Henderson County Now

Pitts looking to end 15-percent Rule

State Rep. Jim Pitts has filed legislation that would end the so-called 15-percent Rule, which would require that 15 percent of a student’s final grade come from their State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) end-of-course exams.

The STAAR replaced the TAKS two years ago. According to the Texas Education Agency: “The STAAR program at grades 3–8 will assess the same subjects and grades that are currently assessed on TAKS. At high school, however, grade-specific assessments will be replaced with 12 end-of-course assessments: Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, biology, chemistry, physics, English I, English II, English III, world geography, world history, and U.S. history.”

Continuing uncertainty about the STAAR test, however, has caused the 15-percent rule to be deferred the past two years.

Now Pitts would like to just end the rule permanently. In December, State Rep. Lance Gooden announced that he was going to file legislation that would do the same thing.

Area superintendents have reservations about the STAAR.

In December, Athens ISD Superintendent Blake Stiles said, “The plan for implementation of the end-of-course tests has been very disorganized. Schools did not know what the passing standards would be and there was very little directions from the state as to how we should apply the 15 percent rule to the courses (by semester, by year, retakes, GPA, etc.). The rules and procedures for the end-of-course tests and the 15 percent rule should be crystal clear before we hold our students accountable for their performance on the exams.”

Daily Brief: Thursday, Jan. 10

In the photo above, Athens Mayor Jerry Don Vaught (right) reads the inscription on a gold watch the city presented to former mayor and current Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Randy Daniel during a council meeting yesterday. Daniel was also presented a plaque for his service. Daniel served as mayor from 2005 through 2012.

Vaught said the presentations were “With much appreciation from the city and the City Council.”

—

During the meeting, the council also looked at items that will be on Monday night’s agenda, including appointing Steve Grant to the Airport Advisory Board, a possible air show at the airport, and improvements needed at the facility. No action was taken, but the appointment is expected to be approved Monday.

Rich Flowers over at the Review has more details.

—

The UT Tyler Mobile Go Center (MGC) will be at Malakoff High School from 6-8 p.m. tonight.

According to the website:

The University of Texas at Tyler Mobile Go Center is an internet-equipped mobile computer lab providing college-going resources to individuals and their families. The mobile center is designed to increase the number of students enrolled and succeeding in higher education programs in Texas.

Parents of seniors, take note.

—

Speaking of Malakoff, the District Attorney’s Office issued a press release yesterday announcing a convicted drug dealer from that area was sentenced to 18 years.

—

In case you missed it, San Antonio atheist Patrick Greene has changed his mind … again … about suing over the Henderson County nativity scene.

Anyone want to make book on if he decides to file again?

Didn’t think so.

TVCC Sports Notes: Men, Women sweep Blinn

By Benny Rogers, TVCC Sports Information

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

In a game played under the national spotlight, the third-ranked Lady Cardinals scored an impressive 89-72 road win against the 12th-ranked Blinn College Lady Buccaneers Wednesday night.

The win upped Coach Elena Lovato’s squad to 15-1 overall and 2-0 in Region XIV Conference. The loss was the first of the season for the Lady Bucs, who dropped to 16-1 and 2-1.

Five players scored in double figures for the Lady Cardinals, led by Shannon Smith with 20. Adut Bulgak and Shlonte’ Allen added 19, Savannah Carter finished with 11 and Krystle Henderson 10.

Blinn’s top scorer was Aarika Reyna with 17 points.

The Lady Cardinals are scheduled to be back on the road Saturday, going to Paris for a 4 p.m. tipoff. Paris is 6-9 on the year and 1-2 in the conference.

The next home game for the Lady Cardinals is Wednesday, Jan. 16 against Kilgore.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Jhaustin Thomas and Karon Phillips poured in 20 points each to lead the Cardinals to an 82-73 win against Blinn College’s Buccaneers Wednesday night.

Thomas was the steadiest of scorers for Coach Kris Baumann’s squad, scoring 10 in each half. Phillips gave the Cardinals a spark to pull away in the second half, pouring in all his points in the final 20 minutes.

The score was tied 30-30 at the half.

Octavius Ellis and Jarion Henry also scord in twin figures for the Cardinals with 13 and 12, respectively.

Blinn was led by Rashaun Stimage with 18 points. Donald Moore had 17 and T.J. Berry 14.

The Cardinals will be at home again Saturday against Coastal Bend Community College (10-3, 4-2).

Game time is 4 p.m.

Malakoff drug dealer gets 18 years

Press release from Henderson County District Attorney’s Office

As the sun was setting on 2012, the sun was also setting on James Earl Ray’s time as a Henderson County resident. Ray, known on the street as “King James” was sentenced to 18 years in prison for crack cocaine.

Ray, 40 years old and formerly of Malakoff, plead guilty while a jury awaited the state’s first witness in the 173rd Judicial District Court with Judge Dan Moore presiding. Henderson County Assistant District Attorneys Justin Weiner and Nancy Rumar prosecuted the case on behalf of Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s office.

A little over a year prior to his sentence on Dec. 8, 2011, the Henderson County Drug Task Force and members of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Command Staff executed a search warrant on Ray’s residence. Immediately after making entry into the home, Ray was seen fleeing from the bathroom with his hands dripping wet. The toilet was running which indicated that it had recently been flushed. Some speculated that Ray had flushed a quantity of narcotics when he realized that law enforcement was at his home.

During the search of the home, the Task Force located a number of items confirming Ray’s involvement in drug transactions. Crack cocaine was found throughout the house along with razor blades used to size the rocks, a large amount of cash mostly in small bills, and a cell phone with text messages detailing various drug transactions. The residence was also home to two children. The search also revealed digital scales with cocaine residue found sitting on a baby’s highchair. Ray was the only person present at the time the search warrant was executed.

An additional warrant was also executed to search Ray’s cellular phone which indicated that he was trafficking in narcotics.

Following the sentence, Weiner said: “[T]his is a great example of why it is so important that our office works so hard with law enforcement and continues to fight and investigate these cases on the eve of and throughout trial.”

Greene drops nativity lawsuit

ATHENS — San Antonio Atheist Patrick Greene announced this morning he is withdrawing his lawsuit against Henderson County Judge Richard Sanders in connection with the nativity scene displayed on the courthouse lawn each December.

In the lawsuit, Greene said Sanders, “abused his position as judicial head of Henderson County, by giving official governmental permission to private citizens to display this Christian Nativity scene. This also violated Article 1, Section 6 of the Texas Constitution; ‘No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, and no preference shall ever be given by lay to any religious society or mode of worship.’”

Greene filed the lawsuit in late December. You can read more about the lawsuit here. You can read more about Greene’s involvement in Henderson County and the nativity controversy here.

Greene said he was dropping the lawsuit “because something far more important has come up.”

“I discovered a woman who is in prison who got there without due process, and I am going to try to get her out,” he said.

The woman is Meagan Adams, who was one of three teenagers to be convicted in 2003 for murdering Adams’ grandmother and guardian. Adams was 16 at the time.

Adams admits to being involved in the crime, but writes, “I do take responsibility for my part in this case, but I feel my sentence was extreme. I was a child and since then I have grown and realized so much. I have so many goals. I have so much that I want to do with my life, but I just need someone who will take a chance on me.”

Greene has decided to take that chance.

Henderson County Attorney Clint Davis said the county was thankful to have the lawsuit behind them.

“We’re thankful for whatever reason that Mr. Greene decided to drop his lawsuit,” he said.