U.S. Forest Service to Conduct Prescribed Burns for Forest Health

(LUFKIN, Texas) – USDA Forest Service fire personnel have begun prescribed burns on the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas and will continue the burns during the next few months, according to Ron Haugen, fire management officer.

As weather conditions permit, he said the Forest Service plans to get an earlier than usual start at burning certain areas of the forests and grasslands. Fire is an important component of the land management plan to reduce forest fuels and restore historic plant and animal habitats.

"During fall and on into spring, those living near the Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine and Sam Houston National Forests and the Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands may see a helicopter overhead, smoke columns rising, additional traffic along Forest Service roads, and occasionally, smoke settling in low lying areas at night," Haugen said.

"We want the community to know what we’re doing when we conduct prescribed burns on the national forests and grasslands. Our prescribed burns are controlled fires conducted by experienced, qualified personnel who work as a team to ignite, monitor and ensure that the fire stays within the control lines," he said.

Hunters should also be aware that fire and smoke in the forest will limit visibility and that anyone in the forest must wear a minimum of 400 square inches (normally a hunter vest and cap or hat) of fluorescent orange.

The Forest Service conducts prescribed burning only when weather conditions are most favorable.

"Anytime there is a fire, there is going to be smoke associated with it," Haugen said. "When there are low-lying concentrations of drift smoke, visibility may be reduced. Also, for those who have respiratory problems, we recommend they close windows and ventilate their homes by using the air conditioning or heating system. Some may want to leave the area until the smoke clears."

If drivers encounter smoke on the road, they should reduce their speed and use their low beam lights to become more visible to other traffic. In some areas, Forest Service fire personnel will be visiting property owners living closest to the burn areas to explain safety procedures and the benefits of prescribed fire.

Prescribed fires not only reduce fuel accumulations that might contribute to a catastrophic wildfire, they reduce the height of shrubs and bring new plant growth back down within the reach of foraging deer.

Fires ignited by lightning and Native Americans have occurred for centuries in East Texas and are responsible for the "piney woods" so prevalent in our area today. Scientific studies reveal that naturally occurring fires may have spread across large expanses of East Texas as frequently as every one to three years.

For questions about the prescribed fire program, contact local USDA Forest Service ranger district offices in Zavalla at 936-897-1068, Ratcliff at 936-655-2299, Hemphill at 409-787-3870, New Waverly at 936-344-6205 or Decatur (grasslands) at 940-627-5475 or the headquarters in Lufkin at 936-639-8501.

When we think about issues relating to the transportation infrastructure of our state, our minds often turn to issues such as highways for our automobiles, airports for planes and railway for trains. As North Texans, it is easy for us to forget about a very important aspect of our intermodal transportation system: our seaport system along the Gulf Coast.

As vice-chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, I have had the opportunity to study our system of seaports in Texas, and recently have visited the Port of Houston. Although we are not geographically situated near our coast and its ports, we certainly feel the impact that the ports of Texas have on our entire state. Ships carry agricultural products such as wheat, corn, rice, peas, vegetable oils and sorghum from Texas farms and ranches for international export. The U.S. petroleum and chemical industries import and export their product through the Texas ports. Wood products and fertilizers are sent from Texas to nations that do not have our abundant natural resources such as Japan and Taiwan. Fish, shrimp and other seafood reaches Texas consumers through our ports. The list goes on and on.

Texas is actually one of the nation’s largest maritime states, with a dozen deep-draft ports (deeper than 25 feet and can handle ocean-going vessels) and fifteen shallow-draft ports (less than 25 feet deep and typically handle barge traffic.) Texas ports contribute over $87 billion to the state’s economy annually. Almost one million jobs are generated either directly or indirectly due to port activity, representing over $30 billion in personal income for Texans. An average of about 317 million tons of cargo is moved through Texas ports annually, representing about 17% of the total U.S. port tonnage and over 50% of U.S. foreign imports and exports.

Marine and intermodal transportation alone accounts for nearly $65 billion, or 10% of the Texas gross state product. Annually, ports bring in almost $5 billion in local and state tax revenue. Texas’ ports also have a significant impact on the national economy, bringing in over $9 billion in federal tax revenues each year. The ports of Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Freeport, Houston and Texas City are among the top 25 U.S. ports in tonnage handled. The Port of Houston is the largest container port on the Gulf Coast.

An important facet of our system of seaports is the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway (GIWW), a 1,300 mile man-made canal that runs along the Gulf of Mexico coastline from Brownsville, Texas to St. Marks, Florida. The GIWW allows ocean-going shipping to connect with barge traffic. The Texas portion of the GIWW transports more than 73 million tons of cargo annually, moving in 40,000 barges each year. In comparison, the same cargo would take over three million semi-trailers or over 570,000 rail cars to move.

Please feel free to contact me if I may be of assistance to you with any matter of state government. You can contact me by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by e-mailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us.

State Unveils Strategic Plan To Address Traffic Mobility

AUSTIN – The Texas Transportation Commission has laid the framework for distributing $3 billion in new transportation funds.

The strategic plan for the Texas Mobility Fund, which is funded primarily through traffic fines, was approved by the commission at its monthly meeting. That action paves the way for disbursement of the money to bridge the gap between transportation needs and available funding.

"Traditional revenue is not sufficient to meet the growing transportation demand in Texas caused by a growing population traveling more miles on already congested roads," said Mike Behrens, TxDOT executive director. "The Texas Mobility Fund is a new source of financing that we need to stretch as far as we can to reduce congestion and improve safety as quickly as possible."

Six principles guide the plan:

­ Manage the fund in the most effective way to accelerate needed transportation improvements to reduce congestion, improve safety, expand economic opportunity, and enhance statewide connectivity.

­ Implement a multimodal approach including highways, rail, public transportation and other transportation modes to effectively address transportation needs statewide.

­ Make regional transportation decisions at the local level.

­ Accelerate previously requested, locally supported projects as identified in TxDOT’s Statewide Mobility Program.

­ Leverage the fund with toll projects, user fees, other private funds and other revenue sources to stretch limited transportation funds and establish a revenue generating asset to be used to fund future transportation projects in the region and across the state.

­ Consider public transportation projects, such as transit, light rail or commuter rail, in the effort to improve mobility.

­ Measure success by how quickly and efficiently a project reduces congestion, improves safety, expands economic opportunity, and enhances statewide connectivity.

In other action Thursday, the commission also approved formation of the state’s fourth regional mobility authority. Cameron County requested formation of the RMA to help address transportation issues in the Rio Grande Valley.

In a recent column, I recalled our state’s rich Native American history in light of the opening of the National Museum of American Indians. This week, I want to tell you about another significant aspect of our past – the early Hispanic history in Texas in conjunction with another development in Washington.

After years of work, Congress enacted my legislation granting El Camino Real de los Tejas the status of a U.S. National Historic Trail -- a privilege so rare that only 15 other trails throughout the entire nation have been given that status by Congress.

In October of 2000, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro was the first trail to be nationally recognized in Texas. Extending from Mexico City, Mexico to San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, this route once served as the sole artery for news, supplies, and travel to the far-flung Spanish colony of New Mexico.

Now, we take another step in enriching our heritage and education by recognizing El Camino Real de los Tejas. For nearly 300 years "The Royal Road" operated as a corridor for settlers, immigrants, Indians and the military. Its various trails assisted victories during both the American Revolutionary War and the Texas War of Independence, particularly during the infamous battle of the Alamo. Davy Crockett used a section of the trail to reach the Alamo while General Santa Anna launched a quick surprise assault on the Texans in San Antonio utilizing an adjacent trail. As the first major highway into Texas and Louisiana, El Camino Real opened the pathways to trade and cultural exchange.

