Bonham: Fannin County will be appointing one member to the Board of Trustees for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services of Texoma for two year terms beginning September 1, 2003. Board members are eligible to serve consecutive re-appointment terms. Persons residing in Fannin County who are interested in serving on this important board should request an application from:

Executive Director, MHMR Services of Texoma, 5001 Airport Drive, Denison, Texas 75020, Telephone #: 903-337-4867 or County Judge’s Office: The Honorable Derrell Hall, Fannin County Courthouse, Bonham, Texas 75418, Telephone #: 903-583-7455

Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services of Texoma actively seeks trustee representation from consumers or family members of the types of services offered by the center. The center also seeks membership that is reflective of cultural demographics of its service area.

In May, 2003 the following cases were presented to the Grand Jury.

Richard Charles Bates, age 27 of Honey Grove - Injury to a child; Brent Ellis Erickson, age 43 of Lohn - Indecency with a child; Danny Ray Dixon, age 21 of Waller - Injury to a child; Brandyn Scott Cunningham, age 18 of Trenton - Assault on a Public Servant; Charles Anthony Anderton, age 33 of Telephone - Burglary of a habitation; Royce Dale Cartmill, age 28 of Dodd city - Burglary of a habitation; Eddie Gene Milam, age 46 of Bonham - aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; Larry Lee Pearson, age 62 of Bonham - aggravated sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child; Scott Lane Pearson, age 29 of Bonham - aggravated sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child; Kevin John Richardson, age 25 of Bonham, credit card abuse; Tommie McCormack, age 68 of Bonham - aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; Corey Allen Glen, age 22 of Whitewright - manslaughter.

Arthritis affects one in every three people, according to DePuy Orthopedics, a Johnson & Johnson company, a manufacturer of artificial knee, hip and extremity replacements to treat severe arthritis.

Outdoor Exercise

It is nice to get out in the sun to do your walking, biking, swimming or whatever activity you enjoy. Exercising outside, however, increases your chance of suffering heat exhaustion or heat stroke, so take precautions. Exercise in the early morning or late evening hours when it is cooler. Morning is a great time to get a good stretch and jump-start your joints. When exercising, remember to start slowly, and gradually increase the time each day. Some outdoor exercising tips include:

• Drink lots of water.

• Pace yourself.

• Wear cool, lightweight clothing.

• Make sure your shoes are comfortable and lightweight.

Another warm-weather exercise tip is to consider the benefits of swimming. It is ideal for people with most types of arthritis. It enhances both strength and cardiovascular fitness, involves the entire body, and can keep you cool. Consult your physician prior to beginning any exercise program.

Travel

Arthritis affects 4.57 million Texas residents, according to DePuy. For many of them, summer is a peak travel season. Taking vacations is not something that you should stop doing just because you have arthritis. You just need to do some extra planning.

Linda Jenkins, manager of a large travel agency, is also an arthritis sufferer. From her mix of professional experience and her experience as an arthritis sufferer, Jenkins gives many helpful tips on planning a summer trip:

• If you are renting a car, choose an arthritis-friendly car with ample leg room.

• When traveling by car, plan for frequent stops to get out and stretch.

• When traveling by air-plane, allow plenty of time between connecting flights. Give yourself time to walk around and stretch your legs. Allow enough time between flights so you can make it from one gate to another without racing through the airport. Don’t carry on more luggage, purses, coats, etc., than you can comfortably cart around the airport between gates.

• On a long flight, get up and walk around. Also, lift your legs and move your wrists while sitting, to keep your muscles from tightening.

• Make sure that your hotels have the correct accommodations for your needs. Some hotels do not have elevators, for example, which could be a problem for people with bad ankles, knees or hips.

• Pre-arrange for carts or wheelchairs at airports that will pick you up from your gate and take you to your

destination at the airport.

• Many people with arthritis use multiple medications. Carry these on the plane with you in case your luggage is lost or delayed.

• Consider organized tours designed to accommodate people with health challenges.

• Consider cruises. There is plenty to do, and everything is in close proximity, which limits the amount you will have to walk.

Around Your Home

Along with travel and outdoor exercise, summertime also means gardening and yard work for many arthritis sufferers. To enjoy your backyard and avoid unnecessary aches and pains, listen to your body. Stop at the first sign of discomfort. Other tips include:

• Wear a carpenter’s apron for your gardening tools. This way you won’t have to hunt for them, walk back and forth to get them or carry them in your hands.

• Use smart tools. Choose long handles on rakes and other tools to reduce bending. Special large-grip handles reduce strain on the wrists.

• Use lightweight lawn carts with large wheels to move materials.

• Avoid lifting and carrying things yourself.

• Sit rather than stoop. There are a variety of seats, scooters and benches for gardeners.

• Change positions frequently and avoid positions that put strain on your back.

• Get help. Recruit family members, or hire a young person in your neighborhood.

Avoid Sunburn

Some arthritis medications cause your skin to be sensitive to sun. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor if you are unsure about whether your medications cause photosensitivity.

By planning ahead and pacing yourself, you can enjoy summer despite your arthritis. For more information about arthritis or to find an arthritis specialist in your area, visit www.allaboutarthritis.com or www.jointreplacement.com.

• Improving social skills such as assertiveness, empathy, self-control, cooperation.

• Increasing non-use attitudes toward alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

• Increasing ability to identify risks associated with harmful behaviors.

• Decreasing conduct problems.

• Decreasing impulsive behaviors.

This program is a curriculum-based support group model that is grounded in the social learning theory. This program was developed by Rainbow Days, Inc., in Dallas, Texas. The primary target of this program is any young person age 13-17 who is considered high risk for alcohol, tobacco, chemical use or any other self-defeating behaviors. If you are interested in this program or know of youth that might benefit from this program, please call 903-640-1575 or 903-583-0060.

This program is scheduled to start June 17th and run through July 22nd, 2003.

