Brownwood Lions Mother’s Club annual awards banquet was held Thursday night and many Lions were honored for their accomplishments on and off the field, including two who won special scholarships.

Law enforcement arrests and reports released Friday, January 27, 2012.

Friday, January 20

*8:50am-Brownwood Police were given a report from Adult Protective Services regarding abuse.  According to the report a victim was allegedly abused by a CNA and was determined to be unfounded due to no elements of a criminal offense.

Thursday, January 26

*9:25am-Brownwood Police met with a complainant at the Law Enforcement Center regarding identity theft and failure to identify.  According to the report, a person had provided the complainant’s personal information to an officer during a traffic stop.

*10:00am - According to Brownwood Police reports, a mentally challenged woman and her mother-in-law reported alleged abuse and unlawful restraint by intimidation.  This report was based on a letter presented to Brownwood Police Department by the mother-in-law which was signed by the victim.

BELTON, Texas— The Howard Payne University women's basketball team used a 14-2 first-half run on the way to a 76-55 victory over the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Thursday night in Belton.

Howard Payne improves to 16-2 overall and 12-2 in the ASC with the victory. UMHB falls to 2-16 overall and 1-13 in American Southwest Conference play with the loss.

UMHB kept it close through the early going, trailing only 22-18 with 5:48 left in the first half. That's when HPU erupted for a 14-2 run to take control of the game and the Lady Jackets led 41-22 at halftime. UMHB would never get closer than the final margin in the second half after the Lady Jackets led by as many as 32 points.

Mark Masri, award-winning singer / songwriter / pianist and recording artist, will bring his unique blend of opera and romantic popular repertoire to Victory Life Church, 901 CC Woodson on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 7:30 pm.  For membership information call 325-646-8517 or 325-643-6049.

“…a rare find with an astounding and sensuous tenor voice, not to mention his movie star good looks.” -- Steven Reineke, New York City Pops

Mark Masri, a Toronto native, represents the best of the multicultural community in which he was raised, speaking and singing in six languages with his trademark velvet ease.  His performance history spans two decades appearing in back-to-back PBS specials with Jim Brickman and David Foster; his duo with Brickman achieved a top chart position of #18 (“Christmas Is”), and a #2 (New Age) and #36 (Christian) ranking for a duo on Olivia Newton-John’s album “Grace and Gratitude.”   Masri’s skills extend to the piano and the pen as demonstrated on his latest album, “La Voce,” which garnered three awards at the 2010 GMA Canada Covenant Awards.  Masri’s tour is supported by a trio of musicians providing piano, guitar and cello accompaniment.

DATES TO REMEMBER

January

29 - Shooting Sports Practice 2:00p.m. at the Woodman of the World Range

February

5 - Shooting Sports Practice 2:00p.m. at the Woodman of the World Range

12 - Shooting Sports Practice 2:00p.m. at the Woodman of the World Range

14 - Brownwood 4-H Club Meeting 6:30p.m. at Extension Office

14 - Early 4-H Club Meeting 6:15p.m. at Early First Baptist Church

16 - Shooting Sports Meeting 6:00p.m. at Extension Office

19 - Shooting Sports Practice 2:00p.m. at the Woodman of the World Range

20 - Extension Office Closed for Presidents' Day

21 - 4-H Rabbit Club Meeting 7:00p.m. at Extension Office

24 - District Consumer Decision Making Contest - San Angelo

26 - Shooting Sports Practice 2:00p.m. at the Woodman of the World Range

The American Southwest Conference yesterday announced its Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams for the fall 2011 sports and Howard Payne University landed five student-athletes on the lists.

Howard Payne's five Distinguished Scholar-Athletes include the following:

FOOTBALL
Thomas Head Jr. Psychology 3.69 Alvarado, TX
Thomas Head is a two-time Academic All-Conference selection. Thomas played in eight games for Howard Payne and started three at quarterback. He was 35 of 76 passing for 383 yards and 3 TDs. He also rushed for one TD.

MEN'S SOCCER
Jesus Vazquez Sr. Spanish/Education 3.74 Ennis, TX
Jesus played in all 16 matches for Howard Payne this season and started in seven. He scored one goal on six shots on goals. He has worked as a Spanish tutor and volunteer with local high school and club soccer programs.

