Ector ISD Names Valedictorian And Salutatorian

Ector ISD would like to congratulate Ms. Ashley Pampuch for being named the 2003-2004 Valedictorian and Ms. Cassie Glaser for being named the 2003-2004 Salutatorian for Ector High School. Ashley will complete the school year with a 3.97 grade point average. Ashley is also graduating high school with 12 college hours, which she earned this year through dual credit courses. She has been accepted to the University of North Texas in Denton where she plans to pursue a degree in the field of medicine. Cassie will complete the school year with a 3.91 grade point average. Cassie is also graduating high school with 12 college hours, which she earned this year through dual credit courses. She has been accepted to the University of North Texas in Denton where she plans to pursue a degree in Business and Graphic Design. Ector ISD would like to again congratulate these two young ladies for their hard work and efforts and wish them the best of luck in their academic future.

Texoma Medical Center joined healthcare facilities all over the nation to celebrate National Hospital and HealthCare Week, May 9-15. TMC employees enjoyed a week full of fun that included trivia contests, special treats such as ice cream and cookies, an awards banquet honoring those with extended years of service and ended with a cookout for all employees on the hospital lawn. During the cookout, employees enjoyed entertainment and games such as a water balloon toss and an egg relay race. In addition to recognition made by the hospital, Denison mayor Bill Lindsey, presented THCS President and CEO, W. Mackey Watkins, M.D. a certificate during the picnic proclaiming May 9-15 to be National Hospital and HealthCare Week in Denison.

Those receiving recognition during the Award banquet included: 30 years: Patsy Clay, Temple Dennis and Sharon May. 25 years: Trish Fralicks, Janice Hefley, Harry Kirshman, Birdie Waters, and Ronnie Wilson. 20 years: Beverly Barton, Minnie Burkhardt, Kathy Crowley, Barbara Henderson, Roger Hernandez, Cathy Kitchens, Ellen Payne, Cindy Reynolds, Kay Smith, Sherri Timms, Merwin Van Zee, Ruth Wasden, Martha Washburn, and Matt Wilson. 15 years: Lucy Birchfield, Nicole Brown, Roger Gatlin, Mike Haines, Carolyn Jackson, Sheila Lynch, Jerry Melton, Cherilyn Michael, Charlotte Paddock, Kathie Sartor, Frances Shephard, Ann Shirley, Cynthia Smith, Marianne Wetzold, and Margaret Wheeler. 10 years: Megan Arnett, Laura Barlow, Sheryl Bowen, Mary Bowling, Sherry Branham, Kay Brewer, Stephanie Cain, Kaye Carl, Linda Cox, Angie Crain, Judy Dumas, Dave Farris, Scott, Hall, Marie Johnson, Lynette Kautz, Judy Leak, Wanda McCraw, Karen McKearan, Brittinie Nowlin, Diana Patterson, Donny Reeves, Brenda Stowers, Janet Testerman, Diana Waldrop, Linda Warrington, Lisa West, Ruth Williams, Liz Wilson, Ron Wilson, and Mike Womack. 5 years, Namon Adamson, Amy Archer, Lloyd Balvin, Virginia Beaumont, Doug Best, Cathie Blair, Karen Bounds, Susan Brayton, Kim Brown, Lisa Cates, Racheal Collins, Diane Coston, Linda Cox, Bobbie Farley, Donna Dorman, Teresa Dutton, Tanji Fuller, Ronda Glenn, Natalie Hill, Connie Holland, Theresa Huff, Sue Isom, Jan Johnson, Jeaninne Jones, Mary Linder, Debbie Little, Rhonda Lively, Brenda Martin, Della Morrow, Tami Morrow, Marilyn Newton, Elizabeth Nowlin, Bridgette Olson, Carrie Roberson, Shirley Rosser, Kacy Russell, Mary Sanders, Rebecca Sewell, Betty Stoker, Carolyn Sutton, Danny Swafford, Jimmie Taylor, Lorrie Thomas, Pat Thomas, Misty Underwood, Carol Vannortrick, Michelle Weaver, Beverly Webb, Leiann Whitley, and Jean Wyrick.

"FURFRIENDS" REPORT

By AOHT’s Rainbow Bridge

AOHT’s (All Our Hearts Together) Rainbow Bridge a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization cater to the welfare of abandoned/abused companions and educating the public about animals welfare.

It is frustrating when a person witness and abuse and can’t seem to get justice. Our first inclination is to ask ourselves "WHY?" Then we want justice to be served and when it’s not we tend to give up hope. I ask that you don’t surrender and continue to be their voice. "YOU" as citizen in this community has the power to make a change. The law is there to protect abused or neglect animals, 77(R) HB 653. Abuse is a "VIOLENT" crime, learn to recognize animal cruelty, here are some signs and symptoms that you might look for according to the ASPCA investigated cases:

1. Tick and flea infestations. Such a condition, if left untreated by a veterinarians can lead to an Animal’s death.

2. Wounds on the body.

3. Patches of missing hair.

4. Extremely thin, starving animals.

5. Limping.

6. An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal.

7. Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food and water, often chained up in a yard.

8. Dogs who have been hit by cars—or are showing any of the signs listed above—and have not been taken to a veterinarian.

9. Dogs who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions.

10. Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners.

Here is what you do when you witness abuse, whether they are two legged or four legged…that is not the issue here:

1. Report this to your local police and provide as much information as possible, having a photograph or a digital camera handy would be helpful. Remember the police department is not your enemy, by giving them, as much information as you can it will help them to expedite the problem. It helps to write down the type of cruelty that you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident and where it took place.

2. Call or write your local law enforcement department and let them know that investigating animal cruelty should be a priority. Animal cruelty is a CRIME and the police MUST investigate these crimes.

3. You can fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal, state and local levels by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade on the Internet, or ASPCA at

government@aspca.org for further information.

4. Set a good example for others and remember to talk to your kids about kindness and respect to animals.

5. Support your local shelter and animal organization when you are ready for a companion.

Please put your money into saving lives.

6. Here is our local human organization when actions are not being implemented:

SPCA OF TEXAS

KEN QUALL OR DAVID GARCIA

214-651-9611 Ext. 120

E-mail: investigations@spca.org

Final Note:

Winston Churchill once said, "What is the use in living if not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after you are gone?"

Finley-Oates Elementary

Accelerated Reader

Talon Wilkerson

Talon Wilkerson is a Third Grade student at Finley-Oates Elementary School. She has earned 151.3 points by reading and passing 90 computer-based tests in the Accelerated Reader (AR) supplementary reading program at her school. Congratulations, Talon!

Low Interest Loans Available To Many Homebuyers

Home ownership is a dream of many Texans. Besides offering security and comfort, homeownership is often one of the best means for low to moderate income households to build financial security. For many, however, circumstances such as income or prevailing interest rates make home ownership seemingly unattainable. That is why there are programs available to individuals with low to moderate income or other particular qualifications which help make the American Dream a reality.

The First Time Homebuyer program is offered by the state of Texas to help Texans buy their first home. The program channels low interest rate mortgage revenue bond funds through participating Texas lenders to provide 30-year mortgage loans at interest rates as low as 4.99% to eligible families and individuals who are purchasing their first home or who have not owned a home in the past three years. Assistance is also available for down payments and closing costs. Eligibility is determined by a variety of factors, including income and first time homebuyer status.

