TDH Recommends Continued Rabies Prevention Treatment

Texas Department of Health (TDH) officials say people who are receiving rabies prevention treatment after being exposed to a sheep at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center near Glen Rose should continue their treatment.

Though testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not determine that the sheep had rabies, two different types of tests done earlier by the TDH laboratory in Austin were positive for the deadly virus.

Health officials are trying to determine why the TDH and CDC test results were different.

Citing the fact that rabies is always fatal once symptoms begin, TDH officials say they will continue to recommend post-exposure rabies prevention treatment for people exposed to the sheep until there is irrefutable evidence that the sheep was not infected.

Red River Theatre’s Audition Location

The location for auditions for Red River Theatre’s production of Hopalong Cassidy Meets the Ghost Riders will be held at the Old Windom School, corner of 1st and Maple Streets in Windom, the only 2-story brick building in town. Monday and Tuesday evenings, Aug. 30 and 31, auditioners can arrive at any time during the posted hours of 7 PM to 10 PM. Musicians will not be auditioned until mid-September. Auditions will be video-taped for call-backs by the director.

The casting calls for a narrator/vocalist, 6 females and 9 males in speaking roles and numerous townspeople, dancehall girls and saloon patrons. One female and one male actor must also be a vocalist.

Rehearsals will begin immediately following casting and continue throughout September and October with performances scheduled for the last two weekends in October. Musicians will audition in mid-September and be required to attend rehearsals beginning in October. Non-speaking actors will not be required to attend rehearsal until late September or early October.

For more information, call production director Julie Eubank at 902-583-4415.

Texas Department of Insurance

The regulation of insurance in Texas dates back to the 14th legislative session in 1874 when a bill was passed regulating the life and health insurance business in the areas of company formation, activities and coverage. At that time, the state’s economy and population were growing, and wildcat insurance schemes were common. In the early days of statehood, practically all insurance business in Texas was written by companies organized in other states and foreign countries. According to State Comptroller’s records, out of 61 companies doing business in Texas in 1874, only four were domestic.

Two years later, the Texas Constitution was adopted by the legislature. Although it has been amended by the voters about 400 times, the constitution passed in 1876 is the same one we still operate under today. One of the many provisions of the constitution as it was passed in 1876 authorized the legislature to create the office of Insurance Commissioner when it deemed it necessary.

When the 15th Legislature met in 1876, it took advantage of the authorization given to it by the 1876 constitution and created the Department of Insurance, Statistics and History. In addition to his insurance-related duties, the commissioner was charged with keeping information and statistics on the state’s population, wealth and general resources.

Today, the Texas Department of Insurance’s sole responsibility is to regulate the state’s insurance industry. Texas law requires most insurers and insurance-related businesses to be licensed before selling their products or services. Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) licenses insurance companies, agents, third-party administrators, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), premium finance companies, continuing care retirement communities, insurance adjusters and public insurance adjusters doing business in Texas. TDI also issues rules and regulations for the state’s insurance industry, enforces the Texas Insurance Code, and investigates and takes enforcement action against company and agent misconduct.

Part of the duty of TDI is to work with consumers who are having problems with their insurance company. Each year TDI assists consumers with more than 18,000 insurance-related complaints. Because of TDI´s efforts, consumers receive millions of dollars a year in additional claim payments and refunds.

Not only does TDI address consumer complaints, but they also have a consumer assistance division which provides assistance and advice to Texans through TDI’s website, brochures and a toll-free consumer hotline. The department’s website is located at www.tdi.state.tx.us and the toll-free number is 1-800-252-3439. I encourage you to browse the department’s website to see the vast amount of information there.

You can contact me by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by e-mailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us.

August is back to school time for children across Texas. Chairs are dusted off, books are opened and pencils, pads and backpacks are purchased for the big first day. And while students from 1^st to 12^th grade are required to check-in on day one, what happens after graduation is up to them. More and more students are making the decision to attend a technical school, college or university. Unfortunately, as the importance of a college degree continues to rise, so does the price of tuition. In fact, the average cost of attending a public college or university in Texas is roughly $14,732 per year.

Whether you, your child, or grandchild is college-bound, these increasing costs may seem nearly impossible to fathom. I believe every child who wants to work hard to pursue a college education should have the opportunity to do so. Both federal and state governments have taken major steps over the years to open doors for students who want to take their education to the next level.

The entire college process, from applications to financial aid and scholarships, can be overwhelming. A great help in navigating the maze can be admissions advisors, counselors and teachers. And there is financial help, particularly loans, readily available. Last year more than $3 billion was awarded to students attending college in Texas. Seventy-five to 80 percent was from the federal government and 20-25 percent was from the state, institutions or private sources. Let’s take a look at how to find some of these available resources.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is used to decide student eligibility for federal Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, and most state aid. Colleges use the data to compare the eligibility requirements of their assistance programs. Aid comes in many forms, such as grants, scholarships, college work-study programs, or loans. For a FAFSA application and deadline information, visit www.fafsa.com. To contact the Texas Financial Aid Information Center, call 1-888-311-8881.

