City hall, medical clinic burglaries noted in report from 44 years ago

LOOKING BACK

Looking Back is a column that highlights articles retrieved from local newspaper archives published in years past.

44 YEARS AGO

APRIL 1979 

The April 1, 1979, edition of the Hood County News evidently was not playing an April Fool’s Day trick on the readers when it was reported that the Granbury City Hall and a local medical clinic had been burglarized.

The front-page article noted that “Burglaries have been increasing in the city of Granbury as well as the county,” then stated that a “break-in at city hall occurred sometime Monday night when someone gained entry by prying the front door open.” It added that a “small amount of cash was taken.”

The acting police chief at the time, Larry Goin, noted that the burglary at the clinic happened “sometime Saturday night,” and “an undetermined amount of cash was taken,” and “no visible signs of entry were found.”

The same edition of the paper also reported that in early May, the Lake Granbury Area Chamber of Commerce airport committee was going to sponsor the first area fly-in “to introduce the aviation community in surrounding areas, as well as local residents,” to the Granbury airport.

The article quoted then-Chamber of Commerce President Grant Mabry as saying, “Now that we have a complete airport facility in Granbury, we want to promote it and let the local as well as area people know that Granbury does have a municipal airport.”

The article also mentioned that the Chamber’s airport committee was formed “to assist the city and airport management in promoting the facility for industrial, business and recreational purposes. Chairman of the group is John Cundiff. Other members are Bob Verduzco, Don Bullington, Andy Rash, Ron Chaney, Joe Harrison, Larry Dyer, Burl McClellan, Ray and Mark Watson and Grant Mabry.” Mabry was the publisher of the Hood County News at that time.

34 YEARS AGO

MARCH 1989

The news of a Hood County female jailer being hospitalized after she was “severely bitten in a scuffle with a female prisoner” was reported in the March 25 edition of the Hood County News.

The article states that the jailer was allegedly attacked by the prisoner during the booking process, biting her on the forearm. “Four male officers had to help” in subduing the prisoner, according to a lieutenant who was quoted. The suspect was later charged with aggravated assault.

The article stated that the infection from the bite showed signs of spreading when her arm was inspected again, and she was then admitted to Hood General Hospital.

The injured jailer was quoted as saying, ”No telling what I may have caught,” and the article added that she “echoed her nurses’ statements that the human bite is the most infectious bite of all.”

49 YEARS AGO

MARCH 1974

In a front-page Hood County News column written by Larry L. Crabtree, published on March 7, 1974, notice was given to the opening of Pecan Plantation’s clubhouse.

The column item stated, “Pecan Plantation, one of the finest residential developments in the area, conducted (its) Formal Opening this past weekend of its Clubhouse. Most impressive is the Country Clubhouse and Inn. Bob and Paul Leonard, developers, were on hand to greet those who toured the facilities.”

The column brief also noted that it was the third development built by Leonard Properties in Hood County.