Contact us by e-mail: bccourier@
sbcglobal.net
to send press releases, advertising inquires, compliments or complaints.

Contact Web master by e-mail: pcwordsmith@
indian-creek.net
to report a missing link, a problem with the Web site or incorrect information on the Web site.

Bandera County Courier is published weekly by Gail S. Joiner, 1210 Hackberry St., Bandera, TX 78003. Subscription price $26 per year in Bandera County, TX; $36 per year for other Texas counties; $40 per year out of Texas. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Bandera County Courier, P.O. Box 1704, Bandera, TX 78003. Periodicals Postage pending in Bandera, Texas.

Subscribe to the Bandera County Courier

Gail Joiner: Publisher
Carl Holt: Sales/Marketing
Staff: Judith Pannebaker, Editor
David Arny, Writer
Dennis Allyn, Political Cartoonist
Linda Reynolds, Classifieds
James Henry Frazar, Composition Editor
Contributors: Stephanie Parker, Marlene Heavner, Doug White, Clare Barnett, Mikie Baker, Doris Doebbler, Jack Finger, Ed Longhurst, Bill Ellis, Bob Jamison and Jim Harris.

The BCC is responsible for its errors in advertising to the limit of the size of the space occupied by the error. Any mistakes will be gladly corrected provided advertiser notifies this office after the first publication. We reserve the right to reject any/all advertising at any time. The taking of an ad by e-mail, clerk, or other BCC personnel does not constitute acceptance of the material for publication.

Download Bandera County Courier Advertising Rates. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the ad rate card.

Entire contents Copyright © 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 - Bandera County Courier

The Bandera County Courier
Deadlines
Real Estate Review and Community Board Ads
Noon Friday
All other Advertising and Articles
5 p.m. Friday
(Proof corrections Noon Monday)

Items should be typed or printed and should include the name and daytime phone number of a contact person. Items submitted after deadline will be considered for that week's edition but may be held over for later publication. Photos should include information on the time and place of the event, as well as full names of people from left to right, front row to back.

Articles in the accident section of the on-line edition of the Courier:

Local accidents require AirLife transport	Published May 1, 2008
Area woman airlifted to SA after collision	Published April 24, 2008
Woman OK after rollover	Published March 20, 2008
Former Bandera mayor injured in auto accident	Published March 20, 2008
T-bone turns highway into parking lot	Published March 6, 2008
Friday rollover blamed on speed, rain & bad curve	Published Dec. 20, 2007
SH 46 wreck fatal for couple	Published Nov. 15, 2007
Fatal predawn collision	Published Nov. 1, 2007
Motorcyclist airlifted to SA after collision	Published Oct. 4, 2007
Couple from Sunshine State OK after wreck	Published Sept. 27, 2007
Going, going, gone!	Published Sept. 13, 2007
Jim Haynes memorial fund	Published Sept. 13, 2007
Accident claims life of Medina man	Published Sept. 6, 2007
Trio barely escapes raging water	Published Aug. 23, 2007
Double motorcycle wreck	Published Aug. 23, 2007
Fatal crash claims local man	Published Aug. 16, 2007
SA man drowns in Lake Medina mishap	Published Aug. 16, 2007
One killed & two injured by lightning Lightning claims life of hiker at Lost Maples	Published July 26, 2007
Heavy rains contribute to crash	Published July 26, 2007
Drivers okay after trucks collide	Published July 12, 2007
Bump, crunch: three cars, seven people	Published April 26, 2007
Three injured in two-car smash-up Tuesday	Published March 29, 2007
SH 16 closed for gas leak	Published Feb. 22, 2007
No injuries in wreck at Bandera Creek	Published Feb. 15, 2007
Fiery crash closes SH16 south	Published Feb. 8, 2007
Sad accident leads to hard decision	Published Jan. 25, 2007
Motorcyclist in critical condition after collision	Published Nov. 30, 2006
Deer causes three-car accident	Published Nov. 30, 2006
Main Street accident	Published Nov. 30, 2006
Highway collision leaves two with minor injuries	Published Nov. 23, 2006
Wrecks cause serious injuries over weekend	Published May 25, 2006
Wreck on Dixie Dude Ranch Road	Published May 11, 2006
Five transported after five vehicle wreck	Published April 27, 2006
One car accident claims one life	Published Feb. 16, 2006
Airlife called for rollover	Published Dec. 22, 2005
Fatal accident south of Pipe Creek	Published Sept. 8, 2005
Two hospitalized in SH 16 crash	Published Aug. 11, 2005
Accidents over July 4th	Published July 7, 2005
Medina resident narrowly escapes flaming vehicle	Published June 16, 2005
Young mother loses life in vehicle accident	Published March 10, 2005

Area woman airlifted to SA after collision by David Arny BCC Staff Writer Published April 24, 2008 Emergency personnel responded to a late afternoon crash on Dixie Dude Road Wednesday, April 16. Staff Photo by David Arny    A two-car collision that occurred on FM 1077 Wednesday, April 16, resulted in one of the seriously injured drivers being transported by an AirLife helicopter to University Medical Center in San Antonio.     According to an eyewitness, a 1994 Honda Accord driven by Stephanie Gil of Bandera was westbound traveling at a high rate of speed before it crossed the center stripe and the eastbound lane and struck a 2004 Toyota 4-Runner. Driven by Mary Nicholas, also of Bandera, the SUV was stopped several feet from the highway at the entrance to the Bandera Gun Club when the collision occurred.     Witness Genie Rutherford of Georgetown said there was nothing Nicholas could have done to avoid the crash.     “The little car was fishtailing when it crossed the road and hit the Toyota,” she said. “It happened so fast, (Nicholas) couldn’t get out of the way.”     Rutherford, wife of a Georgetown EMS technician, said she stayed next to a badly injured Gil while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.     The impact of the crash spun the Toyota 180 degrees and severely damaged the driver’s side door of the Honda. Bandera Volunteer Firefighters responding to the accident used the Jaws of Life to extricate Gil from the wreckage.     Lisa Thornton, owner of Bandera hair salon A Cut Above, had lent the Toyota to Nicholas so she could run an errand for her. The accident occurred shortly after Nicholas dropped Thornton’s son, Will, off at the Bandera Gun Club to practice for an upcoming skeet-shooting event. “I’m so thankful (Nicholas) wasn’t seriously hurt. I’m also very thankful Will wasn’t in the car when the wreck happened,” said Thornton.     Nicholas was transported to Boerne Methodist and treated for minor cuts and bruises before being released later that evening. As of press time, Gil remained at University Medical Center where her condition has been upgraded to stable.

