The Franklin baseball team completed its 3A Division I bi-district sweep of Groesbeck with a 9-3 win Saturday at Mumford's Cotton Palace The Lions won Friday's best-of-three series opener 10-1 before wrapping things up a day later in Game 2 Franklin (26-3-1) got a no-hitter from AJ Phillips and Dylan Stallones walked four and struck out nine in six innings Stallones worked the final inning and had a pair of strikeouts Groesbeck tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth thanks to an error but Franklin took the lead back for good in the bottom of the frame with four runs Carter Johnson had an RBI single and Tanner Baade singled to put them up 5-1 The Goats scored their other two runs in the sixth off an error but Franklin led 7-3 by then and added two more runs in the bottom half Franklin will play Troy in the 3A-I area round with a time Email notifications are only sent once a day College Station junior pitcher Jake Boggan was named the athlete of the week after his complete game helped the Cougars earn a share of the di… “We gave ourselves chances to chip away,” College Station coach Chris Litton said The second game in the series set for 7 p.m the third game is set for Saturday at a t… Centerville will face Garrison in the area round at a time date and location to be determined next week College Station's Wilson Stapp didn't expect his senior season to start with a serious injury but he's grateful for the time he gets back out there Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application from heart complications and myelodysplastic syndrome at the University of Utah's Huntsman Cancer Institute Hospital Utah to Earl Sanderson "Monty" Groesbeck and Mary Margaret "May" Cowley He lived his early childhood years in Randolph and Springville finally returning after a 3-year deployment His mother said that when his father walked into the house "Who's that man?" With his father home from the war his parents opened an ice cream parlor on Springville's Main Street They worked long hours with young Pete in tow He liked to take naps on a bench next to the gas fireplace near the kitchen doors The business eventually expanded to a full menu Café and the work involved the entire family (older siblings Monty Pete increased his capacity at the Café and earned money to pay for his own school clothes and movies He often cited the Café as the origin of his industrious work ethic continuing throughout his life He moved back to Springville living with Monty and his wife Marilyn so he could graduate from Springville High School in 1961 Pete faithfully served in the Northern California mission from 1962 to 1964 He earned a BA in International Relations/Political Science in 1968 and his MA in International Administration in 1971 he attended a career fair where he was selected to interview with the State of New York He joined the State of New York department of audit and control in the office of management and systems analysis he worked on a special project as an administrative analyst helping in the design and implementation of computerized investment and cash management systems replacing manual accounting and inventory procedures Pete eventually became a senior budget examiner in the drafting of the division's positions on bills passed by the state legislature He managed the budget for multiple state agencies such as the state worker's compensation board and the state's Council of the Arts with beloved colleague Kitty Carlisle Hart He retired from the State of New York in 1985 after working there for 15 years It was while serving in this position when general authority Elder Loren C Dunn from the Quorum of the Seventy was assigned to the Albany New York Stake to preside over a Stake Conference While attending the Saturday night luncheon he questioned Pete about meeting his possible future wife and mentioned he knew a secretary who was working for the First Council of the Seventy whom he thought may potentially be a good match for him Pete flew back to visit family for the holidays and arranged a first date with Genevieve taking her to enjoy a primary program at the Tabernacle They fell in love and were together nearly every day during his vacation then returned to Salt Lake City for the wedding They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 27 with the reception the same night at Memory Grove Memorial House and another reception days later in Springville at his parent's cottage The couple lived in the Village of Menands they raised five of their seven children: Matt Pete and Genevieve decided to move back to Utah to be near their extended family where they had two additional children: Michael and Kristianne Pete secured a job with the State of Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget where he would work as a budget analyst cooperating with the state legislature He supported the Governor's roadbuilding program with the department of transportation helping to expedite construction of the Bangerter Highway He also managed the rollout of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in many built structures around the state He would then go on to become a key figure at the State of Utah Labor Commission in 1992 Pete developed the state's worker's compensation mediation program and mediated worker's compensation and sexual harassment disputes so they didn't have to go to court he was essentially the commission's first mediator in the Industrial Accidents Division mediation program which has now established