Latest news with #WalkerCounty
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Grand Ranch in Walker County Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary This Summer
With all homesites at Texas Grand Ranch sold out, Patten Properties launches The Estates of Texas Grand Ranch to meet continued demand for acreage living near Houston. WALKER COUNTY, Texas, Aug. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Patten Properties is celebrating 10 years of success at Texas Grand Ranch, the fastest-selling acreage community in Texas. Now fully sold out, the community marks a decade of unmatched demand, rising land values and hundreds of families who now call the wooded development home. The first 2- to 5-acre homesites were released in 2015. Within one weekend, six months of inventory sold out. Over the next decade, the community continued to grow, and by the time Section 11 opened, the average lot price had increased by 2.6 times compared to Section 1. Today, the community is fully built out and continues to thrive. More than 600 homes have been completed, and neighbors have formed strong connections through shared events and local initiatives. Recently, a group of residents reached out to Patten Properties to request information for their first community cookbook, Taste of Texas Grand Ranch. "We love our neighborhood and want to create an amazing cookbook to honor it," said resident Brenda Finn. Next Chapter: The Estates of Texas Grand Ranch Now OpenWith Texas Grand Ranch now sold out, Patten Properties has launched The Estates of Texas Grand Ranch, offering 1- to 3-acre wooded homesites in a prime location just minutes from I-45, The Estates is located within New Waverly ISD and provides a forested retreat with mature trees, natural beauty and a peaceful setting close to everyday conveniences. "Texas Grand Ranch set the standard for what a legacy land community should offer — location, value and long-term vision," said Gary Sumner, senior managing partner at Patten Properties. "If you missed the opportunity 10 years ago, this is your chance to do what early buyers did: get in before it's gone." Become a Texas landowner starting at just $79,900 in one of the most desirable acreage communities near Houston. Ready to tour? Visit or call/text 833-447-3773. About Patten PropertiesPatten Properties is a national leader in land development with more than 600 communities completed across the country. For more than 40 years, the company has helped families realize the American dream of land ownership. Media Contact:Heather Robisonheather@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Patten Properties
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Filing underway for November 4 election
The November 4, 2025 election will include several positions locally, with positions in state and federal positions as well. The 2025 election is a Constitutional Amendment Election for the country. For Walker County, voters will have a long list of seats up for election. Some seats will be sought by incumbents, however, several will have new names and faces filing for the position. Filing for a place on the ballot opened on July 19 and runs through Aug. 18, with each respective entity or the political chairs for the Republican and Democrat parties. The entities locally looking to fill positions are Walker County Commissioners Court, City of Huntsville, Huntsville Independent School District and New Waverly Independent School District. The City of New Waverly does not post its election information to the website. Voters new to the county or first timers must submit registration applications at least 30 days before Nov. 4 which is Monday, Oct. 6. Early voting in person will take place countywide at the Walker County Storm Shelter, 455 State Highway 75 North, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 20-31. There will be two 12-hour voting days from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, and Friday, Oct. 31. The last day to register to vote by mail is Friday, Oct. 24. All applications must be submitted by mail, email or fax. An original application is required. For more information on voter registration requirements, email walkervr@ or go by 1301 Sam Houston Avenue, Room 114. Sample ballots will be posted on the Walker County website, under 'CURRENT ELECTIONS' as soon as they are available. On Election Day, voters may visit any of the nine polls to cast their ballots. Curbside voting is available at all locations in a designated area for qualifying voters. For more information regarding curbside voting, call 936-436-4959. Gerald (Jerry) Spurbeck is the Democratic Chairperson for Walker County. Headquarters are located at 1210 University Ave., Huntsville, TX 77340. The office can be reached at (936) 293-8110 or by email at chair@ The party website is Linda McKenzie is the Republican Chairperson for Walker County. Headquarters is located at 1205 University Ave., Huntsville, TX 77340. The office can be reached at (936) 755-8084 or by email at gopwalkerco@ The party has a Facebook page under Republican Party of Walker County. Positions up for Election on November 4, 2025 U. S. REP DISTRICT 8 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama District 5 House race pits Matt Woods against Ryan Cagle
Voters go to the polls June 24 to choose one of two candidates to represent them in Alabama's Senate District 5, a district including Lamar, Fayette, Walker and the northern half of Tuscaloosa County in north central Alabama. Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, will face Democratic candidate Ryan Cagle, a progressive faith leader and community organizer, in a special election on June 24 to fill a seat vacated by former Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed, R-Jasper, who stepped down at the beginning of the year to join Gov. Kay Ivey's administration as senior adviser to workforce transformation. Woods in a phone interview June 16 described his run for the Senate seat as a 'natural progression of (his) public service,' pointing to his commitment to continuing the 'strong conservative leadership' and 'conservative values,' he said, that have defined the district for years. He cited the passage of the 'Alabama Child Protection Act,' a bill he sponsored making it illegal for anyone to create, share, or possess child sexual abuse material, and carrying the 'Parents Right to Know Act' in the House, which required schools to post classroom curricula online. The representative also pointed to his votes in favor of grocery tax cuts and eliminating sales tax on feminine and baby products. 