Local News
Poynor man’s trial set to begin Friday
Trial is set to begin Friday in Conroe for a Henderson County man charged with participating in a Montgomery County killing two years ago.
Joshua Blake Berryhill, 27, of Poynor is one of four defendants indicted for capital murder in connection with the shooting of 52-year-old Gregory Willkomm of Magnolia. Berryhill is the last of the defendants to face trial for the Sept. 27, 2007 offense.
Two of the defendants, James Stallings and Kasey Erin Kantak, of the Houston area, were each convicted of capital murder, and sentenced to life in prison earlier this year.
On Sept. 24, Joshua Tarrant, 27, of Frankston was acquitted on a capital murder charge. According to the Magnolia County District’s Office, Berryhill’s trial is on the docket for 8:15 a.m. Friday in 410th District Court.
Berryhill was arrested on a murder warrant by Coffee City Police in October, 2007. He was booked into the Henderson County Jail with bond set at $750,000.
According to various police reports, Willkomm disappeared from his home Sept. 28, and was later found dead in Harris County.
Law enforcement officers in several counties participated in arresting eight suspects in connection with the case.
Five suspects, Tammy Monzingo, Johnny Monzingo, Robert Joseph Fath Jr., Kantak and Trussell, were charged with attempting to use the victim’s credit cards and identifying information.
Several of the suspects were said to have ties with the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas a gang with members in and out of the prison system.
Berryhill, at the time of his arrest, was also issued warrants for minor offenses. In December, 2006, Berryhill was indicted in Anderson County for possession of a small quantity of a controlled substance, stemming from a June, 5, 2006 arrest, according to information from the Anderson County District Attorney’s Office.
According to a published story in the Palestine Herald, testimony introduced at Tarrant’s trial showed that Willkomm died as a result of a single shot to the back of the neck from a .25-caliber automatic pistol.
The victim’s burned body was found two days later by authorities next to the San Jacinto River in Harris County, about 20 miles from the murder site.
- Local News
-
-
AEDC board approves two performance agreements
The Athens Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors approved two performance agreements on Thursday.
The proposed agreements with Abby Development and the Athens Jet Center are very similar, said AEDC President/CEO Brian Malone.
He said the agreement with Abby Development provides a maximum incentive of $75,000 for infrastructure. -
Local historic treasure recovered
Athens Masonic Lodge No. 165 recovered tokens from its past — both large and small — from a building it had once called its own.
Lodge Secretary Randy Daniel, who is Athens’ mayor, said members retrieved two time capsules last Saturday with the permission of the Ginger Murchison Foundation, the current owner of the building.
The lodge, he said, met on that corner, the southwest corner of the Henderson County Courthouse square, for about 75 years. -
Eustace FFA does well in Fort Worth, San Antonio
The Eustace FFA Show teams have been very busy since the beginning of the year with competitions at two major stock shows.
-
Church News
Church News will run as items are received, based on available space. Items running in Church News will not be published in the Community Calendar.
-
Tenth grade poetry
Athens Christian Preparatory makes writing a priority. Tenth grade students who had poems chosen for national publication are shown.
-
Community Calendar
Community Calendar runs daily in the Review.
-
On the right track
Eustace’s Justin Bersterman takes a handoff from Austin White as they practice their relay before the Athens High School Track Meet.
-
Chamber optimistic about 2010
The Athens Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are working to make 2010 a big year, according to Chamber Chairman Michael “Mo” Morrison.
-
Scholarship available through HCRSPA
If your senior son or daughter plans to attend a college or university in the summer and/or fall, and pursue a program in which he or she will receive teacher certification, a major in education or a teaching degree in a subject area with teacher certification, then this scholarship is for you.
-
Two injured after highway collision
Two people were injured Wednesday when a pickup truck driven by a 13-year-old boy attempted to drive across U.S. Highway 175, only to be struck by a west-bound motorist.
- More Local News Headlines
-
AEDC board approves two performance agreements