Contact: Wayne Durrence, Youth Prevention Specialist, NETCADA, 401 W. Sam Rayburn Drive, Bonham, Texas 75418. Phone 903-583-1575; Fax 903-583-0074. wdurrence@cableone.net.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced May 27, 2003, that financial assistance has been made available in Fannin County to conserve natural resources and address environmental concerns on private lands. The funds are part of conservation provisions contained in the 2002 Farm Bill and authorized under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

In making the announcement, Randy Moore, District Conservationist for NRCS in Fannin County, said, "The base allocation for each county in Texas is $72,000. In Fannin County, funds will be utilized to establish permanent grasses on currently cropped land and abandoned cropland in accordance with the recommendation of the EQIP Local Work Group (LWG)."

Currently cropped land is that land that was plowed and planted to a crop in 2003. Abandoned cropland was cropped at some time but not plowed and planted to an annual crop in 2003. Abandoned cropland must be capable of being plowed using normal methods of seedbed preparation.

Applications for EQIP will be accepted through June 13, 2003, at the USDA Service Center, 200 East First Street in Bonham. Interested persons can call 903-583-9513 Ext. 3 for additional information.

A ranking system and screening process for applications has been developed to determine which applications are funded. This process is also in accordance with the recommendations of the LWG.

"This year’s funding allows a Fannin County producer the best chance to actually be accepted into EQIP that we have had since the program’s inception in 1997," said Moore. As with all cost share programs, certain guidelines and requirements have to be met in years following implementation of conservation practices.

Grass establishment (introduced or native species) is the only practice to be cost shared in 2003. This includes the cost of establishment fertilizer and weed control. Ponds, fences, brush control, and shaping will not be cost shared. The cost share rate is 50% of an established county average cost for most producers and up to 75% for Limited Resource Farmers.

"We needed to extend Federal unemployment benefits to the thousands of displaced workers who have suffered from a prolonged economic downturn," Hall said. "This measure will help jump-start the economy and put money in the pockets of those who need it and who are ready and willing to work when jobs become available. I’m pleased that the leadership responded to the rank and file groups’ plea to bring this measure to the Floor before the current extension of benefits expired on May 31."

The Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 2003 will extend through December 31, a program that provides an additional 13 weeks of federally funded benefits to jobless workers who have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular state unemployment benefits. In high unemployment states jobless workers would be eligible for 26 weeks of extended benefits.

Hall also supported the Jobs and Growth Tax Act, a compromise agreement hammered out between the House and Senate that provides tax relief to individuals and businesses. "Lower taxes result in more money for families and businesses to spend or invest - which in turn will help spur the economy and help create new jobs," Hall said.

The bill accelerates income tax rate cuts, provides tax breaks for businesses and accelerates for two years the increase in the child tax credit and elimination of the marriage penalty. The agreement accelerates the reductions in income tax rates scheduled to take place in 2004 and 2006 so that they are fully implemented retroactively to the beginning of 2003. Beginning this year, the marginal rates in excess of the 10 percent and 15 percent tax rates would be 25 percent, 28 percent, 33 percent and 35 percent.

The bill also reduces taxes on dividends and capital gains to 15 percent, and for taxpayers in the lowest two income brackets, reduces the rate from 10 to 5 percent. "The lessening of the capital gains tax could and should spawn transactions," Hall said.

"These bills represent a multi-faceted approach that provides relief across the board to citizens and businesses alike -- while recognizing and helping the plight of displaced workers," Hall said. "Congress will continue to monitor economic conditions and evaluate the impact of these measures -- and I’ll support whatever adjustments are necessary to ensure economic security for our families and our Nation as a whole."

Below is a statement from John W. Johnson, Texas transportation commissioner, regarding legislation unveiled May 21, 2002, in Washington by U. S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tx) and others to guarantee states receive at least a 95 percent return of contributions to the Highway Trust Fund.

"I applaud the work of Congressman DeLay - and the Texas congressional delegation as a whole - to ensure fairness in the distribution of federal transportation dollars. For too long, Texas has sent needed highway funds to other states when those dollars are desperately needed in Texas. The current system is filled with inequities. The legislation announced May 21, by Congressman DeLay, will correct some of the major flaws in transportation funding without sacrificing our national transportation system."

Background"

• The Highway Funding Equity Act of 2003, unveiled May 21 ensures that every state receives a 95 percent return of its share of contributions to the Highway Trust Fund.

• It also ensures that every dollar distributed through the federal highway program is equitably distributed.

• The current federal transportation bill, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), expires September 30, 2003.

• During the six years of TEA-21, Texas has received only 86 cents back for every $1 dollar sent to the federal highway trust fund.

BONHAM - May 23, 2003 - TXU (NYSE: TXU) Gas Company, a subsidiary of TXU Corp. (NYSE: TXU), filed a rate case with the Railroad Commission of Texas and in 437 incorporated cities that it serves throughout its service territory including the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex area. The filing proposes adjustments to the current rates that all classes of customers pay for the transmission and delivery of natural gas to their homes and businesses. The proposed effective date for the new rates is June 27, 2003.

If approved as filed, the impact of the new rates would vary by city, but a typical residential customer with a May bill of $55.01 would see that bill increase to $58.63 with the new rates. System wide, the request represents an annual revenue increase of approximately $69.5 million.

The filing is necessary in light of the significant new investment that the Company has made to its pipeline and distribution infrastructure in recent years. The new investment includes the construction of new lines to support economic growth in Texas and the replacement and upgrading of existing lines in order to provide continued safe, reliable and quality natural gas service at a fair price to all of our customers.

This price change affects only TXU Gas customers and does not impact electric prices for TXU Energy customers.

TXU is a major energy company with operations in North America and Australia. TXU manages a diverse energy portfolio with a strategic mix of over $32 billion in assets. TXU’s distinctive business model for competitive markets integrates generation, portfolio management, and retail into one single business. The regulated electric and natural gas distribution and transmission businesses complement the competitive operations, using asset management skills developed over more than a hundred years, to provide reliable energy delivery to consumers and earnings and cash flow for stakeholders. In its primary market of Texas, TXU’s portfolio includes 19,000 megawatts of generation and additional contracted capacity with a fuel mix of coal/lignite, natural gas/oil, nuclear power and wind. TXU serves five million customers in North America and Australia, including 2.7 million competitive electric customers in Texas where it is the leading energy retailer. Visit www.txucorp.com for more information about TXU.

