County News
Key propositions pass in Terrell and Kaufman

May 11, 2008

Less than 300 voters turned out in Terrell to approve allowing the sale of beer and wine in outlying areas of the city and alcoholic beverage sales in restaurants.

The measure passed 260 to 39. Proponents said the sales are necessary to bring new retailers and restaurants to the city. Most of the city already is wet; the new measures affect only those areas – mostly along the Interstate 20 corridor – annexed since the 1960s.

Only 61 voted in the Terrell’s Dist. 3. Incumbent Ricky Jordan received 59 votes and challenger Laura Dodson 2.

By a narrower margin, Kaufman residents agreed to allow the economic development corporation to use $100,000 of its revenue to help fund a permanent Vietnam Memorial Wall. The measure passed 151 to 80.

The money, along with private donations, will be used to purchase a near-full-size replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall and locate in the Kaufman County war memorial park. The foundation working on the project also will improve the park and run the exhibit.

Lee Ayres, EDC executive director, estimates that as many as 250,000 tourists a year will visit the wall bringing about $40 million into the economy.

In the Kaufman City Council election, incumbents Jeff Council, Barry Ratcliffe and newcomer Steve Cooper barely edged out Jess Murrell for the three council seats.

In the Crandall school district, Rick Harrell claimed the Dist. 6 seat, pushing past Chris Walters and Danny Wayne Kirby. Robyn Reed Foster and Jimbo Newton ran unopposed.

In the Crandall city council election, Shannon Barnes, Wayne Lukaris and Ben Brewer were elected to the three seats.

In Talty, John Jackson, Frank Garrison and Kevin Williams
were elected as aldermen.

In the Mabank school district, Tyson Johnson beat Paul Edmondson; Michael Cathey bested Jeff Gaddis and Scott Tuley overcame Todd Grimes.

In the Kemp, Leodis Buckley and Matt Canssle were elected. There will be a run-off between Todd Weber and Jessie Morton for the third seat; each received 19 votes.

In the Kemp school district, incumbent Don Jedlicka kept his seat, besting Larry Dalrymple.

In the Scurry-Rosser school district, John Sutton, Todd Peavy and Kenny Keller were elected. Frank Skube, on the official ballot received 17 votes and Brian Mink received 13 write-in votes.

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