Bonham ISD Board of Trustee Meeting

The Bonham ISD Board of Trustee met for a regular meeting on February 21st.

(A ) School Board Training—February 28, 2005, 6:00 p.m., BISD Administration Office

(B) Dates for accepting Bonham ISD Board of Trustee candidate applications are February 7, - March 7, 2005. Early voting dates are April 20 - May 3, 2005. School Board Election is May 7, 2005.

(C) Delinquent Tax Collections – Myles Porter and Bill Gant

(D) Health Services Update – Kelli Bowen

(E) Athletic Fundraising Opportunities – Ron Hill

(F) Homeless Education Update – Joetta Wallace

(G) New Scholarship Funds

(H) Average Daily Attendance Update – 1860.91

(I) Transfer Students Update- 3

(J) Resignations: Don Anderson, Shane Fletcher

The Board Approved:

Help A Student Raise Money For March Of Dimes

March of Dimes is on its way for some local students and teachers here in Dodd City ISD. Timothy La Vergne, a senior here at Dodd City has set up a team to walk in the March of Dimes Campaign in Bonham, Texas. Students from 8^th Grade to 12^th Grade can participate in this event and teachers and staff members are welcome to walk in with us too.

Timothy La Vergne is involved in many school and outside programs. Timothy plays Tennis and Baseball for Dodd City High. La Vergne likes to give back to the community because he knows it’s right. He enjoys helping the Bonham Police and Fire Department out by playing their mascots McGruff the Crime Dog and Sparky the Fire Dog. You can see Timothy almost at every event that these department’s have. Timothy is known as a great role model and a great student to his student friends. This year Timothy took on the challenge to be a Team Captain for March of Dimes and his goal is to raise $600.00 or more. Mr. La Vergne mentioned, "that with our new generation coming, we needed to raise all the money we can to help keep out children going into the future." So please help Timothy La Vergne make his goal!

If you would like to make any donations to Timothy’s Team, you can contact him at 903-583-1891 or mail him your donations to PO BOX 755 Bonham, TX 75418.

Today in the U.S., 1 in every 8 babies will be born prematurely. Some of them won’t survive, and others will have health problems that could last a lifetime. The funds we raise in WalkAmerica support research that saves babies’ lives.

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.

On January 30, 2003, the fight against prematurity was officially launched at a press conference in Washington, D.C. The all-out effort to reduce prematurity will be waged on a number of fronts.

Goal: Raising Awareness of Prematurity
The March of Dimes goal is to increase the proportion of people who consider prematurity a very serious problem from 35% in 2002 to 60% by 2007.While the rate of premature births has been increasing, surveys show that most people have no idea either how widespread or how serious the problem is. Prematurity is a silent enemy...and a lethal one.
To inform the public about this serious problem, the March of Dimes has produced television, radio and print materials that will be distributed across the country.Other material has been created to educate pregnant women about the signs of preterm labor and what to do if they have them.

Goal: Reducing the Rate of Premature Births
The March of Dimes goal is to reduce the rate of prematurity by 15%—from 11.9% of all births in 2001 to 10.1% in 2007.
Prematurity has increased at an alarming rate over the past two decades. The March of Dimes is determined to stem the tide of premature deliveries with education and research.Education helps ensure that pregnant women and their health care providers have the latest information about how to reduce the risk of a premature birth.
Funding research is critical to the fight against prematurity. If the causes of premature birth can be better understood, then new ways to prevent it can be developed. A significant portion of our research portfolio addresses prematurity. With help from people like you, we can fund more research. Help us gain more knowledge before we lose more babies.

Harmony House Presents Rex Foster

Singer-Songwriter

On Saturday, March 12, 2005, Texas singer-songwriter and artist Rex Foster, from Texas’ Hill Country, will display his mulit-faceted talents at Harmony House on Wildscape Acres, 10 miles north of Bonham near Ravenna, Texas. Just over an hour from the Dallas area. Ask for directions when making your reservations. The requested prepaid donation is $10 per person. All proceeds go to the artist.

There will be a Reception and showing of Rex’s exquisite one-of-a-kind jewelry designs from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. and the concert will be from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m..

Call 903-583-2661 for reservations. Reservations are considered confirmed when payment is received.

Make check to Rex Foster and send to Faye Wedell, PO Box 812, Bonham, TX 75418.

Should a reservation need to be cancelled, please notify prior by March 9; your money will be refunded. The concert will be held indoors. Seating is limited.

There will not be a potluck dinner that evening, but guests are asked to bring sweets/ snacks/finger foods for "grazing" during both the reception and the concert. Bottomless cups of coffee, hot tea/ wassail, and punch will be available. $1 per person cash donation is appreciated to defray expenses.

Troop 52 Camps at Robber’s Cave

On February 18^th, 11 Boy Scouts from Troop 52 descended upon Robber’s Cave State Park near Wilburton, OK. Unlike visitors of old, these Scouts were not hiding from the law or chasing after Jesse James, Belle Starr, or other outlaws rumored to have spent time in the maze of rocks and caves in eastern Oklahoma. With an unquenchable sense of adventure, these seasoned Scouts explored the caves, climbed the rocks, hiked the trails, and rode their bikes around the 8,246 acre state park, exploring the same terrain that attracted bank robbers and other assorted outlaws to the area.

Even though this month’s campout was designated a "relaxation" weekend, there are always lessons to be taught, skills to be learned, and competitions to be won. Outdoor cooking, camp-site setup, use of woods tools (axe, saw, knife), and safe hiking were all part of the curriculum.

The Jaguar patrol finished as the winners in the survival shelter building competition.