The Region C Water Planning Group (RCWPG) will hold a public hearing to discuss two requests for amendments to the 2001 Region C Water Plan. The amendments, requested by the Athens Municipal Water Authority (AMWA) and the Greater Texoma Utility Authority (GTUA), propose new water management strategies not originally included in the 2001 Region C Water Plan.

Members of the public are welcome to attend and participate in the hearing. The meeting will be held Monday, June 23, 2003 at 1:30 p.m. at North Texas Municipal Water District Board Room, 505 E. Brown Street, Wylie, TX 75098, (972) 442-5402.

About RCWPG: The RCWPG is one of the 16 regional water planning groups selected by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to help develop a comprehensive state water plan for Texas over the next 50 years, as mandated by Senate Bill 1 (SB 1). Each water planning group is responsible for preparing and adopting a regional water plan for its area. The RCWPG is made up of 19 members representing 11 different interest groups.

About Region C: Region C includes all or part of 16 counties in North Texas: Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Freestone, Grayson, Henderson, Jack, Kaufman, Navarro, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise.

The annual Ramey reunion was held Saturday, May 24, 2003, at the Church of Christ Annex in Savoy, Texas. Forty-two family members and friends registered from several towns in Texas, Savoy, Ector, Bonham, Sherman, Iredell, Dallas, Fort Worth and Searcy, and El Dorado, Arkansas.

John and Lorene Hawk and family were hosts. Everyone enjoyed a Pot Luck dinner, pictures were made and door prizes were given. The oldest members present were Mary Bell Bellows, Age 97 1/2 and Bina Smith, age 97, both from Ector. The youngest present was Bonnie Billings of Savoy. James and Neita Ramey of Ector, were married the longest, 60 years. Dillard and Hazel Graham of Dallas, were newlyweds, married 3 months. James Cooksey of Eldorado, Arkansas, came the longest distance.

Sixty people registered for the Ector Carson Cemetery Memorial Services held at the First Baptist Church, Sunday, May 25, 2003 in Ector.

Brother Norm Melton brought the message for the ninth year and closed the meeting singing "The Lord’s Prayer." Don Nelms, President, was in charge of the meeting. Nancy Bellows, Treasurer, gave the treasury report and the names of the ones that have been buried in the cemetery since the memorial services last year.

The cemetery scholarship winners this year are Trina Harbison-Hill of Ector and Alison Jones of Savoy.

Those on the program singing a variety of songs were Vicki Bellows of Ector, Loyd Robertson of Ivanhoe, Jerry, Jake and Jesse Thronberry of Telephone, Cody and Callie Maxwell of Savoy, with Fay Fairchild of Ravenna, and Judy Melton of Ector, as pianists.

Other board members are Joe Bellows, H. G. Dulaney, Ray Brown, Arthur and Wanda Atteberry, John Sellers. Honorary members are Earl Porter and Lynwood Hogue. Billy Roberts of Ravenna is the caretaker of the cemetery. A memorial wreath was placed on Anna Belle Feagan’s grave by the Cemetery Board.

J. G. Hall brushes leaves from a portion of the water garden complex he designed and built himself.

Persian-inspired water gardens are part of Hannah Sue’s Day in the Country June 7.

Whether you prefer to visit a cutting horse ranch or you would rather stroll through an electric profusion of flowers and statuary, the Home, Ranch and Garden Tour - Hannah’s Day in the Country should delight and surprise you. The tour heads north from Bonham High School, where tickets will be sold the day of the event, and winds through northwestern Fannin County. The Persian water gardens in Mulberry (pictured) are part of the tour and are sure to be a highlight. The ladies of Mulberry offer tasty desserts at the Sandy Baptist Church along the route.

The June 7th event begins at 9 a.m. and continues through 5 p.m. Tickets may be purchased the day of the tour at the Bonham High School parking lot. Proceeds benefit Triple H Equitherapy - Hannah’s Horseshoes of Hope, an Ivanhoe-based equine-assisted therapy facility. For more information, call 903-664-3062.

It is time again for the annual first Friday of the month, Golden Gospel Jubilee. The Gospel show will be this Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m.

It will be at the Lake Bonham Hoe-Down located 1/2 mile from Lake Bonham recreation area east of the spillway on CR 2610, Bonham, TX. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The show will be presenting some of the best of bluegrass gospel and ole time gospel music. Hosted by Joan Kelton and the talented Bluegrass Gospeleers. Featuring: Randy Keister, Glen Clark, Mike Stroud, Jim Clark and Stuart Anderson, sitting in for Don Sharp on banjo. Our scheduled special guest will be Brother Loyd Robertson and the Homer and Fay Fairchild band, plus others. Everyone is invited out for a fun and inspirational evening. Everyone is welcome.

Admission is free. Donations are accepted and most appreciated. Thanks to all for your support and may God truly bless you. For more information call 903-583-4731 or 903-583-5710.

The Sangster-Snead family reunion will be Sunday, June 8, 2003 at the Clarence White Family Life Center, 200 West 8th & Star Street, Bonham, Texas 75418, Phone: 903-583-1918.

Time: 11:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m.. Lunch at 12:00 p.m. Bring enough food for your family, cameras for taking pictures, pictures and news to share.

The Life center has a gameroom with a pool table, ball court, TV room, banquet room & air conditioning.

All friends and relatives are invited to come have a good time & enjoy good food & fellowship.

Directions: Come to Bonham, Texas. Follow Highway 56 (Sam Rayburn Drive) to the second traffic light, which will be Main street. Turn left and go down to 8th street. Turn left and go about 3 blocks. The Life Center will be on your right. Hope to see you there!

