News and Events 2003-2004
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For the latest in Cleveland News
(Daily Updates)
2004
Rodeo Pageant
June 4 and 5th,2004 at the Cleveland's Stancil
Park Log Cabin- the Liberty County Sheriff's Rodeo Queen, Princess, Dutchess
and Tiny Tot pageant/contest will be held beginning at 6pm with horsemanship
to start promptly at 8 am on Saturday morning just prior to the Youth rodeo.
Port of Houston Authority- Commissioner-
Cheryl Thompson- Draper ,who is also the President of Miss Rodeo Texas
board and a member of the National Advisory Council of Miss Rodeo America
and her husband-John Draper- who is a newly appointed member (appointed
by Governor- Rick Perry) of the board of directors of the San Jacinto River
Authority will be the judges. John is also the immediate past President
of the Harris County Fair and Houston Farm and Ranch.
Janet Russell is the Pageant Director- for more information
contact her : 936-3367717 or 936-3461231
The Advocates Updates will
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I was informed that the Cleveland Advocate will no longer
be permitted to host their "News Updates" on this website. The
HCN (Houston Community Newspapers) told the Advocate that they were not
allowed to share information with a competitor.
I run this site without any financial support, or paid advertisements.
I run this site entirely out of my own pocket, and I have dedicated countless
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to comment on this subject click here.
Ramshackle homes to be replaced free
Nine homeowners in Cleveland are going to have a new house built within the
next 12 months -- and thanks to a grant just awarded to the city, they'll
be mortgage-free the day they move in.
Full
Story
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Operation radio station goes on the air
Workers were busy Monday installing the newest addition to the Cleveland skyline
-- a 120-foot radio tower that will carry the signal of Cleveland's first inspirational
radio station. Owned and operated by Operation Refuge Inc., the 24-hour station
is expected to be on the air by Wednesday. Its broadcast frequency is 105.3
FM. Frieda White, executive director of Operation Refuge, says the station
will offer inspirational music, including country, black and southern gospel,
interspersed with local programs designed to inspire, educate and edify. The
station's call sign is KORG, an acronym for Operation Refuge Gives.
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City changes way sewer bills calculated
Cleveland water users - both residential and commercial - may notice a difference
in their city water/sewer bill this month.
Full
Story
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Candidate forums set Feb. 19 in Cleveland
With early voting for the March primary elections beginning on Feb. 23, local,
state and federal candidates are stepping up their efforts to get their message
out to voters - and Cleveland is providing two opportunities for candidates
to do just that.
Full
Story
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New high school gets more classrooms
The Cleveland school board has added 14 more classrooms to plans for the district's
new high school.
Full
Story
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Council to restrict comments
The Cleveland City Council has decided to restrict citizen comments during
its meetings.
Full
Story
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Mayor sticks by her guns: Council votes its 'dissatisfaction'
During a sometimes contentious meeting last week, Cleveland City Council recorded
its "dissatisfaction" with - and Mayor Monique McDuffie-Davis defiantly
reconfirmed - her recent appointment of Irma Powers and Linda Nelson to the
Cleveland Housing Authority board of commissioners.
Full
Story
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Mayor's appointments raise eyebrows
A move by Mayor Monique McDuffie-Davis to increase the size of the Cleveland
Housing Authority board of commissioners has ignited a firestorm of controversy
among city officials.
Full
Story
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Police hope witnesses step forward in murder cases
A $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the
killer of Charlie Langston has been more than doubled, and Cleveland police
believe that may be the catalyst for finally closing the case.
Full
Story
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School board extends superintendent's contract
The Cleveland school board has extended Superintendent Terry Myers' contract
for an additional year.
Full
Story
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Last-minute filings make primary season interesting
Precinct 3 County Commissioner Melvin Hunt has drawn a challenger in the March
2004 primary election (and if he survives that, another for next November),
in a race that may be indicative of a few interesting and active campaign
months.
Full
Story
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Mardi Gras theme to heat up chamber banquet
Mardi Gras is coming to Cleveland this month, courtesy of the Greater Cleveland
Chamber of Commerce.
Full
Story
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Fiery death under investigation
An early morning fire that claimed one life at a Cleveland business on Sunday,
Dec. 28, is being treated by Cleveland police and the State Fire Marshal's
office as a case of possible arson and homicide.
Full
Story
2003
Construction of high school could begin soon
Contractors could begin site work for the new Cleveland High School as
early as April if Terry Myers has his way.
Full Story
Citizen, business of year to be honored
The Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations
for its Citizen and Business of the Year awards, to be presented at
the annual membership banquet in January.
