Athens Review by Chad Wilson

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10/24/11

5:22 PM

Page 1

TUESDAY, October 25, 2011

50 cents

Serving Henderson County

A time to pray Regional repeat Area churches to gather at courthouse Saturday By Chad Wilson STAFF WRITER

In an effort to restore the body of Christ back to its first love and to promote the coming together of churches from all denominations, First Love Ministries will be hosting a county-wide prayer on the square Saturday, Oct. 29 at

the Athens courthouse. Led by First Love Ministries founders David and Jeannie Pearce, the event will begin at 11 a.m. on the west side of the courthouse and last until the final prayer is spoken. Pastors from churches all over the county have joined in the effort and will

Former Eustace principal named outstanding By Art Lawler

have specific prayer requests Saturday before what is expected to be a very large gathering. “The Lord told me a month and a half ago to start getting the churches together and talking to them about a prayer on the

See PRAY, Page 12A

STAFF WRITER

EUSTACE – Former Middle School Principal Karen Mullin, who was removed from that role a few weeks prior to the end of the 2010-2011 school-year, has been selected to represent the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals as a Region 7 Outstanding Principal of the year. It's the second time the former Eustace middle school

Karen Mullin

See EUSTACE, Page 12A

A drop in the bucket

Walk Like MADD

More rain needed to end drought By Rich Flowers NEWS EDITOR

KATHI NAILLING/ATHENS REVIEW

Mothers Against Drunk Driving held a 5K walk in Gun Barrel City Saturday. 'Walk Like MADD' walk was held in honor and in memory of people who were killed or injured in drunk driving accidents.

The welcome rain that came to Henderson County over the weekend was a drop in the bucket compared with the amount needed to make up the shortfall caused by the ongoing drought. Well, maybe, a few drops in the bucket. The National Weather Service reported that Athens received .59 inches of rain from the storm system that came through the area before dawn Sunday. That coupled with the .81 inches recorded Oct. 18, makes October the wettest month since June. There looks to be more on the way, NWS Meteorologist, Jason Dunn said. “The system that comes through Thursday could bring decent rain,” Dunn said. “Beyond that, it doesn’t look

See RAIN, Page 3A

Reaching Brownsboro man sentenced hundreds By Chad Wilson STAFF WRITER

Meals on Wheels reaching seniors across county By Chad Wilson

A Brownsboro businessman who pleaded guilty to conspiring with a New Orleans police captain to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a kickback scheme was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier also on Thursday ordered 38-yearold Joseph “Joey” Branch, of Brownsboro, to pay a $50,000 fine

within 30 days. The five-year imprisonment is the maximum sentence he could receive while he could have been fined up to $250,000. According to the factual basis for the case issued by U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, Branch was owner of Gladius Inc., a security service located on State Highway 31 in Brownsboro. He and Michael Roussel, a New Orleans Police Captain, met with a

cooperating witness, and signed a contract, wherein Gladius, Inc. would provide armed guards to Entergy after a hurricane. The hourly rate charged by Gladius to the company, would be inflated by about $15 per hour per guard to cover payments to the defendants. The information released by the court said Branch further admitted

See BRANCH, Page 12A

STAFF WRITER

Each day more than 330 people benefit from the funds donated to the Henderson County United Way. How? Through the dedicated service of Meals of Wheels Ministry, Inc. Meals on Wheels has served the senior citizens of East Texas since 1973. From its humble beginnings in Tyler, serving 14 people per day, this charitable work has grown tremendously and now reaches six counties and 55 communities daily. Just last year, over 1 million meals were served by Meals on Wheels. The operation expanded to Henderson County in 1996 and in the 2011 fiscal year the program has served 82,576 meals. “We cover six counties across East Texas and are the sixth largest meals on

All things new Part of a series highlighting the 26 agencies supported by the United Way.

wheels program in the state. We serve within 100 meals of the Austin Meals on Wheels program,” Director of Development and Public Relations Rachel Hat said. “We can not do this without the support of the United Way. The supporters of the United Way make this mission possible.” The program is one of 26 agencies supported by the Henderson County United Way and its push to raise $189,000 during the 2011-12 campaign. “We believe that people's independence, nutrition

See WHEELS, Page 12A

TONI GARRARD CLAY PHOTO

New baby Relyk Pritchett has the distinction of being the first baby born in one of ETMC Athens' spacious new LDRP rooms. The Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum rooms allow for mothers, in most cases, to spend their entire stay in a single room. Relyk was born Oct. 19. Pictured with him are his parents, Josh and Michelle Pritchett of Mabank with big brother Kyler and Dr. Teri Baumgartner (far left), who delivered Relyk.

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Bible Verse

FEMA is ready to help Henderson County residents who were effected by the wildfires. The state and federal agents will only be in the area until Wednesday. Don’t miss out.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. — 2 Chronicles 7:14

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