the grand scheme, but taking the Jaws of Life really tripped my trigger,” he said. “They’re not eas-
“It’s disheartening, angering, frustrating. Our volunteers are already stretched and are taking on various projects ... It’s like a kick in the shin when we’re already working hard to keep things moving.”
ily replaced. That set of tools, we bought just about six or eight months ago. Granted, they were used, but we got a good price for them, and you can’t find those things hardly for sale.” Included in the list of stolen items were “Holmatro Jaws of Life power unit, one Holmatro
Chief Kurt Strey, New Berlin Volunteer Fire Department
TOOLS - 15
SHS alum is Mats’ new head coach Craig Dailey selected to lead Seguin’s athletic department, football program
for the 6A campus. During his five years as head of the program, the Falcons have A Seguin High School an overall record of 37-18, alum is returning to the district record of 30-2 and Matador program. four district championThis time he’s slated to ships. head up the program as Dailey served as Katy Seguin ISD’s athletic direc- High School’s quarterback tor and head football coach. coach when they went to The Seguin ISD Board the 6A Division II State of Trustees unanimously Football Championship, the approved the district’s rec- release said. In his almost ommendation to hire Craig two decades of coaching, Dailey during a Dailey’s teams have special meeting at made 15 playoff noon on Friday. appearances and Dailey rose won 10 district to the top of five c h a mp i o n s h i p s , candidates interincluding the viewed by a comMatadors’ 2006 mittee, Seguin ISD district championSuperintendent ship. Matthew Gutierrez Craig In his first go said in a news at Seguin High Dailey statement followSchool, Dailey ing the vote. The coached the wide receivers district received about 60 in 2004 and quarterbacks applications, he said. “We are excited to have in 2005-2006. Coach Dailey join our In the virtual meeting, Seguin family,” Gutierrez Dailey hopped on to thank said. “His proven culture the board and committee of winning and leader- for offering him the posiship will be a great asset to tion. Seguin ISD athletics.” “I’m excited about the Daily has served as an opportunity to come back educator and coach since to the hometown,” he said. 2004 in a few programs “Thank you to the school including Seguin, Katy and board, Dr. Gutierrez and Clear Springs High School, the rest of the hiring where he currently is the committee. It was a great head football coach and MATADORS - 14 boys athletic coordinator Felicia Frazar The Seguin Gazette
Dalondo Moultrie - The Seguin Gazette
Deon Williams (from left) and Brianna Pettinger watch their son Kaelyx as the 4-year-old searches through the rubble of their burned out home to recognize destroyed toys and other items Friday, March 12, 2021, in Guadalupe County.
Not all is lost
Son credited with saving siblings’ lives from house fire Dalondo Moultrie The Seguin Gazette After realizing the futility of her fight against a fire in her garage, a Guadalupe County mother tried to rush back in the house with one thing on her mind: saving her children. Confronted with the possibility of her children being trapped inside the house, Brianna Pettinger said she freaked out. But her fears were quickly eased when she realized her 12-year-old son Jayden had taken the initiative. “As I run around the corner to get to the front door to get my kids, my 12-year-old son
has already pulled my 9-month-old [and] my 4-year-old … out of the house,” Pettinger said. “Thank God he did.” Jayden is her hero, Pettinger said. His fast action and calm demeanor under pressure possibly meant the difference between life and death for his siblings, 4-year-old brother Kaelyx and their 9-month-old sister Aiyani, she said. The property owner’s grandson happened by and helped her save the family’s three American Bully dogs Kane, Titan and Mamba, Pettinger said. Once everyone was safe, the family stood on the lawn as firefighters lost
Carrying a bag of items a neighbor just donated and a set of dog chains he picked up from the rubble, Deon Williams on Friday, March 12, 2021, checks out the SUV destroyed in the house fire that also demolished his home on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. the fight against the blaze and the house burned to the ground. While the family lost most all of their possessions, there is a bright side. “It could be a lot worse;
somebody could be dead,” Pettinger said on Friday. “I’m glad we’re just replacing material things and not planning a funeral.” FIRE - 10
Kuempel files bill seeking voter approval on gambling
John Kuempel State Representative
Texas hemorrhages money annually to neighboring states that have legalized gambling and a pair of state legislators want to see it stop, or at least let Texans have a say in the cure. Companion bills filed Tuesday in the Texas House and Senate look to bring up the question to voters on whether the state
should legalize casino gambling. Texas District 44 State Rep. John Kuempel, a Seguin Republican, wants to try to improve economic development in the state so he filed House Joint Resolution 133, which, if passed, would put the question of legalized casino gambling up to voters. “It’s time we keep the Texas dollars in Texas,” he said. “We’re not paying Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana.”
Kuempel authored the legislation and filed it after working about six months with business owners that would benefit including casinos, horse track owners, Native American casino owners, dog track operators and sports betting facilities. A wide range of people are interested in seeing gambling come to the Lone Star State, he said. GAMBLING - 15
SUBSCRIBE: 830-379-5402 ext. 228 | CLASSIFIEDS: 830-379-5402 ext. 201 | NEWS TIPS: 830-379-5402 ext. 221
Courtesy photo - Special to the Seguin Gazette
PRICE $1.50
Vol. 132 No. 56
- Monty & Amy Trost -
Thank you for voting us Best Hearing Aid Specialist 122 S Moss St. Seguin, Texas 78155 (830) 372-2237 www.advancedhearingseguin.com
THE OF
ST BE
Family Owned and Operated Serving the Community since 1988
BES T
Dalondo Moultrie The Seguin Gazette
2021
LIC# 50540