Burn ban will stay

Gregg County Commissioners did not follow the recommendation of the county's fire marshal and end the county-wide burn ban. Instead the extended for 90 days.

Gregg County Fire Marshal David Kidder told commissioners Monday that the recent rain and made conditions for burning safer in the county.

Gregg County, as many other Texas counties do, relies on the Keetch Byram Index from the Texas Forest Services for determining burning conditions.

Kidder said Gregg County received about an inch and half of rain last weekend which dropped the index to 667.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Charles Davis said the Judson area of the county did not receive much rain and conditions were still tenuous as far as fire breaking our and spreading.

"The Judson area has had about a half an inch of rain in three months," he said.

Pct. 3 Commissioner Bob Barbee said Kilgore has received rain and burning conditions were better but he did not "want to jeopardize other parts of the county by lifting the ban."

County Judge Bill Stoudt suggested the commission extend the ban for 90 days and lift it if the county receives sufficient rain to eliminate hazardous condition in all areas of the county.

In other business, commissioners approved a bid for $40,440 from Excel Utility Construction of Kilgore to extend a water line at East Texas Regional Airport.

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