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Shoot the works
...just not around town
By Phillip Williams
Mirror Correspondent
The Gladewater Fire Department reminds this Fourth of July holiday period that city ordinance forbids discharging fireworks inside city limits – except for professional displays like the one planned here Friday.
Despite a recent string of hot, dry days, Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt said Monday that county commissioners haven’t placed any limits on using fireworks in the rural portion of the county for the holiday season.
However, he noted the county doesn’t override any city ordinances restricting fireworks.
Stoudt also urged residents who are legally using fireworks to exercise “caution and just common sense” with “sparklers and those kind of products.”
He also urged having water available in case of a fireworks-related mishap.
The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday it was unaware of any fireworks restrictions in rural areas for the holiday.
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Fireworks safety
must be first on 4th
With warm weather and family events, the Fourth of July can be a fun
time with great memories. But before your family celebrates, make sure
everyone knows about fireworks safety.
If not handled properly, fireworks can cause burn and eye injuries
in kids and adults.
The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at
home — period. Attend public fireworks displays, and leave the
lighting to the professionals.
But if you must fire off a rocket or two - keep these safety tips in
mind:
• Kids should never play with fireworks. Things like firecrackers,
rockets, and sparklers are just too dangerous. If you give kids sparklers,
make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothing, and
hair. Sparklers can reach 1,800° Fahrenheit (982° Celsius) — hot
enough to melt gold.
• Buy only legal fireworks (legal fireworks have a label with the
manufacturer's name and directions; illegal ones are unlabeled), and
store them in a cool, dry place. Illegal fireworks usually go by the
names M-80, M100, blockbuster, or quarter pounder. These explosives were
banned in 1966, but still account for many fireworks injuries.
• Never try to make your own fireworks...
...Continued in this week's edition of The Gladewater Mirror.
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Celebrations set throughout area
Gladewater – On Friday, July 3rd, the annual Fireworks Display will
be held at beautiful Lake Gladewater. In addition, the annual Boat Parade
Contest, sponsored by City National Bank, will be held at approximately 8
p.m. with the Fireworks Display scheduled for dusk. The event is sponsored
by the Gladewater Chamber of Commerce with the help of numerous community
donations.
Gilmer – Gilmer will hold its Yamboree Fireworks at Gilmer High School's
Stadium the night of July 5th. It will begin at 9 p.m.
Longview – Longview will be holding its annual “Freedom Celebration
and Fireworks Festival” on Friday, July 3rd, at the fairgrounds at
Maude Cobb Activity Complex off Lake Lamond Road. Fireworks are expected
to being at 9:30 p.m. and the event is free to the public.
Jefferson – The Jefferson Salutes America Fourth of July celebration
will feature the Fireworks Fantazmagoria, live music, homemade ice cream
contest, a parade, a duck race, and more. It begins Friday morning at
the Otstott Gazebo. Click here for more information.
Tyler – An estimated 15,000-20,000 people are expected at what is
being billed as the largest fireworks show in East Texas this Friday. Military
branches will be on hand showing equipment throughout the day in the Park
on Friday. Jack FM and The Blaze radio stations will provide musical entertainment.
There will be food booths. The fireworks show will begin 30 minutes after
dark. Gates are open at 4 p.m. and parking costs $10 per car, $20 per RV.
Kilgore – Over in Kilgore, fireworks are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
at the baseball game between the East Texas Pump Jacks and the McKinney Marshals
in Driller Park.
Lindale – Living Alternatives will be having a July 4th celebration
from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 17141 Hwy 110 N, in Lindale. There will be fireworks,
fishing, swimming, puppet shows, and tours of their facility.
Canton – Van Zandt County will be having a parade Friday, July 4th
at 10:00 am in downtown Canton. There will also be food stands, and later
that night there will be a fireworks celebration.
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Upshur GOP censures County Clerk
Republican leaders vote 15-2 in secret ballot
By Phillip Williams
Mirror Correspondent
GILMER – The Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Upshur
County voted 15-2 Monday night to censure GOP County Clerk Peggy LaGrone
for a “course of conduct” the committee said was “detrimental” to
the party and its “core principles.”
