‘Granny Robber’ arrested for Regions Bank heist

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

The strange saga of the “Granny Robber” has come to a close with the March 7 arrest of 59-year-old Frances Briggs.

Frances Briggs

Briggs is suspected of robbing the Tomball Regions Bank on Feb. 2. That morning, she walked into the bank and handed a teller a note, demanding money. According to Det. Ron McGuillion of the Tomball Police Department, Briggs made off with approximately $2,400.

What happened next is somewhat of a mystery, even to Tomball Police.

According to McGuillion, the department received a tip from a local woman about a week after the robbery. Briggs and Briggs’ son had been living with the woman for some time.

Immediately following the robbery, McGuillion said, Briggs returned home and asked the tipster to take her and Briggs’ son to a local bus stop where they later caught a bus to a likely southwest Houston location.

McGuillion believes both Briggs and her son were addicted to illegal pills and that she robbed the bank for money to buy drugs.

Shortly after, Tomball Police received a call from Briggs’ son who was in Phoenix, Ariz., at the time. He requested that they contact the tipster and pass along a message to his younger brother to call him in Phoenix.

According to McGuillion, the department believed Briggs and her son had family or ties in Arizona. McGuillion passed along the phone number from which Briggs’ son called to the FBI, who traced the call.

Briggs then turned herself in on March 7.

It was unclear to police if she was ever in Phoenix with her son and never left the Houston area.

Briggs is currently being held in the Harris County Jail and faces up to 20 years in prison.

Her son does not face any criminal charges as of yet, McGuillion said.

Area charities work to reach the homeless in Montgomery County

Part 1: Assessing the situation

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

This is the first in a five-part series by the Tribune examining the emergency and supplemental assistance programs, and homeless shelter services of Montgomery County.

It’s easy to become homeless. It can happen to anyone.

Though several avenues for shelter, supplemental assistance, and support and education classes exist, some homeless are not eligible and fall through the cracks of the system, while others refuse any assistance at all.

Recently a homeless mother and her two kids found themselves in need of shelter, direction and supplemental assistance, all of which came to them in a flood of provisions like water on a fire from the Society of Samaritans (SOS).

Carrie West and her two children were on the streets of Magnolia when Judy Everett, the director of SOS, provided West with money for gas, food for the children and direction for shelter at the Salvation Army in Conroe.

West found shelter with a friend in Magnolia and began the long and arduous task of trying to keep her children in school, keep her job and find a place to live. Ruby Woods at Rosewood Apartments helped West to get housing and West’s employer agreed to continue her employment.

“She is doing what she needs to do and we are pleased with the results of the community’s efforts to assist her,” said Everett.

While some are receiving the basic assistance they need to get back on their feet, some of Montgomery County’s homeless are not so lucky, according to Pete Taraski. He is a member of Yahweh Street Ministries, taking hope to the homeless camps in the form of Christian discipleship, food and blankets. Taraski has several concerns for the truly homeless.

“Some of them are in and out of jail all their lives because of vagrancy charges. There are groups that beat up homeless people. The homeless mug each other by taking each other’s identification and then [they] have an issue of establishing [themselves] as a citizen,” he said.

A jail record can limit or prevent employment and housing opportunities, or an outstanding ticket for vagrancy can send a homeless person back to jail. There is always the issue of community service sentencing for vagrancy that may prevent a homeless person from going back to work.

Dr. Joann Callahan, executive director of the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance (MCEA) program puts the number of homeless in Montgomery County at an average of 450 per night, excluding those in shelters.

Finding shelter is a significant problem.

“There is no homeless shelter in the (Magnolia) area that provides assistance to the needy who are not in abusive situations,” said Everett. “As a result, many who are not in abusive situations, claim abuse in order to provide shelter for their children.”

SOS provided assistance through Montgomery County Block Grant funds and private donations to more than 3,000 families in 2006 for a total of 11,724 individuals including children, with as many as 1,431 persons being homeless and living with friends or relatives and 200 being homeless without shelter.

Everett said SOS often refers clients to the Salvation Army, located at 304 Avenue E in Conroe. It has separate dormitories for men, women and families. The center provides a maximum of 30 nights only with check-in at 4:30 p.m. and checkout at 7 a.m.

