Last Wednesday as crews were cleaning up the lots and removing the debris left from the Hidden Cove area at Lake Bonham, they found a 4" sewer line running directly into Lake Bonham. This line was being fed by smaller sewer lines and then being dumped into the lake - our only source for drinking water. The sewer line originated at the property that was previously leased by Charlie Hughes and was found under a concrete slab. The City of Bonham has evicted the tenants at Hidden Cove, but one person, Charles McDonald, refuses to leave.

City Planner Mike Walthall stated that he was sure that Hidden Cove was a source of pollution at Lake Bonham, but had no proof until last Wednesday when this sewer line was discovered. The City has turned this over to T.C.E.Q. for further investigation and possible action.

On the 24th day of February 2005, the Fannin County Grand Jury returned twenty one indictments.

The following people were indicted for the criminal offense and range of punishment indicated:

Donald Duane Lewis, Jr., age 31, of Sherman- Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon, Family Violence (Second Degree Felony, 2-20 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Gerry Dean Ross, Jr., age 17, of Bonham- Possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, more than 1 gram (Third Degree Felony, 2-10 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Deontra Terell Mason, age 19, of Bonham- Possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, more then 1 gram (Third Degree Felony, 2-10 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Deontry Terrel Mason, age 19, of Bonham- Delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine, more than 1 gram (State Jail Felony, 180 days- 2 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Christina Marie Brazier, age 17, of Bonham- Possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, more than 1 gram (Third Degree Felony, 2-10 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Robert Lecharles Williams, age 19, of Bonham- Delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine, less than 1 gram (State Jail Felony, 180 days- 2 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Robert Lecharles Williams, age 19, of Bonham- Possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, more than 1 gram (Third Degree Felony, 2-20 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Reyford Rico Bonner, age 48, of Bonham- Delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine, more than 1 gram (Second Degree Felony, 2-20 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Robert Allen Howell, age 21, of Leonard- Burglary of a habitation (Second Degree Felony, 2-20 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Charles Clayton Haney, age 19, of Leonard- Burglary of a habitation (Second Degree Felony, 2-20 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Alice Lanelle Jones, age 37, of Bonham- Burglary of a habitation (Second Degree Felony, 2-20 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Alice Lanelle Jones, age 37, of Bonham- Delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine, less than 1 gram (State Jail Felony, 180 days to 2 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Leon Ray Jones, III, age 18, of Bonham- Burglary of a habitation (Second Degree Felony, 2-20 years confinement and up to$10,000.00 fine)

Kawana Lakiea Floyd, age 23 of Dallas- Child Endangerment (State Jail Felony, 180 days- 2 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

James Willard Ransdell, age 31 of Bonham- Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Family Violence (Second Degree Felony, 2-20 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Donald Alfonso Dickerson, age 39 of Bonham- Burglary of a habitation (Second Degree Felony, 2-20 years confinement and up to 10,000.00 fine)

Ginger Kay Hill, age 37 of Van Alstyne- Possession with the intent to deliver controlled substance, methamphetamine, more that 4 grams, but less than 200 grams (First Degree Felony, Life or 5-99 years confinement and up to 10,000.00 fine)

Poncellus Oneal McCabe, age 34 of Bonham- Delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine, less than 1 gram (State Jail Felony, 180 days- 2 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Poncellus Oneal McCabe, age 34 of Bonham- Delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine, less than 1 gram (State Jail Felony, 180 days- 2 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Trenton Paul Millet, age 26 of Wolf City- Burglary of a habitation (Second Degree Felony, 2-20 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Dustin Dwain Robertson, age 25 of Bonham- Burglary of a habitation (Second Degree Felony, 2-20 years confinement and up to $10,000.00 fine)

Did you say a 5-ring circus? Over 100 exotic and domestic animals? A host of performers from around the world? The biggest circus tent in the world? Here in town?

"YES!" To all of the above and more. Carson & Barnes Circus is coming to the Fannin County Multi-Purpose Complex in Bonham on April 1, 2005 for shows at 4:30 & 7:30PM. Hosted by the Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce, this is the largest traditional big top circus touring America today. Its 300-foot tent is longer than a football field and it takes a space equal to three football fields for the entire circus community to unfold. When you see its 80 transport vehicles (including trucks, trailers and RV’s) you’ll know that this circus is one BIG operation traveling America for over 66 years.

One night stands? You bet. Of the 250 days a year the circus plays, some 200 of them will be in different towns and cities where folks of all ages turn out for some good old-fashioned circus fun. LIVE in front of you, it’s the best bang for the buck anywhere. Rated "G," with no sensationalism, foul language, or violence of any kind, the Carson & Barnes circus can be billed as fast-paced action-filled family entertainment.

Watch in awe as lions, tigers and ligers mix in the same cage. Marvel at the death defying double wheels of destiny as acrobats perform at the peak of the big top. Be astounded by flying trapeze artists, clowns, jugglers, and the mammoth elephants. Carson & Barnes presents the only Liberty Horse Act in the United States composed entirely of Friesian Stallions. This rare breed of horses, marked by broad bodies, long flowing manes and tails, was common in the Netherlands prior to World War II. As these majestic stallions prance and parade around center ring, their beauty and power will entrance you.

New this season, the Fusco family from Argentina will bring their "Malambo" act to the United States. This Big Top center ring "Gaucho Extravaganza", will feature the cracking and sparkling whips used on the plains of the Pampas in Argentina.

Early circus morning see the elephants pull the big poles up in the tent and visit the large traveling zoo featuring exotic and domestic animals, as they are unloaded, watered and fed. Many of these species are rare and endangered, such as hippo, giraffe, zebu, zonkie, zebra, camels and both Asian and African Elephants.

Advance general admission tickets are now available at (see display ad) at special prices or you may choose to go online and get tickets at www.carsonbarnescircus.com. On Circus Day advance general admission tickets can be upgraded to preferred seating for an additional charge. Don’t miss the huge Carson & Barnes Circus.

More Foster and Adoption Homes Needed in Fannin County

Today, as the number of child abuse and neglect reports continues to skyrocket, the importance of foster and adoptive parents has never been greater. Children are our future and putting them into the arms of loving parents as quickly as possible remains a priority.

Every year in Texas, tens of thousands of children who are abused or neglected by the people they trust come into the state’s care and thousands of these children are never able to return to their birth families. As of July 31, 2003, there were 3,617 children waiting for adoption through the Child Protective Services (CPS) program of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

In Fannin County, there are nearly forty children in foster care right now but only ten foster homes in the county. That means most of the children from Fannin County are placed in foster homes in other counties. Almost half of the Fannin County children in foster care are available for adoption and eagerly awaiting the chance to have a "forever home."

It takes a special family to adopt a DFPS child. Many of the children who come into the state’s care have special needs because they are older, belong to a sibling group, are from ethnic minority groups, or have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. People who are thinking about adopting children through DFPS should have an understanding of or be willing to learn the dynamics of these special needs and also how abuse and neglect may affect children.

The general requirements to be an adoptive parent are:

* Be at least 21 years old;

* Be financially self-sustaining;

* Be married, single, divorced, or widowed;

* Attend sessions with other prospective parents to learn about children’s needs and backgrounds;

* Consent to a criminal and abuse/neglect background check; and

* Participate in a home study.

