Archive for Journalism
This story continues to get more complicated and broader the further we dig into it. On Wednesday I reported on catching Judge Lynn Marie Johnson and her friend Kathy Kornegay Chruscielski red-handed after they had been busy covering up their tracks of friendship. Judge Johnson removed or hid a number of photo albums on her facebook page, which were previously accessible by the public, while Kathy decided she better change her privacy settings to private instead of public under facebook’s privacy settings.
Below you are going to find a, (previously captured) photo Mrs. Chruscielski had posted on her facebook while tagging Johnson on March 9, 2010 along with offering her endorsing comments under the photo.
Photo of Johnson tagged by Kathy Kornegay Chruscielski on her facebook
Kathy’s comment under the photo reads,
Photo Comment says, Kathy Kornegay Chruscielski… thinks Lynn Marie Johnson would make an excellent Justice of the Peace for Parker County Pct 4 – this portrait was made yesterday in my home studio. I know Lynn through her community service with the Aledo Advocats. She is dedicated to reducing crime, improving revenue and implementing Teen Court to bring our court in line with the rest of Parker County.
As I previously reported on Wednesday, The Conflicts of Interest Keep Getting More Interesting when in Parker County, Texas, Kathy sits on the Remuda Ranch Estates Homeowners Association board. That’s right! The same board that has sued Clara and Johnnie Russell for a sign posted on ‘their’ property which, according to documents, did not belong to the HOA to begin with. A couple of words really stand out in Chruscielski’s comment under the above photo, ” improving revenue”. Could this “improving revenue” have something to do with the connection between the two? There may very well be a good chance of that. Regardless, those words should be of great concern to citizens in this Parker County, Texas Pct 4. Is it a judge’s place to improve revenue or to uphold the law? According to all I’ve learned and know about our judicial systems, I believe it to be safe to say the latter of the two would and should be the answer and should be the primary focus of any judge.
Now, here is a screenshot Judge Johnson’s page before she decided to remove photo’s and photo albums…
Johnson swearing in ceremony as found on Chruscielski's facebook
Here is another photo of Lynn Marie Johnson’s swearing in ceremony as Justice of the Peace for Parker County, Texas Pct 4. Sure enough, it was found on Kathy’s facebook with Judge Johnson being tagged in it.
The proud comments, by Chruscielski, on her facebook photo read,
A magnificent setting for the ceremony…
Doesn’t this cause a clear ‘CONFLICT OF INTEREST’ concern when a judge’s verdict benefits a HOA board that an obvious friend of hers sits on? Yes or no? Give me your answers and thoughts in the comment section below.
Additional insights, from a local perspective, were offered by the folks at dfwvoter.com where they also reported on statements Johnson made in a press release during her run for the Justice of the Peace in 2010,
It is important that the Justice of the Peace take into consideration the seriousness of the offense, the threat to the community, and sound legal principles before the bond is set.
The characteristics of good lawyering are the same as the characteristics of good judging–respect for people, respect for ideas, and respect for justice.
The Justice Court is commonly known as “The People’s Court” and it is her intent to see that the Court operates to quickly and fairly serve the community within the confines of the law.
Constant reports back to me are saying the Parker County residents are steaming over this issue and the air is full of buzz inside, and outside, about the Remuda Ranch Estates Homeowners Association. I have been receiving many documents, emails, and phone calls regarding this case. If you have ANY information regarding this case and can help to provide more ties of possible judicial misconduct please use my ‘Contact Page’ to send me the information or leads you might have.
I have also received word of a defense fund being set up for the Russells to assist with their legal fees:
Clara Russell Defense Fund
PO Box 150471
Ft. Worth Texas 76108
There are also requests asking who to contact in order to file complaints:
District Attorney’s Office:
Don Schnelby
117 Fort Worth Hwy
Weatherford, TX 76086
(817) 598-6124
Other Chapters in this developing story:
- Activist Judge Rules Against Freedom of Speech in North Texas! (update #5 7-22-2011)
- Conflict of Interest Causing an Uprising in Parker County, Texas over Homeowners being Sued (Update #1)
- The Conflicts of Interest Keep Getting More Interesting when in Parker County, Texas
- Clara Russell Makes it onto Glenn Beck and Doug Giles to Tell Her Story
This "Wake Up America" sign could cost Russells over $7300
Yesterday started off very hectic for Clara and Johnnie Russell as word of their lawsuit spread around the country after The 912 Project Fan Site and The Blaze decided to do stories about the lawsuit that had been filed against them for posting a sign supporting their local 912 Project group.
