County-Henderson County Now

TxDOT Updates Road Repairs; FM 317 Will Take Time

By Michael V. Hannigan

The news isn’t encouraging for people waiting for repairs to FM 317 near the Fish and Game Club Lake. The road was damaged extensively during torrential rains in May.

The TxDOT District Office in Tyler issued a press release on Friday saying: “The road will remain closed to traffic indefinitely as stabilization work is conducted and plans for a permanent repair to the dam are developed. This job is being coordinated with the Corp of Engineers and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).” Continue reading “TxDOT Updates Road Repairs; FM 317 Will Take Time”

Billy Jack Valentine Announces Campaign for Sheriff

Editor’s Note: Billy Jack Valentine has declared his candidacy for Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and issued the following statement.

I would like to announce and declare my candidacy for Henderson County Sheriff. I will file in the 2016 Republican Primary.

I have been preparing for the past 10 years to run for Sheriff of Henderson County. I have been asked by many citizens of Henderson County to lead the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office as the Henderson County Sheriff. Continue reading “Billy Jack Valentine Announces Campaign for Sheriff”

Botie Hillhouse Announces Campaign For Sheriff

Editor’s Note: Botie Hillhouse has declared his candidacy for Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and issued the following statement.

I was born and raised in Athens, Henderson County, Texas and am married to Stacy Hillhouse, who is currently Malakoff ISD Police Chief. We have four girls, Mackenzie, AnnMarie, Rylee and Dylann.

I went to Athens public schools and graduated from Athens High School. I attended TVCC in Athens and received an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

I love life with my family, hunting, fishing, camping and training/raising search and rescue bloodhounds. Continue reading “Botie Hillhouse Announces Campaign For Sheriff”

Henderson County Will Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

The Henderson County Clerk’s Office will be issuing same-sex marriage licenses, county officials said Monday morning.

Currently, the county is waiting for a third-party vendor to finish updating computer software to accept the new marriage form. That process was expected to be completed by Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.

Once the computer software is updated, the county will begin issuing the marriage licenses, officials said.

TxDOT Update for Week of June 29

Press release

Athens Maintenance will be conducting base failures on FM 753 between SH 31 and FM 2494 as well as on FM 2494 between FM 753 and Loop 7. A second crew will be addressing debris from floods on FM 3441 south of Malakoff and cleaning ditches on FM 1803 south of SH 31. Expect lane closures.

TxDOT contractor, Striping Technology, Inc., will have a crew in Henderson County as part of the district-wide safety project to add centerline rumble strips on FM 2709 the Week of June 15. Expect lane closures.

US 175 Widening Project: The project will expand U.S. 175 from two lanes to a four-lane divided roadway with a depressed median. Construction of this Phase I project started April 6, 2015 and should be completed in November 2018.