Trinity County News 2

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A Longview man was killed in a three-vehicle collision on Highway 94 near Groveton./COURTESY PHOTO

TCNS staff

TRINITY COUNTY — The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a fatal crash involving three vehicles that occurred Thursday on state Highway 94 near Groveton.

The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 6:05 a.m. on SH 94 approximately one mile north of FM 3317, a 1995 Chevrolet pickup was traveling westbound on 94, followed by a 2017 Dodge Ram pickup.

Reports indicate that a 1989 Mack truck tractor semi-trailer hauling logs was pulling out from a private drive to travel east.

The driver of the Mack failed to yield right of way, resulting in the Chevrolet and the Dodge striking the trailer being towed by the Mack, the report states.

The driver of the Chevrolet has been identified as 47-year-old Vernon Groze of Longview. He was pronounced deceased on scene by a Trinity County Justice of the Peace.

The driver of the Dodge has been identified as 38-year-old Bradley McMullen of Kennard. He was transported to Crockett Medical Center for treatment.

The driver of the Mack has been identified as 54-year-old Richard Ellis of Corrigan. He was not injured.

The investigation is continuing.

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House ProposedBy Tony Farkas
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AUSTIN — While San Jacinto County retains its representation in the Texas Legislature, population changes in the state means changes to district boundaries.

Rep. Trent Ashby of Lufkin still has House District 57, and Sen. Robert Nichols still represents the county from Senate District 3. However, the borders of those districts will look different, should the Legislature approve the plans.

Ashby’s district as it stands now is comprised Angelina, Houston, Leon, Madison, San Augustine and Trinity counties. Under the proposed plan, the district will be redesignated 9; Leon County will become part of a recast District 13, and Madison County will become part of District 12, currently represented by Kyle Kacal.

In his column of Oct. 7, Ashby said that while he was pleased and excited about the new House district, but was disappointed not to keep Leon and Madison counties after months of advocating for them. 

He also said that he intends to run for re-election in the new district. 

“For now, the proposed map will go through the public hearing process and be subject to amendments, both in committee and on the House floor, before we know for certain the makeup of our legislative districts for the next decade,” he said.

On the Senate side, District 3 is currently comprised of 18 counties, of which San Jacinto is one, and part of Montgomery County. The proposed plan will move Houston County into a neighboring district, and swapping with District 4 the part of Montgomery County for a portion of Jefferson County.

There are 31 Senate Districts in Texas, and based on the 2020 Census, each district must have a population of as near 940,178 people as possible. For the House, there are 150 districts, and each district must have a population of as near 194,303 people as possible.

According to the Texas Legislative Council redistricting website, the federal constitution calls for redistricting of congressional seats according to population following a Census. Reapportionment is the allocation of a set number of districts among established units of government. 

On April 26, 2021, the United States Census Bureau reported results of congressional reapportionment from the 2020 Census. According to these results, Texas will add two new congressional districts for a total of 38 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 118th Congress.

Senate ProposedThat redistricting will continue down to any entity, such as city, county or school board, that elects representatives based on districts.

Before elections are held under the new districts in counties that are split under the newly adopted plans, counties and the SBOE must change their voting precinct boundaries to conform with the new district lines.

The state constitution requires a candidate for state legislative office to have resided for at least one year before the general election in the district the candidate seeks to represent.

Redistricting bills follow the same path through the legislature as other legislation. Congressional and State Board of Education (SBOE) district bills may be introduced in either or both chambers; senate and house redistricting bills traditionally originate only in their respective chambers. Following final adoption by both chambers, each redistricting bill is presented to the governor for approval. The governor may sign the bill into law, allow it to take effect without a signature, or veto it. If the house or senate redistricting bill fails to pass or is vetoed and the veto is not overridden by the legislature during the first regular session after the census data is released, the Legislative Redistricting Board (LRB) is required to meet. If the congressional or SBOE bill fails to pass or is vetoed and the veto is not overridden, the governor may call a special session to consider the matter.

Enacted redistricting plans or those adopted by the LRB are filed with the Texas secretary of state. The plans adopted, in most cases, become effective for the following primary and general elections, subject to any judicial action if a lawsuit challenging a plan is filed.

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — An office swap proposal for officials of Trinity County met with some opposition Friday, but ultimately was approved by the Trinity County Commissioners Court.

County Clerk Shasta Bergman and her team, as well as the voluminous records the office is required to keep, will be moved to an office in the annex across the street, one currently occupied by Elections Administrator Priscilla Rasbeary and 911 Addressing Coordinator Jolynn Wars.

Elections and 911 Addressing will in turn be placed in the office on the second floor of the courthouse, currently occupied by the County Clerk.

The reason for the moves is the files and record books the Clerk is required by law to keep, namely dealing with real estate, are heavy and causing weight stress on the courthouse’s second floor.

The offices in the annex are on the ground floor.

The motion passed, with Commissioner Tommy Park voting against it.

In other business, the county:

• Appointed Lawrence Adamick as Precinct 1 Constable, replacing Jeremy Alexander, who resigned during a previous court meeting citing pay;
• proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month;
• proclaimed October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month;
• gave annual approval to the county’s investment policy;
• approved budget amendments that will finalize spending for the previous fiscal year;
• approved the sale of a 2021 Mack truck through the company’s buy-back provision for Precinct 1, and early buy-back of a 2022 Mack truck for Precinct 4;
• approved bids on tax resale properties;
• approved leasing three vehicles for Sheriff’s Office; and
• hired Southern Style Home Investors to replace flooring at the Groveton Community Center.

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Trinity Lady Tiger Ava Morrison (center) takes off in the crowd during the Lufkin Coke Classic Invitational cross country meet. (Courtesy Photo)

TCNS staff

LUFKIN — Lady Tiger Ava Morrison logged the best time and place in the Lufkin Coke Classic Invitational on Oct. 6.

Morrison posted a time of 14:12 on the day.

Coke Classic results

Trinity Boys

Varsity

87, Esteban Ruiz, 21:53.3; 92, Nicholas Parras, 22:18.3

Junior varsity

64, Christian Moreno, 23:19.6; 67, Preston Riddle, 23:27.8; 75, Misael Acosta, 24:26.5; 84, Gabriel Lopez, 26:14.8; 94, Christian Lopez, 28:36.6; 98, David Mckendree, 30:30.9; 99, Cash Allen, 30:31.7; 103, Benjamin Kaufman, 32:48.5

Junior High

43, John Parrish, 14:26.6; 63, Austin Beasley, 15:03.1; 106, Daniel Sanchez, 16:36.6; 135, Alex Sanchez, 17:56.8; 168, Jose' Lopez, 21:42.9; 169, Michael Ramirez, 22:59.5

Trinity Girls

Varsity

9, Ava Morrison, 14:12.0; 48, Alyssa Cerda, 16:29.6; 54, Lilian Uresti, 16:56.1; 80, Zoey Gray, 18:28.0

Junior High

29, Skylar Knight, 16:11.3; 140, Abril Manzaneras, 21:24.6