The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V76
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Publisher's Note: Posting of the January 29, 2001
Newsletter has begun early. Be sure to read the
current edition, January 22, 2001 on Newsletter Text
V75. T.C. January 24, 2001.
************January 29, 2001*************
The following e-mail was sent to the Attorney General,
January 24:
John Cornyn
Attorney General
State of Texas
Austin, Tx.
Re: Open Records Stonewalling
January 24, 2001
Dear Mr. Cornyn:
On May 25, 2000 an Open Records Request seeking access
to Llano Independent School District (LISD) records
was filed with Superintendent Jack Patton. The
documents sought involved outrageous financial
irregularities costing taxpayers at the very least
thousands.
Patton stonewalled the Request, unethically attempting
to charge for copies and "research" never requested.
Despite this demonstrable fact, the Open Records
Division refused to take action, throwing the
complaint into the purview of the General Services
Commission.
Numerous hardcopy documents and e-mails were exchanged
with Open Records Administrator Hadassah Schloss in
regard to this matter and other matters unrelated.
Despite months of effort by this publication and due
to outrageous footdragging by both the Open Records
Division and General Services Commission, the
Superintendent of Schools has successfully
circumvented the Texas Public Information Act.
The apparently corrupt and abusive influence of
District Attorney Sam Oatman is clearly evident in the
intransigence and refusal of both the Open Records
Division and General Services Commission to take
action and force disclosure of public documents as
required by Ch.552, Gov't Code, Public Information.
The District Attorney, himself, in an unrelated
matter, unethically attempted to charge for postage
and copies never requested in an earlier Open Records
Request of March 12, 2000. That Request as well only
sought "access", not "copies" of public documents in
his possession. Worse yet, the Request was only
partially honored. Access to vouchers was never
provided.
From the substance of recent correspondence from Ms.
Schloss, Open Records Administrator, as well as Jim
Muse, Executive Director, the General Services
Commission intends to take no further action against
Patton. -- Despite recent correspondence they know to
be false. Mr. Muse's explanation is contained in his
letter of January 18, 2001 (attached).
LISD Superintendent Jack Patton's letter of October
27, 2000, containing false statements and finally
received November 29 from the General Services
Commission, is a remarkably well-written work of
fiction, cleverly designed to distort reality and
obfuscate the truth.
The Superintendent falsely claimed: "We have not
provided you copies of Mr. Chorney's responses because
we have not received any from him." Sadly Mr. Patton
is a liar. A scathing letter dated June 1, 2000 was
indeed sent in response to his correspondence of May
30, 2000 and April 28, 2000. In those two letters, he
brazenly and unethically attempted to charge for
copies and research never requested. The General
Services Commission is in possession of all this
correspondence. Should they have misplaced it,
additional copies will be furnished.
Patton further falsely claimed: "Our School District
has provided many public documents to Mr. Chorney
through the years." Not only is this statement untrue,
it is nonsense. This publication has only been in
existence one year, nine months, and three weeks. He
further ludicrously claims: "We have never denied him
"access" to records." If true, why hasn't he honored
the Open Records Request dated May 25, 2000, currently
the issue in dispute?
His next assertion is not only nonsense, but a
bold-faced lie: "In fact, Mr. Chorney never came by to
inspect the documents that he requested to see."
Bluntly, Patton is not only disingenuous, but a liar.
"Access" was NEVER granted. The May 25, 2000 Open
Records Request has NEVER been honored by the
Superintendent.
Regarding the same precise issue, Patton again falsely
claims: "He has failed to respond to our estimates or
review the documents he requested access to see." Once
again and clearly, the Superintendent is a liar.
Sadly, his statement is outrageously untrue, -- and he
knows it. Documentation already furnished to the
office of the Open Records Administrator proves his
statement to be false. Yet, the General Services
Commission has refused to take action for the reasons
stated in Mr. Muse's letter of January 18, 2001
(attached).
Mr. Patton clearly espouses the clever philosophy: "If
you can't dazzle "em with brilliance, baffle 'em with
BS." Pitifully, this inept and bumbling bureaucrat has
egregiously failed on both counts. The truth is still
the truth. No amount of distortion changes it.
Despite numerous unanswered e-mails to your office,
the "Open" Records Division has continued its pattern
of stonewalling on this and other matters brought to
its attention. When will your personal assistants
finally wake up? ... Or are they as corrupt as those
in the "Open" Records Division?
Unless there is an ongoing criminal investigation of
Llano County officials unknown to this writer and the
public, the lack of interest shown by you, your
personal office staff, and the "Open" Records Division
is inexcusable. Sadly, the pattern of withholding
public information by Llano County officials is
demonstrable. ... Not only in this, but other matters
as well.
Outrageous financial irregularities lie at the heart
of the stonewalled Open Records Request of May 25,
2000. Patton's egregious obfuscation is apparently a
desperate attempt to protect his cronies and other
officials from exposure.
The Texas Public Information Act means nothing if the
Open Records Division, General Services Commission, as
well as your personal office staff are unwilling or
unable to enforce it. Sadly, our apparently corrupt
and abusive County Attorney and District Attorney have
no interest and protect their own. Worse yet,
taxpayers are being looted to fund two state agencies
impotent in the face of inept bureaucrats outrageously
stonewalling the release of public information.
Sincerely,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
attachment
cc: Llano Ledger website
cc by e-mail: Jim Muse, Executive Director, General
Services Commission; Hadassah Schloss, Open Records
Administrator, General Services Commission; State Sen.
Troy Fraser; Katherine Minter Cary, Interim Division
Chief, Open Records Division; June B. Harden,
Assistant Attorney General, Open Records Division;
David Mendoza, Legal Assistant, Open Records Division;
David Short, Investigator, Open Records Division; Jack
Patton, Superintendent, LISD.
