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Last Wednesday through Friday, it looked like football season was already here. A group of 41 kids from second grade through eight participated in Howe Bullodgs Football Camp. The $25 entry fee collected by the athletic department went towards field upkeep. The program has had the camp in each of the last three years.

The first group of campers went through basic agility drills and learned proper techniques about the game of football. It was basically football 101 for the youngsters.

However, the older kids went through more strenuous workouts and even learned how to run a few plays.

Head Coach Zack Hudson was on-hand each day as well as his entire coaching staff. In small Texas towns, the head football coach is a pretty important person in town. Some of those coaches become unapproachable, but Hudson seems to be the opposite. He was seen interacting one-on-one to the youngest of athletes to the most seasoned. Hudson even received a few water balloons to the back from a few of his varsity players. Hudson, who is a defensive guru didn’t let the offensive balloon fight go uncontested.

But the players seemed to enjoy themselves and get acclimated to the process of sweating and learning the lingo of plays and snap counts and audibles.

A live wire for the past two camps has been Offensive Coordinator Dale West. West is an out-going polite young coach and his passion for what he does is infectious. His love for the kids is evident by spending only a few moments watching his interaction with them.

West has an offensive philosophy that loves to throw the football only in pregame warmups. In other words, he wants to run the ball 99.99 percent of the time, if not 100. Upon having the younger kids work on throwing drills, West jokingly said that some other coach must have put that in the camp. It wasn’t him.

The camp was held on the field at Bulldog Stadium which looks as good as it ever has in its 80 year history. Hudson, the ever so perfectionist said that it was down to eight weeds on the field.

Some of the newer coaches were seen in action for the first time and were impressive. New Defensive Coordinator Wes Rhoten taught a lot of sound fundamentals to the younger athletes, while Offensive Line Coach Richard McAdams work extensively with lineman in the older group. All in all, it seemed to be a successful camp for all involved.

The Downtown businesses along with the Howe Area Chamber of Commerce and Keep Howe Beautiful are throwing a block party this Saturday in downtown. This will be the 2nd Annual “Back to School Blues” block party and will once again feature blues artist Bill Boyd and his band from Sulphur Springs.

Spectators will need to bring lawn chairs and a few dollars for glow sticks and bottled water that will be sold on the street by the non-profit organizations KHB and chamber. Downtown businesses will be open as this is a tremendous opportunity to spark local commerce into our own community.

The downtown businesses include My Estrella Mexican Food Restaurant, Abby’s Restaurant, Howe Development Alliance, TLD Designs, LLC, Advantage Business Machines, Howe Mercantile, Texas Home Emporium, Don’s Smokehouse and Salvage Junky.

First United Methodist Church will have a bounce house on-site for the kids. Adults should bring lawn chairs.

Music starts at 6pm and will run until 9pm. They will be set up between City Hall and Abby’s Restaurant.

A committee is being formed for the old church restoration project.  That group will have a massive auction and all-you-can-eat BBQ dinner on November 7 to raise money for the old church building restoration. The committee, including Dr. Georgia Caraway and Monte Walker are looking for auction items from individuals as well as businesses. Everything is tax deductible. Please contact Monte Walker with your donated auction items. Your business name and your items will be listed in the Howe Enterprise each week starting in August.

List of auction items to this point includes:

Exotic wooden heirloom box – Donated by Ern and Beverly Martin

Custom made cross – Donated by LeeAnn Winkler

German Chocolate Pie – Donated by Mama Suzy’s Sweets & Eats, value of $55

$20 gift certificate (5) – Donated by Rapid Refill Ink

One session at The Loft Day Spa – Donated by The Loft Day Spa

A case of Sweet Mild Summit Salsa – Donated by Summit Salsa Co

A case of Sweet Hot Summit Salsa – Donated by Summit Salsa Co.

