Sunday, February 17, 2008

Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Gun Barrel City manager Gerry Boren (holding left shirt sleeve) presents a city T-shirt to Misty Holland (behind the shirt) at the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new CVS Pharmacy in Gun Barrel City. The event was attended by pharmacy officials and employees, citizens, and customers Wednesday. The store offered discounts, prizes and snacks to those attending.

Assistant manager Scott Rosser said the store features a new line of products, pharmacy services, makeup and even dairy products.
Special services include a pharmacy drive through for customer convenience, all insurance accepted, a large photo lab and related products such as cameras and supplies for sale.
Store hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

County awarded $227,500 for Mays capital murder case
Monitor Staff Reports
AUSTIN– Gov. Rick Perry announced the award of $227,500 to Henderson County as financial assistance for the capital murder trial of Randall Mays, who is accused of fatally shooting investigator Paul Habelt and deputy sheriff Tony Ogburn in May, 2007.
The announcement was made late Wednesday.
Henderson County Commissioners had already set aside $350,000 in its FY ’08 budget for capital murder prosecutions and a little more than $94,000 had already been spent.
County Judge David Holstein was attending a conference and unable to comment by presstime. However, he has repeatedly said the best estimate given him to the cost of such cases is between $250,000 and $300,00.
The county is also seeking assistance with two other capital murder cases occurring in 2007.
The grant is awarded through the County Essential Services Program and is administered by the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division (CJD).
“This grant program is an important part of our state’s criminal justice system because it helps counties pursue costly and time-consuming prosecution of capital crimes,” Perry said.
“Without such assistance, victims of these crimes would be denied justice,” he said.
Each year, CJD awards more than $113 million in grants for a variety of juvenile and criminal justice programs as well as victim services.
 

Kemp rebuilds police department
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–Following several resignations for various reasons, the Kemp Police Department is in recovery and getting stronger.
In his report Tuesday, Police Chief Richard Clemmo brought Kemp City Council members up to date on what has been accomplished since October.
He listed two regular officers, three reserve officers and three pending reserve officers.
New officers will also be sporting a new look. “We are updating our uniforms, as the old ones are worn and falling apart,” Clemmo said.
He presented officers Damon Smith and Steven Crawley, who modeled new tan uniforms.
“We are trying to get some color, too,” Clemmo said, pointing out the gold and green on the newly designed police patches to identify the department.

Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Officer Steven Crawley displays the new Kemp Police uniform and its patches.

Other accomplishments include installing computers in the cars and an Internet-based report writing system. New portable radios and new car radios have also been purchased.
“All cars are up and operational, and we have completed the paperwork on a surveillance vehicle,” he said.
The report also included detailed statistics on the 341 calls the Kemp Police Department has responded to since January.
“I think you are doing an absolute excellent job. I have received a lot of good reports (about Clemmo and the department),” councilwoman Barbara McFaul said.
In other business, council members:
• discussed a problem with excessive comp time being paid.
“On behalf of the whole council, we apologize to you (Kemp citizens),” Mayor Billy Teel said.
“We are going to run it (the city) like a business,” McFaul said.
• heard a presentation by Judy Bell consulting services.
• approved a settlement agreement with Atmos Energy Corporation concerning a rate adjustment.
• approved a contract with Kaufman County election officer Dick Murphy for election services.
• called for an election for the purpose of electing three at-large council seats, and approved the actions necessary to hold such an election.
• adopted the 2006 International Building Code and the 2005 Electrical Code.
• heard reports from city administrator James Stroman.
“I talked with (Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim) Deller and things are set for repair work to begin on 10th and 11th streets, as soon as the weather is warm enough, Stroman reported.