The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V69
This Website Is Full. Starting With The December 25,
2000 Newsletter, All Future Editions Will Be Posted In
The Llano Ledger 2, Found By Clicking
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger2.
BANNER ADVERTISING PAYS ONLY FOR WEBSITE
Publisher's Note: To conserve space, the Lawson
Deposition is continued in The Llano Ledger 2 and can
be found by clicking http://maxpages.com/llanoledger2.
In a few weeks, all future editions will be posted on
the second website. This website will continue to be
used for Newsbriefs, Reader Letters, Information And
Services, etc., until completely full. In addition,
all material will remain permanently posted for reader
reference and convenience. T.C. December 11, 2000.
*************December 11, 2000***************
Before continuing review of LMHS employee "expense
reports", the following is an open letter to the Llano
County Sheriff:
Nathan Garrett, Sheriff
Llano County Sheriff's Department
100 West Sandstone St.
Llano, Tx. 78643
Re: Deputy Shane Dollar
December 9, 2000
Dear Sheriff:
Eight years in office and another four on the way,
isn't it time to finally get control of a few
"cowboys" in the Department, sir? ... Or they just
doing the master's bidding?
Sadly, you and your minions know damn well hitchhiking
is lawful in the State of Texas. Wake up. The Fourth
Amendment clearly requires officers have probable
cause to stop a citizen on a public road, detain, and
demand identification.
Sadly, Deputy Shane Dollar mistakenly seems to think
an unfamiliar face observed hitchhiking is sufficient
probable cause to unconstitutionally harass an
innocent citizen. Better educate the "Boys", Sheriff.
Now. After all, it's nearly 2001, not 1950. -- As you
may already know, the incident occurred Saturday
afternoon, December 9, in Kingsland.
When this stellar officer was asked for a business
card and assuredly advised he'd be featured in
Monday's Newsletter, he indeed got a little more than
bargained for. More importantly and to the point, how
many other innocent citizens have had to put up with
this crap, Nathan? Ever bother to ask your officers?
Even care? -- Or they just following the example set
by you as a Deputy and now as Sheriff? The
Constitution? What the hell's that, right, sir?
When pointedly confronted, Mr. Dollar disingenuously
and lamely claimed he was only going to offer a ride
and feared for his safety. Really? Assuredly, Sheriff,
the officer's explanation was phony and rang hollow.
Had it not, this open letter would never have been
written. ... The safety of any officer is of great
importance and concern to this writer. In fact,
another incident last year involving a Deputy just
outside Llano was never reported on the website or to
you personally because the officer's explanation was
indeed legitimate and credible. The substance of Mr.
Dollar's statements and nervous demeanor after being
confronted, however, belied his assertions. A member
of the Department only six months, apparently, he has
a lot to learn.
Worse yet, the Deputy disingenuously claimed not to
have known this writer prior to the incident, --
despite having passed by numerous times for months
without ever offering a ride. One way or the other,
Nathan, this nonsense has to end. Should it not, a
"Rogues' Gallery" for errant officers will be
established on The Llano Ledger website.
With credit reports, criminal background, employment
history, and other highly personal information easily
available at little to no expense on the Internet, an
extensive picture of abusive officers can be drawn for
edification of the public. After all, Llano County
citizens are indeed entitled to know the truth about a
few scoundrels commissioned "To Protect and Serve", --
themselves. Hardball? You bet. Think I'm joking? Think
again.
Innocent citizens indeed have the right to travel
unimpeded and unharassed by officers lacking probable
cause. As asserted for nearly two years on this
website, however, most of your Deputies are in fact
honorable and do good work. Sadly, it takes but a
handful of corrupt, inept, abusive officers to trample
rights with a boot-heel on the throat of liberty.
Again, Sheriff, time to wake up. Evisceration of
Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment guaranties is
unacceptable in a constitutional republic. -- Or, more
pointedly, doesn't that mean anything to you and the
"Boys"? ... Despite oaths of office demanding no less?
... Conveniently forget? This isn't rocket science,
nor Nazi Germany. Not yet. Adolph and Benito, however,
would have been proud. After all, we're well on our
way, aren't we, sir?
Regards,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
************************************************
A copy of this edition will be mailed to the Sheriff.
Any response will be posted in its entirety without
editing.
Not surprisingly, orderliness of LMHS records leaves
much to be desired. Incredibly, the employee "expense
reports" are filed alphabetically, -- instead of by
fiscal quarter. ... Go figure. Consequently, the
examination of vouchers to date extends back only
approximately six months.
An additional $13,571.71, however, was found in the
most recent records inspection, -- lasting only an
hour courtesy of Ernie Parisi fiat. The grand total so
far is $28,742. ... At a time, when the Hospital is in
dire financial distress.
An additional $1,050.00 was found in "Special Needs"
expenses. Readers will recall these are grants given
to Hospital employees for hardship. ... Again, at a
time when the Hospital has serious financial problems
of its own.
A seminar in Dallas cost $105. Outrageously, $98 was
spent on a float for Aqua Boom. Many vouchers for food
at far more expensive restaurants than McDonalds were
found. ... Wouldn't want anyone to "suffer", would we?
Vouchers totalling $1,056.25 dating back to June 30
were found for LMHS Administrator/CEO Ernie Parisi.
Interesting, isn't it? Again, at a time when the
Hospital is hurting.
Community Relations Director Mary Rhodes ran up
$1,052.98 in expenses dating back to June 7. ...
Wouldn't think the Hospital was struggling, would you?
After all, where are the cutbacks for management?
Couldn't have that, could we? Chief Financial Officer
Mindy Smith racked up at least $693.57 in expenses
dating back to June 30. Where's the belt-tightening,
Ernie? Mindy? Mary? ... Reserved only for the
"peasants"?
Despite egregious waste and worse, the Llano Memorial
Healthcare System Foundation is arrogantly and
ironically sponsoring a fundraiser for the Hospital,
-- "Light Up the Tree of Life for Llano Memorial
Hospital". Truly fascinating, isn't it? -- Hell, if it
weren't so damned tragic, the mismanagement and waste
would be laughable. While the Hospital is looted by
the greedy, the Foundation is attempting to jerk
additional funds from citizens frightened at the
prospect of losing a desperately needed facility.
Pitiful. G--damned pitiful.
Dear readers, it is time to demand an independent
audit. While federal cutbacks have indeed greatly
contributed to the current crisis, the problem runs
much deeper. There have been egregious mismanagement,
waste, and outrageous financial irregularities.
Partial access to cellphone records for the current
calendar year was provided. The figure stands at
$3,704.29. The inspection of these records is
incomplete, however. These expenses are NOT part of
the employee "expense reports". Time to wake up,
friends. We, the taxpayers, own LMHS. We're being
looted.
As strongly asserted in Special Edition V65, the clock
is indeed ticking... The visitor count stands in
excess of 44,800, -- another excellent week and true
testament to the shameless willingness of the
readership to "steal" this writer's labor. Certainly,
you ought to be proud of yourselves. Nothing quite
like "character", is there? Readers are advised this
writer receives no renumeration from the banner and
pop-up advertising. They only pay for the website
itself. There is no personal compensation, nor are
there desperately needed funds for investigative
expenses. Non-profit and outrageously unfunded by the
readership it serves due to greed, gut-wrenching fear,
and the continuing relentless intimidation of corrupt
and abusive Llano County officials, this publication
remains as always beholden to NO ONE.
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com
Page Updated Tue Oct 9, 2001 12:50pm EDT