Safety Precautions Important For

Swimmers In Rivers, Lakes

Lake or river waters can provide an enjoyable way to cool down under the hot Texas sun. But those same waters may contain many health hazards, including concentrations of a common ameba that can cause an extremely rare - but deadly- form of meningitis.

Some easy-to-remember safety precautions, however, can help prevent potential health problems for people in lakes, rivers, streams or stock ponds.

As temperatures rise and water levels drop, higher concentrations of the ameba that causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis - also known as PAM - develop, said Neil Pascoe, a Texas Department of Health (TDH) epidemiologist.

"The infection is extremely rare. Only one to three cases are detected in Texas each year," Pascoe said. For those infected, however, death usually occurs within one week. One case of PAM was reported in Texas last year, three in 2001.

The organisms that cause PAM exist in almost all untreated surface water and thrive in water that is stagnant or slow moving and when water temperature is above 80 degrees. Swimming pools that are properly cleaned, maintained and treated with chlorine are safe, as is salt water.

The PAM infection occurs when water containing the organisms is forcefully inhaled into nasal passages - usually from diving, jumping or water skiing. The amebae then make their way into the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms of PAM include severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and coma. The infection is not spread from person to person.

TDH offers these recommendations to reduce the likelihood of PAM or other water-borne infections:

• Never swim in stagnant or polluted water. Take "No Swimming" signs seriously.

• Hold your nose or use nose plugs when jumping or diving into water.

• Avoid swallowing water from rivers, lakes, streams, or stock ponds.

• Use earplugs, swim goggles or masks if you tend to get ear or eye infections.

• Swim in properly maintained pools when possible.

• Keep wading pools clean and change the water daily.

• Wash open skin cuts and scrapes with clean water and soap.

To help keep potential sources of infection out of recreational water, shower before swimming and take young children to restroom frequently. Children who are not toilet trained should wear a swimsuit or rubber pants over diapers designed to prevent leaks. Check diapers frequently.

More common dangers associated with activities around lakes and rivers include injuries from diving into water that hides rocks and debris, diving into shallow water, not using safety equipment and leaving children unattended.

Naming a ship is serious business. The name the ship carries will be recorded in the annals of our proud naval history. Names like the Constellation, Abraham Lincoln, Kitty Hawk or Enterprise ring with the valor of their crews who defend our freedom wherever it is threatened. Those ships fought with distinction in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the next two years, the officers and crew of the USS San Antonio will be able to stake their claim to a place in naval history as well.

Can you think of any words more in keeping with the motto "Semper Fidelis"? Such stubborn courage is the heritage the USS San Antonio will take when it sets sail with U.S. Marines and sailors aboard.

Navy officials bill the San Antonio as a pioneer in force protection. Its cutting-edge Shipboard Wide Area Network, SWAN, identifies and analyzes threats, then orders a weapons system on the ship - or another U.S. vessel - to fire on the target. It is also the Navy’s first stealth ship, using fewer angles from protruding pieces of steel and high-tech twin masts to reduce its radar signature.

The christening culminated when I shattered a bottle of Cap*Rock sparkling Texas wine across the new ship’s bow, a time-honored Naval tradition. Whatever adventures lie ahead for the USS San Antonio and its crews, we know they will serve with the same distinction that their forbearers did in the city for which the ship is forever named. With the spirit of the Alamo and the name of a great Texas city, the USS San Antonio will be prepared to sail into harms way when it sets course to defend our freedoms.

On February 1, 2003, millions of Americans awoke to the heartbreaking news that the Space Shuttle Colum­bia had been destroyed while reentering the earth’s atmosphere. Texans were profoundly affected by the tragedy because the shuttle disintegrated in our wide-open skies, scattering wreckage throughout the northeast part of our state.

August marks the six-month anniversary of that terrible tragedy. It is a time to remember, but it is also a time to reflect on the triumph of the human spirit that rose from the ashes of the Columbia.

When Texans learned of the disaster, they didn’t stop and ask, "Why us?" They said, "How can we help?" They pitched in with gestures large and small. People in Sabine, Nacogdoches and San Augustine counties, areas that bore the brunt of the disaster, rose to the occasion to assist in the recovery efforts.

More than 600 volunteers descended upon the east Texas community from around the state to begin the monumental task. Game wardens, fire fighters, sheriffs and forest service employees arrived at their own ex­pense to help. The local National Guard unit canceled its scheduled training that first weekend and lent a hand. Restaurants and grocery stores provided free meals to volunteers. Business, schools and community organiza­tions solicited donations and rounded up food, water and supplies to keep the command center running. Churches offered the homes of their members to relief workers seeking a warm bed after grueling 12-hour shifts. Local hotels and bed and breakfasts donated lodging for the out-­of-town workers. VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members volunteered countless hours.

State and local agencies operated seamlessly to deal with the tragedy and ensure recovery efforts ran smoothly and efficiently. The local community came together in an unprecedented way. Texans gave of their time, efforts and finances to help piece together the tragedy and put their community, and our entire nation, on the road to recovery.

The outpouring of generosity comes as no surprise. Texans are known for our big hearts and welcoming arms. When tragedy literally rained down upon us, it was instinctive to respond with charity, generosity and kindness.

While many questions surrounding the accident are still being investigated and measures preventing fu­ture tragedies are being undertaken, it is the question of "What’s next?" that must still be addressed. What’s next for space exploration? What can we learn from venturing into the unknown?

It is that thirst for knowledge that led us to explore space in the first place. Our curiosity, sense of wonder and desire to improve life on earth prompted us time and again to defy the odds. And our efforts have resulted in life-saving discoveries, technological advancements and improvements in our everyday lives.

Satellites, smoke detectors and bar-code scanners provide a few examples of everyday technologies that were developed through our space program. NASA has also contributed to the defense of our nation by pioneer­ing space-based and satellite imagery applications that have been critical to helping our military pinpoint the enemy on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. NASA is also helping to develop the next generation of the un­manned aerial vehicle, the Predator, a remotely controlled aircraft that allows us to see the battlefield, find the en­emy and send in precision-guided munitions without en­dangering troops. Perhaps our greatest achievement has been in the field of medical science. CAT scans and MRIs are revolutionizing our ability to detect tumors early and save lives. Neither technology would be possible without NASA research.

From 1803, when Lewis and Clark set out to ex­plore the unknown lands of the west, to 1969, when Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon, the spirit of exploration has shaped our history and our culture. It has kept our economy thriving through the use and production of the fruits that research. It is a spirit embodied by Texans and knit into the fabric of our rich legacy of independence, which we must preserve.

As we commemorate the anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy and honor the seven lives cut short, we grieve with their families, celebrate their mem ories and pledge to renew our zeal for space exploration and hunger for the unknown.

Bonham Area Community Blood Drive

The Bonham Fire Department is coordinating a Community Wide Blood Drive on Tuesday, August 19th at the Fire Station from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm.

Remember that although the Blood Drive is being conducted through the Texoma Regional Blood Center, Blood Centers do not use the blood. It is the patients in the hospitals, our families, friends and neighbors who use the blood. There is no medical substitute for human blood. It is only available from donors like you.

Your donation of one unit of Blood could help save as many as three lives.

For more information call Mike Posey, Blood Drive Coordinator at 903-640-5609.

Proposals Requested For 1-35 High Priority Trans Texas Corridor

Efforts to construct one of the largest transportation projects in the state’s history are under way with private companies being asked to submit innovative strategies to build a high priority segment of the Trans Texas Corridor.

The Texas Department of Transportation has issued a notice requesting competing proposals to develop the I-35 High Priority Trans Texas Corridor extending from the Red River to the Mexican border.

