February 2013 - Henderson County Now

Chariot begins shuttle service in Athens

The Athens Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the new Chariot shuttle service. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)

The Chariot Bus Lines is expanding to include a shuttle service inside the city of Athens starting Friday, March 1.

The Monday-Friday service will run twice in the morning, hitting the major apartment complexes in the city before heading to business centers. The route will be reversed in the evenings.

Tentative morning pickup times include:

To get to work by 7 a.m.

5:45 – Village Apartments
5:50 – Summit Apartments
5:55 – North Loop Apartments
6:00 – New Haven
6:05 – West Highland
6:10 – Victoria Place
6:15 – TVCC
6:20 – ETMC Hospital
6:25 – Fairview Apartments
6:30 – Townview Apartments
Headed to Job Sites

To get to work by 8 a.m.

6:45 – Village Apartments
6:50 – Summit Apartments
6:55 – North Loop Apartments
7:00 – New Haven
7:05 – West Highland
7:10 – Victoria Place
7:15 – TVCC
7:20 – ETMC Hospital
7:25 – Fairview Apartments
7:30 – Townview Apartments
Headed to Job Sites

Cost is $2 per trip.

The new shuttle service was honored Thursday, Feb. 28, with a ribbon cutting at the Athens Chamber of Commerce.

Chariot is a ministry of Gates Community Church in Athens, and is the brainchild of the Rev. Alan Coleman and Helen Thornton, who is the vice chairman of the East Texas Transportation and Steering Committee.

For the past five months, Chariot has been running a Monday-Friday route from Athens to Tyler.

Coleman said Chariot expanded because of requests from the community.

I wrote about the Chariot, including why a pastor and church would get involved, when the bus line opened. You can read about that, here.

Daily Brief: Thursday, Feb. 28

FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

1. The Trinity Valley Community College Lady Cardinals and Mandy Weber raised almost $1,000 for the “Amazing Little Hearts Group” Wednesday night with their Hoops for Heart event.

2. TVCC and Weinstein Law announced the formation of the Weinstein Law scholarships, which will provide 10 one-year scholarships to the school.

3. You know the Henderson County Livestock Show is on the horizon, because there was an event for this year’s queen and princess contestants Tuesday night. (Athens Review photos)

4. Henderson County government has a new website! The Review has a story explaining the changes.

5. It might not be Henderson County specific, but yesterday’s passing of Van Cliburn is felt by music lovers throughout Texas.

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WHAT YOU MISSED

Texas Independence Day is Saturday. Commissioners’ Court issued a proclamation Tuesday.

“The Boys Club” is coming to the Henderson County Performing Arts Center.

Obituaries: Durwood Dingler, Raymond Eugene Duckett, and Connie Denice Nesbitt.

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WHAT OTHERS ARE TALKING ABOUT

The UT Patriot Talon has a cool story about Pinot’s Palette, a new business owned by Athens residents Richard and Robin Haynie.

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Athens man gets 15 years for Walmart robbery

Henderson County District Attorney’s Office press release

On Wednesday, Feb. 6, Oliver O’neal Manuel, a 41-year-old formerly of Athens, was sentenced to 15 years confinement in prison for robbery. The punishment was ordered after a sentencing hearing in the 173rd Judicial District Court with Judge Dan Moore presiding.

Assistant District Attorney Justin Weiner prosecuted the case on behalf of Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s Office.

On Aug. 6, 2011, Manuel entered into the Walmart store in Athens. He was observed by Loss Prevention employees attempting to conceal various items from the store in his clothing. As he attempted to leave the store, without paying for the merchandise, he was approached and confronted by three individuals identifying themselves as employees. Manuel denied any wrong doing and continued to try to exit the store. When asked not to leave, Manuel pulled out a knife with a box-cutter blade causing the employees to jump back in fear for their safety while Manuel escaped out the door.

Manuel testified in the hearing and asked that the judge place him on probation. He blamed his actions on a drug problem though he had been treated in several in-patient facilities for crack cocaine use. He also admitted that he even had used crack cocaine while in the rehab facilities.

Manuel had also been involved in an incident at the Brookshire’s in Athens earlier in the year. He was once again caught shoplifting. When questioned by members of Athens Police Department he became aggressive and violent. He swung at an officer and was ultimately tazed in front of the store.

In closing arguments, Weiner asked that Manuel be sentenced to a prison term and argued to the court: “[T]his is a far cry from a probation case. The defendant is a threat to our community that has an extensive criminal history. Allowing him to be on our streets would put the people of Henderson County in jeopardy.”

“This defendant is in prison where he belongs thanks to the Athens Police Department and ADA Weiner,” said District Attorney Scott McKee.

Athens man sentenced to 20 years on drug charges

Henderson County District Attorney’s Office press release

On Tuesday, Feb. 5, Frank Clinton James, Jr., a 25-year-old resident of Athens, was sentenced to 20 years confinement in prison. James was sentenced by Judge Dan Moore of the 173rd Judicial District after pleading guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Assistant District Attorneys Justin Weiner and Nancy Rumar prosecuted the case on behalf of Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s Office.

James was arrested after he was pulled over by a Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputy on Highway 31 for operating a motor vehicle with defective equipment. Contact was made with James who did not have his driver’s license. When asked to step out of his vehicle, he attempted to conceal a cap to a hypodermic needle that he had in his hand. Though he attempted to mislead the deputy he was unsuccessful. Ultimately, James told the deputy that his “needle junkie” friend had borrowed his vehicle and it must have been from him.

After running James’ information the deputy discovered that he had been driving with a suspended license. James was placed under arrest. A search incident to arrest revealed a slew of paraphernalia and narcotics related items. The deputy located digital scales, six hypodermic needles, 36 clear plastic baggies, and various other items. A larger green bag was also located which contained just over 20 grams of a crystal substance later proven to be methamphetamine. James was also charged for a switchblade knife that had been concealed by being placed on the undercarriage of the vehicle.

“This is another example of good old fashion police work,” said District Attorney Scott McKee.

Proclamation for Texas Independence Day

Saturday, March 2, is Texas Independence Day. The day Texans celebrate the formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas fromMexico in the Texas Revolution. It was adopted at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836.

Henderson County Commissioners’ Court passed a resolution Tuesday, Feb. 26, brought by the Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT) in honor of the day. Pictured are, from left, Commissioner Scotty Thomas, Commissioner Wade McKinney, SRT member Gene Pilgrim Jr., SRT member Gene Pilgrim Sr., County Judge Richard Sanders, SRT member Clayton Starr, SRT member Jimmy Steele, Commissioner Ronny Lawrence, Commissioner Ken Geeslin.