The Ellis County Observer Forum

The Midlothian City Council Strikes Again

Lapunman — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:38:13 GMT

On Tuesday night, May 27th, the city council voted to amend the franchise tax for Atmos energy by 1%, thus adding more burden to the people of Midlothian. This increase will add additional monies to the city, which will be wasted on frivolous projects like the restoration of a fire truck. With a price tag of over $70,000 this is NOT a need for the running of the city. Such frivolous spending is a waste of the taxpayer's hard earned money.Projects like this should be funded by outside donations. Apparently there must not be a whole lot of people interested in the project, since they only raised $600 from donations. Apparently the city council never thinks about the citizens, except the one council member who voted against it. We had a chance to change this type of waste in the last election, but there wasn't enough people to vote to make the change, so we have to put up with this foolishness for a while longer.

Richard in Midlothian

Spotted: Ledbetter for Sheriff sign

jdauben — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:56:02 GMT

I was on Howard Road south of Waxahachie when I spotted my first James Ledbetter for Sheriff sign.

Anyone else have signs up? Feel free to post photos or locations..

Editorial: 'King Chad'

jdauben — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:54:48 GMT

This originally appeared on The Ellis County Observer.

Quote:

King Chad, County Judge

As campaigning begins for the upcoming primary elections, I wonder what role King Chad Adams will take in the election? King Chad, if he stays true to his past, no doubt will attempt to control the election or impose his will on the voters. I have noticed that during his time as the ruler of Ellis County, King Chad Adams has no regard for the voters of Ellis County and the people they chose to elect. King Chad's politics borders on that of a dictator, even though the peasants are going to be allowed to vote for commissioners and a sheriff. I can't help but think that our votes once again won't matter.

When King Chad appointed Sharon McKinney to the Homeland Security director position over a more qualified applicant, I questioned his decision but decided that he had more information than did I and that possibly he was making the best decision for the citizens of Ellis County. Then came the appointment to the constable's office in Midlothian. King Chad took it upon himself to actively campaign for Sharon McKinney's husband, Steve, to be appointed to that position, and bent the commissioners court to his will.

Steve McKinney was appointed shortly after Bubba Curry's departure. Again I questioned King Chad's decision but figured that the King must have owed or made promises to the McKinney family and was staying true to his word. Not what I felt was in the best interest of the county, but Steve McKinney was a good state trooper and maybe King Chad had more information about this appointment than did I. The king's master plan is unfolding right before our eyes as Constable McKinney is no longer content being constable, and has decided to run for sheriff. I'm sure King had this in mind when he appointed McKinney to the constable's office.

During his time as ruler, King Chad has shown that he and his court jesters will conspire to accept appointments and resign elected positions so that the county judge can retain major control of the elected officials through his arraignments, specifically the former county court at law Judge Bob Carroll, who resigned his position in June shortly after re-election.

King Chad and Bob Carroll understood that the treasurer's office, headed by then-Ron Langenheder, had fallen from grace with the Ellis County voters and that Bob Carroll had the county court judge position wrapped up. So with that information they targeted the treasurer's election by running Wilhelm for that office. Wilhelm, who is an attorney, was informed that once Carroll was re-elected and Wilhelm was elected to the treasurer's office, Carroll would resign leaving King Chad the opportunity to appoint Carroll's replacement. Conveniently, the county judge/king had an attorney in the treasurer's office that could fill that spot.

This political maneuvering angered me not because I would not have voted for the person that King Chad appointed, but because King Chad, Carroll and Greg Wilhelm took it upon themselves to decide for me who my elected officials were going to be and what duties they would perform. The way I understand politics in a free society, the voters decide who is going to be in office, but that's not the ase in the land of King Chad.

Now I believe the political maneuvering has come full circle for King Chad and his loyal court jesters. Chad has numerous department heads in the county that are not there because of the voters, but because King Chad put them there. And he is not done yet! King Chad has approached officials who gained their position under the old method of actually being elected, and asked them to step down prior to their term expiring, allowing King Chad to make yet another appointment. King Chad was told "no" by this particular elected official. I guess that is the difference between being elected and being appointed, if you're elected you can tell the county judge/king "no," and if you're appointed, you are expected to follow like loyal sheep.

