Bonham Police Report

An early morning raid by Bonham Police Officers, assisted by the Fannin County Sheriff’s Dept., resulted in the arrest of four individuals for drug violations. Officers obtained a search warrant, issued by J.P. Joe Dale, for a residence on W. 9^th St. The residence was occupied by the four suspects and upon entering the residence officers located both cocaine and marijuana. Arrested at the scene was Deontia Terrell Mason, age 18 charged with Delivery of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance, Christina Marie Brazier, age 17 charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Gerry Dean Ross, Jr., Possession of a Controlled Substance and Robert Lecharles Williams, age 19 charged with Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance, and Possession of Marijuana. All suspects were placed in the Bonham Police Department jail awaiting arraignment. Chief Mike Bankston commended the officers for their diligence in working to lessen the impact of drugs in our community.

Don’t Raise A Stink When Changing Trash Bags

In general, most people don’t like to spend too much time around the garbage can. Hassling with the bag to find the opening and having to replace it can get a little frustrating. Now, a new product can make this dreaded task a little more tolerable.

Dale and Rhonda Williams from Honey Grove, Texas have come up with an invention that can have consumers breathing a sigh of relief. Trash-Eze is designed to make changing trash bags an easier task. Because it’s simple to use and convenient, less time is spent near the garbage can. Anyone who has ever had to change the trash bag will find this product to be heaven-sent. Trash-Eze is ideal for the home, office or even school.

This original idea is now being made available for licensing to manufacturers interested in new product development, especially in the household products industry. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are hoping to have Trash-Eze in full production and available to the public within the very near future.

"Can you har me?" God loves deaf people. A seminar and sign classes with Vonda Bland

"Blindness separates people from things. Deafness separates people from people," is a quote by Helen Keller, the most famous person to struggle with physical disabilities. She has always been my hero. Another person I also much admire is her teacher. Without the fine work of Annie Sullivan, Helen would have never reached her full potential. Yet if deafness can separate us from people, can it separate us from God as well? Of course not! God transcends all worldly things. The CREATOR cares for all HIS children and not even the greatest physical and material obstacles can divide them from HIS all-embracing love. The parable of the lost sheep remind us that God, the Good Shepherd was prepared to leave ninety-nine of his sheep in order to search for the one that was lost. So today, the deaf are an unreached group HE wants us to bring back into HIS flock.

Did you know that 98.5 percent of the deaf in the United States do not know the love of Christ? Did you know there are an estimated 200 to 250 million deaf people in the world and only 1-2 percent are Christians? Shouldn’t we all try to reach out to them? Shouldn’t we all make the deaf aware of God’s love? Come, take up the challenge. Become an Annie Sullivan to a Helen Keller in your community.

I challenge you and encourage you to participate in two upcoming opportunities. First come and join us at Bonham’s First Baptist Church on Wednesday evening’s between 6 and 7 PM to learn more, beginning on January 19, 2005. Second I invite you to attend the God Loves Deaf People Seminar. (January 21 and 22nd) Hillcrest Christian Church has joined together with Deaf Missions of Council Bluffs, Iowa to present this two day seminar especially for you. This seminar has been designed with you in mind and will be useful to both hearing and deaf ministry people. Ministries of all denominations are welcome.

"God Loves Deaf People Seminar" will consist of a worship service and workshop opportunities. The workshops will include: Pay Attention to Deaf Culture, Translating Music in Worship, Tools Available to Teachers and Preachers of the Deaf, Interpreting: Do Your Hands Make Sense?, and Using the ASL Bible Translation.

It is a privilege for me to be able to speak with three other nationally known speakers, Duane King (Council Bluffs, Iowa), Chad Entinger (Minnesota), and Deanne Sampley (California). Our purpose is to help in the reaching deaf people for Christ.

Join us January 21-22, 2005, Friday evening and all day Saturday For God Loves Deaf People. Early Bird Registration will be until December 31st in the amount of 25 dollars. Regular registration will be from January 1st until January 21st, 2005 in the amount of 35 dollars. All deaf attendees will receive a FREE video, and all attendees will receive a free Catalog and "Daily Devotions of the Deaf" BEI CEU are pending approval. Sign language knowledge is not necessary to attend. Come and join us! Reach out and share God’s love with one. Think about Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan. Everyone counts.