Depending on the circumstances, adoptive parents may be eligible for various benefits from programs to help defray some of the costs associated with adopting a special needs child. Children who receive adoption assistance may also be eligible for a program that exempts them from having to pay tuition and fees at state supported colleges, universities, junior colleges, and technical schools.

For more information call the Foster Care and Adoption Inquiry Line at 1-800-228-8226 or visit www.adoptchildren.org. An information meeting about fostering and adopting will be held March 22 at 6:30 – 8:30 PM at the Fannin County Children’s Center located at 112 W. 5^th Street in Bonham.

CACTX Capitol Day

Fannin County Children’s Center (CASA & CAC) Board President Alexis Clark, State Representative Larry Phillips and FCCC Executive Director Sandy Barber recently met in Austin as part of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas Capitol Day to discuss the needs and issues facing abused and neglected children of Texas.

A Big Thank You From Girl Scouts

All of the local Girl Scout Troops would like to say an extra Thank You, to everyone who supports us by buying our ‘famous’ cookies!

Sometimes, it seems as if our ‘little’ towns are in constant fund-raiser mode...so, your purchases are especially appreciated.

The proceeds are used for various necessities by our Scout Troops; and when specific goals are reached...the girls can also earn "Event Coupons" which allow them discounts from Council events.

(I, myself, hadn’t realized the full ‘effect’ of this awesome ‘cookie exposure’...until two days ago, when we bought a new mare...the first name that came to mind was :"Samoa"!)

Also, we wish to issue an additional Big Thank You to each of the merchants who allowed us to have booth sales outside of their businesses: The B&B Food Store, The Leonard Pharmacy, the Bonham Wal-Mart, the Exxon, basketball games.......and anywhere else our cute, little cookie peddlers were welcomed! (please, forgive me if I left anyone out.)

P.S. In the near future, look for articles featuring adventures and other exciting events which the Girl Scouts have been attending......and, even plans in the works for a Day Camp in Leonard again this summer.

Thank you, sincerely,

Donna Stringer

(Leonard-Trenton Neighborhood PR)

March Is Red Cross Month

March is Red Cross month and the Texoma Chapter of the American Red Cross is asking the children of the Fannin County Independent School District to participate in a "Count Your Pennies" fundraiser. The funds will aid victims of disasters such as floods, fires, or storms in Fannin County.

We are challenging each classroom in the School Districts of Fannin County to collect the most funds prior to March 31^st of this year. The classroom in each school that raises the most funds by the end of the contest will win a free pizza party for their class.

The contest will run as follows:

Monday…Will be penny days

Tuesdays…Nickels

Wednesdays. Dimes

Thursday…Quarters

Fridays…Any change will be appreciated

One of the best ways you can help the Red Cross assist Fannin County residents affected by disasters is to make a financial contribution to the American Red Cross Disaster Services for Fannin County.

The American Red Cross Disaster Services mission is to ensure nationwide disaster planning, preparedness, community disaster education, mitigation, and response that will provide the American people with quality services in a uniform, consistent, and responsive manner. It is an independent, humanitarian, voluntary organization, not a government agency.

The Red Cross is involved in helping individuals and families learn how to get ready, stay safe, cope with, and recover from disasters through Community Disaster Education. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to prepare for and deal with a disaster, if it strikes.

ARC Fannin County Representative

903 357 3313

TxDOT To Hold Statewide Transportation Improvement Program Meeting March 31

PARIS, TX The Paris District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will hold a Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) meeting on Thursday, March 31, 2005, beginning at 6:00 pm, in the Ballroom of the Paris Junior College McLemore Student Center, in Paris, Texas.

Issues to be presented and discussed at the STIP meeting include a presentation of the Paris District’s Project Development Plan and Schedule for Transportation Projects in fiscal years 2006 through 2008. TxDOT’s Paris District consists of Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Rains, and Red River Counties. TxDOT officials will present the Plan and then seek comments from the public regarding it. The public will also be given the opportunity to comment on other transportation projects which are not in the Plan. Verbal comments at the public meeting will be limited to three minutes per person.

All interested citizens are invited to attend the meeting. However, attendance at the meeting is not required for comment consideration. Written comments will also be considered. The address for written comments is:

TxDOT

STIP Comments

1365 N. Main Street

Paris, TX 75460

TxDOT will accept written comments for consideration in it fiscal year 2006 through 2008 Project Development Plan, until April 14, 2005, at this address.

The Paris District’s Project Development Plan is available for inspection at TxDOT Area Offices in Greenville, Paris, Sherman, and Sulphur Springs, and at the District Office in Paris.

The presentation will be conducted in English, and will include handouts and references to project location maps, which will be projected onto a screen. Persons with language interpreters or other special communication needs, or disabilities who have special accommodation needs and who plan to attend this meeting should contact Linda Clark, at (903) 737-9281, at least five (5) working days prior to the meeting. TxDOT will make every reasonable effort to accommodate these needs.

Paris Junior College is located at 2400 Clarksville Street (Business Highway 271), in Paris.

Transportation Finance Agreement Is Unique

AUSTIN – Transportation officials voted at their monthly meeting Thursday to execute the state’s first pass-through toll agreement – one expediting transportation improvements in Montgomery County.

The Texas Transportation Commission gave TxDOT staff approval to move forward on an agreement with Montgomery County to make improvements to Farm to Market Roads 1484, 1485, 1488, 1314 and direct connections from State Highway 242 to Interstate 45.

"This action signifies local officials’ willingness to take advantage of innovative transportation financing now available to build transportation improvements faster," said Mike Behrens, TxDOT executive director. "We hope others seek out the new options now available for expediting projects to reduce congestion and improve safety."

The pass-through "toll" really isn’t a toll at all, say officials. It is a fee the state pays per vehicle or per vehicle-mile traveled to local governments or local entities that have taken on the burden of financing road improvements. Individual motorists do not pay a toll for using the roadway. Instead, the charge for use of the road is "passed through" to the state.

"We are moving forward in Texas," Commission Chairman Ric Williamson said after the unanimous vote.

In other action, the commission authorized staff to issue a request for competing proposals and qualifications for development of the proposed State Highway 121 turnpike project in Denton and Collin counties. This proposed project is a crucial element in responding to bottlenecks in the Dallas – Fort Worth metroplex. Potential exists for expediting the project through this process.

TxDOT also received approval from the commission to apply lane restrictions to segments of Interstate 45 in north Harris County, prohibiting commercial trucks from traveling in the inside left lane.

Similar lane restrictions also are in place on other roadways in Harris, Williamson, and Bexar counties.

A pilot project applying lane restrictions on a segment of Interstate 10 in Houston showed a 68 percent decrease in vehicle crashes.

Commissioners and staff held a discussion, but took no action, about seeking a legislative change allowing the department to consider best value and innovations when hiring private sector engineer consultants. Current law prohibits the exchange of such information, and commissioners are trying to determine if that drives costs up and results in fewer qualified engineering firms participating in state business.