Woman OK after rollover by David Arny BCC Staff Writer Published March 20, 2008 A local woman escaped serious injury Monday, March 17, when her Mitsubishi Montero rolled twice near the entrance of the new Bandera Family Medical Clinic. Staff Photos by David Arny Emergency responders finish taking their equipment from the vehicle after extradiction of the woman.    A one-car rollover at 1050 Highway 16 South that produced a flurry of first responders Monday, March 17, apparently resulted in no serious injuries to the lone occupant of the vehicle.     Elizabeth Vincent, 54, of Bandera, was driving southbound in a late-model Mitsubishi Montero SUV just before noon when she apparently attempted to turn right at the entrance of the Bandera Family Medical Clinic. According to Bandera Police Chief James Eigner, Vincent overshot the driveway and struck a retaining wall, blowing out both left tires. The SUV rolled twice and came to rest balanced on its passenger side approximately fifty feet from the highway.     The Montero’s position made safely extricating Vincent from the car a challenge. Some emergency personnel concentrated on steadying the vehicle while others climbed onto the driver’s side to help her through an open window. A crew from the Bandera Volunteer Fire Department, EMS teams in ambulances dispatched from Bandera and Pipe Creek, as well as Bandera Police officers and sheriff’s deputies, converged on the scene to lend assistance.     “That’s a hazardous spot for traffic,” said Eigner, referring to the 55 mile-per-hour speed limit and downhill grade at that location. “Unfortunately, I expect to see more accidents there.”     Vincent, an employee of the Mayan Dude Ranch, was transported to Methodist Hospital in Boerne.

Former Bandera mayor injured in auto accident Published March 20, 2008    Former Bandera City Mayor Linda Stein and husband, Louis, were injured in a vehicular accident near Marble Falls on Monday, March 17. The couple was subsequently air lifted to an Austin hospital; however, after a brief observation, both were released. Prior to returning home, the couple will stay with relatives in the area to recover a few days.

T-bone turns highway into parking lot by David Arny BCC Staff Writer Published March 6, 2008 EMS personnel from Bandera and Pipe Creek combined efforts to stabilize two passengers and transport them to Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital in Kerrville. Staff Photos by David Arny After a two-vehicle collision, early morning commuters found the Highway 173 South northbound lane resembled an elongated parking lot that stretched from the south side of the Medina River bridge to Bottle Springs Road.    An early morning collision between two Chevy pickup trucks on Tuesday, March 4, caused major headaches for law enforcement officers, as well as motorists attempting to get to work on time.     Fortunately, the crash at the intersection of Maple Street and Highway 173 South did not result in life-threatening injuries to either driver or a passenger.     According to lead investigator, Bandera Police Officer Allen Kelley, the driver of a gray 1992 Chevy S10 and a passenger were stopped facing east at the intersection at approximately 7:30 am. As the driver pulled into the intersection, a vehicle traveling south on Highway 173 South was unable to avoid striking the side door of the other truck. The impact caused sufficient damage to delay emergency services workers’ attempts to free the driver and examine him for injuries. Both occupants of the S10 were transported to Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the southbound truck was treated at the scene for minor injuries.     At one point, personnel with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Bandera City Police Department and the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office assisted directing traffic around the crash site. In addition, volunteers with both the Bandera and Pipe Creek Emergency Services helped extricate the injured parties and transport them to emergency care facilities in Kerrville.

Friday rollover blamed on speed, rain & bad curve Published Dec. 20, 2007 Staff Photo by David Arny    Pipe Creek EMTs Jennalee Teich and Gary Davis treated a motorist for minor injuries following a rollover accident on Highway 46 Friday, Dec. 14, just west of Red Bluff Creek. An investigating officer at the scene said the accident was due to excessive speed on the rain-soaked thoroughfare, combined with a curve which has contributed to accidents even during optimum driving conditions.

SH 46 wreck fatal for couple by David Arny BCC Staff Writer Published Nov. 15, 2007    A Bandera couple was killed and two Central Texas women injured in a Saturday, Nov. 10, collision on Highway 46 at Madrona Ranch Road in eastern Bandera County.     According to a public information official with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the impact of the wreck cut one of the vehicles, a 1999 Pontiac Bonneville, in half. Juan Carlos Quintero, 56, was westbound on Highway 46 shortly before noon, when his vehicle drifted onto the road shoulder while he negotiated a curve. A light rain that fell earlier that morning, had made the road slippery.     Apparently, Quintero overcompensated when he attempted to return to his lane and careened into the path of an oncoming 2002 Toyota pickup traveling east towards the Kendall County line. The truck was unable to avoid impacting the sedan in the middle of the passenger side. Neither Quintero nor his unidentified passenger survived.     The female in the front passenger seat was pronounced dead at the scene, while Quintero died at 3:05 pm in the emergency room at University Hospital in San Antonio.     Due to the severity of their car's damages, it was not known whether seat belts could have prevented the pair's fatal injuries.     DPS Trooper Michelle Kosmalski was lead investigator at the scene. A Bandera County EMS technician was overheard saying the driver and passenger in the Toyota, Wesslyn Robinson of San Antonio and Jeannie Gawryszewski of Kileen, probably owed their lives to the fact that they were both wearing their seat belts.     They were transported to Methodist Hospital in San Antonio in good condition with only minor injuries.