The high priority corridor would generally parallel I-35. Portions of the 1-37 and I-69 high priority Trans Texas Corridors may be included as necessary for connectivity and financing.

Designed to be a much faster and safer transportation of people and freight, the Trans Texas Corridor will include four multi-modal, high priority corridors approximately 1,200 feet wide.

"Looking down the road, the time is right to do more than just plan for the state’s transportation future," said Michael Behrens, executive director of TxDOT. "This is an innovative concept that needs ingenuity and resources that come from public-private partnerships."

The notice asks teams to submit plans to acquire, develop, design, construct, finance, maintain and operate a combination of rail, roadway and utility facilities for this high priority corridor. In addition, each team must include a description of the group’s qualifications, experience and expertise.

The request for proposals is based on an unsolicited proposal submitted by Fluor Enterprises, Inc. According to TxDOT rules, if an unsolicited proposal merits further evaluation, a public notice must be issued to allow other interested parties an opportunity to submit competing proposals.

The Fluor proposal, submitted on Nov. 13, 2002, was to develop and finance the 1-35 High Priority Trans Texas Corridor and included facilities for rail, roadway and utilities.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the team’s experience in developing large, complex projects and the financial and technical feasibility of the proposal.

All proposals must be submitted to TxDOT by Sept. 25.

After the proposals are evaluated, TxDOT may develop a short list of proposers qualified to submit detailed proposals for the development of this portion of the Trans Texas Corridor. If a successful proposal is selected from the short list, TxDOT intends to enter into a comprehensive development agreement for this project. An agreement will allow the selected proposer to acquire design, build and partially finance the project.

The Trans Texas Corridor is a 4,000 mile transportation network that will include separate highway lanes for passenger vehicles and trucks, high-speed passenger rail and commuter and freight rail, as well as a dedicated utility zone. The corridor will improve the state’s transportation network by moving people and goods faster and safer, provide congestion relief for metropolitan areas and create new markets and jobs for the Texas economy,

Currently, the corridor is in the beginning stages of the environmental study. An environmental consultant is expected to be onboard by this fall.

For maps and other conceptual drawings of Trans Texas Corridor, go to www.dot.state.tx.us.

Warning Issued On Scam Artists

Message To Homeowners: Demand Proper Identification

Austin - The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has learned of a scam operation in East Texas that takes advantage of trusting homeowners.

Two men posing as representatives of the department approached a homeowner to discuss the possible sale of land for right of way to be used for highway development. While one of the men took measurements of the property with the owner, the other removed valuables from the home while the owner’s attention was distracted. The homeowner reported the theft of $2,000.

This is an old scheme, TxDOT advises homeowners to be wary of visitors who arrive without an appointment or who have not given proper notice to the homeowner. Homeowners should demand proper identification of anyone representing TxDOT. If such identification is suspicious or lacking, do not invite these visitors into your home. Call 911 immediately.

TxDOT representatives working with the public, especially those employees or consultants involved in negotiations for right of way, carry proper identification and are prepared to present it if asked.

TxDOT is assisting efforts by law-enforcement agencies to track down the men alleged to have preyed on their latest victim.

Student Tackles Global Concerns: Global Young Leaders Conference Teaches Responsible Leadership

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Miss Rebecca Nelson, granddaughter of Tom and Linda Nelson of Ivanhoe, TX, recently represented the future of our country at the Global Young Leaders Conference (GYLC) from July 20 through 31, 2003 in Washington, D.C. and New York, N.Y. The GYLC is a challenging leadership developing program for high school students from around the world who demonstrate leadership potential and strong scholastic skills. Nelson was among 350 outstanding scholars to attend the conference, which explored international politics, finance, culture and diplomacy with key world leaders and newsmakers.

"Students like Rebecca Nelson, who participate in the Global Young Leaders Conference, are actively seeking out opportunities to better lead countries around the world," said Mike Lasday, executive director of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC), the organization that sponsors GYLC. "In upcoming years, answering the threat of terrorism and global epidemics such as AIDS and SARS as well as building and maintaining coalitions will fall on the shoulders of these young leaders. There is no doubt that learning about today’s global concerns from today’s leaders will equip these outstanding individuals to ensure a better future for our world."

"We must all commit to working with people of differing cultures," said Dr. Gary Weaver, professor of international communication at The American University. "This is part of our new reality. As we step further and further into the 21^st Century, you may not always agree with other cultures, but if you expect to be a leader, it is your obligation to understand them."

In addition to a list of fascinating speakers, GYLC explored the centers of world diplomacy and finance, making stops at the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations and various embassies, including Azerbaijan, Hungary, Brazil, Jordan and Vietnam, among others. GYLC culminated in the Global Summit, which took place in the United Nations and assigned roles of the world leaders to students during and international crisis simulation.

CYLC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan leadership education organization. Founded in 1985, CYLC is committed to educating, motivating and inspiring young people to achieve their full potential. To date, more than 100,000 students have taken part in the CYLC programs.

For additional information on GYLC, please visit us on the Internet at www.cylc.org.

The Attorney General’s Office Protects Children From Internet Predators

By Greg Abbott Attorney General of Texas

The Internet has given child predators the anonymity to act on their perversions. That is why it is imperative for us to be vigilant in tracking down and locking up these predators. Today, law enforcement agencies across Texas and the nation are working together to bring justice to those who prey on our children.

The Texas Attorney General’s Office formed the Internet Bureau to track online predators and train law enforcement officers. Our investigators are online every day looking for evidence of cybercrimes against children.

In the last three months, the Internet Bureau has intensified its efforts, arresting nearly a dozen suspected child predators. In a four-day period alone, investigators arrested four men. Three of the men traveled to Hays County expecting to meet 13-year-old girls. Another traveled to Kendall County to meet what he thought would be a 13-year-old boy.

Three men have been charged with attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child. Another has been charged with criminal solicitation of a minor. Both charges are felonies. The "children" the men stalked turned out to be Internet Bureau undercover investigators. The men allegedly initiated sex talk with the children in Internet chat rooms and allegedly planned to meet them to engage in sexual activity.

The true intentions of child predators are clear, and our Internet Bureau officers have no qualms whatsoever about taking these people off the street and putting them behind bars when they cross the line. I will not tolerate the victimization of children. While we are pleased that our efforts have been successful at taking predators out of chat rooms and putting them into jail cells, it is important to remember that you as parents are still the most effective tool at protecting your children.

The fact is, when you strike up a conversation by e-mail, you have no idea who you are dealing with. Predators use this fact to take advantage of trusting, curious young people. We turn the tables and use it against the predators. But too often the predator’s target really is a child.

You can protect your child by taking some simple precautions. You should be aware that in chat rooms, someone may very well pick up on your child’s youth, gender, and vulnerability. You might be shocked to find out how quickly a dangerous contact can occur.

Our investigators posing as children have no problem attracting predators. Surf the Internet with your children. This will allow you to assess the types of Web sites and chat rooms your children visit. You may wish to place your computer in a family room or the kitchen, which will make it easier for you to monitor your children’s Internet activity.

Establish ground rules for Internet surfing. Set the hours when your children can access the Internet, for how long, and what Web sites they can visit. Most Internet service providers (ISP) provide technical safeguards that allow parents to restrict certain Web sites. Contact your ISP for more information.

The Internet is a wonderful way for children to learn and grow. As long as you provide a little guidance, they can safely enjoy the World Wide Web.

Teach your children NEVER to give out online, especially in a chat room:

• their last name

• home address

• phone number

• or any other information (school, schedule, etc.) that would enable someone to find them.