You probably also count on the newspapers and TV stations to keep tabs on your local government, businesses, and even on each other. This is the public service we have all come to expect from the media.

But in Washington, D.C., the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is moving towards changing the rules that protect the quality and local ownership of your community’s newspapers and television and radio stations. If these rule changes are enacted, as the FCC will do on June 2, the news that you rely upon could change drastically.

The multiple, contrasting news voices you hear now in your area may be reduced to one dominant news voice with a few weak alternatives. The dominant owner could influence what local content to provide in your area, and if that company decided not to cover a story in any of the newspapers, TV stations, or radio stations it owns, there is no way to guarantee you would get the whole story.

The cautionary tale is in radio. In 1996, Congress effectively removed limits on the number of radio stations one owner could control. The result? Clear Channel went from owning 115 radio stations nationwide in 1996, to owning over 1,400 today. It is no coincidence that most radio stations seem to sound the same these days. In the name of efficiency and cost-savings, large radio station owners have homogenized playlists and formats, eliminated staff, and removed local news programming altogether.

It is not farfetched to expect the same to happen with newspapers and television if the FCC is allowed to weaken the media ownership rules. The largest media companies argue that relaxation of these rules is necessary to create greater cost efficiencies. But where would these "efficiencies" come from? Probably from reducing newsroom staff, putting less emphasis on investigative reporting, and recycling and sharing news content among outlets.

Those pushing hardest for the FCC to weaken the media ownership rules claim that there are a plethora of media choices available today. But the FCC’s own data show that when surveyed, people list TV and newspaper as their dominant sources of news. The Internet has exploded onto the scene in the past 10 years, and there are many cable channels on the dial, but how many of these sites and channels provide original local news? The most popular web sites are those such as MSNBC.com and CNN.com - sites that do not provide local news, and that are owned by large media companies. And cable channels are not a new source of local news, since they simply rebroadcast the same TV news channels you can already get without cable access.

The FCC changes will not and should not end this debate. You can still take action to make sure your news stays independent and geared toward the needs of your community.

A healthy democracy depends on a diverse marketplace of ideas. The FCC and our elected officials deserve to hear from all of us, since any changes to the rules will affect each of us directly. Otherwise, we stand to lose the watchdogs who help make this country what it is.

Each American Cancer Society Relay for Life across the world features a cancer survivors’ reception and the 12 hour walking marathon, does not begin until the special guests of honor, local cancer survivors, initiate the starting lap. Motorized transport will be available for those survivors who require it. If you have not pre-registered as a cancer survivor, please come and register on site. In addition to celebrating the life of these survivors who are able to attend, a special luminaria ceremony takes place at approximately 9 p.m. Candles are lit in memory and in honor of friends and loved ones. While the names are read aloud, participants silently walk and observe the names each candle represents. Luminaria sales will continue at the Relay site until approximately 8 p.m.

Other features of the evening include a wide variety of free entertainment, including performances by the reigning Fannin County Little Miss, Princess, Duchess and Queen. Musical groups and soloists from around the area will provide excellent entertainment throughout the night. There will be a bustle of live entertainment activities until 2 a.m. Special children’s games will take place on the lighted tennis courts following the luminaria ceremony until 12 p.m.

Come hungry! Various teams will have food booths, featuring barbecue, baked potatoes, walking tacos, watermelon, fruit kabobs and pineapple slices, coffee bar, brownies, hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, and Frito pie. An open market atmosphere will fill the part with various games, raffles, and bake sales, including the popular bouncing castle for the kids!

Please help us achieve our biggest turn out ever and our fundraising goal of $50,000. Please note the following community groups and employees who have been diligently working together to achieve this goal and come out and support them Friday night! Buster Cole Lucky Charms, Fannin Credit Union and Crisis Center, NE Medical Zoo Crew, Fannin County Electric Co-op, Choice Moore Cancer Squadron, Bonham Fire and Rescue, Leonard Methodist Men’s and Women’s Groups, Kay Family & Friends, Sam Rayburn Memorial Patriots (VA Employees’ Assoc.),

Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home, Bonham First Methodist Church, Walmart Sluggers, Windom Community, All American Girls from Leonard, Bailey VFD, Fannin Bank Desperados, Bonham State Bank, Fannin Tax A/C, Bonham First Christian Church Knock Out Kids, First National Bank of Trenton Patriots, Bonham First Presbyterian Church, Grace Tarpley Family, Team Total Fitness, Fannin County 4-H, Dodd City Community, Darold & Sandra Lewis Family, and 7th & Main Baptist church.

Many of us have heard the tale of the Trojan Horse, an instrument of war used by the Greeks to gain access to the ancient city of Troy. The story is one of a people caught off guard - innocently opening their gates to the enemy, who are hidden inside the giant wooden horse. Ultimately this seemingly innocuous gift led to the downfall of Troy when the Greeks emerged from the belly of the beast and conquered the city.

Now the term "Trojan Horse" is synonymous with the risk of danger in plain sight. Since September 11^th our nation has made great strides in aviation security with improved screenings and checked baggage inspections, but air cargo continues to be the proverbial Trojan Horse that could be employed by those who wish us harm.

Almost 22 percent of all air cargo travels on commercial passenger flights, but only a tiny fraction is inspected. So, while you and the bags you carry on and check have been thoroughly screened before boarding a flight, the cargo riding in the belly of that same plane has been stowed without inspection, leaving a gaping hole in our aviation security system.

The General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, found that air cargo is vulnerable to tampering during land transport or at cargo handling facilities. Regulations governing shippers and haulers are lax and the newly formed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lacks the authority to revoke the licenses of companies found to have questionable practices.

Fortunately, we have acted to close this loophole. In May, the Senate passed my legislation, the "Air Cargo Security Act," to finish the task of securing our nation’s flights. The bill goes a long way to empower TSA to secure cargo facilities, better track shippers and regulate the personnel involved in the shipping process from loading the cargo to flying the planes.

