County-Henderson County Now

Commissioners Deny Petition for FWSD

TRWD attorney Hal Ray hands out maps to Henderson County Commissioners' Court Tuesday morning. — TRWD attorney Hal Ray hands out maps to Henderson County Commissioners’ Court Tuesday morning.

By Michael V. Hannigan

The proposed Wilson Ranch Fresh Water Supply District (FWSD) is dead … for now.

On a 4-1 vote, Henderson County Commissioners’ Court denied a petition to form the FWSD Tuesday following a public hearing which saw attorneys from both sides present their case.

An attorney for the FWSD said that the commissioners’ decision can be appealed to the District Court or resubmitted to the county.

Even though the district was not created, commissioners were sympathetic to the reason the petition was filed: As a defense against a 9-foot-in-diameter water pipeline one commissioner said would cause “devastation” across the county.

WHAT IS IT

An FWSD is a political subdivision of the state — a government entity — meaning it has the power to levy and collect a tax, hold bond elections, build infrastructure, and is run by an elected board.

The proposed district is about 1,090 acres completely inside Henderson County, with no part in the City of Athens extraterritorial jurisdiction, according to the petition. The proposed district is made up of four tracts of land and includes the East Texas Ranch LP, but commissioners noted Tuesday that they have never actually seen a map of the proposed FWSD.

According to the petition, “An adequate waterworks system, capable of delivering fresh water throughout the district, does not currently exist in the district. Consequently, the construction, maintenance and operations of an adequate waterworks system is necessary to assure the health and welfare
Continue reading “Commissioners Deny Petition for FWSD”

Execution Date Set For Randall Wayne Mays

District Attorney’s Office press release

Less than two weeks after convicted killer Randall Wayne Mays was denied his latest challenge to his conviction by the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Carter Tarrance of the 392nd District Court set his execution date for March 18, 2015. Judge Tarrance signed the execution order and death warrant on July 10. Judge Tarrance also presided over the trial.

Mays was convicted of killing sheriff’s deputies Tony Ogburn and Paul Habelt. The two deputies were gunned down by Mays during a 2007 standoff in Payne Springs.

Mays was not brought in from death row, nor was there a court hearing.

“The law does not require the judge to hold a hearing in order to set an execution date,” said District Attorney Scott McKee. “As soon as we received notice that the Fifth Circuit refused to grant Mays a Certificate of Appealability (COA), we filed a motion to set an execution date.” Continue reading “Execution Date Set For Randall Wayne Mays”

TxDOT Update — Week of July 14

Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on on SH 19 between North Loop 7 and downtown Athens. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Arrest in Gun Barrel City

Sheriff’s Office press release

On Thursday, July 10, Sheriff’s Deputy Beddingfield initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation on Legendary Lane in Gun Barrel City. The operator and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as Courtney Lane. During a search of the vehicle a substance believed to be methamphetamines was located. Lane was taken in custody for the suspected narcotics and transported to the Henderson County Jail, where she was booked in for Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1 – 1 gram. If convicted of the State Jail Felony Charge, Lane could face up to 2 years in a State Jail Facility and up to a 10,000 dollar fine.

Police Arrest Robbery Suspects After Extended Search

Sheriff’s Office press release

Wednesday, July 9, at approximately 1 a.m., the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a robbery that had just occurred at a gaming establishment located on Richardson Road off U.S. Highway 175 west near Eustace. A white female and a Hispanic male had reportedly robbed the attendant of the establishment and fled the location with a quantity of cash. Deputies, Investigator Brad Gray and Captain Bryan Tower responded to the location. Investigators were able to obtain a vehicle description and a description of the two suspects.

During the course of the investigation, officers were able to identify the two suspects and the possible suspect vehicle. The suspects were identified as Manuel Herminio Hernandez and Erika Jo Guill out of Gun Barrel City. The suspect vehicle was identified as a white Chrysler Town and Country minivan. This information was disseminated to area law enforcement.

On July 10, at approximately 8 a.m., Sheriff Deputy Jodie Sorrells, during a routine patrol, located the suspect vehicle at an address off Sailfish in the Bonita Point Subdivision. Sheriff Office personnel responded and began surveillance. At approximately 10 a.m., Investigators and command staff responded to the residence in an attempt to apprehend the suspects. Erika Guill was Continue reading “Police Arrest Robbery Suspects After Extended Search”