Tell your children NEVER to meet face-to-face with someone they have met online

Tell your children ALWAYS to show you any message that makes them uncomfortable

For More Information: Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Federal Trade Commission www.ftc.gov

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children www.missingkids.org For more tips on internet safety To report child pornography

Information on this and other topics is available on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us.

Preparing Teens For Responsible Parenting

By Greg Abbott Attorney General Of Texas

All of us as caring adults have an obligation to equip young people with information they need to make informed decisions about their future.

Part of the preparation for adulthood involves helping youth – and the next generation of Texas parents – under stand the responsibilities and rewards of raising their own families. That is why the Child Support Division of my office recently unveiled a new Parenting and Paternity Awareness Program called P.A.P.A. that promotes responsible parenting and teaches teenagers skills for building strong, stable families. P.A.P.A. is a prevention and preparation tool for non-parenting teens, and a parenting education tool for teens with children.

Targeting students in grades 6-12, P.A.P.A. not only deals with the legal rights and financial obligations that come with parenthood, but educates young people about the realities of parenting. The program gives those who already are parents solid information about child support. The objective is to make students aware that parenthood is a commitment that will last

at least 18 years.

P.A.P.A. teaches teens about the rights and responsibilities of parenthood. They also learn about the realities of parenting. P.A.P.A. stresses that young people need to have attained a certain level of maturity and independence before they become parents. The curriculum encourages young people to evaluate their own readiness for parenthood and plan ahead to make realistic decisions based on a solid understanding of the legal and practical consequences of becoming a parent.

Not meant to preach or lecture young people, P.A.P.A.’s 10 interactive sessions engage students in a variety of learning experiences centered around their ideas and expectations for parenthood. In addition to the teacher’s guidebook and student workbook, P.A.P.A. includes a new companion video that features interviews with teen parents about the realities of their lives.

Parents in the video tell their own stories in their own words about the challenges of raising children while still in their teens. In the concluding segment, they voluntarily deliver their own message: being a parent is great, but when you’re just a kid yourself, it’s tough. Every one of them says: "You have all the time in the world. Finish school. Think it through. Wait until you are ready."

P.A.P.A. is designed for the school setting but is easily adaptable to Head Start and other community-based programs that serve young people.

I encourage educators across the state to consider delivering this curriculum when school resumes in the fall. By making P.A.P.A. available in classrooms, students will come to realize that parenting is not just another casual event in their lives. We all benefit when teenagers have the information they need to make informed decisions about their future.

Contact the Attorney General’s Child Support Division at 512-460-6124 to obtain general information about P.A.P.A., or to schedule training that is required to deliver the curriculum.

The AG’s Parenting and Paternity Awareness curriculum (P.A.P.A.) teaches teens:

A person who is a biological parent is responsible for supporting his or her child, period. It does not matter whether the parents:

• were married • intended to become pregnant • were underage • are still in school • have other financial obligations

Being a parent is: • fun • exciting • rewarding • expensive • demanding • difficult

The Office of the Attorney General can:

• locate absent parents • establish paternity (legal fatherhood) • establish a court order for child support • withhold wages • intercept income tax refunds • puts delinquent parent in jail

For more information about the P.A.P.A. curriculum, call the Attorney General’s Child Support Division at 512-460-6124

Information on this and other topics is available on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us.

The Attorney General Can Stop Abusive Debt Collection

By Greg Abbott Attorney General of Texas

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of complaints against debt collectors each year. The complaints range from abusive language to harassment in the workplace.

Recently, we received one from a citizen of Dallas. She had been in debt to a company, and the case was referred to a collection agency. She made arrangements to pay off the debt and had completed her obligation. A few weeks after she sent in her final payment, the woman started receiving calls from the collection agency about the same debt. She tried to explain that she no longer owed money to her original debtor, but the calls continued. She even came close to losing her job when the collection agency started phoning her at work.

Creditors have the right to collect debts. It is reasonable to think that persistence and tenacity must be used at times in the collection process. However, the Texas Debt Collection Act prohibits unfair, harassing or abusive collection tactics.

Violators of the Act face civil and criminal penalties. If you want to dispute a debt that has been referred for collection, notify the debt collector in writing. After receiving your letter, the debt collector has 30 days to determine if the disputed item is correct. Incorrect items must be corrected, and the collector must notify anyone who has already received a report containing the disputed item. If, at the end of 30 days, the debt collector is unable to determine the item’s accuracy, he or she must still make the change you request and notify anyone who received a report containing the disputed item. If it is later determined that the item was correct, you will be notified and collection efforts may resume.

If you feel you have been harassed or deceived by a collection agency, you can file a complaint in the Consumer Protection Section of our Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us or by calling (800) 621-0508. You can also review the OAG’s information on debt collection in the Consumer Protection Section.

Consumers are also protected by the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which applies solely to collectors working for professional debt collection agencies and attorneys hired to collect debts.

The federal law is similar to its Texas counterpart, but also prohibits calls to the workplace if the collector has reason to believe that the employer does not allow such calls. Calls before 8:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. are also prohibited under the FDCPA, unless the collector has information that such times are more convenient for the debtor. You can find more information about the FDCPA and file a complaint on the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site at www.ftc.gov.

The non-profit Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) provides debt counseling to families and individuals. If you need assistance, you can reach the CCCS at (800) 388-8887. If a collection agency contacts you about a debt that is not yours, you may be the victim of identity theft. Promptly review your credit file with all three of the major credit reporting bureaus.

It is illegal for a debt collector to: • threaten violence; • use profane or obscene language; • falsely accuse you of fraud or other crimes; • threaten the consumer with arrest; • repossess or seize property without appropriate court proceedings; • harass debtors by calling anonymously or making repeated or continuous calls; or • make collect calls without disclosing the name of the caller before the charges are accepted.

Debt collection agencies may not: • use a false name for identification; • misrepresent the amount of the debt; • send documents that appear to be from a court; • fail to identify the person or company that holds the debt; or • misrepresent the nature of the services rendered by the collection agency or the collector.

Information on this and other topics is available on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us.

Criteria for a parent to be named a Most Wanted Child Support Evader:

• Court-ordered delinquent support must be in excess of $5,000

• Arrest warrant must have been issued for non-support

• Location of non-custodial parent is unknown

• Parent has not made any payments in the last six months

• Non-custodial parent must not be involved in bankruptcy proceedings

• Non-custodial parent must not be receiving welfare benefits

Because we must make Child Support information public, the custodial

parent must sign a confidentiality waiver.

1-866-EVADERS (382-3377) www.oag.state.tx.us

Kids

Helping Kids

MIB kids group from First Presbyterian Church of Bonham met and brought donations of school supplies to the Fannin County Children’s Center (CASA & CAC). After a quick tour of the new center, they got to work moving, organizing and sorting school supplies in preparation for the center’s annual drive for needy kids from Fannin County. Last year the project served 350 kids and this year they are still in need of more donations. For more information, call (903) 583-4339.

Child Advocate Volunteers Needed

New CASA volunteers from last spring get sworn-in by the Honorable Judge Ray Grisham. The Children’s Center is in need of more volunteers for CASA and the Child Advocacy Center. A volunteer application, personal interview and background checks must be completed before the new training session begins on Sept 2. Call (903) 583-4339 for more information.

The Fannin County Children’s Center is looking for some special people who are willing to take on an important role for abused children. CASA volunteers are advocates for abused children involved in the court system. Caring committed adults who are willing to speak up for a child as they go through the court system are needed now. Volunteers are also needed to provide support to the children and families who come to the Child Advocacy Center. The Children’s Center is also looking for volunteer receptionists to help answer phones and greet visitors to the Center.