multiple positions Pete's whole heart and soul was centered around his family and serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints humble man filled with love in his heart for everyone nieces and nephews from both his family and his wife's volunteered at the cannery and welfare square and worked at the church farm as much as he could He served as first counselor in the bishopric of the Bennion Utah East Stake in the late 1980s to early 1990s Pete was consistently involved in family history and indexing He strived to complete six goals on a nearly daily basis: prayer Pete and Gen served a mission in the Utah Salt Lake City West Mission then as an ordinance worker at the Jordan River Temple and later the Taylorsville Temple constructed in 2024 He loved all the associations that church offered in whatever capacity stake farming activities and home teaching to scouting and church softball and basketball Pete would practice basketball at the church gym early in the morning before work to prepare for games on Saturdays he influenced the Stake President to purchase glass basketball backboards for the gym which of course he utilized with his famous right hook Pete devoted his life to strive to live the gospel and loved all the music his wife and children produced Pete loved baseball and basketball and taught his oldest son to play in Menands he would also get his girls into little league softball as well as church basketball but ventured out on many camping and fishing adventures with his own family American Fork Canyon was usually his number one choice for fishing He will be dearly missed by his sweetheart Genevieve and his children: Matt Chase and Noah Johnson; Lia and Tara Montrose He was preceded in death by his daughter Marci Anne Groesbeck (deceased 2004); parents Earl Sanderson "Monty" Groesbeck and Mary Margaret "May" Cowley; siblings and their spouses Monty (Marilyn) Groesbeck; Marilyn (Mark) Robertson; Ann Christine (deceased at 6 years of age); and Katherine "Kay" (Eran) Call from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at McDougal Funeral Home from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the Riverview Ward LDS Church Interment will be at Salt Lake City Cemetery 200 N St E Those who wish to livestream the service may do so at the following link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83118035608 Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text Click to watch This 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An official website of the United States government Open Search  Mobile Menu Okla.— The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold a wild horse and burro event March 14 at the Limestone County Fairgrounds in Groesbeck The event will feature 90 animals for adoption Animals offered at the event are adult and yearling horses along with burros that once roamed free on public lands in the west BLM periodically removes excess animals from the range to maintain healthy herds and to protect other rangeland resources The adoption and sale program is essential for achieving these important management goals BLM has placed more than 280,000 of these animals in approved homes across the country BLM staff will approve applications onsite Qualified homes must have a minimum of four hundred square feet of corral space per animal A six-foot corral fence is required for adult horses; five feet for yearlings; and four-and-a-half feet for burros stock-type trailers with swing gates and sturdy walls and floors BLM staff will be on hand to assist with the application process The Limestone County Fairgrounds is located at 922 N. Tyus, Groesbeck, TX. For more information, call toll-free 866-468-7826 or visit www.blm.gov The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations An official website of the Department of the Interior Texas (KXXV) — The Groesbeck Pro Rodeo promises top-notch rodeo action April 25-27 The event is sponsored by the Groesbeck Chamber of Commerce the event will feature a variety of vendors selling food And see a Sunday concert performance by Mariachi Osos Dorados Receive emails when new obituariesare published to our website OUR FUNERAL HOME IS PROUD TO BE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATEDWhen you have experienced the loss of a loved one you can trust Powers Funeral Home to guide you through the process of honoring their life we pride ourselves on serving families in Creston Our staff is experienced in a variety of funeral services and can help you celebrate your loved one no matter your religion dbaPowers Funeral Home | (641) 782-7036601 New York Avenue © Powers Funeral HomeCrafted with care by Frazer Consultants & TA Your browser may not work with certain site. 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She was the youngest of three children born to W Berton and Minnie Finley Groesbeck on September 13 and graduated as a proud Red Devil from Springville High School in 1954 She always cherished her school days and enthusiastically attended her class reunions organizing many of these and recently celebrating her 70th reunion last July she attended Brigham Young University for a year before joining her father to work as a secretary at Reilly Tar and Chemical Corporation She later moved to Salt Lake City with friends attending Henager’s Business School and gaining valuable work experience she was offered a job at the corporate office of Norbest Turkey Growers by a fellow Springville native she met Milan Packard—her future husband—who was not only a local Springville man but also her neighbor On returning to Springville to plan their wedding Janet often shared the valuable lesson she learned during this time: “Never quit a job until you have another one.”  