The best place to start finding scholarships is at the chosen institution. Each school has unique courses of study, and groups of alumni or contributors who have set up scholarships for future students. Most financial aid offices can provide a list of available awards that will help students narrow down the process. Of course, another fantastic resource is the Internet. Over the past decade, Fastweb.com has expanded its database from 180,000 awards to more than 600,000. The total worth of the awards listed: $1 billion.

Texas offers many different ways to finance an education. There are numerous state grants, scholarships and programs available to help hard-working Texans achieve their educational goals. Here are a few of them:

TEXAS GRANT: The Texas Grant provides money to enable well-prepared students to attend public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education within the state. The award amount depends on tuition and fees paid by the student at each school.

MINNIE STEVENS PIPER FOUNDATION: Started in 1951, this non-profit foundation has approximately $350,000 in student loans available yearly for full-time students attending Texas colleges or universities. Loan applications will be considered for undergraduate Juniors or Seniors and graduate students pursuing a higher degree. Each student is eligible for up to $10,000 in loans. MSPF also provides a wide range of grants.

TEXAS TOMORROW FUNDS: No matter how old your child or grandchild is, it’s never too early to start saving for college. Texas Tomorrow Funds provides two plans to meet the future needs of every Texas student. Visit www.texastomorrowfunds.org to investigate these savings and investment plans.

The bottom line in financing an education is this: The more research you do and the more knowledge you acquire, the more opportunities appear. For tools and information to help your family plan for the future, visit any of the websites listed below. Obviously, not every Texan wants to attend an institution of higher learning. But as our economy goes global, many of us will want additional technical, business, computer or academic training. My goal is that this learning should be within the grasp of every Texan who will devote energy and effort towards pursuing it.

www.collegefortexans.org www.state.tx.us www.ed.gov www.finaid.org www.college-scholarships.com www.student-loans.com www.usnews.com

Emergency Preparedness Fair Scheduled

Emergencies come in all shapes and sizes; from a child’s broken arm, to an extended power outage due to an ice storm, hurricane, or tornado. In today’s world, we even have to cope with the threat of terrorist attack. How does your family deal with these emergencies? Are you prepared? The people and companies coming together for the 3^rd Fannin County Emergency Preparedness Fair plan to help provide this information and much more. Scheduled for September 18, 2004 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Fair will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Bonham Chapel (1540 S. Hwy. 78).

Fair sponsors, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Bonham Ward, the Texoma Chapter of the American Red Cross, and FEMA, join area fire departments, the National Weather Service, the Baptist Men’s Association, the Fannin County Ham Radio Club, and many area businesses in offering information and demonstrations on such things as:

• Emergency Action Plan for your family. How to live without power. Communication

• Basic first aid. How to make your own bandages. Medication storage: how long you can store it. What will happen to medications that are stored?

• Gardening in Fannin County soil. Food Storage

• Water storage - how to store it properly, treatment, purification methods and resources, and how much is needed, and why it is SO important

Booth space is being offered (at no charge) for area businesses or groups who offer emergency-related equipment or services. The Emergency Preparedness Fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 18. For questions, or more information, contact Fair chairperson, Myrna St.George, at 903-989-2933.

Top of Texas Builders Association

Betty Lyke, of Director, past president of the Toast Master’s Club, compared public speakers to builders in that there are certain components necessary to build a house, or to build a speech and entertain an audience. She captivated the members and guests at a dinner meeting Thursday at the Elks Club for the Top of Texas Chapter, Lamar County Builders Assn.

The Lyke’s built their own home at Direct where they own a Country Store. Robert Lyke had retired from IBM before moving to the country, and running the Country Store. When he still worked for IBM, they lived at Flower Mound, and Mrs. Lyke returned to college at TWU. She graduated and taught English classes.

Betty Lyke could do many things, but public speaking was something she feared, and she could not accomplish. She had many other accomplishments. When she joined the Toast Masters in Paris, a door opened to her, she then could talk before large groups without becoming ill at ease. She invited the Home Builders to join Toast Masters, and become good speakers, and proficient in building their speeches and captivating the audience with her personal experiences. She invited anyone to join their Toast Masters group on the second and fourth Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. at the YMCA Building, on South Main.

Dari Hines gave the invocation and Georgia Haley lead the pledge to the flag. Jerry and Lynda Stephens were introduced as new members.

Host, with Top of Texas Chapter, was Andy’s Alignment, Brakes Mufflers on N. Main, Paris. Kenneth King discussed plans for further meetings. Bob Wright and Jerry Haning serve on the committee for dinner schedules. Jan and Barry Hoover took part in discussions for future events and scheduling musical entertainment for the evening.

National Association of Home Builders magazines will be mailed to new members in September. They are informed that it now takes six months to get all of the schedules for mailing the national builders publications.

