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County approves fireworks, leaves burn ban off

Wed, 02/20/2019 - 5:00 am

The Stephens County Commissioners Court met Monday, Feb. 11 for their regular meeting and received updates on various entities from across the county. They also made a decision on the sale of fireworks for the upcoming Texas Independence Day and the burn ban, which they decided to leave off.

The occasion marked the first time since County Judge Michael Roach has taken over that the meeting was held in the district courtroom.

The court discussed potentially authorizing the sale of fireworks in honor of Texas Independence Day, which is March 2. This item received some comment from the public, specifically in reference to the fireworks incident that happened last Fourth of July, where several residents were forced to shut down their firework stands due to an emergency burn ban. Two residents, including one who’s stand was shut down due to the ban, called into question the legitimacy of the ban from last year. Joe Bob Cauble was the last to speak and said as a result of last year’s ban, he lost $30,000. He asked to be made whole by the court’s actions.

As it stands right now, firework sales will be allowed leading up to March 2, with an exception on anything with sticks and fins. Fire Chief Calvin Chaney chimed in and confirmed because of where the moisture level sits, the county is not allowed to forbid the sale. The item was approved.

Regarding the fire ban, Chaney said Stephens County was in the moderate risk range for fire based on current conditions. Weather forecasts stated calm weather to come with moderate wind, but there is a prediction of moisture for the next couple weeks, Chaney said. Barring conditions changing, the court approved leaving the burn ban off until they address it again at their next meeting, Monday, Feb. 25.

The commissioners also heard a presentation regarding their agreement with Sacred Cross Emergency Medical Services from Stephens Memorial Hospital C.E.O. Matt Kempton and President Bert Witherspoon from Sacred Cross. Kempton broke down SMH’s history with Sacred Cross and how the agreement was structured. Witherspoon, from Denton, gave information on the history of Sacred Cross, as well as answered questions regarding the agreement from the county commissioners.

Stephens County Sheriff Will Holt spoke on a few items, including his office’s transport bus being transferred for use by Stephens County. Holt said the transport bus has been scarcely used by the department, only a couple times in 2017 and not once in 2018.

Holt also gave a report on racial profiling. He broke down the amount of stops that were performed, as well as various other statistics from those the sheriff’s office interacted with during 2018. Holt said the numbers did not warrant any concern or show a pattern of discrimination, based on his training and education.

Roach also made a proclamation announcing Feb. 11, 2019 as Andrew Channer Day. Channer has been the pastor at First Presbyterian Church for nearly 37 years, and is set to retire later this year to Abilene.

Other business on the day included acknowledgments of certificates for county employees completing educational courses, including Stephens County Clerk Jackie Ensey, who completed 20 hours of continued education for the County and District Clerks’ Association of Texas.

The Stephens County Commissioners Court meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month in the County Courthouse. Their next meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25.