SUBSCRIBE VIA RSS
Even if you live outside of Texas you’ve probably heard about our state’s insatiable appetite for football.
Down here, it seems that the majority of Texans pay homage to three G’s:
God, Guns, and the Gridiron.
The order of importance may vary depending on who you ask.
Up north, we were fortunate to get a few hundred spectators at our high school games. Here in Texas, even at podunk schools with 8-on-8 leagues, the attendance rivals that of the collegiate big boys.
It’s never bothered me, as I’m a hopeless football fanatic, but the severity of Texas’ pigskin addiction was never made more clear than last weekend.
A few weeks ago, an inmate who was incarcerated for an “alleged” violent home invasion robbery escaped from the county prison. This criminal had a long rap sheet and even proceeded to break into a few homes and steal a car, a weapon, and some clothes in the hours following his climb down from the “inescapable” prison walls.
Prison escapes happen. I watch TV and I’ve seen the movies. But usually, when the guards realize there’s been an escape, spotlights illuminate a five-mile radius and ominous sirens blare throughout the hills.
Not here. Here, they opted to wait more than ten hours before alerting the public. They did, however, spend hours searching the prison grounds, which was nice.
In my opinion, and granted I’m no expert, most escapees aren’t too keen on sticking around once they’re outside the prison walls. I mean, if I ever decide to escape a party, much less jail, you sure as heck won’t find me millin’ around the front lawn.
After ten hours passed, the guards came to the conclusion that the prisoner probably decided to leave the prison grounds, and they alerted the public. People in the surrounding area were ticked, but in the prison’s defense, it wasn’t until about 9pm that the guards realized the prisoner had gone missing during recreation time earlier in the day.
Let’s be reasonable. You can’t go alerting the public after night fall. How inconsiderate would that be? Waking people just to inform them that a dangerous home-invasion criminal was on the loose? There were more important things to do…like making sure he wasn’t just taking a leisurely stroll on prison property.
Sadly, they still haven’t caught this creep and the only time they gather clues is when he commits another crime along his escape route to Mexico. The county is on edge but he’s long gone, people.
In the wake of what happened, I was alarmed when I received a recorded message from the county at about 9:15 last Friday night.
It said:
“Hello, this is just a community bulletin to inform you that the (school name) High School football game has been rescheduled for 11am Saturday, September 5th.”
Excellent! Priorities noted.
Where was the recorded community bulletin to inform us that a dangerous felon had escaped? Where was the order to exercise caution and to report any suspicious activity?
Oh, that’s right. This is football, baby!
Escaped felons with a propensity for violence? Shhhh…don’t wake the neighbors.
Rescheduled football game? Sound the horns! Alert the Emergency Broadcast System! Hoard food! Saddle the cavalry!
Don’t get me wrong. I love football.
But I also love being alive.
Dearest county, there are five things that should take precedence over football when it comes to county bulletins.
1. The apocalypse.
2. Inbound thermonuclear warheads.
3. Tornadoes…we’re still awaiting warning sirens.
4. UFO landings.
5. Violent felons who fancy breaking into homes and beating its occupants.
The order of importance may vary depending on who you ask.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Amazing how a school can get a bulletin out and a county prison can't. Oh wait, prisons are run by government. The government doesn't do anything that makes sense. That's what 9 years as an Army spouse has taught me so far.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..The Military Giveth and Giveth Up the Ass =-.
I take it the authorities have already scouted the Dallas Cowboy grandstands? Lots of fellons there. And, on the field.
.-= Mr. Blonde´s last blog ..Giveaway: Temple Touch thermometer =-.
I'll never forget driving through Oklahoma and seeing a roadsign that read, "Hitchhikers may be escaped prison inmates." Lord, if that doesn't make you lock your car doors, and floor it, what would?? And they left off any practical advice, such as, "For the love of God, don't stop your car!" Of course, if you were to get a flat, or overheat, you were pretty much screwed…
.-= Leah Rubin´s last blog ..(Candy) Corn on the Cob =-.
And I forgot to mention that the whole world seems to prioritize ball games of any type (including golf) waaaaay higher than news of the day. It drives me nuts.
.-= Leah Rubin´s last blog ..The Other Woman =-.
Wow, I knew the Us of A are huge football fans, but that is a little scary.
LOL I totally agree with you Greg. While reading this I remembered my mother-in-law telling me that when we had the flood in 07 she received SEVERAL automated phone calls telling them to fill the tub with water, get to higher ground and a few others. That flood was dangerous but seems they could have given people the same courtesy when the prisoner escaped.
Luckily the criminal element hasn't caught on that they would do really well if they robbed houses on Friday nights in Texas, LOL. We never get the notifications for prison breaks, and there is a unit about fifteen miles away from us…. but they also have never notified us for football either, I mean why would they? Everyone in town knows within 15 minutes when the schedule changes around here.
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Overcoming School Anxiety: Book Review =-.