skeen fin disclosure 1

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TEXASLOCAL& SUNDAYSept. 4, 20111BnObituaries/2,3B nClassifieds/9B More news on wacotrib.com

Waco Tribune-Herald

Labor Day holidaybusiness closings

All branches of the Waco-McLennan County Librarywill be closed today and Mon-day in observance of the La-bor Day holiday.

Additional Monday clos-ings will include:nAll federal, state and city

of Waco offices.nWaco Transit will not run

its regular routes.nUnited States post offices.nBaylor University,

McLennan Community Col-lege and Texas State Techni-cal College.nCity of Waco Solid Waste

Services will not run collec-tion routes Monday.

Mondays routes will bepicked up Wednesday.

The Cobbs Drive Conve-nience Center and Landfillalso will be closed.

The following will be open:nCameron Park Zoo, Waco

Water Park, Texas RangerHall of Fame and Museumand the Waco Mammoth Site.

Lemonade stand benefit

A benefit lemonade standto raise funds for 9-year-oldFeryn Schulte will operatefrom 2 to 6 p.m. Monday at2201 Arroyo Road.

Feryn recently was diag-nosed with a rare cancer andis undergoing treatment atCook Childrens Medical Cen-ter in Fort Worth.

The sale will include bakedgoods, homemade trinkets

and raffle tickets for a chanceto win a football signed byBaylor University footballcoach Art Briles.

All proceeds will benefitFeryn and her family.

Free Mayborn admission

Baylor Universitys May-born Museum, 1300 S. Univer-sity Parks Drive, will havefree admission from 1 p.m. to5 p.m. today.

This is the final weekendfor the museums summerexhibit, Lost Egypt: AncientSecrets, Modern Science.

For more information, call710-1104.

Obama watch party

The McLennan CountyDemocratic Party will have aDemocratic Watch Party for

President Barack Obamasspeech about jobs and theeconomy from 5:30 to7:30 p.m. Thursday at Beat-nix, 1700 Colcord Ave.

For more information, callKelly McDonald at 366-3256.

Submit items for Briefly inprinted or typed form to Briefly,P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588;fax to 757-0302; or email [email protected] atleast one week before an event.

McLennan County CommissionerKelly Snell said Friday he will pushto expand the number of county of-ficials who have to file financial dis-closure forms.

Snell, who appears to have the

support of at least two other mem-bers of the five-member commis-sioners court, said the reform isinspired by recent revelations thatMcLennan County Tax Assessor-Collector Buddy Skeen bought andsold a number of properties thatwere not publicly disclosed untillast month.

When you have a bad apple likeweve had in the newspaper lately,then everybody needs to look at thiskind of stuff, Snell said.

Commissioners, county judges and

attorneys, and justices of the peacein the states larger counties alreadymust file personal disclosure forms,which list in broad ranges the valueof stocks, bonds, mutual funds andreal estate holdings, among other fi-nancial interests.

But under state law, commission-ers courts in counties with 125,000or more people, like McLennanCounty, can extend the disclosurerequirement to a number of otherofficeholders and employees.

I support the idea that if one does

it, all should do it, Snell said.Snell said he plans to put an item

broadening the countys reportingrequirements on the Sept. 13 com-missioners court agenda.

Two of his fellow commissionerssaid they supported some form ofexpansion of the countys financialreporting standards.

I think itd be a good idea for allelected officials, said Commission-er Joe Mashek, though he added he

Financial reporting may expandBRIEFLY

Commissioner will push torequire that more officials

file disclosure forms

By Michael W. ShapiroTribune-Herald staff writer

See COUNTY, Page 3B

A lift for Lillian

Football season brings prognostication, tales of conflict

T.G.I.F.S.

Thank Goodness Its Foot-ball Season.

If youre so psyched about thenew season that you catch yourself

singing Are You Ready For SomeFootball? in the privacy of yourpickup, you are not alone.