You may view and download the participating lender list along with a complete information packet from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ website at www.tdhca.state.tx.us. Or, you may request that a package be mailed to you by calling 1-800-792-1119.

Another program for homebuyers is directed at assisting veterans with financing to purchase a home. The Veterans Housing Assistance Program (VHAP), administered through the Texas Veteran’s Land Board, provides financing up to $240,000 toward the purchase of a home to qualified Texas veterans. The term of the loan can be 15, 20, 25 or 30 years.

There is no maximum sales price with the VHAP; however, the Veteran’s Land Board can only loan up to $240,000 towards the purchase. If the purchase price is more than $240,000, the VHAP can be used in conjunction with Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veterans Administration (VA) or conventional financing. All Veteran’s Land Board loans are subject to credit approval. For more information on the Veterans Housing Assistance Program, you can call the Veteran’s Land Board at 1-800-252-VETS (8387) or visit the Board’s webpage at www.glo.state.tx.us/vlb.

The final loan program I would like to discuss in this column is the Texas Professional Educators Home Loan Program directed at teachers, full-time paid teachers aides, librarians, school nurses and school counselors. This program provides home ownership opportunities to eligible professional educators through affordable 30-year mortgages with down payment and/or closing cost assistance.

Eligible teachers and educators must apply through a participating lender. A list of lenders, details on the application process and more information on the program, including eligibility requirements, can be found at www.tsahc.com/programs/single_proed.php.

For more information on these and other homebuyer assistance programs, you can visit the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ website at www.tdhca.state.tx.us.

W. D. Bush Assigned To Embassy In Cameroon

William Bush, son of G. D. "Doug" Bush of Bonham and Lillie Bush-Reves of Mount Vernon, assumed duties with the United States Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon, Thursday, May 6 as a member of a six-man Marine Security Guard detachment under the direction of the U.S. State Department. Lance Corporal Bush was assigned to the embassy after graduation from Marine Security Guard School, Class of 3-04, at Quantico, Va. Graduation ceremonies for the class of 102 graduates were conducted Friday, April 23. He recently completed an 11 month tour of duty with the First Marine Air Wing in Okinawa, Japan. LCpl. Bush served as training officer for his shop which repairs delicate electronic equipment panels in all types of aircraft. Qualified volunteers for this "special duty assignment" with the State Department are recommended by their Commanding Officers and ordered to the school. There candidates participate in extensive joint training, screening and processing with one of the most difficult regimes to pass (less than 65 percent of those entering the school graduate). Today, 982 Marines serve at 132 posts in 120 different countries throughout the world. With the emergence of new nations in the former Soviet Union, Marines continue to serve in new and unusual places. The close relationship between the Department of State and the U. S. Marine Corps is almost as old as the 200 year old Corps itself. After World War II, an alert, disciplined force was needed to protect American Embassies, Consulates and Legations throughout the world. The Marine Security Guard program was established in January, 1949, when six Marines arrived at the embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. The MSG School as a formal training program was begun in November, 1954. LCpl. Bush joined the Marines in March, 2002. He is a 1997 graduate of Mount Vernon High School and a member of the 1996 Eagle Scout class.

Top Of Texas Builders Association Of Fannin County

Shelly R. Joseph and Natasha B. Williams described the financial world of mortgage loans in the topic "One time Close" for builders and home owners and "Locking in the Low Interest Rate," for members and guests at the May meeting of Fannin Division of Top of Texas Builders in Bonham at Shumardii’s Restaurant. Mayor Carl McEachern, presided and introduced the hosts and their program.

The speakers work as a team for Hibernia Mortgage to assist customers, builders and real estate agents in a smart, effective one time close opportunity. They are located at the McKinney office and work diligently in the Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding area. Shelly holds a bachelors degree in English from the University of Southwest Louisiana and has a mortgage background in most financing categories, conventional, government, and area. She is eager to educate the public on mortgage products such as bond and any types of assisted programs. In addition to the All-In-One Product, Shelly assists with a number of other mortgage products.

Ms. Williams is a veteran Hibernia employee, having served the company in numerous capacities for 15 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Grambling State University, and is the Interim Construction Lender for Dallas Fort Worth metroplex and surrounding areas and acts as liaison between the customer and the builder throughout the building process. They give many lectures on this subject in the area. The speakers held a drawing and awarded a number of useful door prizes.

The Hibernia Mortgage were hosts for the dinner meeting. The music for the evening was presented by Allison Cardlye and Mildred Hatch.

Regular door prizes for the meeting were won by Donna Henard, Richard Glaser, Debbie Sisson Lenda High, Natasha Williams, Glyndell Sewell, Mary Jane Goodwin, Suzie McEachern, Virgil Bowling, Gary Sisson, and Debra Polly.

High Heels Take A Toll On Women’s Knees

by Jennifer Wider, M.D.

Society for Women’s Health Research

High-heel shoes seem to be wreaking havoc on the joints of women everywhere. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is seen more often in women than in men. The type of shoe one chooses to wear may be part of the reason.

Several studies conducted by D. Casey Kerrigan, professor and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, Va., support the claim that wearing high-heel shoes increases the risk of osteoarthritis for women. "We showed that high-heels over two inches increased forces in the region where women typically get osteoarthritis," Kerrigan said. "Animal and human surgical data support that these increased forces (torques) lead to joint degeneration." The studies examined several different types of shoes including stilettos, wide heels and men’s shoes. Wide heels may feel more stable, but the forces place the same pressure on the knee joint and are just as dangerous, according to the study results. Kerrigan explained that the shoes worn by most men do not affect the rotatory forces that increase pressure on the knee joint. Therefore, men do not have the same risk as women who wear high-heels.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects the cartilage, the section of joint that cushions the end of the bone. When the cartilage wears away, the bones tend to rub against each other. This can result in the loss of motion of the joint, swelling and severe pain. If a person has the condition for long enough, their joints can lose their normal shape and bone spurs can grow at the ends of the joint. The disease most commonly affects the hands and weight-bearing joints including knees, hips, ankles and feet.

Men are more likely than women to suffer from osteoarthritis in most joints before the age of 45. After that age, the numbers dramatically shift and women are much more likely to suffer from the disease, especially in the hands, feet and knees.

It’s not just the shoes. Men and women have biological differences that contribute to their unequal risk of osteoarthritis. On average, men have a larger volume of knee cartilage than women. Because osteoarthritis results when the cartilage gets worn away, men are more protected than women when it comes to the knee. In addition, the carpometacarpal joint that connects the thumb to the wrist in women tends to have more curvature. This makes the joint much more vulnerable to osteoarthritis in women than men.

Women disproportionately experience osteoarthritis around or after menopause, which may suggest that hormones may play a role. There is some evidence that elevated levels of estrogen are contained in the cartilage of osteoarthritic patients. Further studies are needed to figure out the exact role hormones play in the etiology of the disease.

The problem is not going away. More than 20 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis and the numbers are rising. The disease is more common in middle-aged and older people. By the year 2030, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases estimates that roughly 70 million people will be over the age of 65 and be at risk for the disease.