“Every place you go, there are some stipulations or restraints to participating in a program,” said Nora Tatum, caseworker for the Salvation Army.

Taraski believes longer assistance programs are needed to better address the needs of the homeless. “If you’re making minimum wage and spend nothing, after 30 days you have $800 and that’s not enough to get an apartment and utilities,” he said.

And while Callahan puts the estimated costs per year for a 56-bed shelter right at $1 million, Ed Heiman of Building the Way sees a need for a shelter in Magnolia. “We’re at a four-corners where north Harris, Waller, Grimes and Montgomery counties intersect. There are facilities for Houston and Conroe, but nothing for this area,” he said.

Along with Heiman, Everett has hope of providing for the needs of the homeless in the Magnolia area. “On top of being homeless, some are mentally challenged and become overwhelmed at the prospect of finding solutions to their problems,” she said. “We offer a resting place and refuge for those in need.”

Montgomery County supplemental assistance and shelter information can be obtained through the Montgomery County United Way Resource Book by calling 936-292-4155 or log on to www.mcuw.org. For information on MCEA programs call 936-539-9211 or logon to www.MCEA-MCHA.org. For Salvation Army services call, 936-760-2440. To contact SOS, call 281-252-9647.

Rounding the bend on Magnolia elections

Position 2 candidates differ on key issues

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

The candidates running for Magnolia City Council Position 2 are both long-term residents of the City of Magnolia.

Incumbent Richard Carby and his wife of 27 years, Tammy, have been area residents for 21 years. He is seeking a second term. Candidate John Bramlett and wife of 34 years, Clores, have lived in Magnolia for 30 years.

Richard Carby

John Bramlett

In an informal setting, the two responded candidly about their priorities for Magnolia and their qualifications as potential members of city council.

Q: What are the issues facing Magnolia over the next two to five years?

A: Bramlett’s concerns centered on immediate needs, while Carby was focused more on the future needs of the community.

“When elected, one of my priorities is to give seniors and the disabled a helping hand on their water and sewer rates. I’d like to see city hall open five days a week, eight hours a day and not close at noon on Friday. I want to put more money into roads and ditches, and not count on HB 445 for that,” said Bramlett.

For Carby, “the prevalent issues are infrastructure, including water distribution and sewer collection, wastewater treatment, and water detention and planning.”

Q: Where do you stand on city issues like park detention, economic revitalization, and infrastructure development?

A: It’s easy to see that both the incumbent and the candidate have the city’s future in mind. For Bramlett, the broad topic of addressing city growth and income potential was at the top of the list, and for Carby that list started with the details needed to make effective decisions.

“There has been stagnant growth within the city, so any annexation will enhance the city,” said Bramlett. “However, the city is a general law city, so (potential residents) have to agree to be annexed and the city has to provide infrastructure like water, sewer, and hydrant service within two years.”

Carby said, “I want the farthest person in our ETJ (extra-territorial jurisdiction) to have good water pressure. If we have to make some good aggressive decisions, we will. Revitalization is something we need to look at in more detail, broken down by smaller projects. We need a better cost-analysis by street.”

Q: What qualifies you as a city council member?

A: Each candidate has a long history of business and community service.

Bramlett served on city council for two years and as mayor for nine years. “I think I only missed one meeting,” he said. “And I’m the assistant director in charge of security and parking at Sam Houston Race Park.”

“I have 22 years in the military with leadership and management experience,” said Carby. “[And] I ran a multi-million dollar local long-distance moving company for years.”

Q: What would you like to accomplish if you are elected?

A: Both candidates provided service-oriented responses.

“My priorities are my goals,” said Bramlett. “I’d like the police department to meet the senior [citizens] and disabled without families in the area to make sure they are in good health. Some of them can’t even drive.”

“This year my goal is to lower the water rates to the same or lower than they were before; get the well and the aquifer up and running, and have a city celebration to move in to City Hall,” said Carby.

Q: What significant impacts to do you feel you have had or could have?

A: Bramlett centered on a balanced budget and expenses, while Carby focused on relationships and personnel.

“To balance the budget and operate in the black and not the red,” said Bramlett. “If the city wanted to get in the black, they should not have given thousands of dollars in pay raises this fiscal year. They purchased every council member a new computer. Where did those funds come from?”