A party member told The Mirror Tuesday the vote was a secret ballot.
The 1 1/2-page resolution of censure lists nine specific complaints against
Ms. LaGrone. They range from an allegation of “callous and improper
use of racial slurs against her employees” to charges concerning lack
of compliance with the Texas Election Code and “unprofessional conduct” at
meetings of the county commissioners court.
In summation, after listing the nine specific complaints, the resolution
censures Ms. LaGrone for “failing to properly perform the duties of
her office, failing to fulfill her own campaign promises concerning transparent
elections, and failing to treat all persons with respect and equality...”
Ms. LaGrone, who has been in office 2 1/2 years, is charged in a federal
lawsuit with wrongly terminating two employees, one of them on racial grounds.
Contacted by The Mirror on Tuesday concerning the resolution, Ms. LaGrone
said she had just learned about it from a member of the media.
“You just need to talk to my attorney (Tyler lawyer Robert Davis),” Ms.
LaGrone told The Mirror. “This needs to be tried in a court of law,
not in the newspapers.
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GISD trustees allow deficit in new budget
By Dayna Worchel
Mirror Correspondent
Gladewater Independent School District trustees unanimously approved the
2009-10 budget for the district with a $1.2 million deficit on Monday. However,
Budget Director Elaine Hall said because of a $4.8 million fund balance which
has accumulated over the past few years, when revenues exceeded expenditures,
the district is prepared to use a portion of this savings to make up the
difference.
Hall said part of the reason for the deficit is the fact that over $845,268
was carried over from the 2008-09 school year for an ongoing roofing project
which began in the winter of last year. “If we were to remove that
$845,268, the deficit would be a little less than a half a million,” said
Hall.
The total revenue for the 2009-10 general operating budget is $16.7 million,
with total expenditures expected to be $18 million. The food service fund
is balanced, with $1.1 million in revenues, and the same in expected in expenditures.
Hall explained that most of the roof repairs were for Gladewater High School,
but the roofs at Weldon Intermediate and Broadway Elementary schools were
being fixed as well.
The tax rate will remain at $1.04 per $100 dollar valuation, which is unchanged
from the 2008-09 school year.
Hall praised Superintendent J.P. Richardson for all of his hard work...
...Continued in this week's edition of The Gladewater Mirror.
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‘Tea Party’ repeat set at Courthouse
By Phillip Williams
Mirror Correspondent
GILMER – “The Upshur County Grassroots Tea Party” public
rally, aimed at protesting big government, is set Saturday – the Fourth
of July – on the Upshur County Courthouse lawn.
Keynote speaker for the 10:30 a.m. event will be retired U.S. Navy Commander
Charles Stackhouse, a prisoner of war in the Vietnam conflict for nearly
six years. The rally, scheduled to end at noon, is the second such event
in Gilmer this year, and is one of hundreds of such gatherings scheduled
around the nation Saturday.
The organization holding the rally described itself in a press release
as “an independent grassroots group of citizens whose sole purpose
is to unite those individuals who believe the government has overextended
its reach and has been fiscally irresponsible through overspending, bailouts
and excessive taxation.”
The release from organization member Ms. Jimmye Martin said the rally’s “activities
will be aimed at educating, informing and instructing the people who attend
on steps they may take to gain the undivided attention of their elected officials
and to provide information on groups and institutions who can aid them in
this process.”
The speaker, Stackhouse, was shot down in a “dogfight” with
two enemy airplanes on April 25, 1967--six months before now-U.S. Sen. John
McCain was also shot down and captured--and released March 4, 1973, said
the news release.
Stackhouse had more than 130 combat missions and was awarded numerous military
honors ranging from the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts to 22 Vietnam campaign
ribbons, among many others, the news release added.
In addition to his address, Saturday’s holiday gathering will feature...
...Continued in this week's edition of The Gladewater Mirror.