The goal was to build the best shelter, using only items you would either have with you in an everyday situation or materials found in nature. The patrols had one hour to gather the materials and construct a shelter. At the end of the time limit, one member of the patrol had to lie in the shelter while 10 gallons of water was poured over it. The structure which held up the best was designated the winner. Even though the Cobra patrol didn’t win, they competed hard and showed great sportsmanship. The spirit of competition helps the patrols become closer as teams, which in turn teaches several lessons which will prove valuable as the Scouts mature.

Upcoming trips include an 8-day backpack and canoe trip which will cover a total of 86.3-miles (44.7 backpacking / 41.6 canoeing) on the Buffalo River Trail and Buffalo River, in northern Arkansas. Also on the calendar is another canoe trip to Oklahoma in April, a backpacking trip to the Ozark Mountains in May, and then to Summer Camp at Camp Constantin on Possum Kingdom Lake in June. In addition to these trips, there are several other activities which the troop participates in, thus allowing for an opportunity for everyone to participate in one activity or another nearly every weekend. There are usually less strenuous options to the primary activity as well, to accommodate varying skill and interest levels. The Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) attempts to tailor the activities so that maximum participation is achieved.

Sunday morning was greeted with a rendition of "Purple Haze" by Bugler John Reeder, which not only woke up a weary camp, but also stoked school spirit within the boys. Camp pack-up signaled the beginning of the end for this fun weekend, but one last trip to the caves to crawl up and slide down the many crevices, along with a chapel service led by Jeff Hamby inside Robber’s Cave itself, served as the perfect ending to a wonderful Scout outing.

Boy Scouts participating in the Robber’s Cave campout were Trey Wheeler, Nick Hamby, Blake Frazier, Nathan Orr, Chris Smith, Dylan Allen, Christopher Glatt, Nolen Hughes, Zach Kateeb, Tanner Long, and John Reeder. Accompanying the Scouts were David Wheeler, Jeff Hamby, Lloyd Long, and Steve Hughes.

For information regarding Troop 52, please contact Scoutmaster David Wheeler at 903­ 640-1869, or visit our web site: www.troop52.com.

Children’s Center Gains 5 New Volunteers

Abused children of Fannin County recently gained five new advocates. The Honorable Judge Lauri Blake of the 336^th District Court recently swore in five new CASA volunteers. Volunteers include Brooke Secord of Telephone, Judy Glaser of Ector, Robert Hood of Bailey and Kenneth Karl and Barbara Wilson of Bonham.

Each of the trainees successfully completed 30 hours of training to become volunteers with each of the Fannin County Children’s Center’s two main programs. Volunteers are now ready to be appointed by the judge to serve as a Guardian ad Litem for an abused child involved in the court system. In that role they will gather information for the court and advocate for the child’s best interest. In addition, volunteers have been prepared for providing support to the children and families who come to the Children’s Advocacy Center for forensic interviews.

"We are really excited about this new group of volunteers," said Sandy Barber, Executive Director of the Children’s Center. "They have put in a lot of hours in training to do an important job and will make a positive difference in the lives of some very special kids."

"We are also very grateful to all of the professionals who help us train our new volunteers," continued Barber. "Staff from Child Protective Services, local therapists, attorneys, Judge Blake and others working in the child abuse field each stayed late into the evening in order to share their knowledge and expertise with our volunteers." On the final night of training, Judge Blake presided over a mock trial, which also involved Fannin County Attorney Richard Glaser, local attorney Joe Moss, tenured CASA volunteers Mel Dunham and Stephanie Wood and CASA staff Joyce McGehee and Sandy Hood.

In the agency’s most recent fiscal year, CASA volunteers contributed about 2,000 hours in their work for 67 children. Volunteers also logged in nearly 600 hours with the Children’s Advocacy Center. For more information about CASA or the Children’s Advocacy Center, call (903) 583-4339 or visit www.fanninccc.org .

Boy Scouts of America

Sorry, I missed a week. This week I want to tell you about Merit Badge University. All the boy scouts in Netseo Trails Council had the opportunity to attend this two day event. A large number of us went. We spent two Saturdays at Paris Junior College earining a maximum of three merit badges.

The ones I aimed for were Citizenship of the Community, Citizenship of the Nation and Salesmanship. Although I didn’t finish earning the two citizen badges, I did complete Salesmanship. I only have a one requirement left to complete for Citizenship of the Nation and a couple left for Citizenship of the Community. For Citizenship of the Community I toured the local Post Office, it was interesting and I learned a lot.

Each Saturday we had about an hour and a half for lunch. The hotdogs weren’t that great on the first day. The second Saturday, I had pizza and it was great in comparison. During each class we got a 10-20 minute break, I was glad to get one. While there I made some new friends.

I really enjoyed Merit Badge University. The teachers I had were nice and we all enjoyed working with them. As well as, the teachers enjoyed working with us. I am so glad to have this one over, but I am looking forward to the next Merit Badte University. (Who’d have thunk it, we were acutally at a University of sorts)

Stay tuned next week for information on the Cooking for a Cure Chili Cook-off.

Kiwanis Club Meeting

February 15, 2005

President, Mary-k Ashley Wilson and guest Rodney Whitworth of Airwaves Communications pose during the Kiwanis Club Meeting on February 15, 2005.

The Kiwanis Club of Bonham meets every Tuesday at Shumardii’s Restaurant on Hwy. 121 at noon. We enjoy our guests, please join us!

Dodd City Little Dribblers

The 4th grade girls Little Dribbler team went undefeated this season. Team members are: Joanna Gilbreath, Misty Goodin, Rainy Goodin, Alex Hilliard, Briann Hilliard, Makagan Mitchell, Jaiden Pelton, and Christi Petty. Coaches: Brian Hilliard and Tracie Mitchell.

