Commissioners Court commemorates 65th anniversary of Korean War Armistice signing

(ROCKWALL COUNTY, TX – August 1, 2018) During its regular meeting on July 24, the Rockwall County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a resolution observing the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement that officially ended the Korean War.

Local veterans joined the Commissioners Court and the American Legion Terry Fisher Post 117 of Rockwall in commemorating the signing of the Armistice and honoring the 33,739 American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Korean War, including two from Rockwall County. The Armistice was signed in Panmunjeom on July 27, 1953, by U.S. Army Lieutenant General William Harrison, Jr. representing the United Nations Command (UNC), North Korean General Nam Il representing the Korean People’s Army (KPA), and the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army (PVA). The agreement established a four-kilometer-wide demilitarized zone along the armistice line, effectively dividing Korea into two separate countries.

County Judge David Sweet read a resolution on behalf of the Commissioners Court recognizing the historic event. “Therefore it be resolved that the Rockwall County Commissioners Court commemorates this anniversary, and never forgets the sacrifices made by a generation of Americans to preserve our nation’s freedoms. Further it be resolved that the Commissioners Court honors those veterans both past and present and extends to them and their families its deepest appreciation and gratitude for their service to the nation,” Sweet read.

The Commissioners Court also recognized the volunteers behind the highly successful eclipse viewing event held last August at the Rockwall County Library. NASA Solar System Ambassador and Astrodad Max Corneau presented Rockwall Eclipse Volunteers with certificates of appreciation for their efforts in leading the eclipse watch party at the library on August 21, 2017.

Around 1,200 people came out to witness the partial eclipse that day, with over 400 pairs of ISO Certified Solar Viewing Glasses distributed for those on site to safely view the eclipse without risk of permanent eye damage. Two types of solar telescopes were also available for a safe, view of the eclipse in greater detail.

“This event absolutely could not have happened without volunteers,” Corneau said. “We had a win that day, and that’s in large part due to these young people and volunteers who made it such a success.”

According to Corneau, a total solar eclipse is expected to pass directly over Texas on April 8, 2024.

In other recognitions, the Commissioners Court also shined the spotlight on Melanie Jensen of the Rockwall County Emergency Management Office. Jensen recently became a certified emergency manager with the International Association of Emergency Managers. The certification requires an extensive process which takes several years to complete and includes 200 hours of training in emergency management, a 100-question exam, and an essay on a solution to an emergency management scenario.

Jensen, who has been with the Emergency Management Office for eight years, has been recognized as the Rockwall County Employee of the Quarter three times and was named the Rockwall County Employee of the Year in 2016. She joins 1,800 individuals who have become emergency managers within the International Association of Emergency Managers organization representing 49 states and 14 countries.

Also on the agenda was a presentation from the Boys & Girls Club. BGC Chief Executive Officer Jenny Krueger provided the court with an update on the success of the club’s summer programs in helping prevent summer learning loss and empowering kids to lead healthy, productive lives outside of school.

Krueger highlighted a particularly noteworthy program the club has had tremendous success with over the past decade. The SMART (Skills Mastery and Resilience Training) Moves program – a prevention and education addressing problems facing young people such as drug and alcohol use and premature sexual activity – uses a team approach to engage young kids ages 6-15 in discussion and role-playing, practicing resilience and refusal skills, developing assertiveness, strengthening decision-making skills and analyzing media and peer influence.

Krueger said the state reimburses the club $50 per month to put kids through the program, and in return the club provides the participating kids’ social security numbers for the state to track the kids from age 9 through high school to see if they ever have a run-in with the juvenile justice system. She said the program has a 99 percent success rate, with over 8,000 kids having gone through the program in its eight-year existence in the state of Texas.

“This shows that when we are investing in prevention, which is $600 to $1,000 a year, we are saving on intervention, which is $75,000 to $90,000 a year to put a child through the juvenile justice system,” Krueger said.

Krueger also provided an update on the BGC’s relocation from the Dobbs Elementary School campus to the Rochell Elementary School campus for the upcoming school year. Krueger said the club has moved its portable buildings from Dobbs to Rochell and are in the process of refurbishing them with new floors and ceiling tiles. The club will have three to four dedicated classrooms in those portables, plus space inside the Rochell Elementary building allotted for the club’s use by Rockwall ISD.

“One great thing that’s come from us relocating to Rochell is that we’re so close to Lake Pointe Church, and we began forming partnerships there to do some amazing things for the kids,” Krueger said. “They got to participate in some of the VBS programs there, and we also have a discounted rate for all of the BGC kids to participate in the sports at Lake Pointe Sports.”

Sweet commended Krueger and her staff for their hard work in providing unique opportunities to engage, empower and inspire kids and teens of all ages and interests.

“It’s always a pleasure getting to hang out with the kids at the BGC and visit with the staff about the club’s programs and initiatives. I can tell you those staff members are absolute rock stars and on top of everything,” Sweet said.

In other action, the Commissioners Court:

-Approved a Location Use Agreement with the Kiwanis Club of Rockwall for use of County property for the annual Tri-Rock Triathlon

-Approved the Final Plat for Tacoma Ranch located at FM 548 and High Point Road in Rockwall County

-Denied a Preliminary Plat for Southridge Estates located in the City of Rockwall’s Extraterritorial District (ETJ)

-Approved authorizing Human Resources and Gallagher Benefit Services to advertise for a health plan reinsurance contract for stop loss

-Approved awarding a contract for Road Improvements for the Longbranch Community

-Approved a discretionary exemption to Local Government Code 262.024 for bidding on inmate healthcare

-Approved out of state travel for the Elections Administrator to attend training classes August 24-27, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana

About Rockwall County
Rockwall County is the smallest county in Texas, covering only 147 square miles, but it is one of the fastest growing counties in the country. The county comprises the cities of Fate, Heath, Mobile City, McLendon-Chisholm, Rockwall, Rowlett, and Royse City. Bounded on the west by Lake Ray Hubbard, it is a desirable residential community for the continuously growing Dallas Metropolitan area, offering spectacular sunset views of the Dallas skyline only 23 miles away.

Rockwall County | 101 E. Rusk Street, Rockwall, TX 75087 | 972-204-7000 | www.rockwallcountytexas.com

Submitted press release. 

Our monthly print edition is delivered free to ~20,000 homes in Rockwall and Heath, TX.

To share your good news and events, email editor@BlueRibbonNews.com.

Subscribe to our email newsletter here.

Advertising: 214-342-8000 or advertising@BlueRibbonNews.com.