She married Milan Alton Packard in Springville on October 4 Together they built a beautiful life and raised four children They are the proud parents to Craig (Linda) Packard 13 great-grandchildren with one on the way.  working 34 years for a local accounting firm continuing with Kirk Holt after taking over his business She was known for her dedication and professionalism forming deep friendships throughout her career and community involvement She found great joy in life’s simple pleasures she finally ceded to “allowing” her children’s help and her children often referred to her as the "Energizer Bunny." She was involved in golfing making cherished friendships along the way She was a charter member of the Hobble Creek Ladies golf association since its induction She attended many club and social events monthly for more than 50 years The friendships she gained were many.  As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Janet’s faith and values guided her throughout her life She loved her calling of more than 38 years of sending birthday cards to the Relief Society sisters the majority of the time hand-delivering each card to ensure they received their card on their birthday.  always putting her children and grandchildren first She loved attending all of her family’s activities— athletic events She was also an avid fan of the local sports teams and BYU games— whether being football or basketball and golf tournaments.  She will be deeply missed by all who knew her She was preceded in death by her loving husband At the LDS Chapel at 860 East 200 North in Springville The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m at Wheeler Mortuary at 211 East 200 South in Springville and also on Tuesday from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m at the church prior to the funeral services Interment will be held at the Springville Evergreen Cemetery Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office working in conjunction with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the indictment of Dmitriy Groesbeck a former employee of the Doe Mountain Recreation Authority in Johnson County The nonprofit authority maintains 8,600 acres of protected mountain terrain and trails to provide public recreation opportunities The investigation began after authority officials identified and reported questionable financial activity Investigators determined that Groesbeck misappropriated authority funds totaling $12,026 by transferring the money from the authority’s bank account to a personal bank account the evening prior to leaving employment with the authority whose wife also worked for the authority as an administrative assistant used his wife’s computer login to make the transfer He attempted to conceal the misappropriation by making the transfer appear that it was a payment to a vendor He also deleted the transaction from the accounting system records in an effort to hide his activity Groesbeck admitted to initiating the transfer to his bank account for his personal benefit He claimed his wife did not know about the transaction and he planned to repay the funds back to the authority the Johnson County Grand Jury indicted Dmitriy Groesbeck on one count of theft over $10,000 or more but less than $60,000 “This investigation offers a good reminder of the importance of safeguarding computer passwords,” said Comptroller Mumpower the subject’s wife had previously shared her login information with him investigators noted a printed registry of usernames and passwords in the authority’s office Safeguarding login information reduces the risks of unauthorized access.” To view the investigative report, go to tncot.cc/doireports. To view a map depicting Comptroller investigations, go to tncot.cc/mappinginvestigations If you suspect fraud, waste, or abuse of public money in Tennessee, call the Comptroller’s toll-free hotline at 800.232.5454, or file a report online at: tncot.cc/fraud. Follow us on X/Twitter @TNCOT and Instagram @tncot Media contact: John Dunn, Director of Communications, 615.401.7755 or john.dunn@cot.tn.gov He confessed his faith at an early age at Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church he was a member of The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and graduated from Washington High School in 1969 and attending anything that involved his grandchildren and family and always flashed a love- filled smile that lit up a room Chantay (Jerome) and Esra (Marquel); grandchildren Vonda Richardson (Herbert) and Bridgett Jackson-Tatum (Elgrick); and a host of relatives and friends PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? 