A new volunteer training session for child advocates is scheduled to begin Sept 2. Participants will gain knowledge and learn skills needed to become an advocate for an abused child in foster care, to be a family greeter with the Child Advocacy Center and/or fulfill the role of a receptionist. Training sessions will be held in the evenings from 5:30 – 9:30 pm on Sept 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th and 17^th. Participants who successfully complete the 30 hour training will be sworn in as Court Appointed Special Advocates/ Guardian ad Litems on Sept 18^th. Volunteers will also be trained to provide family support with the Child Advocacy Center and fulfill other new volunteer roles at the Children’s Center.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a CASA or CAC volunteer, please contact the Center staff soon. Applications, background checks and personal interviews must be completed before the training begins on Sept 2. To become a hero for an abused child, send an email to info@fanninccc.org, call (903) 583-4339 or stop by the Center’s new location at 112 West Fifth Street in Bonham.

Children’s Center’s Opening Was Grand!

The opening celebration was indeed a grand one last Friday at the new location of the Fannin County Children’s Center. The community turned out in force to celebrate this important accomplishment with the board, staff, volunteers and team members. Over 130 people came and went throughout the morning at the agency’s new location at 112 West Fifth in Bonham. When it was time for the Chamber ribbon cutting, the crowd was so large that the photographers could not get everyone into the picture.

Board President Cindy Bankston welcomed everyone to the event and expressed appreciation to everyone who helped make the agency’s dream of a new location a reality. After an invocation by Jim Glaser, Executive Director Sandy Barber thanked the board, staff and many others who worked so hard to make the relocation dream possible.

A framed certificate of appreciation was presented to the Glaser Family Charitable Foundation for their generous gift of $50,000 which got the capital campaign off to a successful start a little more than a year ago. Bonham State Bank, The York Children’s Foundation, North Texas Paint & Rental, Larry Bursell, Ray & Gloria Campbell and Rick & Cindy Bankston were also recognized for their significant contributions to the relocation effort.

Dugan Curtis was praised for his volunteer work as the general contractor for the refurbishing phase of the project. Curtis kept the project within the budget and secured many donations in order to do many extra things not originally planned for. Curtis did his work in memory of Thomas Barnes, Jr., a board member and supporter of the Children’s Center. Barnes’s widow, Marie and three of their children were in attendance to accept a special plaque recognizing his leadership and service to the children, youth and families of Fannin County.

The Meadows Foundation was also recognized for the $45,000 gift they made which completed the fundraising part of this project. Barber got a surprise of her own when the staff and board presented her with a certificate for her hard work, dedication and determination for the project.

"We do deal with a lot of heartache and heartbreaks here. But we are also the place for hope and healing for kids and families," said Barber. The new building, which is completely paid for, will provide a strong foundation which will benefit the children, youth and families of Fannin County for many years to come.

Visitors took tours of the building and enjoyed refreshments throughout the morning. A slide show of pictures from throughout the refurbishing phase ran continuously, allowing everyone to see or be reminded of how much the old Lone Star Gas building has been transformed into a bright, cheery and child-friendly place.

Not ones to rest on their laurels, the staff and volunteers of the Children’s Center are gearing up for the annual school supply drive and another volunteer training session. Donations are still needed for the school supply project and volunteers are needed for agency’s programs CASA and the Child Advocacy Center. For more information, call (903) 583-4339.

Family History Center Opens

BONHAM, TEXAS: If you’ve ever wondered about your ancestry, you’re interested in genealogy. And if you’ve tried tracing part of your family history, you’re a budding genealogist.

Fannin County now has a new resource to help you in your search through the Family History Center located in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Bonham Building. The Center’s hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and in the evenings on Tuesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The church is located two miles south of the Bonham Square on Highway 78, just before the intersection of FM 1629.

"Genealogy is about connecting people,"" says Julia Gatchell, Director of the Family History Center in Bonham. "You can do it by going back—for example, starting with yourself and then your parents, their parents, and so on." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Family History Center in Salt Lake City, Utah houses one of the world’s most extensive collection of materials for genealogical research. Through local Family History Centers, access to this information is available. Just some of the materials available at the Bonham Center are census records from 1790 forward.. In addition, the Center’s librarians can assist you whether you’re just beginning, or are a seasoned genealogist who has "hit a wall."

For additional information, the Family History Center may be reached at 903-583-4949 during the Center’s hours of operation.

Basketball Players Encouraged To Sign Up For Streetball Shootout

Durant Main Street and First United Bank would like to encourage basketball players to spend Saturday, August 23, at the First United 3 on 3 Streetball Shootout Benefiting Durant Main Street. The event will be held on courts at SOSU.

Last year, basketball players came from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana to play. All-Star Events include a Free-Throw Contest, a Three-Point Contest, and a Shootout Contest. Anyone attending the event can enter the All-Star events. Regular registration deadline ($50) is August 8. Registration after this date will be $60, and players can sign up the day of the event. However, those signing up at the event will be placed in a different bracket.

Players are encouraged to register as soon as possible because of a limit on teams accepted in each age group.

The age groups are as follows: 13 and under, 14-18, 19-29, and 30 and over. The payout for the winners will be according to number of teams entered. Winners in the adult divisions will receive $200 for first place and $100 for second place. Team trophies and individual medals will be awarded for first and second. Third place will receive individual medals.

The registration forms are also available at Southern Oklahoma First United Bank locations, at the Durant Main Street office (323 W. Main), or on the Main Street website. For more information, visit www.durantmainstreet.org or call (580)924-1550.

Aggie Muster Held In Iraq

1 LT Aaron Hill of Ector, 2 from left and 5 other Aggie’s of the 4th Infantry Division from Fort Hood, held Aggie Muster on April 21, 2003 in Iraq. What is felt on this day is not just the love of fellow Aggie’s, it is the spirit of hundreds of thousands of Aggie’s who have gone before them. Muster is how that Spirit is remembered and will continue to unite all Aggie’s.

1 LT Aaron Hill graduated from Ector High School in 1994 and from Texas A&M in 1998. Wife Amanda resides at College Station also attending Texas A&M. Parents are Ernie and Vurlenda Hill of Ector, grandparents are Glenda Bland, Jr. and Vera Hill, great-grandmother Mary Bell Bellows, all of Ector.

Texans Can Update Their Driver License Address at www.TexasOnline.com

<http://www.TexasOnline.com>

Advanced Feature Makes Compliance with Law Easier

The Texas Department of Public Safety is proud to announce its latest online driver license service at www.TexasOnline.com <http://www.TexasOnline.com>, the official website for the State of Texas. This new service allows eligible license and identification holders to conveniently update the address on their driver license or identification card from home or work using a valid credit or debit card.

"We are pleased to be able to expand our online services to include address changes," said Col. Thomas A. Davis Jr., director of the DPS. "Drivers and identification card holders are required by law to change their address on their card within 30 days."

The online change of address process is simple. License and identification holders only need information from their current driver license or identification card to complete the transaction. Address changes may be made separately or in conjunction with a driver license renewal. The online change of address service costs a total of $11. If you renew at the same time, the total cost is $25.

To be eligible, the license or identification card must not be expired, the applicant does not currently hold a provisional driver license, is over 18 years of age and their record indicates no current suspension or revocations. This service is only available for Class C and CM type licenses.

Visitors can access www.TexasOnline.com <http://www.TexasOnline.com> with confidence because the website incorporates the highest level of security available today. Services are available in both English and Spanish. DPS has offered drivers the option of renewing their driver license over the internet for the last two years. To date, more than 440,000 people have taken advantage of convenient online services that are safe and secure.

