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Special Bulletin
Stokes leaving Gladewater
Jay Stokes, Gladewater City Manager, made a surprising announcement
Thursday afternoon that he was leaving his post after 6-1/2 years on the
job.
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| Stokes |
Stokes told the Gladewater Mirror he had accepted the city manager’s
job in Deer Park, near Houston. He said he had informed each member of
the Gladewater City Council about his decision earlier in the day and said
he believed the city council would hold a special meeting next week to
discuss the matter and begin the process of finding his replacement.
“This was a very hard decision,” Stokes said. “But this
is best for me and my family.”
Stokes said he regretted the timing of his leaving – city councilwoman
Judy Burlison remains hospitalized after suffering a stroke while attending
a Gladewater Economic Development meeting and city councilman Charles Meadows
passed away last Friday after suffering a heart attack. But he said he simply
could not pass up this opportunity, which had presented itself at this time. |
Council member Meadows dies at 58
By James Draper
Staff Writer
Gladewater City Councilman Charles F. Meadows, 58, died Friday morning
of an apparent heart attack.
Meadows, a lifelong Gladewater resident, was elected to the council in
May 2009 and has served the community in several positions including as a
deacon of First Baptist Church, a member of the Gladewater Chamber of Commerce,
a Gusher Days Director and a director of the Gladewater Museum.
“I believe that our fair city with its ‘small town’ atmosphere
has the potential to be one of the best small towns in Texas,” Meadows
said before the 2009 City Council election, “and I will do everything
that I can to make that happen.”
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| Gladewater City Council member Charles Meadows (right) laughs along
with longtime friend and colleague Scott Owens during the council meeting
Thursday night. Meadows died Friday morning of an apparent heart attack.
James Draper/Mirror photo |
Services for Meadows are set for 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery.
A Gladewater High School graduate, Meadows attended Kilgore College and
graduated from Tyler Real Estate College. He was marketing manager for Stanley
Industrial Tires in Gladewater.
Meadows led the invocation at Thursday night’s council meeting. Heading
into the 2009 election, he underscored his desire to “listen to the
citizens of Gladewater and get their input on critical issues and make decisions
that will benefit the city as a whole. I will weigh all sides of an issue
before making a decision and vote for what is right.”
City Councilman Scott Owens said he and Meadows have been close for years – attending
the same church, singing in the choir, working on the council this past year – and
was overcome to think of the loss to the community and to Meadows’ wife,
Lynda, his family and friends.
“He was a guy with great morals and great integrity,” Owens
said Friday. “It’s a loss for the city, but for those who know
him personally, it’s a bigger loss.”
According to Gladewater Police Chief Farrell Alexander, a motorist called
911 upon seeing Meadows unconscious in his car near Gladewater National Bank
at the intersection of Highway 80 and Shell Camp Road.
Gladewater resident Tara Blalack said she and her 2-year-old son were getting
donuts at the neighboring store when she saw Meadows’ pickup truck
stopped in the middle of the road behind the bank, several other vehicles
honking and driving around the stalled vehicle.
Realizing something was wrong, Blalack said she looked into the truck cab,
saw Meadows’ in distress, and, unable to open the doors, called for
help. The police responded, breaking the glass and opening the vehicle, she
said. Emergency personnel performed CPR and transported the city councilman
to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, where he was pronounced dead.
Meadows’ death, coupled with councilwoman Judy Burlison’s continued
absence due to illness, leaves the city council with only five active council
members...
...Continued in this week's edition of The Gladewater Mirror.
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City merges Main Street, Chamber job
By James Draper
Staff Writer
Gladewater Chamber of Commerce Director Marsha Valdetero says she’s
not exactly sure what her new job title as “Main Street Director” entails,
but she’s ready to get to work.
“I’m getting excited now about it,” Valdetero said. “I
feel like it’s all coming together. We’ll just have to take it
one step at a time and see how we can work it all together.”
The Gladewater City Council on Thursday unanimously approved contracting
with the Chamber to provide Main Street services with Valdetero chairing
both programs. Gladewater Economic Development Corporation Executive Director
Lon Welton held the Main Street title previously before stepping down Dec.
31.
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| Chamber of Commerce board member Todd Clifton and others express their
support for appointing Chamber Director Marsha Valdetero as Main Street
director Thursday night. Almost 40 people attended the Gladewater City
Council’s public hearing on the issue. James Draper/Mirror photo |
Valdetero said she and Welton haven’t discussed the varying aspects
of the position but as office neighbors in the Chamber office on Main Street,
she expects he’ll be a valuable resource to her and the other Chamber
members.
“We’re all starting Main Street 101,” Valdetero said,
and with a ringing endorsement from the Chamber board, she’s ready
to get down to business. “I knew that the Chamber directors were behind
it 100 percent.”
Chamber board member Todd Clifton was the first of four to speak on the
Main Street deal during a brief public hearing at the meeting.
