Houston County News 2

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Sheriff Woody Wallace escorts Blake Partain into the Trinity County Courthouse. Courtesy photo

By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — Blake Partain, arrested in March 2021 in connection with the death of 29-year-old Chelsea McBride, pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of intoxication manslaughter, a second-degree felony.

The 31-year-old and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and as a condition of his plea, Partain waived the right to appeal and was immediately taken into custody. 

Sheriff Woody Wallace said the family of the victim worked very closely with the District Attorney’s Office in reaching the plea agreement.

According to reports from the Department of Public Safety, troopers were notified of a one-vehicle crash on FM 357, about 2 ½ miles north of Apple Springs, at about 2 a.m. on March 7, 2021.

The reports indicate Partain was the driver of a 2008 Dodge pickup, and that Chelsea Renae McBride was a passenger.

Partain was traveling north at an unsafe speed when he drove off the roadway to the right, then crossed back over the roadway and struck a tree. The pickup then caught on fire.

McBride was pronounced deceased at the scene by a Trinity County Justice of the Peace, the report states.

During the investigation, Partain was determined to be intoxicated and taken into custody.

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Photo by Jacque Fleming

By Jan White
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CROCKETT – At the Annual Fiddler’s Festival held at the Porth Agricultural Arena on Saturday, September 24, a new Champion was announced. After a long, hot, music-filled day at the arena, judges chose Roberta Rast Smith as their new World Champion Fiddler.

The contest was divided into several categories, the 0-18 age group, the 65+ group, and the Open division. In the 0-18 group, McKenna Peterson took home the first place award, with Tristan Paskvan, Georgia Halverson, Kaitlyn Netely, Ezra Short, and Afton Halverson following. Brad Riley won the title in the 65+ category, followed by Eddie Davis, Richard Harnes, Tom Fonville, Brent Young, Cliff McCall, and Ed Henson.

Thirteen contestants vied in the Open Category for the title of World Champion Fiddler. 

It was a hotly contested race, with many of the fiddlers called back to perform before the judges several times. The final three were called back twice before the champion was announced. First place went to Roberta Rast Smith. Katrina Nicolayeff, the favored to win, took second place, while third place went to Carl Hopkins. Other winners in the Open category were Marty Elmore, River Lee, Shira Ellisman, Jason Andrews, Nathan Pednaught, Rebecca Glass, Jessica Henderson, Aimee Peterson, Kevin Freeman and Huey Buxton.

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By Chris Edwards
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LATEXO – Administrators at Latexo ISD along with the district’s police department investigated a possible school threat.

On Monday, the district issued a statement affirming that there was a possible threat, but evidence “did not suggest that our students were in imminent danger, and there was no threat to school safety.”

Latexo ISD, in its statement issued on Monday, stated that the situation was handled and disciplinary measures were carried out to the full extent of the law.

Schools across the state, as well as the nation, have been on alert to possible threats in the wake of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde in May. In the wake of that tragic event, Gov. Greg Abbott and the state legislature transferred $105.5 million to support additional school safety and mental health initiatives.

Latexo ISD noted in its statement that the district “will not tolerate any communication that could be seen as a threat of violence,” and that school safety is the district’s top priority.

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Alicia Rosas dances in the Hispanic Heritage celebration held in the city park on Saturday. A group of dancers from the St. Francis Church Ballet performed traditional folklore dancing during the event.  PHOTO BY RON FOREHAND