“I can work with council members, city staff and mayor to look out for the long-term welfare of the city as a whole,” said Carby. “With aggressive business practices, we are now collecting 98 percent of our water fund. You cannot run an $11 million city budget with a part-time council. We must have a city manager form of government.”

Pictured, James Kennedy, owner of this 2007 BassCat, credits BoatWraps.com for the “Bring Back New Orleans” color scheme on this 20-foot, 4-inch Puma, as he tours in the 2007 Bass Master Elite Series. Born and raised in New Orleans, La., Kennedy moved to LaCombe, La., shortly before hurricane Katrina in 2005. “I want people that have been relocated to know that somebody cares,” he said. Kennedy qualified as one of only 100 contestants for the series at the 2006 Bassmaster Southern Tour. He hopes to qualify as one of 38 contestants in the Bassmaster Classic for a chance at a $500,000 prize. Kistler Rods, located at 20555 FM 1488 in Magnolia, along with BassCat, Mercury, Motorguide, BoatWraps.com, Michele Cooper and Maui Jim Sunglasses sponsor Kennedy in the series.

Lady Cougars need 14 innings to beat Klein

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

Some may call it an offensive struggle, while others would label it a monumentous pitching duel. Whatever it’s called, the April 5 softball game between the Tomball Lady Cougars and the Klein Lady Bearkats proved to be a classic.

The two squads scrapped, battled and willed their way through 13 innings of scoreless ball until the Lady Cougars finally broke through in the top of the 14th inning with the go-ahead run.

The 1-0 lead was enough for Lady Cougar pitcher Shelby Lancaster, who kept the Lady Bearkats at bay in the bottom of the 14th inning to seal the win for Tomball.

Both offenses struggled mightily on the night, with hits off of Lancaster and Klein’s Lisa Klein few and far between.

The Lady Cougars managed only four hits, while the Lady Bearkats collected nine. The Klein defense was just as porous as its offense, committing seven errors, or one every other inning.

Combined with the errors and the four hits the Lady Cougars amassed, the team certainly had their chances to break through, but it took until the 14th inning to do so.

The win keeps the Lady Cougars (8-1 in district) atop the 16-5A standings, a half game ahead of Spring.

The Lady Lions kept the heat on Tomball with a 6-0- win over Westfield April 5.

The two rivals will square off April 13 at 7 p.m. at Spring High School in what could determine the district champion.

The win over the Lady Bearkats improves Tomball’s overall record to 17-7, while Lancaster moved to 13-2 on the season.

MYLS pageant, livestock auction aimed at raising funds for area youth

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

The Magnolia Youth Livestock Show (MYLS) is giving area high school students who didn’t get the opportunity to do so at the Montgomery County Fair a second chance to sell their livestock. They are also giving away $3,500 in cash prizes to the winners of the Miss MYLS Pageant.

The Third Annual Magnolia Youth Livestock show and pageant is set for April 13 and 14 at Magnolia High School. The pageant features 19 area high school juniors and seniors and will take place April 13 at 7 p.m. at the school’s auditorium. The livestock show will be held the following day, beginning at 10 a.m. at the school’s agriculture barn.

Event organizers Lauren Twining and Cheryl Fogarty said the event is both to encourage area youths whose 4-H and FFA projects were not sold during the recent county fair and to award scholarships to local girls.

Events kick off with the pageant, where the contestants will be competing for a $2,500 scholarship that will go to the winner. The first runner-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Each contestant has been charged with helping raise the pageant award money, through selling advertising space in the event’s program schedule and through craft items each contestant is to create.

The girl who sells the most ads will receive back 40 percent of the money she raised.

According to Fogarty, the crafts can be anything hand-made by the pageant competitors, including jewelry, purses and such. The items will then be judged, with the best item going into a live auction the following day at the livestock show.

“The money goes back to scholarships,” Fogarty said.

Meanwhile, the livestock show is a second chance opportunity for many local youths.

“We wanted to give the kids who are seeking an agricultural education an opportunity who weren’t making sales (at the county fair),” Twining said. “We hope they continue their efforts and we offer them support.”

The money raised during the livestock auction will go back to the students to help offset the costs of raising the animals.

The livestock show will also provide an opportunity for students to win scholarship money.

Twining is hoping the event raises enough money to award up to three agricultural scholarships of $1,500.