Golden Gospel Jubilee

The Annual Golden Gospel Jubilee will be back in session this Friday night, Jan. 7^th at 7:30 pm. The show will be at the Lake Bonham Hoe-Down, ½ mile from Lake Bonham Recreation area, east of the spillway on CR 2610, Bonham, TX. It will be hosted by Joan Kelton and the talented Bluegrass Gospeleers featuring Randy Keister, Don Sharp, Glen Clark, Mike Stroud, Jack Marshall, Gary Monroe, and Bluegrass radio personality, Bill Ogden, from Commerce, TX. Our Scheduled special guest, and they are always back by popular demand, will be "Grandpa’s Neighbors", featuring The Neal Family from Bennington, OK. The group consists of a mother and her talented daughters. We like to refer to them as the "Voices of Angles" here at the Hoe-Down. They surly Bless the hearts of all that hear them. They are not strangers to our gospel show, and we are always so glad to welcome them back.

Everyone is invited and welcome. Admission is free. Donations are accepted and most appreciated. Thanks to all for your continued support of the show at Lake Bonham Hoe-Down. We hope you have had a happy holiday and we look forward to beginning another new year with you all. May God truly bless you.

For more information call 903-583-4731 or 903-583-5710.

Gov. Perry Announces $12.9 Million in Food and Shelter Grants to Aid Hungry, Homeless

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry today announced that Texas will receive $12.9 million in federal funding to help feed and shelter hungry and homeless Texans in 2005. The funding was made available by the U.S. Congress to support social service agencies in more than 2,500 cities and counties across the country.

"This funding will greatly assist our volunteer and faith-based organizations in Texas as they carry out their missions to assist Texans in need," Perry said. "Our dedicated Texas volunteers can use the funds in a variety of ways to help our residents."

Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) Program funds totaling $153 million will be distributed nationwide for fiscal year 2005, and can be used for such activities as mass shelter, food distribution through food pantries and food banks, utility payments, and mortgage assistance to prevent evictions or to assist people leaving shelters to establish stable living conditions. The program is in its 22nd year.

The EFS Program is administered by a national board of volunteer agencies that is chaired by FEMA. Member agencies of the national board include the American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; United Jewish Communities; the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; The Salvation Army; and United Way.

The national board qualifies jurisdictions for EFS awards based on population, unemployment levels and poverty levels. Grants are awarded to non-profit community and government organizations chosen by local boards in qualifying jurisdictions.

"Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are pleased that Congress has provided the necessary means to help our communities feed the hungry, assist the poor and shelter the homeless in the coming year," Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response said.

More than $2.65 billion in federal aid has been disbursed through the EFS Program since it was authorized by Congress in 1983. ESF funds are distributed each year to more than 11,500 local non-profit and government agencies.

Funding awarded to Texas surrounding cities and counties are as follows: $12,909,084 Emergency Food and Shelter Grants for Texas

Fannin County $15,509

Grayson County $68,587

Lamar County $28,892

Red River Theatre Company’s Auditions

Auditions will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 4th and 5th at 6:30PM and on Sunday, January 9th at 5:00 PM at the Red River Theatre Company’s performing arts center in the old Windom school for its first theatrical production of 2005, Driving Miss Daisy, Performances will be held the two weekends of February 25, 26, 27 and March 4, 5, 6, 2005. Each Sunday performance is a 2:30PM matinee.

A warm and lively drama by Alfred Uhry, the character roles are Daisy Werthum, an elderly and wealthy "white" southern lady, her son Booley Werthum, and Hoke Colburn, a dignified unemployed and good natured "black" gentleman hired by Booley as a chauffeur for his mother. Every effort will be made to cast understudy actors for all three roles and to feature one or more of the understudy actors onstage for at least one performance.