After Claire, as Mrs. Russell is otherwise known, had spent a great deal of time trying to get someone to take up her issue and do a story that would help stop all this nonsense she and her husband Johnnie were going through because of their support for the Glenn Beck idea of “Wake Up America”, she stumbled upon me and sent me a message with her story.
The message read,
txgirl2009
@the_912_project I got sued last week over my #WAKE UP AMERICA SIGN! It cost me 7,000 dollars pic.twitter.com/6z8hLR2v
After viewing the sign, I couldn’t believe they were being sued over it. It had more to do with my personal ignorance of HOA’s than anything else. I did ask Claire to send me her contact information so I could get more information about her case, which she did. Not long after our conversation began, I decided I had put everything aside and try to help bring some attention to this case. I just don’t like it when good people are attacked by America haters for being proud of their country.
The Parkers, and friends, awaiting the bond hearing
Today, the Russells went back to court after filing an “Inability to Pay” motion. This time they went into the Parker County, Texas Court armed with Attorney Joshua Carden, who had volunteered his services, by their side. Not only did they have Carden there to help them, but there was a small army of patriots, neighbors, and friends who showed up to give the couple their support. While receiving an update with Mrs. Russell tonight, she laughed a little when she was telling me that somebody was even outside holding a sign that said, “Wake Up America”. Much of what she told me tonight, I can’t reveal just yet, but it does sound like the Russells are now finding plenty of support for their being willing to take a stand for the many others who have and will have to go through ordeals like this when living under the strong arm of a Homeowners Association such as that found in the Remuda Ranch Estates Homeowners Association. I continue to applaud them for wanting to take this stand, “because it is just the right thing to do”, as explained by Clara Russell.
Yesterday, The Blaze’s Mike Opelka added a great update on his story about the couple’s suit and provided details of a possible conflict of interest with one of the Remuda Ranch Estates Homeowners Association board members. Claire had called me late last night to explain some things she had uncovered with one of them being that Judge Lynn Marie Johnson and Kathy Kornegay Chruscielski (HOA board member and rotating HOA President) were friends. This should have been an immediate reason for Judge Johnson to have dismissed herself from the case due to conflict of interest.
Yesterday’s major updates for Clara and Johnnie Russell:
- After today’s hearing there was an offer made by the attorney for the HOA, to which the Russells and their attorney have yet to respond to.
- Judge Judy, I mean Judge Lynn Marie Johnson would not permit any recording devices within her courtroom (I wonder what she is afraid of and I’m going to have to look up Texas State law on this to see if recording devices are permitted).
- The Judge also did NOT hand down any rulings today and has postponed her ruling until December 1, 2011.
- Claire informed me that there are ongoing efforts to establish a legal defense fund for the couple to help see them through this (I will provide an update on this as it becomes available).
- So far Clara and Johnnie have spoken with five attorneys (not including others they have not yet spoken with), including Mr. Carden, who have offered their services in their case.
- Liberty Counsel Attorney Matt Krause is looking into possible Constitutional violations
- Last but not least, Claire has been invited to be on Glenn Beck’s Radio and Glenn Beck TV programs today (11/22/2011) where she will be telling her story for wanting to “Wake Up America”.
- Claire has also been invited as a guest on the Doug Giles Clash Radio program this Wednesday (11/23/2011).
Update (11-23-2011): The trail of this story…
- This story began with: Activist Judge Rules Against Freedom of Speech in North Texas! (update #5 7-22-2011)
- This story is the second in a series of articles
- Part 3 in the series: The Conflicts of Interest Keep Getting More Interesting when in Parker County, Texas
Activist Judge Rules Against Freedom of Speech in North Texas! (update #6 7-26-2011)
Posted by: | CommentsThis is the sign that is costing the Russells over $7,300
In a recent verdict, a North Texas couple located in Parker County found out just how much their Constitutional Rights to Freedom of Speech could cost them after posting a sign simply stating, “WAKE UP AMERICA – Defend Your Liberties” which promotes Glenn Beck’s wake up America project. All of a sudden this sign became an issue after the sign had already been in place for nearly three years.
During a phone conversation with Clara Russell, she told me that she had purchased the sign after attending a Fort Worth, Texas 912 Project Rally. She was so inspired by the gathering, the quality of people, and the message, she felt she needed to do her part and purchased the sign. That was the beginning of this story that has taken a surprise turn for Clara and her husband Johnnie, but far from the end with the recent verdict passed down from a recently elected Justice of the Piece, Judge Lynn Marie Johnson of Pct. 4, having found in the favor of the Remuda Ranch Estates Homeowners Association who had filed a lawsuit against the Russells for breaking the rules of the HOA. The costs to the couple? A whopping $7,323.00 for posting a simple non-political sign while others in the community, including the President of the HOA, had signs in their yards.
