People, Places & Events

Realtors hear HUD – FHA advantages
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–A slipping housing market and the number of foreclosures on homes has many Realtors on edge.
Wednesday, Darby Washeck delivered an encouraging talk to the joint Women’s Council of Realtors and the Henderson County Board of Realtors luncheon.
“FHA (Federal Housing Administration) is alive and well. Texas has more FHA endorsements than any other state,” he said.
Washeck has 30 years with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and currently serves as operations analyst manager.
He is also a Realtor and Broker.
Advantages to an FHA insured loan include no pre-payment penalty, and streamlined refinancing without an appraisal.
“When it comes to underwriting, all the buyer needs is acceptable credit, the assets needed to close and job stability,” Washeck said.
“There is no minimum credit score and foreclosure protection if it is an FHA insured mortgage,” he said.
He also advises new home buyers to go on the Internet for education.
“There are a lot of classes available on home buying.
“Knowledge is power,” he said.
Those experiencing problems with impending foreclosure were advised to seek help.
“Open that mail. Don’t ignore it. There is help,” he said.
“FHA is partnering with Project Hope (an organization offering aid to homeowners). Don’t go to someone advertising on a telephone pole,” Washeck said.
“Never sign anything. Don’t sign away your home ownership,” he warned.
In other business, members heard:
• a short report from Gooley Orr that included a reminder that the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC) orientation and training session and the board leadership conference is set for October.
He also commended the Henderson County Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) for its monetary support of TREPAC.
• Diane Medlyn, president of the HCWCR, asked for three volunteers.
She said one office open is that of president-elect and the response should be in by Wednesday.
She added the HCWCR was established in 1986.

Enchanted Oaks hosts
Fourth of July parade


Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Enchanted Oaks resident Don Chapin waves to the crowd as he trundles along
Enchanted Drive in a train filled with his grandchildren during the annual
Independence Day parade.


Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Members of the Enchanted Oaks Ladies Club throw candy to parade-watchers
during the city's annual Independence Day parade.


Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
World War II veteran Luther Hedrick, the Grand
Marshal, waves to parade-watchers during the Enchanted
Oaks Independence Day parade. Hedrick, 86, served with
the U.S. Army's 90th Division during the war. He moved
to Enchanted Oaks in 1971.

Contract negotiations begin
for facilities plan
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
ATHENS–Henderson County Commissioners gave Judge David Holstein the green light Tuesday to negotiate a contract with one of the five architectural firms applying to design a comprehensive facilities management plan.
That plan will inform the commissioners of its best options for meeting current and future needs of county government taking into account the property and buildings now available to it.
Holstein said he would do his best to open negotiations with Brinkley Sargent Architects of Dallas to do the work.
“The county is very grateful to the Ginger Murchison Foundation for coming forward with $100,000 grant to fund the plan,” Holstein said.
All five finalists made personal pitches to commissioners last week, Holstein said.
“We can’t lose with any of these finalists,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Joe Hall said.
Twelve firms had sent in their credentials for consideration in May.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Wade McKinney said three of the finalists were very impressive.
“I’m excited that soon we’re going to have something in hand that we began five years ago,” McKinney said.
If all goes well, a proposed contract can be reviewed and agreed upon this month, Holstein said.
Commissioners also approved an Information Technology Policy, the result of four years of work, IT director Betty Spencer said.
“This will persevere the integrity of the network and covers the liability the county is exposed to,” Spencer explained.
The policy outlines the purpose of the county’s network system and its intended uses along with some specific guidelines and restrictions.
No wireless hookup to the network system is allowed, due tot he security issues it presents.
Hall asked about wireless accessories, such as mouse (manually-operated user-selection equipment) and keyboards.
Those do not affect or access the network, but are local to the individual computer, Spencer said. “This restriction doesn’t apply to such devices,” she said.
Also the policy gives a degree of latitude to the IT Department for customization and special requests, she added.
A program of education will begin starting with the department heads and then with the employees, so everyone understands the policy and is able to sign off on it, she said.
The policy also includes disciplinary action to be taken.
If an offense is not corrected and occurs three times, the matter will be brought before the commissioners, she said.
In other business, commissioners:
• agreed to assist the Steen Cemetery Association with the trimming of about 400 feet.
• tabled action on a construction directive for Templeton with a charge of $66,165.53.
Templeton representative Fred Watkins could not attend the Tuesday meeting to explain the breakdown of funds left in the two contingency funds.
The work was unforeseen and called to the re-engineering of a duct system. Watkins is to meet with commissioners this week.
• approved changes to a contract with S&S Trucking from $65 per hour to $80 per hour, in view of rising diesel costs. The county uses the hauling services only occasionly.
• paid bills totaling $670,910.51.