Women need to be aware of their risk for osteoarthritis. Changing the shoe a person wears may help lower their risk. " Do not wear shoes with a heel over half an inch," Kerrigan warned. Some studies suggest that women are not referred to orthopedic surgeons for joint replacement as frequently as men. Given their risk, it’s important for women to discuss warning signs and treatment options for osteoarthritis with their doctors.

The Society for Women’s Health Research will launch a public education program, "Living Well With Arthritis," on May 18 to let women know about the symptoms and management of osteoarthritis. The campaign is headlined by actress, dancer and arthritis sufferer Debbie Allen, who will appear in a television public service announcement encouraging women to seek appropriate treatment and not let arthritis slow them down. For more information, visit the Society’s Web site at www.womenshealthresearch.org.

© May 13, 2004 Society for Women’s Health Research

Finley-Oates Elementary Accelerated Reader

Emily McCutcheon

Emily McCutcheon is a Second Grade student at Finley-Oates Elementary School. She has earned 150.1 points by reading and passing 279 computer-based tests in the Accelerated Reader (AR) supplementary reading program at her school.

Congratulations, Emily!

Finley-Oates Elementary Accelerated Reader

Jordan Speck

Jordan Speck is a Second Grade student at Finley-Oates Elementary School. She has earned 150.3 points by reading and passing 291 computer-based tests in the Accelerated Reader (AR) supplementary reading program at her school.

Congratulations, Jordan!

Fairview Nursing And Rehabilitation Celebrates

Nursing Home Week

Fairview Nursing and Rehab. had a great celebration for nursing home week. We started off with a Mother’s Day Dinner with all Mother’s family invited to attend. We had a great turnout and after dinner entertainment was provided by the Gloryland Traveler’s gospel singing group. On Monday it was off to the lake for a day of fishing and a picnic lunch. The resident’s had a great time and several fish were caught with Mark Cloud catching the biggest fish. Then Tuesday was 50’s day residents and staff dressed 50’s and enjoyed going to the soda shop for 50’s music and a sock hop with banana splits and coke floats being served and a great time was had. On Wednesday was sports day resident’s and staff wore their favorite sports attire and a softball game was held across the street from the nursing facility. Residents that didn’t play enjoyed sitting on the front porch and watching the game. And then there were some resident’s who joined in the game. We at Fairview would like to say a special thanks to Dr. James Froelich for the use of the land and also thanks to Wayne Anderson for mowing to get it ready for the big game. Also thanks to Bonham High school coaches for the use of their striper to get the field ready. And to Greg Whirley for all his hard work. We had a great ballgame with staff residents and volunteers participating. Jeanette Bowen and her team won the first game and Belinda Reynolds and her team won the second game. Hot dogs and all the trimmings were served and everyone enjoyed the old fashioned softball game. Thursday was pajama day and a dominoes tournament. Winners were 1st place Alberta Stevenson and Belinda Reynolds 2nd place went to Noah Shelton and Abraham Grant and 3rd place went to Elmo Rodgers and Carl Wilson. Thanks to all who participated. And then to end the week on Friday we had western day. All residents and staff were encouraged to wear their western attire and bring their stick horses. We had homemade hamburgers cooked out on our new grill. Then after lunch we enjoyed Roy Rogers movies and had Nacho’s and cokes. It was a very eventful week. Thanks to all who participated.

Charity Poker Run To Benefit Habitat For Humanity

The Red River Valley Car Club invites everyone to participate in a Charity Poker Run benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Fannin County, Saturday, June 19, 2004 (rain date June 26). Registration will take place from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. at the Family Life Center, 200 W. 8th St. in Bonham. Participants will depart at 9:00 a.m. for a leisurely drive through Fannin County, with stops in Dodd City, Bug Tussle, Ladonia and Bonham State Park. All types of vehicles are welcome – classic cars, antique cars, sports cars, family cars, low riders and motorcycles. A $15.00 donation includes one 5-card hand, and additional hands are $5.00 each. Everyone will return to the Life Center by noon where lunch will be available for purchase and prizes will be awarded.

Through the generosity of the Gladys A. Emmons’ Life Trust, Habitat for Humanity of Fannin County is beneficiary of a challenge grant, and will receive matching funds (dollar for dollar) for all monies raised by this charity poker run, as well as for all cash contributions received between now and July 31, 2004.

The Red River Valley Car Club and HFH would welcome assistance from the community in the following ways:

· Provide items for door prizes and goody bags

· Volunteer to man the stops or help with registration

· Bring your special vehicle and take part in the Poker Run

· Spread the word about this event

· Make a cash contribution

For more information, phone 888-365-8901 or visit www.fanninhabitat.org. Remember – all proceeds from this event will be doubled, and will go to provide basic housing for deserving families.

Fannin County Habitat Receives Matching Grant

What if suddenly all your nickels became dimes – and all your ten dollar bills transformed themselves into twenties? No mirrors and smoke or pyramid schemes involved? From now until July 31, 2004 Habitat for Humanity of Fannin County can double your monetary contribution toward eliminating poverty housing in our area – guaranteed!

Through the generosity of the Gladys A. Emmons’ Life Trust, HFH of Fannin County is beneficiary of a challenge grant that will match all funds received from May 1 – July 31 dollar for dollar up to $15,000.

$15,000 from our local community + $15,000 in matching grant funds equals a home for a partner family in Fannin County

This is a one-time opportunity to make your gift, no matter how great or how small, go twice as far in providing basic housing for deserving families. Contributions may be mailed to Habitat for Humanity, P. O. Box 125, Bonham, TX 75418, or made via our website www.fanninhabitat.org.

Finley-Oates Elementary Accelerated Reader

Austin Faulkner

Austin Faulkner is a Second Grade student at Finley-Oates Elementary School. He has earned 150.4 points by reading and passing 255 computer-based tests in the Accelerated Reader (AR) supplementary reading program at his school.

Congratulations, Austin!

Andrew Caldwell Jones Received Navy College Fund Scholarship

Andrew Caldwell Jones is a 2004 graduating Senior from Bonham High School that received a $50,000 Navy College Fund scholarship. Petty Officer Youngblood presented this check on behalf of the United States Navy. Andrew enlisted in the Delayed Entry Program 1 year ago. He enlisted in the Advanced Electronics Field-Missile Technician in the Submarine Volunteer Program.

Andrew will start his new life journey on July 9, 2004. After successfully completing the United States Navy Boot Camp in Great Lakes Illinois, he will complete schooling in Groton, CT., Kings Bay, Ga., and Mangor, WA.

Andrew’s other accomplishments include, the Book of Who’s Who Among American High School Students, 2004 Texas Scholar, Academic Achievement in 2000, UIL Ensemble First Division in the BHS Warrior Band. Andrew’s commitment is to Serve God and Protect and Serve the United States of America in the United States Navy.

Andrew is the son of Leslie (Sonny) and Alice Jones Jr. of Ector, Texas and one brother Allen Jones. Grandparents are Leslie C. & Bessie Jones Sr. of Bonham, Texas and Margaret Newton of Oxford, North Carolina and the late John Henry Newton Jr. of Oxford, North Carolina.