El Camino Real de los Tejas is more than a road, it’s a 2,600 mile path embedded with footprints and tracks that narrate long-standing tales about Texas and all who settled here or simply passed through. As visitors travel down this winding route, they’ll follow in the footsteps of Spanish missionaries of 1691, Mexican and Texan armies of 1836, Anglo-American settlers and personages such as Jim Bowie and Sam Houston, all while observing Spanish missions in San Antonio, Caddo Indian mounds in Alto and a dozen historical small towns that help make Texas unique. Preserving this landmark enhances our heritage and culture, which is why I first proposed this important measure designating El Camino Real de Los Tejas as a National Historic Trail.

Under this piece of legislation, the path will be recognized nation-wide on maps as a significant landmark. The law authorizes the National Parks System, working under the Department of Interior, to designate, establish and maintain the trail. Significantly, the designation gives landowners the right to opt in or opt out of those portions of the trail that are not public property, helping to protect private property owners. In addition, the bill will allow our state agencies, such as the Texas Historical Commission, to participate in the establishment and designation of the trail to boost tourism and economic development.

One of the reasons for this law is to promote education for current and future Texans, as well as the many tourists who will visit each year. My bill allows the Secretary of Interior to coordinate activities with the United States and Mexican public and non-governmental organizations. By collaborating with Mexican institutions, academic programs will help enrich our knowledge of the trail’s history, geography and cultures, while enhancing resource preservation and public understanding.

This legendary trail forged the way for the early development of Texas into a Spanish colony, an independent Republic and, finally, our nation’s 28^th state. This corridor is not just a highway; it is the foundation of an inspirational past and, with this designation, will become an even more important academic and economic aspect of Texas as our second national historic trail.

October 15 Tax Deadline Approaches

DALLAS - More than 139,000 Texans have an October date with the Internal Revenue Service.

They are among 2 million Americans who received an extension in August and need to file their federal tax returns by October 15 to avoid the late filing penalty, which is generally 5 percent per month of any unpaid tax.

Taxpayers may file returns electronically until October 15; some people may be able to file for free through the free file program through IRS.gov. Taxpayers may use tax software on their own computers or e-file through an authorized provider. These options offer taxpayers security and accuracy in filing their returns, as well as faster refunds.

Gauging The Good Health Of The Public

By: Eduardo J. Sanchez, M.D., M.P.H.

Commissioner, Texas Department of State Health Services

This Oct. 15, the Texas Lyceum Association will host a public conference in Houston to discuss "Health Care: A Right or Privilege."

As Commissioner of State Health Services, I have been invited to join these 96 respected state civic leaders as they meet to grapple with this question. While an intriguing title for the conference, I believe the issue is a broader one.

The question we need to ask is about health, not just health care. How we can make good health more widespread, more abundant in Texas?

When we talk about "health care" we usually mean "medical care." Certainly, we all want to see access for those who need medical care. However, any strategy based solely on making the current model of medical care more widely available won’t solve all of the problems we confront.

The United States has the most expensive health care system in the world, costing more than $5,000 a person; yet we rank 47th among nations in life expectancy.

Business Week has reported increases in health care costs of 49 percent in the last four years. A 12 percent increase is expected next year.

When we combine spiraling price hikes with the reality of an aging population, we project even higher medical costs in the future because we spend the most medical dollars on people during their last three years of life.

Consider also the increase in obesity. People are mistaken if they think all this talk about obesity is a conspiracy by the diet industry or a product of hype. Medical science tells us that the longer a person is obese, the greater the health risks. An obese male who doesn’t exercise reduces his life expectancy by about 20 years.

Neither smoking nor problem drinking have nearly so dramatic an impact.

Today, more than 60 percent of Texas adults are overweight or obese, as are 35 percent of our state’s youngsters.

Not only has the number of overweight children tripled in a single generation, children are now being treated for what once was an adult disease. When I went to medical school, Type 2 diabetes was called "adult onset diabetes." Now pediatricians report that children as young as 6 years are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Doctors can play an important role by counseling overweight or obese patients. But the medical establishment is only part of the solution to the obesity epidemic and the challenge of improving the public’s overall health.

How, then, do we gauge the public’s overall health? One simple way is to look at mortality rates. Life expectancy in 1900 was 47 years. One hundred years later, life expectancy reached 77 years.

In that single century, we increased life expectancy by 30 years. Of those three decades of added life, we can directly attribute 25 years to public health measures. But public health spending represents only three percent of our overall health-care investment.

Good health results from a combination of medical care and good public health measures. Simple, familiar public health steps save many lives. Wash your hands, get your child immunized, use insect repellent with DEET. All solid public health messages. Assuring that the public has safe food and water are essential public health duties.

Efforts to reduce tobacco use, discourage excessive alcohol consumption and promote exercise and healthy eating also are public health initiatives that directly affect today’s leading causes of death - heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. These diseases are heavily affected by individual lifestyle choices.

I am not suggesting that the solution to today’s health care challenges fall entirely on individuals. But neither should we think that the key to improved health depends entirely on medical care. Building healthy communities requires more than the involvement of policy makers or medical care providers; it requires the active participation of everyone who intends to enjoy good health.

Red River Theatre Company

Patrons of Red River Theatre’s production of Hopalong Cassidy Meets the Ghost Riders by Reah and William Easley will enjoy an added attraction or two for its 6 performances the last two weekends in October. The stage play will be held at the old Windom school in Windom, TX, at RRTC’s new performing arts facility on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30PM and on Sundays at 2:30PM.

Pre-show dinner will be offered at 6:15PM on both Friday and Saturday nights by the Windom Senior Center in what was formerly the old school’s cafeteria for a $6 donation to the WSC. WSC offers old fashion home-cooked meals to the community three times a week as a public service.

The Erwin Smith Cowboy Photography exhibit will be on display at the school during intermission for all 6 performances by special arrangements with the Bonham Library and the Erwin Smith Foundation. Erwin Smith whose photographs of cowboy and rural life in the early 1900s set the standards for authenticity in photographic documentation of the early west. Smith spent most of his childhood in Bonham. His photographs are world famous and the entire collection commanded a place of prominence at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth for many years.

Advance tickets are on sale now at the Bonham Chamber of Commerce, the Fannin Bank in Windom, Bonham State Bank and at the Creative Arts Center in Bonham. Advance tickets may also be purchased by credit card online at www.TicketLeap.com. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors 55 or older and students. They are $10 and $7 at the door. Handicap access to the 2nd floor theatre is limited to two split-level stairways. Checks for advance tickets may be mailed to RRTC, P.O. Box 343, Bonham, TX 75418.

Ector High School Student of the Six Weeks

Justin Rhudy a senior and son of Kenneth and Cathy Rhudy. Justin likes playing basketball, baseball and tennis. His hobbies are playing PS2 and hanging out with his friends. He works for Jim Glaser. Some of his favorites: Movie: Lone Star State of Mind, Book: Hardy Boys, Candy: snickers, flavor: chocolate, time of year: summer, sport: basketball, TV. ESPN, music; country, quote: "Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Congratulation Justin.

2004 Kiwanis Installation Banquet

The Bonham Kiwanis Club held their annual Installation Banquet Sept 28, 2004. New officers are: President - Mary-k Wilson; Vice President - Warren Jamieson; Secretary - Mary Karl; Treasurer - James Woodall. John Burnett was named as Kiwanian of the year.

The Bonham Kiwanis Club meets every Tuesday at noon in the basement of the First Christian Church. You are invited to attend and share in the food and fellowship.

State Awards Contract for Public Transportation Business Plan

AUSTIN - In an effort to provide better, more efficient mobility for all Texans, TxDOT is developing a new business plan for public transportation.

The plan will help TxDOT address new responsibilities to blend health and human services related transportation functions with traditional public transportation services.

TxDOT has hired the KFH Group, a company that has performed transit planning in numerous states, including Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Vermont.

"Our goal is to make it easier and faster for people using public transportation," said Sue Bryant, TxDOT public transportation

director. "We also want to help make public transportation a more viable option for more Texans."

