July 2021

Dale Martin, longtime resident of Terrell and Wills Point, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on the morning of July 9, 2021. Dale was born on October 3, 1948 in Wills Point to Frank and Robia Mae (Stroud) Martin, both of whom met him in Heaven along with his infant sister, Shirley Ann Martin, who passed in 1937.

On this day in 1917, construction of Camp Logan near Houston began. After the United States entered World War I, the War Department took advantage of Houston’s climate and ship channel to order the building of the camp. The Third Battalion of the black Twenty-fourth United States Infantry arrived in late July to guard the site. Tensions between local authorities and black soldiers, however, escalated during the following weeks and erupted on August 23 as the Houston Riot of 1917, resulting in the declaration of martial law. By 1918 the camp served as a hospital for wounded men. William C. Hogg acquired the site after the war, and eventually 1,000 acres became Houston’s largest recreational area, Memorial Park.

More than 70 Texas A&M Forest Service personnel are currently deployed to wildfire incidents across multiple western states including Arizona, California, Idaho and Montana. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there are 70 large fires burning across the United States with more than 17,700 wildland firefighters and overhead personnel committed to these incidents.

Texas ranks fifth nationally in both dairy production and its dairy cow population and the industry is growing rapidly despite recent challenges such as inclement weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. In the just-released June/July edition of Fiscal Notes, the Comptroller’s office examines the economic impact of Texas dairy farms.

Texas families have through July 31 to enroll their newborns in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund® and pay this academic year’s rates for all or some future tuition and schoolwide required fees at Texas public colleges and universities, excluding medical and dental institutions. New borns are children younger than one year of age at the time of enrollment.

Nearly 60 Texas House Democrats left the state last Monday for Washington, D.C. in an effort to stop passage of a Republican-led elections bill. This in effect blocks all legislation since the House doesn’t have a quorum present. As the Austin American Statesman and other media outlets reported, Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to arrest the absent lawmakers upon their return. While in Washington, the legislators have met with Vice President Kamala Harris and several Democratic senators to push passage of a federal elections bill that is currently stalemated.

Lone Star CASA had six new CASA advocates sworn in on July 21 by Judge Brett Hall in Rockwall. Those present or participating in the swearing-in ceremony included: Dana Boles, Dianne Klepin, Audrey Green, Brittany Davenport, Judge Brett Hall, Darla Williams, Lilian Asikaiwe, Kivonda Harris - Program Manager and Ashley Jamison - Volunteer Manager. Lone Star CASA (court appointed special advocate) trains volunteers to advocate for children in the foster care system in Kaufman and Rockwall counties. Volunteers must be at least 21 years of age, pass background checks and be able to make a year commitment to a child. For more information on becoming a CASA volunteer visit www.lonestarcasa.org. COURTESY PHOTO

Rabies is usually associated with dogs or bats, but it also can develop insidiously in a variety of mammals. Rabies in livestock, such as cattle, may be rare, but its ability to spread through the herd still poses a serious risk.

July 29: City of Terrell versus Terrell State Hospital softball game. Ben Gill Park, 6:30 p.m.

United Way of Kaufman County will be conducting it annual Agency Grant reviews in February. If you are an organization providing services to Kaufman County residents that are compliant with our Community Impact guidelines (Education, Health and/or Financial Stability), have a 501(c)3 standing with the IRS, have annual audits or reviews and would like an application to apply for grant money, please contact the United Way office at deb@kaufmancountyunitedway.org.