The AT&T Cotton Bowl an-nounced last week that the Jan.6, 2012, game between the Big 12and SEC champions is already asellout. Four months before kickoffand three months before well havea clue about which teams will play,all 71,815 seats in Cowboys Sta-

dium are spokenfor.

If you buy aCotton Bowlticket before your

team suits up forits first game,Bubba, you mightbe an optimist.

There are lotsof reasons we getso excited aboutthe start of foot-ball season.

One reason is that a new seasonbrings fresh material for our other

favorite fall pastimes prognosti-cation and pontification.

We all like to think we have aneye for talent and a gift for fore-casting football matchups. Thats

why we devour gridiron informa-tion leading up to the season.For many of us here in Central

Texas, the August arrivals of theTribs football section and DaveCampbells Texas Football Maga-zine are akin to the simultaneouspublication of Whos Who and theNeiman Marcus Christmas catalog.

They offer reams of stats, analy-ses and player profiles to argue

about as we feverishly tick off thedays till the season opener.

Another reason we love footballso much is that it makes realityTV look tame. A sportscast during

football season has more tales ofconflict than The Jerry SpringerShow. When it comes to the dra-matic adventures of dysfunctionalroommates, Big Brother canthold a candle to the Big 12.

Donald Trump should apprenticehimself to a University of Miamibooster to learn about incentiviz-ing high-priced talent.

And the Bachelorette could learn

a thing or two from the way ablue-chip running back handles hissuitors during recruiting season.

Music is another big draw forfootball especially at the high

school and college levels.The buh-RAHs of the bass hornsand the thuh-da-dumps of the snaredrums are as seductive to the foot-ball fan as an aria to an opera afi-cionado. The fact that Janie Suespiccolo is out of tune and the entirewoodwind section is marching outof step is hardly noticed, if at all.

See BAGGETT, Page 3B

DONNIS

BAGGETT

Tribune-Heraldpublisher-editor

McLENNAN COUNTY

Lillian Dudik, of Penelope, is carried to the frontof the annual Westfest parade by her father,Martin Dudik, on Saturday in West. Both were

part of a float in the parade. Westfest, held eachLabor Day weekend, will be open today from11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday.

Staff photo Rod Aydelotte

Helpingout withmentalillness

When Joe Padillas wife startedto have serious problems becauseof bipolar disorder a few yearsago, the missionary and minis-ter found out the hard way thatchurches often dont know howto help families in psychiatriccrisis.

The church where Padillaworked, Wacos Antioch Commu-nity Church, was supportive.

Staff members and the con-gregation tried to help. But theydidnt have the necessary knowl-edge, he said.

The same was true with thesecular help Padilla sought out,he said. While the family got goodinformation from physicians andother mental health professionals,something was missing, he said.

Thankfully, Padilla said, heeventually met people who helpedhim put the two realms together.

Chief among those was fellowAntioch member and BaylorUniversity psychology and neu-roscience professor Matt Stan-ford, who has researched howthe Christian church responds tomental illness.

With the help of Stanford andothers, Padillas family embarkedon a treatment plan for his wifethat incorporated the best of both

By Cindy V. CulpTribune-Herald staff writer

See GROUP, Page 4B

Fires burn in Bosque, Hill counties

Several fire departments werebattling grass and brush fires thatbroke out along Farm Road 2114 inBosque and Hill counties beginningabout 6 p.m. Saturday.

A spokesperson in the Bosque

County sheriffs office describedone blaze there as large but didnot know how many acres hadburned.

A dispatcher in the Hill Countysheriffs office said four or five wereburning about 7:30 p.m. and severalhomes had been evacuated as a pre-caution.

Lake Waco blaze

Waco firefighters spent eighthours extinguishing a two-acrebrush fire Saturday at the LakeWaco spillway at 6161 Airport Drive.The fire was in the vicinity of twoblazes that took out about 75 acres

By Don BoldingTribune-Herald staff writer

POLICE REPORT

See POLICE, Page 4B

Group aims to teachchurches, pastors howto deal with disorders

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7/29/2019 Skeen Fin Disclosure 1

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2011 WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD 3B

What makes us stand andapplaud is not the artis-tic excellence of the BitinChiggers Marching Bandbut the youthful exuber-ance thats transplantedinto our weary beings.