Country Music Hoe-Down

There will be a big country music show this Saturday night, August 28 at 7:30 p.m., at the Lake Bonham Hoe-Down, located 1/2 mile from Lake Bonham recreation area, east of the spillway on CR2610, Bonham, TX. The show will be hosted by Joan Kelton and her talented "Country Hoe-Downers", featuring: George Kirby, Randy Keister, Glen Clark, Michael Williams, Mike Stroud, and Gary Monroe, and Paul Matthews. Our scheduled special guests, and they are all back by popular request, will be: the young and super talented fiddler, Nick Covoy, along with popular and area known, Ken Spradlin from Denison, popular and very talented, Jimmy Rhodes, from Celina, and we welcome back Vickie Reynolds, better known as May Pearl, from Fairchild, TX. Everyone is invited and welcome to an evening of fun and clean family entertainment. Admission is free. Donations are accepted and most appreciated. Thanks to all for supporting the Hoe-Down. We surely appreciate you all. May God Bless you. "See ya at the Hoe-Down." For more information call: 903-583-4731 or 903-583-5710.

Fannin County Family Crisis Center’s Volunteer of the Quarter

Fannin County Family Crisis Center’s Volunteer of the Quarter

Jai was born in Yankton, South Dakota. Her family moved to Bonham when she was four years old. She attended the Bonham School District through High School.

She has worked at Kids Klub Day Care since she was a freshman in High School. She is now 22. Jai says she loves working with babies. Jai is planning on starting cosmetology school in the fall. Her favorite hobby is shopping.

.Jai has been a volunteer with the Fannin County Family Crisis Center since she was fifteen. She is always willing to help wherever she can. Among the things she does for the center is answer the hotline and help with fundraisers. Jai is our youngest board member. She has been on the Crisis Center Board for two years. Jai not only volunteers for the crisis center, she has been a volunteer for the Fannin County Children’s Center for almost two years.

The Fannin County Family Crisis Center is very fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers such as Jai.

Kaitlyn Massie Performed In Semi-Finals of "Search for the Stars"

Kaitlyn Massie, daughter of Brian and Teresa Massie of Dodd City, granddaughter of McDonald Wilson, Honey Grove, and Eldon and Phyllis Massie, Bonham performed in the semi-finals at the 2004 Telethon "Search for the Stars" benefiting the Rehabilitation Center on August 14.

Kaitlyn would like to say a special "Thank You" to Callie Maxwell for helping her prepare for the Telethon, "Thank you" to her grandparents for their donations to the center in her name. Also, "Thank you" to her church family, Darla Newhouse, Mary Whipple, Nancy Bridges, Rebecca Knight, Lynda Hammett, Renea Knight, Beckie Daniel, Michelle Stephens and David Coffman for their donations to the center.

Junior Master Gardener Workshop

The Texas Cooperative Extension and the Fannin County Master Gardeners will be sponsoring a Junior Master Gardener Workshop for adults that are interested in using this award-winning program with the youth in our area. The training will be held in the Fannin County Extension meeting room, 210 S. Main Street in Bonham from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25th.

The Junior Master Gardener mission is to grow good kids by igniting a passion for learning, success and service through a unique gardening education. JMG has also partnered with the National Wildlife Federation and information regarding this program will also be discussed, JMG is a program that is sponsored and administered by Texas A&M University.

There is no charge for the program, but advance registration is requested. For more information please contact the Extension Office at 903-583-7453.

Bonham ISD Board of Trustee Meeting

The Bonham School Board of Trustee met on August 16th for a regular meeting.

The Board received the superintendent’s report.

• TASB/TASA Convention is September 17-20

• Kool After School- Carol Ellis, Executive Director, Fannin Community Foundation

• Presentation by Wes Moore, representative of Johnson Controls, Inc.

• Construction Update

• Report of Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI)

• KOOL Club Lunch Program

• First Day Enrollment-2008

• Transfer Students

• Resignations- Beverly Goodwin, Joetta Wallace

The board approved the following:

• Ten Substitutes

• Tax credits, supplements and delinquent tax collections for July 2004

• Financial statements and bills payable for July 2004

• Agreement with Fannin County Foundation concerning KOOL After School

• Fannin County Head Start Supplemental grant proposal

• $1.57 tax rate for 2004-2005

• Permitting KFYN-KFYZ to broadcast sports events

• Professional Development and Appraisal System Calendar (PDAS) 2004-2005

• 2004-2005 Campus Improvement Plan for Bonham High School

• Contract for Assistant Superintendent Joetta Wallace on a half-time basis beginning October 1, 2004, and ending June 30, 2006

Katharine Bowdre as I.W. Evans language arts teacher

• Misty Lichnovsky as L.H. Rather Junior High School math teacher

• Network Integration Engine at Bonham High School;

• Amended budget

Texas Department Of Licensing And Regulation Fee Reduction Schedule

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has completed its annual review of its license fee schedule to ensure that each of the agency’s 22 programs will collect sufficient license fee revenue to cover operating expenses during the next year. During the course of the review, TDLR identified 12 programs in which fees could be reduced.

Based on this review, and staff recommendations, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation voted on August 9, 2004, to reduce 29 license fees in 12 program areas.

Program expenses are calculated by adding direct program costs and administrative costs. TDLR’s administrative expenses are allocated to each program based on, among other things, the number of licenses processed and issued for that program. Because of this, an increase in the number of licensing programs and the resulting increase in the number of people licensed by TDLR reduces the per capita expense of issuing individual licenses. The 78th Texas Legislature assigned three new programs to TDLR in 2003 - electricians, loss damage waivers and legal service contract providers - adding tens of thousands of licensees to the agency’s regulated community.