Fatal predawn collision Published Nov. 1, 2007 Aftermath of an early morning accident three miles south of Bandera Pass on Highway 173 North Staff Photo by David Arny    A Bandera man was fatally injured in a one-vehicle accident in the early morning hours of Friday, Oct. 26, three miles south of the Bandera-Kerr County line, on Highway 173 North.     Christopher Silva, 22, collided with a bridge abutment while driving southbound in a construction zone after leaving a friend's house near Bandera Pass some time after midnight, according to Department of Public Safety Trooper Damon Derr, who investigated the incident.     "An off-duty Kerrville Police Officer who lives in Bandera happened to be passing by at 3:30 am and noticed what he first thought was an abandoned truck parked on the roadside," Derr said.     "When he observed the green 1995 GMC pickup had crashed against a concrete abutment, he notified emergency services on his cell-phone."     The officer reported that Silva was already deceased by the time he arrived at the scene.     Silva was wearing his seatbelt, however there were reportedly no skid marks behind the truck and the driver's side air bag did not deploy, despite the center-front impact. The force of the collision drove the truck's engine completely into the passenger compartment.

Motorcyclist airlifted to SA after collision by David Arny BCC Staff Writer Published Oct. 4, 2007 Aftermath of the mid-afternoon collision of a motorcycle and pickup truck Sunday, Sept. 30, between Vanderpool and Medina. Photo by William M. Ruiz    Wearing a motorcycle helmet may have saved the life of a San Antonio man when he collided with a pickup truck the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 30, on FM 337.     The accident occurred approximately 10 miles east of Vanderpool when Ronald Barber, 39, was unable to avoid striking a pickup truck attempting to make a U-turn from a no-passing lane.     The driver of the 2005 Chevy Avalanche, Gerald Williamson, 52, also of San Antonio, had reportedly stopped at a scenic spot on the picturesque highway to take some photos. Traveling east towards Medina at a high rate of speed, Barber hit Williamson's left front quarter panel as the driver of the pickup tried to make a 180-degree turn.     State Trooper Michelle Kosmalski of the Texas Department of Public Safety, lead investigator at the scene, said tire marks from Barber's 2005 blue Suzuki RGS6 motorcycle measured 153 feet.     Neither Williamson nor the four other occupants of the pickup were hurt in the incident. Barber's injuries, however, were serious enough to require him to be transported by AirLife helicopter to University Medical Center in San Antonio. As of press time, he was listed in stable condition.

Couple from Sunshine State OK after wreck by David Arny BCC Staff Writer Published Sept. 27, 2007 Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Damon Derr investigated the two-vehicle collision on Highway 173 North near Lower Mason Creek Road. Staff Photo by David Arny    A retired Florida couple's vacation in the Texas Hill Country was cut short when their 2004 Dodge Ram pickup truck collided with a Mitsubishi sport utility vehicle on Highway 173 North at Lower Mason Creek Road recently.     According to a report, the mid-morning crash occurred Friday, Sept. 21, when 19-year-old Pipe Creek resident Brylie Suarez attempted to turn south on Highway 173 from Lower Mason Creek Road. Thomas and Jewell Morse, of Pinetta, Fla., were traveling northbound and were unable to avoid striking the Mitsubishi broadside with the front left bumper of their vehicle.     Suarez was uninjured, possibly due in part to both dashboard airbags deploying upon impact.     Thomas Morse was transported to Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital in Kerrville by Bandera County EMS and treated for minor injuries. He was released later that afternoon.     Suarez was issued a citation for failure to yield right of way.

Going, going, gone! by David Arny BCC Staff Writer Published Sept. 13, 2007 The approach The plunge The results    An emergency call to 9-1-1 late Friday afternoon, Sept. 7, sent officers with the Bandera Police Department, Bandera County Sheriff’s Office deputies, emergency medical personnel and volunteer firefighters scrambling, with sirens blaring, to Bandera City Park.     Two people had initially been reported to be in danger of drowning after one of them kayaked over the concrete spillway and another dove in to rescue him from his capsized vessel.     It was well under two minutes between the initial call and the appearance of first responders. By the time help arrived, however, both of the waterlogged and somewhat exhausted-looking water enthusiasts were sitting on the river bank, surrounded by relatives from a nearby campsite and curious onlookers.     The men were more fortunate than many who have underestimated the treacherous area at the bottom of the spillway.     Dozens of drownings have occurred at the site due to swimmers’ inability to extricate themselves from the strong current. Also contributing to hazardous conditions are an array of broken concrete and twisted steel reinforcement rods beneath the surface.     According to Joe Frazier, city park maintenance supervisor, the kayaker had been “over the falls” several times in the past, with little or no difficulty. “This time, when he got out of his kayak, the water was deeper than he remembered it being,” said Frazier.     In addition to the rolling turbulence, swimmers may not be accustomed to the loss of buoyancy in water permeated with air bubbles, which occurs next to the spillway.     One local woman, lucky enough to survive a near-fatal encounter at the site while in high school, described the sensation as similar to being in a commercial washing machine.     “I remember just going around and around underwater,” she said. “I couldn’t push off from the (river) bottom and I couldn’t float. I thought, ‘OK – this is it!’”     “The area has a bad history,” said Bandera Police Chief Jim Eigner in an interview following the Friday afternoon incident. “We try to keep swimmers and boaters back behind the rope, and it’s posted (with a warning sign). But there’s a fine line between keeping visitors safe and being overbearing with them. We’re just glad things turned out well for those two fellows last week.”

Jim Haynes memorial fund Published Sept. 13, 2007    The late Jim Haynes was known for his kindness and generosity to the people of Bandera County and surrounding areas. To help his family during their time of need and loss, a memorial fund has been established in his name at Wells Fargo Bank. If you would like to contribute, please stop by the bank and make a donation to the Jim Haynes Memorial Account or call 830-796-3014 for more information.