Judgement against the Russells by Judge Marie Lynn Johnson Pct. 4
In an email from Clara, detailing what had transpired, she tells me,
“My husband Johnnie and I moved out of the City into the Country for some space and a seemingly quiet lifestyle. In our request to our Realtor, there was a short lists of deal breakers. Obviously, cost was number one. The second item was we wanted a place with NO HOA! (we executed a contract with the builder, and it is CLEARLY MARKED NO HOA)”
which is quite clear in the Russell’s sales contract as seen below…
Click on the image to see for yourself
Initially I told Clara that I most likely would not have the time to do a story on her case until she began providing some details about the Judge and had told me how she had found out that Judge Lynn Marie Johnson had been previously registered as a Democrat and only recently joined the GOP in order to get elected in a largely conservative area (I along with others are still working to try and verify this statement). Mrs. Russell also explained how the judge had come back from a lunch break with pages in a book already marked prior to the end of the trial or final statements had been given as if Judge Johnson had already reached a verdict on her case. I can assure you that both of these comments were quick to catch my attention at which time I told Clara I would make time to get her story out since I have personally taken a strong stance against activist judges because they are the ones who are tearing down the pillars of our U.S. Constitution (See: Judgeless in Iowa: Making Sense of Tuesday’s Judicial Ouster). As of the last update from Clara, there are many others who are not taken this issue lying down, either.
What have others said about the Russell lawsuit?
Fox News of Dallas-Forth Worth Reports: Homeowners Sued for Political Sign
WFAA of Dallas-Forth Worth Reports: North Texas couple ordered to pay $7,200 for yard sign
Bud Kennedy reported in the Star-Telegram: Free Speech not cheap in Parker County neighborhood
Mr. Kennedy’s story (linked above) was the most thorough to date, but Bud did fall short when he stated, “…a Tea Party-like group…”. Please see the following link for a better understanding of the 912 Project 9 Principles and 12 Values of the 912 Project or visit the National 912 Project to read their about page for details.
Interesting enough, this is not the first time this particular Homeowners Association has made the news for lawsuits against it’s residents or taking a stance against citizen’s Constitutional Rights – Gun enthusiast not a fan of new ordinance.
Update: Corrections made to Judge’s name.
Update (11-21-2011 7:47 am cst): The Blaze has now picked up this story – TX Homeowner Fined $7,000 for Displaying Sign Associated With Glenn Beck
Update (11-21-2011 8:25 am cst): The Russells will be meeting with a real estate attorney this morning, who is very interested in their case, with a focus of getting this case moved to a different court for fear that the couple will not receive a fair trial in the current court.
Update (11-21-2011 12:15 pm cst): The Blaze has updated the story (seen in previous update above) with exciting new details that Mrs. Russell had uncovered last night and additional details on the case that I had not yet published. More news and updates to come late tonight.
Update (11-22-2011): There have been too many updates so I’ve added a new up-to-date story with additional details of a possible conflict of interest that were previously left out of the this story. Click this story for more: Conflict of Interest Causing an Uprising in Parker County, Texas over Homeowners being Sued
UPDATED (11-26-2011):
I have also received word of a defense fund being set up for the Russells to assist with their legal fees:
Clara Russell Defense Fund
PO Box 150471
Ft. Worth Texas 76108
There are also requests asking who to contact in order to file complaints:
District Attorney’s Office:
Don Schnelby
117 Fort Worth Hwy
Weatherford, TX 76086
(817) 598-6124
Other Chapters in this ongoing story:
- This story: Activist Judge Rules Against Freedom of Speech in North Texas! (update #5 7-22-2011)
- Conflict of Interest Causing an Uprising in Parker County, Texas over Homeowners being Sued (Update #1)
- The Conflicts of Interest Keep Getting More Interesting when in Parker County, Texas
- Clara Russell Makes it onto Glenn Beck and Doug Giles to Tell Her Story
- Taking a Better Look into Conflicts of Interest in Parker County, Texas Regarding Russell Case
Video: Wisconsin Capitol protesters disrespect the Veterans Memorial
Posted by: | CommentsUnion Protesters disrespect a Veteran’s War Memorial at the Wisconsin State Capitol by using it as a display board to take their signs on.
The YouTube channel “annalthouse” has many videos relating to the many union related protests that have been taking place in Wisconsin over the past few weeks.