The story begins in 1948 in Atlanta, GA, and spans the next 25 years as both Miss Daisy and her hired chauffeur, Hoke Colburn, struggle against their life-long social constraints and the social reform of the ‘60s and ‘70s. With a compassion that neither of them knew they possessed, their mutual differences lead them to a mutual dependency that is heartwarming in its subtleness.

Persons interested in auditioning January 4th and 5th, assisting with the construction and furnishing of the set, procuring period costumes and props, assisting actors backstage, staffing the pre-show lobby and intermission hospitality, or purchasing advertising in the production playbill can contact Pat Ward at 903-664-2233 or Donna Henard at 903-583-0966 for more information.

Today, Texas products and services compete in a world market. Communications and transportation have dramatically increased the flow of people, goods and ideas. In addition, we are engaged in a war against terrorists in what once seemed like distant lands, but the stakes could not be closer to home. They struck our homeland on 9-11, and they seek to do so again.

Foreign policy is very much on Texas minds, as I discovered in my annual Listening Post survey. In the third and final poll, respondents provided opinions on a host of international questions, including our priorities in Iraq, redeployment of troops overseas, our policy in the Middle East, and the role of NATO.

As Iraq prepares for its first free elections in its 4,000 years of history, the United States mission in that country has our overwhelming support. Texans by a 7-to-1 ratio in this survey approve of maintaining U.S. forces in Iraq instead of withdrawing them immediately. They said we should leave the troops there as long as necessary to improve security and ensure the success of democracy. Very few suggested giving the United Nations a greater role, while a large majority supported efforts to get other nations to provide more assistance and forgive debts incurred by Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Marc, who lives in Houston, states, "We should start pulling out now," while Matthew from League City, opined, "I was not in favor of the war in Iraq, but now that we are there, we are obligated to do everything in our power to make the transition to democracy successful."

Several of you were emphatic about keeping UN influence to a minimum. Jerry, from Graham said, "Tell the UN to take a hike. The United Nations should not be involved in any decision regarding our national security."

Many of you support efforts to reduce Saddam-era debt, a priority for President Bush as well. He has secured the agreement of a 20-nation group including Europe, the United States and Japan to forgive 80 percent of the $42 billion Iraq owes those countries.

Reaction to President Bush’s announcement of restructuring the basing of American forces abroad was also interesting. Redeployment of half of our overseas troops was 12 times as popular as the option to delay this redeployment. The option of postponing the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) review of domestic installations was only half as popular as moving troops home.

I worked hard for the global restructuring to more effectively utilize our forces and better position them to meet present and future threats. In fact, a bipartisan panel I established recently reported that we can save taxpayer money and provide our troops better training and housing facilities in domestic bases than we can in cramped overseas installations.

Kit, from Midland, says, "Remove all our forces from Europe. They don’t want us there anyway."

Respondent views on our Middle East policy showed a real divergence. Most supported concentrating resources to dismantle terror groups such as Hamas and al Qaeda, but many also said we should set up multilateral discussions to curb Iran’s nuclear weapons program, and tie foreign aid to the level of support the recipient provides for the United States. A smaller, but still significant, number propose we host new peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Paul, from Dickinson, echoes many respondents when he says "Let Israel handle the Palestinians," while Gordon, from Richardson, argues, "Our support for Israel seems to be a major basis for terrorist activities."

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed after World War II to contain an aggressive Soviet Union, but with the collapse of communism, some say it is obsolete. Most of you said NATO members should jointly take the offensive against those nations or regimes posing a threat. Almost as many added that NATO countries should jointly participate as peacekeepers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I will use these comments and insights in the new 109^th Congress as the Senate deliberates on legislation affecting our foreign affairs. I appreciate the time you took to reply to the survey and hope I will continue to hear from you.

Third Party Debt Collectors: Know Your Rights

By Greg Abbott

Attorney General of Texas

The Attorney General’s Office receives numerous complaints and inquiries about third party debt collectors. There is much confusion about what collectors can and cannot do. Let’s clear up some of the confusion.

