What's Happening in Henderson County

(Courtesy photo: County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse.) Note: This interview was recorded in the Henderson County Justice Center on Wednesday, Sept. 16. === This week's podcast with Sheriff Botie Hillhouse includes discussions about last week's incident where a man barricaded himself inside a house;  mail theft in Cross Roads; nursing expanded in the jail; and 9-11 ceremonies. === Our Sponsors This site...

(Courtesy photo: County Judge Wade McKinney.) Note: This interview was recorded in the County Courthouse Annex on Wednesday, Sept. 16. === This week, Judge Wade McKinney and I discuss the judicial responsibilities of the County Judge and spend time talking about mental health issues in the county. We also so our weekly review of the COVID-19 situation in the county. === Our Sponsors This site is f...

(Courtesy photo: Coach Zac Harrell.) Note: This interview was recorded in the Athens Athletic Office on Wednesday, Sept. 16. === The 3-0 Athens Hornets will host Wills Point Friday night for Homecoming. The Breakdown (Quotes from Coach Harrell): -- Coach Harrell talks about being 3-0. (:50) The Hornets went on the road and dominated the Fairfield Eagles last week, 48-0. Here’s where you can read m...

(Courtesy photo: County Judge Wade McKinney.) Note: This interview was recorded in the Henderson County Courthouse Annex on Wednesday, Sept. 9. === The Breakdown (Quotes from County Judge Wade McKinney) -- Importance of responding to the Census. (1:20) The deadline for responding to the 2020 U.S. Census is Sept. 30. Judge McKinney discusses a myriad of reasons why the Census count is important to...

(Courtesy photo: County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse.) Note: This interview was recorded in the County Justice Center on Wednesday, Sept. 9. === The Breakdown (Quotes from Sheriff Hillhouse) -- Jail statistics. (1:20) The inmates from Orange County are still in the Henderson County Jail. There 167 out-of-county inmates in the jail. “With that many people back there in custody, everything is still runni...

(Courtesy photo: Coach Zac Harrell.) Note: This interview was recorded in the Athens ISD Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Sept. 9. === The Athens Hornets (2-0) will be on the road again this week, traveling to Fairfield to take on the Eagles Friday night. This Hornets face a difficult challenge this week with Fairfield beating Athens the past four games. The Breakdown (Quotes from Coach Harrell) -- Review...

(Courtesy photo: County Judge Wade McKinney.) Note: This interview was recorded in the Henderson County Courthouse Annex Wednesday, Sept. 2. === We focused on infrastructure projects in this week’s podcast. Henderson County Judge Wade McKinney talked about the importance of the county’s new communications system, including why Commissioners decided to buy their own rather than pay for it as a serv...

(Courtesy photo: County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse.) Note: This interview was recorded in the County Justice Center on Wednesday, Sept. 2. === The Henderson County jail has been very busy. In this week’s podcast, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse talks about the impact of bringing in 171 inmates from Orange County. The Breakdown (Quotes from Sheriff Hillhouse) -- The current jail stats. (1:10) These stats are...

(Photo: Coach Zac Harrell.) Note: This interview was recorded in the Athens ISD Fieldhouse Wednesday, Sept. 2. === The Athens Hornets (1-0) will be on the road Friday to take on the Waxahachie Life Mustangs (0-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The game is a chance for the Hornets to avenge last year’s loss to the Mustangs. “For our kids, we’re excited to get another opportunity to play them,”...

(Courtesy photo: County Judge Wade McKinney.) Note: This interview was recorded in the County Judge’s courtroom on Wednesday, August 26. === The Lead Henderson County is temporarily home for about 100 prisoners evacuated from Orange County ahead of Hurricane Laura. This is just one part of the county’s emergency preparations for the storm. County Judge Wade McKinney talks about this, the burn ban,...

(Photo: Coach Zac Harrell.) Note: This interview was recorded in the Athens ISD Fieldhouse Wednesday, Aug. 26. === The Story The Athens Hornets will play host to Brownsboro Friday night at Bruce Field to open the 2020 football season. The Bears will be coming to town looking for revenge after the Hornets went down Highway 31 last year to get Zac Harrell his first win as Athens head coach. The Horn...

(Photo: Coach Zac Harrell.) Note: This interview was recorded in the Athens ISD Fieldhouse Friday, Aug. 21. === The Lead The Athens Hornets played their first -- and only -- scrimmage of 2020 in Canton Thursday night. Overall, the Hornets looked good, particularly on defense. Key Points (Quotes by Coach Zac Harrell) * Coach Harrell’s general thoughts on the scrimmage. (1:05) — “I was extremely ple...

