Latest News

Howe’s newest downtown business will have a soft opening tomorrow starting at noon.  Texas Home Emporium, owned by Brett Jones says that the regular hours will be Wednesdays through Saturdays from noon – 8pm.  The location is in between Howe Mercantile and Don’s Smokehouse in downtown Howe.

Kenneth Wayne Ferguson from Gunter (Farmington), Texas passed from this life into his heavenly rest on August 12, 2015 in Sherman, TX. Kenny was born on March 16, 1948 in Sherman, Texas. He attended Howe schools until graduation in 1966. He served our country in the U.S. Army early after graduation. Later, he was employed by Johnson and Johnson in Sherman for over 30 years as a mechanic.

Kenny loved spending his time with his family, grandkids mostly. He also enjoyed working outside despite a devastating spinal cord injury 6 years ago. Kenny never met a stranger, although he never did have much to say. When he spoke, you better listen.

Kenny is survived by his wife, Genece, of Gunter, mother, Irene Ferguson of Collinsville, TX, sons Brian Ferguson and wife, Jamie of Commerce, TX and Michael Ferguson of Gunter, TX. He is also survived by his daughter, Brandi Polnac and husband, Michael of Gunter, TX. Kenny loved all of his family, but grandkids truly were the lights of his life. Braden and Morgan Ferguson of Whitehouse, TX, Kevin Horn and Abby Rhodes of Commerce, TX, Bayli and Ashlyn Wood of Gunter, TX, Tyler Polnac currently serving our country in South Korea and Colby Polnac of Mesquite, TX. Also one great-granddaughter, Kenzi Wood of Gunter, TX., and very special niece and nephew Teri, and Terry Calhoun.

He was preceded in death by his father Charlie Ferguson; a sister, Joann Ferguson; a brother Sonny Ferguson.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 17, 2015 at 10 am at Scoggins Funeral Home in Van Alstyne, TX. with Chris Campbell officiaitng burial will follow at the Van Alstyne Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Scoggins Funeral Home Sunday, August 16, 2015 6-8 pm.

Pallbearers will be Dean Campbell, Stan Pullum, Bruce Elvington, Braden Ferguson, Michael Polnac

On August 12^th, 2015, Delmar Price, 36, of Denison, pled guilty to a charge of  Aggravated Assault of a Deadly Weapon and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.  The sentence, handed down by 397^th District Court Judge Brian Gary, was the product of a plea agreement Price reached with the Grayson County District Attorney’s Office prior to trial.

On the evening of December 4^th, 2014, Sherman police responded to two 911 calls made by concerned Grayson County citizens. The 911 callers reported that a tan 4-door Chrysler was all over the road and had almost struck several other vehicles, including the callers. While Sherman Police were in route to intercept the suspect vehicle, witnesses observed it to rear-ended a vehicle at the intersection of Loy Lake and the Highway 75 access road, sending the vehicle and its four occupants through the intersection. One of the occupants in the vehicle sustained significant neck and back injuries.

Sherman Police arrived within a short time and identified the driver of the suspect vehicle as Price.   Price was extremely aggressive, cursing officers, refusing to follow commands, and exhibiting signs of intoxication.   Officers noted that Price had slurred speech, smelled like alcohol, and had an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. Price refused to provide a sample of his blood for testing.   Officer applied for and received a search warrant for the Price’s blood.   Laboratory testing determined Price’s blood alcohol content to be .345, over four times the legal limit of .08.

“This was a dangerous situation,” said Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown.   “This man absolutely could have killed someone that night, as drunk as he was.   The young man that was hurt in the other car was a college football player at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and his injury from this night prevented him from being able to play in a Division 2 college bowl game.”

Price will not be eligible for parole until at least half of his sentence is served.   Assistant District Attorneys Jeremy Wood and Nathan Young prosecuted the case.   Price was represented by Sherman attorney Reggie Smith.

Elementary :

Thursday, August 20

5:30-7:00 pm

During the ‘Meet the Teacher’ night, there will be an immunization clinic.  Parents are asked to bring shot records or school note and insurance card. Please call Howe Elementary for more information.  903-532-6014

August 24 – First Day of School

**All Kindergarten students will be released at 11:30 a.m. the week of August 24^th – 28^th.  Bus transportation is not available the first week for early kindergarten dismissal.

Parents are encouraged to sign their Kindergartener up for screenings.  A sign-up list will be made available at Meet the Teacher.   Check with your child’s kindergarten teacher for more information.

 

Middle School:

5th Grade Orientation- 

Thursday, August 20

7:00 pm at the HMS Cafeteria

 

6th-8th Grade Meet the Teacher and Schedule Pick Up-

Thursday, August 20

6:30-8:00 at HMS.

 

Howe High School:

Freshman Orientation

Tuesday, August 18

6:30 p.m. in the Howe High School cafeteria.

August 20 – Meet the Teacher

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Please bring your school supplies.

During the ‘Meet the Teacher’ night, there will be an immunization clinic.  Parents are asked to bring shot records or school note and insurance card. Please call Howe Elementary for more information.  903-532-6014

August 24 – First Day of School

**All Kindergarten students will be released at 11:30 a.m. the week of August 24^th – 28^th.  Bus transportation is not available the first week for early kindergarten dismissal.

Parents are encouraged to sign their Kindergartener up for screenings.  A sign-up list will be made available at Meet the Teacher.   Check with your child’s kindergarten teacher for more information.