Many consumers fear that they can lose their homesteads due to an outstanding debt. In Texas, generally a registered homestead is protected and cannot be foreclosed upon to pay a debt. However, if you default on a first or second mortgage or a home equity loan, the lender can foreclose on your home. You should consult an attorney to determine whether your home or homestead is in jeopardy.

Wages are generally protected, but can be garnished to pay court-ordered child support, spousal maintenance, student loans in default and back taxes. Bank accounts, savings accounts and other general investment accounts or brokerage accounts may be garnished.

Although a collector may contact others to try and locate you, he or she may not discuss your account or debt status with anyone else but you or your spouse. He or she must give his or her name, but not the name of the agency unless they are specifically asked for it.

A collection agency may contact your employer, but only for specific reasons, which include verification of your employment, verification of your business location and to determine if you have medical insurance to cover a medical bill.

We also receive inquiries regarding the obligation to pay old debts. If you never paid off an old debt, that does not mean it is not valid; you are obligated to pay it even if it has been several years since you were contacted by a collection agency or the business you owe the debt to.

Many consumers are under the impression that after a certain number of years, they are no longer responsible for an unpaid debt.

Under Chapter 16.004 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Four-Year Limitations Period, the statute of limitations for filing suit to collect a debt is no later than four years after the cause of action accrues. An example of when the cause of action accrues is the date on which the debt is declared to be in default.

Under the case law related to this statute, debt means any outstanding liability payable in cash. In addition to consumer loans or credit card debt, this can mean a tax liability, damages related to land sale fraud, overpayment or underpayment of royalties or wages, money allegedly owed under an insurance policy, and money arising from a breach of contract.

The fact that a creditor is barred from collecting a debt through a lawsuit due to the statute of limitations does not mean the debt is erased - the debt remains in effect, and the creditor can still use other means to try to collect it. And the debt will remain on your credit report.

Also, most of the cases cited involve unsecured debt, where the suit would result in a personal judgment against the debtor. There are different rules for debts secured by property, such as mortgages. You may wish to consult with a private attorney if you are unsure which type of debt is involved or what options are available in resolving it.

If you are being harassed by an abusive debt collection agency, you can contact my office and file a complaint. You can also contact the Federal Trade Commission to file a complaint and for additional information.

Cathie Carter Walsh Earns IIAT’s Accredited Customer Service Representative Designation

Farm N’ Home Casualty announces one agency member has completed the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) Accredited Customer Service Representative (ACSR) designation program. The individual attaining her ACSR designation is Cathie Carter Walsh, ACSR.

"We’re proud of the personal commitment Cathie has made in order to better serve our customers," John Farris said. She attended a minimum of eight days of intensive insurance training and passed four comprehensive examinations.

ACSR is an international designation program developed and administered by IIAT to promote and recognize the professionalism of customer service personnel in the Insurance industry. Over 13,000 customer service representatives have achieved their designations, and over 3,000 of these are working in Texas agencies. In order to maintain their designation, each ACSR must attend a minimum of six hours of approved continuing education each year.

Campaign will award $5,000 to Texas high school seniors who tackle litter problems

(AUSTIN) - The Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxD0T) Don’t Mess with Texas campaign announced December 29th, its second annual scholarship program, offering a unique opportunity to graduating high school students who work hard to keep Texas litter-free.

The Don’t Mess with Texas Scholarship, sponsored by a donation from Advantage Rent-A-Car, recognizes the valuable contributions of Texas high school seniors who have taken actions to prevent litter in their schools or communities. One $3,000 scholarship and two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded in the spring of 2005, Applications are due April 1, 2005, and are now available to be completed online at wwwdontmesswithtexas.org or through high school counselors.

Last year’s scholarship winners were rewarded for their creative and sustainable efforts, leaving behind Inspiring legacies in their hometowns. Macey Bielski of Waller won the first-ever $3,000 Don’t Mess with Texas scholarship for creating an environmental student group called Project Earth and organizing community wide litter cleanups in the Waller area.

Who Is Eligible? • Any high school senior graduating spring 2005 and who currently resides and attends school in Texas.