NIGHT ON THE TOWN "Hollywood Style"

Saturday, March 5, 2005

From 6:00 - 9:00pm, visit these exciting stops for hors d’oeuvres and drinks: Creative Arts Center (The Wizard of Oz)...200 West 5th Street, Legacy Ridge Country Club (Giant)...Highway 82 East, The Home of Roy and Lynda Floyd (Casa Blanca)...408 Rainey Street, At 9:00pm, everyone joins together for Dessert and Coffee at the Family Life Center... Starring YOU as your favorite movie character!

Night on the Town, the fund raising party benefiting the Fannin Community Foundation, is back this year with a new format for your evening-out enjoyment. THREE gathering places are offered, complete with hors d’oeuvres and drinks. We invite you to visit all three for a variety of Oscar-winning movie-themed refreshments. And we invite YOU to theme yourselves - come as your favorite movie character (not required, but fun)! Then, at 9:00 pm, everyone is invited to the Family Life Center for dessert and coffee. "Movie Tickets" for all 3 parties, plus the dessert and coffee after party, are $25.00 per person. HURRY! Get your tickets TODAY at the Family Life Center or the Creative Arts Center!

If you have any questions, call either location at (903) 583-1918 or (903) 640-2196! All Proceeds to benefit the Fannin Community Foundation, Inc.

Fannin County Freecycle: Keep Trash out of Our Landfills

Fannin County, TX--The Freecycle Network is proud to announce the launch of their new online group and accompanying message board, Fannin County Freecycle. Based on the old adage that "one person’s trash is another person’s treasure", the Fannin County Freecycle Network’s goal is to slow the flow of trash into our landfills by connecting people who want to get rid of old "stuff" with those frugal people looking for free "stuff".

Anyone looking to give away or acquire an item is welcome at Fannin County Freecycle, where all items listed are absolutely free! Fannin County Freecycle welcomes charitable organizations to post their needs, giving confidence to a donor that the item is actually needed locally, and is not going to collect dust on a thrift store shelf. The Fannin County Freecycle Network was established in February, 2005 by Fannin County resident and volunteer board member, Michele Reece.

Fannin County Freecycle is hosted on Yahoo!Groups. Signing up is simple. Instructions are available on the Fannin County Freecycle Yahoo! page at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fannincountyfreecycle

Recognizing a good idea when we see one, the Fannin County Freecycle Network was inspired by and is modeled after the Tucson Freecycle Network, founded in March 2003 and profiled in the September 2003 issue of Utne magazine. Created by the non-profit group "Downtown Don’t Waste It", the Tucson Freecycle Network has
sparked a worldwide "freecycling" revolution of 942,493 people in 2,370 cities and several countries so far, with more added every day.

To see grassroots working at its best, visit the "freecycling" movement website at: http://www.freecycle.org.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans recycle approximately 28% of its garbage, thus keeping 64 million tons of waste out of landfills across the country. Local Fannin County area residents are encouraged to join the Fannin County Freecycle group and "freecycle" their trash rather than just
thoughtlessly tossing it away to clog and fill our landfill sites.

Together, we can raise awareness, reduce waste, and build
a brighter tomorrow.

Dodd City ISD comes together with A&M-Commerce

By Timothy La Vergne II, Photo by News Room, Texas A&M-Commerce

Texas A&M-Commerce invited a special guest to perform with their mascot Lucky the Lion. This performance was the first time that Commerce would have a special mascot appearance from a different school. DC the Hornet from Dodd City ISD was honored to make his appearance at the Texas A&M game against Kingsville A&M. DC cheered with Lucky and the Lion Dancers during the game and at halftime on the sidelines.

What made this unique was that it was really cool to see two mascots come together and perform while cheering the Lions on. Overall the Lions pulled away against Kingsville and won. You can see Lucky the Lion and the Lion Dancers at every other home game and away game…So come out and support your Texas A&M-Commerce Lions!

Go Lions & Lady Lions!

More Bills Filed for the 79th Legislature

This week I will continue to discuss different bills that have been filed for the 79th Legislative Session. Although we have not yet started debating legislation on the floor of the House, bills are being referred to and heard in committees. To be heard before the full House, a bill must receive a hearing in committee and then be voted out by the committee members. As you can see by the diversity of these three bills, the legislature considers legislation on a wide array of topics each session.

House Bill 506 would prohibit the hunting of wild animals or birds on private property that is submerged under public waters. The boundaries of the property must be clearly marked as private property. It is already illegal to hunt on private property that is not submerged without the consent of the owner. HB 506 would extend the existing law to cover property owners whose lands have become submerged in public water. However, this bill would not apply to fishing, or to hunters who have permission from the owner of the property to hunt on the land. HB 506 has been referred to the Committee on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism.

House Bill 1089 would require credit card companies to post the pay-off date of the current credit card balance if the card-holder were to only make the monthly minimum payment. The pay-off date would be printed directly below the location where the minimum payment is stated. This bill would apply to Texas residents, regardless of the location of the credit card company. Proponents say that this bill will help protect consumers by making them aware of how long it will take them to pay off their debt. Similar provisions are already in effect on property and auto loans, and proponents believe credit card companies should also have to state a pay-off date. Opponents of this legislation say that credit card-holders should be responsible for knowing and calculating their debt, and should make payments accordingly. Such a provision may also be difficult to enforce, as many credit card companies are located outside of Texas. House Bill 1089 has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions.

House Bill 1242 would increase the penalty to a third degree felony if a detained person (arrested) spits or causes a law enforcement officer to come into contact with a bodily fluid with the intent to harass the officer. It is already a crime to harass an officer in this manner if the offender is in a correctional facility. HB 1242 would expand this law to cover situations in which the offender has been arrested or otherwise detained by an officer but is not in a correctional or detention facility. House Bill 1242 has not yet been referred to committee.

