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Rabid skunk bites Kemp child
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–All the little Kemp Primary student wanted to do was
pet “Fifi,” the skunk featured on a popular children’s program “Dora the
Explorer.”
Unfortunately, Fifi wasn’t in the mood for petting, and the child, who
lives on south Main Street in Kemp, received a small bite, just a little
more than enough to break the skin, city administrator James Stroman
explained.
As soon as the parents learned the child was bitten by a skunk, he was
taken to the doctor and immediately started on a series of injections to
prevent rabies.
“That was a smart thing to do,” Stroman said, adding the skunk was found
later, sent to Austin to be tested, and results received April 3
confirmed it tested positive for rabies.
Children often think of wild animals as cuddly, soft pets or friends
like they see on television.
“He didn’t perceive the skunk as a dangerous animal,” Stroman explained.
A skunk has been seen wandering around the Intermediate school in the
daytime, so the city has a trap set near the school, he said.
Skunks are nocturnal animals that hunt and feed at night. Citizens are
being warned if a skunk is around in the daytime, it is almost always
rabid.
If one does encounter a skunk and is bitten or scratched, citizens are
advised to contact the proper authorities (your police department,
medical providers and or animal control).
“Rabies is almost certainly fatal when contracted,” Stroman said.
However, with early treatment the disease is preventable.
The city has had several reports of skunks in and around the Kemp area,
and as it is springtime, they are probably in other areas as well.
Stroman pointed out.New
citizen honored at convenience store
By Kerry Yancey
Monitor Staff Writer
EUSTACE–Flags, cakes, punch and the singing of the national anthem
topped a surprise party for a new American citizen Friday.
Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Vilma Johnson looks around in astonishment as
long-time friend and retired attorney Thomas Hight Sr. (at right) leads
a group of well-wishers in singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” during a
celebration marking Johnson’s new citizenship Friday.
Employees and regular customers at the TexStop Exxon
convenience store (formerly Kidd-Jones) in Eustace gathered to celebrate
Vilma Johnson becoming a U.S. citizen.
Johnson, who met her husband Robert in the Philippines and married 31
years ago April 29, officially became a citizen April 3, after passing
her citizenship test the day before.
 “I’ve
been here (in the U.S.) for 26 years,” she said. “My kids said I needed
to do it (become a citizen), but I kept putting it off and putting it
off.”
Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
New citizen Vilma Johnson (center) shares a
giggle with fellow employees Tanya Pierce (left) and Elizabeth West
after posing for a picture at a surprise party for Johnson Friday.
It took Johnson about six months to become a citizen –
she applied for citizenship back in October – and she recalled it took
her sister about two years to go through the process.
She has worked at the Eustace convenience store and gas station since
1994, and is the store manager.
“I think it’s great,” store owner Nick Davis of Sherman said. “She’s a
terrific lady – every time I see her, she’s working on something, or has
a broom in her hand.
“It’s really unusual in my business to have someone with that kind of
longevity in the same store,” he added. “I asked her who she was going
to vote for, and she said she didn’t know yet.”
Elizabeth West and the other TexStop employees planned the gathering and
managed to keep it a secret.
They summoned Johnson back to the rear of the store by yelling about a
coffee leak, then greeted her with American flags, singing “The
Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.”
“She’s one the best bosses I’ve ever had,” West said.
“This is a sweet, sweet lady,” regular customer Thomas Hight Sr. added.
Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Vilma Johnson struggles to contain her
emotions as she reads cards of congratulations during a special party
marking her new U.S. citizenship.
VFD
woes plague Tool
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
TOOL–Complaints against the Tool Volunteer Fire Department, the
Henderson County Emergency Service District (ESD) No. 4, and city
council concerns about both came to a head at a special meeting April 3.
The meeting was called to dissolve the agreement with Tool VFD and
contract with the Seven Points Fire Department for services.
After much discussion, the two items were tabled until after the
election in May, to give both the ESD and the fire department time to
work things out.
“We need fire protection and we don’t have it,” resident Ed Daniel said.
Then, speaking of the district, he added, “I don’t think it has worked,
and I don’t think it will.”
One audience member said the ESD has held tax money to the tune of
$80,000 away from the VFD.
“Firemen need somebody to give them the money they need,” Daniel said.
Someone in the audience spoke about the price of gasoline. He said the
ESD has offered no help to the fire department.
However, Fire Chief Rodney McClain disputed those comments, saying he
had not been turned down when submitting vouchers to the district for
reimbursement.
Currently, 18 firefighters are on the roster, McClain responded to
questions of manpower.
A pervasive complaint had to do with slow responses or no-shows by the
department.
ESD president Gary Hash said the complaint was invalid.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, every call made was answered, he
said.
“Listed from the 9-1-1 dispatcher were 31 runs for December, 2007, with
14 of those in the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. time frame. There were 36 runs for
January with 22 in the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. time,” he said.
There were also 29 runs in February (15 were 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and 30
for March (16 were 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), he added.
“I don’t know what else we can do,” Hash said.
Some audience members claimed equipment was rumored to be missing, but
later in the meeting fire department personnel said the equipment had
just been misplaced following a fire.
“Our need is for fire protection and medical service,” Hash said.
For that reason, he explained the ESD has been trying to acquire three
acres to put a building on.
“We want to build a ladder tower for training and construct a helipad
and ambulance area with paramedics,” he said.
“We hope we can build a building with four bays and eventually living
quarters for overnight shifts,” Hash explained.
Mayor Leland Pitts said the city had begun a review of the fire
department, which has been very stressful. “We have done a lot of
fact-finding, a lot of facts, a lot of rumors, with some rumors turning
out to be facts,” Pitts said.
“We found the city can remove itself from the fire department. Then it
must provide services, but there is no city fire department,” he said.
“The VFD department declared itself a non-profit organization with no
control or accountability to the city. We have fired a shot over the
bow, so to speak. Mr. Hash is committed to better oversight (of the ESD).
We are not going to see our taxpayers (taken),” Pitts said.
“We all realize the wheel is not exactly round. The question is how do
we get it back in shape?” Police Chief Warren Loscuito said.
“We have been at this for five years. We need to stop the animosity
between everyone and get back together,” councilwoman Fran Sonka said.
“My feeling is that we allow this matter to be tabled for 30 days and
let the city, Mr. Hash and his board provide some oversight and help to
the fire department with their paper work (late paper work was also a
complaint),” Pitts said.
“It is our responsibility to our citizens. We are going to straighten
this out,” councilman A.J. Phillips said. |