• Seniors planning to further their education at an accredited two- or four-year college or university (public or private) in Texas.

• An essay of 300 to 350 words identifying a litter problem in the student’s school or community and the action he or she took to address it.

• Two letters of recommendation - one from a school-related source and the other from a non-school-related source.

• A completed Don’t Mess with Texas Scholarship application online or by mail.

The scholarship is TXDOT’s latest effort to generate more youth involvement in the Don’t Mess with Texas campaign. TxDOT research shows Texans ages 18-24 are the state’s most frequent litterers and. they are often the most difficult audience to reach.

Experts Say Electronic Stability Is a "Must Have" Safety Feature

Chrysler Commits to Making Electronic Stability Program Standard on SUV’s by 2006, According to Local Dealer

(December 28, 2004, Bonham, TX) - According to a Nov. 15 New York Times article, studies have demonstrated that electronic stability programs are saving lives, in some cases reducing the risk of death by over 65 percent.

The Chrysler Group is committed to providing these essential features and offers its Electronic Stability Program (ESP), making it available currently on Jeep® Grand Cherokee, Dodge Magnum and Chrysler 300 series sedans with plans to make it standard equipment on more than 750,000 SUV’s in 2006.

"Our customers in Bonham are always concerned with safety," said Shawn Davis, manager of Bonham Chrysler. "Adding ESP to all our SUV’s is another sign that Chrysler is committed to offering the safest vehicles on the road."

A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that electronic stability programs- which help drivers regain control of a swerving vehicle by applying brakes at one or two wheels- reduced fatal single-vehicle crash risk by 56 percent. About half of the 28,000 fatal car crashes that occur each year involve a single vehicle, according to ConsumerAffairs.com.

Electronic Stability Programs provide the greatest benefit in critical driving situations such as turns and are especially valuable when driving on mixed surface conditions such as patchy snow, ice or gravel.

Chrysler Group’s ESP is considered an "active" safety technology because it prevents crashes, as opposed to air bags and seat belts which are passive technologies that aim to reduce injuries once a crash has occurred.

"For most drivers ESP isn’t likely to activate frequently. It won’t prevent most of the fender-bender crashes that occur so often in stop-and-go traffic," said Sarah Ferguson, senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "ESP is designed to help a driver in the relatively rare event of loss of control at high speed or on a slippery road."

ESP enhances Chrysler’s use of rear wheel drive and all-wheel drive on models such as the Chrysler 300, Motor Trend’s Car of the Year.

"In normal conditions, rear wheel drive handles better than front wheel drive," Davis said. "ESP helps eliminate the concerns about rear wheel drive in inclement weather."

Public Service Announcement

Christmas this year in the movies had the "Polar Express Train", Plano Texas will also have the "Polar Express Train" running or available to see at the 20th Annual Dallas Area Train show on January 15-16th 2005 at the Plano Center, 2000 East Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas.

The shows run from 10:00 am- 5:00 pm on Saturday and from 10.00am-4:00pm Sunday. Admission $7.00 per person and children eleven and under are free Parking is also free! Check out the web site too!

This show is sponsored by the North Texas Council of Railroad clubs, a non-profit association. Clubs and volunteers come from Denton, Ft Worth, The Colony, Garland, Sherman, Denison, Arlington, Dallas Richardson, Mesquite, Allen, Wylie, and Plano to name a few. 21 Clubs make up the council and most of them will be running some 18 operating layouts at the show. They range from Z, N and HO Scales to lionel and garden scale. This will be the first show after the Christmas holidays when parents as well as children need to relax and see some of the various scales including the "Polar Express" of model trains run at the show.

Vendors at the show will have almost any size or scale railroad equipment to sell or trade. This would be an excellent time to ask questions and pick up some additional equipment and ideas. You can attend clinics to answer questions and then see layouts on tours that members or friends let people see first hand in homes and building locations that would not be open to the public under normal times

Visit the website for more information and a special offer: http://www.dfwtranshows.com. For dealer table reservations contact: Bob Brag; c/o LMRA; 3400 Bryant Irving Rd; Fort Worth, TX 76109.

