People, Places & Events

Bridge damaged in wreck
By Julie Vaughan
Monitor Staff Writer
WILLS POINT–Eastbound Interstate 20 at the Turner/Hayden Road will be down to one lane of traffic for a while as Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) crews repair the overpass damaged during an early morning accident Monday.
A white 1992 International flatbed truck, driven by Richard Hamilton Privett, 40, Arlington, was eastbound on I-20 when it struck a column holding up the Turner/Hayden Road overpass.
Pablo Villarreal, 50, Duncanville, was also traveling eastbound in a 2003 yellow Freightliner, hauling quarter-inch plate steel.
“What we believe happened is the white International truck failed to drive in a single lane. He was in the outside lane, drove over the shoulder and collided with the guardrail, and then the concrete pillar of the bridge,” DPS Trooper Odie Phillips said.
Due to the force of the truck hitting the pillar, the trailer moved forward, and the front left of the trailer was on the outside lane.
“(Villarreal) hit the front left of the trailer, spun out and ended up in the eastbound ditch, losing his load,” Phillips explained.
Villarreal was found unconscious on the ground outside the truck when emergency crews arrived on the scene.
It is not clear if either driver went to sleep, or what caused the chain-reaction accident.
Privett was transported to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas by Wills Point EMS ambulance.
Villarreal was transported to Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler.
Phillips noted Privett’s trailer had disconnected from the truck, therefore it had no lights.
Although this was a construction area, both lanes were open at the time of the crash.
Phillips said the traffic was not heavy and there was a light rain falling when the accident occurred.
Privett was still hospitalized Tuesday with broken bones, and Villarreal also suffered broken bones.
TxDoT Public Information Officer Larry Krantz said crews are working on the bridge. Traffic is being diverted off I-20 at the 518 mile marker and back on the highway at the on ramp.
Krantz also said at least one lane of eastbound I-20 was scheduled to be opened Wednesday.
The accident is still under investigation.


Monitor Photo/Julie Vaughan
An Arlington man was hospitalized when the 1992 International flatbed 18-wheeler
he was driving plowed into an overpass column on Interstate 20 Monday morning.
Another man was injured when the 18-wheeler he was driving ran into the back of
the disabled trailer. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Truck drivers may soon have to turn off that idling vehicle
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–Drivers of pickup trucks, big trucks, heavy machinery and other diesel-powered equipment may soon be told to “turn off that engine.”
Monday, Kaufman County Commissioners agreed to support the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) idling limitations rule
County Judge Wayne Gent said he discussed the habit of leaving the engine of a diesel vehicle running when not in use with several diesel mechanics, and was told they knew of “no earthly reason” for the habit.
Gent recommended commissioners support the rule along with a policy of enforcement.
TCEQ is in the process of establishing a criterium to forbid the idling of diesel vehicles. Several cities, including Dallas, have already set in place a “no idling” policy, he explained.
In other business, commissioners:
• accepted the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) minute order No. 75429 regarding State Highway 34.
The acceptance basically approves the states plans for SH 34.
• approved the contract for the assessment and collection of ad valorem taxes for Kaufman County Fresh Water District No. 1-D.
• approved Debbie Baumgart, an employee of the tax office, as tabulation supervisor of the central counting stations for all elections through June, 2009.
• accepted a donation of $500 to the Start Today Accepting Responsibility (S.T.A.R., a program for at-risk teens) fund account.
Precinct 2 Constable Joe Don Law said the donation was from the District Attorney’s office, a part of the restoration fund made by convicted offenders.
• agreed to advertise for bids for pea gravel for all county precincts.
The gravel is used when aggregate is not available, purchasing agent Jack Sabastian explained.
Bids will be accepted to Friday, Sept. 5, and will be opened Monday, Sept. 8.
• agreed to participate in a pilot program concerning the collection and recycling of illegally dumped tires.
The pilot project will be paid for with grant funding through the TCEQ, Robert Bergeron, consultant explained.
The project will be in conjunction with TxDoT. They will locate a delivery site.
The tires will be crushed and bailed, 100 tires in a square five feet by five feet by two feet bundles, and will be used for road work in several categories, including embankment fillings, roadway fill and up grading.
• approved the final plat of Brees Addition in Precinct 4.
• accepted the auditor’s report for July as presented by County Auditor Hal D. Jones.
• approved budget transfers as presented by Jones.
• paid bills totaling $306,293.45.