"In providing this internet option, Texans no longer must adjust their schedules to coordinate with the office hours of state government. Technology allows this service to be available at the customer’s convenience," Col. Davis said.

Unlike the rest of the year, August is a quiet month in our nation’s capital. Members of Congress leave Washington to head home and spend time listening to their constituents, hearing their views and concerns firsthand. For your "light" summer reading, I will give you a mid-year report on what Congress has accomplished.

In May, Congress passed the 2003 Jobs and Growth package to provide the American people with $350 bil­lion more in tax cuts, building on the 2001 tax relief. The legislation accelerates many of the reductions from 2001 that were being phased in over several years. Taxpayers will immediately benefit from the lower marginal rates, marriage penalty relief, expansion of the 10-percent tax bracket and an increase in the child tax credit. In July, the IRS began issuing $400 per child advance refund checks to approximately 25 million families. Taxpayers also ex­perienced an increase in their paychecks because of the lowered marginal rates. The bill also provides important relief for small businesses and $20 billion to states where many are facing difficult budgetary shortfalls. I increased Texas’ share of this state aid from what had been originally proposed, knowing the severe budget crunch Texas is in. Texas received $1.3 billion.

After many years of unfulfilled promises, each house of Congress passed Medicare reform including a prescrip­tion drug benefit. It is now in a conference committee to workout the differences. Medicare has not kept pace with the times. The 38 year-old program does not take into account the modern miracles afforded by new medical technologies and pharmaceuticals. By bringing this venerable program into the 21^st century, we will better meet the needs of our nation’s seniors and help ensure that Medicare will be solvent for generations to come.

For three years the Senate has been working to pass a comprehensive policy to make our nation energy inde­pendent and create jobs for American workers. The clock ran out in 2002 and we were unable to pass a bill that bal­anced production, delivery and conservation. I’m pleased that this year Congress finally passed an energy bill, which is now in conference committee. The legislation will help protect and create more than half a million American jobs and provide for a number of diverse options from ethanol to crude oil production to meet our nation’s growing energy needs. It will also go a long way in releasing us from the grip of dependence on the Middle East.

September 11^th crystallized how vulnerable our na­tion is to terror and showed what the enemies of freedom and democracy are willing and able to do. The president promised he would not stand idly by while the American people were menaced. In March that promise brought us to Baghdad to eliminate the threat of Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction. Saddam possessed and used weapons of mass destruction, repeatedly defied the will of the international community and sponsored and harbored known terrorists and terrorist groups. Thanks to the might of the U.S. military and the support of allies like Great Britain and Australia, his regime is dead. Our troops are still in danger and we pray daily for their safety and the stability of the region, as Iraqis begin to take control of their own destiny.

When Congress returns to Washington, D.C. in Sep­tember, it again assumes a heavy load. Among the many agenda items, finding more ways to bolster our economy and put Americans back to work tops the list. This August, as you enjoy the last weeks of summer, know that Congress is gearing up for a busy fall and making our voices heard on behalf of the people we represent.

Hours Expanded For Flashing Signs In Highway School Zones

AUSTIN - To increase safety in school zones located along state highways, state transportation officials, August 5th approved a measure expanding the hours of operation for flashing school zone signs.

The Texas Transportation Commission, at its monthly meeting, approved the use of flashing school signs for school-related events that occur during non-traditional school hours, such as athletic and other events.

Commissioners said the change will improve safety for Texas school children and thanked State Rep. Vilma Luna for suggesting the idea to extend the hours flashing school zone signs could operate.

The commission also approved the 2004 Statewide Preservation Program, which authorizes an average of nearly $2.2 billion annually during the next four years to maintain the state’s highway system.

Preserving the existing transportation system is one of five major objectives of the commission and TXDOT. The other objectives are to provide reliable mobility, improved safety, faster project delivery and a transportation system that promotes economic vitality for Texas.

During the meeting, held in Midland-Odessa, the commission received a report from the Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance, a group of cities, counties and private citizens in the Midland-Odessa area, that have been working since 1997 to promote the construction of La Entrada al Pacifico, a NAFTA trade corridor.

The corridor stretches from Port Topolobampo, a deep-water port on the Pacific Ocean in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, to the bridge crossing at Ojinaga-Presidio on existing roads.

MOTRAN, in its report to the Commission, said its mission is to develop an economically viable trade corridor, in partnership with Mexico that will serve to provide economic stimulus and new jobs for the Permian Basin.

Notice of FSA County Committee Election

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting nominations for the FSA Fannin County Committee Election that will be held December 1, 2003.

The election will be held in Local Administrative Area 3, which generally includes farming communities North of a line from Savoy to Bonham to Lake Crockett. All agricultural producers who farm or ranch in this area are eligible to vote and to serve on the FSA Fannin County Committee.

Nominations will be accepted through^- September 5th. Election ballots will be mailed to all known eligible voters on November 18th. The completed ballots must be returned or postmarked by December 1st to the Fannin County FSA Office at 200 East First St. in Bonham.

Further details of the election process and responsibilities of the FSA Committee may be obtained by calling the Fannin County FSA Office at 903-583-9513.

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

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326 ­W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (Voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Valley Of The Caddo Archeological

Society

The Valley of the Caddo Society will hold its first public meeting Monday night, August 1^st, 2003 in the Student Center Ballroom on P.J.C campus. Its purpose is to introduce the public to the Society and sign up new members. The Archeology Roadshow will begin at 5:00 pm and the public is invited to bring artifacts from the Valley for identification by experts.

Speakers start at 6:30 and include Dr. Dan Rogers, curator of archeology for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Larue Parker, Chair of the Caddo Nation, Larry Banks, Chief Archeologist for the U.S. Corps of Engineers (retired) along with’ brief remarks from Coach Gene Stallings, Dr. Pam Anglin, Dr. Richard Proctor, Glyn Osburn and Judge Jim Lovett.

Judge Lovett commented that he had never seen a project come together with as much enthusiastic support as this one. Membership will be open for everyone. Dues are $15.00 for individuals, $25.00 for families and $35.00 for organizations.

A large crowd is expected and Lovett said there will be something for everyone to enjoy. The meeting is expected to adjourn about 8:00.

A film crew headed by movie producer-director, Jerry Biggs, will be present. Biggs is planning to use shots from the meeting in his documentary about the Caddo. Area television, radio and newspaper reporters are also expected.

Bonham Snap Center

Spaghetti/Meat Sauce, English Peas, Tossed Salad/Dressing, Garlic Toast, Cantaloupe, Milk

Oven Fried Fish, Macaroni & Tomatoes, Seasoned Cabbage/Carrots, Bread, Peach Cobbler, Milk

Constitutional

Amendment Election Information

Senator Bob Deuell

The constitutional amendment relating to the provision of parks and recreational facilities by certain conservation and reclamation districts.

SUMMARY: The proposed amendment amends Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, to provide that conservation and reclamation districts have the specific right and duty to develop parks and recreational facilities. The amendment requires the legislature to pass laws concerning the development of parks and recreational facilities by districts. The amendment, without limiting the power to finance parks and recreational facilities that currently exists, provides for the issuance of bonds financed by taxes in districts located completely or partially in a limited number of areas.