Listed below are the license fees that will be reduced. Before these reductions can become effective, however, TDLR’s rules must be amended to reflect the new, lower fees. TDLR staff will begin immediately to draft these rules. Before a rule can be implemented, however, the public must be allowed a 30-day comment period during which everyone is provided the opportunity to offer input pertaining to the proposed rule change. After the comment period ends and public concerns are addressed, the rules must be finally adopted by the commission.

TDLR expects all new rules, and all the lower fees, to be adopted and effective by the end of 2004.

The commission voted to reduce 29 license fees in 12 programs as follows:

The project filing and inspection filing fees, currently $100 each, will be combined into a single fee of $175, a 12.5 percent reduction.

The initial and renewal air conditioning contractor license fees will be reduced from $125 to $80 – a 36 percent reduction.

Both the auctioneer original license fee and the auctioneer renewal fee will be reduced from $100 to $50, a 50 percent reduction. Also, both the associate auctioneer license fee and the associate auctioneer license renewal fee will be reduced from $50 to $25, a 50 percent reduction.

Both the original career counselor license and the license renewal fees will be reduced from $2,000 to $1,250, a 37.5 percent reduction.

The promoters license fee will be reduced from $1,000 to $900, a 10 percent reduction and the contestants license fee will be reduced from $40 to $30, a 25 percent reduction.

Both the original and renewal journeyman electrician license fees and original and renewal journeyman sign electrician license fees will be reduced from $50 to $40, a 20 percent reduction.

Both the original and renewal master electrician license fees and the original and renewal master sign electrician license fee will be reduced from $75 to $65, a 13 percent reduction.

The builders license fee will be reduced from $375 to $325, a 13 percent reduction.

The original licensed court interpreter application fee will be reduced from $175 to $75, a 57 percent reduction, and the license renewal fee will be reduced from $100 to $50, a 50 percent reduction.

The original and renewal sales representative license will be reduced from $50 to $30, a 40 percent reduction.

The non-refundable property tax consultant application fee will be reduced from $100 to $50, a 50 percent reduction, and the non-refundable senior property tax consultant application fee will be reduced from $150 to $75, a 50 percent reduction.

The application fee will be reduced from $300 to $150, a 50 percent reduction; also

The fee for a license that authorizes assignment of 0-249 employees will be reduced from $1,000 to $250, a 75 percent reduction;

The fee for a license that authorizes assignment of 250-749 employees will be reduced from $1,500 to $500, a 67 percent reduction;

The fee for a license that authorizes assignment of 750 or more employees will be reduced from $2,000 to $750, a 63 percent reduction.

The fee for a license that authorizes a licensee to issue from 0 to 250 service contracts will be reduced from $750 to $250, a 67 percent reduction;

The fee for a license that authorizes a licensee to issue from 251-499 service contracts will be reduced from $1,400 to $500, a 64 percent reduction; and

The fee for a license that authorizes a licensee to issue 500 or more service contracts will be reduced from $1,900 to $1,000, a 47 percent reduction.

Please contact my office to discuss this, or any other issue.

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

This article was taken from the TDLR website at www.license.state.tx.us

Kiwanis Club

Bonham SNAP Center Menu

BBQ Hot Dogs, Corn, Green Beans, Bread, Cantaloupe, Milk

Oven Fried Fish, Scalloped Potatoes, Coleslaw, Bread, Pudding Milk

Roast Beef/Gravy, Whipped Potatoes, Carrot Raisin Salad, Bread, Scalloped Apples, Milk

Turkey/Gravy, Sweet Potatoes & Apples, Broccoli, Cornbread Dressing, Peaches, Milk

Ranch Mix, Texas Potatoes, Tossed Salad, Bread, Watermelon, Milk

Hometown Military News

Air Force Airman 1st Class Shaun A. Hayhurst has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.

In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Hayhurst is a 2001 graduate of Shoemaker High School, Killeen.

The KOOL Lunch Program: A Community Wide Effort

The KOOL Lunch Program, sponsored and operated by the Family Life Center of Bonham, recently ended its sixth summer. The program, running ten weeks this summer, from June 1^{st -} August 6^th, served 14,855 sack lunches in Bonham, Leonard, Trenton and Dodd City.

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.

Eight Bonham area churches worked hard to prepare and distribute the lunches. Those churches included First Methodist, St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, First Presbyterian, First Baptist, North Side Church of Christ, Trinity Baptist and Boyd Baptist Church. The program also had teen volunteers from the Mission Possible group at St. Elizabeth‘s Catholic Church, a ladies group from Bethlehem Baptist Church and a local Girl Scout troop.

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 10,841 lunches were given out in Bonham during the ten-week program.

The program included Leonard for the third year due to the efforts of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Becky Kagens), the Leonard "Stay at home moms" (Lori Terry), First Baptist (Debbie Arnold), Valley Creek Baptist (Cindy Price), the Beta Club (Paula Kent), First Methodist Church (Debbie Arnold) and the Butch Henderson family. Thanks to these groups, the children in their community received 2,957 lunches during the program.