I believe that King Chad thinks that he knows what this county needs and that the voters are not smart enough to make the proper decisions (deemed proper by the king anyway) so he will make them for us. Chad Adams, Bob Carroll, Greg Wilhelm, Sharon McKinney and Steve McKinney all have participated in making decisions for the voters. I for one am done being told who my county officials are going to be and I want my vote in this government to mean something.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely and I think King Chad is on the verge of corrupting this county's government. King Chad needs to understand that his political maneuvering has not gone unnoticed and that the voters have a choice in this county. We do not live in a communist society where the leaders get to decide who are elected officials will be.

We lost money on the Super Collider and the money from the settlement of the justice center. But ironically, we didn't lost the $10,000 that Chad gave himself and the other elected officials last year.

It is time for a change in the county judge's office, be it a change in attitude or a change in personnel, but a change none the less.

-Roy Callendar, Sr.
Bristol, Texas
972-846-3321
972-743-2042

Putthemouthonem.org is giving good publicity to the Observer

EllisCountyGroup — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:41:27 GMT

The Ellis County Observer is getting some good publicity at http://www.putthemouthonem.org/.

Several people have thanked them for their excellent reporting.

We'd like to say keep up the good work.

Vote No Flyers - Nov 6, 2007

jdauben — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:45:13 GMT

Fun with Midlothian open records...

jdauben — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:42:26 GMT

The 2006 bond contributor list was obtained via open records last year:

The Danny Rodgers flyer was a spoof on his Midlothian Mirror newspaper ads that stated, "Support the bond: Put up or shut up" -- he had red boxing gloves in the ads.

Goodbye, Ellis County

jdauben — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:21:26 GMT

From the Publisher

The journalism side of me finally gave way. With the private-sector work that I'm doing - managing two businesses, working for some of the biggest names in GOP politics - I decided to allow for our readers to generate the news. This wasn't going to last forever, and I knew that going into the project.

The private sector is also making me a lot more money than what I could possibly think of, and so it was also a financial decision.

Ali & I are very grateful for the support and news tips over the years (2005-07) that the ECO has been up.

I for one am honored to have been able to gain such a valuable friendship and the talents of Ali.

But realistically, the financial situation with the ECO was not cutting it.

So it's up to the users and readers and fans and subscribers of the ECO to keep this project going -- there are four moderators on this site, so please agree to play nice.

Until then, we expect this message board to be full of user-generated news, rumors and discussion.

Passing the torch,

Joey G. Dauben
Publisher

Red Oak Mayor race

redoakcaper — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 07:05:26 GMT

There has only been one person so far file for the mayor race. His name is Alan Hugley! He is a hard working family man who has been on a few Boards and committees.

I think he would make a great Mayor!! So show your support for him and vote on Oct. 16

Where's The Ellis County Observer?

jdauben — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:39:26 GMT

Quote:

Thursday, August 30, 2007
Where's The Ellis County Observer?

I've had dozens of phone calls and e-mails from friends and readers alike asking about the whereabouts of our beloved news website, The Ellis County Observer.

Here's the spiritual, as well as literal, story of it all:

(1) I'd been talking for months about moving fully into the realm of political consulting (GOP, grassroots campaigning, etc.) and trading that role for the publisher job; I'm about 85 percent there now, and here's why:

(2) As I was driving along I-35 the other day, God gave me a message: "Shut down The Ellis County Observer." I had to do a double and triple-take on that one. Sure enough, after asking for confirmation and a sign, the site went down. It was only after months of repeated, "if I could devote full time to political consulting, I would give up The Ellis County Observer."

Sure enough, it happened.

(3) Around this same time, Ali Akbar, the genius web design friend of mine, disappeared and vanished - no returning calls, text messages, IMs...nothing. So that part kinda sucked. It was after The ECO logged in its record-breaking 5,000th hit in a single day last week. I still get e-mails from people asking about ad rates and placing ads. But I need Ali to design them and put together prices. Can't exactly do that when I can't get a hold of him.

(4) Aside from the spiritual aspect of leaving The ECO, the literal reality is that I need to get through school (SAGU in Waxahachie) and get my marketing degree, prepare for a potential law school "career," and really focus on repairing and mending some bridges that I've burned, torched, destroyed and otherwise hammered within the past oh, eight years.

(5) Ironically, the political consulting gigs are lining up. I'm working on behalf of a few, mainly Ron Paul's presidential campaign (I'll be working the booth at the GOP Straw Poll in Fort Worth this weekend.) Another guy, who is running for Congress in CD-4 (Ralph Hall's district), wants to hire me as a campaign manager. Which is good, because that means I can develop the training necessary for a future (distant) campaign of my own. Needless to say I won't be running for anything until at least I get out of undergrad school.

