Category: County

Representatives from various Henderson County law enforcement and child welfare agencies gathered Monday, April 4, to plant pinwheels on the southeast corner of the courthouse square in Athens. Each of the 373 pinwheels represents one confirmed case of child abuse or neglect in Henderson County in 2015. These young victims were honored Tuesday afternoon with a ceremony on the square. For more information, call the Henderson County HELP Center at 903-675-4357. (Courtesy photo)

TxDOT Maintenance resumes overlay operations on FM 317 between FM 314 and FM 315. A second crew is making base repairs on FM 315, and ditch work and base repairs on FM 3079. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control.

The project to repair and reopen FM 317 in Athens has been awarded to Fritcher Construction who plans to start work later this spring. The road remains closed with traffic detoured due to damage sustained during stormy weather conditions last spring. A washout occurred three miles east of SH 31. Repairs totaling $466,216 should take about three months to complete, weather permitting. This job is being coordinated with the Corp of Engineers and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Traffic control for Phase I of the State Highway 31 Bridge Painting project, Westbound at Trinity River/Eastbound at Cedar Creek, has been implemented with concrete traffic barriers being set on the Trinity River Bridge. Work for cleaning and painting the existing steel structure over the Trinity River will continue. Work under the Cedar Creek Bridge will begin as soon as weather permits. Work is expected to be completed in July of 2016.

Other ongoing projects on US 175, FM 315/FM 1616, and State Highway 31 will continue.

Press release

East Texans are invited to take a stand against child abuse and neglect by attending a noon ceremony Tuesday, April 5, on the west lawn of the courthouse square in Athens.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to recognize the nearly 200,000 Texas children reported abused or neglected each year to Child Protective Services (CPS). Judge Richard Sanders will sign a proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Month at the April 5 event.

Area nonprofits, child welfare workers and elected officials will come together at the ceremony to plant pinwheels in honor of local victims, including one Henderson County child who died last year as a result of abuse. The speaker will be Barry Boatwright, senior pastor of Christian Life Center in Gun Barrel City. He and his wife, Tanyau, are foster and adoptive parents.

Continue reading “Pinwheel ceremony honors victims of child abuse, neglect”

TxDOT Maintenance is applying overlays at various locations on FM 317 between FM 314 and FM 315 as well as conducting ditch maintenance on FM 1803. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control.

Traffic control for Phase I of the State Highway 31 Bridge Painting project, Westbound at Trinity River/Eastbound at Cedar Creek, has been implemented with concrete traffic barriers being set on the Trinity River Bridge. Work for cleaning and painting the existing steel structure over the Trinity River will continue. Work under the Cedar Creek Bridge will begin as soon as weather permits. Work is expected to be completed in July of 2016.

The project to repair and reopen FM 317 in Athens has been awarded to Fritcher Construction who plans to start work later this spring. The road remains closed with traffic detoured due to damage sustained during stormy weather conditions last spring. A washout occurred three miles east of SH 31. Repairs totaling $466,216 should take about three months to complete, weather permitting. This job is being coordinated with the Corp of Engineers and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Other ongoing projects on US 175, FM 315/FM 1616, and State Highway 31 will continue.

Henderson County Attorney Clint Davis reported the following activity in the disposition of cases filed through his office during the month of February 2016 in the County Court at Law, County Court at Law No. 2, and County Court:

Total number of dispositions for the month: 138

Total amount of fines and court costs assessed: $99,767.01

Number of Individuals who have had their probation revoked and were sentenced to the Henderson County Jail: 9

Amount of restitution collected & returned to merchants by the Hot Check Divisions: $9,427.48

Open Record Requests: 18