Local News
Baxter VFD gets help from inmates
Commissioners Court allow VFD’s to use the prison work policy
The Henderson County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to allow the Baxter Fire Department to participate in the Henderson County Prisoner Work Program. The commissioners also discussed, but stopped short of, amending the prison work policy to include other fire departments.
The commissioners court is allowed by law to authorize certain organizations, agencies or political subdivisions to prison labor. The Baxter Fire Department Chief James Brown requested the use of the inmates to help the department in the upkeep of buildings, grounds and trucks. A fireman who is also a commissioned peace officer would supervise the workers.
“Why don’t we amend the resolution so that it reflects all the fire departments?” Pct. 2 Commissioner Wade McKinney asked. “It would be an option out there for those departments if we cleared the way now for them.”
County Judge David Holstein said a problem might arise if the department did not have someone qualified to supervise the inmates.
Henderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Tony Allison said in each case the entity using the labor is checked out for security, based on the project where the inmates are to be used. He said the sheriff’s office would not be opposed to amending the resolution to include the fire departments.
Allison said the inmates could be supervised by a certified peace office or an off-duty detention officer. “We prefer under some circumstances, depending on the type of project that’s being done and the location of the project, for it to be a certified peace office,” Allison said.
The court voted 4-1 to add Baxter to the ordinance with Pct. 4 Commissioner Joe Hall the opposing vote.
The commissioners also named Don Foster to serve on the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District Board. Pct. 4 Commissioner Jerry West nominated Foster to the four-year term that will begin when Tom Martin’s term ends Dec. 31. Martin did not wish to serve another term on the board.
West said Foster has owned a drilling business for several years. He said some of the drillers had expressed a desire to have someone from their profession on the board.
“I know several of the water- well drillers and this has been a sore spot. They were dead set against this water district to begin with and they’re just beginning to come around, but they would like some representation on the board,” said Foster.
Henderson County has two members on the board. Dr. Sam Hurley holds the other position.
- Local News
-
-
PWC donates to fire department
At the recent Pinnacle Women’s Club Philanthropic luncheon, Chris Reed, fireman and board member of the Payne Springs Volunteer Fire Department received a check for $1,000 to be used for equipment on their new truck.
-
More ACP winners who make writing a priority
Athens Christian Preparatory students won in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Essay Contest.
-
Pink attire urged at game
Athens Lady Hornets softball fans need to get out their pink shirts for Friday’s district opener against Brownsboro.
-
Commissioners vote to hire company to drill for core samples
The Henderson County Commissioners court voted Tuesday to hire a company to drill for core samples on the property that will hold the new Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace building.
-
Athens senior citizen wants justice
For the first time in her life, Clarene Lindley of Athens is protesting.
The 84 year-old woman thinks she got a bad deal when she hired a construction company to do some remodeling on her LaCosta Street Home. -
Growing up with HCLS
When Delaney Herrington escorts her market steer, two market hogs, two breeding hogs and heifer into the Henderson County Fair Park Coliseum next week, it won’t be for the first time
-
Fund set up for construction accident victim
Funeral services were held Monday for A 2001 LaPoynor High School graduate who died in a construction accident in Palestine last week.
-
AEDC board approves two performance agreements
The Athens Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors approved two performance agreements on Thursday.
The proposed agreements with Abby Development and the Athens Jet Center are very similar, said AEDC President/CEO Brian Malone.
He said the agreement with Abby Development provides a maximum incentive of $75,000 for infrastructure. -
Local historic treasure recovered
Athens Masonic Lodge No. 165 recovered tokens from its past — both large and small — from a building it had once called its own.
Lodge Secretary Randy Daniel, who is Athens’ mayor, said members retrieved two time capsules last Saturday with the permission of the Ginger Murchison Foundation, the current owner of the building.
The lodge, he said, met on that corner, the southwest corner of the Henderson County Courthouse square, for about 75 years. -
Eustace FFA does well in Fort Worth, San Antonio
The Eustace FFA Show teams have been very busy since the beginning of the year with competitions at two major stock shows.
- More Local News Headlines
-
