The Harper News (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, February 26, 2010 Page: 3 of 10
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page 3
The Harper News
February 26, 2010
Ahlschwede Asks for Your Vote for
Kimble County Attorney
ill
■Bi
My name is Allen J.
Ahlschwede and I am seek-
ing election as your Kimble
County Attorney. I wanted
to take this opportunity to
tell you a little about
myself, discuss the work I
have done over the past
year as County Attorney,
and most importantly, ask
you for your vote.
Many people have asked
me why I want to serve as
County Attorney. My answer
is straightforward and sim-
ple. My wife and I made a
decision many years ago
that we wanted to move
back to her family ranch to
work and raise our children.
I want to be your County
Attorney to work for you
and ensure that Kimble
County continues to be a
safe place for our families.
Part of keeping our commu-
nity safe is the prosecution
of crime. The County
Attorney’s primary jurisdic-
tion is over misdemeanors.
The County Attorney is also
responsible for prosecution
of all juvenile offenses,
whether misdemeanor or
felony, and all appeals of
criminal cases from Justice
Court and Municipal Court.
In addition, the County
Attorney provides legal
advice to County officials on
civil matters, and may assist
other state agencies in civil
matters before our local
Courts.
The most frequent
offenses prosecuted by the
County Attorney are pos-
session of marijuana, driv-
ing while intoxicated, and
assault family violence.
Swift and meaningful prose-
cution of these crimes is
fundamental to the protec-
tion of our county. While
these are not felony offens-
es, any lack of attention
paid to these cases far too
often results in increased
drug use, drunk driving
fatalities, and violent crimi-
nal acts.
Juvenile prosecution is
also vitally important to
keeping our schools drug
free and fostering a positive
learning environment that
will prepare our children
for the future. Working
together with law enforce-
ment and communicating
with and supporting our
school’s teachers, adminis-
trators and staff is the only
way for a County Attorney
to effectively address juve-
nile issues.
As I have worked for the
residents of Kimble County
over the past year as
County Attorney, I have
tried to consistently apply
the traditional values I have
learned through my family,
education and work experi-
ence. I grew up in San
Angelo. My father worked
for Texas A&M University as
a State Sheep & Goat
Specialist. My mother was a
teacher. My younger broth-
er, sister and I were very
active in 4-H angora goat,
sheep, cattle, judging, and
leadership projects. These
projects taught me respon-
sibility, the importance of
hard work, and the value of
education.
I graduated from San
Angelo Central High School
in 1986. My roots in agricul-
ture led me to, and paid for,
my undergraduate educa-
tion at Texas A&M
University. While at Texas
A&M, I majored in
Agricultural Economics and
earned the opportunity to
work in the Agricultural
Policy Center as a research
assistant. I worked on farm
bill issues and learned about
the economic impact of fed-
eral agricultural programs
on Texas farmers and
ranchers and the unique
problems facing rural com-
munities.
After graduating from
Texas A&M in 1990,1 was
hired by United States
Congressman Greg Laughlin
to work in Washington, D.C.
in the House of
Representatives. The
Congressman’s district was
make up of 22 rural counties
located between Houston,
Austin, San Antonio and
Corpus Christi. I worked five
years for the Congressman,
first as a Legislative
Assistant, and then as his
Legislative Director, han-
dling issues including agri-
culture, budget, banking,
tax, private property rights,
and small business and
managing his legislative
staff. I also spent a great
deal of time in the district
working directly with farm-
ers, ranchers, and small
business owners. The work
was challenging, but was a
tremendous learning expe-
rience. The job taught me
the importance of listening
and seeking the input of the
people for whom you work.
After five years in
Washington; however, I
knew it was time to return
to Texas and continue my
education. I was accepted
into Texas Tech University
School of Law and graduat-
ed with honors in 1998.
While at law school, I met
my wife, Tonya Spaeth. We
shared common back-
grounds and the desire to
return to our ranching her-
itage.
Tonya and I were mar-
ried on June 3,2000, and we
both began legal careers in
San Angelo. Tonya worked
as Assistant County Attorney
and then as Assistant District
Attorney. I went to work for
the law firm of Smith, Rose,
Finley, Harp & Price, where I
became a partner in 2004.