MISD welcomes 52 new teachers
to the district
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–The annual New Teacher Luncheon, sponsored by the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, feted 52 new teachers all set to begin school on six Mabank Independent School District campuses.
Aug. 14, the teachers and sponsors enjoyed a meal served by Charter Food service employees in the Commons area.
The luncheon begins the second year for the new Mabank High School.
Each teacher was introduced by a local business person.
The event was attended by Rep. Betty Brown, who also introduced a teacher, Melanie Brown.
Melanie is a reading specialist from Eagle Mountain, Saginaw, “of no relation,” Brown explained.
Greetings were given by assistant superintendent Linda McKee.
The invocation was given by assistant superintendent Scott Adams.
Welcomes were presented by superintendent Dr. Russell Marshall and board of trustees president Gary Sapp.
Business owners and representatives, service organizations, such as Cedar Creek Lake Kiwanis and Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake, were also among those represented.
Sponsors included Presbyterian Hospital, The Monitor and the Cedar Creek Pilot, Home Instead Senior Care, Lakeway Chiropractic, Trinity Valley Electric Coop, Superior Home services, CTX Mortgages and Fortenberry Pipe & Supply.
Other sponsors were First United Methodist Church, The Hamlins at Cedar Creek Lake, Diversified Financial, Coldwell Banker, John Loar & Associates, Home Instead Senior Care, Citizens State Bank, Lakeside Animal Clinic, Franklin Bank, Southside Bank and Tri-County Ford.
Also sponsoring a teacher were First State Bank Mabank, First State Bank Gun Barrel City, All Things Named, Lone Star Maps, Whatz Up Family Fun Park, Tomlinson Funeral Home, West Cedar Creek MUD, Citizens State Bank, First Presbyterian Church, Little Princesses & Little Princes, Eustace Chamber Branch.
The new teachers are Peyton Adams, Jennifer Anguiano, Katherine Barrier, Brown, Clara Chavez, Cody Christenberry, Leigh Anne Christie, Jaclyn Churchill, Ronald Close, William Compton, Christopher Curran, Jonathan David, Claudia Deeds, Jeffrey Downs and Brandon Duncan.
Also new are James English, Christopher Evans, Brent Fisher, Amy Fleming, Monica Fortenberry, Tameka Gardner, Sheli Guinn, Jennifer Haught, James Ishmael, Kimberly Jackson, Misty Jones, Christina Kracht, Sarah Lee, Candice Lemons, Caren Lewis and Todd McGuire.
Other new teachers include Kristi McKee, Jana Meeks, Steven Miller, Brandon Myers, Christopher Nichols, Russell Pharmakis, Kourtnee Purcell, Cynthia Rojas, John Shaddox and Courtney Smith.
Also new are Holly Stephens, Melody Stephenson, Rachel Stokes, Samantha Strickland, Larry Sturgill, Rhonda Summerlin, Shelly Talbot, Andrea Wallace, Suzanne Watson, Sandra Weathers and Amy Wileman.


Monitor Photo/barbara Gartman
State Representative Betty Brown (left) introduces new teacher Melanie Brown
to the audience at the Mabank New Teacher Luncheon.


Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Jim Clark (left) with First State Bank of Mabank introduces teacher Todd McGuire
while Ronnie Davis (seated) also with First State Bank, waits to introduce Suzanne
Watson at the Mabank ISD New teacher Luncheon.