9th Grade: Jessica Garza, Melinda Mason, Coty Schneider, Larry Wheeler,

10th Grade: Dana Althof,, Erin Buck, Kersten Cleaver, Breanna Goodwin, Morgan Hopson, Jeffri Malone, Sarah Wood

11th Grade: Jordon Bewley, Akasha Eaton, Emmalee Hurst, Jaime Mulder, Jani Taylor, Jessica Walker

12th Grade: Jordan Eaton, Derek Goodwin, Erika Partridge, James Simpson, Heidie St. Clair, April Stephens

9th Grade: Margaret Arroyo, Jessica Blain, Kimberly Blain, Sara Briggs, Michelle Bursell, Hannah Cirkles, Heather Cleaver, Melaina Collins, Ashley Duncan, Jessica Duvall, Russell Essary, Virginia Flores, Myles Galyon, Jacob Gammons, Joe Garza, Ethan Gentry, Morgan Godby, Naomi Heredia, Amy Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Felicia King, Natalie Martinez, Alexandria McKenzie, Kiefer Mitchell, Ryan Nichols, Aliesha Owens, Ethan Porter, Mackenzie Reeder, Meagan Rodriguez, Michelle Simpson, Jordan Toland, Kaytlin Towler, Jarrett Tucker, Nicholas Weissert, Derek Williamson

10th Grade: Karla Aranday, Rozlyn Austin, Annie Baker, Melinda Barnett, Zachary Barton, Christina Brown, Deunjaye Burton, Ashley Butler, Hannah Caylor, Lirio Cruz, Lora Dyson, Christi Ferguson, Stephanie Flanders, Ashley Flanery, Sarah Gibson, Keitha Gorden, Jonathan Heredia, Sandra Hernandez, Heather Hunt, Molly Lippert, Oscar Loredo, Tyler Rattan, Andrew Reich, Cody Shipp, Christopher Stockton, Amber Taylor, Carolyn Van Story, Ciara Vinson, Heather Walker

11th Grade: Kari Bonham, Brittney Bowman, Ala Bray, Caitlin Butler, Robyn Byrne, Ryan Cirkles, Sarah Daniel, Patrick Davis, Samantha Deal, Elisabeth Etheridge, Lauren Fox, Joshua Gammons, Zachary Green, Andrew Grounds, Daunte Harvey, Kacie Heistand, Danielle Hilger, Teresa Holland, Bridgette Hubbard, Jason Hughes, Jenna Lappin, Daniel Lipford, Lisett Marsh, Rae McFarlin, Simon Nickerson, Joshuah Nix, Kathryn Nix, Jennifer Orr, Emily Sanderson, Suzanne Speed, Aaron Wallace, Rachael Washington, James Winkler, Chelsea Young

12th Grade: Danielle Abbott, Mason Adams, Katie Alexander, Michael Althof, Alicia Brewer, Jamye Brown, Christopher Casperite, Kandace Catalane, Jessika Compton, Kathryn Crutcher, Joshuah Cunningham, Tara Fitzwater, James Gantt, Nathan Gibbs, Devin Grigg, Eric Hicks, Holly Higgins, Braxton Hines, Lindsey Keene, Keli Kirkpatrick, Megan Long, James Nickels, Sheyla Palacios, Hemanshubhai Patel, Sanja Petkovska, Edward Ray, Lonna Redus, Jennifer Steward, Paul Talley, Alexander Todd, Jessica Vermillion, Timothy Walker, Kristen Wilson

Bonham SNAP Center Lunch Menu

Spaghetti/meat Sauce, Pea Salad, Tossed Salad, Bread, Bread Pudding, Milk

BBQ Hot Wieners, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Bread, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Milk

Pinto Beans, Oven Fried okra, Savory Tomatoes, Cornbread, Spiced Apples, Milk

Pepper Steak, Black Eyed Peas, Greens, Cornbread, Peaches, Milk

Chicken Pot Pie, Hot Spiced Beets, Bread, Jello W/orange Juice, Milk

Ferguson Family Show

The Ferguson family show will be back in session this Friday night. March 11 at 7:30 pm. The show will be at the Lake Bonham Hoe-Down, 1/2 mile east of Lake Bonham spillway on CR 2610, Bonham, TX. The show will be hosted by the Ferguson family and their guest from Bonham, Sherman, Denison, and Paris area. Everyone is invited and welcome. Admission is free. Donations are accepted and most appreciated. Thanks to you all for your support. God bless you, and we hope to see you there. For information call 903-583-4731.

Stephenson School Schedule of Events

The following events are scheduled at Stephenson School in Bonham (Fannin County Head Start)

March 1 - Stacy Taylors class went to the Bonham Public Library for story time.

March 2 - Read Across America - Read to a child today!

March 2 - Dr. Seuss Birthday to be cellebrated with reader from 4-H club members and community friends.

March 3 - Make It, Take It Parents Workshop. 12:30p.m. Meeting Room

March 4 - Reader from I.W.Evans

March 7-11- SPRING BREAK!

March 17 - Parent Meeting - 6:30pm - Children’s Program will be Shepherd, Sandra Taylor, M. Miller, and Lane’s classes.

March 25 - Holiday - Good Friday

March 29 & 30 - Breakfast with Grandparents

Boy Scouts of America

By: Craig Jones

There’s gonna be a chili cook-off on March 19, 2005. It will be benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. The "honorees" are Cody, Ches, Meghan, Nancy and Michael, who all live in the Northeast Texas area. It will be held at Calhoun’s on Texoma Parkway in Denison and will start at 10 AM and last until it’s over.

To enter the Chili Cook-Off or to have a vendor space call Christine at 903-640-5026 or Debbie at 903-640-8147 and if there is no answer leave a message and they will call you back. (They both work crazy hours) The fee to enter your chili in the cook-off is $20 and for vendor space is $10.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st-10th place in the chili cook-off. The first place prize will be 1/2 of the entry fees for the cook-off. Everyone that participates will receive a certificate of participation.

There will be a pony ride, carriage rides, games and a silent auction. Everyone is welcome to attend. You may give a donation to eat. There will be raffles as well. I’ll be there working a booth of some sort. They still need more entries, so please bring on your chili!! I hear that a DJ from a radio station will be one of the judges, come by to find out who.

So mark the date on your calendars Saturday, March 19 at 10 AM at Calhoun’s in Denison on Texoma Parkway. Remember all proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and help to find a cure for Leukemia and other blood related cancers. So come out and bring your kids, have a great time and help a truly worthy cause. And remember we’re Cooking for a cure at the Cooking for a cure chili cook-off.

Fairview Fabulous Fairlady’s Style Show

The Fairview Fabulous Fairlady’s at Fairview Nursing and Rehab. will be hosting a style show at Fairview Nursing and Rehab. on March 22nd at 2:00 P.M. There will be three categories Formal- semi-Formal and Casual wear. The public is invited to attend and enter. Prizes will be awarded Refreshments will be served for more information call Belinda Reynolds Activity Director at 903-583-2148

Issues Facing the 79th Legislature

(Austin) - Asbestos was once widely used in the United States for construction and insulation. Breathing in microscopic amounts of asbestos fibers can result in cancer and debilitating illness, but it may take decades before the damage becomes evident. In the 1970s, the implications of workplace exposure to asbestos became apparent as injured and dying workers began to file claims. There are now claims for billions of dollars filed by hundreds of thousands of persons who were exposed to asbestos. These actions often claim that asbestos manufacturers knew early on of the risk of workplace exposure to asbestos, but concealed the evidence and failed to take steps to protect those working with or around asbestos. In 2002, one study estimated that more than 600,000 asbestos claims and lawsuits had been filed. As asbestos manufacturers began filing for bankruptcy in the face of mounting claims and awards, claimants expanded their actions to include others in the distribution chain, such as distributors, installers, and successor corporations.

