Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Breaking News

Local News

Discussion

September 2, 2008

Gustav blows in

Henderson County takes on some evacuees as hurricane rips Gulf coast

By Rich Flowers News Editor

Families displaced by the approach of Hurricane Gustav spilled into Texas over the weekend.

Motels in Athens filled up with evacuees who left Louisiana as part of the largest evacuation in U.S. history.

At the Holiday Inn Express on East Tyler Street Monday morning, clerk Kayrena Christian said many of the customers from Louisiana had made reservations two or three nights in advance. Others weren’t as fortunate.

“We’re filled up with them,” Christian said. “We’re trying to handle it the best we can. We’ve given people numbers to other hotels, trying to help them out.”

Emergency preparedness networks were on alert across Henderson County Monday. However, those efforts weren’t immediately needed. East Texas Medical Center Athens had treated only a handful of evacuees who came to the emergency room on their own, according to hospital spokesperson Toni Garrard Clay.

As of mid-day Monday, no official hospital transfers had been accepted, she said.

Christopher and Jaimie Sheppard of Welsh, La., left home Sunday morning. The 270-mile drive took about seven-and-a-half hours, with a few short stops along the way.

Christopher said even an extended power outage would be reason enough for him to evacuate.

“We have three small children and the baby can’t handle that heat,” Christopher said.

Christopher said the children are enjoying staying in a motel.

“They think it’s a party, but the baby isn’t sleeping very well in a room with four people,” Christopher said.

Christopher said he was scheduled to come to Solar Turbines in Mabank for training this week. The evacuation just made him pull out a couple of days earlier.

“That part worked out perfectly,” Christopher said.

Jaimie’s parents had to travel on to Waco to find a room.

Chad Crochet and his wife, Andre, had secured reservations Tuesday. Athens was the closest place to their home in Jennings, La., with an available room.

“We’ve been evacuated twice in the past three years,” Chad said. “I’d never had to before that.”

In 2005, it was Rita that hit the Lake Charles area and forced families to head for inland shelters.

“We have friends and relatives who stayed,” Chad said. “About the same ones who stayed three years ago are there now.”

Andre said his family had been concerned that the motel where they were staying had a no pets policy. They brought a small dog, Sandie on the trip.

“It’s too hot to leave him in the car. Pets are part of the family too,” Andre said.

The Crochets got some help from the Henderson County Humane Society. By Sunday night the animal shelter had helped several families, volunteer Vickie Geisel said.

Jeffery and Liz Landry made the trip from New Iberia, La., in a RV with two poodles along for the ride.

“Traffic on the trip was pretty bad,” Jeffery said.

“We got into some construction on I-20. Some of the signs were confusing,” Liz said.

Liz works for a company that has an office in Athens. She’ll be working there for a day or two until they get the green light to go home.

Text Only
Local News
  • Commissioners re-appoint three current Fair Park Board members

    The Henderson County Commissioners Court, by a 3 to 2 vote, Tuesday, voted to re-appoint three current members of the Fair Park Board to new terms.
    Chairman Bob Miars and members Ken Hayes and Mark Davis were chosen to serve an additional two years, with their terms to run through Dec. 31, 2013.

    February 7, 2012

  • Walmart workers cooperate with APD

    Walmart employees and the Athens Police Department spoiled a scheme to steal televisions from the store, Monday afternoon, leading to three arrests.

    February 7, 2012

  • Man named in plane theft

    Had it not been presence of a truck that authorities were able to trace to a Nacogdoches man, the search for a plane stolen from Athens Airport might be as difficult as finding a single bird in the sky.
    The 1980 model Cessna reported missing on Jan. 28 was recovered Monday by the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, which had been assisting the Athens Police Department in the case.

    February 7, 2012

  • Hornet dance.JPG Dancin’ with Henry

    Four-year-old Janiyah Ray gets funky during halftime of the Athens Hornets' varsity boys game against Rusk last Friday at AHS Gym. Henry the Hornet (also known as Will Carter) began a dance routine as halftime began, and Ray couldn't help but run out of the stands and join in — much to the delight of the home crowd.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2-7 Bel Air kids.jpg Students help honor veterans

    Congressman Jeb Hensarling is asking students across the 5th Congressional District to help him honor the service and sacrifice of veterans by participating in the annual Valentines for Vets program. Pictured are students at Bel Air Elementary who took part in the project. In the front row are Kaytlen Hurley, Meagan Miranda, Coralyn Happel, Reagan Farley, Emily Rodriguez, Julian Cazares and Camryn Pair. In the second row are Alondra Carillo, Louis Delagarza, Morgan Gould, Alexis Robles, Caroline Moore, Madison Wilson and Renee Campbell. In back are Amy Gould, Caleb Humphries and Ricardo Sanchez.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • Airplane theft suspect arrested

    Authorities in Nacogdoches County arrested a man Monday in connection with an airplane stolen from the Athens Municipal Airport last month.

    February 6, 2012

  • Accident investigation continues

    PAYNE SPRINGS — Police in this community are investigating an accident on State Highway 198 last Friday, involving a small car which sideswiped a 1996 GMC Z-71 truck, which was pulling a 16-foot utility trailer.

    February 6, 2012

  • Political parties continue waiting game Monday

    Henderson County Republican and Democratic leaders continued to play the waiting game Monday concerning the upcoming primary elections.
    County Elections Administrator Denise Hernandez said that as of Monday afternoon, progress had been made toward getting an agreement on contested redistricting maps.
    “Nothing is set in stone yet,” Hernandez said.

    February 6, 2012

  • APD arrest suspect with multiple recorded arrests

    The Athens Police Department made a felony drug arrest at a traffic stop on Friday night.
    Karen Louise Harris, 48, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (one gram to four grams).

    February 6, 2012

  • Woman stopped, arrested in GBC

    GUN BARREL CITY  — Donna Jean Schultz, 43, of GBC was stopped by a Henderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy last Friday at about 6 p.m. for a minor traffic violation near CJ’s parking lot off State Highway 334 and U.S. Highway 175.
    The minor traffic violation proved to be the least of her problems. 

    February 6, 2012