“I think it’s vital that we hang on to or keep the Main Street
program in Gladewater. It’s something that’s very prestigious,” Clifton
said. With 26 years experience on the Chamber board, Clifton said he and
other board members will be on hand to assist Valdetero with either set of
responsibilities from the Chamber/Main Street Merger.
“I think this is really a win-win for Gladewater.”
Diana Turner, owner of Antiques II and Secretary/Treasurer of the Gladewater
Antique District Association, said she and her fellow business owners also
support the deal and are eager to assist.
“We also feel she needs help,” Turner said, insisting that
more money be directed to the Chamber to provide new staff. “GADA will
support in any way we can.”
City Council members Scott Owens and John Ussery sparred briefly over the
root of the debate.
Owens said he hopes the $1,895.83 per month consolidation between the Chamber
and Main Street will result in some savings for the city, but he remains
concerned that the question should ever have been raised because of Welton’s
unexpected departure, and the difficult choice the city faces because he
does not want to helm both GEDCO and Main Street.
“I haven’t seen him up here explaining why he wanted to give
up Main Street,” Owens said. “If it was a business situation,
that person wouldn’t be here.”
Ussery came to Welton’s defense, insisting that he followed the proper
channels for giving up the position.
“We’re here tonight to keep Gladewater moving forward, not
to hold grudges” Ussery said.
In other business...
...Continued in this week's edition of The Gladewater Mirror.
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Primary election Tuesday, few vote early in Gladewater
By Phillip Williams
Mirror Correspondent
Texas voters in the Republican and Democratic primaries go to the
polls Tuesday to decide races ranging from county offices
to governor and Congress.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m-7 p.m. Early voting for both parties continues
through Friday, Feb. 26.
Gregg County Elections Administrator Kathryn Nealy told The Mirror
Monday that since only 53 persons had voted early in Gladewater (45
Republican, eight Democratic), city residents "could lose their early
voting location if it (voting) doesn't pick up" in future
elections.
As of about 2:15 p.m. Monday, some 2,473 voters had cast ballots
in the GOP primary in Gregg County, while 761 had voted Democratic in countywide
totals, Ms. Nealy said.
In Upshur County, all contested races for county office are on the GOP
ballot and for possibly the first time in county history, that party's primary
is far outdrawing the Democratic one in early voting. The Democratic ballot
has candidates for several county offices, but none are opposed for that
party's nomination.
Upshur County Libertarians meanwhile will nominate their candidates for
some county offices at their March 13 county convention in Gilmer. Only
voters who don't cast ballots in the Republican or Democratic primaries
may participate in the Libertarian convention.
As of 11 a.m. Monday, the combined number of early GOP voters at the Upshur
County Courthouse in Gilmer and the courthouse sub-station in Gladewater
was outrunning the Democratic tally by more than 7-1, said a spokewoman
for the Upshur County Clerk's office.
At the Gilmer courthouse, where early voting continues through 7 p.m. Friday,
the count was 511 Republican and 66 Democratic. At the substation in Gladewater,
where early balloting ended Friday, the count was 186 GOP ballots and
27 Democratic.
Early branch voting in Upshur County continues through Friday...
...Continued in this week's edition of The Gladewater Mirror.
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Local sales tax numbers continue decline
By Aaron May
Staff Writer
Gladewater sales tax revenue for December 2009 declined seven percent from
the same month in 2008, according to a report released by the State Comptroller’s
office.
Gladewater City Manager Jay Stokes said, “Even though the numbers
are down seven percent from last year, it is better than a lot of our neighbors.”
Stokes said the month of December brought a cut of about 20 percent to
White Oak and a cut of 30 percent to Kilgore.
“In this economy, we would like to see growth instead of decreases,” Stokes
said. “But this recent cut was smaller than previous cuts.”
He said the December decrease was smaller than most cuts since August.
Stokes hopes the smaller cut is a sign the city is headed back toward the sales
tax revenue rates of Dec. 2008, which were $88,047.82.
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Two men arrested in church fire investigation
By Aaron May
Staff Writer
Authorities charged and arrested two men in connection with one of the
10 recent East Texas church fires Sunday, according to a statement from the
Texas Department of Public Safety.
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| Bourque |
McAllister |
Officers arrested Jason Robert Bourque, 19, of Lindale and Daniel George
McAllister, 21, of Ben Wheeler. Investigators believe these men are also
connected to the other church fires and three other attempted break-ins at
area churches. The other nine fires are still under investigation.
The men were arrested by a task force in response to the arsons, which
included cooperating units from hundreds of local law enforcement agencies,
DPS, Texas Rangers and federal investigators from the FBI and the Federal
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“By working closely with our local and federal partners, we brought
tremendous resources to this investigation, working around the clock, and
culminating in these arrests. The arsons of these houses of worship were
despicable and cowardly acts and Texas won’t stand for this kind of
criminal activity,” said DPS Director Steven C. McCraw.