**********************
General Services Commission
P.O. Box 13047
Austin, Tx. 78711-3047
January 18, 2001
Mr. Tim Chorney
Publisher
The Llano Ledger
Rt.2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, TX 78609
RE: OVERCHARGES COMPLAINT-LLANO ISD
Dear Mr. Chorney:
Thank you for your correspondence of January 4, 2001.
I have reviewed the facts and the law pertinent to
this case. The General Services Commission
investigates complaints and determines whether or not
overcharges have occurred. Ms. Schloss communicated
with the District and you, and explained to the
District when charges are applicable to inspection
and/or copying of records. The District stated that
you were offered the opportunity to inspect the
records rather than receive copies. You refuted their
assertion. The Commission has done what the law allows
and can do no more. If you believe that the District
is withholding public information, you must direct
your complaint to the Office of the Attorney General,
the agency that handles those complaints.
Sincerely,
Jim Muse
Executive Director
cc: Hadassah Schloss, Open Records Administrator
**********************
As asserted in an earlier edition, JP2 Lanny "The Cop"
Stephenson will retire at the end of January. County
"Judge" J.P. Dodgen and his cronies on the
Commissioners' Court are considering appointing Llano
County Deputy Duane Nobles as a replacement.
Long-term readers will recall Nobles has been
repeatedly skewered for his performance as a police
officer. Sadly, Barney Fife looks good in comparison.
As also reported earlier, a 42-year-old Buchanan Dam
woman was allegedly beaten by a Llano County Deputy
while her hands were cuffed behind her back. The
alleged assault occurred at her residence.
The offending officer had NO warrant, but had been
sent by "Her Highness", the "Queen", -- JP2 Lanny
Stephenson. Seems the victim had "offended" this
pathetically sad excuse for a "jurist" earlier in the
day of the assault, complaining of ongoing relentless
harassment by Llano County Deputies. Worse yet, she
had the audacity to politely ask the "judge" to call
off the dogs. Can't have that, now, can we?
Digressing for a moment, readers should clearly
understand there is NO First Amendment in Llano
County. No matter the venue. Citizens are indeed
"free" to do as they're told, -- and of course pay
their taxes. ... Wouldn't want these corrupt and
abusive leeches securely attached to the government
teat to go without, would we? Interestingly, dissent
is not easily suffered by our egregiously fascist
officials.
Readers are reminded this writer was ejected last year
from Llano County Library System computers for
publishing _The Llano Ledger. The policy change
leading to the ejection was at the behest of County
"Judge" J.P. Dodgen and his apparently equally corrupt
and abusive cronies on the Commissioners' Court. -- In
violation of the First Amendment.
The policy change was re-written a second time by our
apparently equally corrupt and abusive County Attorney
Cheryll Mabray. The first time around, however, this
sad excuse for a lawyer was unsuccessful. ... Must
have really angered Ole' J.P. and the "Boys", though.
Right, Cheryll? Can't have that, now, can we, madam?
Most pointedly, however, the County Attorney was
blissfully unconcerned Kingsland Head Librarian Pam
Downing had unethically and apparently illegally
violated this patron's right to privacy by providing
the aforementioned County officials with protected
information. Then again, our "prosecutors" take care
of their own, don't they? Right, Cheryll? Sam?
Whatever the hell you do, dear friends, NEVER confuse
these egregious dolts with the law, -- The ends indeed
justify the means in Llano County, right, Counselors?
Sadly, your oaths of office mean nothing. Then again,
this is Llano County...
Returning to the cowardly beating of the cuffed
Buchanan Dam woman, this writer had not heretofore
revealed the names of either the Llano County Deputy
or the victim. The woman was approached Sunday,
however, and asked once again for permission to
release her identity. She declined, fearing
retribution.
Since the Deputy, however, is actively seeking the
appointment as Justice of the Peace, it is critical to
public safety and the best interests of justice his
identity be known. Llano County Deputy Duane Nobles is
unfit for office as Justice of the Peace and should
not be considered for the appointment. Bluntly, Mr.
Nobles does not have the temperment, nor is he
qualified.
Worse yet, the Second Precinct has a notorious
reputation for corruption and abuse of power. It is
without doubt the cash cow for the County. -- A Golden
Goose our corrupt and abusive officials refuse to
relinquish. Appointment of Nobles would certainly
confirm there is NO independent, unbiased, objective,
impartial administration of justice within the Second
Precinct. -- Precisely why JP2 receives the most
"business" from the Llano County Sheriff's Department.
Justice? What the hell's that? ... "It's the money,
stupid." As repeatedly and strongly asserted for
nearly two years in this publication, there is a
crying, desperate need for an independent criminal
investigation of Llano County officials.
These very same officials are now considering
establishing new tax districts to support a failing
EMS system. -- Despite the horrendous waste and
corruption within LMHS as detailed repeatedly in this
publication. Readers are reminded EMS paramedics are
reimbursed by LMHS for their re-certification fees as
well as all meals when a patient is "transferred"
outside this area. At the very least, thousands of
dollars have been squandered on these bloodsucking
leeches. They eat at the best restaurants, courtesy of
taxpayers. While taxpayers are not yet directly looted
via a tax district, they are footing the bill through
outrageously inflated healthcare costs. Remember, LMHS
is indeed owned by the taxpayers.
The review of LMHS records will continue shortly with
the early posting of next week's edition, February 5,
2001. As strongly asserted in Special Edition V65, the
clock is indeed ticking... The combined visitor count
of The Llano Ledger and Llano Ledger 2 websites stands
in excess of 64,900, -- 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 reminded 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 Thu Jun 14, 2001 5:43pm EDT