15 minute read
New school
effective to renovate the building " said Wilson "But we haven't made any decisions on that " Stambaugh then told the board that any elderly people like him would not vote for any bond election for new construction
Jimmy Don McMillion, the only other person in the room who spoke against the new construction asked if the school board would be hiring the same architect that was used for the construction of the high school
Advertisement
"A flat roof on a building won't work " said McMillion "I asked in the main meeting south of town, 'why are you putting a flat roof on that building?'
Wilson said that he and the board would take into consideration the request by McMillion
The board had a discussion about the project which would eventually allow for the approximately 350-student intermediate school to expand into a 500-student elementary school
"That would be a good size kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school," said Wilson
When discussions went towards renovating the 1938 building, Board Member Mark Abner clarified that the expense of renovation would be 90 percent of the cost of a new building and 80 years newer
"It is a structurally sound building," said Wilson "But we have significant roof leaks, the bathrooms are not to code There are no handicap entrances "
Wilson stated that the renovation would still require new construction for additional classrooms which would take the $15 million renovation cost more than likely over the bond capacity that is available to the ISD
"I'll speak for the committee," said Wilson "and putting that much money into a 100-year-old building didn't make sense because in 50 years, that will be a 150year-old building instead of a 50year-old building That was part of the decision to do the whole thing Along with the ADA accessibility being another factor"
After the discussion of the old school, Wilson got the meeting back on agenda and informed the board that he had discussed the delivery method options with Blake Styles of Athens ISD who had experience with both methods and preferred the Construction Manager Agent method Wilson said that he got the same recommendation from Van Alstyne ISD when they constructed their new elementary school
Akins said that he personally preferred the agent method because it would allow for local contractors Board member Brad Anderson also was in favor because he felt that it was more transparent and and allowed for more control
Board member Jeff Denham, who is in the construction industry, talked at length with the members of the board of the pros and cons of each option
An audience member, Micah Belden, stated that the agent method sounded more positive from a legal standpoint
"I didn't hear the fiduciary on the contractor at-risk side, but the fiduciary is not just your employee, it's someone that owes that legal duty of faith to you," said Belden
"If they do something underhanded, that's a suit with exemplary damages The agent sounds a lot more positive "
Wilson asked the board if they were comfortable with a school on the current site of the administration office and if they were comfortable in moving forward with a November bond election
"To me that's where we are now It's time to fish or cut bait," said Wilson "There's not a deadline on us We can handle growth this school year, but if you look down the line, in 2018-19, we'll be over by 88 in every class in elementary school That means we're going to need potentially four more classes in the next two years to house our kids We could probably put them all in the building, but it most likely will require a portable or two The cafeteria capacity, the bathrooms, the parking lot traffic are all issues
When we keep putting kids on that one block, it's creating a lot of issues Do we have to move forward in November? No, but if you don't, we're looking at some other logistical problems that we're going to have to deal with "
Wilson said that if they were comfortable moving forward, they could take action to decide on a delivery method and move forward and schedule interviews with architects and construction managers within the next mon hire one in July which would bond election in early August
"But if we don't make any dec tonight, it is probably not reasonable to do anything in November," said Wilson "Yo probably looking at May"
The board voted to move forw with the Construction Manager Agent which pulled the trigger on a future school to be constructed The recommendation to move forward was made by Abner and second by Board Member Clint Catching
The motion did not, however, guarantee that he old school would be removed and the new school would be built in its place Akins made a statement that the project could still be placed on a different site should a better option become available
The board authorized Wilson to put out for RFQs (request for quotation), or interviews
Howe History Minute:
Howe man met Clyde Barrow face to face
Walter Enloe, a longtime resident who passed away recently, (Editor's note: This article was written in May of 1986), worked as a deputy for Grayson County Sheriff Benton Davis In his capacity as deputy, he came face to face with the famed outlaw Clyde Barrow in 1932
Enloe had been working at the county jail in Sherman only a few months as a $100-a-month jailer One of his prisoners was L C Barrow, Clyde's younger brother and Clyde came into the jail apparently to see his brother
Enloe and chief jailer R V Graham were feeding the prisoners at noon when a neatlydressed man walked in He wore a heavy overcoat although the weather was not particularly cold He kept his hands in his pockets
