Month: November 2014

Athens ISD Receives Bomb Threat, Evacuates Students

Law enforcement, district leadership and representatives of every campus discuss the plan to ensure that each campus is safe before students return.
Law enforcement, district leadership and representatives of every campus discuss the plan to ensure that each campus is safe before students return.

By Michael V. Hannigan

Athens experienced its second bomb threat in as many weeks Wednesday morning.

Athens ISD evacuated students from all its campuses after receiving a threat that a bomb was at every campus, according to AISD officials.

AISD released the following statement as students were being moved:

The Athens Police Department received a call this morning from a person saying a bomb is at every campus.

While we have no reason to believe this is more than a terrible prank, we are taking it very seriously.

All students are being moved to safe locations. We ask that parents refrain from going to school campuses. This will cause traffic jams and unnecessary chaos.

Again, please do not go to campus. Will will follow-up with more information as soon as possible. All children are safe and in good hands.

We have sent a district-wide call out sharing this information.

AISD Communications Specialist Toni Garrard Clay said at last county, the school district had nearly 3,300 students spread across all its campuses. All students were evacuated by 11 a.m.

Many of the students were able to evacuate on foot, but the Middle School and the High School required busing. Students at South Athens and Athens Intermediate were able to evacuate on foot, but all other campuses required busing.

Students were evacuated to the following locations, where parents were able to pick them up:

  • Bel Air students to the TVCC Cardinal Gym.
  • South Athens to the First Christian Church.
  • Athens Intermediate to the First Baptist Church ROC
  • Athens Middle School to the Cain Center.
  • Athens High School to Eastern Hills Church of Christ.

Clay said the district would be bringing in a bomb detection squad to search the campuses.

On Oct. 20, the Henderson County Courthouse was evacuated when a bomb threat was called in to the 173rd District Court around 8:30 a.m. The call was received by the bailiff. The caller said there was a bomb in the courthouse set to go off at 9 a.m.

The Sheriff’s Office immediately evacuated the building. Later, a bomb detection squad was brought in from Dallas and a bomb dog searched the courthouse, but nothing was found.

Election Results

CONTESTED COUNTY ELECTIONS — Unofficial Results

PCT. 4 Commissioner
Ken Geeslin – 3,500
Larry West – 1,179

PCT. 1 Justice of the Peace
Randy Daniel – 945
Barry Fleming – 457

—-

MURCHISON CITY — Unofficial Results

MAYOR
Mike Hill – 49
Deanna Benson – 76

COUNCIL
Ann Boyles – 82
Patricia Becker – 50

PROPOSITION
For – 72
Against – 53

—-

BROWNSBORO ISD — Unofficial Results

Danny Marvin Sessums – 628
Jeffery Fulgham – 1,363*
Danny Schroeder – 661
Billy D. VanVoast II – 596
Wes Johnson – 852*
Michele Olson Blackmon – 983*
Brian Bersano – 741*

—-

TRINIDAD CITY COUNCIL — Unofficial Results

Velma Lee Womack – 167*
Kay Wiggins Hernandez – 116*
Jason Tatom – 70
Julie Airheart – 82
Roy Stanfield – 155*
Kendall Sparks – 55
James Thompson – 23

—-

GUN BARREL CITY PROPERTY TAX — Unofficial Final

For – 268
Against – 971

—-

CROSS ROADS — Unofficial Final

Keith Pryor – 386*
Mark W. Stiles – 293*
Michael Rachel – 187
Diane Locke – 411*
Scott Huddleston – 234
Mark A. Davis – 201
Bryan Myers – 138

Obituary: Larry W. Moran

LarryLarry W. Moran died Oct. 31, 2014.

Larry was born on February 12, 1936 in Kemp, Texas to parents Cecil and Helen (Rachel) Moran and entered into eternal rest on October 31, 2014 at the age of 78. Larry loved wood working, he was a master craftsman. He enjoyed talking, especially about history. Larry was in the United States Navy and served during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was on the board at East Texas Medical Center in Athens and served as a volunteer for the Tool Fire Department. Larry was a member of First Assembly of Sanford, Florida. He was a very loving and caring man who will truly be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, brothers; James, Billy and Carol. Continue reading “Obituary: Larry W. Moran”

Obituary: Jonathan Powers

Jonathan Powers of Tool, Texas passed away on Nov. 2, 2014 at the age of 83.

Jonathan was born in Mexia, Texas on July 4, 1931 to G. W. Powers and Mary Etta Wright Powers.

He is survived by his loving wife, Rosie Powers of Tool; sons, Robert C. and wife Gwen Powers and Kenneth A. Powers, sisters, Juanita Huckaby and Nadine Tillman, six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, G. W. and Mary Etta Powers, two sisters and seven brothers.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Huckabee/Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points, Texas.

Service will be held on Monday, Nov. 10, 2014 at 10 a.m. at Beacon Church of Christ in Gun Barrel, Texas.

Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas.

Obituary: Madge Warren

warrenGraveside services and interment for Madge Warren, 90 of Tyler are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014 at Davis Cemetery with Dr. David Warren officiating.

Mrs. Warren passed away Monday in Tyler.

She was born July 28, 1924 in LaRue to the late Clark and Ivey Featherston Moss. Madge graduated from LaPoynor High School in 1942. She was a certified welder in the San Francisco ship yard during World War II. She worked many years for Collin Street Bakery. Madge was a member of Mimosa Lane Baptist Church in Mesquite. She loved gardening and tending her flowers. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Continue reading “Obituary: Madge Warren”