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The family is deeply saddened and shocked by his tragic death He was unfortunately taken from us by a drunk driver.John is survived and missed by his loving wife Robyn of 21 years He is forever cherished and remembered by his friend Scott Wheatley & fiancé Anthony Brown; father Dana Moss; stepfather Bill Odom; brother-in-law Lee Coleman; stepsisters Kristen Allen & husband Doug and Keri Martin & husband Justin Martin; mother-in-law Bobbie Adams;  uncles David Moss and Alan Moss; nieces and nephews Jacob Allen JoBeth Rodriguez & husband George.John was born in Waco where he raised his family in the most loving Some of his greatest joys came from his wife and three children They created many memories while enjoying trips as a family The most amazing vacation they took was to Rome the family celebrated Ally’s Make-A-Wish dream vacation after her remission from childhood leukemia This was one of John’s biggest blessings— getting Ally through this time He was also so proud of Ally’s accomplishments in tennis and band and loved to pick on Ally and laugh with her always scheming to play a joke on the boys John was extremely proud of his son Aiden and all of his accomplishments in football and his dreams of becoming a professional athlete Asher shared the love of history like his dad and loved spending time talking history and playing video games with his dad from the history to learning how to start a fire  He was Aiden’s motivator and guide throughout his entire life  Asher carries on the gift of telling jokes that his dad possessed.John had a passion for cooking—making steaks was his favorite Tater Tot Casserole and meatloaf were some of his best dishes He loved sharing advice on life skills and caring for everyone around him He loved to spend his weekends with family and friends jamming out to loud music—country and rap of course—and building the biggest fires you have ever seen He prided himself on attracting the local fire department His greatest fires were created and supervised at the family farm drive around in Amy’s jeep trying to tear it up and jump things and spend hours talking to family and friends.John graduated from Mexia High School in 1998 He went on to study Criminal Justice at Tarleton State University and graduated with his Bachelor of Science in 2010 John worked for the State as a Child Protective Investigator saving thousands of children from dangerous environments John would say that you could only handle this job for five years because of the emotional toll it took but he had the strength to do this job for almost 20 years He was saving lives and advocating for children every day John had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge He was a historian of people and basically anything he could get his hands on He often spent his spare time reading or going to Half Price Books to find his latest treasure He enjoyed watching gory old 80’s movies—anything bloody and disturbing You can be sure he is giving Amy the rundown on everything and all the crazy adventures since she left.John was never scared to give his opinion He had an endless supply of sarcasm that he was never afraid to use John and Robyn created Loaded Tea Junkies to provide Groesbeck and Mexia with extra energy every day This allowed John to socialize and talk to people even more John had incredible patience and always made time to help others and be with others.John was predeceased by his sister Amy Moss Janasik; his mother Linda Odom; paternal grandparents John Henry and Juanita Moss; maternal grandparents Verna and Lee Roy Crook; cousins Matt Crook and Jeff “JD” Blair.A celebration of John’s life will be held on Saturday  Visitation will be held on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m  His legacy will carry on forever in all who loved him There are no words that can express how grateful and blessed we are to our community Gloredia Odessa Tipps Phillips was born to the union of the late Odessa Lewis and Christopher Columbus Tipps in Cushing (Rusk County) She passed away with her family at her side on Feb Gloredia developed a love for learning from a very early age  A bright pupil of Laneville Colored High School from 1st-12th grade earning Valedictorian of her graduating class Gloredia’s father would speak into existence her calling as he would proudly say “There goes my schoolteacher,” as she headed off to school each day The Tipps family was a hard-working family who lived on a farm and picked cotton every year to earn extra income which helped to finance Gloredia’s college education at Prairie View A & M College She earned a Bachelor’s degree in the areas of Elementary and Secondary Education and Library Sciences and upon completion of her college education she met and married Joe Louis Phillips she began a career in public education which spanned 34 years  During her 58-year marriage to Joe Louis Phillips they dedicated their lives to raising their six children and to serving the community of Groesbeck.Mrs Phillips is fondly remembered by her students and many others in the community for greeting them…or quieting them… with her famous peace sign gesture Phillips loved teaching and daily inspired and encouraged her students to put forth their best in all their endeavors  Her students showed their gratitude and appreciation by nominating her five times to Who’s Who Among American Teachers she was awarded the Limestone County Texas State Teacher’s Association’s (TSTA) Teacher of the Year Phillips was very involved and active in many school and community organizations including serving with the D.A.R.E Maffett Memorial Library Board from 1976-2007  Greater Limestone County Alzheimer’s Support Group Limestone County Domestic Violence Advocacy Board Board Member of the 19th of June Organization and a loyal member of Groesbeck Church of Christ for over 50 years.In earlier years and she had the opportunity to visit the country of Ireland with Joe and her daughter after Paula had won the trip on a radio contest and she and Joe cut many a rug in their nearly six decades together