(Courtesy photo: County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse.) Note: This interview was recorded in the County Justice Center on Wednesday, August 19. === The Lead Students are going back to class all around the county, which means more responsibilities for the Sheriff’s Office. Key Points * Weekly arrest and jail stats. (1:15) * How the start of school impacts criminal activity. (1:50) * Watch out for buses a...

(Courtesy photo: County Judge Wade McKinney.) Note: This interview was recorded in the County Judge’s courtroom on Wednesday, August 19. === The Lead It is budget time for Commissioners Court and the county is looking at a possible 1.5-cent reduction in the tax rate. County Judge Wade McKinney discusses some of the factors impacting the proposed budget, including two areas where COVID’s impact is...

This interview was conducted Tuesday, Aug. 18, in the Athens ISD administration building. === Athens ISD students will be in the classroom starting Monday -- well, about half of them will be, at least. AISD Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims said about 50 percent of the district’s student population have opted to return to in-person instruction starting next week. With the restart imminent, I sat down...

(Photo: Coach Zac Harrell.) This interview was recorded at the Athens ISD field house on Friday, Aug. 14. === Football season is fast approaching and the Athens Hornets are getting ready for their season opener against Brownsboro scheduled for Friday, Aug. 28. The Hornets will be in Canton this Thursday, Aug. 20, for their only scrimmage of the year. The freshman and JV teams will be on the field...

(Courtesy photo: County Judge Wade McKinney.) Note: This interview was recorded in the County Judge’s courtroom on Wednesday, August 12. === Henderson County Commissioners Court will discuss a possible burn ban during its regular meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, County Judge Wade McKinney said during our weekly interview this week. “We follow the Keetch-Byram Index, which measures the moisture in...

(Courtesy Photo: Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse) Note: This interview with Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse was recorded Wednesday, Aug. 12. === A 22-year-old cold case has heated up thanks to a Crime Stoppers tip. “It looks like a promising tip,” said Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse. Cedar Creek Lake area resident Jennifer Winkler was reported missing in 1998. Sheriff’s...

(Photo: Coach Zac Harrell.) This interview was recorded at the Athens ISD field house on Friday, Aug. 7. === The first week of football practice has come to an end! Friday, I sat down with Athens Head Coach Zac Harrell to get his take on how things have been going.  Spoiler Alert: Coach is pleased, but there is a lot of work to do. In addition to discussing the basic structure of practice, Harrell...

(Courtesy photo: County Judge Wade McKinney.) Note: This interview was recorded in the County Judge’s courtroom on Wednesday, August 5. === The Lead There are more people in our community currently sick from COVID-19 than at any other time during the pandemic. Local medical officials are reiterating the need for people to wear masks, wash their hands, and social distance. Key Points * The COVID-19...

(Courtesy Photo: Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse) Note: This interview with Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse was recorded Wednesday, Aug. 5. === A domestic violence related shooting sent one man to the hospital and a woman to jail this week. Tiffany Marie Schultz, 29, was arrested and charged with a first-degree felony for shooting her boyfriend Tuesday night. (In the interview, h...

(Courtesy Photo: Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse) Note: This interview with Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse was recorded Wednesday, July 29. === There is good news regarding the new communication system, according to Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, who said this week the system is expected to come on line months earlier than expected. (Listen above starting at 5:45) “Ou...

(Courtesy photo: Coach Zac Harrell.) This interview was recorded at the Athens ISD field house on Wednesday, July 29. === Athens ISD athletes are set to start a new season Monday, Aug. 3, with tennis, cross country, volleyball and football players scheduled to begin practice. I spoke with Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Zac Harrell Wednesday about getting back to work in the year of COVI...

(Courtesy photo: TVCC President Dr. Jerry King.) This interview was recorded at Trinity Valley Community College on Tuesday, July 28. === With a return to school on the horizon, Trinity Valley Community College on Monday released COVID guidelines ahead of the fall semester, including the implementation of health protocols suggested by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Those guidelines...

(Courtesy Photo: Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse) Note: This interview with Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse was recorded Wednesday, July 22. === Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said game rooms are starting to make a comeback in the county.  These game rooms use 8-liner machines, which aren’t specifically illegal . “The games themselves aren’t illegal, it is the way they...