2015 Passing of the Torch
40 years in prison for seventh DWI arrest
On August 20, 2015, Wesley Lynn Cravens, 53, of Bonham, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for Driving While Intoxicated – 3rd Or More. The sentence was imposed by 15th District Court Judge Jim Fallon pursuant to a plea agreement Cravens reached with the Grayson County District Attorney’s Office.
On March 29, 2015, at approximately 10 p.m. a concerned motorist called 911 to report a possible intoxicated driver near the intersection of Redbud Street and Cypress Grove Road in Sherman. The caller had followed a white truck and observed it travelling very erratically, to the point that the driver had almost lost control on at least one occasion. Arriving just minutes later, Sherman officer Jamie Bunetto located a truck matching the vehicle description parked in the parking lot of Carrus Specialty Hospital. The truck did not appear occupied, however as Bunetto approached, a man sat upright in the driver’s seat of the truck.
Upon making contact with the man, Bunetto identified him as Wesley Cravens and noticed signs of intoxication, including the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, and glossy eyes. Bunetto also observed an open can of beer next to Cravens. Upon removing Cravens from the vehicle, Bunetto noticed the front of his pants to be wet, and upon questioning, Cravens confirmed that he had urinated on himself. While confrontational with officers, Cravens admitting that he had been driving the vehicle and that he had been drinking. Officers discovered 13 full and cold beer cans in the vehicle, along with four empty cans.
Cravens refused to complete field sobriety tests at the scene, but was taken to Wilson N. Jones hospital for a blood sample after officers applied for a search warrant for his blood. Laboratory test results indicated he had a blood alcohol content of .239, three times the normal limit.
“We are very appreciative of members of the public being willing to call police when they see possible drunk drivers,” said Assistant District Attorney Brett Smith, who prosecuted the case. “Since the officer found him parked, we might not have been able to prove that he had been driving if it wasn’t for the citizen who called in. It is important for folks to give their names and be willing to testify if necessary in these cases.”
“Mr. Cravens criminal history included six prior DWI convictions from other counties, including three felony offenses, and he was on parole at the time he committed after being released from prison on a case out of Denton County,” said Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown. “By the time you are arrested for your seventh DWI, you have had many opportunities to fix the problem, and you are absolutely endangering the public.”
Cravens was represented by Gainesville attorney Jeremy Oney.
Girlfriend attempts to run over boyfriend, ends up in jail
August 18 – At approximately 10:07am, Howe Police Officer David Morris and Sgt. Michael Hill responded to call of a domestic dispute that reportedly happened at a residence in the 100 block of West Haning street. A 24-year-old Howe woman left the residence and called police from a residence in the 100 block of N. Hughes. She told police that her live-in boyfriend cut the tire on her vehicle, and that she walked to a friend’s house. Officers met with the 27-year-old boyfriend and he reported that his girlfriend attempted to run over him as he stood in the driveway of their residence. Investigation eventually led to the arrest of the woman for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. An uninvolved witness and evidence at the scene of the alleged offense verified the victim’s claim of assault.
August 4 – At approximately 9:05 pm, Howe Police Officer Brandon Ozuna and Jordan Clark arrested a 27-year-old Durant man and a 24-year-old Denison woman for possessing nearly a quarter of an ounce of methamphetamine. The arrest was the result of a traffic stop on US 75 for a traffic violation and a subsequent Bells PD canine alert on the suspect vehicle. The suspects attempted to destroy the evidence by placing it inside a cup of liquid. This resulted in the added charge of Tampering with Physical Evidence. Both suspects were booked into the Grayson County Jail.
Help Wanted: Must love dogs and cats
If you are compassionate, patient and hard-working, we would love to talk with you. If you have experience, that would be a plus, but we will train.
NO BREEDERS PLEASE
Van Alstyne area, 903-482-6202. Please call between 11 am – 9 pm.
Job Posting: Administrative Assistant
ADMIN ASSISTANT
For Appointment coordination, event and meeting planning, making travel arrangements, picking up dry cleaning, and banking. Please send your resume to:junlee717@gmail.com and text 972-528-9283 for follow up.
Mayor recognizes long-standing city employees and council members
At the beginning of Tuesday’s city council meeting, Mayor Jeff Stanley recognized employees and council members who had served for five to 20 years of service to the city.
Those recognized were Sgt. Michael Hill for his over five years of service. Nicky Phillips also received a five-year pin due to his service since 2009. City Administrator Joe Shephard was honored with his five-year pin. Georgia Richardson, who has been on the council since 2008 received her five-year pin. Bert Dowlen earned a 10-year pin and Mayor Stanley received a five-year pin.
The longest tenured were recognized with 20-year pins. City Secretary Joy Stevens has been with the city since 1991.
Sam Haigis spent two stints on the council, 1979-1987 and 2000-present.
UPS driver taken to hospital after crash
A two-vehicle accident occurred this afternoon at approximately 4:35 on North Denny Street. Howe Police Sergeant Michael Hill said that a UPS delivery truck driver was making his normal route when he was rear-ended by a silver car. Hill stated that the driver of the silver car was okay, but the UPS driver complained of injury and was taken to a local hospital. Hill said that he wasn’t sure whether it was related to distracted driving, but a full investigation will be handled by Officer David Morris.