The business plan will function as a guide in achieving cost effective use of all resources, greater internal and external operational efficiencies to provide improved services and communication with Texas’ public transportation users.

Bonhi Reunion Former Students

The 2005 Reunion Committee is in need of help in locating former students of Bonham High School. This week we are focusing on the classes of the 1945-1949. 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.

Class of 1945: Frankie Brackett, Marjorie Carter Glass, Lorraine Dearing Gouge, Jimmy Gouge, Virginia Gray Coym, Wilma Jean Groves, Cleatis Hawkins, Geraldine Hickman Bean, Lt. Joe Mitchell, W. C. (Ott) Price, Lenila Sanders, Geneva Staton Howell, Janice Wood Pennington

Class of 1946: Treva Jones Ramey, James London, Hazel McDowell Pilger, Herman McVay, Maryetta Mitchell, Annie Bell Phillips

Blake, Gladys Phillips Rhodes, Thomas Guy Richardson, Pansey Stevens, Billy Gray Tate, Billy Welch, James Wells, Billie Lee Williams, Mack Windle

Class of 1947: Vernon Berry, Orville R. Brown, Wanda Lynn Davis

Class of 1948: Zed Acree, Billy Campbell, Patricia Fletcher, David Garrison, Bill Milam, Joe Morgan, Roy Morrow, Martha Ann Smith Sweeney, Thomas Wood

Class of 1949: Wilma Adams Bostic, Joan Beach, Virginia Hall Tressler, Jimmy Jones, Jim Kerr, Alvie Meadows, Betty Richardson Hill, Betty Silvers Kieke, Harold Stroud, Wanda Turner Lowrey, Allen Vermillion, Jonny Whisenhunt Dickey, David Williams, Morris Young

Ector 1st Six Weeks Honor Roll

7th Grade: Alina Bracken, Ethan Hicks, Brandon Richards

8th Grade: Douglas Boney, Mason Cox, Caitlyn Jones, BJ Kennedy, Chanda Hopkins

9th Grade: Matthew Polk, Audra Rhudy

10th Grade: Brittany Ivins, Emily Reynolds, Erica Williams

11th Grade: Brandi Ball, Justin Earl, Brian Hopkins, Kayla Hopkins, Jeffrey Morris, Kayla Redden, Colton Whisenhunt

12th Grade: Heather Alford, Derek Bohannon, Kyndra Cox, Matt Cox, Adam Deas, Joe Detweiler, Britnee Easley

7th Grade: Sada Mam, Nicholin Pasch, Tosha Roe, Zakree Thompson, Kristina Williams, Brandon Witte, Leslie Wuerz

8th Grade: Ashley Campbell, Molly Clement, Jordan Glaser, Heather Johnson, Jeromy Kinworthy, Drew Kreider, Brittany Leatherwood, Morgan Mayo, Shelby Proctor, Anjelica Thompson

9th Grade: Scott Bohannon, Brittany Bush, Shannon Hamby, Zachary Hasten, Timothy Kinworthy, Janna Lemley, Gary Richards, Travis Richardson, Whitney Spindle, Chelsea Thomason, Christin Walls, Heather Wuerz

10th Grade: Sarah Boney, Adam Buck, Amanda Johnson, Erin Leatherwood, Ashley Ramsey, Rachael Richardson, Tiffany Walls, Jeremy Washer

11th Grade: Shane Ball, Jason Hohenberger, Jeremy Holcomb, Jeren Hopkins, Allen Jones, Travis McDowell

12th Grade: Lauren Bellows, Weston Bush, Samantha Coldiron, Mariah Matlock, Lindsey Reynolds, Jesse Stockton

Hometown Military News

Air Force Airman 1st Class John R. Dupuis has arrived for duty at the 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls, Mont.

Dupuis, a security forces apprentice, is the son of Dawn E. and John E. Dupuis of Flemming Road, Bells, Texas.

The airman is a 2003 graduate of Bells High School.

October 05, 2004(FHTNC)--Navy Seaman Apprentice Joe D. Thomas, son of Zella Thomas of Bonham, Texas, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

During the eight-week program, Thomas completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

The capstone event of boot camp is "Battle Stations". This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. "Battle Stations" is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Its distinctly ‘’Navy’’ flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a Sailor.

Thomas is a 2004 graduate of Bonham High School of Bonham, Texas.

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. The Federal Trade Commission reports that in 2003, more than 20,000 Texans fell prey to identity theft. The results can be devastating, as victims spend large amounts of time and money trying to clear their names.

Identity theft is the theft or misuse of personal or financial information in order to gain something of value or to facilitate other criminal activity. There are numerous types of identity crime, including identity theft, credit card fraud ("skimming"), bank fraud, check fraud and passport/visa fraud. Identity crime can involve multiple victims and often involves a large dollar loss; it may be used by organized criminal groups, and in those instances may be associated with other crimes, such as drug trafficking, mail fraud, terrorism and financial fraud.

Identity theft can begin with what may seem like an unrelated crime, such as a simple theft of a wallet or purse. Victims may not realize their identity has been stolen until they are denied credit, sent a bill for purchases they did not make, or turned down for a job. We have even received reports of victims being arrested for crimes committed by thieves using their identities.

On September 1, 2003, a State law went into effect that sets the venue for reporting identity crime as the city or county where the victim resides. The new law states that regardless of where the fraudulent transaction originates, it is appropriate for the victim to make a police report wherever he or she resides.

If you are a victim of identity theft, it is imperative that you obtain a police report as soon as possible. Many banks and credit agencies require such a report before they will acknowledge that a theft has occurred.

You should then contact the three primary credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and Trans Union) to have a security alert or freeze placed on your report. Request a copy of your credit report and review it for unauthorized account activity. Report unauthorized charges and accounts to the appropriate credit issuers.

If your wallet or purse is stolen, immediately cancel your credit and debit cards and get replacements. Put a "stop payment" on all lost or stolen checks.

Victims should contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which advocates on behalf of identity theft victims. You can also obtain more information on identity theft by contacting our office.

Check your bank and credit card statements carefully each month. Early detection is extremely important. Discovering identity theft within one month drastically reduces the chances of monetary loss and damage to your credit. When identity theft goes undetected for six months or more, losses often amount to thousands of dollars.

We urge consumers to be very cautious about giving out their personal financial information. Our office has received numerous complaints of scam e-mails ranging from lottery hoaxes and advanced fee fraud to bogus e-mails from what appear to be legitimate businesses requesting personal information. No matter what a caller or e-mailer tells you, do not give out your Social Security number, driver’s license number or other personal information over the phone or by e-mail.

Halloween "Treat" At Harmony House: Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen

You do not need to travel to New England to enjoy the spectacular beauty and blending of color this year! The husband-and-wife team of singers/songwriters/musicians, Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen will bring their pure magic from New England to you in the casual, intimate, rural surroundings of Harmony House located 10 miles North of Bonham, TX.

The Harmony House Concert will be held on Sunday, October 31, 2004, from 3:00-5:00 pm. A donation of $10 per person is requested. To make reservations, call 903-583-2661, and leave the number of seats needed and a name, phone number/e-mail address where you can be reached. To confirm reservations, prepayment will be necessary. Send a check made out to STEVE GILLETTE/CINDY MANGSEN to Faye Wedell; P.O. Box 812; Bonham, TX 75418, noting your name and number needed. You will be notified upon receipt of your payment.* Bottomless cups of coffee and tea plus snacks will be available for guests. An additional $1 per person cash donation at the concert will be asked to defray the costs of said refreshments. For those interested, a Potluck Mexican Buffet will be served after the concert. Everyone will be asked to bring a special ingredient or contribution, so that guests can "build their own Mexican taco or salad". State intent to remain for the buffet when making reservations, please. A Song Circle for those wanting to participate actively or passively will follow dinner.

