A2 PflugervillePflag com LOCAL NEWS Thursday, November 25, 2010

GRAVES from Page A1 _______________________________________________________________________________________

are some legal hurdles that again because I was innocent,” During his nearly two- – but it will be one that can
he’ll have to go through in Graves said. “I was just stub- decade stint, Graves said he definitely be made,” he said.
order to claim that,” Cobb said born in that way, that they’re never stopped thinking about Graves said the biggest
“In the meantime we wanted to not going to execute an inno- regaining his freedom. He said change he’ll have to cope with
help, so our members have cent man – even though I letters and visitors helped him is modern technology.
donated a total of $3,000 that know that’s not true.” think beyond the prison walls “A cell phone can do so
we’d like to give to Anthony.” He said there are more inno- to the world he dearly missed. many different things now.
Despite living what he cent people on death row and “I would say, ‘Allow me to Usually back then you’d pick
described as “hell,” Graves other innocent people who use your eyes to see the up a telephone and all it does
said he is not bitter. have already been wrongfully world,’ which means write to is what it’s supposed to do,”
“I experienced the dark side executed. me. Tell me about your cul- he said. “Now you’ve got
of our criminal justice system, “A politician can say one ture. It was what I needed.” cameras and you’ve got maps
and I just think because of my thing, but I lived that life. I Last weekend he was in – it’s crazy.”
experience I can bring some met those people. They’re Pflugerville catching up with Graves said he is looking
light to it,” Graves said. great people.” his sister and his nieces. forward to his education, time
“Whatever you think hell is to Somewhere down the road, Much has changed in the spent reconnecting with family
Today's Weather you, that was my experience – Graves wants to go to college world while Graves was and most importantly, his mis-
just hell.” to major in communications so locked up, but he said he has a sion to stop innocent people
Local 5-Day Forecast Graves said he is an exam- he can better spread his mes- strong support system to help from repeating his experience.
Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon ple of how the Texas criminal sage of awareness, but for the him get up to speed in his “I don’t think I just went
11/25 11/26 11/27 11/28 11/29 justice system is broken, and short-term he is looking for- daily life. through these 18 years just to
he plans on devoting his time ward to his first Thanksgiving “I’m surrounded by love come out here and get
as an advocate of change. dinner with his family as a free and support, so I think the involved in something else.
“I thought I would be free man in 18 years. transition – it will not be easy This is my calling now.”
70/36 56/31 62/42 71/58 74/41
Windy with Times of Sunshine. Mix of sun Isolated
some sun,
scattered
thunder-
sun and
clouds.
Highs in the
Highs in the
low 60s and
lows in the
and clouds.
Highs in the
low 70s and
thunder-
storms.
Highs in the
AROUND TOWN _____________________________________________________________________
storms. mid 50s and low 40s. lows in the mid 70s and
lows in the upper 50s. lows in the Homeless Coach’s Library closed for PYBA basketball 7:30 a.m. till 11 a.m. The pub-
low 30s. low 40s. “Celebrate Community” Thanksgiving registration lic is invited to enjoy breakfast.
The Homeless Coach invites The Pflugerville Community Registration for the Pflugerville Santa will be on-site and avail-
Sunrise: Sunrise: Sunrise: Sunrise: Sunrise:
7:04 AM 7:05 AM 7:06 AM 7:07 AM 7:08 AM the Austin-area community out Library will be closed Thursday, Youth Basketball Association is able to take pictures with
Sunset: Sunset: Sunset: Sunset: Sunset:
to Princess Craft Campers and Nov. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 28 now underway. Boys ages 6-14 youngsters.
5:30 PM 5:30 PM 5:29 PM 5:29 PM 5:29 PM
Trailers at 102 1st St. in in observance of Thanksgiving. and girls ages 6-12 as of Sept. 1 The church Craft Store, offering
Pflugerville at 1 p.m. on Sunday, The library will reopen Monday, may register. The fee is $105 per handmade items, a variety of gift
Nov. 28 to help take the next Nov. 29 at 10 a.m. player and pays for five to seven items and baked goods, will be
step toward aiding the region’s practices, more than 10 games, open. Photos will be made avail-
homeless residents. Attendees Square dance lessons a $14 picture packet and a able for download on a website;
will be able to tour the latest open now at Rec. Center game jersey. Practices start in orders can also be taken through
renovations of the Homeless The Pflugerville Recreation mid-November and games start the church photographer.
Coach RV and share a meal with Center is offering 10-week ses- the first week in January. St. Elizabeth’s is located at
some of the area’s homeless. sions of square dance lessons. Visit pyba.info under 1520 N. Railroad in Pflugerville.
