Monthly Archives: May 2012

Week of May 21, 2012

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Story No. 1 – Primary Election Day: After a long, long wait because of redistricting issues, Primary Election Day will finally take place in Texas on Tuesday.
Why it is important: There are many big races on the ballot — State Rep. District 4 & District 10; Pct. 1 Commissioner; Pct. 3 Commissioner; Tax Assessor-Collector — and some of them don’t have Democratic challengers, so the winner Tuesday will be the winner in November.
Learn more: The Henderson County website has sample ballots and the Notice of Election, which includes the polling places.

Story No. 2 – Graduation time: Malakoff High School graduated Thursday night (May 24), but most area schools won’t graduate until next week. Athens High School seniors will walk across the stage on June 1.
Why it is important: A college education might be a prerequisite for getting a good job, but it is still the high school diploma that seems to provide entrance to adulthood.
Learn more: The Review has stories on the valedictorians and salutatorians at Athens High School and the Athens Christian Preparatory Academy.

Story No. 3 – Murchison may expand: Murchison ISD currently goes through 8th grade, but the district is exploring the possibility of adding a high school.
Why it is important: It would of course be big for Murchison, but it could also impact Brownsboro ISD and Athens ISD. Because those two district usually absorb the Murchison high school students, and the way the state funds school districts, the loss of students could mean a loss of money.
Learn more: Art Lawler at the Review had a story.

Story No. 4 – Athens ISD board prepares for budget: At a school board meeting late last week, the AISD board began working on budget issues, including setting a proposed tax rate, setting the teacher pay scale, and setting a budget public hearing date.
Why it is important: Schools take the biggest local tax bite.
Learn more: The Athens News had a story, but doesn’t have a website. The proposed tax rate is the current tax rate of $1.18647 per $100-valuation. The teacher pay scale stays the same. The budget hearing will be 6 p.m. Thursday, June 21.

Story No. 5 – Lon Morris College lays off nearly everyone: The private, 2-year college in Jacksonville is facing financial troubles and took drastic measures this week as the start of what has been characterized as a reorganization.
Why it is important: Everyone talks about money problems, but it is still jarring to see something like a college fold.
Learn more: The Tyler Paper has a story.

Week of May 14, 2012

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Dr. Watt A. Norman, Jr.

Story No. 1 – Agriculturist of the Year: Dr. Watt A. Norman, Jr. was announced as the Joe B. Fulgham Agriculturist of the Year this week. He is the owner of Cedar Creek Veterinary in Malakoff.
Why it is important: Henderson County is still an agricultural county. As AgriLife Extension Agent Rick Hirsch said, “Our agrarian heritage is rich and continues to be so today.”
Learn more: All the newspapers covered the event (the 49th Annual Farm and Ranch Tour), but it is only online at The Malakoff News. 

Story No. 2 – Remembering Tony, Paul and all the others: Thursday was the annual Peace Officers Memorial Service, but this year May 17 also marked the fifth anniversary of the death of Henderson County Deputies Tony Ogburn and Paul Habelt.
Why it is important: Because law enforcement puts their lives on the line every day.
Learn more: Art Lawler at the Athens Review did a great job remembering that awful day. 

Story No. 3 – TVCC a top college: Trinity Valley Community College this week was named one of the top two-year schools in the country … again.
Why it is important: Who doesn’t like to be one of the best?
Learn more: There’s a story up on the school’s website. 

Story No. 4 – Almost Fiddlers time: We are just a week away from the 81st Old Fiddlers Reunion on the square in Athens.
Why it is important: Two things really make Athens different, from a historical perspective: The first hamburger with Uncle Fletch and the Old Fiddlers Reunion the last Friday in May.
Learn more: Check out the event’s website. 

Story No. 5 – Turnover in GBC: There’s a new mayor in Gun Barrel City, and he’s the same mayor as the old mayor … and believe it or not, it is all because of alcohol.
Why it is important: The alcohol question isn’t put to rest in Henderson County by a long shot; Chandler is next up and there are some smaller towns thinking about going wet.
Learn more: Art Lawler had a good week, and has an opinion piece on why Paul Eaton is once again mayor of Gun Barrel City, governing from the center, and alcohol. 

