Local News
Sour gas protesters picket PS City Hall
PAYNE SPRINGS — BlackBrush Oil & Gas representatives from San Antonio were greeted by picketing protesters before and after Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
City Hall was packed with citizens concerned they may be facing a lethal situation involving sour gas. BlackBrush is considering drilling close to residential areas in the community.
Philip Mezey, an engineer with BlackBrush Oil and Gas, did his best to assure citizens that they will be in no danger, if and when the drilling is approved.
According to Mezey, BlackBrush plans to drill a horizontal well three miles under Cedar Creek Lake.
BlackBrush will take the precautions of embedding cement-sealed steel pipe made to withstand 9500 pounds of pressure, twice the withstanding required by state.
Not everyone in the audience agreed with Mezey and his safety assurances, including a chemical engineer in the audience.
G.W. Hartman, a chemical engineer and consultant who lives near Tool, spoke during the citizens forum and told the group that much of the information they were hearing from BlackBrush officials was incorrect.
Several citizens in the crowd spoke during the comment session, most of them concerned about the safety issues.
BlackBrush officials told the crowd they still hadn’t applied for a permit with the Texas Railroad Commission, and that they had no intention of fast-tracking an oil well at the site near State Highway 198 near the entrance to Payne Springs.
Several members moved outside the building after BlackBrush officials spoke when Mayor J.T. Noble ordered the crowd to take their conversation outside the walls of the meeting because it was a city council meeting and not a Town Hall meeting.
About 40 protesters were lined up on the highway outside the building holding “No Sour Gas” placards prior to the beginning of the meeting.
In other business at Tuesday night’s meeting, the Payne Springs City Council voted:
• 4-1 against purchasing a new pick-up for the police department. The motion was made by Councilman Rodney Renberg and was seconded by Vic Brazzell, who then voted against it;
• A motion was made by Councilman Renberg to discuss a pay raise for acting Chief Shane Renberg, but the motion died for lack of a second;
• Unanimously to extend its sewer contract Nature Calls for one more year.
- Local News
-
-
Kemp has water problems
KEMP — Residents in Kemp are glad the water is back on, there’s only one problem...It’s dirty.
-
Voters to decide on Mabank ISD tax increase
MABANK — Voters will be going to the polls to decide whether or not to assess themselves a 13 cent tax rate increase.
-
HC receives grant to fight crime
ATHENS - Henderson County has received $22,156 in grant money from the Department of Justice to help law enforcement decrease the crime rate in the area.
-
Tool mayor indicted for DWI
The Tool mayor was indicted for Driving While Intoxicated, third or more offense by the Henderson County Grand Jury in August.
-
Motorcycle accident sends two to hospital
MABANK - An accident involving a motorcycle on Friday sent two individuals to the hospital.
-
Man indicted for shooting
Athens — A 30-year-old man has been indicted for attempted murder in the shooting of his ex-girlfriend.
-
Avoid a DWI
AUSTIN— The Texas Department of Transportation, police departments, and sheriff’s offices across Texas are working together to reduce impaired driving this summer and especially during the upcoming Labor Day weekend. TxDOT is illustrating the choice between getting a sober ride or risking a DWI by driving after drinking with an arresting image—unique vehicles that are a police patrol car on the front end and a taxi cab on the back end.
-
Robbers hit two hotels same night
MABANK - Authorities in neighboring counties worked together to arrest two men in connection with the burglaries of two local hotels over the weekend.
-
Woman dies after jet-ski accident
Athens — A 27-year-old woman died Saturday after a fall from a jet ski on Cedar Creek Lake, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reports said.
-
Seven Points has to shift funds around
SEVEN POINTS — Make it five-in-a-row now.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Kemp has water problems