Accident claims life of Medina man Published Sept. 6, 2007    A tragic accident took the life of a long-time Bandera County employee the morning of Friday, August 31, at the county road and bridge department’s maintenance yard in Mansfield Park.     James L Haynes Sr., 62, was transported by Bandera County EMS personnel to the Bandera Downs racetrack following the incident. From there, he was flown by an Air Life helicopter to University Medical Center in San Antonio where he died a short time later.     Funeral services for the Medina resident were held in Kerrville Monday, Sept. 3, at Calvary Temple.

Trio barely escapes raging water by Judith Pannebaker BCC Staff Writer Published Aug. 23, 2007 Photographer Ethan Shields captured a black truck that passed his father's parked vehicle in an attempt to cross the swift waters of Privilege Creek just outside the entrance to Perennial Vacation Club Thursday, Aug. 16. Amazingly, the three occupants of the truck escaped injury by exiting the vehicle further downstream. A digital movie of this event is available, but you must have flash player to view it. Click here to view movie in a new window. You'll need to close the new window to return to the Courier's web site. (The flash player can be downloaded once you click the link.)    An ill-starred attempt to cross an overflowing creek traversing the Bandera River Ranch subdivision nearly ended in tragedy for the driver of a pickup truck and his two passengers on the rain-soaked evening of Thursday, August 16.     An all-day downpour, brought to the county by Tropical Storm Erin, caused local streams, creeks and tributaries to pour over their banks – and Privilege Creek was no exception.     At approximately 6:30 pm that evening, Richard Shields and his son, Ethan, were returning to their condominium at Perennial Vacation Club at the subdivision. The pair, along with other family members, were vacationing in Bandera. They had arrived in the area Saturday, August 13, from Mexico where they had been serving as missionaries with the Banner of Faith Ministeries, Inc., based in San Juan, Texas.     Only an hour before, the Shields had left the condo to purchase groceries. However, returning to their vacation home, they were confronted by the now-raging waters at the Privilege Creek low water crossing. They realized their Chevrolet van wouldn’t make it across. However, the driver of a pickup behind them decided he could.     As described by Ethan Shields, “Just after a driver on the opposite side of the crossing decided not to chance driving across the stream, the pickup behind our van whipped out and started across.” The driver’s fit of ill-placed derring-do came to an abrupt end about 30 seconds later, however.     “He didn’t make it 10 feet across before the truck started floating down the stream,” Ethan Shields recalled. He recorded the entire incident with a digital camera, clicking about three frames per second.     After realizing what had happening, Richard Shields immediately called 9-1-1. In addition, the pair attempted to assist the occupants of the truck, but hazardous conditions precluded an amateur swift water rescue. “The water moved the truck downstream so quickly, there was really nothing we could do,” Ethan Shields said.     Although official details remain sketchy, the trio was apparenly able to get out of truck safely when the creek rounded a bend prior to dumping into the Medina River. At that point, the creekbed widened, causing the water to dissipate over a larger area. The men were able to exit the pickup in the somewhat shallow – and consequently less rapid – water.     According to Emergency Management Coordinator Ralph Dresser, no rescue teams were mobilized during the incident. In fact, Dresser could not confirm the identities of those involved in the potentially fatal event.     Realizing they weren’t going to make it across Privilege Creek that night, the Shields returned to Bandera. Gail Joiner, owner and publisher of the Bandera County Courier, enlisted the aid of Dresser to secure Richard Shield critical medications that he had unwittingly left across the swollen creek earlier.     “We want the community to know that the new owners of the Braun Medicine Chest responded quickly to this emergency situation. In particular, Stacy Moore of the corporate office in Sulphur Springs and local pharmacist Anne Ballard assisted Mr. Shields in obtaining his medicine in a timely manner. It was gratifying to discover they intend to carry on a tradition of community service begun by pharmacist Diane Braun,” Joiner said.     The Shields spent the night at River Oak Inn.     The next morning, before beginning a trip to New Orleans, they visited the swept-away scene again. “The creek had risen another six feet overnight,” Ethan Shields said. “I found the truck and took a picture of it. It was all mangled.”     Later that day, however, the truck was nowhere to be found. Hazarding a guess as to its whereabouts, one local commented, “It’s probably floating down the Medina River about now.”

Double motorcycle wreck Published Aug. 23, 2007 Photo by Clare Barnett    A late-afternoon accident, involving two motorcyclists from San Antonio, took place Tuesday, August 14, 2.5 miles north of Medina on Highway 16. Kevin Garza, 21, and Christopher Contreras, also 21, were transported by Life Flight to University Medical Center in San Antonio following the mishap. A hospital spokesperson said both men were treated for their injuries and released the following day.

Fatal crash claims local man Published Aug. 16, 2007 Staff Photo by David Arny    A one-vehicle accident that occurred shortly after 5 pm Monday, August 13, claimed the life of local 88-year-old resident Curtis Rose. While returning from Kerrville and traveling east on FM 3240, a 1996 Chevy pickup truck driven by Daria Rose, the deceased man’s wife, reportedly drifted partially onto the highway shoulder.     Witnesses at the scene said it appeared that the driver attempted to return the vehicle to the roadway and overcompensated, losing control, swerving left across the westbound lane and colliding with an oak tree located on a property at 6476 FM 3240. Rose was pronounced dead at the scene from head injuries suffered in the collision. Daria Rose was transported by Bandera EMS to Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital where she was treated for minor injuries and released.