Since Texas Parks and Wildlife Department launched a statewide appeal in early December for donations to aid a financially strapped Texas State Parks system, more than $1 million has been raised.

In an update provided to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission this week, TPWD staff reported that since the awareness campaign’s launch on Dec. 6, donations to state parks have topped the $1 million mark, bolstered by three large contributions and smaller donations from more than 1,000 individuals.

“We’re off to a very promising start in what is just the first stage of what is an ongoing state park fundraising campaign,” said Carter Smith, TPWD executive director. “This shows that the people of Texas truly care about their state parks and want to see them stay open and accessible for all to enjoy.”

U.S. Representative Mike Conaway (TX-11) paid a visit to Camp Bowie along with Texas Adjutant General (TAG) Major General John F. Nichols and Assistant TAG Brigadier General Joyce L. Stevens to tour the facilities of the camp in Brownwood on Thursday afternoon.

The congressman visited with not only military officials but landowners adjacent to the camp and family members of deployed troops.  As a member of the House Armed services Committee, Conaway reviewed family support programming and viewed current training capabilities. Conaway met with leaders to discuss concerns of looming budget cuts from the federal government.

Brownwood students Pre-K through 4th grade at East Elementary and Coggin Elementary were presented with a unique challenge on Wednesday, January 25th during a presentation held in Coggin Elementary’s auditorium.  Rachel’s Challenge is a program inspired by the life of Rachel Scott, the first victim killed in the Columbine High School tragedy on April 20, 1999.

The presentation did not mention how Rachel died, but instead focused on a challenge derived from her simple but effective concept of compassion.  Rachel left behind writings, poetry, artwork, and lives touched by her kindness, and though she lived to be only 17, her legacy has changed lives all over the world and motivated the widely embraced program known as Rachel’s Challenge.

“I’m here to bring to bring you the story of Rachel Scott,” announced Claudia Anderson, an Elementary Program Trainer for Rachel’s Challenge.  “She believed if we could treat each other with kindness, that it would make a big difference in our schools and our community.”

Anderson went on to outline five specific challenges for the students.  The challenges include:  (1) choosing positive influences, (2) keeping a journal, (3) writing down goals, (4) being kind and, (5) accepting and including others.

District Attorney Micheal Murray reports that during the January 2012 session of the Brown County Grand Jury, 28 indictments were returned against 22 people.

The District Attorney’s office does not release names on new indictments until after the Grand Jury proceedings have been processed through the District Clerk's office.  Also, names are not released of those indicted but not yet arrested due to an indictment being sealed until the time of the arrest.

Michael Ouchi: Count I-III, Abandoning or Endangering a Child

Elizabeth Ouchi: Count 1-III, Abandoning or Endangering a Child

Michael Anthony Constancio: Money Laundering

Two days of rain has brought some temporary relief from the Texas drought and is helping the level of Lake Brownwood. Reports of 3 inches of rain or more across the county will benefit the area, but likely not enough to lift water restrictions anytime soon according Brown County Water Improvement District General Manager Dennis Spinks.

“We got a good bit of rain in the water shed and it will flow into the lake for the next couple of days,” Spinks said. “The lake is up about a foot and a half so far and we expect it to raise a few more tenths and get close to a two foot rise (total).”

Spinks said that this is the most significant rise in Lake Brownwood in several months after gaining a 1.6 foot lift in October 2011. Spinks said that it has been a couple of years to his recollection since the lake has caught this much water prior to that.

Law enforcement arrests and reports released Thursday, January 26, 2012.

Tuesday, January 24

*3:34pm-Brownwood Police met an individual at their home to collect unwanted medications which belonged to her deceased husband.  These medications were taken to the Brownwood Police Department and placed into evidence for later destruction.

Wednesday, January 25

*10:18am-Brownwood Police were called to the 700 block of Austin Avenue regarding criminal mischief/theft.  According to the report, the complainant stated that someone cut the exhaust system of a 1997 Chevrolet truck in an attempt to steal the truck’s catalytic converter.