Mineola Monitor (Mineola, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 4, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Page: 2 of 16
sixteen pages : ill.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
2A Mineola Monitor • Wednesday, January 27,2016
Walters
From page 5A
the scene with a gun and Griffin shot in
the neck.
Walters is being represented by Cyn-
thia Kent, Buck Files and Brett Harrison
of Tyler. During the hearing they were
stationed at the defense table with the
solemn looking Walters between them.
The hearing started a few minutes late
and overall took about an hour to an
hour and a half.
Members of both Griffin's and Wal-
ters' families attended the hearing and
listened silently to the proceedings.
One of the factors noted during the
hearing was that results of a forensic test
of the gun used are not expected to ar-
rive until about late this month. The test
measures the amount of pressure that
has to be exerted on the trigger of the
weapon that caused the death of Chris
Griffin.
"We have the situation at SWIFTS
(Southwest Institute of Forensic Science)
to where we will not know until the 27th
what the status is of that testing," Wood
County District Attorney Jim Wheeler
noted in court. He said it was the same
test that has been performed previously
by the SWIFTS, the results of which were
on file, but his office received a letter
from SWIFTS stating there were some
"mitigating circumstances" that merited
further review. He said the second ver-
sion of the same test will be performed
by the same examiner. However, after
the hearing Wheeler explained that the
lab has had some "well-documented" is-
sues arise about the microscopic results
of their gun tests and now a "double
blind" test with two people must be con-
ducted. He said he does not expect the
results to change.
Wheeler said the hearing went well
and was not anything out of the ordi-
nary. One of the stack of motions filed
by the defense, which was granted in
the court, stated that none of the pros-
ecution attorneys or witnesses could
refer to the deceased as "the victim."
When asked about that after the hearing
Wheeler said it is something that is not
unusual, although many attorneys do
not file that paperwork. He explained
that by using the phrase "the victim" it
infers there must be "a victimizer" and
can affect the presumption of guilt over
innocence in a trial.
There was another motion about al-
lowing the criminal histories of wit-
nesses to be used that was also granted.
Wheeler said that action is regularly tak-
en. He had initially expressed concern
about juvenile records being included in
this, but withdrew his objection on this.
Otherwise in the hearing, the only
witness to take the stand was Mineola
Police Captain Joyce Box concerning a
motion about the revealing of evidence
under the Morton Act. In this case Mi-
chael Morton was wrongfully convicted
and spent 25 years in prison for the mur-
der of his wife. The case was overturned
and another person found guilty of the
crime decades later. In 2013 the prosecu-
tor in the case was arrested for not al-
lowing the trial judge to review all pos-
sible exculpatory evidence.
The defense seemed to defer to Wheel-
er if he wanted to question her to which
he replied, "She's your witness." So
Harrison grilled Box on several aspects
of the investigation, asking about agen-
cies other than the Mineola Police De-
partment that responded to the scene
and other officers involved.
"When you conduct interviews, in
many instances there are field notes.
Have you revealed that as part of the
case," Harrison asked. "Yes, I believe
so," Box answered. "What I need to
know is if you or any other law enforce-
ment officer related to this particular
case took any field notes that have not
been yet turned over to this court?"
Wheeler objected, saying Harrison's
question asks "this witness to address
matters about which she has no person-
al knowledge. There were officers of the
Department of Public Safety as well as
other agencies. She can't speak for them
unless she has personal knowledge of
their notes." The judge agreed so Har-
rison reworded his questions.
Harrison also asked her if her depart-
ment has any information about gangs
and if those involved in the crime had
any involvement and if that had been
turned over. Box said it had.
Also while she was on the witness
stand, Harrison asked her if she would
make an appointment to go to his of-
fice to discuss the case with him. This
stumped the veteran investigator who
replied with a puzzled look on her face
she guessed she could, but she had nev-
er been asked that before. Wheeler ob-
jected and the judge sustained that the
question was outside the testimony that
was to be heard in the court.
When it was the DA's turn to ques-
tion the witness he asked Box how long
she had been a licensed peace officer in
Texas. She answered 25 years. Wheeler
noted that until last year and the Mor-
ton case officers' field notes were not
something that had to be included in the
case file prior to that.