Full Story
Police seek help in Sonic burglary
The Sonic Drive-In on South Washington in Cleveland was broken into
on Thursday, Dec. 18, and police are asking for anyone with knowledge
of that burglary to contact Cleveland Crimestoppers.
Full Story
White named manager of Advocate operations
Debra White has been named as general manager and acting publisher
of the Cleveland Advocate and its sister publications, the Eastex Pictorial
Advocate and Liberty County News.
Full Story
Downtown renovation topic of Jan. 22 meeting
Another public meeting to discuss the proposed renovation of downtown
Cleveland will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22 at Cleveland City Hall.
Full Story
Term limits' days might be numbered
Cleveland's charter review commission wants the city to do away with
term limits and increase the terms in office of the mayor and city
council from two years to three.
Full Story
Lifesaver lost in traffic accident
Mike Koen, director of Liberty County EMS, offered a simple, but powerful
eulogy for Allen Coe after he learned of the paramedic's untimely death
last week.
Full Story
Robber assaults Star Mart clerk, takes cash register
The Star Mart convenience store at the corner of Hwy. 321 and New Salem
Road, formerly known as Circle B, was the scene of an apparent assault
and robbery last Sunday afternoon, Dec. 14.
Full Story
Middle-of-the-street car/wheelchair collision puts rider in hospital
A collision between a car and a motorized wheelchair last Monday, Dec.
15, sent a Cleveland resident to the hospital with a broken neck and
underscored the dangers of operating scooters and wheelchairs on city
streets.
Full Story
Police seek info on Sears burglary
Cleveland police are asking for the public's help in their investigation
of last week's burglary of the Sears and Family Dollar stores.
Full Story
Provider may change bus service here
The agency that runs Cleveland's bus service wants to change the way
that service operates in the city.
Full Story
Teen-age shooters may be indicted
The Liberty County Sheriff's office is heading the investigation of
a gang-related shootout in Cleveland last week that may end with grand
jury indictments and even federal charges against some of the young
adults involved in the melee.
Full Story
Zoning supporters circulating petitions
The Friends of Downtown committee is organizing the next step in determining
future land use in the city by circulating petitions to Cleveland's
city council.
Full Story
Medical examiner identifies body as Renee Bell
The beaten and burned body of a young woman found in the Sam Houston
National Forest last week has been positively identified as that of
27-year-old Renee Bell of Cleveland, who had been reported missing
since Nov. 10.
Full Story
Kingwood man announces for new congressional seat
George Fastuca of Kingwood has announced his candidacy as Republican
nominee for U.S. Representative in the newly-drawn Second Congressional
District of Texas, which includes the cities of Cleveland, Dayton and
Liberty.
Full Story
November 2003
Body found in forest may be missing woman's
A badly burned body found in the Sam Houston National Forest last Thursday
evening is thought to be that of Renee Bell, 27, of Cleveland, who
had been reported missing more than 10 days earlier.
Full Story
Harrelson begins appeals process
Former Liberty County Treasurer Janet Harrelson's Houston attorney
has fired the first shot in the fight to have Harrelson's conviction
and sentencing overturned.
Full Story
Archer to challenge Ellis
Democrat Nancy M. Archer of Liberty announced her candidacy Monday
for the District 18 seat in the Texas House of Representatives, currently
held by Dan Ellis of Livingston.
Full Story
Mistaken identity dismays soldier's parents
There's an old theory that everyone in the world has at least one "double" -
but in the case of the Burkett family of Cleveland, it's a theory they'd
rather not hear anymore.
Full Story
Chamber to tout SantaFest to neighbors
Organizers of Cleveland's SantaFest and Christmas parade want the event
to attract more out-of-town visitors this year.
Full Story
Planning begins for new buildings
City Council's first meeting last week with the architect who'll design
the city's new buildings didn't go quite the way it was expected to
go.
Full Story
Commissioners vote to take Harrelson off county payroll
County commissioners have decided to stop paying County Treasurer Janet
Harrelson -- if they can.
Full Story 
Council nixes DARE car
The Cleveland City Council has decided not to buy a car for the city's
DARE program using money raised by a golf tournament last spring.
Full Story
Zip search spotlights sex offenders in area
More than 60 registered sex offenders live in the 77327 zip code in
the Cleveland area.
Full Story
October 2003
Summer classes no longer an option for failing students
In the sometimes volatile world of education, an argument has existed
for years over the pros and cons of "holding children back" from
promotion to their next grade level.
Full Story
Harrelson gets 60 days in jail
Former Liberty County Treasurer Janet Harrelson will go to jail - but
not for long, and not right away - for abusing her authority as a county
official in a scheme to have her son transferred from a Beaumont prison
to a Liberty County jail.