Any Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen musical concert will both warm you by the fireside on a chilly night and add glimmers of sunshine to your day. They bring together Celtic, traditional and contemporary folk, early blues, and original compositions into one harmonious, captivating performance.

More about... STEVE GILLETTE has long been considered to be one of the finest singer-songwriters in American. His music has inspired glowing reviews from the critics and the deep loyalty of his fans. Since Ian an Sylvia first recorded "Darcy Farrow" in 1966, Steve’s songs have been sung by dozens of major artists including Garth Brooks, John Denver, Nanci Griffith, Waylon Jennings, Anne Murray, Kenny Rogers, Linda Ronstadt, Spanky and Our Gang, and Tammy Wynette.

He has performed in 31 countries and taught numerous workshops/seminars on songwriting, guitar theory and record production. Steve has written songs for the Walt Disney characters Jiminy Cricket, Dumbo, Rainbow Brite, and Winnie-the-Pooh.

----""Steve Gillette sings easily, smoothly, in a mellow voice free of any affectation. He writes thoughtful, perceptive, unpretentious songs....He plays the guitar with an impressive mastery of technique. Steve Gillette is one of the best songwriters in the folk idiom and an equally good performer."

---Broadside Magazine CINDY MANGSEN is "one of the finest singers in American folk music" (Come fore to Sing). Accompanying herself on guitar, banjo, concertina, or mountain dulcimer, Cindy’s repertoire ranges from haunting traditional ballads to songs by writers as diverse as Jack Hardy and Nancy White, with a few original songs thrown into the mix. Cindy has made guest appearances on many radio programs including "All Things Considered"(NPR) "The Folk Heritage"(WGBH,Boston), and was featured on the public television series "In the Tradition".

---"Mangsen delivers songs with an angel’s voice. It is at once clear, clean, plaintive, and touched with a Baez-like vibrato."

--Chicago Tribune Go to www.compassrosemusic.com to learn more about the artists and listen to clips.

*Your prepayment will gladly be refunded IF you cancel by Thursday, October 28th, or IF all seats are sold before your payment is received.

TWCC Achieves Innovation with Online Reporting of Worker Injuries

September 29, 2004, Austin, TX- For the first time in Texas, workers who are injured on the job can report the injury to the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission via the Internet. The online reporting, available in both Spanish and English, was launched as part of the Commission’s TXCOMP system in mid-September.

Injured workers are required to file the Employee’s Notice of Injury or Occupational Disease and Claim for Compensation (TWCC-41) form with the Commission within one year of the injury date. Workers can now report the injury to the Commission from a home computer, or from self-service computer station located at local Commission offices around the state.

Changes to Commission Rules 122.2 and 122.100 to allow for electronic filing of the TWCC-41 form were approved at the August 19 public meeting of the Commission.

"We are tremendously pleased to achieve this milestone in reducing paperwork in our workers’ compensation system," said Robert L. "Bob" Shipe, Acting Executive Director of the Commission. "This is one more filing requirement that has been redesigned and automated to improve service to system participants."

The online reporting of worker injuries is the result of a Business Process Improvement Project that has been underway at the Commission since 1999. The project is directed by Stacey Jefferson, Director of Business & Information Technology Services. Other improvements to the TXCOMP system expected to be launched this Fall will allow designated parties to view a workers’ compensation claim online, Jefferson said.

Injured workers still have the option of submitting a paper copy of the TWCC-41 form to the Commission. These forms are available for downloading from the Commission Website: www.twcc.state.tx.us.

Morgan Mayo Student of the 1st Six Weeks

Morgan was chosen as student of the 1st six week for Ector Jr. High. Morgan is the daughter of Mark and Tammy Mayo. She enjoys basketball, softball, church activities and hanging out with her family and friends. Some her favorite things are Teen Magazine, snickers, winter, basketball, the show Room Raiders, and the movie "Without a Paddle". CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Texas Waiting on CDC Direction for Flu Vaccine

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) officials say they are awaiting national direction from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about what steps need to be taken following an announcement earlier today that about half of the nation’s supply of this season’s flu vaccine may not be available.

Chiron Corp. announced earlier today that the British government is preventing the company from distributing its flu vaccine, Fluviron. Chiron is based in California, but its flu vaccine was manufactured in the company’s Liverpool production facility.

DSHS estimates that some 8 million to 10 million doses of the flu vaccine are ordered each year by Texas doctors, companies, health care facilities, supermarket chains and other organizations. DSHS does not know how many of those doses were ordered from Chiron this year.

Of 543,000 doses ordered by DSHS, 125,500 were ordered from Chiron. Those doses were earmarked for used by DSHS regional offices for use in counties not served by local public health departments.

The balance of the 543,000 doses was ordered from Aventis and is for use in vaccinating at-risk children in the Texas Vaccines for Children Program.

Hopalong Cassidy

Carl "Corky" Westman of Gunter, TX, with Topper and actor William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy. Westman holds a leading role in the upcoming RRTC production of local playwright Reah Easley’s Hopalong Cassidy Meets the Ghost Riders onstage in Windom the last 2 weekends in October.

The Red River Theatre Company production of Hopalong Cassidy Meets the Ghost Riders the last two weekends this month will mark RRTC’s inauguration of its new stage facility at the old Windom school, and the premier of an original screen play by new local area playwright, Reah Easley of Randolph. Original songs and background music written by William Easley will be presented by the western band of musicians formed by Easley especially for this production. The screenplay has been adapted to the stage by RRTC Director Julie Eubank.

The Easleys purchased the right to use the classic cowboy hero of radio and silver screen fame from Holger Wrede, President of U.S. Television, Inc., New York, who owns the Hopalong Cassidy character and airs old western movies on the Western television channel.

The all-adult cast quickly adopted their character roles with fond childhood memories of "playing cowboys". Cast members include local actors from Bonham, Gunter, Denison, Dodd City, Honey Grove and Windom: Gary Sisson, Carl Westman, Cliff Harjo, Zane Smith, Bruce DeGarmo, Kristina Money, Nicole Carlson, Cheryl Youree, Dutch Williams, Karl Riemer, Lauren DeGarmo, and Donna West.

With Hoppy’s comic sidekick, California, the outlaw gang, the friendly bartender, the dancehall girls, the Sheriff, and a mysterious gypsy, the audience will be encouraged to cheer the hero and boo the villains as did movie-goers in the theatres of yesteryear. Singing, dancing, gunfights, barn fires, ghosts and dancehall antics keep the story lively and delightful throughout the play onstage.

Authenticity, always a challenge in theatre projects, involves the entire RRTC staff and cast. Many of the costumes and accessories as well as props are authentic artifacts from the early 1900s era. Others have been crafted and detailed with artistic excellence by cast member, Bruce DeGarmo.

Pre-show dinner to benefit the Windom Senior Club will be available for $6 at 6:15pm on both Friday and Saturday evening performances, Oct. 22^nd and 23^rd, and Oct. 29^th and 30^th in the former school cafeteria. Sunday matinee performances are at 2:30pm on Oct. 24^th and 31^st.

Through special arrangements with the Bonham Library, the famous Erwin E. Smith Cowboy Photography exhibit will be on display in the theatre lobby during intermission.

Advance tickets, good for any of the six performances, are $8 Adults, $5 Students and Seniors age 55 and older. Tickets are available online by credit cards at www.TicketLeap.com or by check mailed to RRTC, P.O. Box 343, Bonham, TX 75418. Box office locations are Fannin Bank at Windom, and in Bonham at the Chamber of Commerce, Bonham State Bank and the Creative Arts Center. Day of performance tickets and those purchased at the door are $10 Adults and $7 Students and Seniors.

Handicap access to the 2^nd floor theatre in the old Windom school is limited to two split-level stairways. Windom is located on Texas Hwy. 56 between Bonham and Honey Grove, or off U.S. Hwy. 82 on FM 1743 between Paris and Bonham.