Lunches were also distributed in Trenton for the second year thanks the large amount of volunteers from the Crossroads Church, Presbyterian Church, First Baptist, First Methodist Church as well as Rita Stahl, school custodian, and the SNAP center. Approximately 786 lunches were served in the Trenton community. Thank you to JoAnne Duncan and Jan Snow, Trenton ISD Counselor, for lining up and organizing all of the volunteers to work throughout the summer.

The Family Life Center would like to thank numerous people for their hard work and dedication that made the program such a success for the sixth year! Thank you to Maurine Moeller, Myrna St. George, Sandy Barber, Richard & Frances Campbell, John Henard and Marjorie Cockerham for "taking charge" of their churches week and leading all of the volunteers. Your hard work is greatly appreciated! Thank you also to the Bonham Independent School District for allowing the Center to use the IW Evans School kitchen and cafeteria for nine weeks and the First Presbyterian Church for letting us take over your Williams Education Building for the last week of the program. Thank you to David Lehde of Lehdes Meat Market, Bill Crunk of Frito Lay and Ray and Ruth Havins for their continued cooperation and support. A special thank you to John Henard who picked peaches from the Dick Purdue and Claude Jenkins orchards for three weeks so that the Center did not have to purchase fruit! A special thank you also goes to Maurine Moeller for baking cookies for the duration of the program. Maurine baked 546 dozens cookies! Along with all of the donated items, these were enough to provide a snack in the lunch three days a week.

Thank you again to everyone who participated in the KOOL Lunch Program during the sixth summer, (we hope we did not fail in mentioning anyone involved)! A lot of hungry children and families were served this year because of generous volunteers and supporters like you! The Family Life Center continues to accept donations for the KOOL Lunch Program. Donations may be mailed directly to the Family Life Center at 200 W. 8^th Street, Bonham, TX, 75418.

Car Club News

The Red River Valley Car Club Held their Regular Monthly Meeting on Thursday night, Aug. 12th at the American Bank, Elizabeth May Room, 7 pm with 22 members present. We have had 8 new members to join the club since the last meeting in July. The total members on the Roster is now 57.

Plans to go on a cruise with 2 other car clubs were discussed. We will finalize this at the next meeting. We made plans to go to Farmersville to their Cruise In at the Dairy Queen on Aug. 24. We will leave at 5 PM from the courthouse square, return around 8 PM. Anyone wishing to join us is welcome.

Some of the members attended the Texoma Vintage & Classic Car Club At Forrest Park in Denison Texas, Saturday Aug. 7^th

Bill & Cheryl Spann (club member’s) won 2nd place in the Convertibles 1900-2003 class with their 1965 Mustang. Also Clyde Gibson (non member) won 3rd place In the Modified Car’s 1900-1931 class with his 1931 Ford Coupe A good time was had by every one.

Car Show’s that the club is planning on going to weather permitting: 3rd Annual Boggy Bottom Classic Car and Truck Show Saturday September 11, 2004, At Boggy Depot State Park 9 miles S W of Atoka, Oklahoma.

Gunter, Texas 4^th Annual Antique, Classic Car and Motorcycle Show Saturday September 18^th.

Custom Car Show Watson’s Drive Inn Saturday September 25th.

The Next Monthly Club Meeting will be on Thursday night September 9^th, 7PM American Bank Visitors always welcome.

Remember the Friday Night Cruise In on the Courthouse Square in Bonham, Texas at 6:30 PM. There are several restaurants around the square for your dinning pleasure.

For more information call 903-664-2026.

We Were Leveled Too!!

Beware Of Gorden House Leveling And Repair, Johnny Gorden

After reading the article last week entitled "Fannin County Resident Beware of Gorden House Leveling and Repair Randolph TX", I was angry all over again. We too were ripped off by Mr. Gorden.

Last September 2003, my son called Mr. Gorden after seeing his ad about leveling a house he was looking at to purchase. Mr. Gorden came out and looked at the house and told my son the house could be leveled for $1,500 and, if there were any complications, it would be no more than $2,000.

The first day out, my son wrote a check for $800 which was to be one-half of the cost. Mr. Gorden went straight to the bank to cash the check and came back and told my son he would have to raise the price of leveling to $5,000. So, he was given another check in the amount of $2,000.

To make a long story short, Mr. Gorden would not come back out to the house because my husband had called him several times about what was not being done correctly. On the second day his crew left because my husband had told them he wanted to talk to Mr. Gorden. Mr. Gorden said my husband had run them off.

Needless to say, we had to hire someone else to come in and redo what was done wrong and to actually level the house. My son took him to court also, and won. There is a judgment against him filed at the courthouse.

My son has still not received a penny. My son learned a hard lesson. It just really makes me angry because I see this man and his pickups on the streets of Bonham all the time and I fear that he is out there doing the same thing to someone else.

I know of another man in Windom, TX. That came to my workplace one day and told me he too had been ripped off by Mr. Gorden and it was for more than the $2,800 he took from my son. How much money can this man get away with stealing from others??

Sincerely,

Cathy Brownfield

Telephone, TX

Ask The City Planner

As a service to the community, the Bonham City Planner will be writing a series of articles to answer questions from citizens to better inform the public of what’s going on in the City. This is the 17^th in a series.

