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Two arrested on child porn charges
Monitor Staff Reports
GUN BARREL CITY–Two men were arrested in separate incidents by Gun
Barrel City police on child pornography charges July 24.
Officer Ryan Estes responded to a West Main Street business in response
to a call about possible child pornography, Investigator Kay Lynn
Newbill reported in a prepared news release.
An employee of the business showed Estes a computer that contained
possible pornographic images. Newbill also responded and determined the
computer belonged to Kelly Kenney, 60, of Gun Barrel City.
Estes remained at the business while Newbill obtained search warrants
for the business and Kenney’s Pleasureland addition residence.
Warrants in hand, Newbill and Sgt. William Crawford executed the search
and arrested Kenney, charging him with possession or promotion of child
pornography, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in
prison and/or a fine up to $10,000.
Kenney was subsequently transported to the Henderson County Jail, where
he was processed and released the next day after posting $25,000 bond.
Also July 24, Sgt. Patrick Johnson responded to a theft call from the
Wal-Mart SuperCenter on West Main.
On arrival, Johnson met with the store’s Loss Prevention officer, who
had detained John Edwin Vickers, 72, of Trinidad, for taking pictures
from the store’s photo center.
Johnson subsequently discovered Vickers had in his possession numerous
photographs of children with sexual organs exposed, Newbill reported.
Vickers was arrested on charges of theft under $50 and for possession or
promotion of child pornography.
Vickers was subsequently transported to the Henderson County Jail. He
was released the next day after posting $25,000 bond on the pornography
charge and paying a $250 fine on the theft charge.
Transit Mix Seven Points plant
wins first Green-Star certification
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
SEVEN POINTS–The very first ready mix concrete plant in the country to
earn a prestigious environmental certification from the Environmental
Protection Agency through an association program is located in Seven
Points.
Transit Mix Concrete and Materials Co. purchased the 18-year-old
concrete plant at 321 N. Seven Points Blvd. two years ago, director of
construction and environment Matt Hallmark told The Monitor.
Within those two years, the plant, its building, yard and above-ground
diesel tank have been refurbished, replaced or redone in such a way to
offer optimum protection to the environment, Hallmark said, while
producing high-quality concrete.
Highlighting those measures is three steeped baths to collect debris
washed off the cement trucks. This contaminated water is contained and
reclaimable for use in mixing more concrete.
Also, the plant includes a collection pond that keeps storm water
separated from contaminated water. Both flow over an area to separate
the water from its solids – the water for reuse and the solids for safe
collection, Hallmark said.
Leftover concrete brought back to the plant is also laid out and broken
down for resale and use as sub-grade material for roads, he added.
“It does not surprise me that Transit Mix is the first one in the
country to become certified in the Green-Star program,” National Ready
Mix Concrete Association president Frank Craddick said during a special
ceremony held at the plant Tuesday.
“It has won more environmental awards than any other concrete company.
They have been out in front of the green revolution from the beginning,”
he added.
Craddick is a regional president with Cemex. “Our company is the largest
concrete company in the U.S. and the world and this is going to have a
big impact on our company,” Craddick said.
Another Cemex employee, Denise Corrales, chaired the environmental task
group that drew up the Green-Star program to encourage the industry’s
adherence to environmental and sustainability principles, such as
recycling and containing potential contaminants to the environment.
“When EPA Region III (northeastern America) learned that Region VI was
to be the first to attain this certification, there was definitely some
jealousy going on,” Region VI representative Mark Potts said.
“It is an outstanding achievement that reflects on the business culture
and its commitment to growth, but not at the expense of the
environment,” Potts added. “It shows that Environmental considerations
are integrated in the day-to-day plant operations and business
decision-making. And the Green-Star program brings those principles
home.”
After Craddick presented the certification to Transit Mix president Carl
Campbell, the Green-Star flag was raised at the front of the plant.
“We will fly this flag with pride,” Campbell said. “I always talk to my
team about getting it done, well they did. They got it done.”
Texas Aggregate and Concrete Association representative Mike Stewart
remarked on the evidence of team spirit among Transit Mix managers and
plant employees.
