Today Mickey Joe Griffis, 65, of Tom Bean, was sentenced to two life sentences in prison for Possession with Intent to Deliver, Heroin, 1-4 grams and Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, 4-200 grams.  Griffis was found guilty following a day and a half jury trial.  Griffis elected to have a Grayson County jury determine his sentence.  On Wednesday, December 13, 2017 that same jury sentenced Griffis to the maximum sentence allowed by law on both counts and the fine of $7,000.00 on each charge.  The Honorable Jim Fallon presided over the three day trial in the 15^th Judicial District Court.  On Wednesday, August 17, 2016, Judge Fallon sentenced Griffis for his crimes and ordered him to pay the $14,000.00 fine.

Narcotics investigators with the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office began conducting surveillance on a residence in Tom Bean on January 13, 2017.  The surveillance led to the development of sufficient information for a search warrant.  Later the same day, a large team of law enforcement officers executed the search warrant at 106 Bois D’Arc and recovered a large cache of drug paraphernalia, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and 3 firearms.  The Sheriff’s Office had information that Griffis was a convicted felon and could be armed.

During the trial the Grayson County District Attorney’s Office presented evidence seized from the residence which included hundreds of small baggies used to package narcotics, syringes, pipes, a digital scale, and several grams of heroin and over a ½ ounce of methamphetamine.

“We presented evidence and testimony which clearly led the jury to believe the defendant was involved in the distribution of narcotics and was armed with a rifle, pistol and a .12 gauge shotgun while dealing his drugs” said Assistant District Attorney Brett Smith.

During the punishment portion of the trial, Smith presented evidence to the jury that Griffis had six previous felony convictions, and four of those cases were for drug related offenses.   The jury learned that Griffis had twice previously been sentenced to prison for drug offenses.

“The long sentence was, I believe, a result of the fact that this man just continued to deal drugs, and short prison sentences were not keeping him from doing that,” said Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown.   At some point, people just get tired of drug dealers who keep selling drugs and do not get the message.   The system gives people resources to deal with addiction, but when you are selling, it is a different ballgame.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brett Smith with the assistance of Paralegal Sherri Williams.  Griffis was represented by Sherman attorney Ron Uselton.

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, or simply Santa will make many appearances in Howe on Saturday.

Keep Howe Beautiful will welcome him here as they prepare a “Tree Lighting” event at Memorial Park with help from the Howe Fire Department.

Upon early arrival to Howe, his first stop will be at the Howe Fire Department at 8 am for “Breakfast with Santa.”  He’ll stay there until 10:30 where he will then head to the Howe Community Library for “Christmas with Santa” for storytelling, crafting, cookies, and punch until noon.

The jolly red elf will is scheduled to take a much-needed nap from noon – 3 pm to rest up for Howe’s “Stained Glass” Christmas Parade that begins promptly at 4:30.  The parade trip will run through the historic downtown area which will be the best view of the parade.  The parade emcee will also be located in front of the Howe Development/Howe Chamber office.  (Click for parade route)

WEEKEND CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN HOWE

(Click each event photo for Facebook Event)

COLLINSVILLE – Funeral services for Dr. Edward Wayne King, 77, will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Collinsville with Rev. Louella K. Williams, Rev. Jerry Davis and Ricky Patterson officiating.
Interment will follow at Collinsville Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Meador Funeral Home of Whitesboro. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 6th at the funeral home.

Dr. King passed away on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at Texoma Medical Center in Denison.

Dr. King was born on July 4, 1940 in Collinsville to Edward M. King and Louise (Midkiff) King. Graduating from Collinsville High School in 1958, he married Doris Ann Rector on September 26, 1959 in Collinsville. Wayne served in the United States Army from Feb. 3, 1960 to April 2, 1962. He earned a B.S. (1968), a M.Ed. (1970), and an Ed.D. (1978) from North Texas State University (UNT). His career in education began when he became principal, teacher, coach, and bus driver at Tioga I.S.D. and was followed by being high school principal of Collinsville High School. Twelve years serving in Region 10 Education Service Center’s Administrative Services Dept. preceded superintendencies in Hamlin I.S.D. and Howe I.S.D. from which he retired in Dec. 2000. Retirement lasted three months before he began working for J.R. Bankston as an educational consultant, working his second stint at Reg. 10 ESC and serving as interim superintendent at S&S, Collinsville, Tioga and Walnut Bend, which was his last job before leaving the field of education in May 2015.

Dr. King was honored when the Howe I.S.D. school board named the library of the new high school the Dr. Edward “Wayne” King Library. He accepted that honor on behalf of an excellent faculty and staff who made it possible for him to do his job.

Dr. King was presently serving as chairman of the board for Texoma Educators FCU, and a board member with the Collinsville Education Foundation. He had served on various boards, including Grayson County Appraisal District, Grayson County Volunteer Health Clinic, Junior Achievement, and The Rehab Center. He had represented school administrators on the State Commissioner of Education’s Board of Directors for Reg. 14 ESC and, again, for Reg. 10 ESC.
He found joy in supporting all student activities and watching students grow to become productive citizens and members of our society.

