The Grayson County Grand Jury returned the results on its latest indictments, one of which includes that of a Van Alstyne resident whose arrest was made by Van Alstyne Police.

Arthur John Hudson has been indicted on a charge of Evading Arrest/Detention with a Vehicle, with Deadly Weapon. An indictment is not proof of guilt, only that the Grand Jury found enough evidence to have authorities continue with the case.

The offense reportedly happened on November 11, 2023. Van Alstyne Police Lt. Steven Hayslip said that, about 9:45 p.m. that Friday, officers on duty saw a vehicle almost cause a collision while leaving the Casey’s parking lot. Police got behind the vehicle, and as they were attempting to get the driver to stop, the vehicle’s headlights were turned off and the vehicle sped up, Hayslip added.

Eventually, the driver did stop and police identified him as Hudson, he said.

They jailed the suspect on charges of Driving While Intoxicated, Evading Arrest or Detention with a Vehicle, and Reckless Driving.

According to the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Website, Hudson posted bail on all the charges for his release. However, he again remains incarcerated, since Dec. 3, 2023, on a charge of Assault Family/House Member by Impeding Breath. The bail bond company has taken off bail on the previous charges.

There were also numerous people indicted on drug charges at this Grand Jury session, include 5 for Cocaine, 27 for Methamphetamine, and 1 person each for Psilocin, Tetrahydrocannabinol, and Fentanyl. And even others indicted on charges including Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Bail jumping, Cattle Theft, Assaults, Stalking, Rape, Driving While Intoxicated with 3 or more previous convictions; Robbery.

The Grayson County meets every other Wednesday.

By Mary Jane Farmer for The Van Alstyne Leader, Scene In Town

Two of three crashes within a 3-day time period have claimed two lives, reported Van Alstyne Police Lt. Steven Haysliip.

About 6 a.m. Friday Feb. 2, police were sent to the 1100 block of South Waco regarding an accident between vehicle and pedestrian. Hayslip said that, immediately began first aid on the injured pedestrian, but soon officials pronounced him deceased at the scene. The victim has been identified as Ron Fejeran, age 86, of Van Alstyne.  Although the investigation is ongoing, Hayslip said that they have determined that Mr. Fejeran was attempting to cross the street when the vehicle struck him.

Scoggins Funeral Home has charge Mr. Ferjeran’s final services, and have posted that there will be rosary said in the funeral home’s chapel at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, with visitation to follow at 6:30 p.m. The funeral home is at 637 W Van Alstyne Parkway

At about that same time Friday, police investigated a one-vehicle crash at Burk & Paris streets. Hayslip reported that the driver’s car slid off the roadway and struck a telephone pole. There were no injuries in this crash.

On Monday, Feb. 5, Van Alstyne police responded to a 3-vehicle accident at the intersection of South Waco (State Highway 5) and County Line Road.  This was called in about 4:05 p.m., and again the crash is still under investigation, limiting how much information police can provide.

However, Hayslip could report that it was a passenger. In one of the vehicles who was pronounced deceased at the scene. And could identify the victim as 54-year-old Joseph Murphy of Anna, and said he was not wearing a seatbelt.

Two other people went by ground ambulances to nearby hospitals. Their conditions are not yet reported.

By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town. The Van Alstyne News does not print suspects’ names until/unless they are indicted, unless an offense is classified as a First-Degree Felony.

Monday of this week (Jan. 29, 2024), Van Alstyne Police received  information from United Ag & Turf, home of John Deere various farming and lawn care vehicles, that they suspected an individual of possibly having committed Online fraud in order to gain possession of a tractor, loader, and other various equipment, together worth about $7o,000. The suspected individual(s) were to arrive later that day to take possession of the equipment.

VAPD Lt. Steven Hayslip reported that, “Once officers were able to confirm the information, police staged in the area awaiting the suspects’ arrival.” They arrived driving a pickup truck and a trailer which they purported to carry the items away.

Police made contact with these two men, both from Fort Worth, and took them into custody without incident, Hayslip added. Police also found several IDs, which did not belong to them, in their possession, along with a firearm.

Both suspects were charged with three Felony 3 offenses: Securing/Execution of a Document by Deception, Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information, and Theft between $30,000-$150,000. They also charged one of the suspects with Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon. Police impounded the truck and trailer.

Hayslip said that they are continuing the investigation, working with other law enforcement agencies because they suspect the men “are responsible for similar acts at other locations.”

Both suspects remain in Grayson County Jail in lieu of $70,000 total bail, and a magistrate set additional bail on the second suspect’s charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon at $2,500.

Still under investigation is the theft of construction material, reported to police on Wednesday (Jan. 24, 2024).

Hayslip said  that they were called to the Mantua Project about 3 p.m. that afternoon to begin investigation into the theft of the materials, valued at about $3,500. It is believed the thief/thieves hit the site between noon Tuesday and about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

“At this time, there is no suspect,” Hayslip said.

Anyone with information is urged to call Van Alstyne Police at 903-482-5251.

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

The Van Alstyne City Council meets in a Special Called meeting at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30, at City Hall, which is located at 152 N. Main Drive. The Council regularly meets on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month, also at City Hall. Agendas for this and future meetings can be seen Online at cityofvanalstyne.us, posted before 5 p.m. on the Friday preceding each meeting.

Tuesday night’s meeting begins with a presentation regarding Cooley Bay Winery and its possible revitalization and future use of the former Van Alstyne Museum, 277 E Jefferson. This now-empty building faces Jefferson Street and the Dorothy Fielder (gazebo) Park and is within easy walking distance from the Central Social District Park.

Following that, the Council will consider a consent agenda’s four items:

(1) A fee amendment to the Capital Recover Fee for Water Improvements from $2,000 to $3,500. This agreement is between the City and Risland Mantua LLC and involves about 2,011 acres of land.

(2) A resolution authorizing submission of a grant application for the Portable Radio Communications Equipment Grant Program Grant Number 502831 to the Office of the Governor.

(3) Calling a public hearing for March 5 to hear public opinions on amendment of Land Use Assumptions, Capital Improvement Plans, and associated impact fees for Water and Wastewater Capital Improvements.

(4) The purchase a utility inspection system and equipment for the Public Works Department in the amount of $268,223.48.

The agenda defines a Consent Agenda as: “Items… that allow the Council to approve them all together without discussion or individual motions. Items may be removed from the consent agenda on the request of any one member of the Council. Removed items will be discussed and action taken immediately after the consent agenda.”

By Mary Jane Farmer, for the Van Alstyne News, SceneInTown.com

Recently, the unexpected uncovering of a time capsule has city volunteers searching for answers.

Teddie Ann Salmon, former Van Alstyne mayor and current Van Alstyne Historical Museum director, said that she was at the museum when someone from the Van Alstyne Parks Department called her saying that they had found a time capsule on the land which is to be used in to house the city’s future Police and Fire Departments.  This land is at and near North Park off of North Waco (SH 5), near Blassingame.

Salmon said that was the area the workers found the time capsule. They were, she said, attempting to move the plaque and flag pole when they struck the time capsule. As the vault was being lifted, water gushed out and the vault cracked open.

The hard-working workers delivered the time capsule to the museum, leaving it in a safe place where it could discharge all the water that had seeped in — something time capsules are not supposed to do. “There is no way to know how long the vault has been full of water,” she said. Everything inside it was, of course, soaked to the core.  She added that the time capsule was buried there about 1975 or ’76.

It is now dried out, and she and Grayson County Historical Commission President Dusty Williams (also a V.A. City Council member), will begin the tedious task of identifying, sorting, and deciding what can be salvaged for future museum use.

City Manager Lane Jones confirmed that the new “Public Safety Facility will be located at Waco and Blassingame. The project still in the design stages, with no start or finish date determined.” Mayor Jim Atchison added, regarding the location, that the area includes the old high school football field, and that there might be a community meeting room.

The museum is normally open from 1-3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. “At this time,” Salmon said, “the museum is not open for the public,” due to the inclement weather. This could be re-opened in mid-February, she said.

The city’s Historical Commission will meet again at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 25 at the new museum, 130 Waco St, which is at the NW corner of Waco and Jefferson streets. Williams said that curious and/or potential new members as welcome to meet with the group’s membership.