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Mar

01

Nativity complaint filed against Sanders

Posted by : Erik Walsh | On : March 1, 2012

Category: County, Government, Police/Legal

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By Michael V. Hannigan
The News Staff

In what could be his final action in the Henderson County nativity scene controversy, San Antonio atheist Patrick Greene filed a complaint this week to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct against County Judge Richard Sanders.

Greene stepped into the county’s ongoing nativity scene debate in February when he wrote all members of Commissioners’ Court, threatening a lawsuit if the display is not moved to private property.

Greene, who has a long history of church-state lawsuits, told The Malakoff News he was becoming involved “to show that Christianity does not rule my state of Texas, the Constitution does. Christianity is only one of the many faiths represented in this state.”

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Mar

01

Atheist going blind, backs off lawsuit threat

Posted by : Erik Walsh | On : March 1, 2012

Category: County, Government, Police/Legal

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(UPDATE: Please see update at end of story.)

By Michael V. Hannigan
The News Staff

It appears that San Antonio atheist Patrick Greene may be leaving the Henderson County nativity scene controversy as quickly as he entered.

Greene revealed this weekend that he believes he has a detached retina, which he expects will leave him blind in the very near future.
In early February, Greene emailed several county officials promising to sue Henderson County if the traditional nativity scene is displayed on the courthouse lawn this Christmas. But because of his health, he has decided to back away from his threat to sue.

“There is no way for me to go up there if I’m blind,” he said.

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Feb

24

Time to close the range

Posted by : Erik Walsh | On : February 24, 2012

Category: Government, Police/Legal

It might be time to pen all those hogs, sheep and goats in Henderson County.

Tuesday, Commissioners’ Court committed to an election to prohibit the free range of the animals in the county.

Currently, the county is an open range for those animals, which means if your neighbor’s goats come over and eat your garden, it’s your fault for not fencing them out.

Officials say the county closed the range — required livestock owners to keep their animals in rather than require property owners to keep them out — to cattle, horses and other animals in the mid 20th century, but did not include hogs, sheep and goats.

“Probably because there weren’t many of those animals in the county back then,” County Attorney Clint Davis told commissioners.

The election will only be open to county freeholders: residents who are registered voters and own real property.

A date for the election will be set at an upcoming Commissioners’ Court meeting.

Feb

24

Delaying 15 percent rule will help freshmen

Posted by : Erik Walsh | On : February 24, 2012

Category: Government, Malakoff, Schools

By Michael V. Hannigan

A new standardized test is still a month away for Texas public schools, but high school students may have caught their biggest break last week.

Friday, Feb. 17, Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott gave school districts the option of delaying the so-called “15 percent rule” one year.

The rule requires the new State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) end-of-course tests to count as 15 percent of a student’s final grade.

A statement released by the Texas Education Agency said Scott made the move “after receiving input

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Feb

17

Weaver resigns in Star Harbor

Posted by : Staff Reports | On : February 17, 2012

Category: Government

The Star Harbor City Council accepted the resignation of Councilman Bert Weaver during its regular meeting Monday.

Weaver cited personal reasons for the move.

Former mayor Duane Smith was tapped to fill Weaver’s seat. Smith will finish Weaver’s term, which ends in May 2013.

Feb

17

Atheist threatens county with lawsuit

Posted by : Erik Walsh | On : February 17, 2012

Category: County, Government, Police/Legal

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By Michael V. Hannigan

A San Antonio atheist recently became the newest participant in Henderson County’s apparently-not-confined-to-Christmas nativity scene controversy.

Patrick Greene this week emailed a letter to all members of Commissioners’ Court threatening a lawsuit if the nativity scene is not moved to private property. In an email interview with The Malakoff News, Greene said, “… If they do not respond to my email by … Monday, February 20, 2012, I will assume that they have no intention of responding at all. In which case I will begin filling out the necessary forms, and file the lawsuit on the day they put up the nativity display.”

When asked his reasons for becoming involved, Greene said “to show that Christianity does not rule

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Feb

09

Letter: San Antonio atheist calls for anti-nativity rally in Athens

Posted by : Staff Reports | On : February 9, 2012

Category: Government, Letters to the Editor, Opinion

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Dear Editor,

My name is Patrick Greene. I live with my wife of 33 years Karen. We live in San Antonio. Mr. Richard Riehn wrote a letter to the editor on Dec. 20th last year, defending the Nativity scene and how Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers

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Feb

03

Employee complains about commissioner

Posted by : Erik Walsh | On : February 3, 2012

Category: County, Government

A verbal altercation earlier this month with an employee has caused some problems for Pct. 4 Commissioner Ken Geeslin.

According to county officials, the employee reported the altercation, which allegedly involved the use of foul language on both sides. However, the employee found one phrase by Geeslin particularly offensive.

Tuesday, Geeslin denied using the particular phrase.

(READ MORE IN THIS WEEK’S PRINT EDITION OF THE MALAKOFF NEWS, ON STANDS NOW.)

Jan

26

Spring enrollment down at TVCC

Posted by : Erik Walsh | On : January 26, 2012

Category: Government, Schools

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By Michael V. Hannigan

Enrollment at Trinity Valley Community College this semester is down compared to last spring, according to figures released by the college.

Combined enrollment across all campuses is down 5.5 percent – or a little more than 500 students – from Spring 2011 with the total number of students dipping below 9,000.

“This is in general following the pattern statewide,” said TVCC President Glendon Forgey. “After experiencing tremendous growth in the past few years, community colleges around Texas are beginning to see enrollments level out or decline.”

Forgey said the improving economy

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Jan

24

Malakoff ISD school board

Posted by : Erik Walsh | On : January 24, 2012

Category: Government, Malakoff, Schools

 

 

January is School Board Recognition Month. This month, students on each of the Malakoff ISD campuses spent time honoring school board members. Pictured above is the current board, including: seated from left, Belinda Brownlow, board secretary; Gary Woolverton, board president; Dr. Pat Smith, board vice-president; back row from left, Jason Dalrymple; Daymon Sims; Superintendent Randy Perry; Rick Vieregge; and, Todd LaRue.