The Front Page
Football Friday
Football Friday and no Mountaineers will play... but where to go?
Maybe Coleman to watch Buzzard's Bluecats take on the Early Longhorns...
Maybe Panther Creek to watch the Panthers and Tigers from Blanket in a cat fight...
Ethan Mendoza, age 8 and a student at Santa Anna Elementary and son of Sandi Watson of Santa Anna, has come home from a long stay at Cook Children's Medical Center in Ft. Worth due to a diagnosis of Encephalitis. He was at Cook's since early June for physical therapy and rehabilitation and arrived in Santa Anna October 19th to a huge welcome home.
Ethan is doing well and progressing, but still unable to speak or eat. Sandi, Ethan and Logan are planning to attend the "Down at the Pumpkin Patch" on Saturday and Ethan is proof that miracles do happen so who knows maybe we will even see the "Great Pumpkin"... See below for details about the benefit.
Please remember Ethan and his family as he recovers.
Down at the Pumpkin Patch to benefit Ethan Mendoza
Submitted by Stephanie Dane
The First Baptist Church Santa Anna Girls in Action (GA's) group will be hosting a community wide fall festival entitled "Down at the Pumpkin Patch" on Saturday, October 28, 2006 from 5pm-8pm in the First Baptist Church CLC/gym. All proceeds of the festival will be to benefit Ethan Mendoza and his family. Ethan is an 8 year old student of Santa Anna, Texas which contracted encephalitis in early June and has been hospitalized in Cook Children’s Medical Center. He is scheduled to be released in mid October and will require continuing medical attention which can be very expensive.
The tickets for the games are only .25 cents a piece with each game ranging from one to four tickets to play. Nothing will cost more than a dollar to play. We will also have arm bracelets available for $10.00 per person for unlimited play without keeping up with tickets. A concession stand will have great food to feed your whole family.
Activities will include games, a hay ride, FREE door prizes, a live auction and fun for the whole family. The Santa Anna Volunteer Fire Department will be showing off their new quick response truck and answering questions you may have. SAVFD was able to purchase the truck in 2005 with the help of the community and are looking forward to allowing the community an opportunity to see their funds at work first hand.
We still have a few booths open and if any individual or organization would like to help support Ethan and his family, we would love to have your help. The First Baptist Church is proving all prizes and whatever you need to run your booth. Please call Stephanie Dane at 325-280-1729 or Leann Donham at 325-642-0062 with any questions or to volunteer.
There will be a pumpkin carving contest which is FREE to enter. If you would like to enter your jack-o-lantern, you can drop it off at the CLC no later than 6:00pm during the festival. The prizes will be awarded at 7:30pm.
Remember, all proceeds will benefit Ethan Mendoza and his family so we hope to see everyone come out and have some fun while we support a local family! No costumes please.
ATTORNEY GENERAL ABBOTT SUES MAVERICK COUNTY MAN FOR UNAUTHORIZED LEGAL SERVICES BUSINESS
Les Haynes allegedly provided unauthorized legal advice, document preparation services
|
| |
| EAGLE PASS – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced a lawsuit against a Maverick County man for allegedly defrauding consumers by providing legal services and document preparation services without being licensed as an attorney. The Attorney General’s lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction against Les Haynes, who has allegedly operated his unauthorized legal services business in Eagle Pass for at least five years. “Families in
need of legal guidance should be able to rely on competent professionals who are qualified and licensed to practice law,” said Attorney General Abbott. “I will not tolerate scam artists that attempt to take advantage of Texas consumers. My office will vigorously pursue anyone who ignores requirements set out under Texas law.” Attorney General Abbott’s lawsuit against Haynes alleges that he charged consumers to prepare documents and provide legal advice, including determining their eligibility for work visas or permanent residency, despite not being licensed as an attorney. A large sign in front of Haynes’s business as well as advertisements in local phone books helped promote the services he offered and deceived consumers into believing that he was qualified to handle such matters. One couple complained that after hiring Haynes to prepare several legal documents and paying him $100 in advance, they allegedly received only partially completed forms that contained numerous
errors. When the couple informed Haynes that they would no longer use his services, Haynes allegedly trapped them in his office and threatened to destroy their original documents unless they paid him an additional $400. The complaint alleges that Haynes then accompanied them to their bank where they withdrew the money and paid him the additional fees, but he never completed the paperwork as promised. Haynes is neither licensed as an attorney nor accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) as able to charge fees to advise and represent clients in immigration matters. His alleged activities violate several provisions of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and could result in fines of up to $20,000 per violation. Consumers seeking licensed attorneys should contact the Texas State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Services hotline at (800) 252-9690. Since assuming office, Attorney General Abbott has become a national leader in halting
businesses that prey upon unsuspecting consumers. He has shut down almost 40 businesses that are not authorized to provide legal advice or document preparation services. For additional information or to file a complaint against a suspected unauthorized legal services operation, consumers can contact the Office of the Attorney General at (800) 252-8011 or visit the Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us. Assistance is available in English and Spanish. |
A Little Rain and Less News
It rained on me all the way home from work in Goldthwaite Tuesday night. I say night because I had to work late and it was nearly dark when I got home with all the clouds.
I had four tenths and a moth in my Coleman County Telephone Coop gauge. It think I am going to have to put a screen on the top of it to keep those thirsty moths out of it. I wonder how much they drink before they drown...
My Santa Anna National Bank gauge had six tenths.
Tex Wright reports, "... we received 4/10 inch of rainfall on Tuesday...another 1/10 inch of rain Wednesday morning"
Send your rain report or any news item to news@santaannanews.com.