ARGUMENTS FOR: The proposed amendment clarifies an area of the law that has been at issue by stating clearly that conservation and reclamation districts may create parks and recreational facilities. The amendment would empower the voters in certain areas to choose to finance area parks and recreational facilities with tax dollars if they feel the need exists. It is proper to place this decision with the affected voters, and restricting this power to certain areas limits it to localities where the greatest need exists. The amendment would allow conservation and reclamation districts to meet the recreational needs of communities whose needs are not being met by the city, town, or county in which they are located. Many citizens live in unincorporated areas not adequately serviced, and authorizing conservation and reclamation districts to improve the civic spaces of a community will improve the quality of life for area residents.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST: There is no reason to allow only districts in the listed areas to use tax dollars to finance parks and recreational facilities while districts elsewhere may not use tax dollars for that purpose. Conservation and reclamation districts should focus on water and conservation issues. Other political subdivisions, such as municipalities and counties, currently have the ability to address parks and recreational needs and are more appropriate entities to satisfy those needs. The creation of some conservation and reclamation districts is initiated by and significantly benefits private developers. Allowing districts to provide parks and recreational facilities and to finance them with tax money creates too much of a risk that the facilities would be provided at public expense to create an amenity that a private developer can use to promote a land development.

The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation travel trailers not held or used for the production of income.

SUMMARY: Section 1(d), Article Vlll, Texas Constitution, currently authorizes the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxes certain tangible personal property but excludes the legislature from exempting tangible personal property structures used or occupied as residential dwellings. The proposed amendment amends Subsection (d) to exclude from being exempt only those structures used or occupied as residential dwellings that are substantially affixed to real estate. The amendment repeals Section 1(j), Article VIII, Texas Constitution, which authorizes the legislature to allow a taxing unit, other than a school district, to exempt travel trailers from ad valorem taxes.

ARGUMENTS FOR: Approval of the proposed amendment will eliminate the mandatory school taxes on travel trailers and provide travel trailers with the same tax treatment as other noncommercial personal property, such as motor vehicles. The exemption will eliminate the current disincentive for consumers in Texas to purchase travel trailers that will not be attached to real property and will also promote tourism and economic development. Imposition of the ad valorem tax on travel trailers by those school districts and other taxing units that elect to tax travel trailers amounts to "double taxation" because the purchaser of a travel trailer is also required to pay sales and use taxes and annual vehicle registration fees on the trailer. In 2001, the legislature and the voters intended to authorize the elimination of ad valorem taxes on travel trailers. Approval of the amendment will authorize the legislature to rectify the unintended effect of the 2001 amendment and end the double tax on travel trailers. Ad valorem taxation of travel trailers is very inefficient, due to the costs of identifying and appraising them and of billing for and collecting the relatively small amount of taxes imposed on each of them. Approval of the amendment will require a school district or other taxing unit that elects to tax travel trailers to bear the full costs of taxation, which are currently borne in large part by the appraisal district.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST: If the proposed amendment is adopted, those school districts and other taxing units that do tax travel trailers will lose the property tax revenue they currently receive from the taxation of travel trailers unless their governing bodies act affirmatively to impose an ad valorem tax on those trailers. To make up any shortfall, those school districts and taxing units may have to impose higher property taxes on other property owners, including persons who own and reside in manufactured homes and other types of homes. A person who resides in a travel trailer, regardless of whether it is affixed to real property, should be required to pay property taxes on the trailer, just like other home owners, including those who reside in manufactured homes. The proposed exemption of travel trailers creates a property tax break for a small group of persons who will no longer pay their fair share of taxes. By requiring a school district or other taxing unit to take affirmative action to tax travel trailers, and imposing all the costs of appraising those travel trailers on a school district or other taxing unit choosing to tax them, the legislature is unfairly discouraging those school districts and other taxing units that have previously taxed travel trailers from continuing to tax them in order to maintain their current tax base.

The constitutional amendment permitting refinancing of a home equity loan with a reverse mortgage.

SUMMARY: The proposed amendment amends Section 50(f), Article XVI, Texas Constitution, by providing that a home equity loan may be refinanced in a manner that converts the loan into a reverse mortgage. The same change proposed by this amendment is also being proposed, among other constitutional changes, by Proposition 16, which is being submitted to the voters at this election.

ARGUMENT FOR: Reverse mortgages are a popular means for seniors to supplement their income by tapping the equity in their homes. Beginning in 1998, there were several years when home equity loans were available but reverse mortgages were not offered. During this period many persons who would have preferred reverse mortgages obtained home equity loans instead. The proposed amendment would allow those borrowers to convert their existing home equity loans into reverse mortgages.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST: Reverse mortgages are not subject to all the extensive safeguards that apply to home equity loans. Elderly persons, who may be more susceptible to unscrupulous or uncaring lending practices, may be victimized by lenders who would convince elderly borrowers under home equity loans to convert those loans to reverse mortgages under terms unfairly favorable to the lender.

The constitutional amendment to permit a six-person jury in a district court misdemeanor trial.

SUMMARY: The proposed amendment specifies that a district court petit jury hearing a criminal misdemeanor case must consist of six persons. In a conforming change, the amendment also strikes a provision allowing nine members of a district court 12 ­member jury to render a verdict in a criminal misdemeanor case.

ARGUMENTS FOR: Six-member county court juries are authorized by Article 33.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, to hear criminal misdemeanor cases, and a majority of misdemeanor cases are tried before those six-member juries. However, in some small or rural counties, 12-member district court juries hear criminal misdemeanor cases. Allowing six-member juries in district court criminal misdemeanor trials would bring uniformity to the law. Reducing the number of jurors in criminal misdemeanor cases would save counties time and money without sacrificing the merits of a jury trial.

ARGUMENT AGAINST: Allowing six-member district court jury trials in criminal misdemeanor cases would reduce the procedural protection of a 12-member jury in misdemeanor official misconduct cases. The legislature intended a 12-member jury trial in those cases involving a public official accused of a crime that might lead to the official’s removal from office.

The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit a person to take office without an election if the person is the only candidate to qualify in an election for that office.

SUMMARY: The proposed amendment adds Section 13, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, to authorize the legislature to provide by general law that a person may take office without an election if that person is the only candidate to qualify in an election to be held for that office.

ARGUMENTS FOR: By authorizing the legislature to allow an authority holding an election to avoid the expense of time and money to count votes for unopposed candidates, the proposed amendment promotes efficiency in election administration and would help reduce the cost of elections without interfering with anyone’s right to vote. If a candidate is unopposed, and no other candidate, including a write-in candidate, is eligible for election to that office, the race is decided before the election occurs. The amendment would permit the legislature to give election officials greater flexibility in ballot preparation, and shorter, simpler ballots will allow the voter to focus on contested races, without having to sort through the unopposed candidates. Shorter ballots will also reduce voter confusion, especially during the implementation of new electronic voting systems.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST: Omitting a candidate from the ballot deprives voters of their right to vote for the candidate of their choice. Those who take the time to vote are exercising their right to endorse the candidates they wish to represent them and validate the candidates’ election to public office. The right to vote for a candidate should exist whether or not there is a choice in candidates. The amendment would authorize the legislature to deprive candidates of the opportunity to gain visibility by campaigning and make it more difficult for the voters to know who their elected leaders are or what offices are being filled. The formality of an election is an important part of the democratic process that should not be rendered into a mere technicality.

If you would like to receive the Capitol Update via e-mail, please contact me at bob.deuelI @senate .state.tx.us.

Hometown Military News

August 06, 2003 (FHTNC)--Marine Corps Pvt. Travis C. Naylor, son of Teresa A. Davidson of Broken Arrow, Okla. and Leonard R. Naylor of Ivanhoe, Texas, recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally.

Naylor and fellow recruits began their training at 5 a.m., by running three miles and performing calisthenics. In addition to the physical conditioning program, Naylor spent numerous hours in classroom and field assignments which included learning first aid, uniform regulations, combat water survival, marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat and assorted weapons training. They performed close order drill and operated as a small infantry unit during field training.

