March 2015 - Page 2 of 23 - Henderson County Now

Carpenter, Surls Win at Texas High School Rodeo Region IV Finals

Press release

Local cowboys finished with top honors at the conclusion of the Texas High School Rodeo Region IV Finals in Athens on March 29.

In the junior high division, Cutter Carpenter, 8th grade student at Martin’s Mill Junior High, won Champion Boys Goat Tyer, Champion Calf Roper, Champion Ribbon Roper, Champion Chute Dogger, 3rd Place Header in Team Roping and Champion All Around Cowboy. Cutter will now advance in all five events to the Texas Junior High State Finals Rodeo in Gonzales the week of May 24 – 30. Cutter is the son of Andy and Mistie Carpenter of Athens.

In the high school division, Cole Surls, senior at Cross Roads High School, won Champion Header in the Team Roping. Cole will now advance to the Texas High School State Finals Rodeo in Abilene the week of June 7- 13. Cole is the son of Phillip and Kim Surls of Athens.

Identity Theft Investigation Ends in Three Arrests

Press release

A two-month long investigation into an identity theft and forgery ring resulted in the arrest of three people last Thursday in eastern Henderson County.

On February 10, 2015, an Athens resident reported to the Athens Police Department that their checking account had been compromised and someone had made several transactions without their consent. One of the transactions had taken place in Terrell, Texas. The initial report was soon followed by two other residents who were victims of similar crimes.

Athens Police Detective Corporal James Bonnette began investigating, trying to identify the suspect. Continue reading “Identity Theft Investigation Ends in Three Arrests”

TVCC Inducts 55 to Phi Theta Kappa

Fifty-five Trinity Valley Community College students were inducted into the Iota Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at the Student Union Ballroom on the Athens campus on March 22.

Membership in Phi Theta Kappa, a national honors society for two-year colleges, requires a student to achieve a 3.5 GP, complete any required developmental courses and accumulate at least 12 semester hours of college credit. Membership entitles TVCC students to have the honor noted on their official transcripts and affords them the opportunity to wear the Phi Theta Kappa golden stole, tassel and/or medallion at graduation.

This year’s inductees are: Susan Adams of Crandall; Ashley Anderson of Plano; Christina Andrews of Rice; Mahad Asim of Athens; Alyssa Auringer of Scroggins; Tori Barker of Malakoff; Bailey Bell of Athens; Kimberly Boswell of Murchison; Amber Brown of Frankston; Gabriel Brown of Athens; Joshua Brown of Athens; Jordan Burk of Palestine; Lacy Chapman of Athens; Rodney Christian of Terrell; Virginia Cook of Malakoff; Ryan Cottingame of Sunnyvale; Lauren Crocker of El Paso; Marissa Dunn of Poynor; Rebecca Garner of Malakoff; Garrett Gideon of Rockwall; Katy Gilcrease of Brownsboro; Tammy Greenhaw of Kemp; Kendrea Harris of Rowlett; Blake Holiman of Murchison; Jeanette Horn of Mabank; Kendall Huston of Mabank; Angela Jackson of Malakoff; Siera Johnson of Whitehouse; Gary Kemph of Athens; Cassie Land of Kemp; Angelica Lippart of Kerens; Collin Martian of Gun Barrel City; Mikayla Martin of Canton; Anna McSwain of Mabank; Niyaz Murtazin of Canton; Brianne Nickelston of Dallas; Hannah Owen of Athens; Allysa Pate of Murchison; Heather Perry of West; Maia Pizarro of Kaufman; Patricia Ramirez of Palestine; Lauren Rendon of Frankston; Kleigh Rhodes of Mineola; Micah Shaw of Mansfield; Chancie Silvey of Kemp; Amy Slone of Mabank; Hunter Smith of Grapeland; Olivia Stanton of Malakoff; Karlie Steadham of Mont Belvieu; Kalen Stimpson of Cedar Hill; Kimberley Templin of Athens; Marian Vazquez of Houston; Bertha Velazquez of Edgewood; Madison Weatheread of Mabank and Shelby Woolly of Larue.

HCSO Arrests Man In Connection With Mabank Burglary

Press release

On Sunday, March 29, 2015 Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Deputy R. Yockey was dispatched to the Mabank area in reference to a reported burglary. The victim told Yockey an unknown person had stolen his riding lawnmower and a television. Once Yockey took the offense report he was notified of some suspicious activity in the Bonita Point area near Gun Barrel City. Yockey responded and made contact with Donny Haller. During the investigation Deputy Yockey was able to recover the reported stolen lawnmower which was in Haller’s possession.

Yockey contacted HCSO Investigator Cayce Hampton who responded to the scene to assist. Haller was placed under arrest for Theft of Property over $1,500 under $20,000, which is a State Jail Felony. During the investigation it was made known there was a second suspect; further arrests are expected to be made.

Animals Play An Important Part at Cedar Lake Nursing Home

Ashley Crossland, CNA helps Fella pose for his mug shot.

By Billy Bucher/Guest Columnist for Loretta Humble

You may have seen the videos a few weeks ago of two llamas frolicking madly near a nursing home in Arizona from where they had escaped while visiting to entertain the residents. Watching the police and civilians trying to catch up with the escapees brought many a laugh to viewers of TV and Internet, and reminded some people of the antics of the Keystone Cops from years ago. Finally the pair were gotten under control and, luckily, all ended well.

This got me to thinking about the pleasure animals bring nursing home residents, be they based in the Banfields Aged Care locations or elsewhere. Particularly, I was thinking about Fella, head canine at Cedar Lake Nursing Home in Malakoff where I hang out a lot.
Fella previously lived with his former owner in another nursing home. She had named him Fala after President Franklin Roosevelt’s famous Scottie. When she could no longer care for him her doctor called administrator Sonny Douglas Humble to beg Cedar Lake take him. Sonny and Director of Nurses Jo Sparks agreed it would be a wonderful idea Continue reading “Animals Play An Important Part at Cedar Lake Nursing Home”