SA man drowns in Lake Medina mishap by David Arny BCC Staff Writer Published Aug. 16, 2007     An afternoon outing on Lake Medina turned tragic for the family and friends of Alverto C. Alverado Jr. of San Antonio, Sunday, August 12.     Companions of the 33-years-old man alerted authorities after Alverado failed to resurface after diving from a boat into the lake near the popular spot known as Mormon’s Bluff, or simply “The Cliffs.”     According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden Jeff Carter, Alverado and a group of friends had been camping at Joe’s Place, in Bandera County. At approximately 4 pm, several members of the group, including Alverado, boarded a boat and traveled the short distance to the Medina County side of Lake Medina, where the accident apparently occurred. With the help of a TP&W underwater camera, Alverado’s body was later recovered near the shoreline in approximately 30 feet of water.     Carter, along with Game Warden Rod Chalmers, assisted in locating and recovering the body. Personnel from the Medina County Sheriff’s office, including Chief Deputy Doug Christian, investigated the incident.

One killed & two injured by lightning Lightning claims life of hiker at Lost Maples by David Arny BCC Staff Writer Published July 26, 2007    A San Antonio man hiking with several family members on the rugged back trails of the Lost Maples State Natural Area was killed instantly when lightning struck a tree the group had sought refuge beneath during a heavy thunderstorm.     Deputies with the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office identified the deceased as William Clardy, 50, of San Antonio.     The accident occurred Tuesday, July 24, as the western half of Bandera County was under a severe weather advisory and flash flood warning.     Other hikers in the vicinity summoned emergency personnel immediately after the mishap, according to Bandera County Precinct 4 Constable Don Walters. He reported seeing multiple lightning strikes in the Lost Maples region as he traveled west from Medina to the accident site.     "Once I got over the pass (on FM 337), the rain was coming down so hard, I had to slow down to 45 miles per hour to keep from hydroplaning," he said in an interview.     As Walters reached the remote canyon in the back of the park where the tragedy occurred, he was met by Precinct 4 Commissioner Doug King, Park Ranger Bill Bailey and members of his park staff. Also on the scene were Utopia EMS personnel and a team of volunteer firefighters from Vanderpool.     Two of the individuals injured by the lightning strike were transported by ambulance to Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital in Kerrville, reportedly suffering from minor burns and numbness in their extremities, according to Bailey.     When contacted by phone in Kerrville after the incident, Texas Parks and Wildlife Regional Director Bill Granberry said he hadn't seen the investigation report yet, but called the episode a "very tragic situation."     "I will tell you that I've been working in this region for over five years, and I've never heard of this happening in one of our state parks before," he said.

Heavy rains contribute to crash Published July 26, 2007 Fire fighters and sheriff’s deputies clean up after the July 20 accident. Staff Photo by David Arny John Hegemier and Gail Denkhaus inspect the flooding of the 1st Street bridge in Bandera on Saturday, July 21. BCC Staff Photo    Motorists involved in a two-vehicle collision the afternoon of Friday, July 20, were fortunate to escape serious injuries. During what was described by one of the drivers as a "blinding downpour" on FM 1283 at Red Bluff Creek, a 1999 Honda Accord was hit head-on by a 1996 Ford F250 pickup as the driver of the Honda attempted to turn west onto Red Bluff Ranch Road.     Jose Salazar and two passengers were traveling south on FM 1283 in the Ford when, just after crossing the Red Bluff Creek bridge, they collided with William Smith of Pipe Creek.     Smith, 74, was treated for a minor cut to his right arm on the scene by Bandera County EMS personnel. He later told the Courier that the rain had been coming down so heavily at the time of the accident, he didn't see the approaching white truck.     According to the accident report filed by Deputy Brian Blackburn of the Bandera County Sherriff's Office, Smith was wearing his seat belt and the Honda's air bag deployed on impact, sparing Smith far more serious injuries.     Salazar received citations for driving without a valid driver's liscense and no proof of insurance.

Drivers okay after trucks collide by David Arny BCC Staff Writer Published July 12, 2007 Emergency workers scrambled to prevent a potential fire from breaking out after a two-truck collision occurred at the intersection of Highway 16 South and Polly Peak Road. Staff Photo by David Arny    An early afternoon crash Saturday, July 7, may have badly damaged both light-duty pickup trucks involved, but drivers Louis Thaler of Pipe Creek and Margaret Norman managed to escape serious injury in the accident.     According to Bandera County Deputy Daniel Bowermeister, Norman was driving her blue 1998 Ford Ranger pickup north on Highway 16 towards Bandera as Thaler waited to turn left from Polly Peak Road onto the southbound lane of the highway. Thaler reportedly told investigators he didn't see Norman approaching as he drove his maroon 1997 GMC pickup into the busy intersection.     The passenger side's front quarter-panel on Thaler's vehicle hit the left front corner of Norman's truck, causing both vehicles to come to rest facing north. The impact also made it necessary for Bandera Volunteer Fire Department crew members to force open the trucks' hoods in order to ensure fuel lines had not been ruptured. In addition, firefighters sprayed the roadway with a biodegradable substance to remove leaked motor oil from the site.     Neither Norman nor Thaler required transport to medical facilities following the accident.

Bump, crunch: three cars, seven people by David Arny BCC Staff Published April 26, 2007 A chain reaction set off by a pickup truck rear-ending the passenger car shown on the right resulted in five individuals being injured, including two children from Kerrville. The accident occurred at the corner of Highway 16 South and Rohrbuch Road. Staff Photo by David Arny    An auto accident involving three cars and seven individuals occurred on Highway16 South, just north of Pipe Creek, during the afternoon of Sunday, April 22.     A 1985 Oldsmobile driven by Pipe Creek resident Susan Salmon was hit from behind by a 2007 Chevrolet half-ton pickup while stopped and signaling for a left-hand turn onto Rohrbuch Road. The impact of the collision propelled the Olds into the southbound lane of SH 16. Jaime Pimental, 49, of Kerrville, was unable to avoid broadsiding Salmon's car with his 2004 Ford F150 pickup truck, also occupied by Pimental's wife, Joanne, and three other individuals.     The driver of the Chevrolet pickup, 32-year-old Lakehills resident Luther Foster, was uninjured in the mishap, possibly due in part to his airbag deploying. He was, however, cited for failing to control his speed by the investigating officer, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Glenn Scales.     Salmon was transported by Pipe Creek EMS ambulance to University Medical Center in San Antonio, where she was listed in serious but stable condition later Sunday evening.     Pimental and his 39-year-old passenger Pedro Zuniga were uninjured in the accident. Joanne Pimental, four-year-old Alicia Durling and two-year-old Donovan Azayas were transported to Sid Peterson Hospital in Kerrville with minor injuries.

