Brown County Commissioners Court convened Monday and made two proclamations, to raise awareness of heart disease risks in women and to raise awareness of domestic violence.

February 4, 2011 was declared as National Wear Red Day in Brown County by approving a proclamation.  County Judge Ray West read the proclamation and encouraged all citizens to “work together to promote and improve the health of women and increase awareness and understanding of women and heart disease”.

Through the reading of the proclamation, facts such as the following were outlined:

• Many women do not know that heart disease is a woman’s problem and they do not take it seriously.
• The risk factors for heart disease are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight, obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, a family history of early heart disease, and age.
• Women can promote their own heart health and prevent disease and illness by taking steps to prevent and control heart disease factors.
• Keeping women healthy and promoting awareness of women’s health issues, including heart health, is an important responsibility and depends on the actions of many organizations and groups in our community.
• Women’s health remains a priority for families, communities and government, and our commitment to keeping women healthy is stronger than ever.
• The National Wear Red Day campaign and The Red Dress symbol are building awareness of women’s heart disease risk and empowering them to reduce their risk and prevent heart disease.

Separately, commissioners also declared February to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  West read the proclamation and urged all citizens to “actively participate in the activities and programs to work toward improving victim safety and holding perpetrators of domestic abuse accountable for their actions against individual victims and our society as a whole.”

According to the proclamation, the crime of domestic violence violates an individual’s privacy and dignity, security and humanity, due to systematic use of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological and economic control and/or abuse including abuse to children and the elderly.

Other facts outlined in the reading of the proclamation of Domestic Violence Awareness Month were:

• Problems of domestic violence are not confined to any group or groups of people, but cut across all economic, racial and societal barriers, and are supported by societal indifferences.
• The impact of domestic violence is wide ranging, directly affecting individuals and society as a whole, here in this community, throughout the United States and the world.
• Pecan Valley Regional Domestic Violence Shelter (also known as The ARK), Family Services Center, Inc. and the Brown County violence Against Women Task Force serve survivors and work to increase knowledge about domestic violence and spread the important message of prevention.
• Survivors of domestic violence themselves have been at the forefront of efforts to bring peace and equality to the home.

In other matters discussed in commissioners’ court:

*Commissioner Richard Gist reminded the court of upcoming purchase of crushed limestone and caliche from Vulcan, bringing to attention to the court that Vulcan will not have to bid on the caliche sale.  This is due to having an exemption from the process because they are the sole source of limestone in the area.  Bids will be taken for the caliche.  Acceptance of bids runs until January 21st and bids received will be opened on January 24th.

*County Auditor Nina Cox spoke of the bids received for tinting the 1st floor exterior glass doors at the front and back of the courthouse.  To tint all four doors, their sidelights, but not the upper arched window, the cost is between $250-300.  The purpose for tinting these doors will help security officers be able to see more clearly.  Currently, there is glare from the sun at times which limits visibility.

Due to the courthouse having historical significance, Judge West will help submit the project to the Texas Historical Society for approval.

It was also noted that Monday, January 17th will be a county holiday in observance of Martin Luther King Day.  No commissioner’s court meeting will be held.  The court will reconvene on January 24th.