The change of seasonsis another attraction. Be-cause football season issynonymous with fall,theres sweet serendipity tothe arrival of Texas favor-ite sport and the departureof our annual meteorologi-cal misery summer.

Yes, were still at least amonth away from our firstreal cool snap. Yes, the tem-perature at the Baylor-TCUkickoff Friday night was100 degrees. And yes, Tex-ans will wear short sleevesmore often than sweatersduring the course of theseason.

Despite all that, footballsarrival assures us theresrelief over the horizon.The team schedule tuckedsecurely into our wallet

assures us that its fall, bygolly, whether it feels likeit or not. Its irrefutable ev-idence that even the worstsummer in recorded Texas

BAGGETTFrom Page 1B

history wont last forever.These are all things to love

about football season, to besure.

But its main attraction isthat it resonates so deeplywith that quality of the hu-man psyche that led to an ear-ly run on Cotton Bowl tickets

optimism.The beautiful thing about

the season opener is that forone precious moment, no mat-

ter what the experts may sayabout our prospects, our teamis tied for the lead.

For that fleeting instant ev-ery fan of every team Bearsand Horned Frogs, Longhornsand Aggies, Sooners and RedRaiders, the PlantersvilleWarts and the FarmertonFightin Fire Ants is root-ing for a contender.

In that moment before thethump of kickoff, there ishope in the air on both sidesof every stadium in every

town that tees up a football.Hope fuels devotion, and

devotion feeds faith thefaith to buy bowl tickets fourmonths early. Or simply topull out the pom-poms for yetanother year.

How could you not look for-ward to that?

Donnis Baggett is publisherand editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald. His email address [email protected]. Hismailing address is P.O. Box

2588, Waco, Texas, 76702-2588.

didnt think the requirementshould extend to county de-partment heads.

He said the added transpar-ency, would bring comfort tothe taxpayers.

I had just assumed it ap-

plied to all the county offi-cials, Commissioner LesterGibson said. I would not beopposed to that sort of trans-parency.

Skeen said he doesnt thinkthe commissioners are con-templating their disclosurepolicy because of him, buthe added that whatever wasneeded, I wouldnt have aproblem doing it.

Minimal impact

County Judge Jim Lewissaid he doesnt think extend-ing financial disclosure re-porting will have much im-pact.

If somebodys going todo something wrong, I dontthink a reports going toeliminate that, Lewis said.Though it may be easier

to track it once it comes tolight.

Commissioner Ben Perrycould not be reached Friday.

An open government ad-vocate and former TravisCounty tax assessor-collectorand county judge said beef-ing up the countys financialdisclosure policy would dis-courage unethical and illegalbehavior.

Id say its about pub-lic confidence and integrityof government, said BillAleshire, the former countyofficial who now works as anattorney. The public actu-ally gets to understand whatconnections a public official

may have between their pri-vate money and their publicresponsibility.

It also serves as a deter-rent for conflicts of interest,he said.

Absent the requirement, hesaid, officials may be tempt-ed to get as close to the lineas they can. Theres conflictsof interest that are illegal andconflicts of interest that arelegal but would stink if the

public knew about them.Aleshire said other forms

of disclosure can be good, butthe financial disclosure formgives a pretty good generallook (at officials interests)without a serious betrayal ofprivacy.

Skeen who is the targetof a Texas Rangers investiga-tion has bought and soldat least eight properties inthe county in the past decade.Rangers took two boxes thatcontained real estate recordsfrom his office during a Julysearch, according to courtdocuments.

According to county realestate records, Skeen boughtthree Woodway properties two homes and a lot sincethe start of 2010.

He sold one of the homes

this year to a high-rankingtax office employee, DorothyRamos.

Skeen indicated in a July 27interview that he didnt knowhe was required to disclosethe transactions under a Tex-as Department of Licensingand Regulation rule that tookeffect at the start of 2010.