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Gregg Co. offers road repair assistance
By Dayna Worchel
Mirror Correspondent
LONGVIEW – Some Gladewater city streets and parking lots, as well
as Gladewater Independent School District, will be getting some help from
Gregg County with repairs starting this week. Commissioners approved five
projects for precinct three at the County commissioner’s meeting
this morning, including two in Gladewater.
Repairs on Rosemary and Jordan streets and the parking lot at the City’s
Emergency Services building will be made at a cost totaling $13,496, with
$10,000 to be spent on equipment and the balance of $3,496 to go for labor
costs.
“It’s a great deal for the city, because the county uses
their equipment and the city pays for materials – it saves us a lot
of money, and we really appreciate the help of Judge (Bill) Stoudt and
Commissioner Bob Barbee,” said City Manager Jay Stokes.
Gladewater ISD will get help clearing and constructing an area for a
parking lot and T-ball field at the corner of loop 485 and South Main Street.
The cost will total slightly over $13,000, with $8,800 to be spent on equipment,
and $4,202 to be spent on labor.
The city of Kilgore won county help with laying and hauling hot mix asphalt
to resurface South Martin Street from Knowles to Harris streets, and for
striping Danville drive, Kilgore Street, Lantrip/Fritz Swanson, and Martin
streets after the overlay. The total cost will be $12,301, which includes
labor and equipment.
Sabine ISD will also get county help...
...Continued in this week's edition of The Gladewater Mirror.
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Deadly wreck kills father, injures toddler
By Phillip Williams
Mirror Correspondent
GILMER – A 38-year-old Gilmer man died late last Wednesday night
in a Gilmer hospital from injuries received in a pickup-auto crash which
injured his 3-year-old son that evening, authorities said.
Alan B. Denton was pronounced dead at ETMC-Gilmer at 11:44 p.m. by Upshur
County Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Rhonda Welch, she said.
His son, Logan Coleman Denton, was airlifted to Children’s Medical
Center Dallas with “minor injuries”--possibly a broken leg, said
the Texas Department of Public Safety. The child had been released from the
hospital by Monday and was wearing a cast on one leg.
Alan Denton was driving the auto which collided nearly head-on near Gilmer
with the truck, driven by Dalan L. Saxon, 25, of Gilmer, the DPS said. Saxon,
who escaped injury, said he fell asleep at the wheel, according to the accident
report filed by investigating Trooper Wayne Cavanaugh.
The accident occurred at 9:42 p.m. on Texas Hwy. 154 two miles west of
Gilmer, and one-half mile west of Shattles Road, Cavanaugh reported. He said
Thursday investigation is continuing.
Saxon was eastbound in a 2000 GMC Sierra pickup, and the Dentons were westbound
in a 2007 Toyota Yaris when the truck drifted into the westbound lane, where
the vehicles’ respective left front ends collided, Cavanaugh reported.
All three persons involved were wearing shoulder/lap belts, and the child
was in the front seat, the report said.
Judge Welch said Thursday she was told the Gilmer Fire Department required
more than an hour to remove Alan Denton from the wreckage...
...Continued in this week's edition of The Gladewater Mirror.
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County allows paving for new business in Gilmer
By Phillip Williams
Mirror Correspondent
GILMER – Upshur County Commissioners Court has granted the city
of Gilmer’s request to pave part of Bluebird Road and lay sewer line
for a new business’s building project.
DuoLine is constructing a facility which will create several new jobs
on U.S. Hwy. 271 south of the city. The court acted at its June 15 meeting,
part of which was earlier reported on in a prior edition of The Mirror.
In other business June 15, the court tabled accepting three Gladewater
area roads into the county road system (see story in today’s edition
on the agenda for the June 30 meeting).
The court also tabled purchasing vehicles and adopting policy and procedure
for appointing election personnel.
Commissioners approved using jail trustees/inmates to work on the Pine
Acres Community Center and accepted bids on three properties foreclosed
for delinquent taxes, among other actions.
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