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School bus window broken by gunshot
No injuries reported, arrests made
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–Wednesday morning, around 6:40 a.m., while traveling its usual route, a Kemp Independent School District bus with three students on board lost a window to a gunshot.
While no one would confirm exactly what happened, they did say the students were checked out by district medical personnel.
Glass was blown inside the bus, but none of the students were injured.
A letter from Kemp ISD superintendent Dr. Peter Running confirmed a .22-caliber rifle was confiscated and arrests were made.
Later, Running said the person involved was a “younger individual,” but would not confirm whether he/she was younger or older than 18.
“At this time, the district is not able to release any names or any more details, as the investigation is still going on,” Running said in the letter.
Information Running said he did not know included:
• the ages of the children on the bus.
• the sex and term of employment of the driver.
• the driver’s response, and whom they called and alerted first.
• any possible motive, or reason behind the shooting.
The Monitor confirmed that no charges were filed with either the Kemp Police Department or the Kaufman County Sheriff’s department.
“We have our own district police officer, and he handled the incident and investigation,” Running said.
The Monitor submitted an Open Records Request Thursday to both the district police chief, Robert Patterson and Running.
According to state rules, the school district has 10 days to respond to the request.
The letter, posted on the school district website and signed by Running, stated: “I am very proud of the bus driver and of our transportation department with the efficient manner the students were taken care of and how the incident was reported. I am proud of District law enforcement for the timely and efficient investigation and apprehension of the suspect and locating the weapon.
“We thank you again for entrusting us with your children, and the District continues with its commitment for the safety of every student.”

Redistricting to split lake area
By Michael V. Hannigan
Monitor Staff Writer
AUSTIN–Can you imagine Seven Points and Gun Barrel City having different representatives in the Texas House next legislative session?
How about Malakoff and Athens, or Malakoff and Caney City?
That’s the way things will be, if the preliminary redistricting map released Wednesday becomes law.
The preliminary map released this week has half of the Cedar Creek Lake area, including Seven Points, Tool, Trinidad and Malakoff, aligned with Ellis County. The rest of Henderson County is still joined with Kaufman County.
The State Legislature is currently going through the redistricting process; the redrawing of political boundaries it undertakes every 10 years, based on new census data.
According to state sources, the current House District 4, with Henderson and Kaufman counties, had to be broken up because it is too big. Rep. Lance Gooden represents the district.
One of the factors involved, according to Gooden, is the size of Ellis County. That county is big enough that one of its surrounding counties will have to be split to produce a district. That district is represented by Jim Pitts (R), chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee.
Ellis County is touched by Henderson, Kaufman, Dallas, Tarrant, Johnson, Hill and Navarro counties.
Rules normally protect a county from being divided unless it is big enough to have multiple House districts, such as Dallas County. The Ellis County situation, however, is unusual and will require something different. It is the only such situation in Texas, Gooden said.
The preliminary map could – and likely will – change because redistricting is a continuous process.
Henderson County Judge Richard Sanders said Wednesday the idea of the county having split House districts was “very disconcerting.”
“We are going to make every effort through Commissioners’ Court to make sure this doesn’t happen,” he said.
Redistricting bills follow the normal legislative process.
According to current rules, the last day to pass bills in the House is May 12, so the process would have to kick into high gear in the next couple of weeks to meet the deadline.
If the House and Senate cannot pass redistricting plans in time – or the plans are found invalid – then the process is taken over by the Legislative Redistricting Board (LRB).
The LRB is composed of the lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, attorney general, comptroller and land commissioner.

Kemp mayor at odds with Housing Authority director
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–Tempers were barely contained in a confrontation between Kemp Mayor Matt Ganssle, Kemp Housing Authority residents and director Melinda Oliver at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
The controversy concerned the mayor appointing three members to the five-member Housing Authority board, including a replacement for board chairman Gene Mills.
Oliver said her problems with the mayor began when he requested her to research and write grants for the city.
“I called HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) and was informed that would be a conflict of interest,” she said.
The KHA is funded by rental income, HUD subsidies and HUD grants. No funds are provided by the city of Kemp, Oliver explained.
Oliver stated the mayor stood at the KHA March 17 meeting, attended by 34 tenants, and at that time promised to consult with her regarding appointments.
She said the terms for the board members have not expired (due to expire May 4).
Claims and counter-claims abounded as to why the mayor was taking this action.
Mills had Oliver read a letter for him, in which he stated the mayor complained that he (Mills) was old and had vision problems.
Mills said he had expected the mayor to be more tolerant of others’ weaknesses.
“He told me he guaranteed I would not be reappointed, because I was old and visually impaired,” Mills said.
Although the mayor repeatedly claimed Mills’ letter contained “lies, lies, lies,” several people who attended the meeting refuted Ganssle’s remarks.
Geri Miller, a KHA tenant who also wrote a letter in support of Mills and Oliver, said she attended the March 17 meeting.
“Melinda is doing a terrific job,” Miller explained
Ganssle denied that age or disability were reasons for him to not reappoint Mills.
“I have a problem with him turning the meeting over to Melinda,” Ganssle said.
City councilman Todd Weber said he wanted to question individual KHA tenants, and asked that the appointments be tabled until the next regular meeting.
Also, Weber said he was not happy the board members being replaced had not completed their terms.
The mayor protested and refused to table the item.
“As far as the appointments are concerned, my mind is made up,” Ganssle declared.
“I guess you’re going to do what you want,” Weber replied. “I still don’t think it’s fair.”
Ganssle appointed Bill Burnett to replace Mills, reappointed Norma Liggins and named Marvin Hooten to replace Tim Morrison.
According to HUD rulings, the mayor may make appointments, but tenants questioned whether Ganssle had to wait until asked, or until a term is completed.
Oliver said later she was under the impression that HUD rules stipulated the housing authority director (Oliver) issues the oath to board members, not the mayor.