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Athens Maintenance crews in addition to working on roadways damaged by recent rain are overlaying FM 607 between Loop 60 and FM 804, and addressing drainage issues around the county. Expect lane closures.
Also, Big Creek Construction is dressing up slopes and performing other work along the FM 317 widening project from FM 314 to FM 607. Expect lane closures.
Voluntary Evacuation: River Ranch Road, Sand Ranch Road, Southview Road, Spring Creek Road.
The following was posted on the Henderson County website at 3:56 p.m. ….
“Henderson County Emergency Management has issued a voluntary evacuation for persons living or owning property in the River Ranch Road, Sand Ranch Road, Southview Road and areas extending to the banks of the Trinity River and intersect the Henderson Kaufman County lines. Please share this information with your neighbors. The Trinity River at Rosser is expected to crest at 38 feet today and 38.5 feet tomorrow May 27 2015. Please leave the area immediately.”
The following was added at 4:57 p.m.
“This is the office of Henderson County Emergency Management. Spring Creek Road addition is under voluntary evacuation order effective immediately. Temporary repairs have been made to the Spring Creek culvert, however more rising water is anticipated due to additional rain fall and rising creek capacity. Again culvert repairs are temporary and all residents should consider immediate voluntary evacuation. Please share this information with your neighbors.”
“For sheltering please call 903-288-4376.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
The following road closures were posted on the Henderson County government website:
Precinct 1: County Road 1500 by West Athens
Precinct 2: Dusti Road in Shadow Ridge Subdivision; Bowie Road in Cherokee Shores Subdivision
Precinct 4: County Road 4511 at Mine Creek
On Thursday, May 21, at 12:30 p.m. the Henderson County Peace Officers Association will be hosting its annual Peace Officers Memorial on the west side of the Courthouse in Athens. This memorial ceremony will be honoring all fallen officers who have been killed in the line of duty in Henderson County. The guest speaker will be the Honorable 3rd District Judge Mark Calhoun.
Please come and join us to honor the fallen officers that gave their lives to protect the citizens of Henderson County.
** Update: Tuesday, 8:15 p.m. … I just had a long conversation with Athens Municipal Water Authority Board President Steve Sparkman who helped explain further what is planned for the Fish and Game Club Lake dam Wednesday morning.
First of all, Sparkman said officials will not be cutting into the dam.
Sparkman said officials will be opening a 12-inch valve and cutting away boards covering gates in the bottom of the spillway to drain the lake level and relieve the pressure. They will also be cutting an emergency secondary spillway nearby in case Athens gets another heavy rainfall.
In this method, officials hope to drain water from the Fish and Game Club Lake to Lake Athens in a controlled manner.
** UPDATE: Tuesday, 3 p.m. …. County officials have verified that engineers are planning to conduct a controlled breach of the dam Wednesday morning.
By Michael V. Hannigan
A state expert on dams is in Henderson County and is consulting on the Fish and Game Club Lake dam breach, according to county officials.
Kyle Hodges from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) arrived last night, County Judge Richard Sanders said. Hodges, along with local engineering firm Velvin and Weeks and the Fish and Game Club property owners are discussing options regarding the dam. Continue reading “TCEQ Expert on Dams Consulting on Fish and Game Lake Breach”