ATTORNEY GENERAL ABBOTT’S INVESTIGATORS ARREST PHARMACY OWNER INDICTED FOR MEDICAID FRAUD
Erasmo Cantu arrested in Brownsville; over $5 million in theft alleged
|
| |
| BROWNSVILLE - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced the arrest of a Cameron County pharmacy owner who was indicted by a grand jury on Oct. 18 for felony offenses involving more than $5 million in alleged fraudulent Medicaid reimbursements for excessive prescription refills. Erasmo A. Cantu, 53, owner of Westside Cantu Pharmacy on Los Ebanos Boulevard in Brownsville, has been charged with two counts of first-degree felony theft and two counts of first-degree insurance fraud. The charges stem from what appear to be excessive fraudulent claims paid by the Medicaid program for thousands of fraudulent prescriptions for medications, infant supplements and even vitamins. “Business owners who realize huge profits from committing felonies against the Medicaid program are stealing money from hard working taxpayers,” said Attorney General Greg Abbott. “I appreciate the working cooperation we have with Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos to bring criminals to justice.” Officers from the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit served an arrest warrant on Cantu at his Brownsville residence on Oct. 20, while search warrants for information were simultaneously executed on his business and residence. The grand jury indictment alleges Cantu filled invalid prescriptions for various medications from 2003-2005 on behalf of Medicaid-eligible patients, then
billed Medicaid for reimbursements totaling almost $7.8 million, of which he actually received fraudulent reimbursements of over $5 million. Cantu allegedly accomplished this scheme by continuing to refill prescriptions beyond the five-refill maximum within a six-month period. After that limit is reached, patients must consult with their physicians to renew the prescriptions, but Cantu encouraged Medicaid patients to ignore that requirement. Cameron County Assistant District Attorney Michael Kiesel will prosecute this case. To obtain more information about the Attorney General’s efforts to fight Medicaid fraud, access the agency’s Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us. |
"Am I Losing My Mind?"
The Good Neighbor Extension Education Club is hosting a special program for the public this Tuesday, October 24, at 6:30 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. The public is invited to hear Andrew Crocker, Gerontology Specialist from Texas Cooperative Extension, speaking on memory. This lesson, called "Am I Losing My Mind?", is part of a series called Master of Memory, written by Crocker. This lesson and series delve into the different types of intelligence and memory, and explains reasons why we may not remember everything we ever learned.
We are honored to have Andrew Crocker to come and give us this informative and entertaining look at memory. Please join us at 6:30 Tuesday evening, right after the 50th anniversary reception for the Good Neighbor Club, for this educational experience.
This program is open to the public and there is no charge to attend. If you have any questions, you may contact Debbie Hailey, CEA-FCS at the Coleman County Extension Office.
Vote Billy McCrary Coleman County Commissioner Pct. 2
Born and raised in Coleman County, he has been County Commissioner for over 15 years. He is experienced, dependable, conservative, and honest. He works well within a budget. During his terms, he has upgraded the equipment and facilities of his Precinct. He works well with the people to help serve the needs of the County. So please mark your ballot, Billy McCrary for Coleman County Commissioner Pct. 2 on November 7th. Your vote and support is appreciated.
Pol. ad. pd. for by Billy McCrary, Santa Anna, TX
 |
Mountaineer Football |
 |
The Mountaineers traveled to Blanket Friday night to defeat the Tigers in the second game of Division I District 13 play to make the Mountaineers 2-0 and the Tigers 0-1 in District.
The Mountaineers started off a little slow but overcame giving the Tigers a head start. The Mountaineers were picked to win by 20 but they showed they mean business and won by a score of 59-14 with 8:19 left in the fourth quarter. I had thought the game would be even closer since they beat the Tigers in Bi-District last year but I was glad to see the Mountaineers play their best. Way to go Mountaineers!
The Mountaineers will get a break this week and take on the Panther Creek Panthers in Santa Anna on Friday, November third in Santa Anna.
See the Sports Page for photo album of the game.
Fausto Maldonado makes one of the most amazing catches I have ever seen much less seen from this close!
Goal Line spread Deeee Fense holds out the Tigers
Ben McIver off to the races for six points
Santa Anna Yearbook Staff Selling Poinsettias
The Santa Anna Yearbook Staff will be selling poinsettias again this year starting around the middle of October. They will be the same price as last year ($12.50) with foiled covers and a bow. This money is used to help fund our yearbook and purchase photography equipment when needed. Yearbook staff members will be coming around to check and see if you would like to order or you may send an e-mail to becky.martin@netxv to order. They appreciate your support in the activities that they do.
Coleman 4H Club to Sell Poinsettias
The Coleman 4H club will be selling poinsettias from now through October 10th. The cost will be $10.00 per plant. The colors that will be available are red, pink or white. The profits that are made will be used to purchase toys for Coleman’s Citywide Toy Drive. What a beautiful way to decorate for Christmas!
You may purchase poinsettias from any Coleman 4Her or call the Coleman County Agriculture Extension office at 625-4519. The plants will be delivered to the Bill Franklin Center (at the rodeo grounds) on December 2nd. You may pick them up there or make arrangements with the 4Her you bought them from to deliver them. Payment is due when the plants are picked up.
Want your own dot com?
This is a great time to get it whether you just want it for an e-mail address of your own, like james@yourlastname.com, or for putting some family pictures on the web, or getting your business on the web
1 and 1 is by far your best bet!
Any questions just send me an e-mail and I will be happy to help you get started, or just click the 1 and 1 ad on the left, or any of the links in this article.
