Brandon J. Love of Mount Vernon recently graduated from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Training Academy. See the April 16 edition of the Optic-Herald for more information.

Customers of AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company (Swepco) can save time and money while helping the environment with paperless billing.AEP and its paperless billing partner, Fiserv, Inc., will contribute $1 to the Arbor Day Foundation for every customer who enrolls during April and May. The funds will be used for reforestation projects in the company’s service territory. For more information see the April 16 edition of the Optic-Herald.

Those who receive water from the City of Mount Vernon may expect to detect a strong chlorine smell and or discolored water. This may result from the “system purification process” which city personnel will be doing. The process is set for Monday, April 27 through Wednesday, May 27. See the April 16 edition of the Optic-Herald for more information.

Ranchers across Texas  are being encouraged to continue rallying together to bring hay, supplies and water to parts of North Texas ravaged by wildfires. Anyone who can provide assistance should call the Texas Department of Agriculture Hay Hotline at 1-877-429-1998. See the April 16 edition of the Optic-Herald for more information.

The home of Elaine Harmon at 205 Mockingbird Circle was destroyed by fire on Saturday, April 11. Above, volunteer firefighters lift hoses to allow Mr. Harmon’s vehicle to be removed from the home’s garage. See the April 16 edition of the Optic-Herald for more information.