At our Lake Bonham Leaseholders meeting on August 5, 2004, we had over 50 persons who presented suggestions, concerns, and praise regarding the second draft and revisions to the second draft of the proposed new Rules. As of August 19, I have I have received numerous letters, emails, and phone calls regarding a few sections of the Rules. All comments, ideas, and concerns were considered in preparing the final draft, which is now the Fifth Draft, and the majority of your concerns and suggestions will be included in, or deleted, from the final draft.

The Fifth Draft will be ready for review by August 27, 2004. The Fifth Draft will be available at the Bonham Library, Bonham City Hall, and on the City of Bonham’s Website at www.cobon.net under the heading of Notice Bulletin Board. I have divided the Rules into two separate documents in the Fifth Draft: one is entitled, Lake Bonham Rules, Regulations, and Subdivision Restrictions for Leaseholders. The other document is entitled, Lake Bonham Rules for Public Recreation and Water Activities: Boating, Fishing, Swimming, Camping, and Picnic Areas.

The final proposed rules will be presented to the Bonham City Commission at its September 13, 2004, meeting. If approved, both sets of rules will go into effect immediately and will be mailed to all leaseholders. The Rules for the Public Recreation Areas will be provided to persons who register for camping and boating, and they will be available at the Lake Bonham Recreation Area concession stand and B & R Bait Shop. Also, our plan is to post the boating and fishing rules on signs by the entrances to the north and south boat ramps.

2. We are interested in buying a home (new or resale) in Bonham and heard there were a number of options and programs available to assist us in this endeavor, such as zero-down financing, mortgages or loans as low as a one percent interest rate, free lots to build on, and grants up to $10,000 for down payment and closing costs at no interest or payback. Is there somewhere we can learn about all these programs at the same time?

Your timing is excellent. The City of Bonham, in cooperation with U.S.D.A. Rural Development, local homebuilders, and lenders is sponsoring a FREE Homebuyer Seminar on Thursday, September 2, 2004, at 6:00 p.m., at the Family Life Center, 200 W. 8^th Street, in Bonham, Texas. Everyone in the community is invited, especially anyone who is interested in building or buying a new or resale home in the next year or two. We will have presentations by Rural Development about their ‘zero-down programs’ and interest rates as low as 1%. Other lenders will be available to discuss their loan programs, as well.

Local Homebuilders will be present to explain the process in building a home and how to select a lot, a builder, house plans, and get funding to build. I will review the City’s new homebuyer grant program, which can provide up to $10,000 each for 10 different homebuyers to use for down payment, closing costs, or buy downs at no interest or payments for new homes. Also, I will review our affordable housing plan and provide you with a list and map of about 40 lots the city owns and will make available to build affordable houses on, if you qualify. The list of lots will not be available until the night of the Seminar.

This will be an important meeting for the entire community. Please try to attend and take advantage of all that is available for you, your family, and friends. If you can’t attend, send a family member or friend to get the information for you.

NOTE: If you are a local homebuilder or a mortgage lender and would like to take part in the program as a presenter or exhibitor on September 2, 2004, please call me immediately to reserve a space for your exhibit and/or the program. My number is 903-583-7555.

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

Monday- Roast, Mashed Potatoes/gravy, Squash, Broccoli, Dinner Roll, Lemon and Coconut Pie, Salad Bar

Tuesday- Meatloaf, Capri Vegetables, Black-eyed Peas, Spinach, Cornbread, Apple Cranberry Pie, Salad Bar

Wednesday- Fried Fish, Coleslaw, Steak Fries, Hush Puppies, Brownies, Salad Bar

Thursday- BBQ Chicken, Pinto Beans, Potato Salad, Potato Salad, Fried Okra, Cornbread, Lemon Cake

Friday- Taco Salad, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice, Peach Cobbler

School Supply Drive Helps Kids Get Back to School

Schools in Fannin County are back in session. Thanks to the generosity of many community members, 539 of those students received free school supplies to get started off on the new school year. That’s 34% more students served than last year when 402 children received supplies.

Individuals, families, businesses, churches and other organizations from all over Fannin County donated supplies and money to the Fannin County Children’s Center (CASA & Children’s Advocacy Center) in order to provide students with much, if not all, of the supplies they will need for the coming school year.

Staff and volunteers of the Children’s Center worked quickly on three days to sign-up and distribute the school supplies. Other volunteers, including youth groups from First United Methodist Church of Bonham, First Presbyterian Church of Bonham and a local Girl Scout troop, also helped by moving, organizing, sorting and preparing bags of supplies prior to the distribution days.

Students served came from every district in the county. Bonham schools are where 239 students (44%) of the children served attend. Sixty-seven students from Honey Grove and 60 from Leonard also received some of the donated supplies. Fannidel students numbered 36 and Trenton 31. Twenty two students came from Sam Rayburn, 17 from Dodd City, 9 from Savoy and 6 from Ector. Fifty two students served are attending schools outside of Fannin County. The majority of these are children who are from Fannin County but are currently living in foster care in another community.

