Local News
JPD boat to get facelift
By Nathan Straus
nstraus@jacksonvilleprogress.com
The Jacksonville Police Department recently received $20,000 as part of the Safe Waterways Grant, officials said. The money will pay to refurbish the department’s Lake Jacksonville patrol boat.
JPD Assistant Chief John Page said he applied for $27,500 in grant money in June or July.
“It’s a Justice Assistance Grant through the governor’s office. What they do is give X amount of dollars to whichever Council of Governments you’re in. They get a block of money through this grant, and if you want to apply, you write and submit to COG,” Page said.
“We’re going to send it back to the manufacturer, which is now Sea Arc, and have them completely refurbish the boat,” he said.
Work will include new electrical wiring and a new paint job, Page said.
“It’s basically a brand new boat for less than half the cost,” he said.
Jacksonville Police Chief Reece Daniel said Page did a wonderful job on the grant.
“The boat is in bad need of repair. When it’s finished, not only will it look like a new boat, it’ll run like one, too,” Daniel said.
Page said he anticipates taking the boat to Sea Arc some time in December to ensure it is ready by March. He said the 25-year-old boat was purchased from the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife 15 years ago.
“If we bought it new, last I checked, it would run over $50,000. The most expensive part, he said, would be the motor. The motor alone can cost more than $15,000,” Page said.
He said repairs to the boat are needed because of the importance of having a police presence on Lake Jacksonville.
“Lake Jacksonville has 1,325 water acres, 24 miles of shoreline and over 600 homes with a 92 percent occupancy rate. Last year, the lake patrol did over 420 water safety checks on marine vessels, wrote 127 warnings for violations and filed seven cases, including alcohol offenses,” Page said.
He said from 2003 on, the lake has seen four accidental drownings — a number that shows the police presence on the lake and the difference a hard-working patrol can make. He said drinking alcohol on the water is a serious danger that needs to stop.
“You’re more of a danger to yourself than others if you’ve been drinking out on the water. You might dive in without seeing how deep the water is,” Page said.
Lake Jacksonville is the primary source of water for the city of Jacksonville, he said.
- Local News
-
-
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.
-
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.
-
Miss Texas visits LMC
Lon Morris College students will see Miss Texas 2009 Kristen Blair Wednesday, Director of Public Relations Afton Barber said.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
Tax office to see repairs