Among its many provisions, the legislation would:

• Direct TSA to work with foreign countries to conduct regular checks at facilities transporting air cargo to the United States.

• Require all-cargo air carriers to develop an approved security plan for their facilities, operations, cargo and personnel. The plan must include background checks and tamper-proof identifications cards for employees, training for all personnel and contractors with security responsibilities, screening of all flight crews and others on board flights, and security procedures for cargo.

• Give TSA the power to revoke the license of a shipper or freight forwarder whose practices are unsound, or who has engaged in illegal activity.

• Require background checks for all non-citizens who want to undergo flight training.

Last fall, when I posed a question about air cargo security in my annual constituent survey, two-thirds of readers felt that cargo on passenger flights should be Inspected. The Senate passed the legislation last year, but unfortunately the session ended before the House of Representatives could act. Hopefully, this year, the House will work with us to send a bill to the president that closes this loophole and protects the American people.

This annual event is open to all kids in Fannin County, who are 2 to 16 years old. The Derby is a free event and proudly sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service, the VA Employee Association, Wal-Mart and many area Businesses and individuals.

This year’s event will be held Saturday, June 7th, at the pool just south of the Lake Fannin Entrance. Registration begins at 7a.m. and fishing begins at 8.

As in all of the past events, this years Derby will give every young person the chance to get out with their friends and family, do some fishing, eats some hot dogs and win some prizes.

Speaking of prizes, every child attending the event will receive a grab bag of goodies at registration and special prizes during fishing time. At l lam fishing will stop and special prizes will be award to the 1st, 2nd, and 3 place winners in four different age groups. Cash prizes will also be awarded for the biggest fish caught and other categories.

After fishing has ended all in attendance will be fed hot dogs and chips and sodas.

All parents and/or guardians are encouraged to bring their children and have some fun together.

This event will be held rain or shine.

Barbara Waldrop

President, VA Employee Association

NOTICE!

On a more somber note, many of you may have noticed the signs at the fishing pool that warn of a possible chemical contamination at the site. These signs are a disinformation ploy and are not for real and SHOULD NOT be taken seriously.

We hate to say it but there are a few unscrupulous individuals out there who wait every year for us to spend our hard earned time and money on fish to stock the pool and then jump in there and fish out as many of the fish as they can before the derby.

We are aware on one group of individuals who went out two days before the derby and caught enough fish to treat all the employees at a certain business to a fish fry. Shame on you!! You’re not being clever. You’re just taking candy from babies. You may be fishing the pool legally with the laws of the land but you’re morally wrong with the children. For some of these kids this is the only opportunity for them to go fishing and you are depriving them of the chance to catch that big fish you just carried from the pool.

We are not able to be at the pool all the time and cannot guard it for the children 24 hours a day. Therefore we set up these signs trying to keep a few of these individuals out long enough for the kids to get there.

If we’ve managed to turn back just one of these individuals we feel we have succeeded, if only a little, for the kid’s.

If we’ve scared some of you with our signs, we sincerely apologize and hope you will forgive us.

Rickey L. Kirk

Chairman, Kid’s All-American Fishing Derby

Paris, Texas - A workshop regarding TxDOT’s Elderly & Disabled Transportation Program is scheduled for June 9, 2003 in TxDOT’s Paris District Training Room, 1365 N, Main Street, in Paris, Texas beginning at 10:00 a.m, The purpose of the workshop is to evaluate the Current year’s activities, review plans and goals for the next two years, and to select projects for FY 2006. Anyone who is interested in elderly and disabled transportation in the nine county Paris District of TxDOT is strongly encouraged to attend the meeting.

TxDOT’s Paris District includes the following counties: Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Rains and Red River.

Comments or concerns regarding Elderly & Disabled Program in the Paris District may be addressed to^, Public Transportation Coordinator, 1365 N. Main, Paris, Texas 75460, or call (903) 737-9373.

Despite recent rainfall, North Texas is still is a drought and fire officials are predicting a difficult summer wildfire season,

"Much of North Texas is already more than 6 inches below our normal rainfall for the year. That doesn’t bode well for the hot, dry summer months to come.’’ said Lt Kent Worley, public information officer for the Fort Worth Fire Department. "The rain we had last week was helpful, but it will not alleviate this drought. Nor will one heavy thunderstorm. What we really need is a long-term, widespread soaking rain."

Homeowners can prepare now to increase the their homes will withstand the threat of a wildfire, according to Rich Gray, Texas Forest Service urban wild land interface coordinator.

"People have two misconceptions about wildfires," Gray said "First, they don’t think they are at risk in North TO=. The reality is that we do have devastating wildfires here such as the 1996 Poolville Fire that destroyed 141 structures and burned 16,000 acres­

"Second, they think preparing their home for a wildfire mea ns they can’t have trees, grass or shrubs in their yards," he added. "Actually, fire wise landscaping can be beautiful, and it can incorporate a variety of plants and trees as long as they arc strategically placed so fire does not have a direct path to your home."

Gray said a homeowner can make a house more resistant to wildfire by making the following changes: • Replace volatile plants, such as juniper and yaupon holly, with more fire-resistant species, such as hardwood trees, red yucca, forsythia, China rose, Texas sage or crepe myrtle,

• Prune tree limbs up to 6 feet and remove tree limbs within 10-feet of your chimney and roof

• Irrigate the grass around your home if possible, and keep grass and weeds mowed to 2 inches; • Remove ladder fuels, which include any combustibles that would carry tire rip into the tree canopy or onto the roof. Shrubs, vines, and woodpiles are often ladder fuels;

• Stack firewood at least 30 feet. from the house;

• Clean all dead leaves and needles from the gutters and roof

Use fine gauge wire screen to cam vents in eaves, attics and under decks. Mw skirt wood decks with non-flammable siding or rock.

Coping with Mold A Fungus Among Us

• Do not carpet bathrooms, basements, kitchens or other areas prone to collect moisture.

People with asthma, immunocompromised people, the very young and the elderly should avoid exposure to mold and should not be present when mold is removed from a building, Kotrla said.