Bonham ISD Board Of Trustee Meeting

The Bonham ISD Board of Trustees met on May 17th at 6 pm for a regular meeting.

The Board first recognized the following with a certificate:

• March of Dimes Bonham ISD Chairman-Karen McCommas

• John Wells, a 7th grader is part of the Duke Talent Search

• Victoria Booe, a state qualifier for National History Contest

• Wade Hays, for placing 2nd place Regional, and 4th place State in Pole Vaulting

• Jami Hill for accomplishing All-State Athlete Four Times

• Bonham Education Foundation, Inc.

• L.H. Rather UIL Academic Participants

• Bonham High School UIL Academic Participants

• Bonham High School Spanish Department- Shelly Smartt and Ginger Box

The board received the Superintendent’s Report:

• Meeting to canvas votes on May 24th at 6:00 pm, Administration Building

• Campus Reports

• Average Daily Attendance Update: 1858

• Resignations: Laurel McDonald, Nelda Smith, Elsie Hulstine, Mary Frambes, Pat Pate, Glenda Meador, Janice Taylor, Rebecca Knight, Lela Morris, Carol Monte, Oleta Lawson, Jo Ann Carr, Anita Kyle, Nancy DeRose, Fran Jones, Joan Zoppi

The Board approved:

• Two Substitutes

• Tax credits, supplements and delinquent tax collections for April 2004;

• Financial statements and bills payable for April 2004;

• Lease agreement between Bonham ISD and Bonham FIrst Baptist Church for the Bailey Inglish facility beginning June 1, 2004, through May 31, 2005;

• Independent auditor’s proposal for a financial audit for 2003-2004;

• Amended budget for 2003-2004;

• Mary Jane Neal as special education counselor for the district; and

• Julie Vigil as teacher/coach at Bonham High School for the 2004-2005 school year.

Texoma HFC Offers Key To Home Ownership To First-Time Buyers

The Texoma Housing Finance Corporation (HFC) is inviting first-time homebuyers to apply for its Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program. The program does not provide mortgage. Buyers choose from the lender’s market-rate mortgage products. The MCC reduced federal income taxes and as a result increases monthly income to make the monthly mortgage payments more affordable making it more likely that buyers qualify for a loan. The federal tax credit is good for the life of the loan.

The program is intended for those who are trying to buy their first home in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson counties.

The household income cannot exceed the income limits and the total cost of the home cannot exceed sales price limits. The program allows both new and existing homes. The limits are as follows:

1-2 Person Household- $52,100

3+ Person Household- $59,915

1-2 Person Household- $53,900

3+ Person Household-$61,985

Existing and New Homes- $189,682

The HFC hopes that area renters begin thinking of becoming homeowners. A monthly principal and interest payment on a home with an $80,000 mortgage and a 30 year, fixed 6.00 mortgage rate is $480 a month. Many pay that much more for rent each month. They are paying someone else’s mortgage.

For more information, visit www.firsthome4u.cc. Or interested buyers may call toll free 1-877-249-5152 and ask for Patt Denihan.

Dance Studio of Paris Attends Regional Competition

The Dance Studio of Paris attended the Regional Competition for Showstopper 2004 May 1 through May 2 at Will Rogers Auditorium in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dancing to "Shamey Shame, Shame" was Alexis Anderson, Alexis Lappin, Tristan Partridge, Bucky Pettie, and Candace Rich. They placed 1st place gold second overall.

Dancing to "Thats How I Beat Shaq" was Taylor Tedder, Candace Rich, Makayla Wallace, Rachel Conway, Alexis Anderson, Madison Sacco, Alexis Lappin, and Christtina Francis. They placed 1st place gold third overall.

The girls that had a solo were: Alexis Anderson with "Sk8ter Boy", she received 1st place silver. Alexis Lappin placed 3rd place silver with "Space Jam". Candace Rich placed 3rd gold eighth overall to "American AO"

Some of the kids danced in a 23 people dance, "Chattahoochie". Alexis Anderson, Alexis Lappin, Candace RIch, Abby SMart, Bucky Pettie, Jordan Feagley, Kellie Pettie, Kelsee Tedder, Lauren Reeves, Renee Feagley, Stacie Pettie, Tammy Pettie, Kalie Wheless, Saclie Wooduruff, Cody Carbajal, They placed 1st gold, 1st overall. They all did a good job.

National Finals are on July 5th through July 9th.

Grand Opening Celebration

Everyone is welcome to attend the official grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Whitewright Historical Museum Park on Saturday May 29th between 4PM-7PM. Tour the beginnings of the town and its past history and have a bite to eat FREE!

You might find a long lost memory you’ve forgotten, or learn a thing or two about Whitewright and the surrounding towns you didn’t know. We hope to include information about towns such as Kentuckytown, Pilot Grove, Enterprise, Ely, Ida, Orangeville, and Bethel-Cannon, which made up the foundation of Whitewright when the Railroads came in.

Members of the Whitewright Chamber of Commerce will be serving up grilled hotdogs, ice cold drinks, and watermelon slices supplied by the City’s Main Street 4-B Board. So, families take a step back in time and visit the Historical Museum located at 202 S. Bond Street at the corner of Maple Street across from the Furniture Mart.

REMEMBER D-DAY - JUNE 6, 1944

DALLAS - VA North Texas Health Care System will conduct its 20^th Veterans Forum at Dallas VA Medical Center, Thursday, June 3, 2:00 p.m., in the Atrium. This program will commemorate the 60^th anniversary of the liberation of France, June 6, 1944. Several veterans of the invasion forces will share personal stories and anecdotes from their recollections of that day. A Frenchman, six years old at the end of the war, will talk about his father’s involvement in the French resistance forces. A special guest, Angelos Chatas of Dallas, was the first Navy frogman to clear obstacles at Utah Beach ahead of the landing craft. For more information, please contact Allen Clark, Public Affairs Officer, at 214-857-1158. Dallas VA Medical Center is located at 4500 S. Lancaster Rd.

VA North Texas Health Care System Reaches Out To Newest Combat Veterans

DALLAS - VA North Texas Health Care System is expanding its efforts to reach veterans of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to ensure they are aware of health care benefits they have earned.

Last week, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi began sending a personal letter to more than 150,000 veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom who have recently separated from the military to thank them for their service and remind them of their eligibility for VA health care and other benefits. "I want these men and women to know that we are grateful for their service to our country," Principi said. "Those who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places around the world have risked their lives to make America more secure. One of the ways the nation shows its gratitude is by ensuring veterans receive the benefits they deserve."

VANTHCS Director Alan Harper said, "We want all recently discharged military personnel to enroll for health care benefits at our facilities in Dallas, Bonham, or Fort Worth." The additional outreach to those recently deployed to combat theaters alerts them to special eligibility that increases their access to health care for two years after separation from the military for illnesses and injuries that may be the result of military service. For those medical problems, VA waives co-payments for inpatient and outpatient care. For additional information, please contact the enrollment coordinator at 214 857-0465 or toll free 1-800-849-3597, extension 70465.

" VA has learned many lessons since the Gulf War in 1991 and other conflicts, which will ensure that this newest generation of war veterans receives the health care and assistance they deserve when they return to civilian life," said Principi.

