Where There's Smoke
      El Campo volunteer firefighters raced to the trailer park at 1415 E. Jackson early Monday morning to the report of a vehicle fire. Although firemen were able to douse the blaze quickly, the vehicle suffered heavy damage. An electrical problem is believed to be the reason the vehicle burst into fl...
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Police Blotter
      City Arrests Alcohol, drugs Oswaldo Monroy Rosas, 32, of 515 Ave. E was arrested at 9:06 p.m. Thursday, April 3 on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, enhanced driving while license suspended, no insurance and failure to signal within 100 feet. He was transferred to Wharton County Jai...
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Speed monitor on Texas 60 this week
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com
      Motorists driving into East Bernard on Texas 60 will get a chance to really see how much lead is in their gas pedal foot this week. The Precinct 2 Constable Office has set up its battery powered speed monitoring display sign along the highway this week.
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Jury pool big enough second time around
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com
      A little extra insurance there would be a jury this time was introduced to the jury pool Monday for the felony murder trial of Guillermo Paniagua Paniagua. While a total of 325 jury notices were sent out, only 120 people arrived at the Wharton County Civic Center for the selection process Monday.
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Use of murder charge in DWI deaths fairly new
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com
      While the charge of felony murder has been on the books for a number of years, it has only been recently that prosecuting attorneys in Texas have started using it in DWI cases. "The statute itself has been around for a while," Wharton County Assistant District Attorney Gordon Dudley Jr. said.
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