giving Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire a run for their money  An avid watcher of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune of the presidents who served in her lifetime to quickly recalling the alphabet backwards as easily as she could forwards To know Gloredia was to also know and admire her for being quite the orator or speeches of her own with unmatched eloquence and poise Two of her favorite quotes are by Edwin Markham -- 1) “There is a destiny which makes us brothers; none goes his way alone But love and I had the wit to win; we drew a circle and took him in!”Gloredia is preceded in death by her parents Ruby Neal.Those who remain to cherish her memories are her daughters Damita (Michael) Brassfield and Patrice (Herman) Houston; sons Joe Christopher Phillips (Kasandra) and Sharles Phillips (Rachel Garcia); grandchildren Micah and Kye Jordan; great-grandchild Misha; brother Azil (Ellen) Tipps; sister Ozie Edwards; and generations of nieces and church family and friends.The Phillips Family is humbled and grateful for the outpouring of love shown for Mrs To honor her servant heart and philanthropic spirit memorial donations can be made to your favorite charities or any of the following near and dear to her: American Cancer Society Greater Limestone County Alzheimer’s Support Group and Maffett Memorial Library.Visitation and services for Mrs Phillips will be held at the Groesbeck Church of Christ and the funeral service will be held on Saturday The Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the scene about 11:23 p.m after a head-on collision involving two Ford vehicles a Ford passenger car traveling north collided with a Ford SUV traveling south on Highway 14 The force of the crash resulted in the driver of the passenger car of Groesbeck was transported to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple where he later succumbed to injuries at the hospital His wife Robyn is currently still in the hospital undergoing surgeries according to a family friend A bank account under the name “The Moss Family” has been setup at the Farmers State Bank in Groesbeck to help support Robyn and her three kids or you can Venmo @Katrina-Garner-4 Authorities are urging drivers to remain vigilant and immediately report any wrong-way drivers "If you see a wrong-way driver approaching PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. 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Texas (KXXV) — Groesbeck ISD officials announced on Tuesday that Nelson Kortis will be the new athletic director & head football coach starting Feb "He brings a wealth of experience across all sports and Standard = GOATS," the district said about its new coach Coach Kortis will focus on developing a program for PK-12 boys and girls that will instill qualities of leadership Tom was a man of quiet strength and dry wit deeply connected to the enduring childhood friendships of his small-town upbringing in Orange.After graduating from Stark High School in 1965 It was during his freshman year of college that he met Barbara Stravoski who would become his wife of 57 years.He later served his country as a communication technician in the U.S Navy.Tom and Barbara were blessed with two beautiful children both of whom predeceased him.He is survived by his devoted wife Travis Plank of Virginia and Rhonda Casey of Glenview He also leaves behind cousins who will dearly miss his humor at Gallander family reunions.Tom was a dedicated member of First United Methodist Church Georgetown He also held a distinguished place in the Masonic community serving as Past Master of Georgetown Masonic Lodge #89 Arrangements are pending through Ramsey Funeral Home in Georgetown.In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Tunnel-2-Towers or the Wounded Warrior Project She returned to her Heavenly Father on April 9 Diane was preceded in death by her parents She is survived by her siblings: Connie Smith Diane worked hard to provide for her family was Burlington Northern's first female conductor in Teague and later spent many years in property management enjoyed watching musicals with her children She was known for her Southern cooking and hardy character Diane will be missed by many who appreciated her love and attention Visit www.groesbeckfuneralhome.com to leave messages of condolence on the guestbook PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. 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Subscribe today! a Digital Content Producer with 25 News KXXV and 15 ABC KRHD Texas (KXXV) — First responders are on the scene of a major crash on State Highway 14 near Local County Road 404 urging motorists to expect delays and seek alternative routes Emergency crews are working to clear the scene but no further details have been released regarding injuries or the cause of the crash A Limestone County jury convicted Josh Weibye of multiple child sexual abuse charges resulting in a life sentence handed down by District Judge Amy Ward on April 4 Weibye was found guilty of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 14 After reviewing testimony and closing arguments from both the defense and the prosecution Judge Ward issued the following sentences: Groesbeck Police Chief Chris Henson expressed gratitude for the work done by various individuals and agencies involved in the case “We want to publicly thank Limestone County District Attorney Jeff Janes Assistant District Attorneys Beth Toben and Hilary LaBorde former District Attorney and current