El Campo, TX

PDF of print edition Police on lookout for rowdy revelers By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com       As New Year's Eve approaches - the holiday perhaps most associated with alcoholic beverages - law enforcers will be on the lookout for drunken drivers. At only four downtown El Campo nightclubs, there's room for more than 1,600 revelers, and private celebrations will be held all over the county... More ... Blood test warrants new tactic against alleged drunk drivers By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com       A new policy that lets police have blood drawn from suspected impaired drivers has been put into use in Wharton County. In Texas, any magistrate - a judge or justice of the peace - can sign an evidentiary search warrant to draw blood in a suspected DUI or DWI case. More ... Another Year In The Books EC woman has watched world change for 104 years By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com       Booker T. Dabney, who's 85 years old, had somewhere important to be Wednesday - his mother's birthday party. The Garwood-area resident was joined by other family members at Garden Villa Nursing Home to celebrate the 104th birthday of Lealer Black Dabney. More ... Fireworks celebrations limited to rural areas "People better be awful careful with them as dry as it is," - Fire Marshal Larry Staff By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com       Rural Wharton County residents may be planning to have a New Year's blast, but those inside the city limits need to plan on a slightly quieter celebration. Fireworks are only allowed in unincorporated areas and the recently annexed Sandy Corner neighborhood. Any explosive celebrations in the cit... More ... Marine's visit home Mom's 'greatest holiday gift ever' By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com       Christmas with family was one of the best gifts ever, Mary Torres said, especially when her son serving in the Marine Corps is able to be there too. A mother of five, she will see her middle son - 21-year-old Cpl. Jaime Catete - ship out for Japan shortly after the first of the year. More ...