GUN BARREL CITY–Voter turnout for the Gun Barrel City Mayor runoff election is beginning with a crawl.
Early voting began June 16 and has only garnered 109 votes between the first two days of early voting, as of June 20. Voters are asked to cast their vote between candidates Linda Rankin and incumbent Mayor David Skains.
Early voting ends Friday, June 24 with election day set for Tuesday, June 28.
HENDERSON COUNTY–Commissioners’ Court of Henderson County adopted a resolution June 7 certifying tax-exempt status of a loan that the Log Cabin Fire Department received to finance a new fire tanker truck.
The volunteer department is utilizing a $220,000 Texas Forest Service grant as a down payment on the $374,087 cost for the Pierce fire truck, Log Cabin Fire Chief Cory Abbe said, with the rest financed through a Simmons Bank 15-year loan with 3.75 percent interest, he said.
KERENS–Kerens City Council adopted a resolution June 7 to push back by three months Oncor Electric Delivery’s base rate increase request for customers under Kerens’ jurisdiction.
Oncor, the largest electric delivery company in Texas, states in a news release that the company is seeking a $251 million annual revenue increase over current adjusted rates by filing a May 13 comprehensive base rate increase request with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and with cities in the Oncor service area that have original jurisdiction over the company’s rates.
GUN BARREL CITY–Early voting for the Gun Barrel City Mayor runoff election begins June 16.
Voting will take place from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. June 16-17 and pick back up June 20 and run through June 24. Early voting will take place at Gun Barrel City Hall, located at 1716 W. Main St.
Incumbent David Skains will take on Linda Rankin in the run off after the results from the May 7 election. Rankin held the edge in the May election 197 to 165, with Zachary Kennedy receiving 150 votes to force the runoff.
HENDERSON COUNTY–An arrest warrant was issued by a Henderson County judge with allegations that a Malakoff man called in a bomb threat to avoid a court hearing June 7.
On a post from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, 392nd Judicial District Judge Scott McKee issued a false alarm arrest warrant June 10 for Daniel Richard Simpson, 35, of Malakoff.
SEVEN POINTS–Whatz-Up Fun Park in Seven Points is helping kids stay cool during the hot Texas summer as they opened up their brand new water park June 4.
Their water park is family-oriented and geared for children 10 years of age and under, although everyone is welcome to enjoy the cool water to stave off the 100-degree temperatures that are fast approaching.
State Highway 198 between Malakoff at its intersection with State Highway 31 and the Henderson-Kaufman county line in Mabank is officially marked in May as a Memorial Highway dedicated to Henderson County Deputy Sheriffs Tony Ogburn and Paul Habelt, who were killed May 17, 2007, in Payne Springs while responding to a domestic violence call. The bill making the designation possible was authored by State Rep. Keith Bell and sponsored by state Sen. Robert Nichols.
ATHENS–The Henderson County Commissioners’ Court meeting was cut short after a bomb threat forced several evacuations June 7. The threat stopped the meeting during a presentation by UT Health Regional CEO Donald Baker.
“I hate to cut this short but we have a little incident that is taking place,” Henderson County Judge Wade McKinney told those present. “Major, if you would,” McKinney continued, as a Henderson County deputy sheriff said,” We need everyone to leave the building.”
EUSTACE–The Eustace City Council passed a resolution supporting the Henderson County Crimes Against Children Task Force June 2 at their regular meeting.
Playing a significant role in helping gain support for Resolution No. 278.06-2022 were Henderson County District Attorney Jenny Palmer and Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, who were both on hand Thursday night to discuss what the task force will do for the county and the city.
MABANK–The Cedar Creek Republican Club heard from Henderson County Elections Administrator Paula Ludtke at their regular meeting May 26 at Vetoni’s Restaurant.
In her 17 years with Henderson County, the last year with the Election Administration, Ludtke has done it all when it comes to election season and was on hand to explain just what she does and how her and her colleagues work hard to maintain fairness and integrity to all ballot boxes for all voters.