Week of May 7, 2012

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Patrick Greene
Patrick Greene

Story No. 1 – Christian No More: Patrick Greene made plenty of headlines when he converted to Christianity, but it didn’t last very long. A month later, Greene says he’s back to being an atheist.
Why it is important: As part of the nativity scene controversy, Greene has become a pretty big figure in Henderson County. Athens’ Sand Springs Baptist Church played a big part in his original conversion.
Learn more: Mysanantonio.com had the best story. 

Story No. 2 – Kemp Dumps Police Department: The City of Kemp disbanded its police department this week, citing budget pressure as the reason.
Why it is important: Kemp may be a little far from home, but the city’s problems could be a cautionary tale for area small cities. Just how close can municipalities cut finances and ignore maintenance to keep taxes low before tempting disaster?
Learn more: The Athens Review has a story.

Story No. 3 – Monarch Reaches Agreement: Monarch, a subsidiary of SouthWest Water Company with thousands of customers in Henderson County, reached an agreement on a proposed rate hike last week.
Why it is important: The agreement will impact county residents around Cedar Creek Lake and Lake Palestine.
Learn more: The Athens News and The Malakoff News had the story. 

Story No. 4 – Jake’s Skate Park Anniversary: Jake’s Skate Park in Malakoff will be celebrating its second anniversary Saturday with a festival/competition.
Why it is important: The unique park, located in front of the Malakoff Community Center, is the only facility of its kind in the county.
Learn more: Again, The Malakoff News has the details. 

Story No. 5 – Earthquake in East Texas: A 3.7-magnitude earthquake hit Mount Enterprise Thursday morning.
Why it is important: Although the quake didn’t cause a lot of damage, there’s still something a little scary about the words “earthquake” and “East Texas” in the same sentence.
Learn more: Check out the Tyler Paper story. 

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Week of April 30, 2012

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McKinney
In this photo from last summer, Clay McKinney, then 14, poses with his father, Pct. 2 Commissioner Wade McKinney, and grandfather, Mac McKinney. Clay had just finished cutting 25 acres of hay by himself, something that might have been outlawed by new Bureau of Labor rules, but the proposed changes were dropped last week.

Story No. 1 – Proposed Farm Labor Changes dropped: Late last week, the U.S. Department of Labor announced it was dropping proposed changes to agricultural child labor regulations. The new rules for the employment of those under 16 would have put restrictions on the operation of tractors, and prohibited many animal husbandry practices such as branding, breeding, dehorning, vaccinating, castrating, and treating sick or injured animals.
Why it is important: In a rural area like Henderson County, the rules were seen as an attack against a way of life.
Learn more: The Malakoff News and The Athens News had the story. You can read it here. (The News has begun to post the entire paper online, so you will have to go to the page to read the story.)

Story No. 2 – Anonymous Group Enters Nativity Debate: An anonymous group concerned over the possible cost of a legal battle over the county nativity scene has hired Athens attorney Martin Bennett to represent them. County officials confirmed Bennett has had meetings with members of the Keep Athens Beautiful board and County Attorney Clint Davis.
Why it is important: This is the first time a concerted effort for moving the nativity scene has come from within the county.
Learn more: The story was only in The Athens News, but that paper doesn’t have a website.

Story No. 3 – Monarch at the Table: Monarch (a subsidiary of SouthWest Water Company), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, a coalition of affected cities, and Texans Against Monopolies Excessive Rates (TAMER) have been engaged in negotiations over water and sewer rates the past two weeks in Austin.
Why it is important: Thousands of Monarch customers live in Henderson County, particularly around Cedar Creek Lake and Lake Palestine.
Learn more: Again, the story was in The Malakoff News and The Athens News.
UPDATE: The Malakoff News and The Athens News reported Friday that an agreement has been reached – details are expected to be released later.

Story No. 4 – FPP Annual Waffle Breakfast: The Family Peace Project will hold its annual Waffle Breakfast fundraiser Saturday morning, May 5.
Why it is important: Because the waffles are awesome and the cause is important.
Learn more: The 11th Annual Family Peace Project Waffle Breakfast will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at the United Methodist Church (225 Lovers Lane) in Athens. Tickets are $6 per person in advance, $7 at the door. Children under 5 are free. Call 903-677-9177 for information.

Story No. 5 – Farm Market Comes Back: Fresh vegetables and crafts will be back on the city parking lot this Saturday as the Athens Farmers Market returns.
Why it is important: Because the Farmers Market has a long history in the city — besides, who doesn’t like fresh veggies (eat more!!).
Learn more: The Athens Review has the story.