Full Story
Shepherd community rallies in wake of deaths
Tragedy struck hard at the Shepherd community last Friday night, but
in true East Texas fashion, that same community is rallying around
affected families and friends with prayers and support.
Full Story
Appraisal district opens branch office in town
The Liberty County Central Appraisal District has opened a branch office
in Cleveland on a 90-day trial basis to better serve Cleveland, Tarkington
and North Hardin residents.
Full Story
Friends request Cleveland zoning vote
Friends of Downtown, an organization formed to explore ways to improve
Cleveland's central business environment, has asked City Council to
hold a yes-or-no referendum on zoning.
Full Story
Burglary leaves boosters boiling
The weekend burglary of a concession stand at the Tarkington football
stadium has left band and athletic boosters wondering how they're going
to fund their projects this year.
Full Story
Wheelchair bill brings Medicare scam home
Louis "Nubbin" Alsobrooks makes monthly visits to the VA
Hospital in Houston, seeing physicians there for such things as a pacemaker
implant and podiatry.
Full Story
Council postpones decision on DARE car
Cleveland City Council has again postponed a decision on whether to allow
the police department to buy a DARE care using money raised by the
city's first DARE golf tournament last spring.
Full Story
Redistricting ties Cleveland to Kingwood
The congressional redistricting plan approved by the Legislature this
past week splits Liberty County into two uneasy pieces and assigns
them to districts dominated by suburban Republicans.
Full Story
Political group labels Ellis 'most conservative'
Young Conservatives of Texas, an organization of college students, has labeled
state Rep. Dan Ellis one of the eight most conservative Democrats in the
state Legislature.
Full
Story
Planners solicit business vision of downtown
Cleveland's planning committee met with downtown business owners to discuss
ways to improve the attractiveness of the city.
Full
Story
September 2003
West Nile Virus found in Cleveland
Two dead birds from separate locations in Cleveland have tested positive for
West Nile Virus.
Full
Story
New image sought for downtown Cleveland
Philip Cook, Cleveland city manager, said he was quoting Councilman Eddie Lowery: "Every
journey begins with a first step." Opening the public meeting on downtown
preservation and development held at city hall last Thursday night, Cook gestured
to the easels standing at the front of the room and said, "Well, this
is our first step."
Full
Story
Citizen input sought on future of downtown
Cleveland residents interested in a better future for their town have a chance
this week to get in their two-cents worth on how that future should look.
Full
Story
Highway stop uncovers compliant drug smuggler
Officer Ryan Janovsky, the Cleveland Police Department's K-9 officer, often
patrols U.S. 59, a favorite route for illegal drug couriers.
Full
Story
August 2003
School officials see progress on truancy issue
Cleveland schools have been back in session for a week - but that doesn't
mean that all Cleveland students have been attending class for a week.
Full
Story
Police arrest nine on drug warrants
Cleveland police believe they put a dent in the local drug trade last week
with nine arrests in two separate actions.
Full
Story
Council OKs certificates of obligation
Cleveland City Council approved the sale of $7,430,000 worth of certificates
of obligation last week to fund the city's capital improvement projects over
the next five years.
Full
Story
Cleveland police to enforce school zone laws
The Cleveland Police Department is warning area drivers that its patrol officers
plan to conscientiously enforce school zone speed limits and school bus laws
this year.
Full
Story
USDA loan rep back in town
A community development specialist for the USDA will be back in Cleveland next
week to sign up low-income residents for the agency's low-interest home loan
and home repair grant programs.
Full
Story
Shack suspect arrested again
One of the three men arrested in June in connection with the robbery of The
Shack and the assault on its owner, Ronnie Lewis, has been arrested again
on a new charge stemming from that crime.
Full
Story
Planned development looks good to meeting
A public meeting of the Friends of Downtown last week in Cleveland attracted
nearly 40 citizens who were there to talk about one thing -- zoning.
Full
Story
Disaster planners seek public input
More than 75 local governments in an eight-county region that includes Liberty
County are working on a plan to minimize the impact of natural and man-made
disasters in the region.
Full
Story
Cleveland woman dies in South Plains traffic accident
A Cleveland woman was killed and her two children injured Friday in a one-vehicle
accident on a highway south of Lubbock.
Full
Story
July 2003
Tarkington man jailed for murder
A Tarkington man has been charged with first degree murder in the shooting
death of a Polk County man during an apparent drug deal turned sour.
Full
Story
Council considers $7 million debt for capital projects
The Cleveland City Council is expected to authorize the sale of more than
$7 million in certificates of obligation next month to fund the city's capital
improvement projects through 2008.