The Salvation Army Reacts to Catastrophe in South Asia

The Salvation Army has commenced its disaster relief efforts in India and Southeast Asia providing food, water and shelter for those who are suddenly and tragically without. The enormous earthquake, which rocked the area Sunday morning and produced the deadly tsunamis, has already claimed thousands of lives and caused billions of dollars in property damage.

Local Salvation Army personnel and relief teams have been in the forefront offering aid and relief to those impacted by the disaster. Volunteers are using Army facilities to set up feeding sites and emergency shelter throughout the region. The Army has been feeding and providing clean water for people in the Kanyakumari and Muttom areas of India Salvation Army personnel have also been dispatched to work with local governments and other agencies in an effort to determine what the most vital needs are.

Ector High School Boys Game Report

Ector Vs. Clarksville at Detroit Tournament on Dec. 16, 2004

Ector-55, Clarksville-36

Scorers: Jeremy Gilbert-3, Mat Cox- 11, Weston Bush- 6, Justin White- 6, Colton Whisenhunt- 10, Jesse Stockton- 2, Justin Rhudy- 10, Justin Earl- 4, Justin Spindle- 2, Allen Jones- 1

Hometown Military News

Army Spec. Thomas B. Wilkerson has been awarded the Combat Medical Badge while deployed in Baghdad, Iraq.

The badge is awarded for providing battleground medical support to an infantry unit engaged in combat with an opposing force.

The specialist is a combat medic with three years of military service.

He is the son of Danny J. Wilkerson of Cedar St., Bonham, Texas.

Wilkerson is a 2001 graduate of Bonham High School.

"What’s on the Agenda in Austin for 2005"

Quarterly Chamber Luncheon Featuring:

Representative Larry Phillips

Friday, January 7, 2005

Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Shumardii’s Restaurant

Hwy 121 - Bonham

Representative Phillips will be giving us a summary of the important issues that will be faced in Austin during the 2005 Legislative Session. Please come and give us a good representation so Larry will look out for Bonham’s and Fannin County’s best interest during the session. We have a friend in Austin, and a good turnout will show our support. It should be interesting to find out what legislation will be on the Agenda this year that will effect each of us. Come and enjoy a Great Shumardii’s Lunch featuring selections of steak or chicken.

For members with reservation the cost of the luncheon is $15. For non-members and at the door the cost of the luncheon is $20. Please RSVP to the Chamber by email- bonhamchamber@cableone.net or call 903-583-4811.

Operation Uplink & VFW Ladies Auxiliary

Operation Uplink, launched in 1996, is a unique program that provides free pre-paid phone cards to active-duty military personnel and hospitalized veterans. Through the generous support of VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Posts and members, and other caring citizens, Operating Uplink has already distributed over 4,000,000 pre-paid phone cards.

The VFW Ladies Auxiliary #4852 of Bonham with the help of VFW members raised $320.00 one night at the Post Home. A brisket cook-off was held, then served with the trimmings for donations and then Home-canned items auctioned off. This money will go to purchase more phone cards. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Pictured on the left is Mary Northcutt, Aux. Chairman presenting the check to Marge Humphres, Aux. Treasurer.

For more information on Operation Uplink you can go to www.operationuplink.org or contact Linda Ferguson or Ron Browning at 817-756-3390.

Mr. Sam Rayburn’s birthday is January the 6th. He would have been 123 years old. In conjunction with the Sam Rayburn House and the "Friends of Sam Rayburn" a reception will be held at the Sam Rayburn Library & Museum from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6th.

Please come and help us honor the memory of this great man who devoted his life for his country. We will not see his like again.

If weather permits, Mr. Rayburn’s only niece, Martha Rayburn Dye, will be with us on that day. Congressman Ralph Hall is invited to attend pending the convention of Congress. I hope the New Year will bring you much happiness.

Bonham High School Reunion’s Missing Persons

The 2005 Reunion Committee is in need of help in locating former students of Bonham High School. The all-school reunion is set for June 17-19, 2005.