One issue is the filing of claims by those who have been exposed to asbestos, but do not have any current health problems. Plaintiffs’ attorneys argue that these plaintiffs have suffered a tort injury and may in the future develop the deadly and debilitating illnesses associated with exposure; also, filing such claims may be necessary to protect claimants from losing their right to sue pursuant to the statute of limitations. Opponents claim that aggressive plaintiffs attorneys are "beating the bushes" for claimants and that 50 to 90 percent of claimants have little or no impairment as a result of exposure. They assert that such allegedly frivolous actions have resulted in expensive and complex litigation that potentially involves dozens of defendants, drives companies out of business, hurts the

economy, and results in lower awards for those claimants who are truly suffering from the effects of exposure.

The 78th Legislature, Regular Session, enacted legislation limiting the liability of certain successor corporations for the asbestos-related liabilities of a corporation acquired through merger or consolidations. Legislation was introduced, but not enacted, that would have: established medical criteria for determining whether a claimant in an asbestos exposure claim was suffering from actual impairment; placed claims where there was no actual impairment in an inactive docket, but waived the statute of limitations for such claims; set forth a procedure for transferring claims from the inactive docket if the claimant developed impairment; and given trial preference to claims involving malignant conditions resulting from asbestos exposure. Similar proposals may be introduced in the 79th Legislature.

Congress is also considering imposing limitations on the filing of asbestos claims and creating a trust fund to compensate asbestos exposure victims, but those supporting action by the Texas legislature argue that it is urgent for the state to address this issue, regardless of what congress does. Opponents assert that such legislative proposals are being promoted by business interests and do not adequately protect the rights of injured plaintiffs.

This article is taken from the Senate Research Center publication entitled "Issues Facing the 79th Legislature," and more issues from the report will be highlighted in future Capitol Updates. To view the entire report, please go to www.senate.state.tx.us or call my office to receive a hard copy.

To contact Sen. Deuell about the legislative process, contact the Capitol Office at (512) 463-0556 or mail to Sen. Bob Deuell, Texas Senate, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711. The website for the Texas Senate is www.Senate.state.tx.us. The e-mail address for Sen. Deuell is: bob.deuell@senate.state.tx.us.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Addresses Joint Session

State Representative Larry Phillips

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that the governor had delivered his biennial State of the State address before a joint session of the Texas Legislature. This address is a constitutionally dictated responsibility of the governor and outlines the governor’s priorities for each legislative session. Similarly, the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas is required by state law, rather than by the Texas Constitution, to address the legislature as well. This biennial address is known as the State of the Judiciary address. This report is the Court’s evaluation of the accessibility of the state court system to the citizens of the state, and of the future direction and needs of the court system.

Newly sworn-in Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson delivered this session’s State of the Judiciary address on February 23. Chief Justice Jefferson commented on the strides that have been made as the result of technology being used in the court system. He commented that the use of technology has made the courts more efficient and open to the public. As examples, he mentioned that the Supreme Court has placed legal briefs online and made them accessible on the web, begun implementing electronic filings, and begun making audio recordings of oral arguments available online. He expressed the court’s intent to further this progress by broadcasting court proceedings live via the internet in the future. Finally, Chief Justice Jefferson remarked on other issues such as indigent defense, judicial compensation, and access to justice.

The House of Representatives passed the first bill of the legislative session last week as well. H.B. 160, by Rep. McCall, deals with devices built into many cars called Event Data Recorders (EDR’s) which are similar to "black boxes" on airplanes. Initially these recording devices were meant to record the deployment of car air bags; however, EDR’s now have the capability of recording speed, seat belt use, braking habits, the position of the gas pedal, the use of headlights, and the force of a collision.

Although EDR’s have proven useful in diagnosing accident scenes, car black boxes have raised some privacy concerns since most drivers do not know that these devices are currently present in their vehicles. If passed by the Senate and signed by the governor, H.B. 160 would require sellers and lessors of vehicles to disclose to buyers and lessees the presence of an EVR. The bill would also requires that a person, other than the owner of the vehicle, seeking to retrieve the information contained in the EDR must obtain either the owner’s consent or a court order.

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 or by emailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us.

Do not tell Staff Sgt. Kevin Hinds, a Guardsman from Orange, that the Texas National Guard is composed of "weekend warriors." He knows better. He has spent months in the mountains of Afghanistan helping train 800 Afghans to become soldiers. These Afghans will become the core of an army helping defend that country’s fledgling democracy.

Sgt. Hinds’ experience shows that the days when the men and women of the National Guard and Reserves could be called part-time soldiers are long past. Although they were always part of our military, they were originally planned to be mobilized in the event of all-out war, as well as to cope with domestic natural disasters or civil emergencies. Their role evolved into a more active participation in our national security over time, particularly when our armed forces were downsized after the end of the Cold War.

The Reserves and Guard shouldered an increasing part of our defense burden as the operational tempo of our military increased during the 90s, with peacekeeping duties in countries such as Bosnia and Haiti. However, after the 9-11 attacks in 2001, they came into their own. National Guard and Reserve troops protected vital installations throughout the United States. Others participated in the liberation of Afghanistan. Finally, the Guard and Reserves helped overthrow Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship and freed the Iraqi people.

Of the National Guard’s 15 best-trained, best-equipped and most ready-to-deploy combat brigades, all but one are either in Iraq now, have demobilized after returning from a one-year tour in that country, or have been alerted for duty in 2005-2006. Although the percentage of Reserve and National Guard troops serving in Iraq is slated to go down in the next troop rotation, today the mix stands at 50-50.

These men and women have all stepped up to do their duty to defend freedom. While they directly bear the burden of service, their family, friends and their employers also face demands during their tours of duty overseas. The job is made easier, however, because their neighbors in Texas are providing them a great deal of support.

For instance, when the 56^th Combat Team of Texas’ 36^th Infantry Division shipped out for Iraq, 30,000 people gathered in Waco for the send-off. Imagine what it meant to those young men and women that so many of their fellow Texans cared enough to come out and wish them well. I am extremely proud that the Lone Star State is so supportive of our soldiers.

Employers play a significant role when a reservist is activated, because many of them struggle when key personnel report for long tours of duty. Recently, I traveled to Addison to attend a ceremony recognizing an employer’s commitment to our troops and their families. The company, Concentra, was receiving the 5-star award from the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve for its support for the men and women who make up our National Guard and Reserve forces.

Concentra is entering an exclusive club. Nationwide only one percent of the 8,500 companies who support their Guard and Reserve employees have achieved the 5-Star Level of Recognition. This award means the employer has signed a statement of support for their National Guard and Reserve employees and supplements their salaries.

In addition to the above, Concentra has done something new. It helped create the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network – called the MSCCN. This organization is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to providing career opportunities and job portability for military spouses through a nationwide network of employers. With the frequent transfers that are a feature of military life, many spouses have found it difficult to pull up stakes and find work. In addition, they have often found themselves having to start from the ground floor at each new community where their spouse has been transferred.