Attendees can enjoy local Sessions begin Nov. 27, Dec. 4 Registration. Referees are being For more information visit steliz-
Pflugerville cuisine, crafts to “art and Dec. 11, but interested par- registered under Links/Referees/ abethpf.org online or call the
up” the Coach and tax-free holi- ties are encouraged to jump into Coaches on the website. Parish office at 251-9838.
day shopping. Guests will also the Saturday classes held after Referees should e-mail Old Town Holiday
participate in a “community those dates as well. For more tommy.nobles@yahoo.com for Stroll and Parade
team huddle” photo that will information on how to sign up, additional information.
subsequently adorn the contact Al Frazier at 339-7910 Pflugerville’s Old Town Holiday
Homeless Coach exterior. The or tsca@austin.rr.com. Pet vaccination Stroll and Christmas parade
event is free and open to the clinic takes place Dec. 11 in down-
Methodist single town Pflugerville. The event
public. For more information on Hendrickson High School soc-
mothers support group includes vendors, children’s
the Homeless Coach visit home- cer teams will sponsor a pet vac-
lesscoach.org. The First United Methodist cination clinic on Thursday, Dec. activities, antique cars and
Church in Pflugerville has creat- 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. on the front cycles, a Christmas parade and
ed a small group for single steps of the high school. Rabies community tree lighting.
moms that meets from 6-8 p.m. vaccines are $5 and yearly vac- Shopping takes place from 10
each Tuesday in the church’s cines are $15. Contact Deanna a.m. to 8 p.m.; children’s activi-
education building and focuses Essler at 251-3148 for more ties and entertainment will be
on building friendships. The information. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and
group meetings are aimed to Santa will be posing for photos
give single moms a break from Holiday Craft from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The light-
the kids and a chance to relax, Extravaganza ed Christmas parade will begin
as well as having dinner with Hendrickson High School’s at 6 p.m.
other adults and learning life Senior Celebration 2011 pres- Visit cityofpflugerville.com/
skills from each other and from ents its Holiday Craft stroll for details.
outside sources. There will be a Extravaganza Dec. 4 from 8 a.m.
potluck meal for moms at each to 4 p.m. The event will include Bluebonnet Ballet
weekly meeting, and childcare holiday event
a silent auction and shopping
will be provided at no charge. opportunities for arts and crafts, The Bluebonnet Ballet, a
For more information contact jewelry and more. Admission is non-profit associated with the
Melissa Wade-Meyer at 251- free. Contact Christy Davis at Texas Academy of Ballet locat-
5477 or 484-5929. 217-4722 or by e-mail at ed at 20009 FM 685 in
Christy_Davis@rocketmail.com. Pflugerville, is gearing up for its
Pflugerville Recreation
annual Christmas production of
Center Free First Friday Hendrickson
“T’was the night before
Pflugerville Recreation Center Breakfast with Santa
Christmas.” The performance will
is offering free family nights on Hendrickson High School’s be held at the Hendrickson
the first Friday of the month, Senior Celebration 2011 hosts High School Performing Arts
starting Nov. 5. The night Breakfast with Santa Dec. 4 Center, at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11
includes free admission for any- from 8-11 a.m. at the and at 2 p.m Dec. 12.
one at the Pflugerville Hendrickson High cafeteria. The Tickets are $15 for adults, and
Recreation Center from 6 - 9 event will include keepsake $12 for seniors, students and
p.m. For more information call crafts, photos with Santa and a children, and are available either
251-5082. pancake breakfast. Pre-event at the door or by calling the Texas
registration is required; cost is
Fire department Academy of Ballet at 670-9959.
$10 per child. Registration
food drive deadline is Nov. 30. Parent pan- In conjunction with the
The Pflugerville Fire cake breakfast will be available Christmas production, the
Department will coordinate a for $5. For details, e-mail Bluebonnet Ballet presents a
food drive for the Immanuel santabrkfast@gmail.com. Gingerbread House Workshop
Lutheran Food Pantry Nov. 15 to fundraiser, to be held at the
Dec. 20. Canned goods and Church’s Breakfast Falcon Point Clubhouse on Dec.
non-perishable food items will with Santa 12. Three sessions will be offered
be accepted at any Pflugerville St. Elizabeth’s Ladies’ Club is for this event. Tickets are $25 and
fire station. For details, contact hosting its annual Breakfast with may be obtained by calling the
Lt. Tim Wallace at 251-2801. Santa on Saturday, Dec. 4 from above telephone number.