(6) For the time being, here are the plans for The ECO:

(a) elliscountyobserver.com will be forwarded to a full-time, interactive, free-registration message board [http://eco.informe.com>] - that's the "official" Ellis County Observer Forum. I want users to submit more stuff, rather than just being a small group with me at the top. I'm done with publishing. I'm done with journalism or blogging (unless it's a personal site), and I'm pretty much done being distrusted from political friends I've made over the years.

I've got to show people that I can be trusted again, and hopefully, just hopefully, being "behind the scenes" will help me attain that goal.

So, until otherwise noted (by the way, you can still catch me doing The ECO Show on Fridays at 7:30 p.m.), I'll be more of a political guru/consultant, not a "journalist fixture with political opinions."

Thanks,

Joey Dauben
972-891-2135
joeydauben@hotmail.com
myspace.com/dauben

RE: Open Letter(s) from Sharon Allen

jdauben — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:05:31 GMT

Quote:

Dear Citizens of Ellis, County;
I, Sharon Southers-Allen, have never said or written a word that I was not confident of, or have the evidence. Before I go off again, and I will, because I have been forced to read the Transcript again. For very important reasons, and naturally, I am forced to relive the nightmare. After all these years, the pain is still ever present. But, I must first confess to a mistake I made regarding Tom Pavoldi. Pavoldi, you did not force my brother to register through Austin, and now I have learned DeSoto also. The Dallas County Probation Dept.. are those responsible for that, not you. Therefore, I humbly apologize for my mistake and ask for your forgiveness. I only wish I could apologize for so much more, but I cannot, and you know exactly why!
And KNIZE, I cannot and do not blame you for the attorneys failures! I'm sure it's not your responsibility to see that Fred did his job. I do, however, feel you knew he did a lousy job defending Steve in the "Revocation Hearing." I am aware that some of my remarks, reflects blame towards you, when it is actually intended for almost everyone involved in this case, and that's a lot of people. I do view Fred with great anger and his incompetence, and see him completely void of knowledge, the expertise he said he had, his tactics, and with great concern of his constant remarks of YOU being his buddy. Plus, I have so many questions regarding why you thought my brother was guilty. I wonder just what information you had, I know it was far more than we ever had from Fred.
I recently sent my brother a large envelope for $16.00 plus in postage, with many papers and documents that I felt were suspect. Now, I had already sent him the forgeries, and received his letters of verifications of Forgery, involving the two legal documents, the, "Request for Probation," dated first, Feb, then altered to March 1, 1990. It begins with, To The Honorable Judge of Said Court: "Comes now, (my brother's name) defendant in the above-styled and numbered cause," and so on. It was Cause # 17, 331 on March 1, 1990. I stress this because the next forgery, "The Waiver," April 11, 1990 is under Cause # 17, 684. So, somewhere between March 1 to April 11, 1990, the case was dropped and picked up again, which again, we were never privy to this either. We had planned to be in Court each day, but Fred always told us "The DA canceled it."
Joey has copies of the forgeries and I have told you, a child could detect the difference in the signatures, when compared to Steve's original signature. Steve is a lefty or southpaw, and this gives his writing a severe slant and more like circles, not sharp and pointed! And he never writes his entire name, let alone his middle initial. Upon showing Joey the two forgeries, compared to his signature on his divorce and other papers, Joey laughed at the blatant attempt at something, not even close. It truly is that obvious! Now, what angers me is that I have pages 1 and 2 of a 3 page document, for the "Request For Probation." So, all I can say is that I have no idea what is on page 3. I will tell you that Talkington's signature is on it along with his common-law-wife's name, the Notary. Gene Knize's name is not on the two pages I have, but as I said, I am missing page three. This is very common in my paperwork and documents, all in parts!
KNIZE, I have a letter from Talkington to YOU, dated April 5, 1990. Re: State of Texas Vs Steve K. Steffey. State, because the mother either refused or no one couldn't depend on her testimony. I am going to print the letter exactly as it was written;
Sir:
The defendant's Motion to Determine Competency of Child Complainant to Testify has been filed with the Clerk of Ellis County. MR. Steffey's arraignment is set for April 11, 1990, at 2: 00 p.m. We ask the Court to conduct Competency hearing at this time too. (he asked more than one time) Your consideration is greatly appreciated.
Respectfully Yours,
Fred M. Talkington.