'I will continue to look for ways to provide tax relief for the people of the state while fighting for more jobs and more resources for rural Alabama,' he said. Cagle said that the state's policy should better support the community, saying that his decision to run stems from a desire for 'proper representation in Montgomery of working-class and vulnerable people in District 5.' Cagle criticized current elected officials for not being 'on the ground' and directly addressing issues like poverty and the opioid crisis. He also criticized the influence of lobbyists and big corporations on state leadership, saying that many have been 'bought and sold.' 'The system's not set up for working-class people to run. It privileges wealthy, affluent people in our communities to lead us,' he said, adding that he wants to bring a voice that 'reflects the majority of the people's lives and lived experiences in our district.' More: Special election scheduled for Tuscaloosa's House District 63 seat Cagle said that dissatisfaction with the status quo goes beyond party lines, claiming that even Republicans in the district are considering voting for him due to his community work. He said that ongoing problems such as rising poverty, hunger and opioid overdoses stem from electing similar individuals, regardless of their political affiliation. 'I hope that my campaign, if anything else, can be a seed for us beginning to think more critically in District 5, beyond these party lines, and looking toward how we as a community, as a district, can come together and work together and put our people first,' Cagle said. Woods said he would not 'be sitting still (on) day one.' If elected, he plans to re-introduce bills to increase the criminal penalties for making violent threats, such as a bomb threat, to schools, and a bill aimed at expanding broadband internet resources in underserved areas. The legislation would remove state sales tax on broadband equipment funded by federal grants to allow more of the grant money to be used for infrastructure development. Woods did not answer how he would propose handling federal budget cuts being floated by Congress, which could cut an estimated $5.54 billion in federal funding to Alabama for SNAP and Medicaid over 10 years in the House proposal, but said his priority is on rural health care and providing access to medical care in underserved areas. Regarding potential changes to the Department of Education, such as a proposal to eliminate it, Woods said he believes that the state would be able to provide a 'common-sense Alabama-based education.' More: New president caps 18 months of change at University of Alabama Cagle called for 'reprioritizing what we want for the state and what we want the community.' He said he opposes cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP but also argued that the state can make up the difference with resources he said are often mismanaged, saying that a majority of the land in Alabama is owned by 'a handful of people,' preventing potential tax revenue. He was also critical of the 'CHOOSE Act,' which expands funding for private schools and homeschooling, arguing it's a 'poor stewardship of our money and resources' that primarily benefits 'wealthy, affluent Alabamians' and underfunds public schools. Considering Republicans' supermajority in the Senate, Cagle said that if elected he would engage in 'bridge building.' He said that he would draw from his experience organizing, saying that 'the work of caring for our community has transcended those boundaries.' 'This is the first battle of many. It's time for change,' Cagle said. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama House District 5 election includes part of Tuscaloosa County
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Death row inmate made haunting final hand symbol before being executed for killing a woman
An Alabama man who was executed yesterday for the 1988 murder of a woman made a chilling final hand gesture before being put to death with nitrogen gas. Gregory Hunt, 65, was pronounced dead at 6:26 p.m. on Tuesday at a south Alabama prison, authorities said, one of four scheduled this week in the United States. Hunt was convicted of capital murder for the killing of Karen Lane, who was 32 when she was killed on Aug. 2, 1988, in the Cordova apartment she shared with another woman in Walker County. Strapped to a gurney with a blue-rimmed mask covering his entire face, Hunt gave no final words but appeared to give a thumbs-up sign and a peace sign with his fingers. The gas began flowing sometime after 5:55 p.m., but it was not clear exactly when. At 5:57 p.m. Hunt briefly shook, gasped and raised his head off the gurney. He let out a moan at about 5:59 p.m. and raised his feet. He took a series of four or more gasping breaths with long pauses in between, and made no visible movements after 6:05 p.m. The shaking movements and gasps were similar to previous nitrogen executions in Alabama. The execution method involves forcing an inmate to breathe pure nitrogen gas, depriving them of the oxygen needed to stay alive. The state says the movements are expected, but critics say they show that the execution method does not provide a quick death. 'What I saw has been consistent with all the other nitrogen hypoxia executions. There is involuntary body movement,' Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said. Hunt had dated Lane for about a month. Prosecutors said that after becoming enraged with jealousy, he broke into Lane's apartment and sexually abused her and beat her to death, inflicting 60 injuries on her body. Jurors convicted him in 1990 and recommended a death sentence by an 11-1 vote. Several of Lane's relatives witnessed the execution, Hamm said. The family said in a statement that the night was not about Hunt's life but rather the 'horrific death of Karen Sanders Lane, whose life was so savagely taken from her.' They added that Hunt showed her no mercy in 1988. 