Woodway architect MarkWoodward filed a complaintJuly 29 against Skeen withTDLR noting he hadnt com-plied with the state reportingrequirement.

On Aug. 5, Skeen gave thecounty a spreadsheet that list-ed his financial interest in thethree Woodway properties.

COUNTYFrom Page 1B

The document does notspecify the values of any ofthe properties or in whatrange of dollar amounts theyfall.

Relative listed

The spreadsheet, obtainedFriday by the Tribune-Her-ald, also lists the names ofone of Skeens relatives andfamily members of five of hisemployees.

The memo said the rela-tives may relate to thevarious tax office employeesassignment(s).

Of the 20 relatives listed onthe spreadsheet, theres no ex-planation what connection, ifany, that 17 of them have withtax office business.

Woodward noted thatTDLR oversees a slew ofprofessions and has scarceresources to enforce properdisclosure.

While county-level finan-cial reporting might not curball bad behavior by public of-ficials, he said it would giveresidents a tool to better un-derstand various officialsactions.

Whatever we can do tomake it easier for the public,Id support, he said.

Tribune-Herald staff writerTommy Witherspoon contrib-uted to this story.

[email protected]

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Wade F. Nelson

Death leaves a heartacheno one can erase! Wherever Iam, Whatever Im doing, you

are always in my heart!You are always on my mind!

Sept. 4, 2008,God took the very best!

ISAFLOY,Your Loving Wife Forever

February 14, 1934 - September 4, 2008

In Memoriam

Samantha Jo Buis

Thinking of You with LoveWe thought of you with love

today, but that isnothing new.

We thought about youyesterday and days before

that too.We think of you in silence,we often speak your name.All we have are memories,and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is our keepsake, with which wewill never part.

God has you in His keeping; we have you in our hearts.A million times weve wanted

you. A milliontimes we cried.

If love could only havesaved you, you never would

have died.It broke our hearts to lose you.

But you didnt go alone.For a part of us went with

you...the day Godcalled you Home.

Love,Momma, Ty & Darrell

March 18, 1991 September 7, 2008

Mary Jo Barnett

Mary Jo Barnett, 91, ofValley Mills, passed away Sept.2, 2011, in Goodall-WitcherNursing Facility. Funeralservices will be 11 a.m.Monday, Sept. 5, at the ValleyMills First United MethodistChurch. Interment will be in the

Valley Mills Cemetery underthe direction of Foss FuneralHome. Visitation will be 4 to 6p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Barnett was born Nov. 5, 1919, in Sherman, Texas. Shewas the daughter of E.C. and Maude Esta (Ross) Linton. Shewas a graduate of Sherman High School and Providence Schoolof Nursing in Waco where she graduated as a registered nurse.She was an R.N. at Goodall-Witcher Hospital for over 45 years.Mrs. Barnett was a long time member of Valley Mills FirstUnited Methodist Church and was a member of Los AmigosSunday school class. She was a member of the U.M.W.formerly known as W.S.C.S. Mary Jo married Robert HallBarnett Sr. Sept. 25, 1943. They lived in Dallas before movingto Valley Mills. She loved sewing, gardening, cooking andwatching humming birds. Most of all she loved being withfamily.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, RobertHall Bob Barnett Jr.; a daughter, Rosemary; a grandson,Jeremiah Barnett; a brother, Frank Linton; and sisters, LouiseLinton and Ruth Ellen Chumbley.

Survivors include her children, Joe and Marilyn Barnett ofCoppell, Dan and Linda Barnett, and Sara and DwightMcMillan, daughter-in-law, Elaine Barnett, all of Valley Mills,

and Jane Trainor of Georgetown; brothers and sisters-in-law,W.A. Chumbley, Prentice andAnn Barnett and Duane Skiles;16 grandchildren; 22great-grandchildren; manynieces, nephews and friends.Memorials may be made toFirst United Methodist Churchof Valley Mills.

