People, Places & Events

City gets county animal control assistance
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
ATHENS–Henderson County Commissioners agreed to Berryville Mayor Roy Brown’s request for an interlocal agreement Tuesday for animal control assistance when needed.
Berryville does not have a police department, so no mutual aid agreements are in place between the county and the city, Brown pointed out.
The request was first brought before commissioners in June and was tabled.
At that time, a dog had bitten a mentally challenged citizen in her neighborhood. When the Sheriff’s Department dispatch was called, services were denied.
A follow-up call by the mayor and visit with Sheriff Ronny Brownlow settled on the need for an interlocal agreement.
The majority of Tuesday’s meeting centered on the new jail expansion.
Lt. Ben Kinder brought a lease agreement with Xerox© for a second large photocopier with embedded fax line for nearly $300 per month.
Up until now, booking and records management were sharing office space and some equipment. However, with the remodeling, the two offices will be located far apart from each other, Kinder said.
The larger size copier was also considered necessary to meet the jail’s future needs as the jail has doubled its capacity, he said.
Commissioners also agreed to Kinder’s request for new computers and printers, one for each of six pods.
Each pod officer will record services such as medical, and recreation offered for each inmate in the pod.
“This covers the county’s liability toward their civil liberties,” Kinder explained.
Templeton Construction Manager Fred Watkins did not appear to discuss the contingency funds and the $66,000 directive to revamp the jail’s ducting system.
“He will meet with us on July 29,” County Judge David Holstein said.
Commissioners heard there are 260 inmates housed presently, with none outside the county. Renovation of the kitchen is in progress.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Wade McKinney asked if the current facility could handle a weekend surge of up to 50 additional overnight prisoners.
Kinder answered it could, but added that off-duty officers would have to be brought in, as one might expect.
In other business, commissioners:
• agreed to submit a request for unclaimed capital credits from the electric cooperatives in the county.
• authorized inmate labor to assist the Family Peace Project.
• approved two replats in Precinct 2 for filing purposes.
• approved budget amendments, including transferring $25,500 from an account for purchasing road material to an account to purchase fuel.
• paid bills totaling $405,688. A payout request for the tax office was withdrawn in the amount of $49.50 for new tax exempt tags for a county trailer. “That’s not right,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Joe Hall repeated.

Manager lists future needs for GBC
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–Futures are looking uncertain for lake area cities and Gun Barrel City is no exception.
“This is the year when a bunch of crunches are going to hit,” GBC city manager Gerry Boren said.
Thursday, Boren was the keynote speaker for the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce July luncheon.
Part of his job is to meet with department heads and discuss if the money is there for budgeted items, he said.
“A lot of things we budgeted for are being decreased to help the budget,” Boren explained.
Those include measures such as raising thermostats to warmer settings and decreasing the number of electric lights in use.
The cost of gasoline may cause the city to put two police officers in a patrol car instead of the current one per vehicle policy.
“We are considering a lot of plans to improve the quality of life in the area,” he said.
“The city council passed overwhelmingly a charter revision,” he said.
“The city recently did a warrant round-up and another is coming up,” he added.
Some things he would like to see come to pass include:
• qualified guest speakers to encourage students to go to college.
• more parks, especially for the south side of the town.
• a study to explain how many people are traveling on GBC roads.
“In the future, one road to Dallas will not be enough,” he said, adding communities need to get together as one body and approach Texas Department of Transportation with the need for another road.
• activities for older teens, ages 17 to 19.
“I am a skate-park fan. I want to build a park – right next to the police department. I want our kids to build a relationship with the police department. I am proud of our area police departments,” he explained.
In other business, members and guests heard:
• CTX Mortgage was named July Business of the Month.
• Kiwanis was honored for its service to the community. Accepting the plaque was Kiwanian Ralph Fortner.
He said the club meets each Wednesday at Lakeridge RV Park, Gun Barrel City.
• the July luncheon was sponsored by Excite Realty. Owner B. G. Pierce said the lake area housing situation is faring better than a lot of other areas.


Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Gerry Boren, city manager for Gun Barrel City, was
the keynote speaker for the July luncheon of the
Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

Poker run set to benefit community
Special to The Monitor
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–It’s time once again for the Poker Run – a fund-raiser hosted by the Cedar Creek Lake Area Parrot Head Club.
Registration is set from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday at Don’s Port Marina. The final stop is Cedar Isle Restaurant on the water, where auctions, food and fun will close out the day.
Huge prizes will be awarded for winning hands.
The club supports the community in many ways, including monetary donations to The Library at Cedar Creek Lake, the Humane Society, Special Olympics and awarding college scholarships.
This spring, the Parrot Head Club awarded five scholarships worth $1,000 each to deserving graduating high school students.
This event captures the true essence of the Parrot Head Club, combining a great time and doing enormous good for the entire lake community.
“Please join us for our most important and impressive event of the year,” Rob Rea said.