There was about a 20-minute recess
with the attorneys leaving the court-
room. During that time Chris Griffin's
dad, James, told the Monitor while his
family was still hurting, he had found
forgiveness for those involved in his
son's death. During the recess he also
visited with Walters, and the two shook
hands.
Afterward, the Monitor asked Walters
if he had anything he would like to say
about the case and he said he did not,
and that he would wait to allow the facts
to come out in the trial.
NETPA to award two
$1,500 scholarships
The North & East Texas Press Association,
in conjunction with the Texas Press Associa-
tion will award two $1,500 scholarships to
qualifying students. One will be awarded to
a graduating high school senior and the oth-
er to someone currently enrolled in college.
The scholarships are payable at $750 per
semester to the registrar of the college of
the recipients choice after they send proof
of registration to NETPA secretary Cher
Thompson.
Applications must be postmarked by Mon-
day, March 21 to be considered and winners
will be notified by Friday, April 1.
Applicants must be from the area served
by NETPA and have a declared major in
journalism, communications or photojour-
nalism. Preference is given to print majors.
Visit netpa.us for more details or for a
scholarships application. For questions con-
tact Suzanne Bardwell by email at Suzan-
neBardwell@aol.com or by at 903-845-2235.
Rauscher earns Tourism
Executive Certificate
Mineola Community Development
Director and Main Street Director
Lynda Rauscher completed all the
needed courses toward her Certified
Tourism Executive designation from
Travel & Tourism College recently.
In addition to completing the course-
work, Rauscher also completed a cap-
stone project required for the certifica-
tion designation. Travel and Tourism
College provides participants with an
intensive professional education full
of marketing, leadership and manage-
ment courses taught by college pro-
fessors as well as tourism profession-
als from around the country.
Over a three year period, Rauscher
attended courses that covered top-
ics including emotional IQ of today's
marketing campaigns, hands-on strat-
egies for handling any crisis situation,
how to create eco-friendly, sustain-
able tourism products, management
excellence, positively outrageous cus-
tomer service, essential strategies for
tourism marketing success and how
relationships affect advocacy and en-
gagement.
"I am amazed by the amount of in-
novative solutions and ideas that I
was able to bring back to the city of
Mineola over these past three years,
many of which we have implement-
ed," Rauscher said.
"With this certification designation,
Lynda has taken her career a step fur-
ther, increasing her knowledge and
expertise in all aspects of travel & tour-
ism marketing and management,"
said David Teel, President-CEO Texas
Travel Industry Association.
Mineola
Monitor
U.S.P.S. No. 781-460
(903) 569-2442
Fax (903) 569-6836
• Publisher- Joyce Hathcock
publisher@themineolamonitor.com
• Editor - Doris Newman
news@themineolamonitor.com
• Advertising - Katrina Davis
advertising@themineolamonitor.com
• Reporter/Photography - Josh
Land
sports@themineolamonitor.com
• Classifieds
publisher@themineolamonitor.com
Published every Wednesday by
Mineola Monitor, 715 Mimosa St.,
Mineola, TX 75773
Second Class postage paid at
the post office,
Mineola, TX 75773
U.S.P.S. No. 781-460
POSTMASTER,
send address corrections to:
Mineola Monitor, P.0. Box 1210,
Kilgore, TX 75663
Subscription Rates:
■ In County: $31.50 a year
■ Texas: $42 a year
■ Outside Texas: $50 a year
Errors which may appear in the Mineola Moni-
tor will be corrected upon being brought to
the attention of the editor. Mineola Monitor
is a member of the Texas Press Association,
North and East Texas Press Association.
News deadline:
Noon on Friday
MINEOLA MONITOR
Established 1876
Letters policy
Letters to the editor are opinions
expressed by the writers and in no
way reflect opinions or policies of this
paper. Publication of a letter does not
necessarily mean the facts have been
confirmed. Letters must be signed, ac-
companied with a telephone number
for verification and be no more than
eight inches long. One letter per topic
will be accepted per writer. Letters
written by people under 18 years of
age must be accompanied with written
permission from a legal guardian.