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.

From the high, wide skies of the Panhandle in the north to the southern tropical brush country of the Rio Grande Valley, Texas’ rural landscape is unique and unsurpassed by other states. But it isn’t just people who enjoy our great outdoors. Our state is home to nearly 90 endangered species and some of the nation’s most extensive preservation programs. I am proud of the progress our environmentalists and biologists have made in preserving our state not only as a home for Texans but for every living creature.

One program I have supported is the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Restoration Project. Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempi) are the most critically endangered sea turtle in the world. They are the smallest sea turtle, along with their cousin the olive Ridley, at about 99 pounds or less and 25 inches around in shell size, and they live in shallow coastal areas, bays and lagoons.

A half century ago, at least 40,000 females nested in a single day. Today, fewer than 2,000 nest each year. Nesting on both the coast of Rancho Nuevo, Mexico and South Padre Island, Texas our two nations have worked vigorously together in an effort to save these rare turtles.

The biggest enemies to the kempi are no longer the coyotes or egg hunters that brought about the original decline – today’s threats are human encroachment and incidental catching by shrimp trawlers. The Texas coast is the most deadly for these small creatures, especially since most that wash up on shore are pregnant females coming to nest.

By making parts of the Texas coast a Marine Reserve, scientists believe the number of turtles will start to increase. Recently, the Project secured a ban of shrimping in the shallow waters of the coast, but believes more protection is needed throughout these waters, specifically during nesting season. Currently, there are 12 national marine sanctuaries, representing less than one percent of all ocean territory under U.S. jurisdiction. In comparison, about four percent of our land area is protected in national parks.

Other legislation the Restoration Project has supported is making Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) mandatory on all shrimp nets. It is estimated that up to 5,000 turtles were killed each year by these nets prior to the implementation of TEDs, which are simple, yet effective devices that keep objects larger than shrimp out of the net.

However, advocacy and legislation are not the only tactics used in saving the Kemp’s Ridley turtles. Scientists have carefully collected data and observed these animals over recent decades by tagging the turtles. When nests are found along the Texas coast, the eggs go through a phase called Head Starting. Here the eggs are incubated and released to their natural habitat after hatching.

This procedure was proven successful just this past April as two turtles that were Head Started back in the late 1980’s were located in Galveston laying eggs. Scientists and Environmentalists were delighted over these findings, as it proves their hard work and determination are leading to the increase in kempi population. Since it takes approximately 15 years for a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle to mature and lay eggs, scientists are hopeful that they will see similar discoveries in the near future.

At present, nestling aggregations number in the hundreds, not the thousands necessary for the species to survive without man’s intervention. With the Project’s gradual success, it is clear that our marine biologists need the necessary and most up to date technology to help protect these endangered sea turtles, which is why I have supported continued funding.

The desire to protect our wildlife is a value rooted deep in the hearts of Texans. Biodiversity is critical to the health of the ecosystems that support life on our planet, and we all share the responsibility of preserving the world’s endangered species. I believe our natural heritage should be preserved for the enjoyment and education of future generations. And we must continue to maintain a careful balance between the integrity of our natural resources and encouraging economic growth, which will shape America’s future.

Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles are just one of the many endangered species that roam our lands here in Texas and just one of the great wonders that make our state unique. To learn more on this extensive restoration program and how you can help, visit www.seaturtles.org.

Jeep® Asks Bonham Residents To Nominate Their Heroes

Jeep Brand to Recognize and Reward Heroes with Opportunity to Receive New

Jeep Grand Cherokee

(February 17, 2005, Bonham, TX) — There are heroes among us in Bonham and the Jeep® brand is launching an initiative to recognize them.

The "Jeep® Heroes Nomination Program" rewards military, police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel who deliver exemplary, unique and heroic service to improve the quality of life in cities and towns across America.

"There is a natural affinity between those who serve others and the Jeep brand. Both have a long record of accomplishment in times of need," said Jeff Bell, Chrysler Group Vice President – Chrysler and Jeep. "It is an honor for us to recognize them for all they do, and we are proud to applaud their efforts."

The Jeep brand is currently seeking nominations online at www.jeep.com/nominate. Each month new Jeep Heroes will be recognized on the corporate web site and entered for a chance to win one of four new Jeep Grand Cherokees with "go-anywhere, do-anything" capability.

Twelve Jeep Heroes will be chosen in total nationwide, three in each category: military, police, fire and EMS. The four grand prize winners, one from each of the Jeep Heroes categories, will be selected on November 10, prior to Veteran’s Day 2005.

"The best way to recognize these ‘everyday heroes’ is to give the power to the people in their communities. They know best how important their contributions are to public safety," said Bell. "We hope that the ‘Jeep Heroes Nomination Program’ will bring to light a few of the many stories that typify the daily sacrifice and heroism of our military, police, fire and EMS personnel."

An advisory committee – made up of military, police, fire and EMS association representatives, uniformed services advocates and former public officials – will review the nominations and select each Jeep Hero.

"This is a great way for Bonham citizens to recognize these ‘everyday heroes’ who serve the community each and every day," Bell said. "We are proud to be a part of this effort to honor our everyday heroes."

Jeep Hero nominators must be 18 years or older and licensed drivers. Nominees must be legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, age 18 years or older, and must be current employees or volunteers of the police, fire or emergency medical service departments or active members of the U.S. Military.

Nominators will need to provide an essay of 200 words or less on why a nominee deserves to be honored as Jeep Hero. Those who nominated one of the four Grand Prize Winners will receive $500 toward new Jeep brand merchandise.