As I said, we knew of this date, but were told it was canceled again. We didn't go but, Fred sure did with the forged "Waiver," business. However, in the letter to YOU, KNIZE, why did you circle from, "We ask the Court to conduct a Competency hearing at this time too," and draw a line down--------------------and wrote largely, DENIED. With you pitiful initials. KNIZE, why didn't you ever respond to the written Motion, but YOU waited until a week prior to Court, and handled it that way? It's yet, another reason I call you unprofessional!
Then you just sent the letter back to Fred, with your answer. It's yet, another reason why I call you so unprofessional!
Didn't you ever wonder about Fred's handling of this case? Every person in your courtroom, could see just how inept he was from the first minute. Recall the question of True or not true to the charges, and Fred told Steve to say, "True." I still wonder if he heard my gasp and then leaned over to my brother and whispered, and Steve had to say, "No Sir, Your Honor, Not True." Maybe you were too busy on your PC to have noticed. Then MS Avery went into her spew about Steve's refusal to report for two years and Fred never opened his mouth, when he knew the truth. Maybe he was up all night, fighting again with Linda and most likely with a hangover. I saw my brother totally give up as he dropped his head and leaned back. He always told me you all were out to get him and suffice it to say, he was right. I watched him surrender.
Unlike the first forgery, the "Waiver of Arraignment, Service and Reading of Indictment in Cause." Dated April 11, 1990. From what I can glean, this had to be done in a court of law, with Steve present. We knew of this date and was informed by Talkington, again! "The DA canceled it." Obviously it was not canceled and Fred was there with this form, Forged. How? I have no idea. Only Talkington, Knize and Steve's forged, name is on it. It may be possible that this could be done outside the Courts, but it reads that, "I, the undersigned yada, yada, Hereby in open Court waive the following." I do promise you, we were not there and never saw the document until after Steve's sentencing, July 8, 1998. Nine years later! Just like the ESCO, Police Report from March and August of 1989. I will say, above Gene Knize's name is, APPROVED: Under the signature of Knize, it says, Judge presiding. So, I don't know, can you tell me? There was no Notary on it. Is it normal procedure for a Police Report to run that long? Then arrest the guy and keep him in jail for twenty-four days, and not charge him until the next month?
Now, in reading the Transcript from July 8, 1998, I am in awe of many things, and I was present during this hearing. I paid about $486.00 for the Transcript, but that was that same year. I had so much to deal with, especially with telling our very ill mother, her son was sent to prison for twenty years, and attempting to recover myself, of the gross miscarriage of justice I had just witnessed. Yes, there are things my brother could have done better, but in God's name, nothing to amount to twenty years in prison. In retrospect, I can easily see that Steve was indeed in the middle of a Circus, with supposed professionals involved, that looks like Moronic, Idiots.
And, what is the "State's Notice of Intent To Use Hearsay Statement of Child Abuse Victim." Filed on Oct 11, 1990 under the old Cause # 17, 331, scratched through with the new one 17,684? I know for sure, you all never got a thing straight. Seven months later and you still had the wrong Cause number.Does anyone in that County know what they are doing? I feel with all my heart, my brother is the victim of all the massive errors made in the nine years. My brother is paying the price for all of this and "I am expected to just live with it, or just get over it?" My answer to you and the others is simple, "I promise you, that will never happen, so just get used to it, all of you!"
KNIZE, There may well have been child abuse, (we fear there was, knowing her family) but you know damn well, it was not by my brother, as much as we know it! YOU ARE A COWARD, CRUEL, UNETHICAL, COLD, with A GOD LIKE PERSONA and BULLHEADED and I've already covered your lack of Professionalism. All you care about is winning a case, be they guilty or innocent, you couldn't care less about them anymore than your so-called Prosecutors do. When D. Avery opened with lies! She wanted all to know that my brother refused to report to his Probation Officer for two years! Well, she is right, because he didn't have one! I was there and saw and heard a man tell Steve, "Take these forms and be sure to send them in every month, until you have an Officer and pay your fees." Months later Steve called me, from the East coast, I think. He was very upset because he was down to one form. He asked if I had heard anything. I had not. I suggested that he make copies of the forms and just keep sending them in with his fees. Everything went to the same address. In truth, I think he fell through the cracks and when someone found out, all hell broke loose.