Enloe recognized Clyde Barrow from the wanted posters Barrow told the two men he wanted to visit the jail They informed him that nobody could visit while the prisoners were being fd They told him to come back later, but he never did
Enloe talked about the event to a reporter with the Sherman Democrat in 1972 he was quoted as saying:
"The weather wasn't that cold that day, Oct 11, but he had that overcoat on He had a gun under the overcoat, no question I heard he always carried a machine gun or a sawed-off shotgun, haging on a sling from his shoulder Clyde Barrow didn't take no chances "
Because jailers were not allowed to carry guns (due to being around prisoners), the men made no attempts to arrest Barrow. Even if they had had guns, they would not have tried; Enloe said, "I ain't no coward, but I ain't going to commit suicide He would have killed us both, right there He was ready to kill "
Only six hours after the brief incident at the jail, a 67-year-old butcher in East Sherman, Howard Hall, made th mistake of arguing with a young holdup man The gunman pistol-whipped Hall and pumped four bullets into him, killing him Witnesses said the gunman looked like Clyde Barrow
Enloe who was 32 when the incident occurred, also knew about Barrow through some cousins who were raised in the same part of Dallas as Barrow He told the reporter that Clyde used to shine shoes on a corner and he'd have to fight for his corner "They said he'd fight anybody that came along and tried to take his corner He had one certain corner he worked " Enloe said Enloe noted that his cousins said that Clyde was a pretty nice kid until the police began arresting him and picking on him His cousins thought he might have made a pretty nice man if the police had left him alone Enloe noted that Barrow became addicted to some type of drugs well before he and Bonnie met their early death in 1934, when lawmen trapped them near Aracadia, LA , and riddled their car with 107 bullets He said that every car Bonnie and Clyde left somewhere had needles in it
Enloe told the newspaper that L C Barrow, Clyde's younger brother, was a real model prisoner during his six-month stay in the Grayson County jail on a car threft charge
L C never mentioned Clyde - except when he was trying to get the theft charge dismissed L C beat the rap by saying that Clyde had given him the car
Clyde's mother also visited the jail once a week as long as L C was there Enloe said, "I've never met a nicer person "
Howe post card from 1940
June's first-time homebuyer report for 75459 zip code
The 75459 zip code is older than the rest of Texas, with a median age of 37 It's affluent as well, with a median income of $51,769 per household The 75459 zip code market is almost exclusively made up of detached homes, currently accounting for 100 percent overall Leading the list of top schools in the zip code are Howe Middle School and Howe High School
The median value of homes in the 75459 zip code is $106,300, making the area almost
Local Church Calendar
Sunday
Community Bible Fellowship Monday
- Youth and Adult Bible Study Sunday am - Worship Service 7:00 pm - Howe home group Bible Study Times are subject to change. Please check with each church for any possible changes identical to others in Texas At the same time, the average list price of available homes is presently $226,969
The typical dwelling in the 75459 zip code is a threebedroom detached home worth about $261,088 To purchase a similar home, a buyer with good credit and a $52,218 cash down payment could obtain a mortgage with a 3 95% interest rate and a $1,115 monthly payment The property tax rate is $12 56 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value
KEEP HOWE BEAUTIFUL YARD OF THE MONTH NOMINEE
Text photo to Curt Beckemeyer at 214-514-4065
Dr. Billy Holland
Have you ever known someone who was even-tempered and composed even when circumstances seemed to be falling apart all around them? In times of a serious crisis, somehow these individuals remain calm and collected and in fact, it’s not unusual to see them comforting the very ones who came to help So, what is the secret to living in a peaceful state of mind? It’s coming to the point in our journey where we simply begin to realize who God is For Christians, it only makes sense this would include believing what He has said is true It may sound rather elementary, but having a passion for knowing God more personally will go a long way toward learning to trust Him
Life has its share of wonderful times where we enjoy the blessings and have delightful experiences and then there are also times that are devastating and disappointing Have you noticed that when we are on the mountaintop, unfortunately, we tend to forget about God because we are so distracted with our pleasures Then, after this season has passed, we find ourselves walking through a dark and discouraging valley, and immediately call out to Him because we want to go back to the good times It’s true, this fluctuation is a normal part of life but it's not the way God intended for His people to live His plan is for us to mature beyond our emotions and become more spiritually connected with Him whether we are walking through
Monday, June 26, 2017
God will never forget or forsake you
abundance or adversity Proverbs chapter 3 and verses 5 and 6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all of thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding In ALL thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths ” If we look at this carefully, He is actually talking about becoming more spiritually sensitive and would love for us to consult Him not only in times of crisis and emergency but every day