Entry forms and complete rules on the "Jeep Heroes Nomination Program" are available at www.jeep.com/nominate.

Golden Gospel Jubilee

The Golden Gospel Jubilee will be back in session this Friday night, March 4. at 7:30 pm. It will be at the Lake Bonham Hoe-Down, 1/2 mile east of the Lake Bonham spillway on CR 2610, Bonham, TX. The show will be hosted by Joan Kelton and the Bluegrass Gospeleers, featuring: Randy Keister, Don SHarp, Glen Clark, Mike Stroud, Jack Marshall, Gary Monroe and Bill Ogden. Our scheduled special guest and they are always welcome back by popular request, will be "Band of Faith", featuring Banjo pickin Dave Allen from Whitesboro, TX. This group is no stranger to our stage. They are well known here, for their unique style on voice and instruments. We are always glad to welcome them back.

Everyone is invited and welcome to an evening of fun and inspiration. Admission is free. Donations are accepted and most appreciated. Thanks to all for your continued support. God bless you all. Hope to see you there. For information call 903-583-4731 or 903-583-5710.

Rodeo Tickets to Royalty

Whitney and Hillary Slaughter of Bailey, Texas are two sisters who know what it takes to juggle a busy schedule. 14 year old Whitney is an eighth grader at Wolfe City Junior High where she has just finished her basketball season and is beginning track season. She is the president of the Beta Club and a member of the Student Council, and is also an honor student. Outside of school, Whitney takes guitar lessons and often performs vocally for charities, at local music shows, and Johnny High’s Country Music Show in Arlington. Her "spare time" is taken by barrel racing her horse in play days and rodeos. Max, a 17 year old Quarter horse gelding, is not only a great horse for Whitney but also one of her best friends. Whitney used the money that she earned in

4-H showing cattle and other projects to buy Max.

Hillary is also an honor student and her schedule is very similar to Whitney’s. She also plays basketball and her season is still in progress. Hillary, who is 11 years old and in the sixth grade, is the vice president of the Student Council at Wolfe City Junior High and is a member of the Beta Club. She, too, takes guitar lessons and is currently learning to rope. Her horse, Pepper, a ten year old Quarter Horse mare, is already trained to rope. Hillary hopes to be able to ride her in roping competitions in the future. Hillary also saved money from selling and showing cattle in 4-H to buy Pepper.

Along with competing in play days and rodeos on their horses, the girls also work together with Max and Pepper to do team penning. Whitney and Hillary are now competing for royal titles with their horses. The titles are Hopkins County Rodeo Jr. Queen (ages 12-16) and Princess (ages 6-11). The sisters will compete in several areas to try to earn the titles including horsemanship, interview, speech, modeling of western clothing, ticket sales, and riding in the rodeo introductions. They will have a total of fourteen practices to get their horses and themselves ready for the competition. The rodeo will be held the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th of March at 7:30 each night. Anyone interested in supporting the girls with their tickets sales can purchase advance tickets for $7 at Melissa Feed and Grain in Melissa, Texas, S&E Western Wear in Bonham, Texas, and Coast to Coast Automotive in Bonham, Texas. We wish the Slaughter sisters the best of luck in earning the rodeo titles.

Issues Facing the 79th Legislature Border Security

(Austin) - The Governor’s Office of Texas Homeland Security (THS) addresses border issues related to homeland security and coordinates with federal agencies on homeland security programs. The United States Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology (USVISIT) program, a federal initiative, has generated controversy and raised concerns among the mayors of Brownsville, Laredo, and El Paso, along with residents, businessowners, and civic leaders in those communities.

To alleviate the problems of congestion, the downturn in tourism, and a loss of commercial revenue associated with increased border security checks, the time limit for visitors was recently increased from 72 hours to 30 days, but the 25-mile limit for international visitors under the US-VISIT program remained the same. Border officials at Senate International Relations and Trade Committee (IRT) meetings voiced the need for parity so that travelers, personal and commercial, from Mexico are treated similarly to those who enter the United States from Canada. While federal funds for the United States Border Patrol and inspection personnel, including customs officers, have been added, the 79th Texas Legislature may face funding issues related to the implementation of federal mandates associated with border security. Various state agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), face increased costs related to homeland security and other federal mandates.

The legislature may address issues related to the use and distribution of federal funds and the development of a tracking system to ensure appropriate allocation and efficient use of such funds. The legislature may also consider improvements in federal, state, and local shared communication networks that allow early detection and reporting of homeland security incidents, as well as new technologies and the costs to implement a statewide communication network.

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.

Hannah’s Horseshoes of Hope

501© (3) Therapeutic Riding Center from our Heart to yours thank you for your love and support

To our students, their families, our dedicated volunteers &...

A new conservation program that will financially reward the nations top conservation farmers and ranchers will be implemented soon in Fannin and surrounding counties.

Two watersheds in Northeast Texas are among 202 areas in the nation selected to offer the Conservation Security Program (CSP) in 2005. One of these is the Upper Sabine Watershed located in portions of Collin, Hunt, Kaufman, Rains, Rockwall, Smith, VanZandt and Wood Counties. Also selected is the Sulpher Headwaters Watershed located in portions of Delta, Fannin, Hopkins, Hunt, and Lamar Counties.

These watersheds were chosen because of a history of good and stewardship, excellent conservation partnership efforts, high-priority natural resources issues, and the availability of the necessary technical tools to implement the program. Watersheds are a natural way to group producers with similar resource needs and to aggregate environmental benefits.

The Program, administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), rewards farmers and ranchers who implement conservation on America’s working lands. CSP, now in its second year, is a voluntary program based on conservation accomplishments that recognizes the contributions of the best land stewards and encourages them to do more.