The next time you head to the doctor for a check­up, or pick up your prescription at the drug store, think of the nearly 44 million Americans who don’t have health insurance. For them, these seemingly routine activities become a tremendous financial burden, if not impossible. Yet cost is not the greatest concern. For some, insurance can make the difference between life and death. Nearly 18,000 Americans die each year of treatable diseases because they don’t have health coverage. May 10-14 is national "Covering the Uninsured Week" designed to highlight this growing problem.

The crisis of the uninsured is reaching epic proportions across the nation, but nowhere is the situation more prevalent than in our own backyard. According to a recent study, 27 percent of working adults in Texas are uninsured - the highest rate in the country. This is one race we aren’t proud to lead.

Many of these Texans are without health coverage because they work for small business owners who want to offer their employees insurance, but can’t. People who work for large corporations from Dell Computer to UPS often have a variety of health plans from which to choose. With thousands of employees in different states and other countries, these big businesses can negotiate a cost effective plan that enables them to offer this benefit to their employees. Insurance costs are rising across the board, for large and small companies, but the cost is hitting small businesses, which already run on razor thin profit margins, below the belt. Small businesses have reported insurance rate increases of 30 percent or more during the last year alone. A farmer in Uvalde who employs 21 ranch hands, or the owner of a women’s clothing boutique in Salado with three employees, may want to offer this important benefit, but current costs would far exceed their profits. In fact, 60 percent of uninsured Americans are employed by small businesses that can’t afford to offer health care benefits. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Current legislation before Congress would allow the creation of Association Health Plans (AHPs) to help solve the epidemic.

AHPs would allow members of bona fide associations to pool their resources and get affordable health coverage packages from insurance companies. For example, the local Chamber of Commerce could broker a deal with an insurance company to provide health benefits to all of their member businesses and employees whether they be a dry cleaner or a hardware store. This innovative plan has wide support from small business owners, which make up the overwhelming majority of American business owners. Groups as diverse as the National Funeral Directors Association and the American Disc Jockey Association have voiced their support for AHPs. In fact, organizations representing 12 million employers and 80 million workers have backed the legislation and are calling on Congress to help them provide health insurance.

AHPs would be certified by the Labor Department and would have to meet rigorous standards - even more stringent than those followed by large national corporations and labor unions. And uniform federal regulations of AHPs will help businesses lower their administrative costs. By operating under federal law, AHPs can avoid the complexity and cost of complying with regulations in 50 different states.

I am an original co-sponsor of this legislation because as a former business owner myself, I know the challenge of offering employee benefits like health care.

I carried that experience and the many challenges of entrepreneurship with me to Washington, where I have consistently fought to reduce red tape and bureaucracy to help encourage business growth.

Small businesses and the millions of people they employ are the economic engine of America. Congress should help build pathways and not create barriers to their success. By promoting Association Health Plans, we will encourage more people to take advantage of the American dream of entrepreneurship and enable them to offer the critical and lifesaving benefit of health insurance. I hope my colleagues will work with me to bring this benefit home to Texas.

Click It Or Ticket

In the year 2003, 2,918 people were killed in Texas in traffic crashes. Of that number, 107 deaths involved children under the age of 15 who were not wearing seat belts at the time the accident occurred. That is why the Texas Department of Transportation and many law enforcement organizations have agreed to participate in the "Click It or Ticket It" program designed to increase enforcement of safety belt violations. This increased emphasis on enforcement is hoped to increase safety belt use, thus saving lives and reducing injuries. The Bonham Police Department has agreed to participate in this program which runs from May 24th thru June 6th. Bonham Police Chief Mike Bankston stated "We are pretty aggressive in our enforcement of the safety belt laws presently because we see first hand the devastation in automobile accidents where people don’t use the safety restraints provided. It is bad to see an adult severely injured, but it is extremely hard when you see the children injured because the adults in the vehicle fail to make sure the children are properly restrained. No safety system can absolutely guarantee the safety of a person in a vehicle, but you can possibly decrease the severity of injury by using the safety restraint features in automobiles. We encourage everyone to buckle up at all times." The fine for an adult not wearing a seat belt, in Municipal Court, is $107.00. For having a child unrestrained the fine is $282.00.

Bonham To Receive $855 In Bulletproof Vests Grants

Will help protect "critical layer of our homeland security," Cornyn says

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will award a grant of $855 to the City of Bonham, under the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced May 14th. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) approved the payment for the purchase of body armor to help protect local law enforcement.

"Every day, these brave men and women stand ready to defend our homes and families," Cornyn said in making the announcement. "Providing these grants to help defend them as they defend us is the right thing to do."

The legislation authorizing the grants mandates that priority in awarding grants be given to jurisdictions with populations under 100,000. As a result, nearly all of the $24.2 million in funding this year will be awarded to grantees in smaller localities.

"Texas law enforcement is the finest in the nation, and I’ve been honored to work closely with so many of them on both the state and federal level," Cornyn said. "Through my travels in the state, and the roundtables I’ve held with first responders in cities large and small, I’m confident that local, state, and federal authorities must work together as partners to support and protect this critical layer of our homeland security."

More than 4,700 applications for vest grants will be funded nationwide by the BJA this year. Federal payment can provide up to 50 percent of each jurisdiction’s costs, including costs associated with purchasing and shipping the vests,

Sen. Cornyn held roundtables with first responders across the state over the past year, including Houston, Dallas, Sherman, Waco, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa and Beaumont to discuss local emergency preparedness as part of an ongoing effort to familiarize himself with and highlight the security needs in Texas hometowns. The first responder roundtables provided communities the opportunity to express their needs and concerns directly to the Senator.

Bonham SNAP Center Menu

Chicken & Dumplings, Mexicali Corn, Savory Tomatoes, Bread, Apple Crisp, Milk

Meatloaf/Creole Sauce, Black Eyed Peas, Copper Carrots, Bread, Peach Cobbler, Milk

Texas Housing Expert Expects Decline In Affordability

College Station – A drop in mortgage interest rates during first quarter 2004 offset a decline in the Texas average household income, keeping Texas housing affordable.

"The Texas housing market has been very affordable for several years, with more than half of Texas’ households being able to afford the median-priced home," said Dr. Jack C. Harris, research economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. "However, unless prices fall, rising interest rates will mean fewer Texans will be able to afford a home in the second quarter."

Fifty-five percent of Texas households could afford to buy the median-priced home at the end of the first quarter, exactly the same percentage as last year.

Harris, who reports on housing affordability quarterly, said the Texas Housing Affordability Index (THAI) for the first quarter registered a value of 1.08, up slightly from fourth quarter 2003 but unchanged from last year’s first quarter. A THAI valued at 1.08 means that the median household income in Texas is 8 percent higher than the minimum income needed to buy a median-priced home.

Interest rates bottomed out this March. Overall, the rate for the first quarter was 5.72 percent on Texas mortgage loans, down from 5.94 percent one year ago. Incomes also declined during the year, with the first quarter median of $40,400 per household down about 1.5 percent for the year. Median home prices statewide were almost identical to last year’s prices at $123,600.

