Category: Howe News Bulletin

In a year that saw Howe restart its chamber of commerce, hire a full-time economic development president, land three new retail businesses and a new apartment complex, the State Comptroller Glen Hegar revealed that Howe has eclipsed the previous high in sales tax with a 2015 total of $308,689.11 which is up 12.44 percent equating to $34,163.72 from 2014’s total of $274,525.39.

The 2014 total was the previous high of any year since the 1992 recordings. The largest jump from one year to the next happened from 1997 to 1998 when the revenue increased by $51,212.86. That year’s increase was due to the adoption of the 4B sales tax funding, therefore making this year’s increase the largest jump with all things equal.

Howe’s 12.44 percent change ranks the city 265 out of 1152 Texas communities. In comparison to other surrounding communities, Van Alstyne increased 8.27 percent, Anna increased 7.25 percent, Denison increased 4.45 percent and Sherman increased 2.10 percent.

By percentage growth in sales tax revenue, Howe compares to nearby communities of Princeton, 12.61 percent; Wylie 12.82 percent; Leonard 13.34 percent and Whitewright, 13.47 percent.

Howe and Whitewright’s sales tax revenue numbers are nearly identical on a monthly revenue basis and a year-end total. The total of $309,799.20 shows an increase for Whitewright above their $273,020.36 from 2014. However, Whitewright is just now coming back after a massive fall off of $420,888.59 total in 2011 to $271,629.03 in 2012.

“This is only the beginning of what will be an economic transformation of Howe.” says Howe’s President of Economic Development. “Being located on US 75 gives us a great opportunity in the next 10 years to go from this new accomplished goal of $300,000 to $1,000,000 by 2025. I really feel like we are on track and can look 14 miles to the south to back up those goals.” Anna went from $353,781 in 2005 to $1,472,317 in 2015.

The north to south US 75 corridor in sales tax revenue:

Denison, $5,896,065, +4.45%
Sherman, $18,336,491, +2.10%
Howe, $308,689, +12.44%
Van Alstyne, $984,349, +8.27%
Anna, $1,472,317, +7.25%
Melissa, $1,706,728 -0.65%
McKinney, $43,383,455, +7.50%
Fairview, $3,045,766, +4.22%
Allen, $35,478,210, +0.44%
Plano, $77,558,042, +2.87%
Richardson, $31,751,701, +5.48%
Dallas, $272,645,990, +6.11%

Howe’s annual Christmas parade will take place on Saturday at 4:30.  It will begin on Beatrice Street by Charles R. Thompson Gymnasium and make a round trip back by way of Highway 5 and through downtown.  Floats are to line up on Beatrice Street starting at 3:45.  The Howe Church of Christ will have cookies available while a vendor will be selling hot chocolate.  Paris Palacios will emcee the parade and all downtown businesses will be open.

The parade will feature:

*Keep Howe Beautiful
*JLTD Racing/Bauer Motorsports
*Christian Motorcyclist Association
*Howe Enterprise
*Howe 3rd/4th Youth Football
*Bobbie Peterson Cate for Grayson County District Attorney
*Howe Cub Scouts
*97.5 KLAK/93.1 KMKT/102.5 Mad Rock
*Jeff Whitmire, Grayson County Commissioner
*Girl Scouts of Howe
*Bob Utter Ford
*New Beginning Fellowship
*Howard Day for Sheriff
*Howe Boys Athletics
*Howe Girls Athletics
*JD’s Babbitt Bearings
*Joe Brown, Grayson County District Attorney
*Eva’s All Season Glass
*Scott Renfro for County Commissioner
*Chill Out
*Howe PTA
*Women Rock
*Fierce Motion in Dance
*Diannah Walke
*Howe Fire Department

If you’re wanting to enter into the parade for free, you can register here:  http://howechamber.com/event/howe-christmas-parade/

The Howe Community Library and Peggy’s Porch are hosting a holiday shopping spree on Monday, Dec. 14 at the Howe Community Library.  There will be a wide assortment of items available for students to shop through for Christmas/Hanukkah presents for their families.  The students will receive “Peggy’s Porch” bucks that they can use for purchasing items (items will only cost one “buck” each).  There will be a gift wrapping station for wrapping their presents.

Library Director Becky Hogenson says that donated items would be greatly appreciated.  Garage Sale types of items – especially toys, stuffed animals, jewelry, tools – really need gifts for men. Library staff and Peggy’s Porch volunteers will be setting up items on Saturday morning, Dec. 12. Those interested in helping can drop off items at the library any time.    Hours for the shopping spree are 8:00-4:30 – Monday only.  The sale will be held at the Howe Community Library.

 

The Howe Fire Department will host a “Breakfast with Santa” event tomorrow (Saturday) at the Howe Elementary/Middle School Cafeteria.  The event will be from 8:0o – 10:30 am.  The entry fee is $5 or a wrapped gift.  http://howeenterprise.com/?p=17470

Howe Police Chief Carl Hudman said that a Howe man was struck and killed by a semi-truck early Thursday morning while he was walking to work. The individual, David Harvey, was struck in the northbound lane of US 75 south of the FM 902 overpass.

Mr. Harvey was pronounced dead at the scene when Howe PD received the call about the wreck at 3:26 a.m.

It is unclear why Mr. Harvey, age 50, was walking on the highway, but the man’s car would not start and had informed his boss at Tyson Foods that he’d be walking to work.

Howe Police Sgt. Michael Hill said the truck that struck Mr. Harvey was owned by PFG trucking. Hill said the driver will not be charged with anything following the wreck.

 

With 100 percent rain scheduled for Saturday, the Howe Area Chamber of Commerce has decided to push the parade back one week at the same time – Dec. 19 at 4:30.  Everything will be the same as far as route and floats; only the date has changed.  To register for a free float, please click here or on the photo:

http://howechamber.com/event/howe-christmas-parade/

On December 7^th, 2015, Raymond Gabriel Padilla, 38, of Sherman, pled guilty to a charge of  Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.   The sentence, handed down by 397^th District Court Judge Brian Gary, was the result of a plea agreement Padilla reached with the Grayson County District Attorney’s Office.

On February 19^th, 2015, a woman called the Sherman Police Department and reported that her 12-year-old great niece had told the woman that Raymond Padilla, who was the child’s father, had been having sexual contact with her.    Officers took the child to the hospital for a forensic examination and to the Grayson County Children’s Advocacy Center where she was interviewed.   The child told the interviewer that Padilla had touched her on several occasions over the prior weeks.  Detective Flores located Padilla and interviewed him.   Padilla confessed to having sexual contact with the victim on several occasions beginning in November 2014.

“This kind of thing just breaks your heart,” said Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown.  “Kids should not have to deal with these issues, but we know that it happens.   The Sherman Police Department did a great job moving quickly on the report, and securing a confession.”

“The charge of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child is a relatively new charge in Texas law, and covers situation where there is ongoing abuse on more than one occasion.    One of the key features of the law is that a sentence in these cases does not allow for parole, so Mr. Padilla will do an actual 30 calendar years in prison.”

Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Wood prosecuted the case.   Padilla was represented by Sherman attorney Rick Dunn.