NRCS personnel in the Upper Sabine and Sulphur Headwaters Watersheds will hold informational meetings for producers in the watershed to review eligibility requirements, and the self-assessment tool that farmers and ranchers use to determine their eligibility prior to scheduling office visits with NRCS.

The meetings will be held in March in various locations throughout the watersheds. The first of these meetings (a joint meeting to discuss both watersheds) will be held on March 10, 2005, at 6:30 pm at Texas A&M- Commerce in the Agricultural Science Building. As other meetings are scheduled they will be posted on the Watershed website at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov and announced in the media.

The CSP is a very competitive program. Producers will compete nationally for funding against the nation’s best conservationists. Documentation of conservation activities, such as conservation plans and records or pest and nutrient management, will be required to support the application.

Producers within the Upper Sabine and Sulphur Headwaters Watersheds are encouraged to attend the information meetings to learn if they meet the necessary eligibility requirements.

Those producers outside of the watersheds are encouraged to complete the self assessment on-line. Completing the self-assessment now will provide a good idea of actions they may need to take to meet eligibility requirements in future years when other watersheds are selected.

Please contact the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service office in:

Bonham, TX at 903-583-9513 x3; Greenville, TX at 903-455-6212 x3; and Cooper, TX at 903-395-4517 x3; for more information.

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."

The Woodmore Presents AnnaBelle Winningham

March 8, 2005 3:00 PM

AnnaBelle Winningham, a Fannin County master Gardner, will show us how to start our own herb garden explaining the best plants for our North Texas soil, common uses and necessary growing instructions. Think Spring and join us for an informative program with friends and neighbors of The Woodmore.

The Woodmore

Assisted Living Community

1200 W. Russell

Bonham, TX 75418

Dodd City Honor Roll 4th 6 Weeks

2nd grade- Cailee Fry, Kaleb Hammett, Riley Hartnett, Makagan Mitchell, Hannah Monroe, Shelby Moore, Tiffany Prock, Jenna Wallace

3rd grade- Lane Anderson

4th grade- Hunter Brent, Rainy Goodin, Tyler Knight, Christie Petty, Hayley Smith

5th grade- Landon Darwin, Boyd Jones, Kaitlyn Massie, Connor Reed, Jaylen Wallace

6th grade- Morgan Hartnett, Sarah Smeltzer, Seth Stephens, 7th grade- Kasey Gatlin, Barbara Kemp

8th grade- Callie Maxwell, Will Reed, Cassidi Rogers, Ethan Stephens

9th grade- Kamey Herpeche

10th grade- Justin Spindle and Jeff Sullivan

11th grade- James Baxley, Jennifer Burpo, Kim Gibson, Whitney Parker, Bethany Stephens

12th grade- Jessica Hoffman, Crystal Hough, Cody Maxwell, Casey Rogers, Justin Weeks

2nd grade- Ashlee Booth, Blake Deweese, Susannah Gustine, Jared Huff, JoeDavid Huff, Jacqueline McGehee, Madison Phillips, Daulton Pilliod, Talor Spindle, Keeshia Thompson, Dalton Underwood

3rd grade- Jessica Glatt, Mary Hellwarth, Meghann Maggret

4th grade- Donnie Austin, Joanna Gilbreath, Misty Goodin, Briann Hilliard, Jayson McGehee, Jaiden Pelton, Walker Phillips

5th grade- Julie Hellwarth, Dakota Kirkpatrick, Julie Nguyen

6th grade- Tara Carlisle, Chris Glatt, Katelyn Gray, Kayla Jones, Kim Lay, Patrick Moore, Nathan Roberts, Dillon Stewart

7th grade- Blaze Blain, Ethen Bowman, David Dunn, Carl Fisher, Braden Fry, Colton Gilbreath, Brittany Lasaster, Joseph McGehee, Josh Skipworth, Kayla Thompson

8th grade- Kaci Cumpston, Dalton Herndon, Sydnee Horton, Samantha McCarty, Hailey Spindle, Megan Thompson, Craig Jones, Kaylee Booth

9th grade- Lorran Anderson, Chelsea Bell, Kendra Billy, Cecily Darwin, Stacy Graves, Jaylyn McCarty, Toni Milner, Jordan Parker, Colin Taylor

10th grade- Jeramie Horton, Kelli Horton, Leslie Jones, Angel Milner, Shayna Monroe

11th grade- Nathan Blankenship, Mindy Horton, Dee Pickering

12th grade- Chris Jones, Tiffany Lawhon, Josh McBrayer, Tabatha Ottmo, Amanda Spindle, Heather White

Ector ISD Reduces Employee Injuries

Savoy Elementary Honor Roll

First Grade- Morgan Cornwell, Taylor Keen, Jacob Pugh, Nathanael Baca, Jack Neal, Lillie Troxtell

Second Grade- Macy Sanders & Cooper Tocquingy

Third Grade- Samuel Baca & Riley Neal

Fourth Grade- Peyton Folks, Ethan Seigler

Fifth Grade- Madison Cornwell, Kimberly Francis, Jared Miller

First Grade- Nolan Cooke, Jerica Isom, Jacob Browder, Ryder Caplinger, Dayton Daniel, Destiny Hill, Haley Schneider, Michael Waters, Dalton Withrow

Second Grade- Andrew Glass, Leroy Harrison, Georgi Johnson, Forrest Morris,, Megan St. Amour, Emily Stewart, Bryan Vosburg, Ian Ryon, Lindsey Stone

Third Grade- Colton Duvall, Carleigh Glass, Tristan Allen, Tyler Burnes, Kaitly Gaskill, Breeanna Merchant