'This is also not about closure or victory. This night represents justice and the end of a nightmare that has coursed through our family for 37 years,' the family said. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall called the execution 'a long-overdue moment of justice.' 'Karen was a young woman whose life was stolen in the most brutal and dehumanizing way imaginable,' Marshall said, adding, 'Gregory Hunt spent more time on death row than Karen spent alive.' Hunt was among the longest-serving inmates on Alabama's death row. He told The Associated Press last month that finding religion in prison helped him get 'free of my poisons and demons' and that he tried to help other inmates. He led a weekly Bible class since 1998, he said. 'Just trying to be a light in a dark place, trying to tell people if I can change, they can too ... become people of love instead of hate,' he said. The U.S. Supreme Court denied Hunt's request for a stay about three hours before the execution began. Hunt argued that prosecutors misled jurors about the evidence of sexual abuse, a claim the Alabama attorney general's office called meritless. Hunt declined to have a dinner meal. On the day of his execution, he had a lunch tray that included bologna, black-eyed peas, carrots and fruit punch, prison officials said. The Rev. Jeff Hood, a death penalty opponent who worked with Hunt, expressed sadness over his execution. 'Greg Hunt was my friend. I am devastated that Alabama saw fit to kill him,' Hood said. Last year Alabama became the first state to carry out an execution with nitrogen gas. The method has now been used in six executions — five in Alabama and one in Louisiana. Hunt selected nitrogen over the other options, lethal injection or the electric chair, before Alabama developed procedures for the method. Hunt's was o ne of two executions carried out Tuesday in the country. In Florida, Anthony Wainwright, 54, died by lethal injection for the April 1994 killing of 23-year-old Carmen Gayheart, a nursing student and mother of two young children, in Lake City.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Alabama death row inmate Gregory Hunt is executed by nitrogen oxide for 1988 murder
An Alabama man convicted of killing a woman in 1988 was put to death Tuesday evening in the nation's sixth execution by nitrogen gas. Gregory Hunt, 65, was pronounced dead at 6:26 p.m. at a south Alabama prison, authorities said, one of four scheduled this week in the United States. Hunt was convicted of capital murder for the killing of Karen Lane, who was 32 when she was killed on Aug. 2, 1988, in the Cordova apartment she shared with another woman in Walker County. The execution method involves forcing an inmate to breathe pure nitrogen gas, depriving them of the oxygen needed to stay alive. Strapped to a gurney with a blue-rimmed mask covering his entire face, Hunt gave no final words but appeared to give a thumbs-up sign and a peace sign with his fingers. The gas began flowing sometime after 5:55 p.m., but it was not clear exactly when. At 5:57 p.m. Hunt briefly shook, gasped and raised his head off the gurney. He let out a moan at about 5:59 p.m. and raised his feet. He took a series of four or more gasping breaths with long pauses in between, and made no visible movements after 6:05 p.m. The shaking movements and gasps were similar to previous nitrogen executions in Alabama. The state says the movements are expected, but critics say they show that the execution method does not provide a quick death. 'What I saw has been consistent with all the other nitrogen hypoxia executions. There is involuntary body movement,' Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said. Hunt had dated Lane for about a month. Prosecutors said that after becoming enraged with jealousy, he broke into Lane's apartment and sexually abused her and beat her to death, inflicting 60 injuries on her body. Jurors convicted him in 1990 and recommended a death sentence by an 11-1 vote. Several of Lane's relatives witnessed the execution, Hamm said. The family said in a statement that the night was not about Hunt's life but rather the 'horrific death of Karen Sanders Lane, whose life was so savagely taken from her.' They added that Hunt showed her no mercy in 1988. 'This is also not about closure or victory. This night represents justice and the end of a nightmare that has coursed through our family for 37 years,' the family said. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall called the execution 'a long-overdue moment of justice.' 'Karen was a young woman whose life was stolen in the most brutal and dehumanizing way imaginable,' Marshall said, adding, 'Gregory Hunt spent more time on death row than Karen spent alive.' Hunt was among the longest-serving inmates on Alabama's death row. He told The Associated Press last month that finding religion in prison helped him get 'free of my poisons and demons' and that he tried to help other inmates. He led a weekly Bible class since 1998, he said. 'Just trying to be a light in a dark place, trying to tell people if I can change, they can too ... become people of love instead of hate,' he said. The U.S. Supreme Court denied Hunt's request for a stay about three hours before the execution began. Hunt argued that prosecutors misled jurors about the evidence of sexual abuse, a claim the Alabama attorney general's office called meritless. Hunt declined to have a dinner meal. On the day of his execution, he had a lunch tray that included bologna, black-eyed peas, carrots and fruit punch, prison officials said. The Rev. Jeff Hood, a death penalty opponent who worked with Hunt, expressed sadness over his execution. 'Greg Hunt was my friend. I am devastated that Alabama saw fit to kill him,' Hood said. Last year Alabama became the first state to carry out an execution with nitrogen gas. The method has now been used in six executions — five in Alabama and one in Louisiana. Hunt selected nitrogen over the other options, lethal injection or the electric chair, before Alabama developed procedures for the method. Hunt's was o ne of two executions carried out Tuesday in the country. In Florida, Anthony Wainwright, 54, died by lethal injection for the April 1994 killing of 23-year-old Carmen Gayheart, a nursing student and mother of two young children, in Lake City.
