Local News
Progress Jacksonville hires consultant, faces opposition
By Nathan Straus
nstraus@jacksonvilleprogress.com
Austin-based Texas Petition Strategies was hired to help the Progress Jacksonville committee try to get an item allowing sales of alcohol for off-premises consumption set for a city election.
“We looked at their credentials, interviewed twice and picked one that would do the best job,” said Committee Chairman George Douglas.
Though details of the payment terms are confidential, Douglas said the next step for the committee is to raise money from local businesses, restaurants and individuals.
“We’re still cautiously optimistic that Jacksonville voters will approve this step forward,” he said.
A few voices of opposition have risen in the weeks since the committee formed, though. Michael Eddy, pastor of First Assembly of God in Jacksonville, has said he opposes the possibility of an alcohol election in Jacksonville and the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption in the city.
“Alcohol consumption is an addictive vice with a corrosive effect on family and society,” Eddy said. “It’s a vice like gambling or illicit drug use is a vice. It’s because of the addictive properties.”
Eddy said he even has an issue with alcohol consumption in moderation because he believes it can lead to an addiction. He described his childhood, when his father became an alcoholic, resulting in his parents’ divorce.
“We had to move away because he’d break into the house and threaten her,” he said.
For Eddy, opposition to alcohol consumption is not based entirely on religious beliefs, he said.
“I think Jacksonville would be better without an increase in the availability of alcohol,” Eddy said.
He said he does not drink, but knows one or two acquaintances who do.
Tyler Street Baptist Church came out against beer and wine sales in Jacksonville in an advertisement in Wednesday’s and today’s editions of The Jacksonville Daily Progress.
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Tax office to see repairs
RUSK — The Cherokee County Commissioners’ Court voted Monday to approve re-roofing work on the Jacksonville Tax Office, 301 W. Commerce St.
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Bullard City Council meets tonight
Bullard City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The City Council will discuss annexation of approximately 221 acres. Petitions for annexation are being brought to the council by Katherine Taylor Teasdale, Darla Kay Graham, L. Teasdale and R2 Properties, LLC, Thomas L. Roper. -
The wait begins ...
BULLARD — Petitions calling for a vote to legalize alcohol sales in the city limits were turned in to City Secretary Doris Crockett Friday.
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Miss Texas visits LMC
Lon Morris College students will see Miss Texas 2009 Kristen Blair Wednesday, Director of Public Relations Afton Barber said.
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What's News for Feb. 9, 2010
Get your non-profit organization’s fundraisers and other events in the Daily Progress’s What’s News calendar free of charge by e-mailing event information to living@jacksonvilleprogress.com. The newspaper reserves the right to edit any submission for space and content.
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When “Time Was Young and Life a Thing Devine”: New Birmingham, Texas
Editor’s note: The following is a research paper written by Thanasis Kombos, a Jacksonville resident who is currently a history major at Stephen F. Austin State University. Kombos prefaced his submission of this paper to the Daily Progress for publication with a letter explaining his motivation for sending us his paper. A portion of his letter prefaces this section of his paper. The subsequent parts of his paper will be printed on the coming three Sundays, accompanied by photos, as applicable, of New Birmingham.
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County population could hit 50,000
Cherokee County officials have loosened up in regards to the upcoming census, County Judge Chris Davis said.
The possibility of Cherokee County moving from a county of 48,000 people to a county of 50,000 will not bring with it the massive procedural changes seen in larger cities and counties. -
JISD plans ‘Freshman Fair’ at MS
Jacksonville eighth graders will get a sneak peek at high school life Monday night at the district’s Freshman Fair, to be held 6-7:30 p.m. at the Jacksonville Middle School cafeteria.
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Council applies for grants
Jacksonville City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers in the Norman Activity Center, 526 E. Commerce St., to discuss applications for a couple of grants for use by the city.
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Early voting begins Feb. 16
Early voting for the March 2 primary election begins Feb. 16 and will last through Feb. 26.
Early voting polls will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. - More Local News Headlines
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Tax office to see repairs