This week we are focusing on the classes of 1990-1994. If you know the address or can provide any information on the location of the following former Bonham High School students, please contact Pam Thompson (903-989-5528) or send an email to pamt@fanninelectric.com. Please include the year.

Class of 1990: Rhonda Austin, Michael Baker, Misty Ball, Kimberly Banks, Zachary Caldwell, Stephanie Carlile Lindblade, Dannie Carter, Christy Cowen, Christy Crutcher Ayers, Crista L. Daniel, Crystal Duke, Cynthia Emeyabbi, Alexandria Emt, Chris Ganter, Christopher Hartnett, Amy Herpeche, Chad

Hickey, Michael Hill, Teresa Keen, Travis Keen, John Keeton, Ronald Knight, Tiffany Latham, Renee Lopez, Scott Matthews, Shannon McCandless, Tim Medcalf, Daniel Mulder, Katie Peterson, Arthur Phea, Chad Phillips, Paul Phillips, Larry Pirtle, Mikko Lylvinen, Jeffrey Reed, Catrenia Roberts, Kacie Savage, Shannon Shasteen, Rush Smith, Dona Spindle Dotson, Bobby Vandenburg, Jason Vandever, Steven Whaley, Marty White, Lawton Wilkerson, Lisa Williams

Class of 1991: Lisa Allen, Maria Anderson, Teresa Ayers, Greg Ballard, Tricia Brigance, Stephanie Caraway, James Carpenter, Deborah Charron, Jennifer Childers, Donna Clark, Katina Clark, Steven Colley, James Daniel, Sharon Davis, Brian Deets, Stephanie Estep, Lisa Frambes, Chris Gowens, Leslie Hale, Stuart Hall, Stacy Hance, Stephanie Helvey, Brandon Hibberd, Randy Hibberd, Misty Hix Henry, Beth Hopp, Andrea Jebens, Joe King, Mary King, DeLeana Kirby, Kurt Klaus, Stephanie Kountz, Richard Laburda, Leah Lair, Brett Lancaster, David Langford, Robert Lehew, Jenny Lemons, Jeremy Lightfoot, Alando Mason, Tracy McCutcheon, Cody Miller, Travis Moss, Carl Motley, Roy Neathery, Brad Nichols, Keith Partridge, Tammy Partridge, Jean Paul Infante, Steve Peters, Don Phillips, Doug Phillips, Kathy Pinkston, Richard Pratt, Rickey Robbins, Bobby Roberts, Jeff Robinson, Stephanie Robinson, Gunter Rodriguez, Melissa Rushing, Chris Sacco, John Shelley, Leslie Smith, Charles Spradley, Johnica Tanner, Daniel Terry, Ariana Thiele, Rachel Thompson, Mary Travanty, Melissa Traylor, Jeff Valimont, Cindy Victory, Jason Vissage, Rachel Warren, Bradley Williams, Gayland Williams, Robbie Young

Class of 1992: Stacey Andrew, Timmy Brown, Karen Cantrell, John Carpenter, Crissi Clements Sprayberry, Tamara Davis, Jason Dudley, Melissa Duncan, Christopher Durham, Courtney Ely, Shelly Garner Smith, Terry Gerard, Daniel Gorman, Kenneth Hall, Leeann Higginbotham Carpenter, David Johnson, Mark Landers, Stacy Lehde, Sabrina Maples, Michael McVay, Carrie Morgan, Michael Nelson, Stephanie Nichols Murray, Christi Palmer, Kathy Parker, Crissy Phelps, John Pilliod, Christopher Redd, Kody Russell, Mauricio Santos, Christopher Sewell, Wendy Smith, Christopher Spindle, David Story, Dustin Welch, Bret Willis, Audra Winkler

Class of 1993: Jodi Taxter, Lee Michael Bowman, Jeffrey Brown, Jeanette Charron, Kristi Crowley, Wendy Doyle, Brice Kennedy, Josh McBroom, Steven Scott Payne, Chris Shastid, Jason Taylor, Brent Ulch, Jorge Venture