District Judge Roy Defriend Limestone County Victim Services Coordinator Glyn Sloan Texas Child Protective Services Investigator Theresa Shamblin and the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children for their efforts on behalf of the victim,” Henson said “The punishment assessed by Judge Ward is to be commended while it cannot restore the victim’s innocence or lost youth it will hopefully provide some peace knowing that neither they nor any other child will be victimized by Joshua Weibye.” Chief Henson also praised the efforts of the Groesbeck Police Department “I want to thank the officers of the Groesbeck Police Department for their dedication and commitment to seeing this case through There are many moving parts in a criminal case like this NEWS RELEASE: Limestone County Attorney’s Office   was sentenced to Life in Prison for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child He was also sentenced to 80 years in prison for each of four counts of Indecency with a Child and 20 years in prison for Sexual Assault of a Child that the Defendant was prohibited from marrying Judge Amy Ward of the 87th District Court ordered that the sentences be served consecutively which means that the 80-year sentences are ”stacked” on top of the life sentence and that the 20-year sentence is “stacked” on top of the 80-year sentences a Limestone County jury was seated to decide if the 33-year-old Weibye was guilty of sexually abusing a young girl The State called about 15 witnesses during the trial The jury deliberated for bout two hours before finding the Defendant guilty Testimony during the trial established that the Defendant who had been in a relationship with the victim’s mother had been sexually abusing her since she was about five years old when they were living in Limestone and Freestone Counties but when the mother confronted the Defendant the Defendant made her take home pregnancy tests because he realized that she might be pregnant he researched how to cause an abortion but finally took her to an abortion clinic in Austin The clinic determined that the victim was 11 weeks pregnant but refused to do the procedure because the Defendant was not her parent The appointment was rescheduled so she could come back with her mother Even though the victim had repeated the story that the Defendant had instructed her to tell--that she had sex with an unknown 12-year-old boy—the clinic notified law enforcement because the girl was underage Officers from the Austin Police Department responded and told the Defendant that they would be notifying the Groesbeck Police Department and instructed him to notify them as well When officers from the Groesbeck Police Department responded they did not think the story about an unknown 12-year-old boy made sense The victim could not give consistent information and she did not have answers to many basic questions They also learned that the victim’s mother did not know that she was pregnant or that the Defendant had taken the victim to get an abortion Law enforcement officers contacted Child Protective Services and then helped the mother locate a safe place to have her children while law enforcement continued to investigate the case Child Protective Services explained to the mother that the police wanted to do DNA on the fetus if she chose to have her daughter have an or they wanted to do DNA on the baby if she chose to have her daughter have the baby Child Protective Services and Law Enforcement arranged to have a medical exam done on the victim at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Waco and scheduled a meeting to meet with her about the next steps Prior to the meeting and before the medical exam the mother quit responding to CPS and Groesbeck officers Child Protective Services and officers from the Groesbeck Police Department did an exhaustive search for the victim and her family before suspending the case they were vigilant with the hope of finding the victim and finding out if she had the child an uncle of the victim notified the Groesbeck Police that he had hired an attorney to help get the equivalent of an Amber Alert in Mexico He said the mother had taken the victim to Mexico to get away from the police and that his family in Mexico had not seen her recently the police learned that the Defendant had gone to Mexico gotten the victim a neighbor of the Defendant’s in Groesbeck reported seeing a young girl in the backyard of the Defendant’s house and CPS responded immediately and found the victim in the home and took custody of her because she did not have a legal guardian with her officers learned that the mother had given the victim pills which caused her to lose the baby She stayed with her mother and relatives in Mexico until a year and a half later when the Defendant went to Mexia got her and brought her back to Groesbeck but then it started again and continued until the police and CPS came and found her and placed her with relatives out of town the victim described the sexual abuse and explained some of the emotional trauma that she has experienced because of the sexual abuse She talked about her fear that he would come and get her and described an incident when he came to her school in far west Texas and tried to talk to her in the school office She explained how she has lost her relationship with her mother because her mother does not believe her who examined the victim after she was found in 2023 the Medical Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center Chemists