MSCCN was started, with Concentra’s assistance, by volunteer military spouses to help spouses find jobs and build careers despite the frequent moves. This organization charges no placement fees to employers, service members or military spouses and is funded through the support and commitment of its network members. I applaud those who are working to improve the lives of our soldiers and their families.

Texas stands behind our citizen soldiers because they are one of America’s unique traditions. The shot heard around the world at Concord Bridge was fired by our first National Guardsman, a Minuteman. They are always on duty to defend our freedom, and it helps them to know that all of us appreciate the sacrifices they make on our behalf.

How Is Your Brain Wired?

Jennifer Wider, M.D.
Society for Women’s Health Research

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, recently discovered structural differences in the brains of men and women in the areas responsible for thinking and transferring information.

"We studied general intelligence, which is the same between men and women," said Richard Haier, lead researcher and professor of psychology at the Department of Pediatrics at University of California, Irvine. "But we looked at structural brain differences and found that gray and white matter areas differed. This suggests to us that the brain has different ways to accomplish the same thing in men and women."

Gray matter is where information is processed in the brain. White matter is a bundle of fibers that contain connections among brain cells.

"The connections among neurons might be better in women," Haier theorized. "Women’s brains may be more efficient."

Women and men perform equally well on intelligence tests, but a growing body of research shows that the brains of women and men process information differently at a biological level. More studies are needed to understand the functional effects of these differences.

Previous studies have show n that, in general, men seem to perform better on tasks that require spatial reasoning and advanced mathematical skills; whereas women outperform men in areas including verbal reasoning and memory.

These differences may explain why some women and men often take different career paths.

"The difference in the number of women in high end mathematical reasoning careers may be a reflection of differences in gray and white matter," Haier said. Women may gravitate toward careers involved more with verbal reasoning. But because there are no apparent sex differences in measures of intelligence and intellectual capacities, other factors may play a role in career choices.

There is a tremendous amount of overlap between the abilities of men and women, so it is important to examine cultural, social and economic influences as well.

In many countries, for example, the difference in performance in science and mathematics between boys and girls is not statistically significant. This implies that factors beyond brain structure play a role.

"There is so much overlap between the abilities of men and women that we cannot predict an individual’s performance solely on the basis of whether they are male or female," Sherry Marts, vice president of scientific affairs for the Society for Women’s Health Research said. "We must be careful to not over apply generalizations about brain structure to individuals."

Marts points to social and environmental factors as indicators of brain performance.

"In addition to biological sex," Marts said, "many other factors have an impact on brain development. Beginning with the environment in uterus and continuing throughout an individual’s life, the body’s internal environment combines with external conditions such as nutrition, physical activity, parental educational levels and the availability of educational opportunities to have a profound impact on brain development and function."

The UC Irvine study may also help elucidate gender differences in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

"You may not see the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in women as early in the disease process as you would in men," Haier said. Stronger verbal and memory skills in women may explain why some women are diagnosed later with the disease than men. In addition, certain diseases that cause brain cell loss in the cerebral cortex are more damaging to women because women appear to have a lower number of brain cells in that specific area of the brain when compared with men.

There are gender differences in certain brain injuries as well. Frontal brain injuries can be more serious in women: "cognitive impairment is greater in women," Haier said. These types of injuries can be more harmful to the intelligence and cognitive processing of women than men.

From intelligence to illness and injuries, additional brain research holds the key to understanding much of human health and performance.

Sources

Kimura D. Sex Horm ones Influence Human Cognitive Pattern. Neuroendocrinology Letters 2002; 23(Suppl.4):67–77.

Haier, R. Neuroimage, Jan. 16, 2005 online edition. News release, University of California, Irvine.

Rabinowicz, T., et al., Structure of the cerebral cortex in men and women. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol, 2002. 61(1): p. 46-57.

By: Wes Littrell, TPWD, Blossom, TX

Is your agricultural exemption working for you? Many landowners throughout Texas have found that maintaining their agricultural exemption can directly conflict with their reasons for owning property. Some of those landowners have found a better fit by converting to the wildlife management open spaces exemption. On Tuesday, March 15^th, Fannin County Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring a landowner program to help you maintain your open spaces exemption while allowing you to focus on improving your property for wildlife.

In 1995 the voters of Texas voted 2-1 in favor of creating an open-space (agricultural) appraisal for land used to actively manage wildlife. The State Comptroller, with the assistance of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and Texas Cooperative Extension (TCE), was charged with creating the guidelines for qualifying lands for this tax rate. The original guidelines came out in 1996 and they were finalized in 2002. Those of us without a law degree have been trying to figure them out ever since.

The program has been very successful in allowing rural landowners to diversify their income generating activities from livestock and row-crop management to include hunting leases, bird watching, fishing, and other nature-tourism related activities. It has allowed other landowners to invest their time and money in rehabilitating overworked land instead of continuing damaging practices to avoid residential or commercial taxes. It has also been helpful to landowners whose property goals included the development of wildlife populations for themselves, their families and their friends.

Since its inception, the wildlife management open spaces exemption has been very popular with landowners, generating numerous requests for professional assistance with natural resource management. In order to meet the growing demand for assistance in developing management plans TPWD developed the Comprehensive Wildlife Management Planning Guidelines. These information packets help guide landowners step by step through creating and implementing a Wildlife Management Plan that meets their objectives and addresses all State requirements. In addition, TPWD biologists, TCE agents, Natural Resources Conservation Service personnel, and other specialists in natural resources continue to assist landowners with questions on fine-tuning a management program.

Is converting your property to a wildlife management open spaces exemption right for you? A few simple questions should help you find out. First, what are your goals? If your ultimate goal involves raising cattle or crops you should probably stick with an agricultural exemption. If you want to hunt, fish, simply enjoy nature, or cater to people who do, read on. Second, what do you want your property to look like? If a city park comes to mind you can probably stop here. Wildlife management means encouraging those plants that benefit wildlife, such as native tallgrasses for nesting, brush for hiding, and oaks for food. Third, how hands-on are you? While many aspects of wildlife management can be accomplished from a tractor, the most important jobs usually have to be done by hand.

Okay, you knew that sooner or later we would get to the legal stuff. Only those properties that currently have an agricultural appraisal can convert to a wildlife management exemption. The majority of the property (minimum 92% of acreage) must be managed to sustain native animal populations. While the animals do not have to live on the property year-round, the area must be at least seasonally important to a group of animals.

If you meet all the criteria for a wildlife management exemption, you can develop your management plan and submit it to the County Appraisal District. All plans must include certain information about the property as described in the Comprehensive Wildlife Management Planning Guidelines. The plan must include at least three management practices chosen from among seven general categories; habitat control, erosion control, predator control, providing supplemental water, supplemental food, supplemental shelter, and conducting surveys to determine use by your target species.