"We are very grateful for everyone who gave to this effort," said Sandy Barber of the Fannin County Children’s Center. "We had several churches and businesses that collected supplies, which really helped. But most of the donations came from individuals who gave what they could. They all added up to make a big difference for many area students."

"And of course, we are very grateful to all of our volunteers who helped sort, shop, organize, sign-up and fill bags for this effort," continued Barber. "We couldn’t have pulled this off without them."

The Fannin County Children’s Center is looking for more volunteers to be advocates for abused children involved in the court system. The next semi-annual training session will start Aug 31. Interested persons should contact the Center now to complete an application, interview and background checks before beginning training. For more information, go to www.fanninccc.org or call (903) 583-4339.

Round Ravenna

If you missed the July 1st meeting of the Ravenna Community Club you missed having lots of different flavors of homemade ice cream. If you missed the August 5th meeting, you missed blackberry cobbler, fresh pear cake, chicken and dumplings, fried chicken, red beans, cornbread, and lots of other good food.

So, don’t miss the September 2, 2004 covered dish supper at 6:30 pm. No telling what special food you will miss.

September 24 (Friday) and September 25 (Saturday) starting at 8:00 am there will be a craft-art-anything homemade, garage sale at the Ravenna Community Center. You can set up inside or outside. If you set up outside, please bring your own tables. This will be a community affair and there will be no charge for selling your articles. We will ask for donations to pay for electricity. So, please plan on selling, looking, and buying. We will have red beans and cornbread and maybe other good food to sell.

Anyone interested can call Betty at 583-3416 or Shirlene at 583-3994.

Happy days for Ravenna- our little grocery cafe has reopened after a long time closed. Several people have said the breakfast was good and the lunch specials very tasty, good prices also.

Our fire chief, assistant, Jim Hughes is doing great after having knee surgery on both knees, strong man!!

The grandson of our postmaster, Bill Johnson, is doing great after open-heart surgery. Eli is only 3 years old and has had heart problems since birth. He is now strong and healthy and a cute, very active kid.

Cub Scout Sign - Up

Join Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Crew, or Girl Scouts On Tuesday, August 31, there will be representatives for the Scouting programs in America at tables in the entrances of the I.W. Evans and Finley Oates schools from 3:30 until 6:00 p.m. to help you join the best youth programs in America!

The Cub Scouts are boys in first through fifth grades who want to learn about and participate in all kinds of fun activities: Camping, pocketknife use, performing arts, sports of all kinds, pinewood car racing, outdoor skills, you name it! Boy Scouts are for boys in 6th grade and older who are more advanced in all the above activities and more! The Venture Crew is for boys and girls ages 15 and older who like outdoor and community activities. Girl Scouting is for girls of all ages.

The information at the tables will help you better understand the scouting programs. Those who sign up and pay their dues for Cub Scouts on August 31 will receive a free pinewood derby car kit, Cub Scout decal, and all the information you need to be a member of this organization. Bring a parent - their signature is needed.

Boys Who Want To Have Fun Join Cub Scouting!

Cub Scouting is for boys age 6 - 11 who want to have fun with other boys - playing games, having adventures, participating in sports, learning about camping, hiking, and outdoorsman ship, cooking, making new friends, community awareness, citizenship, stewardship for nature, using tools and a pocket knife, tying knots, leadership, teamwork and helping our community. Boys can earn awards in each rank of Cub Scouting - Tiger (1st grade), Wolf (2nd grade), Bear (3rd grade), and WEBELOS (4th and 5th grade). They can also earn sports and academic awards, as well as citizenship and religious awards.

Each rank of Cub Scouting - Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and WEBELOS - forms a Den. Cub Scouts attend weekly meetings with their Den. The Dens come together monthly to meet as a Pack. The Cubmaster (leader of the Pack) leads the Pack meeting toward a goal of stewardship, citizenship, cooperation, understanding others, community awareness, or other important desired characteristics or behaviors. The meetings include: patriotic acts - flag ceremony, Pledge of Allegiance; recognitions - awards and achievements; presentations - skits, songs, or displays by Dens; Scoutmaster moment - presentation of a concept to build character in the boys. In these meetings, fun is always the tool used to convey concepts. Learning through fun stays with the boys throughout their lives.

The Cub Scout program puts an emphasis on character development, which helps boys grow into well-balanced members of society. The 12 Core Values of Cub Scouting are: citizenship, compassion, cooperation, courage, faith, health and fitness, honesty, perseverance, positive attitude, resourcefulness, respect, and responsibility. The values learned in Cub Scouting stay with a boy throughout their life. The Cub Scout program prepares boys for the Boy Scouts of America, where they can expand their knowledge and skills into adulthood. Employers react positively toward applicants who have a history with Boy Scouts of America, as the skill and character development emphasized by this group is well-known throughout the world.

Boys can join Cub Scouts at any time during the year, but during the month of August, Cub Scouts is coming to area schools to make signing up easier. On Tuesday, August 31 between 3:00 and 6:30 pm, there will be tables at the entrances of I.W. Evans and Finley Oates schools to make joining Scouts convenient for area boys and their parents. There will be information about area Cub Scout Packs displayed at these tables to introduce the prospective Scouts to scouting activities.

