Author Archives: Mary Jane Farmer

About Mary Jane Farmer

In the music production business, including event production, booking, photography, reporting, volunteering, and other such essentials, since 1974.

Local Man Indicted on Theft Charges

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By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town — A Grand Jury indictment is not proof of guilt. Guilt of innocence will be determined in court.

In late January, the Grayson County Grand Jury indicted 37-year-old Jesse J Paskiewicz on charges of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and Theft of Property valued between $2,500-30,000.
Paskiewicz, of Van Alstyne, is formally accused of taking a vehicle in Whitewright on Oct. 28, 2022.
Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Martin Hall reported that the owner(s) saw someone driving off from their residence in the 17,000 block of U.S. Highway 69 in Whitewright. The owner(s) attempted to follow it and discovered it had been abandoned on a back road and the suspect had fled to a waiting passenger car.
During the Sheriff’s Office’ investigation into this incident, they identified Paskiewicz as being a participant in the theft. They issued a warrant in November and took the suspect into custody on December 12. Jail records show that Paskiewicz remains in the Grayson County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 surety bond.

Local Woman Jailed on Assault Charge

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Story by Mary Jane Farmer for The Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town — Names of suspects are not included until/unless the Grayson County Grand Jury indicts him/her/them.

A Van Alstyne woman went to jail Friday, February 3, on a charge of assault causing bodily injury-family violence.

Van Alstyne Police Lt. Steven Hayslip said that the woman is accused of having assaulted the victim inside a residence in the 100 block of Wilson. The victim called for help after the battery ended, asking for both police and ambulance. The victim and the suspect were the only two inside the residence at the time, Hayslip added.

The assault was made by hand and not a weapon, but induced such injuries that the victim went to a local hospital by ambulance.

Police were called to the home because of a disturbance. The lead officer completed his investigation and determined the suspect was intoxicated and should be jailed on the acbi-fv charge. No charges of intoxication were filed, because the suspect was inside a resident, Hayslip explaianed.

Police escorted her to Grayson County Jail. There, a magistrate set bail at $4,000, payable by surety bond with conditions attached. She paid the bail, through the allowed surety bond, the next day for her release.

Stop Signs Soon Will Be the Rule on Van Alstyne Frontage Roads

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By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News/Scene In Town

A definitive change in the U.S. Highway 75 services roads flow of traffic will be set in place this coming Tuesday (weather permitting), February 7.

 

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials said that the yield signs at entrance and exit ramps along the US 75 frontage roads in the Van Alstyne area will be replaced with stop signs. Van Alstyne Mayor Jim Atchison said that this is TxDOT’s initial response for assistance in making the frontage roads safer for drivers.

At the December 10 City Council meeting, one item on its agenda was a public hearing regarding “changing the flow of traffic on US Highway 75 from two-way travel to one-way travel within the city limits.” Council members said that the individual comments, both for and against the proposed change, were enthusiastic, and that the Council is restricted by law from responding to comments made by the public during public hearings.

No decisions were made at that meeting. City officials have talked since with TxDOT.

As Atchison said, TxDOT has responded with this first change. He said, also, that the Council will hold a workshop on that same Tuesday, February 7, to look at the possibility/probability of any other changes. The Council is currently meeting at the Grayson College campus on West Van Alstyne Parkway and that agenda will soon be posted on the City’s Website, cityofvanalstyne.us

TxDOT crews will replace existing yield signs with stop signs on both sides of US 75 at each entrance ramp and exit ramp between Farmington/Blythe Road and County Line Road/Panther Parkway. Message boards will be placed at high-volume traffic ramps the week of Feb. 1 to alert travelers of this upcoming change, TxDOT.

TxDOT asks motorists traveling in this area to pay special attention to all barricades, traffic
controls, and signs; and to reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.

TxDOT Issues Travel Alert

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Vehicles are seen here with headlights and taillights on, another safety precaution.

Press release from Texas Department of Transportation, with additional information from Mary Jane Farmer

Paris — Many parts of the state, including Northeast Texas, are under a National Weather Service Storm waring through 6 a.m., Wednesday, February 1. Travel may become difficult and hazardous due to freezing rain, despite TxDOT’s road treatments, said TxDOT public information’s Tim McAlavy.

“Do not travel unless necessary,” McAlavy said, adding, “If you must travel, slow down and use extreme caution especially on bridges and overpasses.” He advised drivers to have an extra flashlight, food, and water in their vehicles in case of emergency.

Van Alstyne Fire Chief Ryan Dockery said about 5 p.m., that they have had multiple calls for help by that time of the day. He said they were for wrecks caused by the ice on the road. There were no major injuries, though, he added.

McAlavy said, “Our crews treated roads ahead of this storm and are on 24/7 weather response through this event. If you see them treating and checking roads, please slow down and give them room to work. Drive safe, drive friendly

Dockery added that, “If you don’t have to get out on the road, please don’t drive.” He said that, even if the best of drivers happened to get into a skid from the ice, that driver could swing over and hit another vehicle, accentuating the problem for rescuers. And, he said, to add something to the inside of your vehicle for traction under your wheels to help rescuers get your car unstuck, and that could be chains, tow sacks, or such.

McAlavy added that TxDOT’s priorities for roadways is, firstly, to maintain the main corridors, such as U.S. Hwy 75 locally, and then on the state highways, such as SH 5 (Waco Street ). He emphasized they concentrate on the higher-traveled roadways.

McAlavy emphasized that everyone should check their local weather forecasts often, and monitor road conditions Online at (lick here)  DriveTexas.org

 

Van Alstyne Man Jailed on Charges of Sexual Assault of a Child

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A charge is an allegation of a crime, but not proof of guilt.

Walter Donald Wagner

Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

On March 11, 2022, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a call of a possible sexual assault of a child at a residence in the 14,000 block of FM 121 in Van Alstyne, reported Capt. Martin Hall. During this investigation, it is alleged that 52-year-old Walter Donald Wagner Van Alstyne performed sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. 

It is further alleged Wagner was using the internet as a means of searching for victims.

At the conclusion of the investigation, deputies obtained a warrant for Wagner’s arrest on a charge of Sexual Assault of a Child. They arrested Wagner on that charge on Sunday, Jan. 29, at his residence in Van Alstyne. Wagner was incarcerated at Grayson County Jail with bail set at $200,000, payable with a surety bond.

He was released Monday on the surety bond.