1. Bradley Rice Blanton
Writing Samples
Published Huntsville Item
Taliaferro sentenced to 2 years
A Richards woman who pleaded guilty in March to one count of bank fraud for
her role in the embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Walker
County Title Company was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison.
Tracy Renee Taliaferro, 31, was also ordered to pay $243,505 in restitution by US
District Judge David Hittner.
“Based on the offense,” said prosecutor U.S. Attorney John Braddock, “it is
unlikely [Taliaferro] would be offered probation. We are satisfied with the ruling; we
asked for the maximum and we got nearly that.”
Lloyd C. Martin, president of Walker County Title Co., said prior to sentencing,
“I certainly expect her to spend some time in prison because of the size of the crime.
That’s probably one of the largest thefts in this county’s history.” Martin said Taliaferro
has already paid back $137,000 of the $375,000 she is accused of stealing.
Taliaferro is accused of embezzling funds from the company over a 22-month
period, putting the money toward debt repayment, vehicle purchases and home
renovations. An audit determined that the funds in question were taken from the
company’s escrow accounts.
According to Martin, Taliaferro contacted the company’s vice president, Hurlene
Savage, and admitted to taking the money through forged signatures.
Published Huntsville Item
Running Wild
Marvin Dittfurth is running. He charges home with one last burst of effort and
takes a moment to catch his breath before explaining his call to the sport. Dittfurth runs
for cancer victims, for his father, for his son, for his god and for himself. He doesn’t
show any signs of stopping.
Last month, Dittfurth ran in Madisonville’s Relay for Life, a fund raiser for
cancer research; but on average he’s a marathon runner. These 26-mile tests of
determination and stamina are an all-day affair and Dittfurth ran one every month for five
months last year.
When he heard about the Texas Marathon Challenge, Dittfurth said, “I prayed
about whether to attempt it and by evening, I could barely contain myself.” He has
recently recovered from a severe knee injury and did not feel up to the challenge. After
asking advice of his running club, he was determined.
The first challenge was the San Antonio Marathon. Like most nights before a
marathon, Dittfurth did not sleep. “The miles could care less for good intentions,” he
said. “One hundred and thirty-one miles lay out there for me.”
Weather promised to aggravate the challenge as news reports urged travellers to
stay out of San Antonio that weekend. Dittfurth began the first leg of his journey in
prayer. After 10 miles, he passed the hospital where he was born and where he was

2. diagnosed with asthma, a challenge he would overcome with stringent training. By mile
20, Dittfurth’s feet had gone numb; at 23 his calf began to cramp.
With a head clouded by doubts and a body racked with pain, Dittfurth pushed on.
In his mind, he imagined his son’s voice urging him on. “I had all I needed than,” he said.
“The support of my family and the blessing of God.”
When he finished, Dittfurth’s family was waiting. “I couldn’t tell tears from
sweat,” said Dittfurth’s son Ryan. “I could tell he was a wreck.” Five weeks away, the
Dallas White Rock Marathon loomed.
“The second marathon was a death march,” said Dittfurth. He tried to keep his
mind on the scenery throughout but when the final mile was upon him, he “marched
trance-like over the finish.” Again, Dittfurth said his son’s voice kept him going through
the arduous task. He would have only three weeks to recover in time for the Houston
Compaq Marathon.
For this trek, Dittfurth would run in someone’s honor – longtime cancer warrior
Jack Viser. He would also run with a partner, Elaine Minton.
“There was a lot of emotion in the preparation for this run,” Minton said. “I got
disoriented at the 20-mile marker, but Marvin was there for me.” For Dittfurth, the runs
were getting easier.
“I was having a good time with my friend and making excellent time on the run. I
could still hear my son pushing me, but I leaned on that voice less,” Dittfurth said.
Dittfurth said the four weeks until the Motorola Austin Marathon flew by. He
would be joined by first-time marathoner Dan Hinson. The day came and went, according
to Dittfurth. For him it was easy, for Hinson it was “an obscene amount of work.”
“It was extremely challenging,” Hinson said. “No one told me it would be easy,
but this was ridiculous. But, I wanted to say I’d done it and now I have. I couldn’t have
gotten there without Marvin.”
Dittfurth breezed through it. “This was by far the easiest marathon I’ve run,” he
said. The same would not be said for the last leg of the challenge, the Dallas Trails
Marathon.
“The night before was the worst I’ve ever had,” Dittfurth said. His son would not
be there in body to cheer him on. Dittfurth ran those muddy trails for what he called an
eternity. And when he’d reached the last mile, he paused, raised his arm to the sky and
took a moment to thank someone. “I pointed to the heavens, the source of my strength,
the source of my joy, and thanked God for my life.”
All this work, was merely preamble to the Relay for Life. Dittfurth’s team,
sponsored by Mike Little of Fleetwood Homes won first pace in donations and overran
their goal of 100 miles by 76.
Dittfurth’s commitment to running against cancer can be traced to his parents’
struggles with the disease. “I am inspired by my father’s suffering. He was a man who
lived out his word and never considered quitting. I grew up trying to walk in those
footsteps,” Dittfurth said. To fill that mighty stride, he would instead have to run.
Only months after his father passed, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The disease would claim her too. Even as his family and faith inspire him, Dittfurth
inspires others.
“Marvin is an incredible person, an inspiration to anyone who wants to lace up
their shoes and go for a run,” Minton said.

3. “Marvin has always been there to help and advise me,” Hinson said. “He started
me running three years ago and it’s led me to a more healthful life.”
Dittfurth will undertake the Texas Marathon Challenge again this year and he’ll
bring with him both of his running partners for the entire trek.
Dittfurth put himself through school at the University of Houston and grad school
at SHSU. He teaches Sunday school and has run in 29 marathons. He is president of the
Seven Hills Running Club and is on the board of the Madison County Cancer Society.
Published Huntsville Item
SAAFE House holds annual celebrity dinner
A host of area celebrities are dusting off their jackets in preparation for the annual
SAAFE House Celebrity Dinner Theater.
The 11th annual dinner theater will be performed at the La Quinta Inn at 6 p.m. on
July 13. As in the past, local celebrities, business owners and city officials will serve as
waiters and several will participate in the show.
Confirmed celebrity waiters for this year include Caroline Erb of Huntsville
Youth Council, Michelle Mollins SHSU’s ag department chair, local writer Paul Ruffin,
and Citizen of the Year, Poncho Roberts.
“When you look at all the good the SAAFE House does for our community and
those around us, running out some plates of spaghetti is really the least I can do,” said
Ruffin.
“This dinner is our largest fund raiser of the year,” said Community Relations
Director Emily Cason. “Traditionally, auction items are our bread and butter at these
events.”
Desserts and curios donated by the public will be auctioned off silently. The event
will hold 160 attendees at $25 a ticket. To order a spot, arrangements can be made at
(936) 291-3529, or by tracking down one of the guest waiters who will also be selling
tickets.
Melissa Miller, a recent from SHSU with a BSA in theater has written this year’s
script and is in charge of production. Miller is playing the story line close to the vest, but
did let on that, “it will revolve around the golf course being built in town.”
SAAFE House (Sexual Assault and Abuse Free Environment) offers aid and
counseling to victims of abuse as well as legal advocacy, and a 24-hour crisis hot-line,
(936) 291-3529. Currently they are in need of paper products, children’s clothing and
canned goods. To donate or volunteer, contact (936) 291-3529.