Johnny Wood’s tribute to our Soldiers who have Been To Hell And Back
Posted by: | CommentsOn Sept 11, 2001 America got a glimpse of what hell was like. Most of us stood by and watched on TV the horrors of 9/11 as the events unfolded before our eyes. Some actually lived through the devastation of the dust and debris engulfing the streets of New York or the fire that ripped through the Pentagon. And 3000 plus are not here today because of those attacks. Yes it was hell for the many Americans who stood by their televisions or were near the scenes and watched the horror unfold live.
Photo of this site's Son as he graduates from Fort Jackson, SC
Since that day, tens of thousands of brave men and women have joined our armed forces. Unlike most of us who now go about our lives stopping occasionally to remember hell, they are living it everyday.
Singer/songwriter Johnny Wood remembers 9/11 all too well, being a Native of Chesapeake Virginia. He also vividly remembers watching the news when some of our military completing their first tour of duty started coming home. “I was watching TV and the reporter was stopping some of the soldiers, chatting with them and asking questions the way any reporter would.” Johnny recalled, “There was this one guy, looked to be barely 20. After a few basic questions, the reporter asked him ‘Did you kill anyone?’ He didn’t answer but the look on this young mans face said it all. You could see the hell in his eyes”
Johnny did what he always does when something touches his heart. “I grabbed my guitar and wrote the song in about five minutes flat. I wrote it for that soldier and all of them that have Been To Hell And Back”
Been To Hell And Back is a simple ballad that tells the story of how once they go and serve in a war, our soldier’s lives are changed forever. When they do come home, many face the expectations from family and friends that they will be the same person that left here. “How can they be the same? War is hell.” Said Johnny as he continued, “Only those whom have been there can really relate to what it is like.”
The song addresses how a mother realizes her boy is different after going to Iraq. His Dad knows there is only one person that could help his son cope with what he went through, and that is someone who has been through it himself. He tells his son to talk to his uncle, a Vietnam vet.
Been To Hell and Back is simplistic in style with words that actually tell a story. It is one of those tunes that creates a visual in your mind and tugs at your heart. Like all of Mr. Wood’s tunes, it came from real life. “Songwriting and music is my therapy” Johnny laughs, “I see something, or need to speak from my heart, I write a song. I wrote ‘You Raised Me’ for my Mom and even wrote a song for my wife. I sang it to her at our wedding.”
Johnny Wood has been playing guitar since he was seven, but has never considered himself a musician. “I do have a band now though, with some good friends Jeff Lacey on drums and Brad (BO) Bowman on bass. I call it my ‘midlife crisis’, The Johnny Wood Band.” He laughs, then continues, “They are the powerhouse behind the band and the music, I couldn’t ask for none better.” Johnny and his ‘Mid-Life Crisis’ band are working on a studio version of this song, which is coming along great. “Wait till you hear the full studio version, we did the acoustic recording of Been to Hell because we really wanted to get it out there.’
And those who have ‘Been to Hell and Back’ are so glad you did get it out there!
Learn more about Johnny Wood on ReverbNation , MySpace and YouTube.
Clara Russell Makes it onto Glenn Beck and Doug Giles to Tell Her Story (Updated)
Posted by: Trent Thevenot | Comments (0)As the Parker County, Texas case continues to unfold, Clara Russell finds her way onto Glenn Beck’s radio program on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 to tell the story about how she and her husband Johnnie were singled out to remove their “Wake Up America” sign while neighbors were proudly displaying signs of all types in their yards.
The interview began with a brief summary of the case by Glenn and then continued with Clara filling in some details.
On Wednesday, November 23, 2011, Mrs. Russell went on the Doug Giles program for a second interview to tell the Russell’s story, that details currently being uncovered in our investigation are seeming to lead to a much broader County wide level of corruption largely based on politics and a good ole’ boys network of the who’s who in Parker County, Texas. Listen to Clara’s story on Doug Giles’ Clash Radio program by going to the Clash Radio archives page and clicking on the 11-23-2011 recording.
Finally, I know everyone might have been expecting a little more of a story today, but today is Thanksgiving Day and I thought I’d have a little heart today. To top it off, it’s not much of a news day anyway. Wishing all our Proud American friends a Happy Thanksgiving!
I did find a new story with many new and interesting details from a more local perspective: North Texas Family Sued by HOA for Posting a Wake Up America Sign
UPDATES (11-26-2011):
I have also received word of a defense fund being set up for the Russells to assist with their legal fees:
Clara Russell Defense Fund
PO Box 150471
Ft. Worth Texas 76108
There are also requests asking who to contact in order to file complaints:
District Attorney’s Office:
Don Schnelby
117 Fort Worth Hwy
Weatherford, TX 76086
(817) 598-6124
Other Chapters in this ongoing story: