Johnny Price Orr, age 72, passed away on March 5th, 2019 in his home in Haltom City, Texas. John was born in Sherman, TX near his home town of Howe where he grew up helping to work the family farm. John was known as a lover of music, sports and was never one to turn down a chance to visit with friends and family.
He is preceded in death by his wife Patricia and daughter Virginia. Johnny is survived by his son Joshua and his wife Lochi, and granddaughters Ariel and Audrey of Mt. Airy, Maryland. He is also survived by his brother Rick and his wife Charlotte of Waxahachie, Texas.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 23 at 11:00 AM at the Immanuel Baptist Church Kyle Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart, Cancer, or Alzheimers charities of your choice.
Calley Vick and Joseph Brennan have been nominated for the 3A Texas Student-Athlete of the Year. This award receives a $1,000 Letterman to Leadership scholarship. Those interested can click HERE to vote for the local Bulldogs.
HOWE, Texas – A Howe patrol vehicle was damaged by a hit-and-run driver Sunday morning on northbound U.S. Highway 75 in Van Alstyne.
Howe Police Officer David Morris was assisting the Van Alstyne Police Department with a multi-vehicle accident south of Van Alstyne Parkway shortly after midnight when the driver of a white GMC pick-up struck Officer Morris’ marked patrol vehicle and continued north without stopping. Officer Morris’ patrol unit was blocking the left lane of the highway with all of its emergency overhead lights flashing. VAPD Officer Nathan Wilson was able to catch up with and stop the GMC.
The hit-and-run driver, 50-year-old James Wyrick of Burleson, Texas, failed a sobriety test and was arrested. Wyrick was booked into the Grayson County Jail for Driving While intoxicated with an open container, deadly conduct and fleeing the scene of an accident. Additional charges may be filed after further investigation.
No one was injured in the incident and the Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash involving the Howe PD vehicle which had to be towed from the scene. The Howe and Van Alstyne Police Departments are working together on the charges against Wyrick.
HOWE, Texas – The Howe Police Department is seeking the public’s help with information regarding a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred on southbound U.S. Highway 75 near Exit 52 (West Farmington Road) in Howe on Saturday, March 9.
Benny Watkins, 76, of Farmersville, was riding his black 2004 three-wheeled Harley Davidson motorcycle on U.S. Highway 75 at around 7:30 p.m. in southern Howe when he struck a mattress laying in the roadway. Watkins, a Vietnam veteran, was transported via helicopter to a Dallas area hospital with severe head trauma. He succumbed to his injuries on March 14.
According to witnesses, a mattress fell from the back of a pickup which continued south on the highway.
Anyone with information regarding the identity of the pickup truck driver or who may have witnessed the crash is encouraged to contact Sergeant Keith Milks at 903-532-9971 or via email at kmilks@cityofhowe.org.
Instructions came down from Magni-Power of Wooster, Ohio that the Howe, Texas location, Magni-Fab Southwest, would be closing its doors at the end of April. Most of the afternoon consisted of meetings with employees informing them that their jobs would be going away with the plant at that time. The metal fabrication plant has been in Howe since 1971 when originally beginning with 25 full-time employees. The original facility is located at the former Grayson County Coliseum on the northwest corner of US 75 and FM 902. As the company grew at the turn of the century housing nearly 200 full-time employees, the company purchased the former Old America Stores warehouse. Currently, the plant houses 28 full-time employees and another 41 temporary positions.
In a press release from Jeffrey D. Musselman, Secretary of Magni-Fab Southwest Company, it stated:
“It is with deep regret that we must announce that Magni-Fab Southwest Company will be closing its operations on April 30, 2019. The company has experienced financial difficulty for several years, making it impossible to justify keeping operations running. We had hoped to weather this storm, but after efforts to secure additional business and attempts to sell the business proved unsuccessful, the difficult decision to permanently close the company was made.
We realize that without the hard work and support of our employees and their families, and the community as a whole, the company could have never continued for as long as it did. It has been a wonderful 47 years in business, and we sincerely thank everyone who made it happen. We wish all the very best in the future.”
Howe Mayor Jeff Stanley made the following written statement to the Howe Enterprise:
“Our prayers go out to those that will be affected by the closing of Magni-Fab, from the employees, families, school kids that have had projects paid for or provided for, and all through the community of Howe, this will affect us all in some way. We, as a community are with you. “
Magni-Fab Southwest Company officially began the metal fabrication process in Howe in July of 1971.
According to Howe Head Basketball Coach Eric Johns, Howe senior Elijah Campbell and his sophomore brother Noah Campbell have been named to the All-Texomaland Team. Earlier this week, they were each named on the 10-3A All-District Team as Elijah was named firstteam and Noah garnered second-team honors.
On February 15 at 12:55 a.m., Officer Brandon Ozuna arrested
a 40-year-old Howe woman for Assault Causing Bodily Injury (Family Violence)
after responding to a reported disturbance at a residence in the 700 block of
S. Denny Street.
On February 15 at 8:25 p.m., Sgt. Keith Milks and Officer
John Grant arrested a 45-year-old Seagoville woman DWI after stopping her on
U.S. Hwy 75 for a traffic violation
On February 16 at 2:03 a.m., Sgt. Keith Milks arrested a
22-year-old Burleson woman for Criminal Mischief > $100 < $750 after
responding a report of a disturbance at a residence in the 1100 block of S.
Collins Freeway. When Sgt. Keith Milks arrived, he found the 22-year-old
intoxicated and witnessed her kicking a door inside the residence, causing
damage.
On February 23 at 6:45 p.m., Officer Brandon Ozuna arrested a 61-year-old Denison man for Driving While Intoxicated after stopping him on U.S. Hwy 75 for a traffic violation. On February 25 at 1:11 a.m., Officer Brandon Ozuna arrested a 27-year-old man and 26-Year-old woman, both of Howe, for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, Family Violence at a residence in the 400 block of S. Denny Street.