Fourth Grade- Bonnie Billings, Cindel Freeman, Michael Hightower, Landry Snow

Fifth Grade- Whitney Cooke, Bailey McGehee, William Brown

First Grade- Kailen Ford, Joby Harvey, Chelsea Heath, Adrian Villanueva, Brandon Merchant

Second Grade- Tanner Garrison, Kaitlyn Knight, Christina Francis, Cole Smith, Angel Hill, Joshua Smith, Rhianne Sweet

Third Grade- Jessica Cook, Brandon Fletcher, Natalie Simpson, Kelli Strong, Dakota Washburn, Austin Worley, Justin Berube, Layne Herris, Richard Harrison, Brayden Phillips, Colten Troxtell

Fourth Grade- Celeste Lewis, Kaine Vaughn, Emily Cornell, Sara Foster, Makeala Jennings, Colten Kumler, Sara Strong

Fifth Grade- Garrett Doan, Joy Foster, Claire Wageman, Blace Walker, Devin Bailey, Natalie Brasher, Lincoln Chaney, Victoria Crossman, Kevin Gaddy, Tracy Wardlow

Sixth Grade- Scott Bigbee, Dylan Foster, Ashlyn Isom, Michael Morrison, Bradley Brunk, Kody Douglas, Micah Glass, Kayla Sanders

Good News From RRTC

The architectural firm of Cameron Alread, Jr. in Fort Worth has put the Red River Theatre Company and the Windom School Memorial Foundation a giant step forward toward making its performing arts and cultural center in Windom a year-round community facility.

The Tarrant County architect recently donated ten 2-ton Carrier heat pump units to the nonprofit Red River Theatre Company, Inc. for the project at the old Windom school building. Serving as consultant to RRTC and WSMF on the project is Gary Shirley of Shirley Air Conditioning and Heating, a firm in Eastland, Texas.

The next step in the process is to upgrade the electricity to and within the structure in preparation for the units. As air handlers for each of the donated units are acquired, the Carrier units will be installed for specific area heating and cooling, depending upon the needs of the current event taking place in the building.

Equipping the building for year-round use will increase the level of activities and events that can be held in the old school. Gas heaters have been installed in the second floor performing arts theatre for use during the winter months.

While ceiling fans in the theatre help to circulate the air during moderate temperatures, the onset of the often oppressive Texas summer temperatures will necessitate that no public event be offered from mid-June through the end of October. The theatre is available now at a reasonable rental rate to other organizations, agencies, churches and individuals for their events, meetings, recitals and performances.

Also high on the priority list for the upgrading of the old Windom school is the acquisition and installation of wheelchair stair or lift equipment. Handicap access to the second floor theatre is limited to two wide, 2-level stairways, an impossible feat for wheelchair bound patrons and those with limited ambulatory ability.

Red River Theatre Company, Inc. and the Windom School Memorial Foundation hope that assistance in this worthwhile community project will attract the attention and support of local residents and business firms.

Tax-deductible donations of the money needed to implement these generous contributions by Cameron Alread and Gary Shirley can be mailed to the Old Windom School Building Fund, c/o RRTC at P.O. Box 343, Bonham, TX 75418, or to Fannin Bank, Windom, TX 75492.

Re-Creation To Perform At VA

Bonham, TX - Re-Creation’s "30^th Anniversary TV Gold!" show will appear at the Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center on Tuesday, March 8^th at 2 p.m. in building three auditorium, bringing a new stage presentation to hospitalized veterans and their guests. The group represents Re-Creation USA, Inc., which provides a national program of live entertainment at VA medical centers across the country.

As America’s young ambassadors, Re-Creation "30^th Anniversary TV Gold!" performs the nation’s best loved music for hospitalized veterans, spotlighting great songs and great stars. Dynamic vocal renditions are enlivened by intricate, dance and choreography as the stage and the entire auditorium virtually erupt with Re-Creation excitement.

The public is cordially invited to attend this entertaining show. There is no admission charge. For additional information, please call Gilbert Martinez, Recreation Therapist, at 903-583-6561.

Four Corners Baseball—13U

The Four Corners 13U tournament team is still looking for a few quality players to join our roster for the 2005 season. We will be playing in USSSA and Super Series tournaments to expose our players to a higher level of competition that is not always available in the local leagues. We will usually play only on Saturday and Sunday to not interfere with the player’s local league play. Our team practices in Trenton. Information about try-out appointments is available at www.fourcornersbaseball.com or by calling 903-815-7715.

We are also providing a free baseball fundamentals mini-camp from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. This camp is for anyone 7 and above. Information and registration for this camp is also available at www.fourcornersbaseball.com or by calling 903-815-7715.

Red River Theatre Company, Inc. will make Fannin County history on Sunday, March 20^th as it stages the first ever re-enactment of an old west cattle drive at the Kueckelhan Ranch north of Bonham on U.S. Hwy. 78.

While tour books and magazines pages feature articles and advertised opportunities for horsemen and women as well as "city slickers" to pay as much as $2500 per person to join ranch hands on working ranches to round up and drive their herds over a weekend, no such opportunity at any price is offered in north central Texas.

The event at Kueckelhan Ranch will feature two cattle drives, one beginning at 10:30AM and the second at 2:30PM. Head drover for the drives will be Haynes Kueckelhan and Mike Scully, both experienced drovers. Registration, $40 per drover, will begin at 8:30AM for the early drive and at 12:30PM for the afternoon drive. Spectators are welcome at no charge in the outdoor arena to watch the action. Red River Theatre Company will offer its award-winning Stage Door Chili for the lunch concession. The RRTC recipe won the People’s Choice 2^nd place award at the 2003 Sam Rayburn House Chili Cook-off.

