Fiscal Court unanimously votes to cut tree near Slaughters

Property owner threatens legal action

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

The battle over a tree growing along side Hester-Winstead Road near Slaughters has once again become a hot button issue for the Webster County Fiscal Court and a pair of neighbors whose families have lived near each other for generations, following a 3-0 vote by magistrates to cut the tree down.

Hester-Winstead Road, a narrow one-lane road that runs from Slaughters Cemetery Road to a dead-end, has been on the county road plan for many years. There are only a handful of houses on the road, but it is traveled regularly by a Webster County School Bus.

Sebree radio station serves Spanish speaking community

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

As you scan through the radio dial in the city of Sebree, you might notice a station that seems a little out of place. As you hit 93.1 FM, your speakers will be filled with the sound of mostly upbeat music and Spanish speaking singers. Although some people may never give it a second thought, I had to know the story, so I set out to track down the origins of this mysterious radio station.

What I discovered was a radio station that had been hiding in plain sight. There was really no mystery nor any attempt to mislead anyone, it was as simple as the fact that few people outside of the Spanish speaking community were aware that the station even existed.

Middle School project extended by two weeks

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Superintendent Pete Galloway told the Webster County School Board on Monday that Princeton Lumber Company had requested a two week extension on their deadline. That will shorten an already tight schedule the district is on to get Webster County Middle School open in time for the start of the 2014-2015 school year.

Rain and snow has slowed much of the outside work to the middle school area, and construction crews are very limited on being able to begin work on the cafeteria in the Webster County Annex until after the last day of class. The cafeteria already serves all students from Dixon Elementary and Webster County High School. Starting in the fall it will also serve students from the Webster County Middle School.

Dixon Commission to apply for grant to refurbish parks

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

On Monday night the Dixon Commission voted to pursue a $55,000 Land and Water Grant that would allow the city to refurbish much of the playground equipment at both of their city parks.

“Bourland Park doesn’t have any playground equipment,” said City Water Operator Jamie Harkins, who, along with City Clerk Peggy Poole, has been digging into the grant program. “We have a lot of ball games out there, so we thought we could use something for the smaller kids.”

Clay to get mowing assistance from jail trustees

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Clay City Council met last Tuesday night, with all members except Jackie Edens and Jerril Rich present.

Topping the meeting was a discussion of a drainage tile on Park Street that has been backing up during recent rains and causing flooding.

“The water is draining, but it’s really slow,” said council member Paul Cowan. “I’m not sure if that is our tile or the county’s. It’s right on the line.”

Mayor Rick Householder suggested that city employees take a look at the tile and see if there is anything they can do to fix it.

Fiscal Court: Henderson Water customers to see rate increase

by MATT HUGHES

J-E News Editor

Webster County Fiscal Court was notified during it’s Monday meeting that residents who purchase their water from the Henderson County Water District will soon be seeing a rate increase.

Pete Conrad, the superintendent of the Henderson County Water District (HCWD) came before the court for the second consecutive meeting with an update on rates. Under new state law, a water district is required to notify the governing body in it’s largest region of service in the event of a rate increase. For HCWD that region would only include Henderson County, but according to Conrad, he felt it was his responsibility to notify all of his customers.