Local News
Lake Columbia final EIS draft accepted
By Nathan Straus
nstraus@jacksonvilleprogress.com
The U.S. Corps of Engineers has approved the final version of Lake Columbia’s Environmental Impact Statement draft, Angelina and Neches River Authority officials reported Monday afternoon.
The organization received the good news from the Corps about 1 p.m.
Kelley Holcomb, project manager, said the document is finally through being revised and changed.
“This is the best news that could happen right now,” Holcomb said.
The statement has been through about six drafts, he said. It has also been joined to Lake Columbia’s mitigation statement.
Holcomb said he expects to receive a notice of availability, or notice the document has been made public, in between 30 and 45 days.
“I definitely expect it by the end of February,” he said.
Among the list of locations that will have a copy of the statement are the Jacksonville Public Library and Jacksonville City Hall. The EIS will also be made available online. Holcomb said once the documents are sent out and received, a 60-day public comment period will begin.
“Some time in the middle of it we will have to have a public information workshop and a public hearing in Jacksonville,” Holcomb said.
The two are not the same events, he said. While both will be operated by the Corps, the workshop will be an informal come-and-go affair in which interested individuals may ask questions concerning the project. The public hearing will be an official event at which comments are put into public record.
“It’s very exciting. This is the farthest we’ve ever been,” Holcomb said.
After the public comment phase is over, Holcomb said the comments will be incorporated into the final version of the EIS then it’s “off to the races” from there.
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More life jackets needed
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The life jackets were added as part of the “Kids Don’t Float” program just before July 4. -
City hires Silvey as building inspector
Jacksonville has a new building inspector after three or so months of keeping a vacant position.
Building Official Jody Watson said the new hire, Chris Silvey, brings strong Jacksonville ties with him. -
JISD evaluation instrument sees few tweaks
It happens every year at Jacksonville Independent School District: the board of trustees evaluates the sitting superintendent, then decides whether to renew the superintendents contract.
After this, Board President James Houser said the board looks at what changes might need to be made to the instrument used to evaluate the superintendent. -
Chamber joins Texas Trail
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce has joined the Texas Forest Trail Partnership Program for 2010, said Chamber President Peggy Renfro.
It is a partnership that has happened in the past, she added, but now the Chamber will take a more active role. -
Mission House helps community
In Bullard, an organization called Mission House has been working since 2005 to better the community and the surrounding East Texas areas.
“I believe it was 2005 when I opened Mission House,” said Hazel Mason, mission coordinator for First United Methodist Church. -
What's News for July 29, 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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JFD fireman electrocuted at incident site
Jacksonville Fire Department Lt. David Glidewell received a medium strength electrical shock at a house fire on the 900 block of Fort Worth at around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Fire Marshall Dennis Tate said Glidewell was treated and released from ETMC-Jacksonville Tuesday evening and should be back to work Thursday. -
Mayor holds meetings with residents
Jacksonville’s citizens are looking forward to the coming opportunities for earnest discussions with Mayor Robert Haberle.
Some, such as Janis Adams, said she believes Haberle’s decision to open a room for citizens every other week is a good one. -
Rusk PD arrests 13
The Rusk Police Department arrested 13 people in mid-July for various charges. Among these were five or six arrested for traffic charges or charges alleged in conjunction with being in a motor vehicle. All arrests were made between July 8 and July 23, according to police department officials.
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Take a dive
Five-year-old Dylan Caldwell takes his first ever dive at the Jacksonville city pool. The Alto boy was coaxed in by family members who swam with him.
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