|
|
|
Drug truck dodges police. Not!
Monitor Staff Reports
MABANK–Mabank police officers netted 40 grams in uncut crystal meth
along with cash and a stolen pistol during a traffic stop on U.S.
Highway 175 Nov. 21.
Jeffrey Michael Morris, 40, of Seagoville was taken into custody and
charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon,
manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance between 4 grams and 200
grams, possession of marijuana under 2 ounces, possession of dangerous
drugs and driving on improved shoulder.
Kaufman County Dispatch alerted Mabank Police at around 10:30 p.m. to
the possible arrival of a white Dodge dually driving recklessly leaving
Seagoville.
Lt. Joshua Early and officers Lupe Garza and Noah Hickson set up on
eastbound U.S. 175 in Mabank.
At 11 p.m., officers spotted the Dodge and commenced a traffic stop for
driving on the shoulder.
In the car, officers found about half an ounce of marijuana, 40 grams of
uncut crystal methamphetamine, two Xanax pills and a stolen pistol out
of Houston Police Department.
Also found were materials to manufacture methamphetamines and a little
more than $400 in cash.
Mabank ISD to form foundation
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–The Mabank School Board is looking into the how-to of
establishing an education foundation.
Such a set-up could provide scholarships and small grants to teachers
for special projects, as well as become a vehicle for accepting gifts
and memorials.
During a recent Mabank ISD meeting, Superintendent Dr. Russell Marshall
explained the advantages of an endowment organization.
A woman in Dallas, who spends time in the lake area, had approached him
with the concept now used by other school districts.
The foundation would have its own independent board and by-laws,
Marshall explained.
Similar action was taken to determine how the board would address the
need for additional seating at Panther Stadium in 2009. Trustees agreed
to meet in a special workshop.
Attendance for at least two games are expected to exceed stadium
capacity, when Mabank hosts large schools for district games.
An estimated cost for adding a total of about 1,500 seats is $405,000,
trustees heard.
Several asked for the workshop, including new board member Tyson
Johnson.
“I don’t know that we need to spend a half-million dollars for visitors
to sit down during two games,” Johnson repeated later.
In other business, trustees:
• heard the outside audit report from Smith, Lambright & Associates,
P.C.
“The district is in very good condition,” J.W. Lambright, CPA said.
“You came in under budget in all areas. The audit report is very good,”
he said.
• entered into an agreement with Texas State Technical College (TSTC)
Marshall to allows students to earn college credit toward a degree or
certificate for certain courses taken in high school.
Mabank has similar agreements with Waco, Navarro and Trinity Valley
community colleges.
• accepted a $500 grant from the Exxon Mobil Education Alliance Group.
• accepted a $2,500 grant from the Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program.
• approved the first reading of Mabank ISD Local Policies, DIA (Local)
and FB (Local) FFH (Local).
• adopted new Mabank ISD Policy FFC (Local), first reading.
The state-mandated policy assigns a contact person for homeless
students.
MISD currently has no such students, but the policy provides for the
possibility.
• approved a single change in the district employee handbook, as
presented.
• heard a report from Marshall concerning a light at the entrance to the
high school.
“It is for our safety, as well as visitors,” Marshall said. “(It) will
cost about $6,000.”
• heard the district purchased a used low-milage Chevy Tahoe for $5,000.
• heard an update on drainage work near the Ag facility.
“While the city was (working) out there, we were able to take the
drainage all the way to the creek,” Marshall said, adding the area will
look nice when completed.
• approved the financial report as presented.
The number of students could decrease by about 30, Scott Adams, school
business manager said.
If so, Adams expects state funding to also decrease by a small amount.
However, other expense items have also decreased, such as fuel and some
utilities, compensating for the small decrease.
“We are in the process of re-negotiating our electricity contract,”
Adams added.
• approved the superintendent to perform services for other educational
entities.
• approved the tax resale of property located in Lake Shadows for a bid
of $1,023.38.
Leisureland home up in
flames
Courtesy Photo/Kay Hardee
A Leisureland home at 140 Shady Shores Lane is involved in flames when
Payne Springs
and Enchanted Oaks firefighters arrived Friday afternoon, Nov. 28.
Fifteen Payne Springs firefighters responded with five pieces of
equipment, and Enchanted Oaks added five firefighters and two pieces of
equipment. Firefighters were able to contain damage to one bedroom and
the
front part of the house. The three-bedroom home, belonging to Carol
Casey, owner of Sweet Mimi’s in Gun Barrel City, is a total loss.
|