While at Smith Rose, my
practice included civil liti-
gation, estate planning,
business formation, pro-
bate, real estate, and crimi-
nal law. My practice cov-
ered a large geographic
area including Kimble,
Menard, Mason, Edwards,
and Sutton counties.
In 2004, Tonya and I had our
first child, Jay Rhett. After
Jay was born, we knew it
was time to move back to
the ranch. We did a little
updating and moved into a
two-bedroom house on the
Kimble County side of the
ranch. The house was built
by Herman and Eva Mae
Spaeth in 1926.
In 2005, Tonya opened a
law office in Junction, and I
drove back and forth to
work at Smith Rose in San
Angelo. In January, 2007,
Tonya and I established our
own law firm in Junction,
Ahlschwede & Spaeth. Since
beginning our law practice
in Junction, we have been
welcomed by the residents
of Kimble County and
blessed with many opportu-
nities to work and build our
law firm.
When I married Tonya, I
married into a family with
strong ties to Kimble
County. Tonya’s mother,
Mag Spaeth, is part of the
Fleming family who have
lived in Kimble County since
1878. My wife’s grandmoth-
er, Ruth Kothmann Spaeth,
is the last living child of Eli
"Lee" Kothmann who came
to Kimble County in 1909.
The Spaeth family ranch,
where we reside, was origi-
nally purchased by Jacob
Spaeth in 1924. My children
are the sixth generation of
the Fleming family and the
fifth generation of the
Kothmann family to live in
Kimble County and the fifth
generation of the Spaeth
family to live on the family
ranch. Family history is
important to me and pro-
vides a foundation for my
values.
In the past year, I have
energetically and efficiently,
prosecuted the criminal
cases pending in County
Court. When I was sworn in
as County Attorney on
January 1,2009,1 inherited
a docket of 129 open misde-
meanor cases. The first pri-
ority was to move the old
cases on the docket, while
at the same time keeping up
with the new cases that
needed to be filed and
prosecuted. I reviewed
every open file to deter-
mine its status and make
appropriate punishment
recommendations. I
rewrote all of the plea
paperwork used in County
Court to ensure it complied
with current law. Using
available software and
computer technology, I
designed computerized
forms that allow court
paperwork to be produced
and edited while in the
courtroom.
With the help of Judge
Murr, the Clerk’s Office, law
enforcement, and the pro-
bation department, I have
continued the prior practice
of being prepared to file a
case and finalize a plea
agreement the next day
after an arrest. In addition,
with the approval of Judge
Murr, we now hold a regu-
lar monthly pretrial hearing
for all cases on the docket.
The energy I have put into
prosecuting misdemeanor
criminal cases has produced
positive results for Kimble
County. Criminal fines col-
lected have increased by
93%. Criminal fines assessed
have increased by 209%.
Cases disposed increased by
108%. Hot check collections
have increased by over
25%.
The criminal docket has
also been dramatically
reduced. Of the old 129
cases I started with, 124
have been disposed and
only five old cases remain
on the docket - two of
which are currently set for
trial. Of the 155 new cases
that I filed in 2009,146 cases
have been disposed and
only nine cases remain on
the docket.
I am proud of the work
that I have done as your
County Attorney in 2009.
This work, however, could
not have been accom-
plished without many indi-
viduals working together. I
must point out that my staff,
the Clerk’s Office, the
Courts, law enforcement
and the probation depart-
ment all contributed to
these efforts.
I also need to recognize
my opponents. They both
have been nothing but kind
to my family and me for as
long as we have practiced
law in Kimble County. They
both have contributed to
our community and are
running for this office with
the best of intentions.
I sincerely encourage
everyone to exercise their
right to vote. We enjoy
many freedoms in our
country - one of the most
important being the right to
participate in elections.
Thank you for taking the
time to read this informa-
tion and consider me as a
candidate. My campaign is
about traditional values,
energetic and efficient
prosecution, and proven
results.
I respectfully ask for your
vote for Kimble County
Attorney.
POLITICAL ADVERTISING
PAID FOR BY ALLEN J.
AHLSCHWEDE CAMPAIGN,
RUSSELL K. FLEMING,
USDA Implements New Crop
Disaster Assistance Program
Agriculture Secretary
Tom Vilsack announced that
USDA has implemented the
new Supplemental Revenue
Assistance Payments pro-
gram (SURE) in accordance
with the 2008 Farm Bill.