August 7 – Howe Police Officer David Morris responded to a report of a single vehicle crash on N. Collins Freeway and Denny Street. He found a 48-year-old man behind the wheel of a pickup that ran off the roadway and hit a gravel pile. After waking the man, Officer Morris found him to be intoxicated. The suspect failed a sobriety test and was arrested for DWI.

August 7 – At approximately 8:30pm, Howe Police Officer Jordan Clark responded to a report of a reckless driver on US Hwy 75. He stopped the suspect vehicle and eventually arrested the 42-year-old driver for DWI. The suspect has 3 prior DWI arrests and is currently on parole for DWI. His 2007 Toyota pickup was seized and civil forfeiture will be sought.

 

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3G Brand, local and leading handcrafted blanket company is seeking part-time help.  They are looking for someone who can do pin and cut material.  Any age considered and will work around your schedule.  All interested need to email 3Gbrand@gmail.com or call 903-819-3010.

One of the biggest fundraising undertakings in the recent history of the city of Howe has seen the heaviest hitters among community leaders step up to the plate to accept the challenge. Leaders of the community from the newest generation and years past met on Thursday afternoon to start the undertaking of the “Save the Church” committee and the work that will go in to renovating the old church on O’Connell Street.

In attendance at the meeting were Monte Walker (facilitator), Dusty Williams, Mary Jo Wrenn, Beverly Martin, Clyde Hepner, Jean and Alton Norman, Linda Wall, Georgia Caraway, Donna and Chuck Pelkey, Dick and Daisie Smithwick, Janie and Harold Finney, Becky Hogenson and Donna Wormsbaker.  Officers elected were Jean Norman – president, Beverly Martin – vice president, Georgia Caraway – secretary, Janie Finney – treasurer.

The committee will be formulating the “Save the Church” live auction and silent auction on the evening of November 7.

Keep Howe Beautiful Executive Director Donna Wormsbaker and her KHB members will be hosting an all-you-can-eat BBQ dinner for $10 in which the funds will go to beautify the landscaping around the old church building. They received a large donation of 20 briskets from Walmart and resident Brice Harvey has agreed, along with Dick Smithwick, to do the smoking and cooking.

Each committee member is responsible for gathering ten auction items from businesses or residents.

With the exterior of the church about to be completed, the funds raised will finish out the inside with a complete restoration. For those wanting to help monetarily, checks can be made to the Collins Memorial Fund. The donation is 100 percent tax deductible.

Every five years, the Howe Ex-Students Association prepares to bring all former Howe students together for one giant reunion that spans decades and decades of generations that represent the black and white. Just as in 2010, the reunion committee is back at it and ready claim 2015 as the biggest and best ever.

For several years, Janie Finney has been the go-to person for the organizing of the reunions. While the local online newspaper owner is the president of the Ex-Students Association, he is merely that in title only due to the hard work that Finney puts in.

Finney says that she believes the first ever all-school reunion took place in 1972 in conjunction with the City of Howe’s Centennial celebration. In that initial year, J.C. Waller was the president of the Ex-Students Association and the event was quite successful and they planned another one in 1976.

In 1988, Finney was the yearbook coordinator at Howe High School and they had just purchased a computer to use for production. With that new technology, she was able to put together the first directory of all former students.

“I guess that was the first year that I did the directory and didn’t get too involved in the rest of it.” said Finney.

Wanda Taylor, for many years was instrumental in keeping up with the records and the mailings of the lunch orders and tickets. Her and her husband Harold would do a lot of the behind the scenes activity while their son Jerry was the president. Finney says that Wanda Taylor is still very active with keeping up with the directory.

“She keeps the directory right by her chair and any time she hears that someone passes away, she marks it in that book and makes sure that we see the book when we’re updating our records.” said Finney. “She cuts out obituaries and keeps us informed. She’s a very good ex-student.

In recent years, former teachers have been making it back to the reunions. Finney says that it is due to better communication and easier ways to find people thanks to social media and even email.

Finney says that the hardest part of the reunion organization is getting people to understand how much work it is to get people involved.

“What I’ve found is that once people get involved in it, they discover that they have a passion for it.” said Finney. “It becomes not work at all, but a labor of love and labor of the heart. Especially if you’re a Howe ex.”

Anyone that ever went to Howe schools at any time is welcome to attend the all-school reunion.

“It’s for all ex-students because we have kids that were so related with their classmates or the teachers that they want to come back and visit.” said Finney. “They felt that connection here that a lof of schools don’t have. It’s important to be a one-school town. The family feeling that they have here and even today, we see the former students bringing their children here because they want them to experience the same thing that they had.”

Back in the 1990’s, the Ex-Students Association had some funds left over after the reunion and decided to set up a scholarship. Ever since then, the organization has done some sort of fundraiser to raise money for the scholarship fund. The requirements are that the student must be a relative of a former Howe student.

In 2010, the organization hired Kraig Parker, Elvis impersonator, to perform live at the HHS cafetorium. The money raised for that went directly to the scholarship fund. This year, they are going from the 1950s to the 1960s and will feature “Hard Night’s Day”, a Beatles tribute band to perform at the same location on Saturday night to close out the reunion weekend. The concert is open to anyone interested in attending. The money raised will fund the scholarships for the next five years.

There have been requests to move the reunion to the summer. With the all-school reunion happening every five years, it is being discussed that the 2020 reunion could be held in the summer.

“We don’t want to exclude anyone.” said Finney. “We want to get everyone that we can.”

The event will happen starting with the homecoming football game on Friday, September 18 and will continue on Saturday with a luncheon at 11am.

Order your tickets here by clicking here!