Sewer line 'snags' memorial project
Crews accidentally puncture line to Wharton County Sheriff's Department
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Photo contributed by Elmer Cavender Progress on the Wharton County Peace Officers Memorial is momentarily halted due to a broken sewer line.

The builders of a memorial designed to honor fallen Wharton County peace officers hit a snag last weekend when they accidentally punctured a sewer line on the property of the Wharton County Sheriff's Department.

It was originally thought the line supplied the Wharton County Jail - providing sewer service to over 90 inmates.

"We made arrangements for portable toilets to be brought to the jail at first because we thought it was the main jail line," said Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Agent Darryl Darnell, who has spearheaded efforts to create the Wharton County Peace Officers Memorial.

Such preparations later proved to be unnecessary. A closer inspection of the line Friday afternoon revealed it was connected to the Sheriff's Department's administrative offices and not the jail.

The request for toilets was canceled and City of Wharton crews and an area plumber were able to uncover the line and reroute it within a few hours.

The near-disaster occurred while crews were drilling the four main piers for the memorial's wall. Each pier was 24 inches in diameter and 15 feet deep.

"They're designed to keep the wall from ever leaning," Darnell said.

Crews were drilling the second pier when they hit the line. Water and sewer lines had earlier been marked by stakes, but apparently one was missed.

The memorial, which will be built on the WCSO property at the corner of Elm and Resident streets, will include a 20 foot long by six foot tall Texas limestone wall and contain three columns and three flag poles that will display U.S., Texas and Peace Officer Memorial flags.

Plans to build a memorial developed after the shooting death of Game Warden Justin Hurst on March 17, 2007.

"When we heard about the death of Justin Hurst a lot of people knew that Sheriff (Hamilton Bass) Dickson had been killed in the line of duty," Wharton County 100 Club officer and project committee member Billie Jones earlier said.

"What a lot of people didn't realize (was) that three others had also been killed while protecting the citizens of Wharton County. We did not want them to be forgotten again and wanted to pay them honor."

Dickson was killed in 1894. Others paying the ultimate price as a peace officer in Wharton County include Deputy Jailer Henry Ross McCain, killed in 1908; El Campo City Marshal James Otway Lee, 1914; and Deputy Sheriff Harry Charles McCormick, 1920.

The memorial committee has so far raised just over $8,000. Though the precise cost of the monument has not yet been finalized, additional funds will be needed to complete the project and provide for future maintenance, Darnell said.

He added plans are to pour the foundation for the wall, sidewalk and patio hopefully within the next two to three weeks. Donations should be made to the Peace Officer Memorial Project - 100 Club of Wharton County Inc. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 46, El Campo, Texas, 77437. For more information, contact Darnell at 532-1550.