Free Republic

Just heard on local news in Houston area that the City of freeport is now going to use it's new taking property power to take the property of a land owner and give it to a developer so the developer can build a private marina.

FREEPORT, TEXAS — Little can spur an argument over constitutional property rights like the two words that have been popping up regularly at the city’s meetings as of late. Freeport is embroiled in two separate battles — to develop both a marina and a new residential area — using eminent domain, the power of a government to seize private land for public use. Through a court proceeding, an entity can take property by offering fair market value as compensation. But the two words have been rattling about much more than just Freeport’s council chambers. “It’s certainly a nationwide, growing...

First, an announcement: Freeport patriots will honor the memory of President Ronald Wilson Reagan by gathering at the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Site in Freeport from 8-9pm on Thursday, June 10th for a candlelight vigil. Participants are encouraged to bring Reagan stories, speeches and remembrances to share. Signs and flags are also welcome. For further information, visit ReaganVigil.com or email freeportpatriots@yahoo.com. Second, I think we should have a thread to post Reagan Vigil/Tribute ideas. What do you folks think would be the best stuff to do to honor him?

Sgt. Landis Garrison, shown in an undated family photo in Iraq, was killed Thursday in Iraq. Fallen soldier of the 333rd died from a gunshot wound sustained while cleaning his 9mm pistol Described by friends and co-workers as an optimistic, fun-loving person, Sgt. Landis W. Garrison, 23, of Rapids City will be greatly missed by those who knew him best. Friends say Garrison was almost always upbeat and approached every challenge with a positive attitude. "I can't remember a day when I didn't see at least a little bit of a smile on Landis' face," said Mike Poel, a close...

Although there has been no official confirmation from the military, an Illinois National Guard spokesperson said she has heard from family members that the 333rd Military Police Unit is at the Abu Ghraib prison, the site of the Iraqi prisoner-abuse scandal. On Wednesday, military sources at the federal level said they couldn't confirm the location of the Freeport-based 333rd, because they didn't have that information. They said the missions of troops already on the battlefield is in the hands of the commander on the ground and they don't usually receive regular updates. State military officials also said they had no...

March 16, 2004 RE: Press Release The Family Readiness Group for the 333rd Military Police Unit in conjunction with the City of Freeport and the surrounding Communities are proud to Present the Chairs for the Welcome Home Fund: Cal Wescott-fundraising, Nickee Bender-Party, and Duane Wenzel-Escort/Parade home. The fundraising Chair and the committee are designed to raise funds to give the soldiers a great welcome home, celebrate with their families, and the community. The party Chair and committee are designed to create a celebration for the soldiers with their family, and the community The Escort Chair and the committee are designed...

WASHINGTON – While FBI officials were dismissing terrorism in the shooting of a security guard at a chemical plant in Texas just hours after they were summoned to investigate, they weren't nearly so skeptical about the possibility last year. Robbie House, an unarmed security guard at the BASF plant in Freeport says he was shot by a Middle Eastern gunman after confronting him near an ammonia storage facility last week. Now House says the FBI doesn't believe his story and suggests he shot himself. Off the record, some law enforcement officials say they believe House's story and think he may...

A BASF security guard shot in the shoulder Friday night called a televised news conference Monday to deny the wound was self-inflicted. Robbie House, 43, of Angleton, appeared on television Monday saying FBI agents accused him of shooting himself. House, who was released from Brazosport Memorial Hospital on Monday, could not be reached for comment. Charles Johnson, the Houston attorney representing House, did not return calls seeking comment Monday night. FBI spokesman Bob Dogium said the agency has to explore every avenue. “God bless him, he can say whatever he wants to say,” Dogium said. “Is that what’s going on...

FREEPORT -- A security guard at a BASF Corp. chemical plant was shot in the shoulder after he approached a suspicious truck and talked to a man who said he had been taking pictures, authorities said. The guard's name was not released, but Freeport police said he was doing well at a Brazosport hospital following the Friday night shooting. The guard told police the gunman had bushy hair and a mustache and was was driving a white pickup with tinted windows and a black stripe. BASF spokeswoman Sharon Rogers said there was no indication the shooting was linked to terrorism....

FREEPORT — Police were looking for a man Friday night who they said shot a BASF security guard at the perimeter of the plant near FM 1495 and Highway 36. Freeport Police Chief Henrietta Gonzalez said the guard approached a suspicious truck about 9:20 p.m. and the man inside said he had been taking pictures. He then shot the guard in the shoulder area, Gonzalez said. “He was shot at point-blank range,” said Detective Sgt. Sue Dietrich. “You could see the powder burns.” Police did not release the guard’s name, but said he was doing well at Brazosport Memorial...

FREEPORT — Port officials are looking into reports that al-Qaeda scouts may have sojourned into Freeport before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A story in the May 26 issue of Newsweek reported that in March 2001, the scouts came to Texas to “case a major port in Freeport, Texas,” as well as look at President Bush’s ranch in Crawford. The information came from the FBI, according to the story. “We’re seeing what that might mean,” said Pete Reixach, executive director of Port Freeport. “We’re trying to qualify the language in this article with the FBI and Homeland Security offices.”...

This is to announce that the Freeport Area Rally For America will be held at Empire Street and West Avenue on Saturday, March 22nd from noon to 1pm. Patriots are asked to bring flags and signs supporting our troops and a free Iraq. We will be extending a “line of support” as far north on West Ave. as we can. We are already counting on more people than the biggest local peace protest and just had a new supporting organization (Operation Homefront) join yesterday. Freeport is on the March!

Though we had intended to be in place as early as 3:30pm, the forces of Justice were held up by personal matters and did not arrive at the freep site until about 4:40. Patriots present were Mr. Silverback and Silverback Jr., my 8-year-old son. We parked and proceeded to the corner of Galena and Stephenson, specifically the corner with the Stephenson County Courthouse. Standing right under the lovely County Civil War Monument, we broke out the signs. Initially, Silverback Jr. was holding “HONK IF YOU SUPPORT OUR TROOPS” (with a border that makes it look like there’s an American flag...

lots of smoke..they said it may be a railcar but it looks like more than that..I saw at least 2 areas where smoke is rising..30-40 yards apart..it looked like a small sturcture on fire as well as the railcar