Three injured in two-car smash-up Tuesday Published March 29, 2007 Staff Photo by David Arny    A Bandera Volunteer firefighter gathers his equipment after extricating a passenger injured in a two-car collision on SH 173 north of Bandera near Happy Hollow Road. The three people injured in the wreck were transported to area hospitals Tuesday, March 27.     Details about the collision from Department of Public Safety investigators were not available as of press time, however, a spokesman for University Hospital in San Antonio told the Courier that two of the female passengers were in stable condition and the male driver of one of the vehicles was in critical condition at that facility.

SH 16 closed for gas leak by David Arny BCC Staff Published Feb. 22, 2007 Workers begin repairs on a 15-foot section of a 3-inch plastic natural gas line ruptured during an excavation job on SH 16 south near the Bandera Ice House. Staff Photo by David Arny    A rock saw trenching machine being used to lay electrical lines for Bandera's new streetlights cut into a 3-inch natural gas pipeline on SH 16 approximately 150 yards south of the SH 173 intersection, resulting in closure of the roadway to all traffic for more than two hours as an Atmos Energy Co. repair crew was dispatched from Fredericksburg.     City, county and state law enforcement officials were on hand to evacuate nearby residents and businesses and redirect traffic. Bandera Ice House, The Clark Building, Radio Shack and the offices of McMullan Insurance Co. were among those businesses deemed close enough to the leak to be evacuated. The Bandera Volunteer Fire Department personnel who were present took regular measurements with electronic "sniffers" to determine the concentration of gas at the site while field supervisors notified Atmos Energy of the potentially explosive situation. The volunteer firemen even went so far as to douse the side of the Bandera Ice House facing the ruptured pipe with water in an attempt to prevent the building from catching fire should the gas ignite and produce a large column of flames.     Randy Hartford, media spokesman for Atmos Energy Co., said 26 commercial customers were without service until repairs were completed at 7 p.m. When asked about the safety record of the utility company, Hartford said that during the three years he has worked at Atmos, he couldn't recall a natural gas line break which resulted in a major explosion, despite the fact that excavation for utility lines is relatively common in high-growth areas such as Bandera County.

No injuries in wreck at Bandera Creek Published Feb. 15, 2007    Fortunately, no injuries resulted from this two-vehicle accident on SH 16 south at the Bandera Creek bridge Feb. 10. Both James Stewart, 73, of San Antonio and Paula Gardner, 40, of Bandera were traveling northbound on SH 16 when Gardner slowed down for a left turn. Stewart's vehicle failed to slow down and struck Gardner's vehicle, spinning across the southbound lane and coming to rest on the shoulder. The impact sent Gardner's vehicle off onto the improved shoulder, then back into the northbound lane, coming to rest on the bridge. Stewart was cited for failure to control speed.

Fiery crash closes SH16 south by David Arny BCC Staff Published Feb. 8, 2007 After extinguishing a stubborn vehicle fire, the result of a head-on collision on SH 16 south Saturday, Feb. 3, Pipe Creek Volunteer Fire Department firefighters watch as AirLife transports the driver of the 2005 Toyota Tacoma to University Medical Center in San Antonio. Bandera County Sheriff's Deputy Roland Hernandez, far left, handled the investigation of the mid-afternoon collision. Staff Photoa by David Arny North and southbound traffic came to a standstill on SH 16 for approximately two hours following the fiery crash. Scores of motorists waited as emergency workers from Pipe Creek and Bandera completed the task of evacuating the three injured individuals and removing the wrecked vehicles from the roadway. EMS technicians from Bandera County assist AirLife personnel in transporting one of the accident victims to University Medical Center. EMS workers from Bandera, Pipe Creek and Lakehills responded to the scene.    A head-on collision involving two late-model pickup trucks resulted in SH 16, south of Pipe Creek at the Red Bluff Creek bridge, being shut down for approximately two hours on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 3, while sheriff's deputies investigated the accident and emergency medical personnel attended to three victims of the smashup. Thick black smoke could be seen miles away from the crash site after spilled fuel from one of the vehicles involved ignited and engulfed it in flames.     Two of the injured were transported to University Medical Center in San Antonio by a pair of LifeFlight helicopters and a third was taken to Methodist Hospital by Bandera EMS via ambulance.     Bandera Sheriff's Deputy Roland Hernandez said the driver of a northbound 1990 Chevy pickup, 25 year-old Pipe Creek resident Kelly Lynam, had apparently made contact with the highway shoulder just before crossing the Red Bluff Creek bridge, then overcompensated when he attempted to return to the road. His vehicle then veered into the southbound lane of SH 16, striking the front left quarter panel of a 2005 Toyota Tacoma extended cab pickup driven by Bradford Hornbuckle, 37, also of Pipe Creek, and his passenger Beau Simmons, 35. The impact flipped the Toyota onto its right side in the middle of the road and the Chevy came to rest with its rear wheels hanging over the bridge's guardrail.     Shortly after the collision, three yet-unidentified good Samaritans ran to the scene from a nearby property and helped pull Lynam to safety before his vehicle burst into flames, according to witnesses.     The accident and resulting fire gave emergency workers a time-consuming job of cleaning up after tow truck drivers cleared the twisted wrecks from the scene. Motorists waited in lines which extended past the horizon in both directions while Pipe Creek Volunteer Fire Department personnel extinguished the stubborn auto fire, the injured motorists were evacuated, and the cleanup was completed. Due to the accident location, special precaution was taken so as not to allow leaked motor fluids, mixed with water used to fight the fire, to leak from the road into Red Bluff Creek.     Hornbuckle and Lynam were treated and released after spending Saturday night at Methodist and University hospitals, respectively. Simmons' condition has been upgraded to stable and remains at University Hospital in San Antonio. As of press time, no charges had been filed in connection with the incident.