Naylor and other recruits also received instruction on the Marine Corps’ core values--honor, courage and commitment, and what the words mean in guiding personal and professional conduct.

Naylor and fellow recruits ended the training phase with The Crucible, a 54-hour, team evolution culminating in an emotional ceremony in which recruits are presented the Marine Corps Emblem, and addressed as "Marines" for the first time in their careers.

COUNTY’S BUDGET WORKSHOP

STILL IN PROGRESS

By Tina Jones

A special meeting of the County Commissioners was held at the Fannin County Courthouse Wednesday morning, August 6, 2003.

The Commissioners know that they have a hard road ahead with budget cuts a must, but on the other hand they have to still provide for the county. The current budget proposal does not include a pay increase for county employees, with the exception of the Treasurer, whose salary will be brought in line with other elected officials. There is no allowance for new vehicles for the Sheriff’s Dept., nor is there any money for the contingency fund.

The County employees have not seen a raise in their paychecks for three years and the commissioners see the need to rectify this as soon as possible. The Sheriff’s Dept. vehicles odometers are well over 100,000 miles, making the need for new vehicles. There has to be money in the contingency fund, Judge Hall told the Commissioners. As stated by the auditor earlier in the year, the County needs one million dollars set aside for emergencies.

Health insurance and Workers Comp Insurance are being discussed as well.

Reports are expected from the Fannin County Appraisal District regarding property tax revenues and the County will be able to better discuss the fate of the budget. The budget hearings will continue at the regular County Commissioners meeting on Monday, August 11, 2003 at 9:00 am.

Suzy Meehan approached the board and presented the budget needed for CPS. She told the board she realized that budgets are tight for everybody and hard times are being experienced. She asked the commissioners for the same amount as last year, but said that if they had to take less they would. At this time CPS has 41 children who will require care. Foster Parents receive $17.50 a day paid by the state, but for additional care such as clothes, supplies for school, activities and the list goes on and on, CPS pays for this. Drug testing has also increased due to cost and high volume.

In other business the board approved:

• advertising for bids on rental property on Silo Rd.,

• annual Road report from Pat Hilliard for Precinct 4,

• the need to propose construction standards for subdivisions in Fannin County,

• purchase a track loader for Precinct 2,

• lease copy machines for office of County Clerk and

• auditors monthly report.

BEDCO MEETING

By Tina Jones

August Is World Breastfeeding Month

Breastfeed For Leaner, Brighter, Healthier Little Texans

This event marks the beginning of World Breastfeeding Month 2003, a time each August when health officials spotlight the benefits of breastfeeding. Sponsors include the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in conjunction with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, La Leche League International and the Texas Department of Health.

This year’s theme, Breastfeed for Leaner, Brighter, Healthier Little Texans, focuses on the health benefits that breastfeeding provides to children. It will be used in Texas Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition clinics to educate clients on the positive impact breastfeeding has on child health.

Breastfeeding supplies the best nutrition for babies and helps them form strong immune systems to fight illness. Breastfed infants have fewer ear infections, incidences of diarrhea, lung infections and infections of the brain and spine. Recent studies confirm that children who were breastfed have higher IQs and a decreased risk of becoming overweight or obese later in life. In addition, mothers who breastfeed their babies also receive health benefits including reduced risks of breast and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.

Encouraging mothers to breastfeed their infants is an important step in health promotion in Texas. The benefits for the state include not only healthier Texans but also a significant reduction in health-care costs now and in the future.

For more information about World Breastfeeding Month, visit the following Web sites: World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), World Breastfeeding Week, TDH Nutrition World Breastfeeding Month and La Leche League 2003 World Walk. For the breastfeeding policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics, see American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians position paper on breastfeeding at American Academy of Family Physicians.

Art Exhibition For Local Artist

A recently completed ceramic sculpture grouping by Fannin county visual artist Katherine Kluger has been selected to be included in the "ANA 32" exhibition at the Holter Museum of Art in Helena, Montana. The Holter Museum is dedicated to serving Montana and neighboring states with quality visual arts exhibitions. This mission includes all media and brings national and international exhibitions to the Rocky Mountain region. The "ANA 32" exhibition, juried by internationally renowned ceramic artist Richard Notkin, will open August 19, 2003 and continue through October 26, 2003. Over 475 artists submitted slides for the juror’s consideration, with Notkin selecting 160 pieces for the exhibition.

"It is an honor to have my work selected for this prestigious exhibition," said the artist.

Ms. Kluger, an actively creating and exhibiting artist, earned her Master of Science Degree in Art at Texas A&M University-Commerce in December, 2002 and also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Her work has been shown in numerous local, regional, and national exhibitions including the Fourteenth San Angelo National Ceramic Competition of the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, the 2002 Seven State Biennial Exhibition at the Leslie Powell Gallery in Lawton, Oklahoma, and The Vietnam War: Art Expressions Then and Now at the Southeastern Ohio Arts Center, Athens, Ohio.

The artist lives and works in the Valley Creek Community north of Leonard where she maintains a working studio. Beginning the first week in September, she will be offering daytime and evening studio classes in drawing, painting, pottery, and sculpture to both adults and youth 12 - 18. " I have developed a comprehensive, incremental program with each section building upon the foundation of the previous section(s). This program is specifically designed not only to familiarize the student with a variety of media and multiple techniques, but also to develop and refine skills, stimulate the imagination, nurture the creative spirit, and challenge the inquiring mind." The artist invites your inquiry and can be contacted at her studio, 903-587-2367. She especially encourages home-schoolers to take advantage of this program.

The KOOL Lunch Program, sponsored and operated by the Family Life Center of Bonham, recently ended its fifth summer. The program continued for nine weeks from June 2^nd - August 1^st. All of the sack lunches were prepared at Bonham’s IW Evans Intermediate School.

The KOOL Lunch Program is for children in head start through the sixth grade that are on the free and reduced lunch program throughout the school year. The goal of the program is to ensure that these children do not go hungry during the summer.

Area churches covered each week of the program with an outstanding number of volunteers,: approximately 711 volunteers participated! The churches included Trinity Baptist, First Christian, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, First United Methodist of Leonard and Bonham, Northside Church of Christ, First Baptist, First Presbyterian and Boyd Baptist.

Each church provided enough volunteers to prepare and distribute the lunches at the designated sites. The Family Life Center, Stephenson Park and the IW Evans School were distribution sites this summer. Approximately 9,844 lunches were given out in Bonham during the nine-week program.

For the second year, the First United Methodist Church of Leonard took charge to make sure the lunches were distributed in their community each day. Several Leonard churches and civic organizations including the First Baptist Church, First Methodist Church, Beta Club, Student Council, FCA and local ‘stay at home moms’ ensured the success of the program in Leonard. Approximately 3,181 lunches were served in this area during the program.

And for the first year, the Trenton community became involved. Former Trenton Elementary School principal, JoAnne Duncan, coordinated the program for her community. The First Baptist Church, First Methodist Church, the Garden Club and school custodian Rita Stahl made the program work in their community. 1,284 lunches were distributed in the nine-week period in the Trenton area.

The Family Life Center would like to thank those that donated items to the program including the First National Bank of Trenton, Kwik Chek and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Monetary donations came in throughout the summer as well from area churches. Thank you also to the Red River Valley Food Bank in Paris, Lehde’s Meat Market, Ray and Ruth Havins, Myrna St. George, Mary Ann Arnold, Denise Harvey, John and Donna Henard, Richard and Frances Campbell, Jimmy and Sue Collins, Pam Ricks, Marjorie Cockerham and community members from both Leonard and Trenton. Without all of you, the program would not have been possible!

