July 2013 - Page 2 of 14 - Henderson County Now

221 animals taken from Kaufman residence

Under the authority of the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, the SPCA of Texas seized and took custody of 166 Rabbits, 36 guinea pigs, 12 goats, five cats, one dog and one bull from a residence in Kaufman on Thursday, July 25.

Eighty four of the rabbits, two of the guinea pigs and two of the cats were found in a big barn on the property. These rabbits and guinea pigs were living in feces-encrusted wire cages. The rabbits were housed in cages stacked two high, and feces from the rabbits in the top cages was able to fall down on the rabbits in the bottom cages.

One hundred and sixteen more rabbits and 34 guinea pigs were living in a small shed inside feces-filled cages. These rabbits were living in wire cages, and several of these guinea pigs were living inside a fish tank.

The rabbits appear to have various health issues, including open sores, matted fur, hair loss, ear discharge, eye discharge and long nails. Some of the guinea pigs have hair loss. Continue reading “221 animals taken from Kaufman residence”

Obituary: Nelda Dickerson

A memorial service for Nelda Dickerson, 80, Poynor is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 31, in Carroll-Lehr Funeral Chapel with Rev. Mickey Wagoner officiating.

Mrs. Dickerson died July 26, 2013 in Athens.

She was born July 14, 1933 in LaRue to the late Tom Murphy and Mamie Elizabeth Crossley Richardson. Nelda lived in Dallas for many years raising her family. She returned to the East Texas area in 1979 and resided here until her death. She was a member of Poynor Baptist Church. Nelda was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jimmy Lewis Dickerson and son Joe Don Dickerson.

Survivors include sons James Dickerson, Poynor, Jeff Alan Dickerson and wife Kimberly, LaRue; grandchildren Jennifer, Jaime, Josh, Courtney and Tasha and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation for family and friends will be 10-11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

If desired memorials may be made to Poynor Community Cemetery, P O Box 140, Poynor, Texas 75782.

Special thanks to Beverly Crow and the staff of Mabank Nursing Center for the care of our mother.

You may leave a message of condolence or light a memorial candle for the family at www.carroll-lehr.com.

GBC man sentenced on drug charges, evading arrest

District Attorney’s Office press release

William Rickey George, 59, of Gun Barrel City, was sentenced to 13 years in the Texas Department of Corrections on July 11 for Possession of a Controlled Substance and 10 years in the Texas Department of Corrections for Evading Arrest. Assistant District Attorneys Jenny Palmer and Bridget Bateman prosecuted the case for Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s Office.

George was arrested on March 1, 2013 after failing to stop for officers with the Seven Points Police Department. George, who was riding a red motorcycle, fled from officers by traveling at speeds over 100 miles per hour. Officers were eventually able to arrest George and take him into custody.

George had numerous misdemeanor convictions and a previous felony conviction for Possession of a Deadly Weapon in a Penal Institution.

Chandler man gets 35 years for Child Sexual Assault

District Attorney’s Office press release

Jason Hood, 37, formerly of Chandler, was sentenced by Judge Dan Moore of the 173rd Judicial District Court to 35 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under 14 years of age and 5 years for the Indecency of a Child by Contact.

Assistant District Attorney Nancy Rumar prosecuted the case on behalf of District Attorney Scott McKee’s Office. The investigation, led by Henderson County Sheriff’s Investigator Jessica Halbert, revealed that Hood had been having sexual contact with a family member since she was 9 years old. The victim was 15 at the time the allegations came forth. The Henderson County Child Advocacy Center provided victim services and a forensic interview in support of the case.

District Attorney Scott McKee credited the work of Henderson County Sheriff’s investigator Jessica Halbert and Sheila Durden of the Child Advocacy Center for their work in helping to put another sex offender behind bars.

“The work these ladies do in these tough cases is gut-wrenching and sometimes thankless, but they are the best and I am glad they are part of the team.” said McKee.

New home for Athens Christian Preparatory Academy

Here is an artist's rendition of the first two classroom buildings planned for ACPA's new home. — Here is an artist’s rendition of the first two classroom buildings planned for ACPA’s new home.

By Michael V. Hannigan

Athens Christian Preparatory Academy is finally home. It was a long way with a number of property inspections to make sure the building is in proper condition. Schedule your pre-purchase property inspection with YourBuildingInspector.com.au whenever you plan to buy new property. This is the best way to know what you are buying exactly.

Last week, area reporters were invited to tour the 5-year-old ACPA’s new 49-acre property and to speak with Headmistress Theresa DeMay. As always, she was a whirlwind of activity, directing traffic as the move in continued while answering questions from three reporters. (You can read the story by the Review’s Kathi Nailing here.)

The new campus — formerly a horse ranch on State Highway 175 — is a work in progress. Eight portable buildings are being installed for classrooms and plenty of work remains before the first day of school.

“It will come down to the wire, but we plan to start school on Aug. 26,” DeMay said.

Knowing the headmistress the way I do I have no doubt.

I still remember meeting DeMay for the first time. It was in July 2010, and I was interviewing her for a story about ACPA. I had just recently heard about the school and learned that students in my coverage area (Malakoff) were attending. I wanted to know more, so I went to talk to DeMay.

What I found was a high school that was about to start just its third year, but was already moving toward accreditation. In fact, accreditation came a year faster than usual for ACPA. Continue reading “New home for Athens Christian Preparatory Academy”