Since the end of the quarter, mortgage interest rates have risen above 6 percent and are expected to climb further.

The First-time Homebuyer’s Affordability Index (FTHAI) was 0.93 in the first quarter, down slightly from one year ago. The index indicates that the median income of a renting household in Texas is 7 percent short of the amount needed to buy the median-priced starter home, based on financing with a loan covering 95 percent of value.

Housing affordability for specific Texas cities can be found on the Real Estate Center’s website, http://recenter.tamu.edu, under the data tab.

The Real Estate Center has been providing solutions through research for more than 30 years. Funded primarily by Texas real estate licensee fees, the Center was created by the state legislature to meet the needs of many audiences, including the real estate industry, instructors, researchers and the general public.

Memorial Day Op-ed By Jerry Patterson, Veterans Land Board chairman

Keeping Up With Schedules Vital For Childhood Immunizations

Perhaps it’s a letter from your child’s day care center. Or it may be among the list of requirements for school enrollment. Whatever the timing, the message is the same: Your child needs to be up to date on immunizations.

Texas Department of Health (TDH) officials urge parents to begin monitoring their children’s immunizations records from birth, rather than waiting until a deadline rolls around.

According to Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, Texas Commissioner of Health, children should receive 80 percent of their childhood vaccinations by the time they are 2 years old.

"When children are not vaccinated, they are susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases," Sanchez said. "Vaccines are health protecting. They are safe and they are effective. They are one of the great public health achievements of the last century. But we must continue to remind people that controlling vaccine-preventable diseases is an on-going process."

Just name them – diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis or whooping cough, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, pneumococcal diseases, chickenpox, influenza, bacterial meningitis, polio. These are the baker’s dozen of diseases that vaccines can protect children from getting.

According to TDH statistics, about 1,000 births occur in the state daily. "This means there are about 365,000 infants born each year in Texas who need protection against vaccine-preventable diseases," Sanchez said. "Having their children immunized on time is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children."

Disease-causing viruses and bacteria circulate in the United States and around the world. And those not currently a problem in this country may be just a visit or an airplane ride away. For example, highly contagious measles is no longer circulating in the United States, but the virus sometimes is brought in from other parts of the world.

Vaccines have made their mark against this sometimes deadly disease. In 1958, Texas recorded 88,000 cases of measles. Last year, no measles cases were reported in the state, and just one was listed for Texas in 2002.

"Fewer and fewer people remember the fears that surrounded the deadly paralytic polio either," Sanchez said. "It has been a half century since we began using the polio vaccine."

In 1950, paralytic polio struck about 3,000 people in the state. Polio vaccine was licensed in the United States in 1955; and since 1977, not one case of polio has occurred in Texas. Polio caused by wild-type viruses has been eliminated from the Western Hemisphere for more than a decade.

Immunizations protect children, families, schools and communities. Children who are not appropriately immunized increase the chance that others will get diseases. "One unvaccinated child can pass a serious disease on to a younger child, to a pregnant woman or to an elderly relative," Sanchez said.

The timing of immunizations also is important. "Vaccines are recommended for use at the time when they can best protect the child and when the child is most vulnerable," he said.

Among the suggestions for parents:

• Get your child vaccinated on time, every time.

• Finish any vaccine series your child starts.

• Ask your health care provider if your child is up to date on vaccinations at every visit.

• Ask your health care provider or clinic staff to remind you when your child needs immunizations.

• Get a copy of the immunization schedule from your health care provider or clinic or view it on the TDH Web site at • www.tdh.state.tx.us/immunize/imm_sched.htm.

• Keep your child’s immunization record in a safe place where you can find it easily.

• Contact your local health department or call the TDH Immunization Division toll free at 1-800-252-9152 for information on childhood immunizations.

"Keeping children’s vaccinations up to date can be challenging, but the persistence pays off in healthier families and safer communities," Sanchez said.

Request For Board Applicants

The City of Bonham will be appointing a member to the Board of Trustees for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services of Texoma for a two-year term beginning September 1, 2004. Board members are eligible to serve consecutive re-appointment terms. Persons residing in the City of Bonham who are interested in serving on this important board should request an application from:

MHMR Services of Texoma 5001 Airport Drive Denison, TX 75020 Telephone #: (903) 337-4867

City Manager’s Office: Blaine Hinds City of Bonham 301 East Fifth Street Bonham, TX 75418

Telephone #: (903) 583-7555

Red Cross Offers Youth Training

DENISON, TX (May 19, 2004)— The Texoma Area Chapter of the American Red Cross will offer its nationally approved Babysitters’ Training course Friday, June 4, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the chapter building, 2527 Highway 691, Denison.

"During the summer, older siblings may have child care duties involving neighbors or siblings. This class teaches excellent skills for coping with "being in-charge," Sharon Watson, Red Cross executive director, said.

The course includes instruction in basic first aid, childcare, age-appropriate play, discipline and leadership. Suggested participant ages are 11-14. Participants should bring a sack lunch; beverages will be provided. The class will be offered again on July 2 and August 6.

The class offers skills in recognizing and caring for breathing and cardiac emergencies in infants and children, basic child care, age-appropriate play and discipline, child safety and first aid.

Developed in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the course also benefits from the expert review of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts of America, 4-H, Girl Scouts, JCC Association and the YMCA.

There is a small fee to cover student books and materials. Participants will also receive a babysitter’s first aid backpack. For registration and more information, call the local Red Cross office at 903.465.1330. In addition to this class, the Red Cross can arrange custom class for groups of 10 or more.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families, schools and communities safer. Founded in 1918, the Texoma Area Red Cross, which covers Cooke, Fannin and Grayson counties has provided continuous service to its community for 86 years.

Jones Field Airport Construction and Renovation Nears Completion

By Paul Berryhill

After five years since the first meeting with TxDOT, Jones Field Airport in Bonham is nearing an August completion date of a $1.6 million construction and renovation project.

The state of Texas is paying 90% of the total cost with only 10% being funded locally.

City of Bonham Director of Public Works, Ronnie Ford said, "Everything has run smoothly and we’re all working hand-in-hand with a local North Texas contractor, D.L. Lennon out of Commerce, Texas. We were glad we were able to work with a local business."

Ford explained that a federal grant was approved for TxDOT Aviation Capital Improvement Project in the fiscal year of 2000-2001 and Jones Field was allotted $150,000.

"I was able to defer the money for three years in a row into non-appropriated funds, so we were able to roll $450,000 into this project," Ford said. "With these funds we were able to widen runway 17/35 to 75 feet instead of 60 feet."

There are a number of renovations and improvements being made, but the major one is the extension of the paved 17/35 runway from 3,000 ft. to 4,000 ft. This extension is what prompted the closing of FM 898, just west of Hwy. 78 North.

The extension will allow larger corporate and private planes (up to 12,500 lbs.) to use the airport generating a sizeable increase in revenue. Total economic activity at Jones Field amounted to over $223,500 last year.

"A real plus for pilots and airport safety is the construction of turnarounds," Ford said. With these turnarounds, pilots can go through their pre-flight testing and run- ups before getting on the runway."