Full
Story
Junk car cleanup getting good reception
Cleveland's campaign to clean up junk cars in city neighborhoods has been
remarkably well-received so far by the owners of those cars, reports city
inspector John Davis.
Full
Story
Hospital dignitaries break ground on $5.7 million
expansion
In spite of hurricane Claudette snapping balloons against tent poles and
threatening a torrent of rain, a large crowd was on hand last Tuesday for
the official groundbreaking for the construction program at Cleveland Regional
Medical Center.
Full
Story
Downtown committee to hear zoning issues
The Friends of Downtown Committee, which normally meets Mondays at noon,
will conduct a special meeting next Tuesday evening, July 29, which the
public is encouraged to attend.
Full
Story
Council rejects objections, OKs grant try
At its meeting last week, Cleveland City Council brushed aside objections
posed by Cleveland Regional Medical Center and voted unanimously to apply
for a state grant to help extend water and sewer services to the new Doctors
Diagnostic Hospital on South Travis.
Full
Story
Cleveland Regional begins $5.7 million expansion
Cleveland Regional Medical Center will break ground today on a $5.7 million
expansion and renovation.
Full
Story
Police offer reward for leads in murder case
The Cleveland Police Department is offering a $10,000 reward for information
leading to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible
for the death of Vergie Waldrep.
Full
Story
School board approves bond sale
The Cleveland school board voted unanimously Thursday to approve the sale
of $24 million in school building bonds.
Full
Story
Town hall meeting to discuss federal home loan programs
Affordable housing in the Cleveland area is difficult to find, but the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Rural Development program may provide a way for
residents to achieve their housing dream.
Full
Story
Council OKs sale of new gravesites
The city of Cleveland has decided to start selling gravesites in the new
section of its cemetery on Peach Street.
Full
Story
Murder called a 'burglary gone bad'
Cleveland police are calling the murder of an 80-year-old woman here two
weeks ago "a burglary gone bad."
Full
Story
June 2003
Cleveland schools to see 'deep cuts' this year
Cleveland school Superintendent Terry Myers expects the district's 2003-2004
budget to create a lot of "disgruntled attitudes" within the district.
Full
Story
Eight-liners to be deep-sixed
In a move that will impact several local businesses and hundreds of area
citizens, the Liberty County Attorney's office will begin prosecuting individuals
who illegally operate eight-liner gaming machines after July 20.
Full
Story
Cupboard nearly bare at Operation Refuge
The shelves are bare - and for 120 families each week, that's not an inconvenience,
that's a disaster.
Full
Story
Junk cars on city's endangered species list
The city of Cleveland is conducting a city-wide sweep of local neighborhoods
with the goal of clearing out the junk vehicles that have collected there
over the years.
Full
Story
Woman's body found in home
The 1300 block of South Holly in Cleveland was the scene of an apparent
homicide late Sunday night, and Cleveland police are asking for assistance
from the public in apprehending the culprit.
Full
Story
Third arrested in Shack robbery
A third suspect in the June 7 armed robbery of The Shack restaurant in Cleveland
was apprehended last week.
Full
Story
Two arrested, third sought in Shack attack
Ronnie Lewis, owner of The Shack in Cleveland, feels "real fortunate"
today, even though his restaurant was robbed at gunpoint Saturday and he
himself was pistol-whipped.
Full
Story
Traven's tragedy looks more like miracle now
It's a cliche because it's so often true - real life is stranger than fiction.
That maxim was demonstrated in Cleveland last week to a 6-year-old boy,
his mom and a Cleveland businessman who - it might be said - has a "heart
of gold."
Full
Story
Bus trouble nearly sidelines Royal Braves
The Royal Braves Band's long-anticipated trip to Walt Disney World nearly
ended before it began Sunday when the bus company that was supposed to take
it to Florida disappeared.
Full
Story
School officials celebrate better state test results
Cleveland school officials are celebrating an apparent dramatic improvement
in the district's performance on the state's student assessment test this
spring.
Full
Story
Birthday theft ruins boy's first graduation day
Traven Meyer had an eventful week last week. After he turned 6 years old
on Wednesday, he graduated from Shepherd kindergarten and celebrated his
birthday and graduation with a big party at the Cleveland McDonald's Thursday
- and had all his birthday and graduation gifts stolen the same day.
Full
Story
Houston men arrested in Cleveland drug bust
Cleveland police arrested three Houston men in a restaurant parking lot
here May 24 after learning at least one of the men was in town to sell illegal
drugs.
Full
Story
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