Law firm improving Cleveland's collection rate
The law firm hired to collect delinquent municipal court fines for the city of
Cleveland reports it brought in $14,182 in November, its first month on the job.
That's about 50 percent more than the city collected on its own during the same
time period last year.
And Doug Calame, a collections attorney with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson,
told city council Tuesday night that he expects his company to do even better
this month.
The law firm sent out a new batch of collection letters Monday. And next week,
the firm's trained collectors start telephoning delinquent accounts.
"We want to change the perception (so people know) if you get a ticket in
this city you're going to have to take care of it or we're going to come find
you and bring you to the table," says Calame.
Cleveland has about $750,000 in delinquent court fines from nearly 3,800 cases
dating back to 1992. The city will receive 70 percent of the money collected
on those old cases.
Vehicle hijacked in Eckerd's parking lot
The parking lot at Eckerd Drugs in Cleveland was the scene of a hijacking
yesterday morning, when a man approached the driver of a van and,
at gunpoint, demanded
the vehicle.
The initial report given to police was that the vehicle was headed north on
Washington. As other information was called in, the search expanded and other
agencies joined
in the chase. Officers from the Liberty County and San Jacinto County sheriff's
departments, as well as DPS troopers, followed the van's trail up FM 1725 to
Dabney Bottom Road.
As of press time, police report that the van had been found abandoned in San
Jacinto County. Officers would state only that a suspect was in custody. No
further details or names of either the suspect or the victim have been released.
Annual Christmas Reception tonight
The lobby of First Bank and Trust will be ablaze with holiday lights
and decorations tonight, as the bank hosts its Christmas Reception
for the community.
The annual event is hosted by the officers and directors of First Bank and
Trust, and is well-known as a time to "meet and greet" business and political
leaders and enjoy a wonderful array of foods.
The reception will be held from 5-7 p.m.
Funeral Services
--Patsy Beshears; 1:00 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Pace-Stancil/Probst
Chapel, with interment following at Farley Chapel Cemetery in Shepherd.
--H.T. Stoneberger; graveside services at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at
Ryan Cemetery in Cleveland.
Arrangements are pending through Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Cleveland
for Jimmy Evans, Arturo Sosa, Betty Jacobs, and Kathleen Reynolds.
Police Report
Over the past few days, police have arrested Leslie Gail Taylor for
parole violation; Ginger Caye Watts for theft by check; Alvin Glenn
Punch for
parole violation;
Tamik Antionette Baines for possession of a controlled substance; David
Wayne Peacock for public intoxication; and Jon Gale Ingram for possession
of drug
paraphernalia.
On Tap at the Texan
Tonight at 7 the live action/animated cartoon comedy "Looney Tunes: Back
in Action". Admission is $2 for children aged 3-11, and $4 for those aged
12 and older.
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