I believe it would help with our anxiety and stress if we could just sincerely place our lives into His hands and rest in the confidence that He knows about our situation and is working behind the scenes for our best interest One of my favorite verses is Psalm 145:18 and 19, “The Lord is near unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them ” The bottom line is that He wants to intervene because He loves us His answers might not always be what we imagined, but He will always make the perfect decision There is an abundance of people that are struggling financially and the constant worry about money is stealing the joy of their salvation Others are facing serious health issues or family problems and are afraid of an uncertain future I do not have the answers and neither can I explain why bad things happen to good people, but whatever you are upset about today, God hears your prayers and will never forget or forsake you
This may sound strange but having money, being physically fit and having a beautiful family does not necessarily solve all of our problems In fact, most studies show that many wealthy and healthy people can have even more trials and torments with anxiety and depression So, how are we to handle life’s cares? According to the Bible, we’re to worry about nothing and pray about everything Peter put it this way, “Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you (I Peter 5:7) This means instead of us trying to carry our burdens, the Lord wants us to let go and let Him accomplish His perfect will in us Jesus did not guarantee a trouble-free life even to those who are devoted to Him, but it’s encouraging to know that He promised to walk with us every step of the way No matter what type of giant we are facing, our Heavenly Father owns everything, is in total control and there is no situation too difficult for Him to take care of
Dr Holland lives in Central Kentucky where he is a Christian minister and author Ask for a free copy of his new CD called, “Keeper of my soul” at: billyhollandministries com
Learn about antiques and collectibles with Dr. Georgia Caraway
Wedding venues are popping up everywhere And Howe will be no exception in the Fall
Today’s bride and groom can chose from traditional wedding venues like chapels, churches, and cathedrals or non-traditional venues like barns, outdoor sites, or public and historical buildings It seems everyone is getting on the bandwagon to provide that perfect place to tie the knot And hold wedding receptions
So what kinds of other venues are appealing to couples? Museums are available for those who want to add a backdrop of history to their wedding day Also your rental fees go toward supporting a community non-profit organization Botanical gardens are ideal for evening weddings after the crowds leave and the already-in-place flowers make a spectacular backdrop
Summer camps provide not only large, inexpensive space, but guest activities such as swimming, hiking, games, communal meals, and lodging Conference and retreat centers can offer guests a place to stay for the entire weekend and are accustomed to hosting large groups of adults Private large homes in gorgeous settings are also being utilized And although they tend to be much more casual, beaches are still very popular for the laid-back ceremony and celebration
Wineries, treehouses (the wedding is held on the ground and the reception in treetop buildings), art galleries, libraries, lighthouses, castles, sculpture gardens, opera houses, symphony halls, theaters, national parks, zoos and animals parks, theme/ amusement parks and fairgrounds, sports venues, and even mountain tops and in the air while parasailing are all options for the adventuresome, non-traditional couple
But while these over the top ideas have appeal to many, the traditional church or chapel setting is still popular And most popular are locations where the wedding and the reception can be held in the same place or in close (nondriving) proximity
The community and city sponsored restoration of the old First Christian Church may well be a dream come true at the end of 2017 The City of Howe owns the building and has been amazingly supportive of the Save the Church committee headed by Jean Norman and her volunteers But more important is the support of donors and volunteers who are giving of their time and money to make the old church into a wedding and community-use venue The name Summit Gardens was chosen by the committee to reflect Howe’s history as the once-named town of Summit and as a bow to Mame Roberts and her drive to make Howe the “Prettiest Small Town in Texas ” The gazebo that stands next to the church building was erected in her honor and a Texas Historical Marker was placed there in her name Miss Mame was a community leader and inspiration to many to make Howe a lovely place to live, play, go to school, and work The Keep Howe Beautiful committee is resurrecting Miss Mame’s charge to create an environment of which all Howe residents can be proud And that started with planting flowers and scrubbery downtown and the landscaping that will be surrounding the church property
The gorgeous interior of the church will be enhanced with crystal chandeliers and the soft glow of hardwood floors and shiplap walls The side yard of the church, where the gazebo stands, could also be used as an outdoor wedding site or for a reception area Catering can be provided by Mama Suzy’s Sweets and Eats, Abby’s Restaurant, or Gabriela’s Mexican Cocina Or for the really casual, Palio’s Pizza!!