from the DPS crime lab explained the testing that was done on the Rape Kit samples collected by Nurse Roark helped the jury understand the psychological dynamics of child sexual abuse cases testified that the victim has PTSD and talked about some of the problems she has been having now and what problems she will likely have in the future The Defendant denied that he had sex with the girl He claimed that he had done nothing but help the mother with her children The mother denied giving the victim pills and claimed she never knew for sure the victim was pregnant the jury found the Defendant guilty of all the charges submitted to the jury The Defendant elected to have the judge assess his punishment scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 4 the State proved that the Defendant had previously been convicted of Assault Family Violence by Impeding Breath and two cases of Assault on a Public Servant and had been to prison on those charges A relative of the victim who lives with her now testified that since the Defendant has been convicted in February the victim has started coming out of her room more and being more willing to go and do things she is not as hypervigilant about locking doors and checking to make sure that they are not being followed The victim testified that she is still in counseling She explained that the Defendant did not use birth control regularly even after he got her pregnant and that she did not tell because she did not think that there was any way out of the situation She also testified that one of the hardest parts to deal with is the abortion because she is Catholic and she hasn’t really started to process her feeling about that situation Judge Ward found the Defendant’s prior convictions to be true which increased the punishment range for the Indecency counts from 2 to 20 years to 5 to 99 years  or Life and the minimum punishment range for the Sexual Assault of a Prohibited Person from 5 years to 15 years making the punishment range from 15 to 99 years or Life Then Judge Ward sentenced the Defendant to Life in prison on the Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child There is no parole for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child so the Defendant will have to serve his sentence day for day the rest of his life The Judge then assessed a punishment of 80 years for the four counts of Indecency and stacked that 80 years on top of the Life sentence on the Continuous Sexual Abuse in Count I The Judge assessed a sentence of 20 years for the Sexual Assault with a Prohibited Person and stacked that sentence on top of the 80 years sentences for the Indecency with a Child counts The County Attorney’s office commends the officers of the Groesbeck Police Department and Child Protective Services who realized that the story about the victim having sex with an unknown 12-year-old boy was not the truth We also commend them for never giving up their efforts to find this victim and this Defendant and help her tell the truth and escape from this situation who prosecuted the case with Assistant County Attorney Hilary LaBorde “It takes teamwork to stop child sexual abuse I commend the many professionals who were a part of the team in this case even before the victim found the words to tell us and they never gave up on their commitment to help her escape and tell the truth so he could be held accountable I also commend the jury for having the insight to see the big picture and realize this is what child sexual abuse often looks like This victim is blessed to have extended family that love her and never forgot her!” “This case is a testament to what can happen when our community works together to hold a criminal accountable I appreciate the jurors for having the courage to hear the evidence and deliver the proper verdict It is obvious from Judge Ward’s strong punishment in this case that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in our community PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today! Texas (KXXV) — Groesbeck ISD's Board of Trustees named Scott Cummings as the lone finalist for superintendent on Thursday the board must now wait 21 days before voting to hire Mr Cummings is slated to replace outgoing Superintendent Anthony Figueroa — Mr Cummings has served as Superintendent of Westphalia ISD since 2016," the district said The board has followed a lengthy process in determining the finalist the Board hired Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Executive Search Services to direct the search "The TASB consultants developed a profile of leadership qualities for the new superintendent based on the community survey — this profile was used by the Board and consultants in evaluating the applicants for the position." The board conducted two rounds of interviews for the superintendent position and narrowed the field down to one candidate — officials are scheduled to vote on April 9 to offer a contract to Scott Cummings at age 80.Visitation will be held at Groesbeck Funeral Home Memorial services will begin in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel at 11 a.m with Chester Springfield of Lott officiating.Mary Joyce was born in Rosebud on July 4 the only child of Anton Arthur Patzke and Johnnie Mae (Elliott) Patzke She grew up in Rosebud and lost her father who died when she was a teenager She grew up helping the family pick cotton and tomatoes  Her numerous cousins were very important to her and she also loved her dogs and cats as a child