County-Henderson County Now

Child Welfare Board recognizes local optometrist

Justin Weiner, Henderson County Assistant District Attorney and the Chairman of the Henderson County Child Welfare Board, (left) presents Athens optometrist Dr. Sherri Robson with a certificate of appreciation for volunteering her services.

HCWB press release

Henderson County Child Welfare Board Chairman Justin Weiner presented a local Athens optometrist services with a certificate of appreciation recently for going above and beyond to help a Henderson County foster child. Dr. Sherri Robson volunteered her time and services to a child in need. She performed a optometry eye exam and provided contacts for a foster child from Henderson County, she also recommends the postoperative ocular steroid treatment if you have eye problems.

“Henderson County is blessed to have so many wonderful people that care about children. I am proud of the Henderson County Child Welfare Board and all the volunteers who continuously strive to make life better for Henderson County foster children,” said Weiner. “We will never stop supporting and protecting each of these children who have endured and survived through so much.”

The Henderson County Child Welfare Board’s mission is to support a network of volunteers and Child Protective Services workers who are concerned with the welfare of children, especially those suffering from sexual violence, physical violence, and neglect. Its purpose is to function as a liaison between the community and the Texas Department of Family and Child Protective Services.

For more information contact Justin Weiner at [email protected].

National 4-H Week

4-H web

This morning, Henderson County Commissioners’ Court proclaimed this week National 4-H Week in the county. 4-H is celebrating 106 years of existence in Texas. Several 4-H members appeared at the meeting to tell commissioners about their experiences in the organization. Pictured are, from left, Noah Newman, 17; Joshua Jones, 9; Justin Jones, 13; Brendan West, 11; Kelsey West, 9; and Carolyn Tyler, Henderson County Extension Agent, 4-H and Youth Development. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)

October is Archeology Month

By Peggy Smith
Henderson County Historical Commission

October is Archeology Month for the Texas Historical Commission. While that may not sound like pure excitement for some, for those of us who have started the trek to finding our families roots, or even just trying to see what life was like in generations past archeology is exciting. Webster defines archeology as “the study of the life of ancient peoples, as by excavation of ancient cities, etc… Since I am now a great-grandmother some might think and one of my grandchildren referred to me as old. We laughed!

In 1998 my mother brought me a folder and a rolled up chart and asked me if I wanted it. When I opened it up she told me that my Daddy had started a history of our family and I was immediately hooked. I was so excited to think of finding out about my family. My Aunt Ruby had also done some work so we also worked together and shared what each of us had discovered. It has been an exciting journey and a frustrating one as I would seemingly hit brick walls down a line of our ever growing tree.
Continue reading “October is Archeology Month”

Trinidad man convicted of Theft from Elderly

District Attorney’s Office press release

On Friday, Sept. 13, visiting Judge Harold Entz sentenced Brian Keith Fugett to 10 years in the Texas Department of Corrections for the felony offense of Theft. Fugett was convicted by a jury on July 16, 2013, but opted to be sentenced by the judge.

Fugett, along with his girlfriend Brandi Melton, were arrested in August of 2012 by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office for the offense. Fugett and Melton were hired to care for an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Several items, including silver flatware, plates, and jewelry were taken from the 84-year-old woman. Due to her medical condition, the victim was unable to testify. Two of her daughters testified as to the devastating impact the crime had on their mother.

Investigators Casey Hampton and Brad Gray were able to recover some of the items at a pawn shop in Gun Barrel City, where Fuget and Melton had pawned them. The victim’s daughter testified that many of the items, including her mother’s dishes, she received as a wedding gift 50 years before, were not able to be located.

Fugett was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jenny Palmer and Daniel Cox. Prosecutors urged the court to sentence Fugett to the maximum sentence

According to Sheriff’s reports and testimony at trial, Fugett and Hyde were hired by the daughters to help care for their elderly mother. Beginning in May of last year, the daughters noticed that some of their mother’s belongings were missing from her home. At the time, the daughters believed the missing items were gone because their mother had misplaced them.

However, in August, they noticed that many large items, such as sterling silver flatware, plates, and jewelry were also missing. The daughters contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Investigators Casey Hampton and Brad Gray conducted the investigation. During their investigation, investigators found pawn tickets at a Gun Barrel City Pawn shop linking Fugett and Melton to the stolen property. Fugett and Melton were promptly arrested.

“I am very pleased with the maximum sentence allowed under the law handed down by the judge in this case,” said District Attorney Scott McKee. “Anyone who takes advantage of our elderly in this way should go to prison.”

Voting officials to help residents at Farmers Market

Henderson County Elections Administrator Denise Hernandez said members of her staff will be at the Athens Farmers Market this Saturday to help area residents get ready for the new voter laws. The will be checking voter status and handing out information on the new voter ID law.

A voter will be required to show one of the following forms of photo identification at the polling location before the voter will be permitted to cast a vote:

Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS
United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph
United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
United States passport

With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or have expired no more than 60 days before being presented at the polling place.

If you have any questions, meet with county voting officials at the Athens Farmers Market this Saturday. The Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday on the city parking lot, one block north of the courthouse.