|
|
|
Car crash into barrier kills one
Monitor Staff Reports
EUSTACE–A woman died Saturday when the car she and her
husband were riding in crashed into a concrete barrier at the
intersection of U.S. 175 and Farm-to-Market 316 in Eustace.
Her driver husband, Oral F. Armstrong, was transported by helicopter to
East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. His wife was transported by
ambulance to ETMC in Gun Barrel City, where she expired, Precinct 2
Justice Dale Blaylock said.
It was Genelle G. Armstrong’s 70th birthday.
The couple was traveling south on FM 316, probably on their way back
home to Door Key Ranch Road in Trinidad, when they approached the dark
intersection in Eustace.
Authorities received a 911 call about the wreck just after 10 p.m.
Eustace police are still investigating the cause of the crash, hoping
medical reports might determine the driver’s condition just prior to the
collision. Woman hurt in
boating accident
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
SEVEN POINTS–An Irving woman is in intensive care at a Tyler hospital
following a boating accident on Cedar Creek Lake Saturday.
Donna LeBlanc, 56, was airlifted by helicopter shortly after 1 p.m.
Saturday, and was facing additional surgery Tuesday for damage to her
abdomen and multiple fractures, Seven Points Police Officer Rodney
Henderson told The Monitor.
LeBlanc was driving a personal watercraft when her friend, Irving
resident David Elliot, 60, failed to yield the right-of-way and ran her
over with a 17-foot jet-powered boat.
“It was his first time out with his new boat, purchased last week,”
Henderson said. “I pulled her out of the water.”
The couple were on the lake between Causeway Marina and Waitman Island,
across from Peninsula Crossing, he said.
Elliot told authorities he was going about 30 mph.
The impact threw Elliot out of the boat, which continued at full
throttle across the cove until it ran into the lake’s east bank,
Henderson said.
They had come down to Cedar Creek Lake because of lake closures in the
Dallas area, Henderson said.
Though many regarded Saturday as a lucky day because of its 07-07-07
designation, it didn’t prove true for these two. Henderson also noted
the boat’s hull number was 666.
Area suffers damage from repeated heavy rains
 Monitor
Photo/Barbara Gartman
The plants arranged ready for sale at this local retail nursery won’t
have to be watered for quite a while. Recent rains left parts of the
area flooded.
 Monitor
Photo/Barbara Gartman
The driver of this Jeep SUV accidently drove off the road and got stuck
sometime during the night or early morning hours Friday, July 6. The
road is located behind Jana B’s Bakery in Seven Points, and dead-ends
into the back parking lot of the Dollar General Store.
 Monitor
Photo/Barbara Gartman
The Trinity River laps dangerously close to the bottom of the bridge on
Farm to Market 85, just west of the Styx cutoff. Flood warnings for the
Trinity River near Rosser for July 5 reported the river was 31.47 feet
with flood stage at 31 feet. The river rose to 32 feet July 6. Flood
warnings remained in effect for the Rosser and Trinidad area throughout
the week, with the river expected to recede beginning Tuesday night.
 Courtesy
Photo/Kathy Commons
It may be just a small stream flowing lazily past Woodruff Circle in
Peeltown, but just hours before, it was a raging torrent that tore out a
42-inch culvert, destroying the crossing and isolating residents for a
time over this past weekend.
Kaufman County declares
disaster
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–The numbers aren’t all in, but Kaufman County is looking at more
than $9 million in damages from the recent heavy rains.
Monday, commissioners approved a declaration of disaster, to last until
further action by the county.
Every precinct is looking at extensive pothole damage, with roads,
culverts and bridges washed out and no real end in sight.
“It will be a month before all the damage can be totaled,” Precinct 4
Commissioner Jim Deller, who has more miles of roads than any other
precinct, said.
Public Works Director Kathy Morris listed other losses, including hay
bales that actually floated away and 20,000 acres of wheat ruined.
She also noted information from the Extension Office saying it will be a
month before other crop damage due to rain and insects is tallied.
“We need to ask for help from the area engineer to find dry dirt. There
isn’t any around,” Deller said.
Dry sand is part of the necessary materials to repair roads, he noted.
It is possible to get up to 75 percent of the cost of repairs reimbursed
from state and federal offices.
But, Morris cautioned commissioners to document everything, “even the
smallest items,” and take photographs showing the damage.
There will be on-site inspectors, she explained.
In other business, commissioners:
• approved the establishment of the Polo Ridge Fresh Water Supply
District as submitted by Forney Acquisitions.
Kirk Wilson of Bedford, representing Forney Acquisitions, explained the
details and the lengthy agreements with other involved entities.
Monday’s hearing is the second step in the establishment procedures,
Clay Crawford of Crawford and Jordan, LLP, explained.
The third step will be an election to establish the legal boundaries of
the district.
“We believe we have met all the standard requirements before coming to
you,” he said.
“I’m impressed with the way they have put this together, and all the
contacts they have made,” County Judge Wayne Gent said.
Commissioners also approved the list of temporary supervisors for the
district as presented.
• accepted the auditor’s report for June as presented by Hal Jones.
• approved the list of judges for all elections through June, 2008.
• approved the law firm of Bickerstaff, Heath, Delgado, Acosta, L.L. P.
to handle the appeal in the case JoAnn E. Combs v. Kaufman County.
The county won the case in trial court, but Combs is appealing, Gent
said.
• approved the preliminary plat for Los Estabols, Precinct 2.
This phase contains only three lots in Kaufman County, with the rest in
Rockwall County.
However, all of the lots in the next phase will be located in Kaufman
County.
The gated community will contain homes in excess of 2,500 square feet of
air-conditioned space, built on 10 acres or more lots.
A working cattle ranch will be included on 700 acres of preserved land.
• accepted the Precinct 4 road report from Deller.
He mentioned reports were coming in daily of additional problems.
Morris said the reports can be updated every Thursday.
• approved a request from Embarq to install buried cable on the
right-of-way of County Road 4072, Precinct 4.
• approved budget transfers as presented by Jones.
• paid bills totaling $711,655.30.
Rhythm master Eric Stuer
sets the beat at The Library at Cedar Creek Lake
Monitor Photos/Pearl Cantrell
ABOVE: Eric Stuer demonstrates with a pair of ka-shishi the diffferent
sounds made when shaken in different ways. Children learn almost
anything can be converted into a percussion instrument and practice four
different sounds.
Drums featured during the summer reading program included the African
djembe (far right) and Cuban box cajon.
 |