Commissioner Cook and Garry Brown, her executive assistant, toured a number of nature preserves in the care of the Williamson County Conservation Foundation (WCCF) with Gary Boyd, environmental coordinator for the WCCF, which was established in December 2002, to provide conservation of endangered species in the county while helping to promote responsible development. Williamson County is one of the fastest growing counties in the country, and that rapid growth necessitates a regional approach to balancing development needs with those of conservation.

We often publicly laud a firefighter who rescues someone from a burning building or a police officer who nabs a dangerous criminal. And rightly so! However, we have some Williamson County government employees whose heroic and life-saving acts often go unnoticed. One such group is the Mobile Outreach Team (MOT).

MOT provides emergency and short-term mental health services for patients who are suicidal, homicidal, psychotic or otherwise need immediate psychiatric care. This program operates under the Williamson County Emergency Services Outreach Department.

Officials and staff of Williamson County Precinct 1 at the J.B. and Hallie Jester Annex wore blue in recognition of National Child Abuse Awareness Month in April. Justice of the Peace Dain Johnson, Commissioner Terry Cook and her staff, and Constable Vinnie Cherrone's staff participated. Constable Cherrone was away at training. Each day, 185 children in Texas are victims of child abuse. The Precinct 1 group came together to promote awareness and support prevention of this serious problem that afflicts so many children.