Other improvements and construction include: $8,000 was spent on the on-going terminal project. It now has a new metal roof and new front porch; runway markings; overlay stub taxiway; overlay apron; construct/reconstruct hanger taxi ways; install medium intensity runway lights; install guidance signs, install PAPI’s; rotating beacon and tower and fencing.

It is estimated that nearly 600 general aviation visitors arrive at Jones Field each year supporting local payroll and spending in the retail sector.

Jones field will be a major asset for local economy growth in the years ahead.

Airport Advisory Board members (2003-2004) are: Stephen Murden, Pat Porter, Pat Ward, Tom Turner, Ray Clark, James Fuller and Bob Nunnelee.

Eric Vest Receives Masters Degree

Eric Vest was recognized by the faculty of San Diego State University with the Masters degree of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre on May 15th, 2004 at Cox Arena in San Diego, California. During his graduate study, Eric worked in group sales as Marketing director. He completed his undergraduate study in 2002 at Texas A&M-Commerce in Commerce, Texas. Eric was recognized as the Outstanding undergraduate while at A&M- Commerce and received the Kennedy Center American College theatre festival awards "Excellence in Play writing" and the Irene Ryan nomination for his performance in Cabaret. Eric was a member of Alpha Psi Omega fraternity. His plans are to remain in San Diego and pursue a career in his discipline, and eventually move to New York. Eric is the son of Mark and Debbie Vest of Windom. His grandparents are Morris and Frances Vest of Ravenna, Texas and Charlotte Bankston and the late Fred Ray Bankston of Windom.

Ector ISD Gives Retirement Reception For Hazel Stroud

Ector ISD is honored to give a retirement reception for Hazel Stroud who is retiring at the end of the 2003-2004 school year. We would like to cordially invite all of Hazels family and friends to celebrate on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the Ector school Cafetorium for her 22 years of dedicated service to Ector ISD and its students.

WW II Memorial

In conjunction with the national dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day weekend, the Texoma Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking memorabilia from that era from both veterans and their families and individuals who served as Red Cross volunteers during that time.

The chapter is planning a traveling display which commemorates and celebrates the sacrifices of the "generation that saved the world." "It is quite fitting that we take this opportunity to reflect on the realities of this war and pay tribute to the sacrifices," said Sharon Watson, executive director of the local Red Cross chapter. Items may be given on loan or to become a part of a permanent Red Cross display.

Watson’s own father, James S. Myers, now deceased, was a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II. "My dad was proud to serve and continued to serve his community after he returned from the war," Watson said.

Locally, the Red Cross chapters in Grayson, Fannin and Cooke counties were very active in activities to support America’s military personnel and their families with blood drives, knitting socks and sweaters and preparing bandages. "We know that there are people who still reside in our community who can provide not only historical items but also accounts of what it was like to live through the war era," Watson said.

Continuing the tradition of service today, the local Red Cross annually handles more than 200 emergency communications messages between military personnel and their loved ones. Armed Forces Emergency Services volunteers take these calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To be a part of this tribute or for more information on Red Cross service to military families, call the local chapter at 903-465-1330 or 940-665-4365.

Sam Rayburn Eighth Grade Honor Students

The Sam Rayburn Junior High School honor students have been named for the 2003-2004 school year.

Nolan Skidmore, son of Donnie and Penny Skidmore of 834 CR 2250, Ivanhoe, Texas, is the Valedictorian.

Jacey Jones, daughter of Brad and Charlotte Jones of 212 CR 2310, Telephone, Texas, is Salutatorian.

Lindsay Arthur, daughter of Steve and Lynn Arthur of 200 Arledge, Bonham, Texas, is the third highest student.

Jake Baker, son of Chris and Ginny Baker of 264 CR 2650, Telephone, Texas, is the fourth highest student.

These students will graduate from eighth grade at 7:00P.M., May 28, 2004, in the Sam Rayburn High School Gymnasium.

Texas Department of Transportation officials met with representatives of M.J. Lee Construction of Tulsa, Oklahoma on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 to discuss the upcoming replacement of two-(2) bridges in Grayson County. Listed below are the bridges and the dates of their proposed closures. The dates listed may vary somewhat due to adverse weather affecting working conditions.

SH 56 @ Choctaw Creek- June 1, 2004 through March, 2005

SH 56 @ Mill Creek- April, 2005 through September, 2005

The traveling public is requested to observe road closure signs and barricades signed detours along adjacent highways will be provided. Local traffic will be required to utilize alternate routes during this road closure.

The contractor has been granted 359 total working days to complete the project. Cost of the project will be $2.3 million. This project is funded through the Federal Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation program, which seeks to improve structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges, both on and off of the State highway system.

Rabid Skunk Found In Bonham

The Texas Department of Health has notified the Bonham Police Department that a skunk found in the 800 block of E. 11th St. on April 22, 2004, tested positive for rabies. This is the first positive report this year. There have been no reports of any household pets, such as dogs and cats being infected with the rabies virus, but pet owners should make sure the animals are up to date on their vaccinations and Animal Control recommends yearly vaccinations.

Hall Supports Defense Authorization Bill

WASHINGTON, DC ... Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Tx/4th) voted with a majority in the House of Representatives today in support of the Defense Authorization for fiscal year 2005.

"This legislation meets the many challenges facing our Nation’s armed forces - waging a war on terrorism, providing adequate training, equipment and compensation for our men and women in uniform, and ensuring that America is prepared for any challenge to our national security anywhere in the world," Hall said.

The bill authorizes the President’s funding request for defense spending and provides a 3.5 percent pay hike for military personnel. It authorizes the largest increase in military troop levels in decades by increasing the number of active-duty service members in the Army by 30,000 and in the Marine Corps by 9,000.

The bill increases protection for troops in Iraq - including expedited production of up-armored Humvees, more body armor, armored trucks and explosive device jammers. "I’m as anxious as everyone for the transition of power to take place in Iraq and for our troops to come home - but until then, we must provide all the protection we can to increase their safety," Hall said.

The authorization provides for weapons procurement, research and development, operations and maintenance, personnel expenses, military construction and family housing, and weapons-related and environmental cleanup. Also included is funding for the initial deployment of a national missile defense system based in Alaska and California.

Among the most contested issues was the delay of the next scheduled round of base closures from 2005 to 2007. Hall voted with a majority in the House to defeat an amendment that would continue with base closures in 2005. "At a time when our military is fighting the war on terrorism and, simultaneously, making plans to restructure and transform its forces, we should err on the side of caution before making such irreversible decisions," Hall said. "I will continue to work with Senators Hutchison and Cornyn to protect the viability of Red River Army Depot and the jobs of thousands of employees who work there as well as related companies who have common business interests," Hall said. "The contributions of this base are invaluable to our military operations."

The bill also restores benefits to survivors of military retirees, with incremental increases from the current rate of 35 percent to 55 percent of annuities. "Families of soldiers also make sacrifices in service to our country, and they deserve to receive these benefits," Hall said.

"As we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day and pay tribute to all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation, it is fitting that we pass this bill that recognizes the important role of our men and women in uniform and that ensures a strong national defense," Hall added.