Over 500 turn out at Caroll Shelby Ranch to welcome Congressman Ralph Hall to North East Texas

Clarksville - Over 500 grass roots supporters, came out Saturday to help Congressman Ralph Hall (R-Rockwall) kick off his 2004 Campaign at the Ranch Home of Cleo and Carroll Shelby in Red River County.

Supporters from all over Congressional District 4 gathered at the Shelby Ranch to enjoy a day of fun, fellowship and a good old fashioned political barbecue catered by Sammy Walker. Colors were presented by Sasha and Donnie Jones, representing The United Mounted Peace Officers of Texas. A musical political commentary was performed by Titus County’s Chris Reese.

Bo Pilgrim introduced Congressman Hall stating, "We could not ask for a better U. S. Representative than Congressman Ralph M. Hall. He has represented District 4 since 1981 and has done an outstanding job listening to constituents and doing everything in his power to help each one. He is Chairman of the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Ranking Member of the Science Committee. He is an advocate for NASA and the International Space Station, which he believes has unlimited potential for biomedical research that could lead to cures for cancer and other diseases. "

Speaking to supporters, Congressman Hall stated, "I am blessed to be able to represent such good friends as you in Washington. The people in CD 4 are the best! I do feel good about the upcoming General Election, but as you know, I either run unopposed or scared."

Getting Reoriented About Vertigo

HOUSTON – (Oct. 5, 2004) – Vertigo sufferers may be thrown off balance to learn just how easily curable their conditions are.

A Baylor College of Medicine study on the most common form of vertigo illustrates that certain motions, not medications, can eliminate the vestibular problem’s disorienting effects.

Dr. Helen Cohen, associate director of the Center for Balance Disorders at BCM in Houston, found that low-impact exercises successfully resolve problems caused by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

"Unlike other disorders that are caused by damage to the nerve – a tumor growing or some metabolic problem in the inner ear – this is a mechanical problem," said Cohen. "So the way to fix it is with a mechanical fix."

The five-year study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, compared repositioning exercises to a placebo treatment. The trial tested several commonly practiced head maneuvers, which were administered by the physician. Cohen hypothesized correctly that certain exercises – particularly those that tilted the patient’s head in motions that relocated displaced calcium particles – were more effective than others, such as those designed simply to desensitize the patient from feeling vertigo.

While some conditions that cause vertigo can be treated with medication, BPPV is not one of them. BPPV creates the illusion of motion caused by the abnormal reaction of the inner ear balance system to certain head movements. The disorder occurs when microscopic particles of calcium carbonite, used to sense the direction of gravity, become dislodged within the vestibular labyrinth of the inner ear and settle into the wrong compartments. This displacement causes the patient to experience vertigo when a change occurs in either the elevation or angle of the head.

Even though BPPV ranks as the most common form of vertigo (occurring in 64 people per 100,000), very little research has been conducted to better understand the disorder, likely because it is not life threatening, according to Cohen.

"It’s very unusual to have somebody with BPPV who is not treatable," Cohen said.

Under rare circumstances in which repositioning exercises do not work, physicians may recommend surgery as a last resort to relocate manually any displaced particles.

Vertigo creates the illusion of spinning or tilting when a person is not actually moving. Someone who is lightheaded, on the other hand, feels like passing out for reasons that do not necessarily involve the inner ear, such as a cardiac condition.

Cohen said anyone with symptoms of vertigo that last more than one week should see a physician. Furthermore, Cohen recommends that patients describe what they are experiencing rather than make vague generalizations.

"Do not go to your doctor and say, ‘I’m dizzy,’" she said. "We don’t like the D-word."

Vertigo, which can occur at any age but is most common around the age of 60, is not only treatable but also curable in most cases.

Savoy Elementary Honor Row

First Grade: Morgan Cornwell, Jerica Isom, Taylor Keen, Jacob Pugh, Nathanael Baca, Jacob Browder, Dalton Withrow

second grade: Lindsey Stone, Ian Ryon, Leroy Harrison, Macy Sanders, Emily Stewart, Cooper Tocquigny, Bryan Vosburg

third grade:Riley Neal

fourth grade: Cindel Freeman, Ethan Seigler

fifth grade: Madison Cornwell, Kimberly Francis, Jared Miller

First Grade: Ashley House, Ryder Caplinger, Dayton Daniel, lillie Troxtell, Michael Waters, Haley Schneider,Jack Neal

second grade: Angel Hill, Tanner Garrison,Georgi Johnson, Katlyn Knight, Megan St. Amour

Third grade: Samuel Beca, Colton Duvall, Carleigh Glass, Kelli Strong, Dakota Washburn, Austin Worley, Tristan Allen, TylerBurns, Kaitlyn Gaskill

fourth grade: Emily Cornell, Sara Foster, Michael Hightower, Landry Snow, Sara Strong, Bonnie Billings, Peyton Folks

fifth grade: Whitney Cooke, Bailee McGehee, William Brown, Victoria Crossman

sixth grade: Bradley Brunk

first grade: Nolan Cooke, Kailen Ford, Joby Harvey, Chelsea Heath, Destiny Hill, Brandon Merchant

second grade: Christina Francis, Blaine Sloan, Cole Smith,Josh Smith, Rhianne Sweet, Caylee Duvall, Andrew Glass, Shane Kent, Forrest Morris,Kaden Kulmer

third grade: Jessica Cook, Brandon Fletcher Morgan Ford, David Stivers, Justin Berube, Layne Harris, Richard Harrison, Breeanna Merchant, Brayden Phillips, Gabriella Tovar, Colton Troxtell

fourth grade: Makeala Jennings, Colton Kulmer, Adam Raley, Ryan Tomlinson, Avery Wageman

fifth grade: Garrett Doan, Aaron Young, Claire Wageman, DevinBailey, Caitlin McClain, Macalla Mosley, Erin Wageman, Tracy Wardlow

sixth grade: Kody Douglas, Micah Glass, Cavan Metcalf, Kayla Sanders, Taylor Garrison, Dylan Foster, Scott Bigbee, Ashlyn Isom, Michael Morrison

Cowboy Action Shooting Club in Glen Rose, TX

Jon Cook of Savoy, TX; Sandy McClinton; and Jeanie Hester of Deport, TX, honorary members of the SASS, (Single Action Shooting Society), attended "The Comanche Valley Vigilantes," (cowboy action shooting Club) in Glen Rose, TX, on, Sept. 17, through, Sept. 19, 2004. This is the 2nd largest single action shooting club in the World. Match Result: Jon Cook, alias "Wild Hog Jon," placed 1^st in Junior Class boys and 3^rd’⁾ in costume, in which placed him in the Finals. He was awarded with a 1st Place Belt Buckle and a trophy for 3^rd Place costume. Sandy McClinton, alias "Badlands Catus Li," placed 1^st in her division; and received a 1st Place Belt Buckle which placed her in the Finals. Jeanie Hester, alias "Kow Katcher," placed 2^nd in her division; and received a 2^nd Place Belt Buckle, but did not advance to the Finals. Only 1st Place Shooters advanced to Finals. During the three day event, many festivities took placed, for the whole family. On Saturday the Banquet was held at the Beaumont Ranch in Grandview, TX. The proud parents of Jon Cook are Harold and Sharon Cook of Savoy, Tx, brother, Chase Cook; grandparents: Roxie and the late Harold Cook, Sr., Savoy, TX, Steve and Martha Mayrell, Bonham, TX. Jon is a sophomore at Savoy High School, and a member of FFA; Fannin County 4H Club; international Junior Brangus Breeders Assoc.; Badlands Bar 3 Club, English,TX www.badlandsbar3.com and a member of SASS (www.SASSnet.com).

TXU Power Achieves Safety Milestone At Valley Steam Electric Station

DALLAS (October 6, 2004) - TXU Power’s Valley Steam Electric Station achieved a safety milestone on October 1, 2004, surpassing 31 years without a lost-time injury_ Plant employees have worked more than 4,350,000 safe work hours in the process.