Seven Points Plant No. 2068 has done something to challenge the industry
at large, he said.
Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
NRMCA chairman Frank Craddick (left) assists Transit
Mix president Carl Campbell to raise the new Green-Star
flag , the first flown in the nation – designating high
environmental standards achieved and maintained at the
Seven Points plant.
Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
The Seven Points Transit Mix plant team are (from left) Tyson Tims,
operations
manager David Keathley, sales manager Freddy Yackesch, Carol Reynolds,
Lazaro
Ceballos, Sam Argo, plant manager David Arnold and Sesar Trevino. Not
pictured
is Robert Laster.
Jordan named interim sheriff
By Kerry Yancey
Monitor Staff Writer
ATHENS–In a unanimous vote, the Henderson County Commissioners named
Chief Deputy Mark Jordan as the interim county sheriff Tuesday.
Jordan, who has announced he intends to retire after 27 years in law
enforcement Dec. 31, tentatively was scheduled to be sworn in by County
Judge David Holstein Thursday (today).
Incumbent sheriff Ronny Brownlow, who announced last year he intended to
retire after nearly 45 years in law enforcement, officially retires
Thursday (today).
Jordan has served with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office for 24
years as a patrol deputy, a narcotics investigator and as captain of the
criminal investigation division before being named chief deputy when
Brownlow assumed office in 2001.
Much of Jordan’s service has been in narcotics investigation with
federal Drug Enforcement Agency and Texas Department of Public Safety
task forces, and he has served as a special Deputy U.S. Marshal.
A 1981 Mabank High School graduate, Jordan is a second-generation
lawman.
As a young man, he rode on patrol with his father, 20-year Gun Barrel
City Police Chief Tommy Smith, who also served as a deputy under
legendary Henderson County sheriff J.W. Brownlow.
Ronny Brownlow recommended Jordan as his interim replacement, but the
commissioners followed a long-standing practice of soliciting
applications from interested individuals before making an appointment.
In addition to Jordan, candidates for the position included Mitch Baker,
Bill Clark, Leland “Butch” Cooley, Mark Davis and James East.
Each of the commissioners said making the appointment was an extremely
difficult decision, as all six candidates were both qualified and
experienced.
“All of those who applied are very worthy, and it’s sad that it falls on
our back to make a decision,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence
noted.
“There’s been a lot of discussion about when the (appointment) would
end, because we are in an election year,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Wade
McKinney said. “I can’t remember when we’ve had to make an appointment
so close to the election.”
In the November general election, Republican candidate Ray Nutt will
face Democratic candidate Bill Casey.
Although it’s possible the election winner will seek to take office
prior to Jan. 1, the commissioners appointed Jordan to serve until Dec.
31.
In his remarks, Holstein pointed to Jordan’s rise through the ranks,
adding the commissioners needed to consider experience and the need for
continuity in the department.
“Jordan is second in command, and certainly brings some credibility to
the table,” Holstein said.
McKinney said the appointment would be “more or less a caretaker
position,” and made the motion to appoint Jordan, which was seconded by
Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry West.
“With 24 years of experience, being the chief deputy, and with the
endorsement of the present sheriff, at this time, I think it’s the
proper decision,” West said.
Jordan said while he has been “very happy” in law enforcement, he is
ready to step away and look into a couple of business opportunities.
“I’m happy to work with the men and women in this department and take
them forward to the next administration,” Jordan said.
Jordan has been married to wife Patti for 25 years, and they have two
sons, Justin, 21, and Preston, 19.
In his letter of application to the commissioners, Jordan pointed out he
had worked for three of the county’s top sheriffs – Charlie Fields,
Howard “Slick” Alfred and Ronny Brownlow.
“Sheriff Brownlow did an outstanding job in getting this department into
shape,” Jordan said. “He had a lot of accomplishments, and I was able to
work with him through those accomplishments.
“I will surely miss these folks,” he added. “I’ve met some of the
greatest people, both in and out of law enforcement, while working in
this position.”
Mark Jordan |