November 5, 1919 September 2, 2011

Sign the Guest Book at www.wacotrib.com

Shirley Irwin

Shirley Irwin, 75, of Waco,passed away Friday, Sept. 2,2011. Graveside services willbe 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, atRosemound Cemetery. Thefamily will receive visitorsMonday 6 to 8 p.m. at PecanGrove Funeral Home 3124Robinson Dr.

Shirley was born July 17,1936, in Temple to Williamand Lillie Mae Whyburn. She married James M. Irwin in1954 and together they raised five sons. She loved to playbingo and listen to country music. Her favorite country singerwas always George Strait. During baseball season you couldalways find her watching the Texas Rangers. Shirley was agreat Mom and loved her boys dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William andLillie Whyburn; husband, James M. Irwin; brothers, Calvin,Sherman, and Glenn Whyburn; and sisters, Nora Blackburnand Doris Curlee.

She is survived by her sons, Andrew, Daniel, James andwife, Debbie, Damon andPhillip; brother, JackWhyburn; 11 grandchildren;seven great-grandchildren; andnumerous nieces, nephews,cousins and friends.

July 17, 1936 September 2, 2011


Alfred C. Vavra

Alfred C. Vavra, 88, of Ross, passed away Friday, Sept. 2,2011, in West. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday at

Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel, with Minister SamArmstrong officiating. Burial will follow at White RockCemetery near Ross. The family will receive visitors 5 to 7p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Elm MottChurch of Christ or the charityof your choice.A full obituary and memorialguest book found atwww.aderholdfuneralhome.com.



Wilma Schneider

Wilma Courtade Schneider, 91, of Waco, passed awayFriday, Sept. 2, 2011, in Waco. Graveside services will be 9a.m. Monday at Bold Springs Cemetery near West.

Memorials may be made toCaritas of Waco.A full obituary and memorialguestbook can be found atwww.aderholdfuneralhome.com.



Lives LivedLives Lived

Euell Dee Johnson

Euell Dee Johnson passedaway Friday, Sept. 2, 2011.Graveside services will be 10a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, atOakwood Cemetery. Visitationwill be 5 to 7 p.m. Monday,Sept. 5, in the Garden Room at

Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey.Burr was born Feb. 9, 1923,to John Euell and Alta DeeConger Johnson, in HillcrestHospital. He was a WW II Naval Tail Gunner and a farmer.He married Mildred Elizabeth Buice in 1943, and they hadone son, Randee Buice, in 1943. Burr ran a dairy inBosqueville and became owner of Service Feed Mill in 1957.He sold the feed mill in 1981 and retired. In 1980, he met andmarried Dorothy Stafford Phillips with whom he enjoyed 31

happy years. His hobbies weresoftball; fishing, especially forbig, yellow catfish; and skeetshooting. He is a formermember of the Waco Gun Cluband Bosqueville MethodistChurch.He was preceded in death by

his parents; his first wife,Mildred Elizabeth Buice; andstep-son, Michael Phillips.He is survived by his wife,Dorothy; son, Randee BuiceJohnson, and wife, Sue, of

China Spring; step-daughter, Leshia Nell Johnson of Jupiter,Fla.; and niece, Lynn Ferguson-Cash of Waco.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to your favoritecharity.The family invites you to leave amessage or a memory in our"Memorial Guestbook" atWilkirson-Hatch-Bailey.

February 9, 1923 September 2, 2011


A thousand golden memories tied up in a bow

Locked insidethis shell you seenot lost as you must know

Loveis not respondingwhen body fails themind

But loveis with you every day in a joy that you must find

I will beleavingshortly as you haveprobably guessed

Theseyears wevehad together wetruly havebeen blessed

Ill beyour soul companion both now and evermore

another thousand memories most surely arein store

Karlene Marie Pina

Happy Birthday, MomWe love you and miss you.Paul, Jason, Andrea, Jeremy,

Gloria, P.J., Noemi, andGrandkids

September 4, 1954 September 26, 2008

skeen fin disclosure 1

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