Courtesy Photo/Angie Goggans
Supporters gather Oct. 7 during the Henderson County Commissioners’ Court meeting, during which the court proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, including Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse (from left), Henderson County District Attorney Jenny Palmer, Henderson County HELP Center CEO Leslie Saunders, Family Peace Project Managing Director Cynthia Robles, domestic abuse survivor Sara Braun, Henderson County HELP Center Crime Victims Case Manager Patricia Whitley, Breaking Chains Executive Director Della Cooper, Breaking Chains Board President Shannon Welch, Breaking Chains Client Advocate Amanda Cooper, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) of Trinity Valley Program Director Penny Laplant, County Attorney Clint Davis, Henderson County HELP Center Program Director of Crime Victim Services Casie Darter and Henderson County HELP Center Crime Victims Case Manager Abby Akins.

Courtesy Photo/Angie Goggans
Oct. 7, Henderson County Commissioners’ Court proclaims the week of Oct. 5-11 as National 4-H Week in the county, with those involved including Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam (from left), Precinct 4 Commissioner Mark Richardson, County Extension Agent Spencer Sims, County Judge Wade McKinney and Precinct 1 Commissioner Wendy Spivey.
 

ATHENS–Oct. 7, Henderson County Commissioners’ Court approved a contract to purchase the Prosperity Bank property in Seven Points, which County Attorney Clint Davis said will cost $775,000 in cash on or before March 1, 2026, a date which he said would allow the bank to move to a different location.
The county attorney said negotiations with Prosperity Bank took a couple of months, with that bank, in turn, purchasing the property of Simmons Bank, which Davis said is just down the street from Prosperity’s existing building. Davis said the courthouse annex in Athens also was a Prosperity Bank property beforehand.
Davis said he and Precinct 1 Commissioner Wendy Spivey with Precinct 2 Commissioner Scott Tuley had visited about half a dozen properties as well as others “on paper.” He commented the 3.9 acres (which he called “a good value”) could allow the county to build an elections center in Seven Points. Davis said the title company will require $25,000 and that the bank will leave furniture for the county, which the county attorney said he sees as “some value there.” 
Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck McHam said he thinks “we could probably go straight into it with the tax office. I think it’s a good investment for the county and it’ll get that area up there serviced like they should be.” Precinct 4 Commissioner Mark Richardson confirmed that the Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace and the county tax office will move into the building from its currently rented quarters, the latter of which McKinney said the county has occupied for three decades.
Also, the court proclaimed the week of Oct. 5-11 as National 4-H Week in Henderson County. During that portion, the court heard that the organization is more than animals, it also includes robotics, food programs, fashion and interior design, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) related activities, among many others.
“Here in Henderson County, 4-H is making a real impact,” said Spencer Sims, the county extension agent for agriculture and natural resources who also is the 4-H coordinator.
“This past year, 385 youth were active members in 4-H clubs, supported by 92 dedicated volunteers,” Sims continued. “Through outreach efforts in our schools and communities, nearly 1,900 additional young people were reached with 4-H learning opportunities. Our youth are engaged in projects ranging from shooting sports, livestock, and food and nutrition through robotics and leadership. They are developing skills to prepare them for future careers, but more importantly, they are learning responsibility, citizenship and service.”
Programs reached more than 2,500 students this past year, Sims said. “These experiences bring agriculture and science to life in way that textbooks cannot.”
Following that, the court proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month for Henderson County. Breaking Chains Executive Director Della Cooper said her organization was able to provide 81 survivors in Henderson County with 215 services from August 2024 to September 2025.
Added Cooper, “We are a spoke in the wheel. And it takes all the spokes from all the entities from law enforcement that pull together to make that wheel turn.”
In other business, the court:
• Approved, for filing purposes only, the Henderson County Appraisal District Financial Audit ending Dec. 31, 2024.
• Approved accepting the proposed 2026 holiday schedule for Henderson County, which includes 12 holidays.
• Approved purchasing items for the Healthy County Program Incentives, 
• Approved transferring vehicles, a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe to the county fairgrounds and a 2018 Ford Explorer to the district attorney’s office, both from the sheriff’s office.
• Approved a change order with Duplichain Contractors for an increase of $100,000 for American Rescue Plan Act water system generators’ price increases, which County Grants Coordinator Danielle Vaughn said is because of tariffs.
• Approved requesting a waiver of local match funds for the federal Off-System Bridge Program administered by the Texas Department of Transportation related to  County Road 3806.
• Approved a request for a Subdivision Discretionary Exemption, Appendix U, from M.P. Custom Contracting (Mark Phillips) for property on County Road 3700, located in Precinct 3.
• Approved a contract with the Texas Association of Counties’ Health Benefits Pool, with a provision to not print Internal Revenue Service 1095-C forms.
• Approved a right-of-way permit within Hidden Hills Harbor in Precinct 2 for Brightspeed to install fiber-optic service.
• Approved paying fiscal year 2025 bills of $765,374.98.
• Approved a replat in Beachwood Estates, combining two lots into one, located in Precinct 1.