An orientation prior to each drive will be required of all registered drovers and will include educational material about the colorful history of cattle drives in Texas, herd dynamics and helpful instruction and a demonstration on how to keep the herd together and moving, and drover safety. From the outdoor arena, the drovers will depart and return their 200-400 cattle on a pre-selected course over the vast Kueckelhan Ranch.

Alton Hainline of Honey Grove will be on hand with his authentic and beautifully crafted award-winning chuck wagon. The ingenuity of the old west pioneers in designing and outfitting their homes on the range required that every available inch of their covered wagons and chuck wagon served a useful purpose to sustain their rugged lives. Hainline will be on hand to point out the features of the classic chuck wagon and provide stunning visual enhancement to the cattle drive.

The Red River Theatre Re-Enactment Cattle Drive will coincide with and be filmed as part of the Best of America by Horseback trail ride for an RFD-TV series by television producers, Tom and Pat Seay of Culpeper, VA. The BOABH filming will feature, in addition to trail rides at Lake Fannin and Coffee Mill Lake, interviews with local personalities, original music by local artists, and area events and features.

Horsemen and women must ride their own horse. The number of drovers for each cattle drive will be limited. Contact Pat Ward at Ivanhoe10903@aol.com or 903-664-2233 to reserve a slot.

Frontier Properties Real Estate Agencies Award Banquet

Frontier Properties Real Estate Agency recently held its annual awards banquet. Pictured left to right is Ron Lester – Multimillion Dollar Producer; Lola Fry – Multimillion Dollar Producer and Ronnie Atnip – Broker. Ron, in addition, was top producer for Fannin County and Lola was not far behind as Third Top Producer. "Our success is due to honest, reliable and professional service" says Broker Atnip. Everyone is encouraged to come by our new location at 2201 North Center in Bonham, Texas or call us at 903-583-8721

Carson & Barnes CIRCUS Tradition Comes To Your Town

In America today, there remains only one big-tented circus, which manages to maintain the traditional demanding schedule of one-day stands. It’s the 2005 edition of Carson & Barnes 5-Ring Circus, with its hundreds of performers and animals to the Fannin County Multi-Purpose Complex in Bonham on April 1, 2005 with shows at 4:30 & 7:30 hosted by the Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce.

Carson & Barnes brings its city-block long "Biggest Big Top on Earth" to some 230 towns and cities each season, moving to a new site nearly every day, seven days a week. While other circuses have reduced their size, Carson & Barnes has expanded and is the only organization still capable of moving a huge show of some 60 trucks and trailers every 24 hours.

The Miller family has owned Carson & Barnes for 68 years. The late DR Miller, founder, and known as "Mr. Circus," was recently inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame in Sarasota, FL. His legacy of American family entertainment is being carried on by his daughter, Barbara Miller Byrd and her husband, Geary Byrd, who are involved in the day-to-day logistics of running the performance and moving this complex, multi-faceted community. Daughters’ Traci and Kristin and their husbands are now involved in the show, making this a four-generation family business.

Carson & Barnes is circus history and cooperation recreated before your eyes. Elephants still help erect the big top on Circus morning. More than 100 exotic and domestic animals are unloaded, fed and watered as soon as huge transport trucks pull onto the grounds.

The general public is invited during circus morning to the only free big circus zoo in America. Early birds can watch as the first units of the caravan begin arriving about an hour after dawn and continue to file in most of the morning. The 400 stakes, 134 poles and several miles of cable and ropes will be laid out and prepared as the crew of men and trained elephants push, pull and lift the 300 foot Big Top of the shining polyvinyl auditorium 40 feet into the air.

Our performers include artists from the United States, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Italy, and around the world. Acts consist of aerial acrobatic teams, jugglers and clowns along with performing elephants, lions and tigers, camels, dogs and horses. In addition is our Grand Salute to the United States of America! Program this season includes:

The Incredible Flying Fernandez Family featuring a triple that will delight and amaze. You will hold your breath and not a sound will be heard in the tent as our wire act from South America walks across the wire on a 7 man high! Spinning faster and faster at both ends of the tent from earth to sky the giant Wheels of Destiny! Watch as couples perform feats of balance and agility blindfolded! Keep your eyes skyward and be prepared by stunning aerial ballet! From the Pampas of Argentine, a tremendously talented sextet demonstrates dazzling split-second dexterity. The Sensational Fusco Family with their cracking whips will entertain and astound during their Malambo act. Did we mention clowns? Well, what is a circus without clowns, clowns and more clowns! It is impossible know where to look when ring after ring of majestic Millers Prancing Ponies appear. And no show would be complete without elephants and Carson & Barnes 5-Ring Circus has the best and largest elephant act performing under a big top! Little Obert will be taking his first tour of America this season. Obert is a one-year-old Asian elephant. He will tour and appear with his Mother Isa. Come out and visit Obert and Isa at the set up and then come back and see them during the show. The 2005 edition of Carson & Barnes 5-Ring Circus is sure to be our biggest and best season ever. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this great American tradition when it comes to your town. Contact information: Brenda Pobre at 831-582-4375

At last Wednesday’s Bonham Rotary Club’s weekly meeting, Fannin County Amateur Radio Operator Jay Sims (W5GBL) presented a program on Amateur Radio. Sims represented the 70 member Fannin County Amateur Radio Club (FCARC). The FCARC serves the Fannin County by providing communications during special events and in emergency situations. Some of the projects the FCARC has participated in are: Autumn in Bonham Bike Rally, Antique Car Rally, Safety Fair, communications training for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes, training classes for prospective licensees, license testing, field day, Operation Sky Warn, and back-up emergency communications for Fannin County’s Public Service Agencies, ie. Bonham Police Dept., Bonham Fire/Rescue and EMS, and Fannin County Sheriff’s Dept.

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