"The safety mark is an exceptional achievement for TX(J Power and employees of the Valley plant," said Chris Snapp, TXU Power plant manager. "Each employee deserves the credit because they practice safety on a daily basis_"

The Valley plant is located approximately 15 miles east of Shaman, near Savoy, Texas. The plant’s three units went on line in 1962, 1967 and 1971 and the facility has 1,115,000 kilowatts of generation capacity.

The last time there was a lost time injury at the Valley plant in 1973, "All in the Family" was the number one television show, Shaquille O’Neal was two-years-old, and the Sears Tower was completed and became the tallest building in the world.

"TXU is an innovative leader in developing new technologies and safety measures," said Jim Dixon, TXU Power vice president of Gas Plant Operations. "Safety is vital to our. success.

Safety allows TXU Power’s Fossil Generation to remain competitively priced, highly reliable and flexible to meet market needs."

TXU Power produces an annual economic benefit of more than $1.2 billion across Texas through power plant payrolls, purchases, contracts, taxes paid and other expenditures.

TXU Corp-, a Dallas-based energy company, manages a portfolio of competitive and regulated energy businesses in North America, primarily in Texas. Tn TXU Corp.’s unregulated business, TXU Energy Retail provides electricity and related services to more than 2_6 million competitive electricity customers in Texas, more customers than any other retail electric provider in the state. TXU Power owns and operates over 18,300 megawatts of generation in Texas, including 2,300 MW of nuclear-fired and 5,837 MW of lignitelcoal-fired generation capacity. TXU Corp. is also the largest purchaser of wind-generated electricity in Texas and America, the top five purchasers in North America TXU Corp.’s regulated electric distribution and transmission business, TXU Electric Delivery Company, complements the competitive operations, using asset management skills developed over more than one hundred years, to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. TXU Electric Delivery operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, providing power to 2.9 million electric delivery points over more than 98,000 miles of distribution and 14,000 miles of transmission lines. Visit www.txucorp.com for more information about TXU Corp.

USDA Rural Development Announces Funding

WHO: Allen Lambright, Area Director, USDA Rural Development, McKinney, Texas Fannin County Commissioners Court Fannin Rural Rail Transportation District

WHAT: Check Presentation, Fannin Rural Rail Transportation District

WHERE: Fannin County Courthouse, Commissioner Courtroom, Bonham, Texas

WHEN: 9:00 a.m., Monday, October 25, 2004

WHY: The Fannin County Rural Rail Transportation District will be presented with a ceremonial check to celebrate their grant to make improvements to the rail line between Bonham and Paris.

Shari Bigger Named Rainbow Room Volunteer of the Quarter

Shari Bigger of Bonham was recently named the Volunteer of the Quarter for the Fannin County Rainbow Rooms. Bigger has been volunteering since the first part of the year. While completing thirty hours of training to become a child advocate for CASA, she learned about the Rainbow Room, which was just getting started at the time.

The Fannin County Rainbow Rooms are a joint project of Child Protective Services and the Fannin County Children’s Center. There are rooms at each agency which are stocked with community donations of new clothing, shoes, diapers and other items needed by abused and neglected children served by Child Protective Services, CASA and the Children’s Advocacy Center.

Bigger quickly jumped in to help sort and organize donations as they came in. She regularly attends the monthly meetings of the Rainbow Room and recently volunteered to enter the data for the inventory system.

At the October meeting, volunteers and agency staff surprised Bigger with the award. She received a certificate of recognition and a gift certificate to Purple Sage Bistro, courtesy of the restaurant.

"We really appreciate Shari and all of her hard work and enthusiasm," said Sandy Barber of the Fannin County Children’s Center.

"We also appreciate the Purple Sage for helping us recognize our volunteers for their dedication and hard work," said Barber.

For more information about the Fannin County Rainbow Rooms, call (903) 583-4339 or visit www.fanninccc.org .

TMA Cancels Staff Flu Shots, Urges All Employers to Follow Suit

In response to the international influenza vaccine shortage, the Texas Medical Association today cancelled a flu shot clinic for TMA staff scheduled for next week and called on all Texas businesses to do the same.

"TMA is saving only about 200 flu shots, but if every Texas employer, pharmacy, and clinic follows our lead, we will have plenty of vaccine available for those who most need it," said TMA President Bohn Allen, MD.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday issued an advisory that flu shots should be reserved for:

TMA will offer flu shots only to staff members and their families who fall under those priority categories.

"We’ve gone overnight from a plentiful supply to a serious shortage of flu vaccine," Dr. Allen said. "But we learned two years ago that if we all work together we can ensure flu shots are available for the most vulnerable members of our population."

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 39,500 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

Dallas VA Medical Center Mourns the Loss of Its Oldest Female World War I Veteran

DALLAS- Navy veteran Marie Odee Johnson was one of the last surviving women veterans of World War I, the only one in north Texas. Ms. Johnson passed aay September 25 at her home in the Transitional Care Unit at Dallas VA Medical Center. Ms. Johnson’s service to our country was celebrated at her 107th birthday in July where she was presented special greetings from President Bush and Governor Perry with her family by her side.

Finley-Oates Elementary Schedule of Events and Activities

• The Finley-Oates Campus Site-Based Committee met on Thursday, October 7, 2004. The group participated in the training of Site-Based Decision Making, reviewed the Campus Plan and the BISD Plan. The next meeting will be held in November.

• Come join the fun at the Fall Harvest Festival sponsored by the Finley-Oates PTO. Activities will take place on Monday, October 18, 2004, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. For only $5.00 per person, your family can bounce in the castle provided by Clown Around, and enjoy a pizza dinner! In addition, attendees may purchase a washable tattoo for only $1.00. For each tattoo purchased, visitors will receive a ticket to be entered into a drawing for one of eight different gift baskets. Themed baskets include Toys for ages 0-3, Toys for ages 4-8, Art Supplies, A Day at the Spa, Gardener’s Dream, Golf Enthusiast, Chef Helping Hand, and Christmas. Drawings will be held at 7:00 pm that night, but you do not have to be present to win.

• The annual Pumpkin Show will be held Wednesday, October 27, 2004 through Friday, October 29, 2004. Students are encouraged to bring decorated pumpkins to school for display in the cafeteria. Pumpkins may be carved, painted, clothed, etc. Just let your imagination run wild! Prizes will be awarded to all entries. Students may pick up their pumpkins from the cafeteria on Friday, October 29th at the end of the school day.

• The Finley-Oates PTO will hold its next meeting on Monday, November 1, 2004 at 5:30 pm in the cafeteria. All parents are encouraged to attend.

UIL Activities:

• Local UIL events were held on the Finley-Oates campus on Friday, October 8th. Students were vying for positions on the District UIL Teams that will compete in Princeton on Monday, November 8th. Subjects include Second Grade Storytelling and Creative Writing; Third Grade Story telling, Ready Writing, Music Memory and Spelling

Other Campus Happenings/Offerings: (i.e. clubs, organizations, special field trips, students-generated articles, etc.)

• Students enrolled in the Save for America program make their deposits at school on Wednesday mornings between 7:15 am and 8:00 am. Kindergarten and First Grade bank in the library, Second and Third Grade bank in the computer lab. Any student not enrolled, but interested, may obtain an application packet from Mrs. Kirkpatrick in the computer lab. Students must have a Social Security number and parents must have a Social Security number as well as a valid driver’s license to enroll.

• Read, White and Blue: Reading is All-American! The Scholastic Book Fair will be held Monday, October 18, 2004 through Friday, October 22, 2004. Parents are invited to stop by the school on Monday, October 18th between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm to purchase books for their children. Kids may shop during the school day during their designated time. More information will be sent home before this even begins.

