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Gun Barrel City mayor
runoff election is Saturday
Monitor Staff Reports
GUN BARREL CITY–If you didn’t vote in the early election for the Gun
Barrel City mayor’s runoff election, Saturday is your last chance to
make your vote count.
The poll will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Brawner Hall.
Choices for mayor are Paul Eaton, the current seat holder, and
challenger Marty Goss, former councilman.
A runoff became necessary when no one drew more than 51 percent of the
vote in a three-way race.
Eaton missed the critical 51 percent by just a handful of votes in the
local election held May 10.
Eustace mayor indicted
Charge stems from Sept. 23, 2007, brawl outside
Gaters Bar
Monitor Staff Reports
ATHENS–The Henderson County Grand Jury brought down an indictment
against Eustace mayor Laura Ward for aggravated assault causing serious
bodily injury Tuesday.
The offense occurred Sept. 23, 2007, outside Gaters Bar and Grill in Gun
Barrel City.
The young woman on the receiving end was airlifted to East Texas Medical
Center in Tyler in critical condition and later transferred to
Presbyterian Hospital of Kaufman.
The incident was the second time Ward was charged with aggravated
assault. The first time was in April, 2005, when she allegedly struck
her friend Twanna Brewer, who fell sustaining a fractured pelvis.
Alcohol consumption were factors in both instances.
Eustace citizens were split over the incident, some calling for Ward’s
immediate resignation from the council, while others defended her citing
her six years of public service to the city.
The incident played a role in the recent election.
Newly seated councilman Mark Sanders said he ran for the seat expressly
to see Ward taken out of office.
“This has been a black eye on the city,” Sanders said. “I’ll repeat what
I said before, she needs to immediately step down because what hangs
over the mayor hangs over the community.”
Members of the council disagreed and had not asked for the mayor’s
resignation.
The only comment Ward made in regard to her arrest at any public meeting
was that she’s leaving it up to the judicial system to establish her
guilt or innocence, and will not pander to the court of public opinion.
File photo
Laura Ward
Mabank High School gets new
leadership
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–A new principal and assistant principal will step up to the helm
of Mabank High School beginning Tuesday, July 1.
The appointments were announced Monday at the Mabank Independent School
District board meeting.
Brad Koskelin has been named high school principal and Jess Satterwhite
has been named assistant principal.
Koskelin has served as one of the assistant principals for the past four
years.
He has 15 years experience in education, 12 of those with Mabank ISD,
superintendent Dr. Russell Marshall said.
Koskelin could not be reached for comment. He was at the Grand Canyon
vacationing with his family.
His wife, Shela, is also employed with the district as the director of
Career and Technology.
Satterwhite also comes up through the ranks from being a coach and
teacher. He’s been in education six years – all of them with Mabank ISD.
His wife Cindy chairs the History and Social Studies department.
“We’re very pleased to be able to fill these positions from the talented
and experienced staff here in the district,” Marshall said.
Monitor file photo
Brad Koskelin |