Individual reactions to mold exposure vary widely from watery eyes to severe respiratory distress and often depend on such factors as amount and type of molds present, length and frequency of exposure and the health of the individuals at the time of exposure. Many people who are sensitive to mold have flu-like symptoms - headache, congestion, sneezing, coughing and throat irritation.

The Older Americans Act of 1965 provided a design for a national network to provide information and services specifically for persons over the age of 60. In 1974, the Area Agency on Aging of Texoma was established to serve Grayson, Fannin and Cooke counties. One of the first goals of the new agency was to develop community support for senior nutrition centers that would not only provide a hot nutritious meal at a very low price but also provide a place for seniors to socialize, play dominoes or cards, quilt, take classes, etc. The Bonham Senior Nutrition Center (nicknamed the SNAP center) opened for business in 1976 with the support of the Civitan Club, a Bonham community club now disbanded. Bryce McIntyre, Sr., Tom McDonald, and Larry Dyson were also instrumental in the development of this important resource for seniors, according to Janis Thompson, director of the Area Agency on Aging of Texoma.

Most people believe that the SNAP Center is fully funded. The funding for the Bonham SNAP Center is pieced together as carefully as the beautiful quilts that the SNAP Center Quilting Club quilt for the public.

Tri-County Nutrition, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that manages the federal funding for senior nutrition in the Texoma area, pays the salaries of the center’s employees, but provides only a part of the supplies needed: meat, staples (such as flour, meal, sugar, etc.), milk, and canned fruit and vegetables. The money received from seniors to pay

for their meals goes back to Tri-County to reimburse them for these supplies. The Quilting Club provides all the cleaning supplies, bread, and fresh fruit and vegetables with the money they earn quilting for the public.

While the Quilting Club and Tri-County Nutrition are important to the SNAP Center, the reality is that the Bonham SNAP Center could not exist without the "Golden K" Kiwanis Club. The "Golden K" was established in 1988 for the sole purpose of supporting the SNAP Center. There are only two of the original members still active in the group, Dub Cunningham and Claude Uselton. The "Golden K" owns the building where the SNAP Center is located and pays all the taxes, insurance, and maintenance on the building and appliances used by the SNAP Center. The "Golden K" also pays all the utility bills for the building which are a significant part of the monthly budget. In order to provide these things, the "Golden K" is constantly raising money with their monthly breakfasts, occasional auctions, and, until recently, their Flag program. Because the membership of the club has dwindled and many of the members are physically unable to deliver and pick up the flags, the Flag program is in the process of being changed and the revenue from this program will most likely be reduced. For this reason, the income from the breakfasts and auctions are even more important for the "Golden K" to continue to provide a home for the Bonham SNAP Center.

The Bonham SNAP Center provides 175 hot meals to seniors in Bonham and the surrounding area. Approximately 100-130 of these meals are delivered by volunteers to homebound seniors. For many of their clients, this hot nutritious meal may be their main meal of the day. It can be a critical resource for persons who are unable to afford nutritious food and for persons who are physically unable to prepare meals. In fact, the daily visit from the volunteer delivering the noon meal may be the only personal contact some of these homebound seniors have, according to Mae Knight, director of the Bonham SNAP center.

The Bonham SNAP Center has been a very important resource to our senior community since 1976 and needs support from the community to continue to exist. The next breakfast fund-raiser will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2003 from 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM at the Bonham SNAP Center. A very affordable $3.50 for all you can eat, the menu will be pancakes, bacon, sausage, orange juice and coffee served with a smile by the "Golden K" members and volunteers. To the loyal customers who are fans of the usual eggs, breakfast meats, biscuits and gravy menu, this menu is an experiment. Because donations of biscuits and bacon are no longer available, the cost of the usual breakfast has increased to the point that the profits from the breakfast is significantly lower. The pancake breakfast is an experiment to keep the cost low for the loyal customers and still raise the money necessary to pay utility bills for the SNAP Center. Public input regarding the menu is welcome. As always, delivery is available for those who are unable to come to the SNAP Center but please remember that delivery is provided by volunteers and may not be immediate depending on the number of volunteers that day.

Tips for providing delivery service would certainly be welcome.

For more information or to volunteer to help the SNAP Center, contact Mae Knight at 903-583-8573 from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Monday through Friday or Donna Baugh, 903-813-3503. Community support is critical to the continued existence of the SNAP Center.

There is a man I don’t know too well, but what I do know makes him mighty swell, He’s the Girls Coach at Ector High, and they all think he’s quite a guy.

HOUSTON – (May 29, 2003) -- Patching the unaffected eye of children with moderate amblyopia, or "lazy eye," for two hours daily works as well as patching the eye for six hours, said a Baylor College of Medicine pediatrician.

These results of the multi-center, NIH-funded study appear in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.

The research finding should lead to better compliance with treatment and improved quality of life for children with amblyopia, the most common cause of visual impairment in childhood.

"Compliance is the always the biggest problem and it wanes over time," said Dr. Evelyn A. Paysse, assistant professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics and primary investigator on the study at Baylor. "Since this is a treatment that goes on for months, having a shorter patch time makes treating this much easier."

After four months of treatment, children with moderate amblyopia who wore an adhesive patch daily for two hours over their unaffected eye showed the same improvement in vision as those who wore a patch for six hours.

Placing an opaque adhesive patch, or eye bandage, over the unaffected eye for six hours daily is considered one of the standard treatments for moderate amblyopia. Both groups of children in the study performed one hour a day of coloring, tracing, reading, and crafts, while their eye was patched.

Amblyopia, which usually begins in infancy or childhood, is a condition of poor vision in an otherwise healthy eye because the brain has learned to favor the other eye. Although the eye with amblyopia often looks normal, there is interference with normal visual processing that limits the development of a portion of the brain responsible for vision.

The most common causes of amblyopia are crossed or wandering eyes or significant differences in refractive error, such as farsightedness or nearsightedness, between the two eyes.