Class of 1994: Teresa Amorim, Bill Broome, Andrel Brown, Danny Casey, Leslie Chittick, Shane Clement, Don Colley, Tony Crawford, Scott Cromer, Hip DeLeon, Dominique Dilbeck, Bobby Dress, Keith Gaddy, Alan Garcia, Jeffery Garcia, Tim Gilstrap, Glenda Goodman, Dustan Haggard, Nathan Hale, Doug Leathers, Bret Lindsey, Samantha McCauley, Trey McKinley, Chuck Neighbors, Karen Newton, Bryan Nichols, Tammy Ottmo, Lisa Phillips, Helen Prasil, Emily Reaves, Dawn Riggs, Rochelle Robinson, Tad Steele, Floyd Stevenson, Brian Sumrall, James Todd, Chris Underwood, Kim White, Misty Wilson, Andy Wood, Keith Woods

Legislation Filed for the 79th Legislative Session

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful holiday season and will have a safe and happy new year. As I have mentioned in the past few weeks’ columns, the new year means a new legislative session is soon to begin. January 11 marks the first day of the 79th Legislative Session for the Texas Legislature.

As always, I encourage you to contact my office with thoughts you have on any particular piece or pieces of legislation. Once the legislative session is over and bills are signed by the governor, there is little that can be done to change a law until the next session convenes in two years. In the past several columns, I have outlined various bills that have been pre-filed for consideration during the upcoming legislative session. I will continue in this week’s column as well.

At least four bills have been filed so far that increase the penalty for burglary of a vehicle. Under the Texas Penal Code, a person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, the person breaks into or enters a vehicle or any part of a vehicle with intent to commit any felony or theft. The current punishment for this offense is a Class A misdemeanor, which entails a fine of up to $4,000, incarceration for up to a year, or both with the possibility for probation.

House Bills 35, 53 and 151 increase the penalty to a state jail felony. A state jail sentence involves a mandatory term of probation, in some cases preceded by 60 to 365 days of "up-front" confinement in a state jail facility. Confinement for the full term of a sentence may be ordered if the conditions of probation are violated. HB 53 also includes penalty increases for the theft of a motor vehicle and for tampering with a vehicle identification number. House Bill 144 also increase the penalty for burglarizing a vehicle to a state jail felony, but only if the defendant has previously been convicted of the offense.

Proponents of increasing the penalty say that burglaries of vehicles are becoming more prevalent and that the punishment is not severe enough to deter a person from committing the crime. Opponents feel that making this offense a state jail felony will contribute further to state facility overcrowding.

House Bill 190 would make it a Class B misdemeanor for individuals, other than emergency response personnel, to possess mobile infrared transmitters. These devices are used by emergency response personnel and emit an infrared beam which is capable of changing a traffic signal from red to green prior to the emergency response vehicle reaching the intersection. The devices are intended only for official use but are likely attractive to individuals because of their small size, affordable price and availability through the internet. Conviction of a Class B misdemeanor calls for a fine of up to $2,000, up to 180 days in jail or both.

I am interested in your comments on legislation that will be debated in the Texas House of Representatives. You can contact me by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910.

Elizabeth Michele Massey was born November 17^th, 2004 at 9:30 pm at Wilson N. Jones. She weighed 6lbs 5.5oz, 19½ inches long. Proud parents are Randall and Rachel Massey of Ivanhoe. The proud grandparents are David and Vivian Massey of Ivanhoe and Brenda and R.C. Miller of Sherman. Great grandparents are Joe and Deanie Massey of Ivanhoe, Sherry and Judy Conway of Ivanhoe, Jackie Thompson of Telephone, and the late Connie Thompson of Telephone. Uncles and Aunts Brodie and Jessica Spindle of Denison, Jerry Truett and Jamie Torres of Gunter. Uncle Raymond Miller of Sherman, and Aunt Raymona Bassett of Sherman. Cousins Rowdy Spindle of Denison, Ariel Bassett and Autman Bassett of Sherman, Destynee Torress of Gunter.