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GBC man dies in car wreck
on U.S. 175
Monitor Staff Reports
ATHENS–A Gun Barrel City man is dead following a collision Saturday
night on U.S. Highway 175 just west of Athens.
Billy Eric Thompson, 33, and his two daughters, ages 2 and 4, were
traveling west in a four-door 1999 Mercury sedan when an eastbound Chevy
Blazer swerved into his lane.
Thompson, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene.
His daughters were transported to Dallas Children’s Hospital with
incapacitating injuries, according to Department of Public Safety
Trooper James Martin.
Driving the Blazer, 27-year-old Tracey Dewayne Johnson of Athens was
seriously injured with multiple fractures. He was taken to East Texas
Medical Center-Athens.
Johnson was charged with intoxication manslaughter, a second-degree
felony, and two counts of intoxication assault, a third-degree felony.
The manslaughter charges carries up to a 20-year prison sentence.
The wreck occurred around 8:40 p.m., four-tenths of a mile west of
Athens city limits. Road conditions were clear, Martin said.
The Eustace Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Woman dies in fire
Monitor Staff Reports
GUN BARREL CITY–Early Friday, a house fire in the Spanish Shores
addition claimed the life of an 80-year-old woman.
Marita Allen was pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct 2 Justice of
the Peace Dale Blaylock.
Her husband, Charles Allen, 80, was able to escape the burning home.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Fire rescue personnel from Mabank, Payne Springs and Enchanted Oaks
assisted Gun Barrel City in responding to the call at 112 Santa Monica
St.
Upon arrival, firefighters found the home fully engulfed in flames, Lt.
Colby McBride said.
“Heavy heat and flames prevented a rescue,” McBride said.
Mrs. Allen’s body was located at about 2:30 a.m.
The Allens had returned from Rockwall Thursday evening, after visiting
their son and taking care of an eye appointment.
Their son, Keith Allen, was informed of the incident immediately and
learned his father escaped without injury.
State Fire Marshal Thomas Cooley is heading the investigation into the
cause of the fire, with assistance from Henderson County Fire Marshal
Stacy Glover and assistant fire marshal Lavitta Shaffer.
Funeral services are pending with Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven
Points.
TAKS scores listed
Monitor Staff Reports
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–Area eighth-graders passed the state promotion
requirement in math and reading by a wide margin.
Locally, the Eustace school district reported 100 percent of the eighth
grade class met the standard in reading and 99 percent in math, making
it the highest-performing class in the Cedar Creek Lake area on the TAKS
test.
Additionally, 90 percent of this class met the standards in social
studies, while 68 percent statewide met the science standard.
Statewide, 95 percent of eighth graders will be promoted to the ninth
grade, having met the standards set by the Texas Assessment of Knowledge
and Skills testing program. This was the first year students had to pass
the TAKS requirement in order to graduate.
“We have set high expectations for this group of students, and each year
they meet or exceed them,” state education commissioner Robert Scott
said.
Those who didn’t meet the standard will be retested Tuesday and
Wednesday, July 1-2.
Beginning in the 11th grade, students have four chances to pass all
areas of the exit-level TAKS test, which is a requirement to graduate
from Texas high schools. The Class of 2009 is well on its way to meeting
its testing requirements.
Ninety percent met the English language arts standards, while 95 percent
met the standard for social studies.
In science, 80 percent passed the test and 79 percent met the standard
in math.
See how well students at your school have performed by consulting a
chart on page 4A. Remember, these reported scores are only preliminary.
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