In the Transcript, Avery has Tom Pavoldi on the stand and he admits he has not had Steve all seven years. On page 8, Avery asks Pavoldi, "And these logs and those records go back to the date he was initially placed on probation? Pavoldi replies, "Yes." Avery, "Now, you were not supervising him that entire 7 years; is that correct? Again, Pavoldi, "That's correct." Avery skips right over the part where Steve had NO probation officer and goes right to, "Lets first start with the conditions that were placed on MR. Steffey when he was placed on Community supervision. Avery refers him to condition N on Steve's Conditions of Probation, N is to avoid all contact with his son and wife. The contact she refers to is, Steve sent his son a Birthday card every year, from day one and Fred knew it. To Steve, living on the road, that was not contact and I am sure many fathers will agree with that. (17) Avery, "Was he also ordered to attend and pay for psychological counseling for himself and the victim? Pavoldi replies, He was amended at a later time for Condition Q. For those not knowing, Q Reads; Upon successful completion of sex offender counseling, submit annually at your own expense to a psychological or psychiatric evaluation to for the purpose of determining the need for continued sex offender counseling and participate in any treatment program recommended by said evaluation.
Yes Pavoldi, he was amended on April 2, 1996, but not just to Q, oh no, you throw in O, P and R, by you forcing him too, unlawfully! You and your boss told Steve that you all had spoken to Fred twice that day and Fred said to sign it. Still Steve refused and took the copy with him for Fred to see. Steve said it was so much mumbo jumbo he couldn't understand it. When Steve showed Fred, He said, "No way in hell, I'll meet you there in the morning. Steve arrived with you and Fred having coffee and laughing. Fred then glanced at the form and told Steve, "Just sign the damn thing," and Fred left. However, I sent a copy of those amended conditions to my brother and Steve is livid! He swore that form was not what he had taken home, and furthermore, he asks, "Who on earth would sign a form that says you waive your right to an attorney, (with his attorney sitting there in your office) and waive his rights to a formal hearing?" He says he doesn't know how you did it, but you did! By law, you treated him as a Convicted Felon and he was non-convicted. Do your homework! If I have a copy of his original "Conditions of Probation," then you should too. The conditions stopped at N. You even broke the law when you forced him to see the Sex Counselor, Ben Boaz!
Now, as Steve says, there were a lot of changes within the law at that time, but none of them applied to him!
If you would go over the original records, instead of creating your own, you will see how badly you screwed up! And on page 9, (12) Avery asks; "Are the conditions of probation- - do they have a block where the defendant signs them on the original?" You said YES, Pavoldi! Go back and look again and tell me where he would even initial one of them, from A to M. All he did was sign his name at the bottom, above Defendant. I have the original with the perforated seal. And better yet, the State of Texas, Ellis County, reads; I Billie Fuller Clerk of the District Court in and for Ellis County Texas, do hereby certify that above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of the (hand written) Conditions of Probation as the same appears from the original now, (hand written) filed in my office. TO CERTIFY Which witness my official Seal and Signature at office in Waxahachie, Texas. This 6/7/1991. Signed by Billie A. Fuller, below it says, Clerk District Court Ellis County, Texas and below that is a By Sue Chiles, (possibly, very hard to read) Deputy. Now, I suggest you go find that original copy and read it! And, don't give me any crap about the date 6/28/91, that didn't change anything but getting KNIZE off for not Admonishing Steve.
Now, When Steve accepted that damn Plea, he signed the Conditions of Probation. The Conditions ran from A to N, which by law means NO Sex Counseling required. Steve did counseling in Texarkana for two years, until you got involved, Pavoldi! I assume after the error on the Plea Bargain Agreement, where GUILTY was checked, scratched through and checked Non-Convicted Deferred Probation. You can read can't you? If you can, pull his files and read them and then take notice of what you did to his life and in doing so, you violated his Constitutional Rights, State and Federal Laws too.
You know, I am feeling much too angry to finish this tonight. It is very lengthy, over 100 pages and folks, I have to relive it each and every page. So, before I lose my Christianity, I think I will bring this part to a close.
This letter, not the case. Let's just call this Part one. I began this very concerned that I had made that mistake regarding Tom Pavoldi. When I am wrong, I will be the first to admit it. I even tried to cut Knize some slack. Then, as I went through my papers and into the Transcript, I could feel the rage building and I don't like that, so I will say, later all and God Bless.
Love in Christ,
Sharon Southers-Allen
RAllen2777@aol.com