Category: Howe News Bulletin

Early Sunday morning, January 14, 2018 at 01:47 am, Howe Sgt. Kieth Milks stopped a silver 1999 Ford Taurus on northbound U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic violation. Sgt. Milks detected signs of nervousness in the driver and passengers.  Once backup arrived, he deployed Howe PD’s new K9 “Loki.”  Loki alerted to the odor of narcotics and during the probable cause search of the vehicle which allowed Sgt. Milks recovered three handguns from under each seat and 15 one-gram packets of marijuana packaged for sale that no one claimed and all had access to. Milks arrested the driver and two passengers and charged them all with POM < 2oz and weapons charges. One of the passengers was a convicted felon and was also charged with Unlawful possession of a firearm.

The arrested and their charges were:

19-year-old Kemond Taylor of Dallas: POM < 2oz, Unlawful carrying of a weapon.
18-year-old TC Jeffrey III of Dallas: POM < 2oz, Unlawful carting of a weapon.
21-year-old Jordan Thomas of Dallas: POM < 2oz, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

Howe’s Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Zack Hudson made the announcement this morning to his players that he will not be returning next fall to lead the Bulldogs.  Instead, he has accepted the position of head football coach at Mabank ISD and will be leading the Class 4A, Division I Panthers.   It is not an athletic director position which will allow him more time with his family during the football off-season.  Hudson will able to build his own football staff.

Hudson came to Howe back in 2013 to be closer to his ill grandfather.  After his grandfather’s passing a year ago, Hudson had declined several job offers but the Mabank position stood out as one he couldn’t turn down.

Apart from his 30-28 winning record (which was 29-19 heading into 2017), most playoff wins in school history, and turning a football program around that had back-to-back 2-8 seasons, Hudson’s long-lasting imprint on Howe may his improvements to the facilities in such a short time that had originally been planned out as a five-year process.  Prior to Hudson’s arrival, the Bulldog Stadium field house, restrooms, and press facilities were dilapidated, the softball fields were still across the track, the bleachers were tight at Bulldog Stadium, and the baseball field had make-shift metal dugouts.

“We’ve accomplished a lot in five years,” said Hudson.  “When we had our first big track meet here in years, we were up in the bleachers and we had just finished up the softball fields.  There was softball game going on, a baseball game going, and a track meet going all at the same time and there were people everywhere.  It was packed and I’ll never forget that moment.”

As far as football achievements, beating Hughes Springs in a bi-district playoff game in Van, Texas stood out to Hudson as one of his most fond memories as the leader of the Howe Bulldogs.

“We’ve had a lot of good coaches and great players.  It’s been a great five years,” said Hudson.  “It’s hard to point out one thing that sticks because there’s so much.”

When asked whether he felt the vast improvement from his time here in five years, Hudson said he couldn’t answer that question because he wasn’t here then.

“I can just comment on what we’ve been able to accomplish while I’ve been here,” said Hudson.  “With our baseball teams, basketball teams, and softball teams getting in the playoffs, I feel like a lot of things were accomplished here and I feel like Howe stepped up and have risen to a different level now.  And I hope the next guy they hire takes it even higher.”

Huson said the hardest part of leaving Howe is departing from the administration and friends and says that he couldn’t ask more from Superintendent Kevin Wilson and what Howe ISD has provided in support.

Hudson will take over a Mabank team that went 1-9 a year ago and haven’t had a winning record since 2006 when they went 6-5.  Bud Hudson says he’s just the guy to revamp a program just as he did in Howe.

“My personality is usually one that fits better when people need a restructure and I think that’s why Mabank was attracted to me,” said Hudson.  “I don’t know if I feel comfortable taking over a program where they’ve been winning and winning and I just have to keep it going.  I’ve never done that before.  I like doing things that people say can’t be done.  If you tell me I can’t do something or I don’t have a chance, well I’m going to try and prove you wrong.”

Hudson is excited about the fact that Mabank has turf and he will not have to stripe a football field again.  However, those who know Hudson realize that he will more than likely miss the area of sports horticulture.

On his way out the door, Hudson wanted to convey his gratitude to the Bulldog Nation and wished them the best of luck.  He will take over at Mabank in two weeks.

Where does Zack Hudson stack up in Bulldog Coaching History?

Playoff wins (first) 

Zack Hudson (5)
Jim Fryar (4)

Wins (fourth)

Norman Dickey, 51
Jim Fryar, 41
Davey DuBose, 34
Zack Hudson, 30

A Celebration of Life for Christopher Lewis Troxtell, 69, of Howe, Texas will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, January 13, 2018, at First United Methodist Church in Howe, Texas. Graveside services will follow at Hall Cemetery in Howe, Texas. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 12, 2018, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Scoggins Funeral Home in Van Alstyne, Texas.

