Howe, Texas Hometown News Source Since 1963
Howe Police Report:
On January 24 at 7:11 pm, Howe Police Cpl. David Morris and Officer Kilbourn arrested a 36-year-old Howe man for Class C Assault FV and outstanding Van Alstyne Police Department warrants after being dispatched to a disturbance at a residence in the 800
On Jan 24 at
Lee Joy (Cartwright) Smithart, 85, beloved mother, passed away January 24 at Texoma Medical Center. Lee Joy was born November 08, 1933 in Wapanucka, Oklahoma to Ida and Wm. McKinley Cartwright.
Lee Joy graduated early from high school in 1950 from Wapanucka. While in school she played basketball and worked part time at the local drug store. On December 27, 1952 at the Sherman First Baptist Church, she married Don Smithart, after he returned home from serving in the Army during the Korean war. They were married 29 years when Don died at an early (50) age on May 29, 1982.
During their marriage they lived in Atoka, OK, Burbank, CA, Oklahoma City, OK, Boise, ID, Denison, TX and Howe, TX. Lee Joy had a long career in the banking and accounting field. Working at Grayson County State Bank and then Johnson & Johnson, Inc. where she retired in 1993 after 25 years of service. After retirement she worked part time at the J & J Credit Union and at the Grayson County Courthouse in the County Clerk’s office.
She was a deeply religious woman and was a founding member of Harvest Time Assembly of God in Sherman and was still attending faithfully until her health deteriorated. She also served on the Howe City Council and Planning and Zoning Board for several years. She proudly served the community by serving on election days for many years at different polling places in Grayson County.
Lee Joy was the “go to” person for any family history. She knew all dates/days/names. Everyone depended on her for information about the Cartwright and Smithart families. That will be sorely missed.
Lee Joy was proceeded in death by her parents; sisters Shirley Cartwright, Mary Ruth Cartwright, Marguerite Lowry, and Betty Haines. Brothers C. W. Cartwright, J. R. Cartwright, and Odell Cartwright.
She is survived by sister Annette Roark of Ada, Ok, Nelda Joplin and husband Wayne of Ada, OK, and brother Jerry Cartwright and wife Janie of Tushka, OK, daughter Debbie Royston of Howe, sons Randy Smithart and wife Arlene of Irving, Texas, and Tim Smithart of Howe. Grandaughters Kara Royston of Anna, Claudia Smithart of Dallas, and Grandson Donald Smithart and his wife Elizabeth of Greer, SC. Great grandson Charlie Royston-Johnston of Anna, TX and Adalee Teachey of Greer, SC. Also her special 4-legged companion Hannah Belle. In addition she is survived by brother-in-law Clyde Haines of Woodinville, WA and childhood friend and sister by heart Abbey Green Deaton of California.
She was very loved and will be dearly missed.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at the West Hill Cemetery in Sherman.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 29t from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Waldo Funeral Home. Arrangements are under the direction of Waldo Funeral Home in Sherman.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Texoma Regional Blood Center in Sherman, TX in her name.
The online register book may be signed at www.waldofuneralhome.com
It took two minutes and 58 seconds for the Howe ISD School Board to discuss and act upon a name for the new primary school. The result was “Summit Hill Elementary School.” Much of the near three minutes was silence as board members seemed to distance themselves from the naming of the new location located near the new Summit Hill development west of US Highway 75.
“I’m going to pass on this one because this is a community and a board decision,” Superintendent Kevin Wilson told the board.
Board member Janie Finney made the first request of Summit Hill School with Clint Catching suggesting using the term “Elementary” in the name. Board member Mark Abner asked about putting together a committee which Wilson said was an option, but he stated a determination from the committee would need to be made by the February school board meeting.
Finney then requested that the board go with “Summit Elementary” rather than Summit Hill Elementary which prompted Board President Greg Akins to say that he preferred Summit Hill Elementary due to its location.
Akins then asked the board members whether they wanted to appoint a committee or to go ahead and name the building. After a long pause, board member Brad Anderson made a motion to name it Summit Hill Elementary. Josh Vincent second the motion and the motion went unopposed.
At no time during the discussion was it brought up to name the building after someone. Only Freddy Holcomb and J.W. Hall were present audience members outside of the reporter. None made comments during the discussion which was not open for public discussion.
Those on social media after learning of the name suggested that perhaps more time could have been put into something with such significance.
One member that was present in the audience thought that the school should have at least held discussions to honor former Howe ISD educators and administrators such as Wyline Pool, Arthur Boyle, or Steve Simmons.
