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Collision sends five to hospitals
Early morning frost on windshield obscures SH 274 intersection
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
TRINIDAD–Traffic came to a standstill on State Highway 274 Thursday, as authorities moved the injured from a morning rush hour wreck at the intersection of Key Ranch Road. One adult and two children from one vehicle were airlifted to Dallas hospitals, while two adults in a second southbound truck were taken to ETMC Athens. No fatalities were reported.
Trinidad police chief Dennis Causey told The Monitor that the driver of a blue Ford Taurus drove with frost across his windsheild. “He didn’t think he was at the intersection yet,” Causey said.

Monitor Photos/Kim Breeze
First Responders move quickly to transport the injured to emergency transport after a serious collision at Key Ranch Road and State Highway 274 Thursday morning.

He estimated the driver was going about 40 mph when he collided with the southbound black Chevy truck. “He was taking two children to school,” Causey said.
One helicopter transported the two children to Children’s Medical Center and a second helicopter took the driver to Parkland Hospital, he said.
Causey identified the Ford driver as Jason Tatom, in his 30s. The driver of the Chevy truck was in his 70s and identified as Julius Rivers with a Kemp mailing address. Causey refrained from identifying the others involved in the accident.
Traffic was blocked for about an hour, he estimated before tow trucks were able to clear the debris.
Temperatures overnight dipped into the low 30s. Causey said when he arrived shortly before 8 a.m., the windshield on the Ford Taurus was still icy.

Library building lease to continue
EDC interested in smart phone commerce future
By Erik Walsh
Monitor Staff Writer
SEVEN POINTS–The Economic Development Corporation of Seven Points announced that a purchase clause on a performance agreement for the library building has been eliminated and the library will continue on a lease basis. The performance agreement had stipulated the library be purchased outright by the library board. “We are very happy with the outcome,” library board member Jim Taylor told The Monitor.
For the past several years, the library has been contributing $400 a month toward the building’s expenses, with the EDC picking up the remainder each month. That looks to continue under this new action. An agreement will likely extend the lease in five year increments, Taylor said.
“Details are still under negotiation,” EDC president N. Jean Hulsey said Dec. 28, “but we know it will continue to be leased.”
Taylor said there were issues with the building not meeting ADA requirements, and substantial repairs needing to be addressed.
The EDC board members also discussed advertising strategies for the city’s future, with a lengthy conversation about smart phone apps and the ease it will allow customers to find information about Seven Points businesses.
“It’s the yellow pages on steroids,” EDC vice president Jay Patel said about the smart phone apps.
The application, which is still in development, would give anyone with a smart phone instant access to anything happening in Seven Points, from entertainment to food reservations. This would help residents and tourists get to the businesses they desire easier. The city, however, it not quite ready for this technology leap.
“We’re not ready for this yet,” treasurer Mac McKinsey said. “Seven Point’s website needs to be up to date if we are going to be working with this kind of technology, and right now its not.”
Besides the web needing updating, the application itself is very expensive with a high-end price tag over $20,000. Businesses to be in the system would split the bill. Patel expressed optimism about Seven Points chances to get this going in the future.
“We don’t need a Cadillac right now when we can get a Chevy,” he said, referring to the size and scope of the application package the city may look into.
“We need to make a meeting with this company to find a model that fits Seven Point’s size,” McKinsey said.
The idea was well received by all EDC members and tabled for future consideration.
In other action, board members:
• approved the minutes of the special board meeting on Nov. 23
• approved the financial report for November, 2011.
• purchased office equipment totaling $1,274, including a printer, laptop, Microsoft Office, a mouse and flash drive.
(Pearl Cantrell contributed to this report.)

Car stuck in mud nets drug arrest
Monitor Staff Reports
CANTON–Deputies in the Van Zandt County found approximately 30 grams of methamphetamines, scales used to weigh and measure drugs and small baggies used to distribute narcotics while responding to a trespassing call Dec. 29, 2011. When deputies arrived to a private property located on VZ CR 1804 they found a red car stuck in the mud. The vehicle was registered to an owner in Quitman.
The car had two occupants, Ashley Gill, and Michael Lee Herrera, both of Quitman.
According to a press release, deputies determined Herrera was wanted on a Dallas County narcotics warrant involving meth.
He was taken into custody and transported to the Van Zandt Sheriff’s office and the vehicle was searched.
Gill was released; Herrera was booked on the Dallas County charge and is being held without bond.
Additional charges of possession, manufacturing and delivery of more than 4 grams and less than 200 grams are being filed.
The charges carry a fine up to $10,000 and from five to 99 years in prison.
Assisting the VZ Sheriff’s office was the Precinct 1 Constable.