Brownwood Finance Director Walter Middleton presented the city’s proposed budget, tax rate, and water rates for 2010/2011 fiscal year to the city council on Tuesday.

The total proposed budget for next fiscal year is $29,619,039 which is a decrease of 2.48% of the current year’s budget.  That is a total decrease of $753,243.

Middleton said that the city planned to cut spending to compensate for the shortfall in revenue over the last year.

“This was one of the toughest budgets,” said Middleton “Bare bone, nearly to the marrow.”

Law Enforcement arrests and reports released Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Thursday, August 19

*At 3:18pm, Brownwood Police received a report of forgery in the 1400 block of Coggin.

Sunday, August 22

*At 3:55am, Brownwood Police were called to the intersection of Magnolia and Elizabeth regarding a motor vehicle accident.  According to police, dispatch advised the responding officer that the driver of one of the cars had walked away from the scene.  The driver was located only a block from the accident and was transported back to the scene the report states. Guardian EMS checked the driver for injuries and then transported him to BRMC for further evaluation and treatment.  According to the report, two other vehicles were apparently struck by the driver’s van.  Due to possible injuries and the level of intoxication, the driver was left in the care of the ER staff the report states.

Brownwood Lions fans descended on Gordon Wood Stadium Tuesday evening to be introduced to the high school and middle school athletes participating in the fall sports programs.   The annual “Meet the Lions” event was kicked off with a hamburger supper and booster club fundraising time as fans were greeted with unusually cool weather as the event kicked off.

Athletes and their coaches from cross country, volleyball, tennis, and football were recognized along with the cheerleading squads, drill team, and the Lions Crew.  The Mighty Maroon Marching Band was also on hand showing off their musical talents.

Brownwood Fire Department has recently been approved for a grant to purchase a new Type 6 Brush Truck through the Texas Inter-State Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) grant.

New legislation this year authorized funds for the Texas Forest Service to purchase Brush Trucks to be distributed throughout the state to assist with needed deployable fire assets during disasters and major incidents.  The Texas Forest Service and Texas inter-State Fire Mutual Aid System developed a 100% (no match) grant program specifically for paid departments.

Brownwood Fire Chief, Del Albright stated, “I applied for the grant and was approved to be one of the first departments to receive a brush truck from the state with this program.”

The date for BFD to receive the truck is undetermined at this time.

The Lone Star State has a lot of land that’s primed for hunting and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is offering outdoors enthusiasts the chance to win several hunts of a lifetime.

TPWD’s Big Time Texas Hunts program offers hunters the opportunity to win one or more of seven prime guided hunting packages in the state, all of which include food and lodging, and some include taxidermy. The premier package of the program is the Texas Grand Slam hunt that includes four separate hunts for each of Texas’ most prized big game animals: the desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn antelope.

Other hunting packages available in Big Time Texas Hunts include opportunities to pursue alligator, upland game birds, exotic big game and waterfowl.

Brownwood ISD officials said today that Dr. Lisa Fowler has filed as a candidate in the place 6 spot for Brownwood ISD School Board Trustee.

Fowler practices internal medicine in Brownwood.  She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and attended medical school at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio with residency at Baylor University Medical Center.

The district also announced that incumbent trustee for place 6, Dr. Justin Murphy, withdrew his candidacy in the school board election and is endorsing Dr. Fowler.

The VFW and Ladies Auxiliary will be hosting a “Brisket By the Pound” fund raiser on Friday, September 3 at the VFW, which is located at 2300 Stephen F. Austin in Brownwood.

Orders will be taken in advance, please call Cheryl at 325-642-9144.  Brisket sandwiches will also be served from10:30 to 1:00pm.  Delivery of sandwiches can be arranged in the Brownwood/Early area by calling 325-646-8113 or 325-641-0155 the morning of the fundraiser (Friday, September 3).

Brisket by the pound will be $7 per pound and the plates will be $7 each which will include a brisket sandwich, chips, beans, onions and pickles.  The proceeds will go to help homeless veterans.

Local schools started back Monday morning with lots of activity and excitement from both students and teachers, and many area campuses reported much higher enrollment than in recent years.

Brownwood ISD Superintendent Reece Blincoe said that district-wide total enrollment for the first day of school was 3540 which is up from 3467 compared to the 2010 end-of-year numbers.  He expects these numbers to rise over the next few weeks and are not final.

"We are happy with these numbers for two reasons," Blincoe said.  "One, the enrollment number is up again.  Two, the growth is manageable."

At Brownwood’s East Elementary, one staff member reported crowding due to a larger class than expected.

“We were expecting 22 in our class, but 26 showed up today,” stated Ms. Barrera.  “We’re overcrowded but everyone is working on it.  It’s been hectic,” she stated with a smile.

At Brownwood Middle School, student workers were busy helping out in the office.  Ms. Blackstock, BMS Administrative Assistant stated that the middle school also had more students than last year.  Enrollment for the middle school is at an 8 year high.

The official start of the school year this week also signals the start of high school and middle school sports.  To celebrate the beginning of the fall sports season, Brownwood ISD is hosting their annual “Meet the Lions” event on Tuesday night at Gordon Wood Stadium.

The event kicks off at 5pm on Tuesday, August 24^th with the sale of hamburgers for $5 each.  The program will begin at 6:30pm where high school and middle school athletes and coaches will be introduced from fall sports.   Athletic Club memberships will also be available for $10.

One million Texans have now registered with the state’s organ and tissue registry as potential donors.

Glenda P. Dawson Donate Life—Texas Registry is the state database of individuals who have officially indicated their decisions to donate organs, eyes and tissue, to benefit thousands of people of all ages currently awaiting transplants. Three state agencies—the DPS, the Department of State Health Services and the Department of Motor Vehicles—and three organ and tissue recovery agencies—LifeGift, Southwest Transplant Alliance and Texas Organ Sharing Alliance—participate in the registry.

In Texas, residents can register at their local DPS office when applying for or renewing a driver’s license or identification card, or they can enroll in the Registry online at www.donatelifetexas.org. Once they’ve registered, they will receive a letter and donor card to officially confirm their decision to become a registered donor.

Law Enforcement arrests and reports released Monday, August 23, 2010

Thursday, August 19

*7:20am – Brownwood Police responded to the 1000 block of Avenue H regarding burglary of a vehicle.   The victim reported a palm device, check book, CD’s, and a digital camera stolen.

*7:27am – Brownwood Police responded to a call of a damaged plate glass window in the 1500 block of Austin Avenue.

Friday, August 20

*Brownwood Police arrested 26-year-old Cassie Nikole Harrell for Disorderly Conduct.

*Brownwood Police arrested 23-year-old Kendall Fredrick Theis for Sex Offender Failing to Register Address, Terroristic Threat, and Disorderly Conduct.