Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Local News

Discussion

June 27, 2008

Then there were none

All 3 Log Cabin police officers resign, leaving no force

By Rich Flowers News Editor

The City of Log Cabin has not discharged its police department. It’s just reloading.

Mayor Pro-Tem Weldon Wallace said earlier this week the department is currently inactive because of the resignations of Police Chief Chris Smoot and the two officers under his command. The resignations, tendered about June 5, became effective June 19.

Log Cabin is interviewing from a list of about 12 applicants for the police chief position. Wallace said he was hopeful the city could reach a decision by the end of the week.

“After that, if the person we pick is working somewhere else they’ll probably want to give notice, so we’re probably at least two weeks away from having a new chief,” Wallace said.

Wallace said the departure of the former police staff was amicable.

“Chief Smoot said he resigned to go back to a town where he had lived before he came to Log Cabin,” Wallace said. “One officer lived in the Tyler area and was working for about $11 an hour. He was basically just working because he knew Chris.”

Wallace said he does not know why the third officer quit but thought it was probably for similar reasons.

“The chief in a small town usually hires people that he knows and trusts and are loyal to him,” Wallace said. “That’s an advantage in that he knows something about it (law enforcement) and we on the city council don’t.”

Wallace said although Smoot did not mention money as a reason for his departure, he believed the chief had hoped to make more money than the city was willing to pay.

“It’s public record that the council did some work on a potential contract not only for the police department but for the maintenance workers. The council drew up a proposed contract, but the item kind of died,” Wallace said. “That was sometime in the past three to six months.”

The Caney City Police Department and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department are taking up some of the slack during the time it takes to fill the position, Wallace said.

“Caney City has been very helpful. The chief, Ken Holder, came over and talked with me and said they would answer emergency calls,” Wallace said. “The Caney officers have been making three or four passes through the city each shift to create a presence here.”

Text Only
Local News
  • Mia Orosco wins.jpg 19-year-old wins in competition against best fiddlers

    Mia Orosco wasn’t born with a fiddle in her hand playing a breakdown, but to the crowd at the Athens Old Fiddler’s Reunion it seemed as easy for her as drawing a breath.
    Orosco turned 19 on Wednesday, taking her out of the youth division to compete against the best. She’s only been using her violin in the fiddlin’ style for about five years.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • Parking lot altercation leads to arrest

    Athens police, acting on a 911 call, drove up on a an altercation at 505 S. Palestine St. at the Save-a-Dollar parking lot just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

    May 25, 2012

  • One arrested, two released after cocaine discovery

    It probably wasn't the best place to hang out — the Henderson County Judicial Center parking lot on West Corsicana Street — not with a quanity of cocaine inside the console of the car.

    May 25, 2012

  • Primary voting Tuesday

    Ready, set, vote.
    The polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. in the Democratic and Republican Primaries. Henderson County candidates run the gamut from first-timers to long-time incumbents.
    Some county voters will be traveling to new polling places for this round of balloting, after the much-debated redistricting process.

    May 25, 2012

  • Henderson County communities participate in Click It or Ticket

    It's not a good weekend to get out on the state highways without buckling up.
    In fact, that's probably true every weekend.
    But the 11th annual Click It or Ticket Seat Belt Mobilization Campaign is under way, now through June 3, 2012.

    May 25, 2012

  • martha & mary pic.jpg ‘Martha and Mary’

    The Henderson County Performing Arts Center, in conjunction with Elite Barrel Racing, announces the World Premiere of local Playwright R.G. Haynie’s newest play, “Martha and Mary,” on May 31  at 7:30 p.m., with additional shows on June 2, June 7, June 8 and June 9  at 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 3 and Sunday, June 10  at the theatre complex, located at 400 Gibson Road in Athens.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • DSC_0043.JPG Slide Show- Old Fiddlers Reunion The Fiddlers Reunion is in full swing around the Athens Courthouse. Final winners and street dance Friday night. Photos by Kathi Nailling

    May 25, 2012

  • Fiddler's1.JPG Fiddlers firing up

    You can get on out of that bed now, and get yourselves down to the courthouse square.
    The fiddlers are firing up, and they'll be going until the clock strikes 12 with the street dance, as the 81st Annual Old Fiddlers Reunion gets into high gear.

    May 24, 2012 2 Photos

  • Rachaelle Browning.jpg Valedictorian & Salutatorian

    The Athens High School Valedictorian of 2012 is Rachaelle Browning. She is the daughter of Wes and Jan Browning. Rachaelle will be attending the University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 2012 and plans to major in Aerospace Engineering.
    Rachaelle has participated in various extracurricular activities throughout high school in preparation for a career in engineering.

    May 24, 2012 2 Photos

  • At the start.JPG 3rd annual Hornet Fun Run continues through today

    Fourth graders participated Thursday in the 3rd Annual Hornet Fun Run at the Cain Center.  Above is the beginning, when the children would run one mile.  At left, Isaac Garcia is shown taking overall first place.  Second place honors for boys went to Armondo Garcia, and Third place Case Friedrich.  Girls first place was Taylor Stiles, second place Veronica Campa and third place honors went to Semia Brazier. See those that placed, both boys and girls, on Page 14. The fifth grade will run today.

    May 24, 2012 4 Photos