Church getting love from The Siding Man
Phase II of the church renovation is clearly underway. With the foundation now repaired, The Siding Man, LLC is now starting the process of re-skinning the exterior of the church with premium insulated mastic white siding to match the white paint that Metal Masters and Great Days of Service provided this past weekend.
Q and A with 80-year-old Bulldog Stadium
Q: What do you remember about that first season?
A: Well, sonny boy, I’m 80-years-old, so my memory isn’t what it used to be. But I was just taking a nap one day when all of a sudden this man with the biggest feet I’d ever seen came tromping around and cutting the weeds. I was just full of Johnson grass at that time. This feller’s name was Barnes Milam and he had played for the Philadelphia Eagles and I’m telling you his foot was a size 16 or some such. It hurt when he walked around. Anyway, this feller became Howe’s first head coach back in that first year of 1935.
Q: How do you feel about the recent upgrades that you’ve received?
A: I think it’s great. There for a while I was smelling like one of those cats at the corner of 75 and 82. A nice young man named Hudson helped clean me up. But I’m telling you, he’s pretty strict on me. He gets mad when I have just one weed. He makes me comb my hair five times a day. I don’t think I’ve had anyone pay me this much attention since I was 50 or so. He’s definitely been great for me. He keeps me looking good and I just call him Mr. Sir and try to keep clean.
Q: What was the most embarrassing moment for you?
A: Well, you see, those kids of the 80’s used to leave coins all in the endzone in pregame and it must have did something to me. It wasn’t long after that I had some vein work done. They tore me open and put this great big pipe down the middle of my chest. After that, I couldn’t control my stadium bladder and I’d tinkle all over myself at the exact same times every day. It was so embarrassing, but now everyone likes it because the grass stays greener.
Q: Who was the first star player?
A: That first year in 1935 was amazing. I’d never seen football before. I imagine Howe started playing football because of this kid Billy Bryant Cloud. He was amazing. He ran so fast, I never even felt him. It was 50 years or so before anyone else could do what he did. That Geer and Ogle kid came close, but nothing was more special than the first one.
Q: What are the best games that you remember?
A: Well, that homecoming game in ’88 when it was raining so hard. I had mud in my eyes and I couldn’t see the Hail Mary, but I heard everyone yelling. Also the next year we hosted a playoff game. They put a bow tie on me and dressed me up real nice. I got a clean shave and everything. That sure was some night. Then that game vs. Bells in ’90. That was a true humdinger. Yeah boy. Last year vs. Tom Bean was a record setter with all of those yards. Easton had those picks – I remember his dad was quite the player too. Lots of memories. Lots of memories. Yeah boy.
Q: How do you remain so active as the oldest stadium anywhere around?
A: Well, I take a lot of nitrogen now-a-days which keeps me healthy. Most stadiums around here have passed on. Sherman’s is almost as old as me. Denison is close too, but they just about made a robot out of that guy. Everyone wants a young whipper-snapper with all of these fancy seats and scoreboards. People think you need to trick everything up these days with fake grass and spread offenses and adding that darn red to our colors. I tell you what I’m for, sonny boy. I’m for real grass, running the football and black and white.
Q: Have you ever thought of the possibility of turf?
A: Why in tarnation would I do that? I have a full head of hair at age 80? You want me to look like that Trump guy? Or Rand Paul? I’m a real stadium. Yeah boy.
Q: What has it been like to have so many people visit you every Friday night each fall?
A: It’s so much fun to see everyone. And it’s so much better now that I look good again. There for a while, other teams were embarrassed of me. I had just let myself go. But I’m back to feeling great and I’ve seen more people lately than ever before. You know I had my knee replaced, right? Yeah, they took out the old one and built a new fieldhouse. That did wonders for me. I sure am grateful for those people who put in the track 35 years ago or so. I used to get lonely. But now people come see me all year. I was sure glad to see the varsity practice here last year in the playoffs. I only get five special nights a year and I like to welcome everyone the best I can. This year is the all-school reunion so I’ll be cleaned up real good. Since I’m 80, I ramble on sometimes so just stop me whenever. What’s Norman Dickey doing these days? He used to spend a lot of time here, but I hardly see him now. He’s probably hanging out with Buck Rose. Is he still fishing? Yeah boy. I used to have a stock tank. Tracy Beaty and… (cut off by question)
Q: How did you feel when they stopped playing football from 1948-1958?
A: Abandoned. It was the worst time of my stadium life. There used to be this old junk yard just west of where the field houses are now. I had to look at that and be reminded that I was a part of that junk yard. But then Mr. Charles Thompson showed up one day and they started putting light poles up. I knew something special was about to happen. I didn’t figure they’d make me some youth soccer field. I just knew I’d be the home of the Bulldogs again and it came true in ’58. Yeah boy, this kid named Arterbury was pretty good. I’ve been here ever since. Later on we got Norman Dickey. Me and him spent a lot of time together. He had the first field house built in ’66. I could tell you some stories about Norman. Yeah boy.