A Sign in Hawkins May Be Closer to Coming Down

TYLER – The 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler has upheld a ruling over a controversial sign in Hawkins. The sign reads “Jesus Welcomes You To Hawkins.” The dispute is over land along U.S. 80 where the sign is located. The Jesus Christ Open Altar Church bought the land from two funeral homes. The city sued the church over the ownership to the land as a way to avoid a lawsuit from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. That’s after the foundation threatened to sue the city because the sign was placed on what it considered public property. A trial court determined that the City of Hawkins holds an easement over church owned property. The appeals court affirmed the court’s ruling. The sign remains up. Hawkins City Secretary Dona Jordan says the next move is up to the Hawkins city council.