According to the DPS statement, the task force was created Jan. 20, and investigators
worked cases in a three-county area covering 2,648 square-miles and an estimated
713 churches. |
GEDCO chooses firm for lot repairs
By James Draper
Staff Writer
The GEDCO board of directors are breathing a bit easier today after setting
a course for parking lot repairs at the Gladewater Center for Community
Education in front of Gladewater High School.
“As you know, the weather has hamstrung us for months, since September
to be honest with you,” Executive Director Lon Welton told board
members Feb. 17, lamenting the sorry state of the pothole-riddled parking
lot. “We’re quickly approaching, I hope, weather where we can
do something about it.”
The board members weighed the benefits of both asphalt and concrete at
the Wednesday afternoon meeting -- L&M Construction’s bid for
concrete came in almost $10,000 above Pilcher Construction’s $26,520
bid to restore the lot with asphalt, but board members reached a consensus
that the longer-lasting concrete was worth the cost.
“It’s just a matter of do we want to spend $10,000 more and
have something that will last 10 years longer?” Welton asked.
“We’re looking for the long haul here,” board member
Jimmy Williams said. “This thing we’re doing with the school
is a continuous thing.”
Unable to resolve the matter because of the wording of the item on the
Feb. 17, the board voted 3-0 at special meeting Monday morning to accept
L&M’s $36,255 bid for concrete.
Board member Bennie Cornutt abstained from the vote because of a business
partnership with Larry Seery, who has a business relationship with Monty
Reed, owner of L&M Construction. Board Secretary/Treasurer Marsha Byrd
was unable to attend the meeting.
The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters Wednesday
but took no action after reconvening the meeting.
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Texas Historical Commissioner $285K grant to Upshur toward restoration
of county courthouse
By Phillip Williams
Mirror Correspondent
The Texas Historical Commission has approved a $285,333 planning grant
for Upshur County to restore its 73-year-old county courthouse, Pct. 1 County
Commissioner James Crittenden announced.
The county Commissioners Court will consider accepting the THC grant at
its March 15 meeting, County Judge Dean Fowler said Monday. The county has
90 days to accept the grant, he said.
Crittenden, who announced the commission's decision immediately
after the court's Feb. 16 meeting, told The Mirror that Upshur
County was among only 20 counties of 44 applicants to receive a
potential grant. The county would have to match one third of the funds, he
said.
In a news release, THC said it announced Round VI grant recipients of its
nationally recognized Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program at its
Jan. 29 quarterly meeting in Austin.
The commission "awarded matching grants totaling more than $20 million
to 20 Texas counties to help preserve their historic courthouses," the
news release said.
The only counties near Upshur to receive a grant offer were Marion
and Hopkins. Half the 20 potential grants are for planning projects; the
other 10 were for either full construction, emergency construction (including
Hopkins County), or exterior construction, the news release said.
"Our historic county courthouses are often the heart of communities...
...Continued in this week's edition of The Gladewater Mirror.
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Upshur court OKs seeking grant renewal
By Phillip Williams
Mirror Correspondent
GILMER – Upshur County Commissioners Court on February 16 approved
letting the district attorney’s office request renewal of a state
grant which funds a prosecutor only for cases involving family violence
and violence against women.
The grant through the state attorney general’s office would total
about $60,000, and the county would match 35 percent of it if the state
and county approve it, said County Auditor Gary Smith.
County Judge Dean Fowler said the current grant lets the county retain
a female assistant district attorney to handle the limited scope of cases.
In other action at Tuesday’s 19-minute meeting, the court approved
a 10-year contract to let the Winnsboro-based Northeast Texas Child Advocacy
Center occupy a portion of the county “rock building” in Gilmer.
Under the contract, which can be terminated by either party on 60 days’ notice,
the center pays $12,000 for renovating the portion of the building it will
use, said Fowler.
Jerry Edwards, executive director of the non-profit center, said it utilizes
trained forensic interviewers to talk with children involved in sexual
abuse cases. The organization is not a governmental agency.
Edwards said housing the center here would be beneficial as it would
be “more accessible to law enforcement” in Upshur County and
spare persons having to drive to Winnsboro.
The court also Tuesday granted the Upshur County Juvenile Probation Department’s
request not to put governmental markings on a vehicle used to transport
juveniles to and from detention.
Fowler said that by statute, the county must either mark the vehicle
or vote to exempt that. The court approved the exemption on grounds of
confidentiality for juveniles.
Commissioners also approved the Gilmer Area Chamber of Commerce’s
request to use the courthouse lawn for the chamber’s annual Easter
Egg Hunt at 11 a.m. April 3.
The court also heard from Russell McFadin, who has several times complained
to commissioners about the Glenwood Acres Landowners Association. McFadin
also said that an officer “never made contact with me” as promised
when he called the sheriff’s department once.
Fowler told McFadin that “at least in my opinion, this is a civil
matter” and “there’s really nothing the commissioners
court can do for you.”
Pct. 3 Comm. Lloyd Crabtree told McFadin that if he’s “got
legal issues, you’re going to have to contact the sheriff’s
office.”
Also on the agenda was considering bids...
...Continued in this week's edition of The Gladewater Mirror.
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