Gregg County judge honored

(photo left to right) Texas State Representative Tommy Merritt, Gregg County Court Judge Bill Stoudt and his wife, Suzanne Stoudt, Texas Senator Kevin Eltife and Sonny Spradlin were all at a dinner in honor of Judge Stoudt.

Last night a special appreciation dinner was held at the home of Sonny and Betty Spradlin for Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt.

Stoudt, now in his second term, was honored along with his wife, Suzanne.

Stoudt said one of the focal points right now going on in Gregg County is the partnering with Texas Department of Transportation and cities to complete projects that TxDOT says it cannot fund on its own. "Some of these projects would not get done, or would be pushed down the road if it were not for these partnerships," said Stoudt.

FM 349 is a good example, he said. Kilgore Economic Development Corporation, Gregg County and TxDOT are partnering to get FM 349 widened at the entrance to Synergy Park. "TxDot is supplying the engineering, Gregg County will do the work and KEDC will provide the funds for this project. This is a first in the state for this type of partnership."

The County will also partner with TxDOT to begin work on Hwy. 42 between Kilgore and White Oak said Stoudt. "Commissioner Bob Barbee has worked hard to make these things happen also and should get a great deal of the credit," said Stoudt.

Stoudt said Gregg County is partnering with the City of Kilgore for projects such as street paving and parking lots, including the work that was done for the Kilgore Boys and Girls Club. Gregg County also put up $1.2 million of the cost of the Hwy. 259 Bypass, he said.

The focus for the court is the challenge of growth with more and more people entering Gregg County, said Stoudt. "With the burden of the evergrowing infrastructure in Gregg County, the Commissioners Court has done a great job in taking care of this burden with- out raising taxes and, in fact, last year the tax rate was lowered by one cent," said Stoudt.

Gregg County has spent over $60,000 on the Kilgore Public Library and has provided the Kilgore Rescue Unit with $60,000 in Homeland Security Grants, said Stoudt.

Because Kilgore College is important to the county - both in Kilgore and their campus in Longview, sadi Stoudt, Gregg County has provided services to both campuses.

Stoudt thanked Sonny and Betty Spradlin, Scooter and Debbie Griffin, Mike and Gail Martin for organizing this dinner. "I think it is a tribute to the City of Kilgore and Gregg County that Senator Kevin Eltife would take time out of his very busy schedule to attend this dinner for me," said Stoudt.

"I would also like to thank Texas State Representative Tommy Merritt for attending," said Stoudt. "Gregg County is made up of fine public servants like Sheriff Maxey Cerliano and Gregg County District Attorney Carl Dorrough who I appreciate attending this dinner."

Stoudt, who is not on the ballot until 2010, said the evening was special because "all of these people would get together in my honor just to show their appreciation for what I do."