Unfortunately, there is still a great deal of confusion concerning the purpose and requirements of the wildlife management agricultural tax rate. For this reason, the Fannin County Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring a program for landowners interested in applying for a wildlife management agricultural tax rate. It is also an excellent opportunity for landowners currently under a wildlife management program to make sure they are within the program’s requirements. The program will be presented by TPWD biologists who regularly assist landowners in developing their management plans. Biologists will take landowners through the basics of developing their wildlife management plan, including, providing supplemental food and shelter, habitat control, predator control, wildlife population censuring techniques, and how to develop your wildlife management plan. Jay Whiteside, a TPWD biologist specializing in landowner assistance will conclude the program up with an overview of conservation programs for landowners.

The program will be at the South Annex at 210 S. Main Street in Bonham. Registration will begin at 9:00 and the program will begin at 10:00 on Tuesday, March 15, 2005. Please RSVP with Fannin County SWCD at 903/583-9513, ext. 3 or with the Texas Cooperative Extension Office at 903/583-7453

Attorney General Abbott Urges U.S. Supreme Court To Uphold Texas Ten Commandment Monument

WASHINGTON – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a Ten Commandments monument on the Texas Capitol grounds as a constitutional acknowledgment of religion. Attorney General Abbott, who delivered the oral arguments for the State of Texas, said the monument does not establish or endorse religion, but commemorates the profound influence the Ten Commandments have had on Texas and U.S. history and culture.

"The First Amendment was never intended to remove all religious expression from the public square," Attorney General Abbott said. "The Ten Commandments are undoubtedly a religious text, but they have also played an undeniable role in the shaping of our country’s laws. It is perfectly constitutional for Texas to recognize that secular influence by displaying the Ten Commandments."

The Texas Legislature accepted the six-foot granite monument in 1961 from the Fraternal Order of Eagles to commend their work with youth. The monument was placed halfway between the Capitol and the state Supreme Court building to signify the secular impact the Ten Commandments have had on the state’s legal institutions. It is one of 17 memorials that adorn the grounds of the Texas Capitol and celebrate various people, events, and ideals important to the culture and diversity of Texas.
Attorney General Abbott continued: "The Supreme Court already recognizes the importance of the Ten Commandments in our nation’s history and their impact on our laws. Carvings of Moses and the Ten Commandments appear throughout the Supreme Court building, including the very chambers where we argued this case today. Like these sculptures, the Texas monument is constitutional, and I hope the Supreme Court will make that clear when it rules on this case."
The Ten Commandments monument sat unchallenged on the Capitol grounds for more than 40 years, until Thomas Van Orden sued in 2002 claiming it was an unconstitutional establishment of religion. The federal district court rejected his argument, ruling the state’s reasons for placing the monument were secular, and thus constitutional. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit also upheld the monument in 2003, and Van Orden appealed that decision to the Supreme Court.
Federal appeals courts are deeply divided on whether Ten Commandments displays violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Attorney General Abbott said he hopes the Supreme Court will use the Texas case to clear up confusion on the issue.

Telephone, Tx Musician on TV

The weekly show will feature selected trail ride locations across America. The show will focus on the available trails, stabling locations and their accommodations as well as area attractions. The conclusion of each program will feature a campfire segment and a performing music group selected from national search, which included Washington, DC, Georgia and Texas.

The show is a result of the 10-year Anniversary of Tom & Patricia Seay’s American Transcontinental Trail Ride from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. That 3,000 mile ride visited 83 cities and towns with riders from 19 states and Canada. That ride was covered on CNN, commented on by Paul Harvey Radio, and featured in the French Television documentary, "The American West".

Ector, Tx Musician on TV

The Best of America by Horseback^TM television show has selected the Ector area, musician, Brandon Bush to be highlighted in their series of trail ride television series. His performance will be taped on location in Ivanhoe, Texas at Kueckelhan’s Ranch on Sunday, March 20, 2005 following the cattle drive. The series will begin airing this July on both Dish TV Network and DirecTV, being hosted by Outdoorsman, Tom Seay and Co-Hosted by movie wrangler, Doug Sloan; both of Virginia.

The weekly show will feature selected trail ride locations across America. The show will focus on the available trails, stabling locations and their accommodations as well as area attractions. The conclusion of each program will feature a campfire segment and a performing music group selected from national search, which included Washington, DC, Georgia and Texas.

Dodd City, Tx Musician on TV

The Best of America by Horseback^TM television show has selected the Dodd City area, musician, Thomas Flannery to be highlighted in their series of trail ride television series. His performance will be taped on location in Sulphur Springs at Cooper Lake on Tuesday, March 15, 2005. The series will begin airing this July on both Dish TV Network and DirecTV, being hosted by Outdoorsman, Tom Seay and Co-Hosted by movie wrangler, Doug Sloan; both of Virginia.

The weekly show will feature selected trail ride locations across America. The show will focus on the available trails, stabling locations and their accommodations as well as area attractions. The conclusion of each program will feature a campfire segment and a performing music group selected from national search, which included Washington, DC, Georgia and Texas.

The show is a result of the 10-year Anniversary of Tom & Patricia Seay’s American Transcontinental Trail Ride from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. That 3,000 mile ride visited 83 cities and towns with riders from 19 states and Canada. That ride was covered on CNN, commented on by Paul Harvey Radio, and featured in the French Television documentary, "The American West".

Excerpts From Attorney General Abbott’s Argument At The U.S. Supreme Court In The Ten Commandments Case

WASHINGTON– Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the Ten Commandments monument to remain on the Texas Capitol grounds. In place for over 40 years, the monument is one of 17 on the Capitol grounds that reflect the development of Texas history and culture.

Opening Remarks by Attorney General Greg Abbott:
ABBOTT: "Justice Stevens, and may it please the court: Every court that has reviewed the specific facts of this case has agreed that the Texas monument is constitutional under this Court’s well settled precedents in Lynch and Allegheny. This Court should agree that the Texas monument should not be torn down from its historical place for three reasons."
"First, the Ten Commandments is an historically recognized symbol of law. Second, this monument is one of the smallest of the 17 monuments on the Capitol grounds, and like most of the other monuments, was a gift to the State of Texas and is clearly recognized as such on the monument itself. And third, this monument has stood for more than 40 years without controversy on a national historic landmark."
Attorney General Abbott exchange with Justice Stephen Breyer:
ABBOTT: "But clearly as they walk through the Capitol grounds, what any observer, not just the reasonable observer, what any observer would notice is that before they could even get to this particular monument, they will have passed in full view of countless other monuments and historical markers clearly indicating to them that they are not there for the purpose of seeing just the Ten Commandments but they are in a museum-like setting cast among many different kinds of monuments. And so they appreciate the setting before they even arrive at the Ten Commandments monument."
"Also when they arrive at the Ten Commandments monument, they will notice it is one of the smallest of the monuments on the Texas Capitol grounds. It does have the disclaimer on it indicating that it was donated by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. It does not have the State seal on it like many of the other monuments...."
Attorney General Abbott exchange with Justice Anthony Kennedy:
ABBOTT: "Well, Justice Kennedy, I believe that there is a very meaningful difference between this Court’s standards of an endorsement and what a State or the nation may do with regard to commemoration.
As an easy example, on the National Mall, there is, of course, the Lincoln Memorial and in the Lincoln Memorial, there is text from the King James version of the Bible. The nation commemorates and acknowledges Lincoln and what he has said. But by that display, the United States is not trying to endorse the King James version of the Bible or a particular religious message in that."
Exchange between Justice Anthony Kennedy and petitioner’s counsel Erwin Chemerinsky:
JUSTICE KENNEDY: "Well, you know, in the First Amendment speech area, we’re very, very strict. A moment’s delay in publication is a constitutional crisis. And I’m not sure that we should carry that over to this area, where there is this obsessive concern with any mention of religion. That seems to me to show a hostility to religion. I just don’t see a balanced dialogue in our cases or in these kinds of arguments."
MR. CHEMERINSKY: "Your Honor, I don’t believe there should be an obsessive concern with religion. If the Ten Commandments are displayed as part of an overall display of law givers, like that frieze, it’s permissible. But when you put sacred texts somewhere on government property, then the message is that the government is endorsing...."
JUSTICE KENNEDY: This is a classic avert your eyes. If an atheist walked by, he can avert his eyes, he can think about something else.

