Commissioners recognize Law and the STAR youthful offenders program
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–Youthful Kaufman County offenders, ages 9 to 21, have faced a different kind of community service for their offenses.

Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
AT LEFT: In five years, STAR (Start Today Accepting Responsibility) has taught youthful offenders to do just that. Kaufman County Precinct 2 Constable Joe Don Law reported the statistics to commissioners Monday. Pictured are (from left) Judge Wayne Gent, Law and assistant Angela Miller.

At their final meeting of 2010 Dec. 20, county commissioners praised the STAR (Start Today Accepting Responsibilities) program and Precinct 2 Constable Joe Don Law for its inception.
Law explained while parents were being fined or otherwise chastised for their children, often the child was not being held responsible for their actions until the STAR program was instigated in December, 2005.
The commissioners recognized Law for completing five successful years.
Law talked about the dedicated people who have worked with the offenders, such as Angela Miller.
His people helped youthful offenders learn to face their responsibilities and to work, Law said.
“They never have washed a police or fire vehicle – instead, they work maintaining county property and work at county events,” Law said. “The offenders maintain Blackland and Dolph cemeteries and many other county projects.”
During the five years of the program, 437 offenders have enrolled (128 females and 309 males). Of that number, 322 were referred by the Precinct 2 Justice Court, 98 were referred by the Forney Municipal Court and 17 were referred by other courts.
There have been only 37 second-timer enrollees, meaning 400, so far, have learned a valuable lesson, Law said.
“The total number of community service hours performed by the 437 equaled 9,702,” Law said.
In other business, commissioners:
• nominated incoming County Judge Bruce Wood as a candidate to fill a vacancy on the Urban Counties Board of Directors. The position will be filled by an election, to be held in Austin Wednesday, Jan. 12.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Jerry Rowden and Precinct 2 Commissioner Ray Clark said they would try to attend the election and vote for Wood.
• accepted the tax assessor-collector’s report for November, as presented by Dick Murphy.
Murphy said the general fund collection totaled $1,523,475, a total of 5 percent of collections due.
“However, the first 17 days of December, another $3.5 million was collected,” he said, noting over the holiday period, boxes of mail have come in and are ready to be processed.
He said the mortgage companies have probably sent their payments, but those will not be counted until after Jan. 1.
• officially proclaimed Dec. 16 as John Long Day in the county.
• officially proclaimed Dec. 24 as Judge Wayne Gent Day in the county.
• accepted $3,144 from the BuyBoard Cooperative Program, presented by purchasing agent Jack Sebastian.
• tabled awarding the inmate healthcare services contract for the county jail.
“The negotiations are almost complete,” Sebastian explained, and asked commissioners to delay action until after the holidays.
• agreed to allow incoming District Attorney Mike Mclelland to hire a replacement investigator for a vacated position, effective Jan. 1.
The request was made by outgoing DA Rick Harrison, who explained he was aware the investigator would be retiring. The retirement would leave the office with only three investigators.
• denied a request for payment to Marion Porter for work performed at the South Campus for the Master Gardeners.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Deller stated the Master Gardeners earned their own money, and therefore should pay for the work.
• accepted the financial statements from KC Rural Emergency Services Districts No. 7 (Crandall).
Commissioners said the reports were done well and in a timely fashion.
• tabled action on creating Fresh Water Supply Districts No. 5 and No. 6, and seating their temporary supervisors.
• approved the sale of 16 lots of tax resale property in Precinct 3.
• rejected one sale, as the bidder asked to opt out.
• paid bills totaling $178,827.47.

‘All You Can Eat’ fish fry set Jan. 7
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY–Back by popular demand, the Knights of Columbus and St. Jude Catholic Church will host an “All You Can Eat” fish fry to be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at the St. Jude Catholic Church, located on Luther Lane behind Pizza Hut in Gun Barrel City.
The fare includes catfish, french fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, drink and home-baked goodies as long as they last.
The cost is $8 for adults, $4 for children 6-12 and younger children eat free. All profits will benefit local state and national charities.