The Family Life Center is still accepting donations for the KOOL Lunch Program. Donations can be mailed to the Family Life Center, 200 W. 8th Street, Bonham, Texas 75418.

Texas Safety Belt

Compliance Hits All Time High

"Click It or Ticket" Results Send Safety Belt Rates Soaring In Key Markets

AUSTIN - Texans are getting the "Click It or Ticket" message.

For the first time since Texas’ safety belt law went on the books in 1985, safety belt use in the state’s urban areas is nearing 90 percent, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced today,

On TxDOT’s behalf, the Texas Transportation Institute has conducted multiple traffic surveys in 10 urban areas of Texas, tracking safety belt use prior to and after the "Click It or Ticket" education and enforcement campaign, beginning in April, 2002. Successive survey results show that more Texans are buckling up after TxDOT, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched the state’s largest ever public education campaign and safety belt enforcement crackdown.

For a two-week period, from May 19 to June 1, an unprecedented barrage of TV and radio commercials, billboards and movie theater slides warned Texans to buckle up or face hefty fines, Thousands of extra law enforcement officers patrolled Texas streets and highways to locate and ticket safety belt violators.

"Our efforts paid off, and we’re delighted that so many more Texans got the message to buckle up," said Sue Bryant, TxDOT traffic safety director. "In cities with heavy `Click It or Ticket’ advertising and stepped up law enforcement, we saw significant increases in the number of drivers and passengers using their safety belts."

In 10 Texas cities, observational studies conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute indicated a safety belt compliance rate of nearly 90 percent, up from 81 percent just a year ago.

"For every percentage point that safety belt use increases, we can save an additional 25 lives and prevent almost 600 injuries every year in Texas," Bryant said.

Not all motorists heeded the "Click It or Ticket" message. State troopers, police officers and sheriff s deputies issued more than 50,000 citations for safety belt and child safety seat violations during the special enforcement period. Officers also arrested 2,200 safety belt violators who also had outstanding warrants for felonies and misdemeanors.

"Click It or Ticket" campaign supporters included the Texas Department of Health, the Texas Municipal Police Association, the Texas Police Chiefs Association, the Sheriffs Association of Texas, hundreds of local law enforcement agencies and scores of community organizations.

TDH Concludes Prison Illnesses Investigation

TDH officials said the contamination most likely occurred after eggs from the unit’s chicken flock were brought into a food preparation area without being properly cleaned and that inadequate sanitation practices were involved.

More than 600 of the Darrington Unit’s 1,700 inmates became ill. All recovered.

TDH was asked by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to investigate the outbreak and has made food-handling recommendations, which prison officials say are being implemented.

Salmonella bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of many animals, including birds, and are usually transmitted to humans through foods contaminated with animal feces.

Texas Board Of Health Approves HIV Medication Rules

On August 7th, the Texas Board of Health approved rules that would allow the Texas Department of Health to implement a series of cost-cutting steps for the state’s HIV Medication Program should the program run short of funds.

Sharilyn Stanley, M.D., TDH associate commissioner for disease control and prevention, said the cost-cutting measures would be used only if the program, which provides medications to qualified persons with HIV infection or AIDS, faces a budget shortfall.

"The rules provide a contingency and a predetermined way to deal with shortages of money in the future," she said. "We hope we never have to use them."

If a money shortage is likely, the new rules allow TDH to implement more restrictive medical criteria for eligibility, eliminate income adjustments, change financial eligibility from 200 percent to no lower than 125 percent of the federal poverty level, and freeze enrollment in the program.

The rules require that the steps be implemented sequentially.

Stanley said these steps, should they be needed, would only apply to applicants. Those on the program at the time a cost-cutting step is implemented would not be affected.

The program, which currently serves about 12,000 people annually, has a budget of about $137 million for state fiscal years 2004-2005.

Stanley said current projections indicate the program could be $11 million short by the end of the 2005 fiscal year, but stressed that these projections are preliminary and likely to change.

National Night Out "Clowns" And

Much More

By Tina Jones

Hot temperatures didn’t seem to bother the crowd who turned out for Bonham’s National Night Out held Tuesday, August 5, at the old Armory grounds. The event is sponsored by the Bonham Police Dept. every year to bring neighbors together and learn about crime prevention throughout our community. Chief Mike Bankston said he believed the turn out was one of the best so far.

Adults and children enjoyed a lot of different entertainment along with free hotdogs and drinks. Fire fighters and other law enforcement participated along with helicopters from CareFLite and LifeStar. This year The Red River Theatre did a tremendous job entertaining and everybody seemed to really enjoy them. Chief Bankston thought they were a great asset in making the night a huge success.

Taxpayers Can

Track Advance Child Tax Credit Checks On IRS.gov

WASHINGTON - With the final set of advance child tax credit checks being mailed August 8, the IRS reminds taxpayers they can use IRS.gov to get information about the amount or status of their checks. People who filed after April 15 - for example, those with extensions - will get any advance payment they are entitled to receive after the IRS processes their 2002 return.

About 7.9 million checks totaling $4.8 billion are being sent August 8, marking the third and final week of the initial mail out of 24 million checks totaling about $14 billion. More than 636,000 of the checks totaling $367 million are on the way to Texas families. The checks represent an advance of this year’s increase in the child tax credit and generally go to parents who claimed the credit on their 2002 returns.

Taxpayers eligible for the credit who filed their tax return after April 15 or who have yet to file their 2002 tax returns because of an extension, will have their advance child tax credits sent to them after their return is processed. Aug. 15 is the filing deadline for those who filed for an automatic extension.

"The only thing a taxpayer needs to do is cash the check," said Mark W. Everson, IRS Commissioner. "If you qualify, we’ll 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."

To find out the amount and mailing date of their check, taxpayers are turning to the "Where’s My Advance Child Tax Credit?" feature on IRS.gov. In less than a month, taxpayers have used this online tool more than 9 million times to check the status of their Advance Child Tax Credit. It provides taxpayers with useful basic information, such mailing dates and amounts.

It also explains any adjustments to payments for child support, taxes owed or other federal debts. For those who do not qualify, it provides a description of likely reasons.

A new support group to help persons with mental illness is starting September 10^th and 24^th (2^nd Wednesdays of each month), 7 - 8 P.M., in Bonham at 7^th & Main Baptist Church. Church host and Pastor Jeffrey Johnson welcomes you to come and give this group a try. We have seen such groups help and encourage many others.

This group is facilitated by the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill in Grayson, Fannin & Cooke Counties (NAMI GFC). Their mission is to take initiative and to work in collaboration with others to improve the quality of life for persons with mental illness and their families, in a compassionate, empathetic, and knowledgeable manner. One of NAMI GFC’s Guiding Principles is that: Equipping persons with mental illness to reach their fullest potential in areas including: Socializing, realistic employment, Mental Health, Goal setting and follow-through, Spiritual life, and helping others is a shared opportunity and responsibility of NAMI GFC family members and persons with mental illness.

If you have questions please call NAMI GFC President John Hoelzel at 903-664-2471.

Two Bonham High School students were special guests at the Bonham Rotary Club meeting last Wednesday. Mica Tucker and Will Moss spoke to the Bonham Rotarians about their experiences at R.Y.L.A. (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards), and how it helped them build leadership for the future among many other students from this area. Mica is the daughter of Rachael and Jarrett Tucker of Bonham and Will is the son of Kathy and Joe Moss also of Bonham.