The Monitor does not accept letters
of endorsement for or against politi-
cal candidates. Letters of a political
nature will not be accepted for the
last edition prior to the election as
well. Letters should not be personal
attacks and must not be libelous. The
newspaper has editorial discretion on
publishing as well as editing letters.
Mineola Community Calendar
This lists REGULARLY scheduled meetings and is a community
service. Please furnish information to Editor Doris Newman.
Organizations are responsible for notification of changes.
ALBA CITY COUNCIL 1st Mon., 4 p.m., City Hall.
ALBA-GOLDEN SCHOOL BOARD 2nd Mon., 7 p.m., Admin. Bldg.,
768-2472.
ALBA-GOLDEN YOUTH FOUNDATION, 2nd Tues., elementary
gym, 7 p.m. All welcome.
ALBA LADIES CLUB 4th Thurs., 6:30 p.m., Alba Community
Center. 765-2573
ALBA LIBRARY BOARD 3rd Mon., 6:30 p.m. City Hall, Carey
Carpenter 768-2141.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Sun. & Mon. 7 p.m., Fri. 8 p.m.,
Womens Group Mon. 11 a.m.; St. Dunstans Episcopal Church.
AL ANON - Thursday 7:30 pm; St. Dunstans Episcopal Church.
ALZHEIMER SUPPORT GROUP (spons. by Pilot Club) 1st Mon., 11
a.m. Wingdingers, Mineola. Contact Betty Curbow, 903- 569-5237.
AMERICAN LEGION POST 296 and Auxiliary 4th Mon. 6:30 p.m.
Highway 80 east three miles. All are invited.
BOY SCOUT TROOP #385 - Tues. 7 p.m., First United Methodist
Educational Bldg., Scoutmaster Chris Jennings, 903.569.3531.
BREAD OF LIFE MINISTRY FOOD PANTRY Humble Baptist, Tues.
1-4 p.m.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: Daughters of
the American Revolution: 1st Sat (except June, July, Aug, Dec)
noon, Harvest Acres Baptist Church, 460 NW Loop 564, Mineola.
Regent Susan Few, 903-569-3286.
DELPHIAN LITERARY CLUB 1st Weds., Christine Creswell,
president, 569-6794; Clarice Pendley, VP, 569-3586.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL AWARENESS Friday 7 p.m. Seventh Day
Adventist Church, Ronny Polley 768-2992.
DUPLICATE BRIDGE ACBL games Weds. & Fri. 10:30 a.m.,
Masonic Lodge, Shirley Matthews 882-1335.
FANNIE MARCHMAN GARDEN CLUB 3rd Weds., September -
May, Mineola Civic Center, 9:30 a.m. Visitors welcome. Charla
Martin, president, 903-638-6389
FRIENDS OF THE MINEOLA MEMORIAL LIBRARY - 1st Weds. 1
p.m., Mineola Library, Mitzi Pearce , 903-569-5561.
GED CLASSES, FREE. Sand Spring Baptist Church. Mon. & Tues.
9 a.m. to noon or 6-9 p.m. For information or to enroll, call Kim
Kerry at 903-768-3239 or 903-569-9350.
GIRL SCOUT TROOP #3 Mon., 6 p.m., Broad Street Church of
Christ Annex, Troop Leader Crystal Arcand, 903-569-2610. All
girls, kindergarten-12th grade welcome.
HAINESVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. - 2nd & 4th Thurs. 7 p.m.,
Firehouse downtown Hainesville.
IRIS GARDEN CLUB-GOLDEN, 1st Mon. Sept.-May, Golden United
Methodist Church. Sherry Lindsey, 903-765-3000, or Ann Medlin,
903-765-2216.
KIWANIS CLUB Tues. noon, Mineola Civic Center Dogwood
Room. Ed Castro, president; Sam Curry, treasurer; Becky Moore,
secretary.
LAKE COUNTRY REPUBLICANS 4th Tues. 6 p.m. Quitman Library
202 E. Goode St.
LAKE COUNTRY RV TRAVELERS, of Good Sam Inf 1. Monthly, RV
parks w/in 150 m. radius. 903-569-3677 or 3069.