Cub Scout Leaders are parents who have as much fun in scouting activities as the Cub Scouts. The activities they lead are interesting, creative, and informative. The boys are enriched with each activity and leader involved in scouting. Leaders are always welcomed in the Pack, and parents are encouraged to consider taking on this volunteer position within the community. Involvement with a group of Cub Scouts is both enriching and inspirational to the Den Leader. The rewards of being a Den Leader are priceless. Parent volunteers can also help Cub Scouts in other ways. Ask a Den Leader or Cubmaster about the opportunities for volunteers.

Valerie Pollock

Den Leader, Pack 54,

Bonham, TX

FANNIN COUNTY Sports Hall of Fame

Bonham, Texas

The Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame will induct six new members into the Hall of Fame next February. At a recent meeting the H-O-F board of directors voted to add the following new members:

M. B. Nelson became Bonham High School head coach in 1955 and turned a losing football program into district champions.

Jim Acree was hired to continue the football program when M.B Nelson was moved up to high school principal.

T. C. (Cotton) Ford came to Bonham in 1962 and was an outstanding line coach under head coach Jack McElhannon. M.B Nelson brought in Jack McElhannon and Nolan Ashmore to run the football program after Jim Acree moved on to Corsicana. By this time M.B. Nelson was the B-I-S-D superintendent. Both McElhannon & Ashmore are members of the Hall of Fame.

Stan Wessinger was another member of the McElhannon staff in the early 60s. He was the assistant coach in charge of physical conditioning and had a tremendous relationship with all the players.

Joe Lynn Dodson coached boys and girls basketball for 38 years, mostly at Savoy. During those 38 years his teams won 32 district championships.

Randy McFarlin was a 1973 graduate of Bonham High School and was noted for his outstanding coaching abilities in football and track. In 1998 he became the head coach and athletic director at Daingerfield High School and took the team to the state finals his first year. He is the brother of Bonham’s new head coach Larry McFarlin.

These six individuals will be honored during the annual installation banquet to be held February 5, 2005, bringing the total membership to 92.

After graduating from Bonham High School, he went on to a successful playing career at Baylor University in Waco.

Golden Wedding Anniversary

Please join us as we celebrate with Aubrey and Inez Taylor on their 50th Wedding Anniversary. September 4th 2004 at 2PM at the Ector School Cafeteria. Inez Burks Taylor is a 1954 Graduate of Savoy School. Aubrey (Slim) Taylor attended Ector School. We would love for all their Family and Friends to come and enjoy Cake and Punch.

Fannin County Commissioners Court Meeting

The Fannin County Commissioners Court met on August the 16th for a special meeting.

The Court approved the contract with the City of Bonham Fire Department. Pat Hilliard asked that the Court receive, along with the quarterly report, an outside audit report done by McClanahan and Holmes, within ten working days.

Katie Starts Kindergarten

Katie Skinner of Ivanhoe, TX started kindergarten on Aug. 16th. Katie was very excited; she wore a special ballerina dress that was made by her great-grandma (Marie Vaughn of Bonham, TX). Katie attends Sam Rayburn Elementary School and her teacher is Ms. Kueckelhan.

With the Purple Warrior Football Team gearing up for regular season play, Head Football Coach Larry McFarlin gave the Bonham Rotarians a preview of the positive changes that have been implemented since last December. Also, with redistricting this year, the three teams that took the first three places in Bonham’s district last year have been moved to another district. McFarlin stated that he feels confident in this year’s Purple Warriors, and invites everyone to support them by coming out to the games. Their schedule is:

August 27 Open

Sept. 3 Sanger Home 7:30 pm

Sept. 10 Commerce Away 7:30 pm

Sept. 17 Whitesboro* Home 7:30 pm

Sept. 24 Pottsboro Away 7:30 pm

Oct. 1 Quinlan Away 7:30 pm

Oct. 8 Princeton (District Game) Home 7:30 pm

Oct. 15 Farmersville** (Dist. Game) Home 7:30 pm

Oct. 22 Royce City (District Game) Away 7:30 pm

Oct. 29 Community*** (Dist. Game) Home 7:30 pm

Nov. 5 Van Alstyne (District Game) Away 7:30 pm

Common Sense Passes Away

Today we mourn the passing of an old friend, Common Sense. Common Sense lived a long life, but died in the United States from heart failure early in the new millennium. No one really knows how old he was, since his birth records were lost long ago in bureaucratic red tape.

He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, and factories, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness. For decades, petty rules, silly laws, and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, and that life isn’t always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and it’s okay to come in second.

A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including body piercing, whole language, and "new math".

In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of well-intentioned but overbearing regulations. He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers.

His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but could not inform the parent when a female student was pregnant or wanted an abortion.

Common Sense lost his will to live when churches became businesses and social clubs, criminals received better treatment than victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from the Boy Scouts to professional sports. When an individual too stupid to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot was awarded a huge settlement, Common Sense threw in the towel.

Common Sense finally succumbed when, while the United States was fighting a war on terrorism, a federal judge declared the Pledge of Allegiance to be unconstitutional.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by two step-siblings: My Rights, and Ima Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.