she developed a life-long love with books and reading  She grew up in the Baptist faith.Mary Joyce attended Rosebud-Lott High School where she enjoyed “close-knit” friendships she attended Durham Business School in Waco She worked at the Marlin National Bank and other banks in Marlin where the friends she made were very important to her.Mary Joyce was united in marriage with John Wesley Lauderdale of Kosse on July 4 keeping the one day each year to celebrate the holiday as well as her birthday and anniversary She continued to work on and off at Marlin banks until she retired She had a great love of books and loved watching British mysteries on TV  Another thing Mary was passionate about was the Dallas Stars Hockey both attending games in person and watching on TV It was from one of her books that she chose Rani as her daughter’s name and it was from books she developed her love for travel and learning about different cultures She took Rani on many travels when she was a child She enjoyed going to casinos and playing the slot machines; and dogs and many cats were part of her life all her life  She did have to slow down the past ten years with her mobility and her eye-sight.Mary Joyce was preceded in death by her parents and numerous aunts and uncles.She is survived by her husband John Wesley Lauderdale of Kosse; daughter and son-in-law Debra Crosby and husband Larry of Lumberton; and nieces and nephews: Charlotte Berry of Kosse the family suggests donations to Laras House or The Kittery in Mexia to honor the memory of Mary Joyce Jim was born to Eunice and Rawls Williams on June 1 including going to school barefooted and riding his pet horse and he played high school football for the Groesbeck Goats Jim attended the First Baptist Church where he met Janie Croft a fateful encounter that would change their lives forever marking the beginning of a lifelong journey together Jim and Janie were blessed with three children is married to Jason Humphrey and is the loving mother of Rowan Williams Humphrey Jim graduated from the University of Texas with a B.S in Aeronautical Engineering and earned master’s degrees in engineering from both the University of Texas and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Jim was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1968 and served his country as a satellite systems engineer He was one of the early pioneers of military satellite operations and his time in the Air Force included an assignment as an Instructor at the United States Air Force Academy After retiring from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel Jim continued to work in satellite operations as a civilian   Everyone joked that Jim was busier in retirement than during his working days He was involved in many organizations including: the Pikes Peak Genealogical Society (where he served as program chairman) Sons of the Republic of Texas (his family were Limestone County pioneers) Life Member of the National Rifle Association Trout Unlimited (was awarded Outstanding Volunteer for Colorado in both 2009 and 2022) Carmel Veteran’s Service Center Food Distribution or antelope or knee deep in a stream fly fishing.Every summer Jim mentored young adults at Trout Unlimited Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp  He always was impressed by the energy and optimism of the campers and the uplifting effect that they had on his spirit   Because of his involvement with Fish Camp Jim was awarded Colorado Trout Unlimited Outstanding Volunteer for 2022.Jim was one of three co-founders and co-leaders of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing at Ft a group that works with wounded military soldiers through fly tying and fly fishing  He was named a Volunteer of the Year for the Rocky Mountain Region for 2011   Jim enjoyed spending time in the high country of Colorado His love of the natural world and his sense of wonder meant you could find him totally absorbed in a sunset a grove of yellow aspens on the mountainside or any of a hundred other things that would fascinate his brilliant mind.Jim leaves you with these thoughts: Go Experience all life has to offer!Donations in Jim’s memory can be made to:Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing please specify Colorado Springs Chapter.Colorado Trout Unlimited please specify Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. 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By Rusty SurettePublished: Nov 2024 at 1:51 PM CSTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInGROESBECK Texas (KBTX) - Groesbeck ISD addressed a rumor Monday morning that a litter box had been placed in a restroom at the high school to accommodate a student Superintendent Anthony Figueroa assured the community this was entirely false guaranteeing that no litter box exists or will ever be in any restroom He emphasized the importance of clear communication and encouraged parents to contact the school or district office with any concerns and supportive environment for all students,” he said 🚫 RUMOR CONTROL: Groesbeck ISD says rumors of a litter box being placed in a restroom to accommodate a student are FALSE. 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/JcQSDkpiXP 🚫 RUMOR CONTROL: Groesbeck ISD says rumors of a litter box being placed in a restroom to accommodate a student are FALSE. 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/JcQSDkpiXP PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. 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