Chris was born April 29, 1948, in Howe, Texas to Clessie Arthur Troxtell and Annie Luerene Haws. He married the love of his life Margaret Ann McDonough on March 12, 1971. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Howe and served in the United States Army from 1968-1970. Chris worked at Magni-Fab Southwest as a Quality Assurance Inspector for 30 years and owned his own painting business for several years prior. While raising his children he served as Troop 45 Scoutmaster, coached multiple youth Sports, and helped with multiple 4H and FFA livestock projects. He served on Church committees and multiple organizations during his life.

Chris is survived by his wife Margaret of Howe, his son Thomas Troxtell and wife Andra of Howe, daughters Jennifer and her husband Scott Grogan of Howe and Alicia and her husband Richard Wooddell of Palestine. 6 Grandchildren: Carson and Katie Grogan, Reagan, Riley, and Gage Troxtell, and Kaden Wooddell. Brothers/Sisters: Lynn Dale Troxtell of Howe, Anne Allison of Plano, Patsy Allison of Howe, Fran Frantz of Sherman, Cles Troxtell of Howe, Larry Troxtell of Whitewright, Johnny Troxtell of Sherman, Garry Troxtell of Sherman, Wendell Troxtell of Sherman, Terry Gene Troxtell of Allen, and Ken Troxtell of Sherman. He was proceeded in death by his brother Welborn Ray Troxtell.

Serving as pallbearers will be his brothers: Lynn, Cles, Larry, Johnny, Garry, Wendell, Terry, and Ken.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be sent to First United Methodist Church of Howe in Chris’ memory or a charity of donor’s choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Scoggins Funeral Home & Crematory 637 W. Van Alstyne Parkway, Van Alstyne, Texas 75495. 903-482-5225
The online register book may be signed at www.scogginsfuneralhome.com

Visitation

Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 6 pm – 8 pm
Scoggins Funeral Home
637 West Van Alstyne Parkway,
Van Alstyne, TX 75495

Funeral Service

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2 pm
First United Methodist Church
810 N. Denny Street,
Howe, TX 75459

This morning, Jan. 9, at approximately 5:45 am Howe Police Officers responded to a report of a multi-vehicle accident on US Hwy 75 north, just south of the Haning overpass. A pick up towing a flatbed trailer was traveling in the right lane when an SUV hit the trailer from behind.

Passengers in the SUV had to be extricated from the vehicle by Van Alstyne Fire and EMS. Both the driver and the passenger of the SUV were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the pickup and trailer was not injured. The dense fog contributed to the lack of visibility on the highway.

Marilyn Ann Power, known to her childhood friends as Madie Kelso was born to Roy and Mary Kelso on September 28, 1939 in Stith, Texas. She passed after a long battle with Alzheimers on December 20, 2017 in Montgomery, Texas where she lived with and was taken care of by her youngest daughter Melanie and her family.

Madie was her daddy’s little girl and grew up with taffy pulls and slumber parties and loved her parents greatly. She graduated from Abilene Christian College, married and had children after graduating. She spent her early married years as a stay at home Mom raising her three daughters. She later held positions as a bookkeeper at the Towne Crier restaurant in Abilene, worked for Paul and Virginia Carter at Paul Carter Insurance in Sherman, substituted as a teacher and ultimately became a Middle School teacher and girl’s coach in the Howe ISD. Her passion was coaching the 7th and 8th grade basketball teams and was known as Mama P to all the girls. As much as she loved coaching, her true passion was her Lord and she worshipped faithfully at the Howe Church of Christ where she had many friends. Madie lovingly cared for her father and mother in their later years as her father also had Alzheimers and she would lose her oldest brother Derrell to the same disease.

Madie is survived by her daughter’s Donna Power, Melanie Leonard and Mitzi Power; son-in-law Lance Leonard whom she loved like a son; grandchildren Gentry Leonard, Devyn Power, Preston Leonard, and Dylan Power; brother Leon Kelso, sister-in-law Lorna Kelso, nieces and nephews and their children.

A graveside service will be held for immediate family only on Friday, January 5, 2018. Friends and extended family will be welcomed at the Stith Community Center on January 5th at 3:00pm to celebrate Madie’s life and share stories.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. For those unable to attend her remembrance gathering, the family requests that you share stories of your memories at www.starbuckfuneralhome.com that can be shared with her grandchildren.