Top nine of ‘09

Progress staff reports

Jacksonville and the surrounding cities have had an exciting year. These are the nine biggest events, activities and incidents that helped define 2009 for Cherokee County.

Jacksonville considers alcohol elections

A special purpose political action committee was formed in early November to pursue legalized alcohol sales in Jacksonville. The committee, Progress Jacksonville, is chaired by George Douglas. In December, the committee circulated petitions to legalize beer and wine sales for off-premises consumption in the city, as well as for alcohol sales in restaurants without requiring a special membership. The petition received more than 1,000 signatures in barely more than a week and will go to the Cherokee County Commissioners Court due to having enough signatures on the petitions early in 2010.

Sweet Union resident murdered

Gregory Charles Taylor II, 22, of Jacksonville, currently awaits trial hearings for the Oct. 7 murder of Kendrick O’Neal, 28, also of Jacksonville.

Taylor was arrested in Rusk County in mid-October as a suspect in the murder, according to police.

Records indicate O’Neal had been shot twice in the forehead about 4 a.m. at Sweet Union Apartments in Jacksonville.

The trial date has not been set, but Taylor’s bond was set at $200,000 and he was still in custody as of Dec. 31.

Chief intends to withdraw complaint

Jacksonville Police Chief Reece Daniel announced his intentions to withdraw a complaint against Cherokee County Sheriff’s Capt. Chris White. He stated he was satisfied with an apology from White and had accepted it. The complaint was in regards to an anonymous e-mail White allegedly sent to various media outlets Dec. 8 alleging Daniel was being forced to resign as part of a settlement in a sexual harassment suit brought by five city employees. Daniel denied the claim at the time and stated he intended to go as far as bringing the matter to court.

Wardell hired

Jacksonville Independent School District hired Dr. Joe Wardell to serve the district as superintendent in early March. Wardell was approved unanimously by the JISD board of trustees. The trustees expressed a great deal of excitement for the new arrival and Wardell stated returning to Jacksonville was much like coming home to him.

Rusk goes wet

Voters in Rusk approved the sale of beer and wine in stores and restaurants on May 9, and the city has since taken to the change like a fish to water. A Fat Dog beer and wine store was completed in mid-December, and city officials reported an increase in sales tax revenue of a little under 3 percent for the year since stores began selling alcohol.

The proposition for alcohol sales for off-premises consumption passed 356-326, while the proposition pertaining to the sale of alcoholic beverages in restaurants passed 379-301.

Three JISD campuses get exemplary rating

West Side, Fred Douglass and Joe Wright elementaries all received an exemplary Texas Education Agency score for the 2008-2009 school year. This is the highest rating possible for the school. The district as a whole is a recognized district, but school officials said improved scores and advancement show marked signs of progress.

In addition, East Side Elementary and Nichols Intermediate both earned a recognized rating, while Jacksonville Middle and High schools each hit acceptable.

Lake Columbia nears public comment phase

Talks have begun between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Angela and Neches River Authority concerning a public comment period for the Lake Columbia project, ANRA officials said. The public comment phase will usher in the next important step in the project’s long history. This news comes just after ANRA’s submission of the fifth draft of Lake Columbia’s Environmental Impact Statement to the Corps. Lake Columbia officials stated they just need to incorporate a mitigation proposal document, a document which will state how ANRA will mitigate the changes in water caused by Lake Columbia.

City hall construction delayed

The Jacksonville City Council put plans for construction of a new city hall building on hold during a specially called council meeting Sept. 28. City officials said the decision was made for economic reasons.

According to officials, consideration about the general economy was taken and the council decided to ensure funds for the building would be available when the work began. They said they did not want to risk a tax increase due to the construction of a new building. The issue is expected to be revisited some time during the first quarter of 2010.

Bledsoe found not guilty

A jury of six found Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Thomas Bledsoe not guilty on a charge of indecent exposure on Oct. 1. The decision, passed down in County Court at Law Judge Craig Fletcher’s courtroom, exonerated Bledsoe from allegations that began Feb. 3 at the Jacksonville DPS office.

According to the original allegation, Joanna Miles, a DPS secretary, accused Bledsoe of exposing himself to her. Miles’ trustworthiness was called into question during hearings in late September.

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