Fannin County Retired Teachers Association

The March meeting of the Fannin County Retired Teachers Association was held on Tuesday, March 1. President Jo Jones called the meeting to order and chaplain Barbara Gore led the pledges to the American and Texas flags. Richard Campbell, accompanied by Mary Jim Clements, led the group in singing America The Beautiful.

Following the reading of minutes and the treasurer’s report, Tom Thornton gave a legislative report on changes in TRS funding and benefits being considered by the Texas Legislature. Some of the funding changes being considered are to increase state contributions, increase active educator contributions, and asking school districts to pay into the system for return-to-work employees. Members were urged to write or email all elected officials asking for their support of an increase in the TRS annuity.

Member Beverly Wakefield gave an entertaining and informative program on Texas including some of the history of the Texas flag. She presented a Texas flag to the FCRTA. Ms. Wakefield reported on several events that happened first in Texas, and several Texans who, although relatively unknown, played an important part in the history of the nation.

Members were reminded of the next meeting which will be on April 5 at 2:00 p.m. in the Elizabeth May Room of the American Bank in Bonham. Refreshments were served by Dana Clifton, hostess for the meeting.

Save Our Land

URGENT NOTICE TO SAVE OUR LAND MEMBERS! VERY IMPORTANT UPCOMING MEETINGS

1. Save Our Land Meeting – Monday, March 7, 2005, 6:30 pm at the Gober Community Center. Purpose: Shane Wallace will discuss upcoming actions regarding Lake Ralph Hall and explain the importance of the next two meetings listed below. Note: This meeting was previously to be held on March 8th.

2. Open Forum Meeting – Tuesday, March 8, 2005, 6:00 pm at the Fannin County South Annex, 210 S. Main St., Bonham, TX. Upper Trinity Regional Water District representatives will be voicing support of Lake Ralph Hall. Flower Mound representatives will be voicing opposition. Large numbers of Fannin County citizens must turn out to voice opposition, too. Bring friends, neighbors, and relatives! ! !

3. Commissioners Court Meeting – Monday, March 14, 2005,
9:00 am, Fannin County Courthouse or the South Annex at 210 S. Main St., Bonham, TX. NOTE: The size of the crowd will probably cause the meeting to be at the South Annex. County commissioners will be voting on whether the county will support or not support the Lake Ralph Hall project. Large numbers of Fannin County folks must attend! A sizable crowd of citizens will visibly "remind" the commissioners as to our opposition.

Please make every effort possible to attend these 3 meetings! This will be our chance to defeat the Lake Ralph Hall Project. Let’s keep the development of Fannin County in the hands of Fannin County residents.

Frontier Properties Newest Agent Becky Goss

As a life long resident of Fannin County, Becky feels blessed to have experienced the warmth and love of growing up in a small town. Becky is a graduate of Bonham High School and Texas A&M Commerce where she received a Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degree in Education. After a twenty-eight year career in teaching, I am now a full-time licensed Texas Real Estate agent with Frontier Properties. During her teaching career, she acquired excellent communication and negotiation skills. Becky will use these skills to assist her clientele reach their goal as owners of real estate.

As a former, teacher, buyer and sellers, you have my attention!

Member:

Texas State Teacher’s Association, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, Greater Texoma Association of Realtors

Northeast Medical Center

March 7, 2005- March 11, 2005 Hours 11:45-1:00 p.m.

Monday- Stew & Cornbread or Chicken Salad on Croissant, Chips, Tomato Cucumber Salad, Peach Cobbler, Salad Bar

Tuesday- Chicken Enchiladas, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice, Chips & Sauce, Strawberry Shortcake, Salad Bar

Wendesday- Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes/ Gravy, Winter Mix, Green Peas, Dinner Roll, Banna Pudding, Salad Bar

Thursday- Pork Chops, Cabbage, Broccoli, Scalloped Potatoes, Cornbread, Coconut Pie, Salad Bar

Friday- Roast Beef/ Brown Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Squash, Dinner Roll, Chocolate Pie, Salad Bar

Fannin County Republican Party

THE FANNIN COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY will have a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and Pot Luck Dinner Thursday, March 17, 2005. This countywide meeting will be held at the Elizabeth May Room in the American Bank Building in Bonham, TX starting at 6:30 PM.

This is a community event regardless of you party affiliation. Everyone is invited to attend! The main course of pizza and drinks will be provided. Bring your favorite salad or dessert to share.

Bonham Expressionetts Dance Team To Help With Relay For Life

The Bonham Expressionetts Dance Team, the Dance Studio have officially put together a Relay for Life team to do several things to raise money that will help the American Cancer Society to fund research, advocacy, education and services for those fighting cancer.

All money from three different events will to go Relay for Life program. If you would like to give, donate or purchase a raffle ticket, contact Tammy Anderson at 903-583-0932.

One of the most popular children’s events held in Bonham each spring is the annual Chi Lambda sponsored Breakfast with the Easter Bunny. This year’s breakfast will be held Saturday, March 26, 2005 from 9-10:30 a.m. in the Finley-Oates Elementary School Cafeteria. The Easter Egg Hunt will begin at 9:45a.m. Three separate egg hunts will take place at that time with children divided into age groups. Children should bring their own Easter baskets with toddlers thru 3rd grade invited to participate.

The price of each ticket is $7.00. Due to the popularity of this event, advanced purchase is suggested, as space is limited. Only a few tickets will be available at the door. Tickets may be purchased from any Chi Lambda member or by calling Samantha at 903 640-0406, or Beverly at 903 664-2120.

The price of the ticket includes a picture of each child with Mr. or Mrs. Bunny standing in front of a beautiful hand painted backdrop and placed in a keepsake folder, a delicious breakfast, and the candy eggs at the Easter Egg Hunt. A small gift will be given to each child as they leave to return to their home.

Chi Lambda is a local service sorority that uses the proceeds raised at its annual Fall Charity Auction and Dance to assist children and needy organizations in Bonham and Fannin County. School supplies, medications, eye glasses, dental work and Christmas gifts for needy children are just a few of the things the organization spends its funds on.

Student Rides for Cancer Research

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) has athletic events for fundraising. Their "Team in Training" (TNT) members participate in marathons, half marathons, triathlons, and bicycling events all over the country. As they solicit donations for their event, they rely on, and get inspiration from their Honored Heroes- people who have shown great courage in battling their cancers.