• Help say, "NO!" to drugs and celebrate Red Ribbon Week Monday, October 25, 2004 through Friday, October 29, 2004. A list of activities will be sent home at a later date.

Appeals Court Upholds Child Abuse Sentence

Fannin County Attorney Myles Porter announced today that the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana has affirmed the sentence of Danny Ray Dixon, age 23 of Leonard. On October 13, 2003, a Fannin County jury convicted Dixon of injury to a child. After less than thirty minutes of deliberations, the jury sentenced Dixon to 16 years in prison and assessed a $10,000 fine.

On April 15, 2003, Leonard police were called to the home of Crimson Wolfe, after neighbors reported that a domestic disturbance was in progress. Officers arrived to find Ms. Wolfe’s 2-year-old son with handprints on his face and leg and Tabasco sauce running down his face. Wolfe told police that when she arrived home that evening, Danny Ray Dixon, her boyfriend, insisted that she not go check on her crying 2-year-old son. A struggle then ensued when Wolfe tried to pick up her son. When questioned by police, Dixon admitted to slapping the child on the leg but could give no explanation for the Tabasco sauce on the child.

While in jail Dixon wrote several letters to Wolfe asking her to change her story. Wolfe turned the letters over to Fannin County Attorney Myles Porter who used them as evidence against Dixon at trial.

"Those letters showed how manipulative and cunning this criminal was, said Porter. His defense was that Crimson Wolfe was the abuser but his own words came back to bite him at trial."

During the punishment phase of the trial, Porter offered evidence that Dixon was a drug dealer who recently got out of prison for burglary. The range of punishment in the case was from 2 to 20 years in the penitentiary and a fine of up to $10,000.

Dixon’s court-appointed attorney, David Turner, asked the jury for lenience based on the fact that the child suffered no broken bones or serious injuries.

Porter asked the jury to send a message to people who abuse children in Fannin County.

"I can’t imagine anyone who would even consider pouring Tabasco sauce on a small child. I told the jury not to gamble on what this guy might do next time and I asked for a harsh sentence because he deserved it. I am glad the court of appeals agreed with the verdict," said the County Attorney.

Don’t forget to clip and send in your Box Tops from General Mills products. Schools receive 10 cents for every Box Top they collect. A pain free way to earn money! I. W. Evans’ year end goal is $1000 worth of Box Tops. For a complete list of the hundreds of participating products, visit www.boxtops4education.com. Bonham schools participating are Finley-Oates, I. W. Evans and L. H. Rather. Students may take their Box Tops to their Library and community members can drop them off at the school of their choice. Thanks for your support!

I. W. Evans is in the process of try outs for this years U.I.L. teams. Events include Oral Reading, Ready Writing, Number Sense, Spelling, Music Memory, Maps, Graphs & Charts, Listening Skills, Dictionary Skills, Social Studies Pilot, and Calculator Applications. Updates will be given as teams are formed.

4^th grade Spelling team members are Taylor Collier, Jenna Toland, Cassidy Hall and Taizia Bennett. Their coach is Mrs. Cooper.

4^th grade Number Sense team members are Katie Weyrick, TeQwan Jones, Gabe Parker and Madeline Dow. Their coach is Mrs. Cooper

5^th grade Music Memory team members are Paige Redmon, Jessica Barber, Robert Wells, Margo McCutcheon and Jordan Ballard. Their coach is Mrs. Kennedy.

5^th grade Number Sense team members are Ryan Woodruff, Stefanie Hutchings, Chelsea Murphy and alternate Rachel Penna. Their coach is Mrs. Kinkade.

5^th grade Dictionary Skills team members are Taylor Kirkpatrick, Kaitlyn Fox, Samantha Cawyer and alternate Savannah Shockley. Their coach is Mrs. Kinkade.

6^th grade Mathematics team members are Katie Stephenson, Kelsa Williams, Payton Hamilton and Daniel Perdue. Their coach is Mrs. Hale.

The 6^th Grade GT Social Studies class at I. W. Evans has placed donation jars at several local businesses in order to collect money to send to the hurricane victims. Collection jars are located at Los Amigos, Kwik Chek (10^th & Center and by Brookshires), Best Donuts, Happy Kamper, Finley-Oates and I. W. Evans. Collections will be taken through October 15.

"A" Honor Roll 1^st Six Weeks

Madeline Dow, Cassidy Hall and Nathaniel Martinez

Samantha Cawyer, Austin Colley, Margo McCutcheon, Rachel Penna, Chelsea Tucker, Haley Walker and Ryan Woodruff

Matison Pryor, Enrique Alvarez, Taizia Bennett, Kathleen Brooks, Skylar Castle, Madison Cockrill, Taylor Collier, Elise Denson, Kelsey Duncan, Luke Dyer, Jimmy Ford, Nikki Franco, Taylor Gantt, Carlee Garcia, Terra Goodfellow, Juan Green, Sara Hernandez, Tucker Irwin, Jasmin Jebens Keene, Teqwan Jones, Katie Larocca, Michael Little, Dylan McCarley, Christopher Mollenkopf, Ashlyn Morris, Hayden Murphey, Gabe Parker, Tristan Partridge, Summer Perry, Lora Pinder, Kristopher Prasil, JL Pratt, Kaleb Sewell, Carolina Soto, Tara Stapleton, Jenna Toland, Katie Weyrick, Austin White, Talon Wilkerson and Malaysia Yandell

5^th Grade

Jordan Ballard, Jessica Barber, Katelyn Bardwell, Miranda Barnett, Collin Bennett, Haley Brown, Hanah Clark, Maegan Crutcher, Olga De La Cruz, Tyler Dudley, Tyler Edwards, Nathan Eubank, David Fields, Katherine Flores, Kaitlyn Fox, Crystal Haggard, Levi Haggard, John Hall, Chelsea Hasten, Blessing Hensley, Suwey Hernandez, Lacy Holly, Stryker Hunnicutt, Stefanie Hutchings, Leslie Kasparek, Kaitlynn Keller, Haley Lancaster, Laura Longoria, Levi Malone, Micha Marsh, Ryan McCraw, Colby McKelva, Robert Milburn, Chelsea Murphey, Mahoganee Patterson, Rachael Pearson, Justin Ploof, D’Artagnon Porter, Diego Ramirez, Paige Redmon, De De Reyes, Rex Richardson, Mason Riza, Audrey Sanchez, Savannah Shockley, Abby Smartt, Kristina Sorenson, Trenten Sutherland, Aaron Teel, Dakota Tredway, Brenda Ventura, Lyndsey Weaver, Nathan Webb and Robert Wells.

Cody Alexander, Dylan Allen, Kaylee Baker, Haley Ballard, Amanda Barber, Kelsey Barnes, Celsey Bond, Nicholas Burns, Rosario Chavarria, Holly Clifton, Kacey Collinsworth, Joshua Curry, Jordan Feagley, Lane Fox, Lanie Frazier, Elizabeth Gainzar, Jennifer Groseclose, Trisha Haddock, Brianna Hayes, Haley Henson, Anna Heredia, Nolan Hughes, Alexandra Ingold, Brittany Joy, Jeremy Lane, Tanner Long, Corwin Louis, Timothy Nall, Jarrod O’Neal, Daniel Perdue, Joshua Prater, Joshua Price, Ashley Rimbert, Jessi Roberts, Khali Ruddick, Joshua Samford, Abimael Sanchez, Ashley Sanders, Matthew StClair, Katherine Stephenson, Charnece Taylor, Monica Torres, Sharla Vaughan, Bobby Voorheis, Lilly Ann Wasson, Kali Wheless and Cariann Young.