The ISD has made it well known that their position at this time is to not name buildings after people. In fact, the ISD has only twice named buildings and each time was in honor of a superintendent. Charles R. Thompson Gymnasium was named in honor of the longtime superintendent in the 1970s and the high school library is named in honor of Dr. Wayne King.
Howe has had one other school not carrying the name Howe. It was the Marshall-Bean College (which was not a college, but a school) located at the present site of the administration office. It was named for the two donors of the property, W.H. Bean and Captain Marshall.
Soon afterward, a former Howe Student Matthew Mariano put together a petition to name it “Steve Simmons Elementary”. The petition received over 500 signatures in less than 24 hours.
Steve Simmons was inducted to the Howe Hall of Honor by the Howe Area Chamber of Commerce (selected by the community). His plaque reads: Steve Simmons came to Howe in 1987 as a coach for Howe ISD. His motivating nature has inspired a couple of thousand kids and adults to be highly motivated, truly dedicated as well as rough and tough. Perhaps no one in Howe’s history has held so much pride and love for their community and the children of Howe. He served as the elementary physical education instructor for Howe ISD for 31 years. As well as his work with children, he’s also been a varsity football, powerlifting and baseball coach and junior varsity basketball coach. As a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Howe, his faith is unquenchable. It is only a matter of time before something in this town is named Steve Simmons something.
Home Hospice of Cooke County is pleased to announce the next four-week series of Support Groups starting on January 22, 2019. Each week the group shares and discusses their experiences in coping with loss. The group will meet in the Home Hospice Office at 505 W. Center Street in Sherman, TX.
We are pleased to offer two sessions on Tuesdays starting January 22th and continuing through February 12th. To provide options to meet during the day we are offering Mornings from 10:00 am to 11:30 am or if you prefer, Evenings from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
“Experiencing the loss of a loved one always leaves a void in our lives” said Nancy Jackson with Home Hospice. “As we go through grief and mourning we change in many ways. It becomes a journey and it is our journey with no right or wrong way to progress. We find that sharing with others who have experienced the loss of a loved one can make our healing easier. Come and join us as we support each other.”
To register for the support group, please contact Vikki Redden at 903-868-9315. If you’d like information on individual counseling, please contact Dennis Noblett at 903-868-9315. Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke and Fannin Counties is a 501(c)(3) community-based non-profit hospice. Our mission is to provide the best care and
This afternoon the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office reported that a suspicious envelope was delivered to US Congressman John Ratcliffe’s Office inside the Grayson County Courthouse. The Congressman was not in the office at the time when it was delivered. The Sheriff’s Office says they are handling the situation as a possible Haz Mat matter. No one is in immediate danger at the present time and the courthouse is conducting business as usual at this time without any evacuations.
The Plano Bomb Squad and HazMat Team are on location to contain the suspicious envelope.
According to Grayson County Commissioner Jeff Whitmire, motorists should avoid US Highway 75 in Anna on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 11 and 12.
US-75 through the Anna area will be closed in both directions from UPDATED TIMES**** NOON SATURDAY THROUGH 6 AM MONDAY. Hwy 5 will have heavy traffic so it is recommended to use Hwy 289 as a better alternative. Whitmire stated on Grayson County Precinct 1 page that the best plan would be to avoid Dallas entirely.
Details per TxDOT news release:
2019-01-11 9:00 PM to 2019-01-12 7:00 PM
1.648 Miles North of FM0455 on US0075 to 1.34 Miles North of SH0121 on US0075
Description: – Main lanes closed.
– Motorists should expect delays.
– Detour to the frontage road
US 75 Southbound Main Lanes Closed for Traffic Switch Situation/Activity TxDOT’s contractor Austin Bridge and Road will be performing a mainline traffic switch on Southbound US-75 into new detour alignment and then onto newly constructed roadway.
Detour Directions: Friday: All traffic will be required to Exit SB US 75 at Exit 48 ( FM 455 ) onto SB Frontage Rd and will be allowed to re-enter US-75 at on-ramp south of Melissa Rd.
Other Information: 1) Message boards will be placed on US 75 to alert public of lane closures. 2)Police Officers will be at the intersection of FM 455 and US-75 southbound frontage road to help mitigate congestion.
Local Traffic Seek Alternate Route (Delay / Detour)
The Howe Bulldogs football team got some good news as Elijah Campbell, Joseph Brennan, and Spencer Akins were all named to the Academic All-State team.
Campbell and Brennan were each named 2nd Team while Akins was Honorable Mention.
The THSCA (Texas High School Coaches Association) Academic All-State Teams recognize high school athletes who excel in the following categories: GPA, class rank and ACT/SAT score.