IR-2003-68, May 29, 2003

WASHINGTON — Beginning the last week of July, 1.8 million eligible taxpayers in Texas who claimed the Child Tax Credit on their 2002 tax returns will automatically receive an advance payment of the 2003 increase in this credit, the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today.

Taxpayers will not have to take any action to get this advance payment of up to $400 per qualifying child. The Treasury Department and IRS will perform all the calculations and automatically mail a notice and a check to each eligible taxpayer.

"The only thing the taxpayer needs to do is cash the check," said Mark W. Everson, IRS Commissioner. "If you qualify, we will send you a notice. There’s no need to call, no need to apply, no need to fill out another form. The IRS will do all the work. A few days after the notice, you will get the check."

The checks – an advance payment of the 2003 increase in the Child Tax Credit – will be based on the child tax credit claimed on the taxpayer’s 2002 tax return. The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 increased the maximum child tax credit for 2003 to $1,000 per child, up from $600 for tax year 2002. The law further instructed the Treasury Department to provide the difference – up to $400 per child – as an advance payment to each eligible taxpayer this summer.

The Treasury Department will issue about 25 million of these checks this year, beginning with three principal mailings on July 25, Aug. 1 and Aug. 8. Taxpayers who filed returns after April 15 – for example, those with automatic extensions – will receive their advance payments after the IRS processes their returns. They should not make any change to their 2002 returns or remittances based on an expectation of an advance payment check.

The IRS will send notices to taxpayers on July 23, July 30 and Aug. 6, informing them of their advance payment amount. The IRS urges taxpayers to hold on to these notices for their 2003 tax returns. They will need to take the advance payment into account when determining the amount of their child tax credit on the 2003 tax return.

Taxpayers who are not eligible for the advance payment may still qualify for the increased child tax credit of up to $1,000 when they file the 2003 tax return next year. For instance, a taxpayer who did not have a child in 2002, but had one in 2003, would not receive an advance payment but may qualify for the full $1,000 credit on the 2003 tax return.

More information, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available on the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov.

FS-2003-13, May 2003

About 25 million taxpayers may be eligible for an advance payment of an increase to the Child Tax Credit. The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 raised the Child Tax Credit to a maximum of $1,000 per child from $600 per child, beginning in 2003. The Act also provided for immediate tax relief by directing the Treasury to send this increase to taxpayers this year. Eligible taxpayers could receive up to $400 for each child claimed on their 2002 returns as an advance payment of their 2003 Child Tax Credit.

The IRS and Treasury will automatically notify and mail advance payments to eligible taxpayers. Here are the basics:

· Taxpayers have no need to call, no need to apply, no need to fill out another tax form.

· The government will automatically mail checks to eligible taxpayers, beginning July 25.

· Taxpayers who receive the advance payment should keep the IRS notice for their records. This amount will affect the computation of the Child Tax Credit on their 2003 returns.

The Child Tax Credit was created by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. It began in 1998 as a maximum credit of $400 per qualifying child. The new law accelerates a previously scheduled increase of the maximum credit to $1,000 per child, effective for 2003 and 2004.

The Child Tax Credit is a nonrefundable credit for each qualifying child. To qualify, a child must be under age 17, be a citizen or resident of the United States, be claimed as the taxpayer’s dependent, and be the taxpayer’s (a) child, stepchild, adopted child, or grandchild; (b) sibling, stepsibling, or a descendant of any of them, whom the taxpayer cared for as his or her own child, or (c) eligible foster child.

There is also an Additional Child Tax Credit, for individuals who get less than the full amount of the Child Tax Credit because their tax is too low. The Additional Child Tax Credit – figured on Form 8812 – may result in a refund even if the person does not owe any tax.

The Child Tax Credit is not the same as the Credit for Child and Dependent Care Expenses. On the 2002 forms, the Child Tax Credit is on line 50 of Form 1040 and line 33 of Form 1040A. The Additional Child Tax Credit is on line 66 of Form 1040 and line 42 of Form 1040A.

Taxpayers do not need to do anything to receive the advance payment. The IRS automatically will send notices to eligible taxpayers. The IRS notice will be followed a few days later by the advance payment check. Both the notice and the check will be mailed to the address listed on the taxpayer’s 2002 tax return. Anyone who has moved since filing the 2002 return should notify the U.S. Postal Service of the new address, so that the notice and check may be forwarded.

The Treasury will mail advance payment checks on July 25, Aug. 1 and Aug. 8 to taxpayers who filed their returns by April 15. The checks will be issued based on the last two digits of the Social Security number listed first on the 2002 tax return. Taxpayers whose last two digits are the lowest will receive their checks first.

Taxpayers who have received filing extensions will still get the advance payment checks if they are eligible. They should have their advance payment checks about four to six weeks after the IRS receives their 2002 tax return.

The IRS will use 2002 tax year data to determine who will receive the automatic advance payment. Generally:

· Taxpayers must have claimed the Child Tax Credit on the 2002 tax return.

· Taxpayers must have used Form 1040 or Form 1040A, or filed electronically.

· The child must have been born after 1986.

(1) Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two children, ages 8 & 10; their 2002 AGI was $50,000 and they claimed a Child Tax Credit of $1,200. The Browns will receive an advance payment of $800.

(2) Mr. and Mrs. Green have two children, ages 11 & 13; their 2002 AGI was $125,500 and they claimed a Child Tax Credit of $400 because of the phaseout provision. The Greens will receive an advance payment of $800.

(3) Ms. Gray has one child, age 7; her 2002 earned income was $16,560; she claimed a Child Tax Credit of $368 and an Additional Child Tax Credit of $232. Ms. Gray will receive an advance payment of $389.

(4) Mr. and Mrs. White have three children, ages 12, 14 & 16 in 2002; their 2002 AGI was $65,000 and they claimed a Child Tax Credit of $1,800. The Whites will receive an advance payment of $800, based on their two younger children, since their oldest child turns 17 in 2003.