“We need buyers to come out and support the kids,” she said. “Many of them are beginners and we want to keep them showing.”

Fogarty echoed Twining’s call to the community.

“We’d really like for the community to come out and support (the event),” she said. “The more money we raise, the more we can give back.”

Brother’s memory keeps Magnolia runner on track for Boston Marathon

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

When Magnolia’s John Powers gathers among the throng of 20,000-plus people on April 17 to run the 111th Boston Marathon, he will be running for more than a personal-best time, or the medal he will be awarded at the end.

John Powers will participate in the 111th running of the Boston Marathon on April 16. He will be running for the American Liver Foundation.

He will be running for his late brother, Terry, his best friend’s mother, family members and thousands of others in this country who are suffering or who have died from liver disease.

Powers is running for the American Liver Foundation, the nation’s leading non-profit organization promoting liver disease prevention. He joined with the group after Terry passed away in July of last year of Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Members of Powers’ family and his best friend’s mother have all battled or died from liver diseases.

Powers began running marathons five years ago and ran his first Boston Marathon last year. The race gave him the opportunity to bring along his ailing brother, who had always dreamed of traveling to Boston. Terry passed away shortly after the race and Powers decided to run again, this time in his brother’s memory.

Now, he uses his brother’s memories and words to help him through grueling races. Powers attaches notes to his numbered bib, quips and quotes from his brother and his own children, to give him encouragement through races. Every few miles, he takes another out and reads it. The process gives him encouragement to go another few miles so that he can read another note.

“When you run long distances, the mind takes over,” he said. “A lot of things drive people.”

Now, Powers’ drive comes from the belief that his brother is there with him at each race.

“It’s very rewarding,” he said. “Every time I cross that finish line, I know my brother is there by my side.”

The Boston Marathon, the most well known marathon in the United States, will be Powers’ 27th event.

While many similar races begin at around 7 a.m., the Boston Marathon, with such a large contingent of runners, starts in two waves, one at 10 a.m. and one at 10:30 a.m., in order to maintain a steady pace and prevent a log jam of runners.

Hours before the race begins, the 20,000-plus runners gather on the athletic fields of Hopkinton High School, where they await the starting gun.

“There is nothing like the Boston Marathon,” he said. “The crowd is enormous.”

The 26.2-mile journey meanders through centuries-old towns, along roads permanently marked for marathon runners. The race has remained largely unchanged for more than a century.

The event is also unique in that it is organized so that only the most qualified runners can participate. While there are subcategories for those who may be blind, handicapped or otherwise disabled, most runners have to meet a certain timed average in order to participate.

Powers, whose personal best time for a marathon is 3 hours, 40 minutes, has qualified for the race. By running for the American Liver Foundation, Powers is charged with raising money through contributions. He is asking that anyone who wishes to contribute visit www.liverteam.org.

Three new officers join Tomball PD ranks

By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff

The Tomball Police Department has hired three new officers to join its patrol unit.

John Ferrand, Marc Langdon and DeWayne Eickenhorst were hired March 20 and currently participating in the department’s mini-academy, according to Sgt. Jeff Williams.

Following the three week mini-academy, the new officers will take part in a 16-week field training program designed to familiarize them with working in the Tomball community, Williams said.

John Ferrand

Age: 41

Former Department: Webster Police Department, 15 years

Law Enforcement Experience: 18 years

Why Tomball? “My wife was born and raised just south of Conroe,” Ferrand said. “And I just felt like Tomball was the best place for me.”

Marc Langdon

Age: 36

Former Department: Johnston County Sheriff’s Department (N.C.), 6 years

Law Enforcement Experience: 12 years

Why Tomball? “I wanted to move my wife back closer to her family,” Langdon said. “I liked the family atmosphere of the department.”

DeWayne Eickenhorst

Age: 38

Former Department: Harris County Pct. 4 Constable’s Office, 7 years

Law Enforcement Experience: 14 years

Why Tomball? “There’s a chance for advancement,” he said, “and the department has so many different job fields.”

MPD unveils Dodge Charger as new patrol car, one more on the way

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

The Dodge Charger is the model of choice for the Magnolia Police Department’s (MPD) two new patrol units.