Alex Page of Gober, TX has joined the LLS’s Team in Training. He is a home-schooled senior that is very active in the community. He has been in 4-H, is politically active, and donates his time and energy to building and maintaining mountain bike trails at Lake Fannin, Bonham State Park, and is assisting BEDCO with developing the new city park. He is an intern with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services in Bonham. He is actively working with ranchers and farmers to map out their property for conservation.

Alex will participate in America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, a 100-mile ride around Lake Tahoe! Their coach has them on a schedule for individual training, and they have group rides each week for practice. They have much to accomplish to be ready to ride the 100 miles on June 5th, 2005!

Alex has chosen as his Honor Heroes, his grandmother Margaret Hoeltge, who short battle with cancer ended in February at her death and Calum McCasland, who is a cancer survivor. Loosing his grandmother to this disease has made him all the more dedicated to training hard and accepting donations for the LLS so that htey can continue their each for a cure.

If you would like to donate to Alex’s participation in this charity ride, please contact him at (903)583-9724 or by e-mail at pagehf@yahoo.com. He also has a web page that will give you more information about LLS and see pictures, www.active.com/donate/tntntx/wap. Visit his page and donate securely online to help him reach his goal for donations. You may send donation by mail by making your check payable to "LLS" and mailing tit to Alex Page, 3775 FM 68 (Gober), Wolfe City, TX 75496.

Alex is available to speak to your group. If you would like to schedule a meeting with him, please contact him soon. All donation gifts must be in before the end of April 2005.

You will feet great knowing that you helped the LLS and Alex find a cure for these cancers.

Legal Aid of North West Texas’ Legal Aid Clinic

Legal Aid of North West Texas, held its quarterly Legal Aid Clinic at 6:00 p.m. on January 25, 2005 at the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church Annex, in Bonham, Texas.

Assisting staff from Legal Aid Services were Fannin County Bar Association Member Volunteers, Joe D. Moss, Steven Mears and Sharron L. Cox, Fannin County Bar President. Melissa Sue Bellows was the Volunteer paralegal for the night. The Clinic served eleven applicants.

Legal Aid of North West Texas has offices in Abilene, Amarillo, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Lubbock, McKinney, Midland, Odessa, Plainview, San Angelo, Waxahachie, Wichita Falls and Weatherford.

Legal Aid of North West Texas offers free legal services to qualifying applicants. For more information regarding its services, or if you would like to volunteer to help at the clinics, call 800.906.3045 or visit www.lanwt.ore.

Future clinics will be held on April 26, July 26 and in October, 2005, starting at 6:00 O’clock p.m. at the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church ,Annex.

North Fannin County Volunteer Fire Department Announces New Fire Chief

Linda Denninger of Ivanhoe has been elected as the new Fire Chief of the North Fannin County Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief Denninger moved to Ivanhoe in 1997 and joined the N.F.V.FD in 2000. In January 2004 she obtained her Basic Firefighter Certification and in July 2004 became a First Responder thru the National Registry. Chief Denninger invites everyone to a General Meeting Tuesday, March 8th at 7PM in the Sam Rayburn Elementary school cafeteria.

Postmaster Rosa Gonzales started her postal career in 1981 as a substitute rural mail carrier in McKinney. She Became a Regular Rural Carrier in 1982. She Transferred to Farmersville as a Rural Carrier in 1985. In January 1991, She went to Lavon as Officer-in-Charge in October and became Postmaster the same year.

She was named Postmaster of Leonard in 1993; She transferred to Troy in 1997, she was promoted to Postmaster in Salado in 1999 and was again promoted to Gatesville in 2003. She also served as Officer-in-Charge in Little Elm, Pottsboro, Marble Falls, Belton and Cedar Park.

In addition, she has worked as a Certified Route Inspector, Retail Specialist, Quality of Work Life Facilitator, Postmaster trainer and Coach of NORTX in the San Antonio District, and Numerous audit teams. She served on the Waco Diversity Committee for Postal Service, and the Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors in both Leonard and Gatesville, TX.

She is excited to finally be coming back home to this area. She was born and raised in Princeton. Her mother and father Earl and Alene Nickerson both, who are deceased, relocated to Whitewright when her father retired. They both loved spending weeks at a time on Bonham Lake. She spent many weekends visiting with them in this area along with her son Allen Gibson II.

Her son, Allen, daughter-in-law, Lynne, and my four year old granddaughter Faith all reside in Princeton. Being only 45 minutes instead of 2 1/2 hours will make visiting family a lot easier. Her husband Steve and step son Aaron will both be relocating to Bonham in the near future.

She has only been here since December 27, but she is very pleased with the staff. She hopes to get to know a lot of people here and become involved in the community.

Beta Psi Spring Luncheon

The annual Beta Psi Spring Luncheon has been scheduled for Saturday, March 26, 2005, at the Northside Church of Christ Activity Center. Tickets are $8.00 and may be purchased from Beta Psi members, as well as the Bonham I.S.D. Administration Building and the Fannin County Special. Lunch will be served at 11:00 a.m. Beta Psi is pleased to welcome back Dave Tanner for this year’s entertainment. Dave will present his delightful program, Hollywood: The Stories behind the Songs. Guests will be entertained with Dave’s musical and historical tribute to this fascinating industry. His show includes "Moon River", "As Time Goes By", and "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", and how all three of these classic movie songs were almost cut from their finished films. Dave also shares how Hollywood helped win WWII, through efforts both on-screen and off, including some that were Top Secret at the time.

Members of Beta Psi hope that you will purchase a ticket and join them at the Spring Luncheon. Ticket sales for this event help the Beta Psi Chapter give scholarships to individuals in the Fannin County area who are pursuing a career in education.

Amateur Radio Technician Class Licensing Course Announcement

The Fannin County Amateur Radio Club will be conducting its next Technician Class Amateur Radio Licensing Course beginning Tuesday, March 22nd, and will run for five weeks concluding on Tuesday, April 19th. Classes will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Fannin County South Annex, 210 S. Main Street in Bonham. Individuals interested in taking the course must sign up by March 8th. To sign up for the class, please contact instructor Doug Loughmiller at (214) 455-7071 or via the Internet at W5BL@arrl.net. There is no fee for taking the class, however, there is a fee for the study guide.

Bonham Fire Chief Brad Nichols gave an informative program to the Bonham Rotary Club last week. Chief Nichols explained the I.S.O. (Insurance Service Organization) rating that Fire Departments receive and how it effects every resident. He stated that fire loss is the largest damage that insurance companies pay, and that homeowner’s insurance is determined by the quality of the fire department that serves that homeowner. The I.S.O. rating is from 1 to 10, and Bonham’s rating is currently a 6. Chief Nichols’ goal is to lower Bonham’s rating to a 4 by doing two major projects. One is to provide more service area by building a substation at Jones Field, and the other one is to purchase a piece of equipment that the fire department does not have. The cost to build the substation to taxpayers would be equivalent to the cost savings to the homeowner‘s insurance, therefore, not costing the homeowner anything. He urged anyone who may have questions about this and the upcoming bond election to give him a call at 903-583-3731.

The Bonham Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 12 Noon at the Family Life Center.

It’s A Boy

Logan weighed 6lbs 5oz. and was 19 inches long.