Local News
Call for new radios gets a big 10-4
He may be the official spokesman for the Hays County Sheriff’s Department, but even Sgt. Leroy Opiela isn’t quite sure where the second hand radios corrections officers have been using for nearly a decade came from.
But he, and the rest of the county force, know other things about them — for one, they won’t work within the jail.
But help could be soon on the way, as the office of Congressman Lloyd Doggett announced funding of $40,000 to pay for new radios, a move expected to not only improve communications but allow jailers to respond more quickly should problems occur.
“Effective law enforcement is the key to maintaining a safe community.
“Equipping our local law enforcement officers with the latest tools they need to be successful is the key to helping these brave men and women achieve their mission,” Doggett said. “This funding will replace outdated, inadequate equipment to ensure more effective communication and the safety of dedicated deputies.”
Sheriff Tommy Ratliff welcomed the news of the federal funding. “We appreciate Congressman Doggett’s leadership in supporting Hays County,” he said. ”We desperately needed to replace these radios, which the County acquired as hand-me-downs eight years ago and are now probably 20 years old.”
Ratliff said the radios will “ensure the safety of the community, our jail personnel and the inmates, by allowing the jailers and officers to communicate effectively and to respond quickly to incidents requiring timely action.”
Doggett’s office also said he is working with the HCSO to secure funding for more patrol deputies.
- Local News
-
-
Main Street program applications available
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is now accepting applications from small, urban and recertified communities for participation in the Texas Main Street Program.
-
Prosecutors: Teen used arrow to kill woman
A teenager living next door killed the founder of a popular San Antonio restaurant with an arrow before setting her house ablaze and bankrolling a spending spree on her credit cards, prosecutors told a jury Monday.
-
Michael Jackson's doctor pleads not guilty
Michael Jackson's doctor pleaded not guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of the pop star at a brief hearing that had all the trappings of another sensational celebrity courtroom drama.
-
Top 2 Dem. gov. hopefuls talk jobs, death penalty
Democratic hair care businessman Farouk Shami guaranteed Monday that he would create 100,000 jobs available to everyone, offer free electricity and an enact a moratorium on the death penalty if elected governor of Texas.
-
Texas State students in the running for spot on the red carpet
With enough votes, two Texas State University students could be on the red carpet for the 82nd annual Academy Awards
- Toyota plans to recall 300,000 Priuses
-
Space shuttle blasts off on last night flight
Endeavour and six astronauts rocketed into orbit Monday on what's likely the last nighttime launch for the shuttle program, hauling a new room and observation deck for the International Space Station.
-
Hooked on hooking fish
-
The road to ruin
The number of real properties affected by post-bankruptcy court filings in the Austin district, which includes Hays County, rose only three percent from 2008 to 2009. However, the dollar value of those properties jumped by 47 percent.
-
Meetings developing MY35 concept to present to TxDOT
Through this summer, regional leaders will meet monthly as part of a new citizen-driven planning effort to develop a blueprint of improvements for the Interstate 35 corridor to be recommended to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
- More Local News Headlines
-
Main Street program applications available