Pictured, (back row, left to right) Magnolia Police Department officers, Lt. Mike Smith, Milton Horton, and Sgt. Bo Crabtree; (front row, left to right) Chief Ron Cunningham receives the keys from Magnolia Mayor Jimmy Thornton.

The new units were ordered in December, but like many things, were backordered due to a shortfall of aftermarket parts. April 9 marked the arrival of the first unit, adding a sportier look to the MPD patrol fleet. With more speed and power in the V8 Hemi engine and cost about $24,000, Chief Ron Cunningham was pleased with the purchase.

“We saved several thousand dollars in buying this model. This is the car of the future for law enforcement,” he said.

The vehicle went for its first fuel stop with Lt. Mike Smith behind the wheel and Mayor Jimmy Thornton as passenger the day it arrived.

The new unit was assigned to the MPD’s Officer of the Year Eric Silliman.

“He takes the best care of them,” said Sgt. Bo Crabtree.

Despite the trend in police departments to drive the dependable Ford Crown Victoria or the sportier Chevrolet Impala, one more Charger is on the way. That will increase the MPD fleet to seven units, five of which will be in patrol service.

WHS girl’s track team takes fifth in Sealy

On March 23 the Waller High School Lady Bulldog track team traveled to compete in Sealy where they came away with a fifth place team finish.

In high jump, Jona McGowen placed first with a jump of 4-feet, 10-inches, Morgan Davis placed fifth with a jump of 4-feet, 8-inches, and Kiki McDade placed sixth with a jump of 4-feet, 8-inches. Davis also placed fifth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:03:71. McDade also placed sixth in long jump with a jump of 15-feet, 11-inches.

Competing in Sealy at the high school girls track meet March 23, Waller High School high jumper Jona McGowen soars to a first place finish with a jump of 4-feet, 10-inches.

Kourtni Thomas placed sixth in triple jump with a distance of 32-feet, 11.5-inches, while Diana Favela placed sixth in the 3,200-meter run. Bre Hunter placed fifth in the 100-meter dash and Kandis Stubblefield placed fourth in the 200-meter dash.

The sprint relay team, consisting of Hunter, Raven Felder, Stubblefield, and Karla Smiley, came in second with a time of 49.76.

The 4-by-200-meter relay team, consisting of Felder, Smiley, Stubblefield and Elizabeth Hendrix, placed third with a time of 1:46.44.

The mile relay team, consisting of Meghan Kulhanek, Davis, Ashley Kelsey, and Smiley, placed fourth with a season-best time of 4:20.75.

The throwers relay team, consisting of Stormie Hill, Camile Brown, Elishia Crawford, and Taylor McCullough, placed second with a time of 57.82.

Magnolia boy breaks leg buying gum

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

No one could have known a piece of bubble gum would cost so much.

On the morning of April 3 it was dark at the corner of Butera Road and Carrol Lane. There are no streetlights, only the glow from the parking lot lights at the corner store.

While Ashtin Stephenson was waiting for the school bus with his friends, the 12-year-old decided he wanted some gum and headed for the store. That was a bad choice, said Trooper Todd Box of The Woodlands’ Texas Department of Public Safety.

After crossing the street and buying the gum, Stephenson attempted to cross back to the bus stop. Running full force, focused on getting back to the bus stop, the boy stepped right into the front of an oncoming vehicle.

Judy Daley, 53, of Magnolia was driving her blue Ford Tempo west on Butera Road headed for Nichol Sawmill, said Box. Luckily for Stephenson, Daley knew of the bus stop and was only traveling at 20 miles-per-hour when she felt the impact of Stephenson hitting her car. He rolled up onto the hood and cracked the windshield with his left elbow.

Daley immediately stopped to offer assistance. Emergency services arrived within minutes, along with sheriff’s deputies. Life Flight took Stephenson to Hermann Memorial Hospital in Houston.

He suffered a broken right leg, requiring a plate, and a broken left elbow, which will need a pin, according to Box.

Box said Stephenson was wearing all black clothing in the dark hours of the morning, and the youth was lucky he didn’t suffer worse damage.

He had this advice for students and parents:

“If you walk to the bus stop, wear something reflective that catches the light. If you’re at the bus stop, don’t leave until the bus picks you up,” said Box. “Parents can share the responsibility of staying with the kids until the bus comes to make sure the kids are safe.”