Four Corners 4-H Receives Honor Club Award

The Four Corners 4-H Club has been recognized as a 4-H Honor Club. Cherie Rivera, Club Manager, accepted this award on behalf of all the club members at Fannin County’s Annual 4-H County Awards Banquet held on September 30th. This is a state recognized award and the first of its kind given to a Fannin County 4-H Club. In order to receive this award, a club is required to meet 12 of 15 criteria. During the 2003/2004 4-H year, the club met all 15 criteria. Congratulations Four Corners on an outstanding accomplishment!

Early Voting Hours Extended in Fannin County

Fannin County Offers Extended Early Voting Hours this Election

As a result of a petition submitted by registered voters in Fannin County, early voting hours at the County Courthouse in Bonham have been extended.

Voters can now vote on Saturday, October 23rd from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and on Sunday the 24th from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The final week of early voting - the week of October 25th - the courthouse will be open to voters from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Early voting starts on Monday the 18th October when the courthouse will be open to voters from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Bonham Fire Dept. Run Report

The Bonham Fire Department responded to a total of 453 calls during the month of Sept. 2004. An average of 15 per day.

Fire/Rescue calls accounted for 78 calls

Emergency medical calls totaled 375

The 375 EMS calls included:

• (233) 9-1-1 calls

• (95) Non-Emergency Transfers

• (34) No Transports

• (7) Standby at Sporting Events

SPECIAL NOTE: Paramedic Marc Bond and EMT Steve Nickery delivered a baby, a first time for Bonham Fire Rescue.

52 children and adults received home fire safety training, 30 commercial businesses were safety checked and fire preplanned, and 31 fire hydrants were flow tested.

Caddo Trailriders Association & Hannah’s Horseshoes of Hope Fall Fundraiser

Sat. Oct. 16, 2004 at the Trailhead, Lake Coffeemill, Telephone, TX.

First trail ride will be at 10:00 and a second ride at 2:00.

Evening meal will be provided with a cost of $10 for the entire day. After the meal an auction will be held. If anyone would like to donate anything new or old please call one of our members. CTRA is selling tickets for a deer rifle or cash option at $3 ea. or $4/$10. HHH is selling tickets for a Twister Saddle. Tickets will be on sale on the day of the fundraiser. For additional information call:

Alton Hainline at 903-378-7845, Judy Gardner at 903-583-3046, or Melinda Anderson at 903-583-1062.

Master John Murphy Receives Awards

Grand Master In Sun Seo 10th dan black belt (the highest ranked martial artists in Korea) presented Master John Murphy with a special award during the recent World Kido Federation/Hanminjok Hapkido Association Seminar, held Oct. 2-3 in Merrillville, Indiana. Master Murphy, whose assistance with the seminar earned him the award, is the Kwan Jang Nim or Master Instructor of Progressive Martial Arts in both Bonham and Richardson, Texas. Describing the seminar as a "life-changing experience," Master Murphy said meeting Grand Master In Sun Seo has been the culmination of his 26-year career in the martial arts. Progressive Martial Arts has been located in Bonham Texas for 14 months and has produced two national champions.

Fannin County Retired Teachers Association Meeting

The Fannin County Retired Teacher’s Association met on October 5, 2004, in the Elizabeth May room at the American Bank in Bonham. The meeting was called to order by President Jo Jones. She welcomed new members and thanked hostesses, Mary Jim Clements, Dana Clifton, Lucy Griffitt and Beverly Wakefield..

Barbara Gore led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Richard Campbell led the group in singing America the Beautiful. Barbara Gore read an inspirational poem Why God Created Teachers.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and the treasurer’s report was given. It was noted that the association now has 131 members including 4 new members.

Lela Foreman, Dana Clifton and June Flowers were appointed to a committee to look for a project or worthwhile cause to which the retired teachers group may make a contribution this year. Barbara Gore, Book Chairman, encouraged members to donate books which will be distributed to CASA, Haven of Rest, and local elementary schools.

President Jo Jones reminded members to keep in touch with legislators concerning items of interest to retired teachers, particularly Teacher Retirement System benefits.

First Vice President Gene Brandenberger introduced Joyce Denton who had arranged for the program "Reading for Pleasure." New FCRTA member Cornelia Thornton spoke about some of the new books which are available. She read a selection of poems from Ruth Bell Graham’s book Never Let It End: Poems of a Lifelong Love. She reviewed The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander Smith McCall, and read selections from the children’s book Cinderella Skeleton by Robert D. San Souci.

Door prizes were won by W. C. Griffitt and Barbara Gore. Meeting was adjourned by Jo Jones and refreshments were served.

The next meeting of Fannin County Retired Teachers Association will be on November 1 at 11:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Honey Grove. This will be a covered dish meal. Meat will be furnished and members will bring side dishes. The Fannin County Retired Teacher’s Association welcomes all retired public school personnel and higher education employees including those who retired from another school district outside Fannin County.

WASHINGTON,DC...The House of Representatives approved, on Oct. 7 in the early morning, a resolution sponsored by Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX) that recognizes, supports and encourages efforts to promote greater civic awareness and greater voter participation in elections.

"The percentage of Americans registered to vote unfortunately has declined in recent years," Hall said. "There is no better time to make citizens more aware of one of the greatest privileges we have as Americans- the right to vote."

The resolution recognizes those organizations and groups that actively promote voter registration and participation, as well as those communities and schools that have instituted civic awareness programs, such as candidate forums and voter registration drives. It encourages local communities and elected officials at all levels of government to promote greater awareness of civic responsibility and the importance of voting.

"The Constitution establishes a representative form of government, and the 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th amendments represent some of the hard-won initiatives to secure voting privileges for American citizens," Hall noted,. "All those eligible to vote have an equal voice in determining the the future of our great Nation, and I join my colleagues in urging all Americans to participate in the upcoming elections."

H.Res.796 passed the House by voice vote. The Senate passed an identical resolution, S.Res.434, two weeks ago.

Bonham Economic Development Corporation Meeting

By: Sarah Meek

The Bonham Economic Development Corporation met on Tuesday, October 5, for a regular meeting. The Board approved Emily Porter as President, Wayne Moore as Vice-President, Bill Buck as Secretary, and Ray Clark as Treasurer.

The Board approved the minutes of the September 7th meeting and the financial report for the month of August.

The Board approved to let Funding Solutions write two grants for them, for no more than $1,750. One grant is a Recreational Trail Grant with a 20% match up to $100,000. The other grant is an Outdoor Recreational grant for $500 at a 50% match. The Board will apply for both grants and the deadline for the Outdoor Recreational grant is January 31^st.

A recommendation was made to purchase a 16ft. trailer, a 16-inch Stihl chain saw, and a Stihl pole saw for maintaining the park. The trailer is to be no more than $1830. The Board approved Glenn Taylor to seek bids for the sidewalk reconstruction of the West side of the 300 block of N. Center St. including the installation of four new street lights. Taylor will place advertisements for bids in the Herald Democrat and the Paris paper, as well as the local paper.

A motion to accept bids for the removal of trash from 101 West 1^st street was approved. A red metal building stands on the property that will be torn down. Trees will be removed, dirt will be hauled in to level the ground, and trash will be hauled off. Tim Petty sent in a bid of $9,300. Tires that will be removed will cost $1.50 each and tires with wheels will cost $2.50 each. The Board approved Petty to do the clearing.

The Board also approved Tim Petty’s bid for the removal of trash from the 200 block of West 1^st St., and some trash on the north side of Railroad track by the old round house. Dirt work will be done on the park entrance and north side of Powder Creek to the old dam. There is a metal building with junk around it that needs to be cleaned, and tractor tires to be removed. Total bid was $10,490.

The Board approved Tim Petty to remove 2 large trees, and move the dirt to a different location to level the lots where buildings were removed. His bid, for 175 loads of dirt and removing the trees, was $6,911.00.

The Board approved to accept bids on rock rap on a low water crossing and sow winter wheat on 20 acres in the park for at least $580.

The Board approved Glenn Taylor’s salary after a closed session, along with his sick and vacation days. Also the maintenance employee’s sick and vacation days.