IF all goes as planned, and donations continue to be made to the project, Summit Gardens wedding venue should be available for December and January weddings. If you have been thinking about donating, now is the time The address for donations is 101 East Haning (Howe Development Alliance office) or PO Box 250, Howe Texas 75459. Any amount is needed and welcomed
Howe Mercantile has a terrific inventory of items for not only wedding gifts, but that can be leased for the wedding ceremony or reception We even have an arbor, gorgeous damask napkins and tablecloths, glassware, crystal candleholders, cakestands, and unique tables that can be used to hold your guest book They are available for lease or purchase And Mama Suzy can even bake your wedding cake Come by and see us
Dr Georgia Caraway, and her
The Howe 6U baseball all-stars coached by Chelsea Bender finished third place in the all-star tournament and put forth quite the effort The only two losses were to Pottsboro, the first time hey run ruled Howe in the third inning, but the second time was the game was for the tournament semifinal
"Our Bulldogs fought so hard that
Pottsboro only beat us by five runs the second game " said Bender "I am so very proud of my little guys and all the work they put in this year"
She also wanted to thank her coaching staff, and said that they were "off the charts " Those coaches were Darren Bender, Steve Hance, Bobby Thornhill and Chris Kane
10U Howe All-Stars end season
The 10U Howe Bulldogs won their first game in the tournament, 16-6 over Whitesboro The rains pushed the Saturday games to Sunday and Howe lost to Bells in the next round, 11-0 With the loss, Howe played Pottsboro and were defeated in a close game, 127
The loss ended Howe's season Coach Monte Walker wants to thank all of the parents for their amazing cooperation friends, opened the Howe Mercantile at 107 East Haning in April 2015 Store hours are Wednesday through Saturday noon until 8 p m Come see the two new vendors in the shop, Smitten and Kay’s Kreations Georgia, former director of the Denton County Museums for 14 years, has written five Denton history books and hopes her next book will be the history of Howe If anyone has photos that she can copy, please bring them to Howe Mercantile
Downtown Howe has two gift and antique shops Howe Mercantile and Stark Farms Gifts SHOP LOCAL We can show you Howe!
Dr Bridges is a Texas native, writer, and history professor He can be reached at drkenbridges@gmail.com.
Musicians and songwriters paint a picture of the world with their sounds, telling stories of joy and heartbreak and of beauty or sorrow Country music is especially famous for sometimes combining all of those elements into one song as it has evolved over the decades The ups and downs of the lives of many artists can be told in just such a way, including that of one of the pioneers of country music, Texas native Ernest Tubb Tubb’s career began in the 1930s and won millions of fans over a decades-long career that helped shape country music
Ernest Dale Tubb was born in Ellis County, just south of Dallas, in 1914 His father was a sharecropper, and the family struggled as his father moved them across the state trying to make a living He spent much of his youth working in those same cotton fields The divorce of his parents made the ordeal even more difficult Like many early stars, he never had a formal music education. Inspired by early country and blues singer Jimmie Rodgers, he taught himself to sing and play guitar as a teenager His first steady job as a musician came in 1933 on San Antonio radio station KOLO The path to fame, however, was not easy Tubb’s singing was not enough to pay the bills, and by 1935, he had take on a second job digging ditches through local Works Progress Administration work relief projects Tubb managed to pick up a recording contract with RCA in 1936 but the albums were poor sellers. He got a break in 1939 when San Angelo radio station KGKL hired him for his own 15minute program Tubb still had to take a second job as a beer truck
