Category: County

Local fire departments need volunteers

Message from the Henderson County Fire Marshal’s Office:

Many of your local fire departments need your help. Every year in Henderson County, we average over 900 fires and many other emergency calls. There are 23 departments in Henderson County and all but one are volunteer. Please visit your local fire department and consider becoming a part of their team. They can help you with the process and train you appropriately. There are jobs for every one of every age so if you have some time and want to give back to this great county we live in, please contact them and join!

TxDOT reports Highway 31 closed

TxDOT reported this morning that SH 31E eastbound lanes are closed between Murchison and FM 1831.

The rest of the TxDOT update includes the following:

Anderson County:

  • FM 315 north of FM 837 between FM 837 and US 175
  • FM 320 closed between Loop 256 and FM 645
  • FM 321 closed at Catfish Creek just west of Tennessee Colony

Cherokee County:

  • FM 856 in Concord area closed between FM 2274 and FM 13 due to flooding
  • Trees down around the county

Gregg County:

  • SH 135, just south of US 271 at Gladewater open but water over the road. Caution advised!
  • SH 135 closed at the Traffic Circle near the railroad underpass in Kilgore
  • Loop 281 closed at FM 2087 with traffic detoured
  • FM 349 closed between FM 2011 and FM 2276
  • FM 1650 closed from US 259 to the county line

Henderson County:

  • SH 31E eastbound lanes closed between Murchison and FM 1831

Rusk County:

  • US 259 closed north of FM 850 to south of FM 850
  • SH 64 closed east of SH 42 to Loop 571
  • SH 42 closed west of FM 2012 to FM 918
  • FM 838 closed between FM 2089 and SH 323
  • FM 850 east of US 259 to FM 2276

Primary election provisional votes counted

Provisional votes from last week’s primary election were counted Tuesday, Election Administrator Denise Hernandez confirmed.

Of the 193 votes examined by the Ballot Board, 39 were deemed to be valid.

The provisional votes were most important in the Republican primary for Sheriff, where Botie Hillhouse was leading Billy Jack Valentine by just 68 votes.

After the valid provisional votes were counted, the difference between the two men was cut to 61, with Hillhouse at 6,862 and Valentine at 6,801.

Valentine has officially asked for a recount. Hernandez said she expected the recount to take place on Saturday.

TxDOT update for the Week of Feb. 29

txdotTxDOT Maintenance continues overlay operations on FM 753 between SH 31W and FM 2494 with flaggers providing traffic control. Meanwhile on FM 2215, fog seal operations resume from SH 155 to the end of state maintenance. Expect lane closures with flaggers and a pilot car moving traffic through the work zone.

The project to repair and reopen FM 317 in Athens is expected to start in April. The roadway 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 should take about two months to complete, weather permitting. This job is being coordinated with the Corp of Engineers and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Ongoing projects include:

  • SH 31 repair project, .09 miles west of FM 317 eastward to .34 miles west of FM 773, which is nearing completion
  • US 175 Widening Project (Phase I), 0.1 miles southeast of FM 804 near Baxter southeast to 1.1 miles east of Loop 60E at Larue
  • US 175 Widening Project (Phase II), 1.1 miles east of Loop 60B to 0.85 mile east of FM 315
  • FM 315/FM 1616 Widening Project, from FM 314S to CS End at County Road 4325, 4224, etc.
  • FM 316 Widening Project, from FM 1256 south to FM 3080
  • Cardinal Drive at Little Duncan Creek in Murchison