TC annexation fails, LK-CISD bond denied, and Atlanta goes wet

By Bobby Horn Jr.

news@casscountynow.com

CASS COUNTY—Opponents of the Texarkana College annexation of Eastern Cass County won a resounding victory on Election Night, with voters rejecting the proposition by a 7,251 (or 78 percent) to 1,965 vote. This represented 99 percent of votes cast. The Cass County Clerk’s office had not tallied provisional ballots as of press time.

Texarkana College attempted to annex the boundaries of Atlanta, Queen City, Bloomburg, McLeod and Linden-Kildare School districts into their taxing district.

If the measure had passed, those living within the school districts would have been exempt from paying out-of-district fees.

However, over the last few months a group of voters who opposed raising property taxes became more vocal.

This anti-property tax increase sentiment also made its way into Linden.

Linden school bonds defeated

Voters within the Linden-Kildare CISD rejected an $8 million bond package by a 1,370 to 847 vote measure.

There will also be a shake-up on the L-K CISD Board of Trustees with two incumbents losing their seats.

Joshua Lane defeated incumbent Tracy Spaniol by 1,010 to 688 vote. Michael Whatley rode a lead in the early voting period to eventually beat Robby Johnson 1,210 to 634.

New face on Linden City Council

Four candidates ran for three seats on the Linden City Council. The top three vote-getters will take the seats.

New-comer Jeanie O’Rear Stevens was the top vote-getter in the council race with 406 votes. Current Mayor Pro Tem Kenny Hamilton was also reelected with 363 votes. The final spot on council went to incumbent Sue Morris Lazara, who collected 339 votes.

Chuck Evans placed fourth with 323 votes.

Vote totals are considered “unofficial” until they have been canvassed.

Atlanta goes “wet”

Atlanta stores will be adding some inventory in the near future.

Voters approved the “local option” which will allow the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption by a 1,019 to 881 vote margin. Proponents of the measure took a 756-683 vote lead during the early voting period.

Cass County Clerk Jamie O’Rand said that close 12,000 voters participated in the election, or 63 percent of registered voters. This, she said, is likely a new record for the county.