Leonard Youth Earns Eagle

BONHAM - The highest honor in scouting, Eagle Scout, was awarded to Larry Caughlan, Jr. of Leonard on May 12. He joined five other members from Troop 1910 in the "Eagle’s Nest." A senior at Leonard High School, Larry is the son of Larry Sr. and Fran Caughlan of Leonard. Caughlan’s Eagle project fingerprinted and photographed children for Operation Identification.

On the road to Eagle, Caughlan earned 21 badges and served in various leadership positions within the troop. "I was inspired by one of our area leaders, Duane Thomas (of McKinney), last year on a High Adventure to Colorado," stated Caughlan. "He challenged me to complete my requirements for Eagle, and I’m glad he did."

Only two percent of boys who enter the scouting program reach the level of Eagle. Larry joins such notable Eagle Scouts as former President Gerald Ford, Stephen Spielberg, and H. Ross Perot.

Troop 1910 was only formed a little over five years ago. In that time it has produced six Eagle Scouts, with two more having completed their projects and will soon be having their own Eagle Court of Honor. Troop 1910 meets on Wednesday evenings at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bonham.

Electrician License "Grandfathering" Period Ends June 1

After That, All License Applicants Will Need to Pass An Occupational Exam

Time is short for electricians who want to receive a state electrician’s license without having to pass an examination. The statutory grandfathering period ends June 1.

Until June 1, electricians who hold a local license may be eligible to receive a new state license without testing if they meet experience requirements. Also, electricians who work in areas where licensing is neither available nor required also may qualify to receive a license if they can satisfy certain experience requirements.

After the grandfathering period ends, all electricians who wish to obtain a state license will need to demonstrate sufficient experience and also will need to pass an examination approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) that evaluates occupational knowledge.

"Any working electrician who has not applied for a state license should do so within the next 10 days," said William Kuntz, TDLR’s executive director. "Time is running out. After June 1, everyone who wants a state license will have to pass a test to get one."

All applications postmarked by June 1 are eligible to be evaluated under the grandfathering provision of House Bill 1487, which created the state’s Electrical Safety Program. The new license authorizes electricians to work in all areas of the state. It will be required as of September 1, 2004.

Currently, electricians are regulated at the local or regional level. Most licenses are issued by cities, and electricians who wish to work in more than one local jurisdiction are required to maintain multiple licenses and may be required to pass multiple exams. The new license is intended to replace all local licenses. Local licensing authorities may continue to issue licenses, but may not require a state license holder to pass an examination to qualify for an electrician’s license.

The new licensing program has proven to be very successful. As of Tuesday, May 18, TDLR had received 34,251 applications and had issued 24,216 licenses, taking an average of nine days to issue. These included 7,255 master electrician licenses, 190 master sign electrician licenses, 15,200 journeyman electrician licenses, 195 journeyman sign electrician licenses, 687 licenses to residential wiremen and 689 licenses to maintenance electricians. TDLR also began accepting applications from apprentice electricians Monday.

Ask The City Planner

As a service to the community, the Bonham City Planner will be writing a series of articles to answer questions from citizens to better inform the public of what’s going on in the City. This is the fifth in a series.

1. Is the City considering building a new Fire Station, City Hall, and other City Facilities? If so, when will they be built, and how much will they cost?

The short answers are yes, we don’t know, and we don’t know, yet. The long answers are, the City would like to build new facilities for a Fire Station, Public Works Department, City Hall, Police Station, Parks and Recreation, and an Animal Shelter, if possible. We recently hired an Architectural Consulting Firm to study the feasibility of such a move. The review involves evaluating the future needs of the City over the next 20 to 40 years, the locations of such facilities, the designs, expectations, and operations for each facility, and of course, the cost and how do we pay for these much-needed facilities.

The City has put together a volunteer Facilities Planning Committee of about 40 local citizens to meet with the Architect and City over the next few months to hear concerns, needs, and proposals. The Committee will provide input and assist in the planning process. Once we have completed the study, the new facilities plan will be presented to the citizens of Bonham at public meetings. A final proposal will be developed, which will include the projected cost. If approved by the Commission, the final plan will go to the Citizens for a vote on bonds to pay for the improvements.

It would take a small book to list all the reasons these facilities are needed, but since I have limited space, here are just a few. A new Fire Station and EMS facility would improve response time and help our ISO rating; thus, reducing citizen insurance rates. A new Public Works facility would centralize activities and increase response time for water, sewer, and street concerns. A new City Hall would provide better and more efficient services to our citizens, a larger Commission Chamber for citizen participation, and meeting rooms. A new Police Department would provide better response times, processing, jails, and courtroom.

In general, these facilities are greatly needed and will provide an atmosphere where City employees can better serve its citizens, increase the economic viability of the community, and provide for an efficient, safe, healthy, and more attractive City. As a citizen of Bonham, this is something you should want, something you should take pride in, and a goal you should help the City achieve.

2. When will the revised Rules, Regulations, and Subdivision Restrictions for Lake Bonham be completed? Will Lake Bonham residents have a chance to provide input before the City Commission approves the new Rules?

The first draft of the revised Rules, Regulations, and Subdivision Restrictions should be completed about mid-June 2004. The draft copy will be mailed to all Leaseholders at Lake Bonham in June. An open meeting will be held at Lake Bonham sometime in early July to review the Rules and collect comments from Lake Residents and City Residents. Following the meeting, any suggestions deemed appropriate and necessary will be incorporated into the revised Rules. The Rules will then be presented to the City Commission at the August 2004, meeting for approval. The City Commission meeting will allow for additional citizen comments at that time. If approved at the August meeting, a copy of the Revised Rules, Regulations, and Subdivision Restrictions will be mailed to all Leaseholders. The Rules will go into effect immediately after approval. Please note that if you have any issues you would like considered in the new Rules prior to the open meeting, or prior to the first draft, please submit those to me in writing as soon as possible at the address below.

If you have questions about what’s going on in the City, please submit your questions in writing to the Mike Walthall, Development Services Coordinator, Bonham Planning Department, 301 E. Fifth, Bonham, Texas 75418.

A Message From Fannin County

Appraisal District

New Appraisal Value Notices were mailed Friday, May 21, 2004 to approximately 500 property accounts in the City of Bonham area. These are CORRECTED VALUE NOTICES and should be reviewed by the taxpayer. Please check the value amount on these new notices and all other information such as legal description, address, etc. If you filed a protest based on the first notice you received and would like to withdraw that protest, please drop us a note identifying the property account number and state that you wish to withdraw your protest. You can submit withdrawal by mail, drop box or in person. If for any reason you have issues with any information on your new notice of appraised value, please help us to resolve these issues by identifying them and visiting with us. We have clerks who will take your information and the person from the department who can best resolve your issue will contact you by phone. If the issue is resolved you will be asked to sign a settlement statement describing the agreement. You still, of course, can file a protest and appear before the ARB if we cannot come to agreement. Any documented information you can provide pertaining to actual sales of properties in Fannin County will be greatly appreciated and beneficial to everyone. Any kind of information pertinent to the value of your property will be considered in the value of your property. It is a partnership effort in our home community that will make us successful and strong. I am dedicated to being an integral part of the advancement of Fannin County, to be fair in valuation, to be open to hear your concerns, and to be honest and follow the requirements under Texas law.