Some taxpayers with children are not eligible for the advance payment, including:

· Taxpayers who filed Form 1040EZ, which doesn’t provide for claiming dependents or the Child Tax Credit.

· Taxpayers who had income that exceeded certain limits.

· Taxpayers whose only children were born before 1987.

· Taxpayers whose only child was born in 2003.

· Taxpayers whose Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit for 2002 totaled less than $600 for each qualifying child because of the tax liability and earned income limitations.

The Child Tax Credit begins to phase out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income above:

· $110,000, if married filing jointly

· $55,000, if married filing separately, or

· $75,000, for all others.

For every $1,000 or portion thereof above these thresholds, the total credit amount is reduced by $50. Thus, in 2002 a taxpayer with two children (who would otherwise have a $1,200 credit) had the Child Tax Credit completely phase out if his/her AGI was more than $23,000 above the threshold. The higher per child credit amount for 2003 will mean that a taxpayer with two children will not have the $2,000 credit amount completely phase out unless his/her AGI is more than $39,000 above the threshold.

A taxpayer who was not eligible for the Child Tax Credit for 2002 will not receive an advance payment check, even though the higher phaseout limit may allow this taxpayer to claim the credit when filing the 2003 tax return.

The IRS uses 2002 tax data to figure the advance payment. Some people’s tax situations will change during the year. For example, if a child was born in 2003, the taxpayer would not have claimed that child on the 2002 return and would not be eligible for an advance payment based on that child, but may claim a Child Tax Credit of up to $1,000 for that qualifying child on the 2003 tax return.

Taxpayers receiving an advance payment should keep the IRS notice of the advance payment amount in order to properly complete the 2003 tax return. They will subtract any advance payment already received from the total amount (up to $1,000 per child) when figuring the credit for the 2003 return.

Some taxpayers may have changed residency after filing the 2002 return. If an advance payment check cannot be forwarded to the taxpayer, it will be returned to the IRS. Taxpayers who qualify for the advance payment, but who do not receive a check, may claim the full Child Tax Credit amount of up to $1,000 per qualifying child on their 2003 tax returns.

The Bonham Police Department is again sponsoring its Annual Fan Drive. Fans will be given to those who need them for cooling during the upcoming Summer months. Since the program began, donations from supporters have enabled more than 300 fans to be given away. Anyone wanting to donate a fan or money to purchase a fan can do so at the Bonham Police Dept, at 301 E. 5^th St. Anyone needing a fan can call 903-583-2141 and get their name place on the list for the fans. The fans will be given away on a first come basis with one fan per household. The Bonham Police Department appreciates the support they have received in the past for this program.

(Bonham, TX) --- May 29, 2003 --- Sign-up period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has been extended from May 30, 2003 to June 13, 2003 announced Jimmy Charles, County Executive Director for the Fannin County Farm Service Agency.

"Interest in the general CRP sign-up has been strong. This extension gives busy producers more time to enroll in this highly successful, environmentally beneficial program," said Charles.

CRP is the nation’s largest private lands environmental improvement program-it protects millions of acres of topsoil from erosion, provides valuable wildlife habitat and safeguards America’s ground and surface water quality. For fiscal year 2003, Fannin County has approximately 3,600 acres enrolled in the CRP program.

CRP participants voluntarily remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production by entering into long-term contracts for 10 to 15 years. In exchange, they receive annual rental payments and a payment of up to 50 percent of the cost of establishing conservation practices.

Current participants with contracts expiring this fall can make new contract offers, which, if accepted, will become effective on Oct. 1, 2003. All other contracts awarded under this sign-up will become effective either at the beginning of the next fiscal year, Oct. 1, 2003, or the following year, Oct. 1, 2004, whichever the producer chooses.

"Producers who enroll acreage in CRP promote conservation and stewardship by protecting sensitive land for future generations and reduce production of surplus commodities. In return, producers receive needed income support through program payments and use of the land for recreational purposes," said Charles.

For more informaiton on CRP, contact the Fannin County FSA Office 903-583-9513 or visit the FSA Web site at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/default.htm

The 78th Legislative Session wrapped up June 2, marking the end of what was proven to be a challenging and interesting session. The state began the session with an approximate $10 billion budget shortfall and the homeowners’ and medical malpractice insurance markets in a crisis situation, as well as many other issues needing to be addressed.

The budget proved to be contentious and members of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees spent hundreds of hours working to formulate and agree on a final budget. With a $10 billion shortfall, the budget was a delicate balancing act between the needs of our citizens and available funds. However, in the end, a budget was written to meet the needs of the state’s most vulnerable citizens, continues to fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program, increases funding for education and will help provide for new jobs in the state. Without raising taxes, the budget is able to draw down more federal dollars with fewer state dollars.

Homeowners will see relief from homeowners’ insurance reform passed by the legislature. We began the session with the understanding that Texans were facing higher and higher insurance costs. Senate Bill 14 is designed to bring insurance rates back into check in the state and should lead to lower rates for homeowners. The bill requires insurers to file rates, rating manuals, supporting data and policy and service fees with the state’s Commissioner of Insurance for approval. It was important during the debate of this plan to pass language that would reform insurance, while at the same time not drive insurers out of the state by stifling competition or eliminating any incentive for companies to do business in the state. The bill includes a rate rollback, to be determined by the commissioner, along with other reform measures.

It was decided early in the session by the leadership that school finance and the effect it has on property taxpayers in the state is so important that it needs to be done in a special session. A special session will allow the legislature to give this issue the focused attention that it will require. The special session is expected to be late this year.

Keep in mind that when this article was written, there were four days left in the session. As these major bills are finalized, some aspects may be changed as final details are agreed upon.

It has been an honor to serve you during my first term in the legislature. I am grateful for the opportunity. I would like to thank each and every constituent that took the time to contact me during the session to provide input on bills. My office received over 2,100 calls, letters, e-mails and faxes from constituents during the session. This input helped me know how people in the district felt about issues coming before the House for debate.