Magnolia maintains appeal despite residents’ concerns

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

Despite the growing discontent among residents in the City of Magnolia with water rates, poor infrastructure, and delayed housing projects, developers continue to flock to the city. And they are graciously standing in line for permits to establish service businesses, medical complexes and residential communities.

David Burdick, project manager for Magnolia Ridge, recently stood before the city council and thanked them for working diligently to get the project back on line. While developers for O’Reilly Auto Parts, Aaron Rents, and Tomball Regional Hospital have already made real estate commitments.

The zeal of developers involved in at least nine recent projects in and around the city seems to contradict a concern by the Magnolia Planning Commission with business failures and a lack of economic growth within the city limits.

The word has gotten out about Magnolia. Maybe the 97 percent of Magnolians who commute to work, according to Profiles of Texas, are spreading the word.

But what does small-town Magnolia have to offer that is so appealing?

“I don’t know. I’ve lived here since I was 6 years old. For years nobody wanted to live here, they made fun of us. Now, all of sudden everybody wants to come here,” said 47-year-old Denise Lucas, supervisor for the United States Postal Service - Magnolia office.

Small town population: In the 2000 report from U.S. Census Bureau Magnolia only reported a population of 1,111. However, Profiles of Texas puts the number right at 1,259 for 2004 with a projection of 1,452 for 2009. And, not including post office boxes, the U.S. Postal Service reports total receptacle deliveries at only 16,675. That includes the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the city.

Down home feel: There are no movie theatres, bowling alleys, or fine arts centers and only a small city park. However, there are several opry-jamborees and dancehalls in the area, plenty of barbeque, “down home” and “Tex-Mex” restaurants, and more than 20 churches.

Location: “We’re out of the city limits, but close to the city,” said Cindy Love of the Magnolia Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a quaint little town. You get the feeling of a small town, but you’re less than 30 minutes from the city.”

Home town values: The community turned out in spades at a recent benefit for a 12-year-old heart patient, grossing more than $150,000. Even Councilman Chris Neal, new to the area by only two years, was recently quoted as saying, “It’s a community that holds onto the value of family and friends.”

Yes, there is something about Magnolia.

Despite a city limits square footage of little more than two miles, and perhaps in spite of the politics and city growth issues, Magnolians have a heart for their community and it shows.

Bramlett calls for clarification of 2001 city budget deficit

By Cari Herr
Tribune Staff

A City of Magnolia draft audit report recently released by McCall, Gibson and Company (McCall-Gibson) came under scrutiny last week when city council Position 2 candidate John Bramlett questioned City Manager Roger Carlisle’s claim as reported by the Tribune that the report reflected a 2001 deficit of $652,000, which he had been “chipping away at” for several years.

Carlisle later clarified “the report” as a 2001 audit report by McCall-Gibson, not the most recent 2006 audit by the same company.

Bramlett defended his mayoral performance saying, “Recent reports indicated a deficit in 2001 while I was mayor. I was only mayor for two months (that year),” he said.

On Feb. 6, 2001, after nine years of service, Bramlett resigned his position as Mayor of Magnolia following an investigative report by then Tribune staff member, Norma Gandy-Brett. The Feb. 7, 2001 article revealed a series of false statements made by Bramlett in a deposition dated Jan. 23, 1996.

When asked last week why he resigned from his position as mayor, Bramlett said, “I felt it was in the best interest of the city.”

The 2001 McCall-Gibson audit report actually indicates a $650,504 deficit. That shortage is largely due to a $665,231 unbudgeted expense for Magnolia Industrial Park construction, which is a Magnolia 4A Corp. project. In addition, the audit reflects a $55,765 shortfall for budgeted property taxes and a budget line for a $38,832 grant, which never materialized, according to the audit.

By way of apology for the error Carlisle said, “They had a pretty decent fund balance, but they over-spent what they had projected and it put them in the hole.” He committed to providing written communications in the future. “From now on, if I don’t get it to you in writing, it isn’t true.”

Bramlett assigned no responsibility for the deficit. Instead he offered justification.

“I don't blame the Mayor and council in 2001 or the present Mayor and council now in 2007,” said Bramlett. “If I remember correctly, in 2001 they moved all the funds to one account which gave them a false sense of being solvent. It would make them think they had plenty of funds to do what they felt was right.”