ATHENS —
With the opening week in the books, the 83rd Texas Legislative Session is expected to begin picking up steam soon.
Fourth District State Representative Lance Gooden is awaiting his committee assignments, and in addition to the budget, will be watching closely to see what key bills make it to the floor. Gooden, who served on the appropriations committee during his first term, hopes to continue in that role. Speaker Joe Straus will make the assignments early next month.
In a statement released on Thursday, Gooden said constituents have contacted him concerning gun control measures that may be coming out of Washington.
“It is too early to determine what legislation will have legs,” Gooden said of the multiple bills in the works on the subject.
District 10 Representative Jim Pitts, whose district now includes a western slice of Henderson County containing about 13 percent of its population, has co-authored gun owner rights legislation.
“The Second Amendment was written with the tremendous foresight of our founding fathers and has endured for over two centuries as a necessary protectorate of a citizen’s right to bear arms,” Pitts said. “I intend to stand up for that right and am proud to join Representative John Otto in authoring HB 553, the Second Amendment Preservation Act.”
Pitts said the bill will apply to federal acts that would include confiscating, limiting magazine size, limiting the amount of ammunition, taxing or requiring registration of firearms.
Pitts has filed 10 bills in the new session. Among the proposed legislation is a bill pertaining to prohibiting using a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle on school property.
Third District State Senator Robert Nichols already knows what committees he’ll be on this session. Lt. Governor David Dewhurst named him chairman of the Transportation Committee and vice chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee. Other committee jobs for Nichols include Health and Human Services, Natural Resources and State Affairs.
Nichols has filed four bills in the new session. Senate Bill 95 is designed to limit the increase of the appraised value of a residence homestead. The bill cuts the maximum increase in value from 10 percent to 5 percent.
Nichols has also proposed SB 96, which would prohibit state or local governments from taking private land for recreational purposes.
“No homeowner should lose the roof over their head so others can have a place to play,” Nichols said.
Local News
Coming soon: action
Legislature expected to heat up in coming days, weeks
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Wet and wild
A line of severe thunderstorms roared throughout Henderson County on Tuesday afternoon, dropping significant rainfall and taking down trees and power lines.
The storm produced heavy rains in Athens, where the National Weather Service reports 2.16 inches fell. Residents in the county were seeing three or more inches in their rain gauges. -
Strong message
A Henderson County jury delivered a strong message to a 37-year-old Kemp man in the sentencing phase of a child sexual-abuse trial on Tuesday.
The jury, in Judge Mark Calhoon’s 3rd District Court, handed Danny Ray Lusk four life sentences and one 20-year sentence, the maximum jail time on each count. -
Going to ‘WAR’
A program termed “We Are Responsible” was generated this year at South Athens Elementary School by its principal, Eugene Buford.
At first reading, the slogan appears to be for the school’s students. But, after looking at the slogan and noting that the abbreviation is WAR, Buford says the slogan is for educators. -
A need that’s very easy to see
The Greater Athens Lions Club is asking for used eyeglasses, lenses, glass cases and hearing aids for the annual Lions Club White Cane Day this Saturday.
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Too close to home
It was the kind of moment any parent would dread.
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Give it to Jody!
The 50th annual Henderson County Farm and Ranch Tour concluded Tuesday with a luncheon on the floor of the Henderson County Fair Park Complex arena and the naming presentation of the Joe B. Fulgham Agriculturist of the Year.
The 25th recipient of the award was Jody Jackson of Murchison, whose farming and ranching operations started with a few cattle and some chickens then grew to one of the county’s most varied operations. -
County votes to sell old annex building
Henderson County officials on Tuesday narrowly approved contracting with an Athens realtor to list the old Courthouse Annex building for sale.
Steve Grant Real Estate was chosen to sell the property by a 3-to-2 vote. Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence and Precinct 4 Commissioner Ken Geeslin cast the dissenting votes. -
Burk to serve as next ACA administrator
Athens Christian Academy (Kindergarten through 6th grade) is pleased to announce Dale Burk as the new administrator beginning July 2013.
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Bullying just got tougher
To reduce the prevalence of school age bullying the Athens Independent School District has added a new communications tool called Anonymous Alerts, allowing individuals to quickly, easily and anonymously report urgent information that they may otherwise be uncomfortable revealing.
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Magnificent 7
The Athens Odd Fellow Lodge No. 961 and Athens Rebekah Lodge No. 23 has seven students who are receiving a $500 scholarship to Trinity Valley Community College for this year.
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