Sad accident leads to hard decision by Stephanie Day BCC Staff Published Jan. 25, 2007 German Shepherd Kaiser before he was killed in a vehicle accident Jan. 12. Joe Cortez at the lake with the family dog Kaiser.    Tragedy struck a Lakehills family with brute force on Friday, Jan. 12, when 22-year-old William Cortez took the family's German Shepherd, Kaiser, on a walk. Kaiser was struck and killed by a blue truck with a sign on it.     The truck did not stop.     Anna Cortez, former owner of California Fashions in Lakehills, said that William had Kaiser on a leash. "Why didn't the driver stop?" she asked. "What if it had been William?"     It was about 10:30 a.m. on Friday when the family decided to take their pet on a walk. Anna said she was right behind William when her husband called her back to the house for a phone call. While she was on the phone, she heard William yelling that Kaisar had been hit. The accident occurred at PR 37 and Cherokee Trail.     A friend who was not involved in the incident saw the Cortez family and stopped to see what was wrong. When William told the friend what had happened, he jumped back into his truck and sped away to look for the vehicle that had struck the dog and failed to stop.     The driver of the truck did return. Precinct 2 County Commissioner Bobby Harris showed up with Bandera County Sheriff's Department Deputy Ralph Stricker. Harris told the distraught family that William had let go of the leash and the dog had rushed at the truck and been hit by the front tire.     "Why didn't you stop?" Anna asked. "My friend didn't hit the dog­but he stopped."     Anna did not believe that William had let go of the leash. She said her son had meningitis when he was young and suffered mild brain damage but that he takes direction and holds jobs well.     William said the truck struck the dog while he was holding the leash and that he let go of the leash after the dog was struck because he thought the truck was going to hit him, too.

Motorcyclist in critical condition after collision by David Arny BCC Staff Published Nov. 30, 2006 Photo by Doug White    Joel Estrada, 29, was critically injured the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 25, after his motorcycle collided with a vehicle at the intersection of FM 1283 and SH 16 in Pipe Creek. He was transported to University Medical Center in San Antonio by AirLife where he remains in critical condition.     Witnesses say that Estrada was traveling north on FM 1283 at a high rate of speed. As he approached the stop sign at SH 16, he appeared to go into a skid and then strike the passenger side of a Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by 19-year-old Matthew Martin, who was headed east on SH 16. According to a Bandera County Sheriff's Department report, Estrada was then thrown into the windshield of a third vehicle which was in the westbound lane of SH 16.

Deer causes three-car accident by David Arny BCC Staff Published Nov. 30, 2006 Traffic was delayed Monday, Nov. 20, after a two-car collision just east of Bandera. The two cars collided because of the distraction of a tow truck removing a deer-damaged pickup. Staff Photo by David Arny    A nighttime collision with an eight-point buck set off a chain of events which resulted in two Bandera residents being taken to Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital in Kerrville.     Sonia C. Perez, 31, and several family members were eastbound on SH 16 on the night of Monday, Nov. 20, when a deer darted into the path of her 2001 Ford F-150 pickup. There were no injuries to the occupants of the truck, but the impact caused sufficient damage to the right front tire and bumper for a wrecker to be summoned.     While the tow truck driver prepared to move Perez's vehicle, a green Dodge Durango driven by Tamara Sharp came to a stop behind the tow truck. Moments later, a white Chevy Malibu driven by John Arredondo collided with the Durango, propelling it off the highway and into the field next to it.     Arredondo later told investigators that he had tried to swerve and avoid hitting the sports utility vehicle, but that there wasn't enough time to do so.     Both Arredondo and Sharp were transported by ambulance to Sid Peterson, where they were treated and released. The eight-point buck was dead at the scene.

Main Street accident Published Nov. 30, 2006 Staff Photo by David Arny     On Tuesday, Nov. 21, Patrick Espinosa, 42, of Bandera, was driving his 1984 Camaro northbound on Pecan St. in Bandera when he was struck by a 1996 Chevrolet pickup being driven west on Main St. by Samantha Schubert, 17, also of Bandera.     Espinosa was diagnosed with a mild concussion and released later Tuesday evening. Schubert was unhurt in the incident and there were no citations issued to either driver.     In the photo, Deputy Matt Jacobsen of the Bandera County Sheriff's Department directs traffic at the intersection of Main St. and Pecan St. Tuesday, Nov. 21, in front of the Camaro involved in the two vehicle collision. A local man was transported by ambulance to Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital in Kerrville.

Highway collision leaves two with minor injuries by David Arny BCC Staff Published Nov. 23, 2006    Edward Trevino, 51, of Port Neches, was looking forward to a weekend of hunting at the Jennings Ranch on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 17, and was less than a quarter mile from his turn off SH 173 north of Bandera when the driver of a southbound 1983 Jeep attempted to make a U-turn in front of him.     The ensuing collision caused the Jeep driver, 49 year-old Thomas Rittiman, of Kerrville, to be thrown from his vehicle and land on the grassy shoulder of the highway. Motorist Sara Tondre witnessed the crash and stopped to help. She told the Courier that Rittiman lay motionless for a few moments then stood up, disoriented from the impact. She suggested that he sit back down until EMS arrived.     Trevino suffered mild abrasions to his left hand, but otherwise emerged unscathed from the accident, attributing his good fortune to his seatbelts and airbags.     Because of Rittiman's being ejected from his vehicle, he was taken to University Hospital and Medical Center in San Antonio. At the scene, he appeared to paramedics to only be suffering from a bruised forehead and minor cuts and scrapes.     Trooper Michele Kosmalski said there were no signs of intoxication with either driver. Rittiman was treated for minor injuries and later released from the hospital. He will be charged with making an illegal U-turn and not having his seat belt secured.

