Thursday, November 18, 2010
Monitor Staff Reports
KAUFMAN–Former Kemp High School standout athlete Sharda Bettis and two male companions were each indicted on charges of Theft, more than $1,500 and less than $20,000, by the Kaufman County Grand Jury.
Bettis, along with Matthew Brown and Joshua Freeman, are each charged with the theft of a Walther .22-caliber black handgun and a five-gallon Ozarka water bottle filled with approximately $5,000 in quarters, on or about May 29, according to indictments filed with the Kaufman County District Clerk’s office.
The indictments were filed Sept. 30. Bettis had one pre-trial hearing Nov. 4, and has a second pre-trial hearing scheduled Wednesday, Dec. 8, according to the District Clerk’s office. She is being represented by Gun Barrel City attorney Brad Stephens.
In three years at Kemp High School, Bettis advanced to the Class 3A state track meet all three years, winning the gold medal in the 100 meter hurdles as a junior in 2009. As a senior, she finished second, winning a silver medal.
As a freshman in Mississippi, Bettis won state in the hurdles, and took two top-10 finishes in Texas as a sophomore (fourth in the 100 hurdles and eighth in the 300 hurdles).
Back in February, Bettis signed a national letter of intent with Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View (northwest of Houston), with the intent of preparing for a future Olympics bid under Prairie View track coach Angela Williams, a former Olympic sprinter.
Contacted Monday, Williams said in an e-mail that Bettis remains on the track team “and is doing very well.”
The indictments against Bettis, Brown and Freeman name Jimmy Sterling as the owner of the property. The Sterlings, owners of the Lively Grocery, served as Bettis’ guardians during her time at Kemp High School.
General
Election votes canvassed
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–Kaufman County commissioners canvassed the votes for the Nov. 2 General
Election Monday.
The only two local candidates with opponents were Republican County Clerk Laura Hughes,
who retained her office with 15,069 votes, and Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Eric
Williams with 2,290.
Hughes was opposed by Democrat Sophia Clamon, who got 4,668 votes, and Williams’
Democrat opponent was Johnny Perry, garnering 1,533 votes.
Thirteen local candidates ran unopposed, having won their seats during the March
Republican Primary.
Commissioners also appointed five directors to the Scurry-Rosser area Emergency Service
District No. 5 – Don Floyd, Lisa Jones, Mike Sharp, Bill Penner and Marion Ward.
In other business, commissioners:
• heard the children’s shelter report for May through October from director
LaReta Williams, who said, “It has been very calm for several months.”
An average of 15 to 17 children have been housed at the shelter, and there were no medical
emergencies.
The annual “Christmas in July” fund-raiser was a success, with 98 motorcycle
riders.
• accepted the auditor’s report for October as presented by Hal D. Jones.
• purchased a used dump truck for Precinct 2 for $15,000.
• tabled items submitted for Precinct 1 until the return of commissioner Jerry
Rowden, who is recovering from heart surgery.
• renewed membership with the Texas Conference of Urban Counties and paid $5,267 in
dues.
County Judge Wayne Gent said the organization is very beneficial to the county.
• paid bills totaling $850,631.49.
Request for annexation granted
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–Donald Kile wanted to take an active part in city business and be allowed to
vote in city elections, so he asked the Kemp City Council to annex his property into the
city.
Following the required two public hearings Nov. 9, Kemp city council members granted his
request.
Kile’s property is located near Beacon Hill, just off U.S. Highway 175.
Neighboring property owners, along County Road 4023 would have to go through the same
process that Kile did if they also want to be annexed into the city. However, the city
isn’t large enough to force an annexation of these properties.
Also at the November council meeting, its members also annexed a property owned by the
city, but not yet located inside the city limits.
This second property is located near the South Water Tower, also was annexed.
In other business, council members:
• agreed to the purchase of two half-ton pickup trucks and one three-quarter ton
truck.
• heard the monthly court report as presented by municipal Judge Regina Kiser.
The court collected $15,430.43 for the month of October.
• heard the police department report presented by Clemmo.
The report listed 51 citations issued for October, mostly speeding, with eight tickets
issued to drivers exceeding the posted speed limit by 20 to 25 mph and four tickets issued
to drivers for driving more than 25 mph above the legal limit.
• heard the public works report as presented by staff member.
The report listed 4,132 miles driven in six vehicles, with four vehicles out of service,
plus 7,888 statements presented for the water department with 13 new service connections.
• heard Christmas Festival in the Park opens at noon Saturday, Dec. 11, for booths
and singing by area churches.
The Parade of Lights begins at 5 p.m., followed by a tree lighting ceremony in the park.
• paid bills totaling $7,589.07.