Dr. King was a Christian and loved his family (especially his great-granddaughters) and friends, morning coffee at the DC Store, farming and working with his cattle, and spent many hours on “his” zero-turn.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Doris Ann King; a daughter, Cynthia Ann Kays of McKinney; grandsons, Derek Mark Kays and wife, Mandy, and Micheal Anthony Kays and wife, Leandra; great-granddaughters, Lynnlee Noel, Zoey Nicole, Chase Elizabeth, Andi Ryann, and Bryndel Jean; chosen great-granddaughters, Charlee Grace and Jolee Faith; sisters, Sandra Williams and husband, Donald, Linda Jurecka and husband, Frankie, and Lola Beth Thomas, all of Collinsville; brothers, Keith King of Denton, Kenneth King and Bobby King, both of Collinsville; two aunts, Jean Harman of San Angelo, and Glenda Cagle and husband, Neal of Grand Prairie; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Louise King.

Pallbearers will be Derek Kays, Micheal Kays, Mark Kays, Karey Kyle, Monte Endres, and Darryl Carney.

Honorary Pallbearers will be his brothers, Keith King, Kenneth King, and Bobby King.

The family wishes to thank the Texoma Medical Center ICU staff and Dr. Sumner for their excellent care during the last two weeks. Special thanks go to Dr. Kable for her excellent pulmonary care and to Dr. Amy Wilson at Baylor Health and Rehab for over twelve years of guidance.

In lieu flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to the school library or scholarship fund of your choice or the Collinsville Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 323, Collinsville, TX 76233.

[3d-flip-book mode=”fullscreen” urlparam=”fb3d-page” id=”35298″ title=”false”]

Thursday, November 30, from 6-9 p.m., the Press Club of Dallas presents the inaugural Hugh Aynesworth Excellence in Journalism Awards in which the Howe Enterprise has been named one of the two finalists in the Weekly Newspaper category for an article published on May 2, 2016 entitled, “EF1 Tornado, EF5 Community.”  The event will be held at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas. The awards are named for veteran reporter and long-time press club member Hugh Aynesworth, a four time Pulitzer Prize finalist.

WFAA TV Channel 8 sports anchor Dale Hansen will emcee the program honoring reporters, photographers and editors from 17 Texas news organizations. Complete lists of finalists and judges are available on the Press Club of Dallas website.

A limited number of tickets are still available to the public by visiting the website. The $50 ticket price includes food and beverage.

Cary Broussard is President of the Press Club of Dallas, while board members Jo Ann Holt-Caussey and Barry Hoffman are event co-chairs. The mission of the Press Club of Dallas is to support journalism and communications in all its forms. The organization actively supports the First Amendment, the public’s right to know and the rights of both professional and citizen journalists.

Presenters for the Aynesworth Awards include Cory Smith (NBC 5), Scott Keenan (CBS 11), Lee Cullum and Sylvia Komatsu (KERA PBS), Ed Bark (Uncle Barky), Frank Librio (VisitDallas), Skip Hollandsworth (Texas Monthly), Arnold Wayne Jones (Dallas Voice), Tristan Hallman (Dallas Morning News), and the event chairs.

Early this morning, Nov. 29, at approximately 4:20 am, a Howe Police Officer stopped a gray 2004 Dodge Ram pickup for speeding heading north on US Hwy 75 near FM 902. The 32-year-old driver Hunter Nelson Porter of Richardson, gave consent for a vehicle search.   During the search of the vehicle, the officer found less than one gram of heroin, less than one gram of methamphetamine, a syringe loaded with methamphetamine, and a variety of pills that Porter did not have a prescription for.  Porter was arrested and taken to the Grayson County Jail where he was booked in for POSS CS PG1 < 1g. X 3), ( POSS PG3 <28g), (POSS CS PG4 <28g).

 

Feed My Sheep is currently in need of the following items for over 52 local backpack students weekly:

• Individual Ravioli pasta cup meals.
• Kid friendly soups.
• Ramen noodles.
• Individual macaroni and cheese cups or easy mac singles.

Items can be delivered to the local pantry at the First United Methodist Church at 810 N. Denny St., Howe, TX 75459.

Middle School Boys at Farmersville

The Howe seventh grade B team won 32-17.  The leading scorer was Trey Phillips with eight points.  Their record now is 2-1 on the season.

The eighth grade B team lost 20-7.  Leading scorer was Luke Catching with four points.  Their record is now 0-3 on the season.

The seventh grade A team won 42-11.  Leading scorer was Ryan Hough with 15 points.  Their record is now 3-0 on the season.

The eighth grade A team lost 40-33, leading scorer was Luke Lopez with 18 points.  Their record is now 2-1 on the season.