Wrecks cause serious injuries over weekend Published May 25, 2006    Clyde Christopher Anderson, 51, of Del Rio was air lifted to a San Antonio hospital on Saturday, May 20 after his motorcycle crossed the center line on FM 337 and crashed into the side of a pickup truck driven by Roger Dale Chancy of Medina.     Sheriff Weldon Tucker said that Anderson was eastbound on 337 on his motorcycle when he hit the westbound pickup truck. He sustained head and face injuries and injuries to both his arms and legs. Driver inattention was cited as a cause for the major accident.     Brady Sides was fishing under the three-mile bridge just outside Medina on Friday, May 19 at approximately 5 p.m. when a pickup truck driven by Johnny Moore, 65, of Medina crashed into the guardrail and came to rest hanging over the bridge. Moore was transported to Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital in Kerrville.

Wreck on Dixie Dude Ranch Road Published May 11, 2006    Sometime during the night of May 3 or 4, this Nissan Xterra was overturned into a ravine on Dixie Dude Ranch Road (FM 1077). The driver Damien Mockus, 31, an employee at Rancho Cortez, told DPS officers that he awoke in the vehicle in the morning, and called the ranch. The car was not discovered until the next day shortly after noon. DPS trooper Kozmalski said he would be charged with failre to report an injury accident and possible other charges.

Five transported after five vehicle wreck Published April 27, 2006 BCC Staff Photo by Valorie Quinn    Bandera County EMS transported five individuals to the hospital following a multi-vehicle collision at the intersection of Hwy. 16 South and Rte. 46 April 15. Other passengers suffered minor injuries and were evaluated at the scene. Two SUVs, a minivan and two motorcycles were involved. State Trooper Michelle Kosmalski said charges would be filed in the case.

One car accident claims one life Published Feb. 16, 2006    This one-vehicle accident on Wharton's Dock Road on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at approximately 2:30 p.m. claimed the life of Sigrid Christina Klenm, 61. The vehicle traveled up an embankment, flew over a fence and landed, ejecting the driver. The accident remains under investigation.

Airlife called for rollover Published Dec. 22, 2005    David Fowler, 26, of LaCoste swerved to miss a deer on SH 173 north and Elm Pass Road on Monday, Dec. 19 and lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle, at right, rolled. Airlife was called to transport Fowler to the hospital.

Fatal accident south of Pipe Creek Published Sept. 8, 2005    Billy Frank Wood, 68, of San Antonio died on Friday, Sept. 2 at approximately 7:15 a.m. in a two-vehicle accident on SH 16 near Freedom Springs.     Department of Public Safety Trooper Darwon Evans said that Wood was northbound on 16 when he failed to negotiate a curve. His vehicle veered off the pavement and struck a guardrail, then veered into southbound traffic striking another vehicle almost head-on. Wood died at the scene. The driver of the southbound vehicle, also from San Antonio, was taken to University Hospital and at last report was in stable condition.     DPS Trooper Evans said that the remainder of the Labor Day Weekend went smoothly with a minimum of accidents and driving while intoxicated incidents.

Two hospitalized in SH 16 crash Published Aug. 11, 2005 Pipe Creek accident Aug. 5 in front of Post Office    Two individuals were injured and transported to University Hospital on Friday, Aug. 5 in a three-vehicle accident at the intersection of SH 16 and FM 1283 in Pipe Creek. Department of Public Safety Trooper Darwon Derr said that a vehicle turning left from FM 1283 failed to yield the right-of-way to a southbound vehicle and was struck by the southbound vehicle. That pushed the first vehicle into another vehicle waiting to turn onto FM 1283 from SH 16.

Accidents over July 4th Published July 7, 2005    Over the Fourth of July, Bandera County had three major accidents and four minor accidents like this one in front of the Bandera City Hall and Fire Station. Fire Chief Max Konz ran to help the driver who was transported to the hospital by Bandera County Emergency Medical Service volunteer EMTs.

Medina resident narrowly escapes flaming vehicle Published June 16, 2005    Richard Haensel, 80, of Boerne was cited with failure to yield right-of-way at a stop sign for this fiery crash that occurred on Monday, June 13 at 11:03 a.m. in Lakehills at the intersection of FM 1283 and Pebble Beach Road. Haensel's Mazda turned out of Pebble Beach Road in front of a Ford Bronco driven by Kasey Crowther, 21, of Medina. The Bronco rolled, came to rest in a ditch and caught on fire. Crowther and passenger Trey Wooten, 25, of Hondo, were able to get out of the Bronco. Crowther refused transport. Haensel was transported to Methodist Hospital and Wooten was taken to University.

Young mother loses life in vehicle accident Published March 10, 2005    An early morning one-vehicle accident on Sunday, March 6 claimed the life of Shelly Marie Baker, 20, and left Cierra Marie Baker, 18, in intensive care at University Hospital.     Department of Public Safety Trooper Darwon Evans said that Cierra Baker was driving a 1997 Ford Taurus on FM 2107, 10.5 miles northwest of Medina when the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve. The car left the roadway and struck trees. The accident occurred sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. A paper delivery driver discovered the vehicle at 6:15 a.m.     Evans said that Shelly Baker was pronounced dead at the scene. Cierra Baker was transported to University Hospital where she remains in intensive care.     The accident is under investigation and an autopsy was ordered on the deceased. Evans said there was no evidence at the scene to indicate that alcohol was involved. He said weather conditions, wet and raining, may have been contributing factors.     Shelly Marie Baker was the mother of a newborn.