Vilsack also encouraged
producers to visit their USDA
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
county office beginning on
January 4, 2010, to partici-
pate in the program if they
suffered crop production
losses during the 2008 crop
year.
"This program is an
important component of the
farm safety net and will pro-
vide financial assistance to
producers who have suf-
fered crop losses due to
natural disasters," said
Vilsack. "Producers will
receive payments beginning
in January, in time to help
them with planning for next
year's crop."
SURE provides crop disas-
ter assistance payments to
eligible producers on farms
that have incurred crop
production or crop quality
losses. The program takes
into consideration crop
losses on all crops grown by
a producer nationwide. SURE
provides assistance in an
amount equal to 60 percent
(Continued on page 9. See
“SURE Program.-)
LCRA Hosts Meetings
Once again the LCRA held
area meetings to inform the
landowners in the area of
the CREZ line routes and
information about how to
impact their placement.
They had large maps and
handed out smaller ones
along with a DVD that
answered questions. There
were photos of construction
options for the CREZ lines,
which included lattice tow-
ers and monopoles.
The meetings included
the expanded study area
which showed alternative
routes through Kimble and
Mason Counties.
Many LCRA employees
were there to answer ques-
tions. If you were unable to
attend, the Harper Library
has several copies of the
DVD, or you can access the
same information on their
website: www.lcra.org/crez
or call 1.800.776.5272, Ext.
4590.
Fitness Center
location: Nancy's Treasures -23574 Hwy. 290 Ml
Harper 830-864-5388 nevertson@gmail.com
FEATURIS: Treadmill, Recumbent Bike, Spinning Bike, Bowflex,
Elliptical, CardioGlider, Wobbler, Pilates Twist Board w/Stretch
Bands, “Step” board wA/ideo Routines
PRICING: (Based on one month membership) (unlimited visits)
****FIRST VISIT FREE****
**1st Month Sign-up for anyone over the age of 12-$20**
$30—Single
$25—Seniors —65+
$4----Single visit —each time
$50—Husband/wife or 1 adult/1 school-age teenager
in same family
$20—for each family member of 3 or more
PRESENT HOURS: (Can adapt based on need)
(9 am-7 pm- - -Tue, UJed, Thurs)
(9 am - 4 pm---Fri, Sat)
■ffiSFEm,
for Sheriff
in the Republican Primary
March 2, 2010
www.dennislandforsheriff.com
Pol. Adv. Paid for by Donna Price, Teasurer, 1037 KC 322, Junction, TX 76849
Elected
Officials
(Editor’s note: As critical
issues come before both
the state and national gov-
ernments, I have decided to
devote a little of the
paper’s space to contact
information for our elected
officials. The closer we as
citizens stay in contact, the
better our officials can act
to protect our interests.)
President
Barack H. Obama, The White
House, 1600 Pennsylvania
Ave. Washington, D. C.
20500
www.whitehouse.gov
Vice President
Joe Biden, Executive Office
Bldg. Washington, D. C.
20501
vice_president@white
house.gov
U.S. Senator
Kay Bailey Hutchison, 284
Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D. C. 20510
(202)224-5922
www.hutchison.senate.gov
U. S. Senator
John Cornyn, 370 Russell
Senate Office Bid.
Washington, D. C. 20510
(202) 224-2934
www.cornyn.senate.gov
U. S. Representative
Mike Conaway, Dist. 11
511 Cannon House Office
Bid.
Washington, D. C. 20515
(202)225-3605
Llano office - (325) 247-
2826,
www.conaway.house.gov
Texas Govenor
Rick Perry
P. 0. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711
(512)463-2000
www.governor.state.tx.us
State Senator
Troy Fraser, Dist. 24
P.0. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
(512) 463-0124
State Representative
Doug Miller
doug.miller@house.state.tx
.us
P.0. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910
(512) 463-0325
Countv Judge
Mark Stroeher
101 W. Main
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(830) 997-7503
Countv Commissioner. Pet 5
Billy Roeder
101 W. Main
Fredericksbug, TX 78624
(830) 997-7503
Copies of
The Harper News
are available
in these fine Harper
stores: Waldos,
Bode’s Feed &
Supply, Dauna’s,
and the Longhorn
Cafe.
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Stevens, Martha. The Harper News (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, February 26, 2010, newspaper, February 26, 2010; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth844534/m1/3/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Harper Library.