LAKE COUNTRY SYMPHONIC BAND, will resume rehearsals Aug.
6 at the Mineola Middle School band hall. 7 p.m. is start time.
Mike Holbrook, Director 903-569-2300.
LAKE HOLBROOK ASSOC., 1st Sat. in Feb., May, Aug and Nov.,
Harold Simmons Community Center, 5:30 p.m. directors, 6 p.m. all
members and guests welcome. 903-569-0223
LIONS CLUB 2nd & 4th Thurs. Noon, WingDingers, President
Cassandra Sampson, 903-638-1596; Jackie Bowling, Sec./Treas.,
903-569-3340.
MINEOLA BAND BOOSTERS, 2nd Tues. at 7 p.m. in high school
band hall. All parents invited. Renea Sneed president.
MINEOLA MARINE CORPS LEAGUE (Toys for Tots), 3rd Tues., 7
p.m., American Legion Hall. 903-569-6481, commandant.
MINEOLA SCHOOL BOARD 3rd Mon., Admin. Bldg., Loop 564, 7
p.m.
MINEOLA CITY COUNCIL Meets 4th Monday, 6 p.m., City Hall,
Council Workshop the previous Thursday 5:30 p.m. Public
welcome. Call City Hall for changes in Nov. and Dec. because of
holidays.
MINEOLA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB Last Mon.
High school lobby, 6 p.m.
MINEOLA HISTORICAL MUSEUM ADVISORY BOARD 3rd Tues. 4
p.m., city hall. Linda Rauscher 569-6944. Public invited.
MINEOLA MASONIC LODGE: 2nd Thurs., dinner @ 6:30 p.m.-
meeting @ 7:30 p.m. All Masons invited. Call 569-2608.
MLOTA LINE DANCE GUILD Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. & Friday, 9:30 a.m.
Guild Coordinator, Sandy Griffin.
MLOTA FIBER/CRAFT ART GUILD Wed. & Thurs 10 am & 1:30
pm, business meeting 4th Thurs, 9:30 am. Guild Coordinator Vera
Fingerle.
MLOTA QUILT GUILD, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Thurs. 9:30 am; Business
meeting 1st Thurs. Guild Coordinator Nancy Gibson.
MLOTA PAINTERS GUILD Weds. 10 am; business meeting 4th
Mon. Guild Coordinator Richard Napier.
MLOTA RUG HOOKING GROUP 1st Thurs., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Beginners are welcome. Coordinator, Nancy Huntley.
MLOTA PHOTOGRAPHY GUILD 4th Thurs., 6:30 p.m. All
levels welcome. Coordinator Lisa Moss, 903-569-8877.
MLOTA SCULPTURE GUILD Tues. 1 p.m. Business meeting 1st
Tues. Guild Coordinator, Sheila Wyze.
MINEOLA REBEKAH LODGE 1st & 3rd Tues. 11 a.m. 106 S. Line
St. All Rebekahs welcome, 569-2776.
MINEOLA SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER, 308 University, 9:30 a.m.-
1:30 p.m. Carol Cassity manager, 903-569-3073; Dominoes & other
games.
MONDAY NIGHT KNITS, 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Golden Methodist
Fellowship Hall. Julia, 903-768-2540.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH quarterly, 2-3 p.m, Ministries Center.
NORTHEAST TEXAS PARATROOPERS ASSOC. 3rd Saturday of
each month at 7:30 a.m. at the Ranchero in Mineola.
OPEN HEART MINISTRY 3rd Fri., 7 p.m. Mineola Civic Center.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS, Tuesdays 5:30 p.m., St. Dunstans
Episcopal Church. 569-9223, 569-1760.
PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL of Mineola Elementary, 1st Tues.
8:15 a.m., elementary library, Pres. Amanda Medina.
PILOT CLUB OF MINEOLA 2nd & 4th Tues., 6 p.m. Mineola Civic
Center. President Betty Curbow, 903-569-5237; Secretary Loraine
Epps.
REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF WOOD COUNTY - Third Monday, 11:30
a.m., Quitman Tea House. President Shirley Haskins, VP Janna
Castloo.
ROTARY CLUB Monday noon, Dogwood Room, Mineola Civic
Center. Pres. Jim Albritton; Sec. Todd Karch.
ROTARY RECYCLING - 3rd Saturday, Walmart parking lot, 9 a.m.
to noon. Cardboard, paper and plastic accepted.
STROKE SURVIVORS & APHASIA CLUB of East Texas 4th Weds.
6-7 p.m. First Baptist Church Quitman, Pat Miller 903-878-2392.
TEXAS INMATE FAMILIES ASSOC., 2nd Tues. 6:30-8 p.m. First
Christian Church Tyler, Broadway & Loop, Judy 903-839-2349.
TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL, Garden Valley chapter,
Thursdays on Mercy Ships property, 5:30-6:30 p.m. 903-882-0887.
TOPS GROUP 8-11 a.m. Thurs., Harvest Acres Baptist Church, NW
Loop 564, Brenda Thompson, 569-1240 or Sue Clower 569-2415.
UPPER SABINE VALLEY SOLID WASTE DISTRICT Quarterly 3rd
Mon., 5:30 p.m., Commissioners Courtroom, County Courthouse.
Open to the public.
UTU AUXILIARY MORNING STAR LODGE #851 3rd Mon. (except
July & Aug.) 11:30 a.m., in homes, Dorothy Arrington, sec.-treas.
VFW Ladies Auxiliary #7523 President Vicki Bocz. Meet 3rd Sun.,
1 p.m. Currently recruiting new members. Special events posted on
marquee. 569-2228.
VFW POST #7523: Doug Melvin, Meeting 3rd Wed., 6 p.m. Karaoke
every Friday 8 p.m. 569-2228.
WOOD COUNTY AGGIE MOMS 1st. Mon., 7 p.m., The Quitman
Library, 202 E. Goode, Kristi Bridges 903-967-7599.
WOOD COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT Quarterly 3rd Thurs. 8
a.m., appraisal district office. Open to the public.
WOOD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT every other Fri.,
Commissioners Court, Quitman, 10 a.m. 763-2716.
WOOD COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS every other month (odd
months), third Monday, 6: 30 p.m. W.C. Justice Center courtroom.
The public is invited to attend. W.C. Sgt. Kyle Henson, 903-763-
2201, or MPD Capt. Jack Newman, 903-569-6294.
WOOD COUNTY DEMOCRAT CLUB Fourth Thurs., Addie
McFarland Center, 708 S. Stone St, Mineola. 6 p.m. social-meal,
6:45 meeting. Info at woodcountydemocrats.com or 903-975-4134.
WOOD COUNTY 4-H HORSE CLUB Business meeting, Mon. 2 p.m,
Wood County Extension Office.
WOOD COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOC. 3rd Mon.
(Except Dec., June, July & Aug), 7 p.m. Quitman library,
Shamburger
Community Room. 967-2458, Dorothy Harbin
WOOD COUNTY HEALTH DEPT. IMMUNIZATION CLINIC, Mon,
Tues., Wed. 9-11 a.m. & 1-3 p.m., 3rd Mon. 1-6 p.m. Public Health
Depart, offices, 213 W. Bermuda, Quitman, 763-5406.
WOOD COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT 2nd Mon. 7 p.m., hospital
conference room in Quitman. Public invited.
WOOD COUNTY RETIRED SCHOOL PERSONNEL ASSOCI-
ATION 3rd Mon. Sept.-Dee. & Feb-April, 2 p.m. and in May at 5
p.m., Forever Young Activity Center, 402 S. Main St., Quitman. (No
Jan. meeting.) All retired school personnel are invited.
WOOD COUNTY TEA PARTY, 1st Monday, 7 p.m. Quitman Library.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Newman, Doris. Mineola Monitor (Mineola, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 4, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 27, 2016, newspaper, January 27, 2016; Mineola, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth900031/m1/2/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Mineola Memorial Library.