Family Photo Shoot – Donated by Faith and Love Photography

Shinners & Mahler’s Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. By George M. Diggs; Barney L. Lipscomb; & Robert J. O’Kennon. Austin College, Sherman, TX. 1999. 1st edition, 1,626 pgs. Hardback with 174 color photographs and illustrations provided for all species. – Donated by Howe Mercantile.    Minimum value  $150

Tips, Tools & Techniques for Preserving and    Your Antiques and Collectibles by Dr. Georgia Kemp Caraway, autographed, UNT Press, Denton, TX. 2009 – Donated by Howe Mercantile.    Minimum value  $17

Tips, Tools & Techniques for Preserving and    Your Antiques and Collectibles by Dr. Georgia Kemp Caraway, autographed, UNT Press, Denton, TX. 2009 – Donated by Howe Mercantile    Minimum value  $17

I Love Paris Basket – Donated by Georgia Caraway, Howe Mercantile, Minimum value  $37

Texas, Our Texas Basket – Donated by Marilyn and John Kubalak, Howe Mercantile, Minimum value  $25

Drinkin’ Wine, Wine, Wine – Three bottles of wine – Donated by Gayle Strange, Denton, TX., Minimum value  $45

Victorian China Bowl. Made in Germany – Donated by Brett Jones, Texas Home Emporium, Minimum value  $25

Howe, Texas Christmas Bunting – Donated by Howe Mercantile, Minimum value  $20

Crystal Candlestick with Candles – Donated by Howe Mercantile, Minimum value  $22

Designer Doll – Donated by Howe Mercantile, Minimum value  $27

Lenox Handpainted Candlestick – Donated by Howe Mercantile, Minimum value  $17

Pink Hippo Snuggy Bug – Made for Russell Newman, DentonTX. – Donated by Howe Mercantile, Minimum value  $17

Six-month ad: One Business Card-size in Howe Enterprise (3)  – Donated by Howe Enterprise

Two-month ad: One HALF PAGE-size in Howe Enterprise – Donated by Howe Enterprise

Sunflower Thrift Decorative item (2) – Donated by Bill and Sherri French

 

Ms. Peggy’s Porch is a community clothes closet where families in need of gently used clothing can obtain items they need absolutely free of charge. Clothes, shoes, and accessories are available in all sizes for men, women, teens and children.

Located directly behind City Hall at 116 E. Haning Street in Howe, Texas, Ms. Peggy’s Porch is easily accessible from the parking lot between E. Haning Street and E. Davis Street (across the street from the First Baptist Church). Ms. Peggy’s Porch is open every second and fourth Saturday morning of each month from 9- 11 a.m. Personal “shopping” appointments or donation drop-offs outside of the regular hours can also be arranged by calling or texting Jackie Patton at 903.771.6066 or Mary Martha Stewart at 903.814.9994.

Ms. Peggy’s Porch was created in honor and in memory of former Howe resident, Ms. Peggy Richardson, who went to be with the Lord in January, 2013. She was exceedingly generous and kind, a faithful servant, a steadfast prayer warrior, an extraordinary student of God’s Word and a true “Proverbs 31 Woman.”

This community clothes closet is the God-inspired vision of Jackie and others, who served for a number of years with Solomon’s Porch, a ministry to the homeless in Dallas. They were encouraged by the Solomon’s Porch pastors to take their time, talents, resources and donations to the local community of Howe and Grayson County. Thanks to the outstanding support and cooperation of the City of Howe, local churches and dedicated volunteers, Ms. Peggy’s Porch has been blessed to have already served hundreds of families in need of like-new school clothes, warm coats during the winter, athletic wear, business attire for those with new jobs, baby clothes for single mothers, shoes, purses, backpacks and accessories.

Peggy Richardson extended God’s love, mercy and kindness to everyone she met while she was here on earth. That unconditional love lives on through this ministry, which touches the lives of others in real and tangible ways. If you would like to shop, donate gently used clothing, accessories or hangers or even volunteer to help (at the Porch or from your home), contact Jackie or Mary Martha at the numbers listed above and to keep up with activities, needs and outreach, please “like” Peggy’s Porch on Facebook.

On July 22, 2015, Russell Todd McCree, 34, of Whitesboro, pled guilty to three counts of Indecency With A Child By Sexual Contact and was sentenced to 20 years in prison on each charge.    The sentences, which will run concurrently, were imposed by 59^th District Court Judge Rayburn Nall pursuant to a plea agreement that McCree reached with the Grayson County District Attorney’s Office.

In August of 2014, Grayson County Child Protective Services workers received a report from a woman who was serving as a foster parent to three children.   The children, ages 7, 9, and 11, had been placed with the woman and her husband after being removed from the home of their biological parents because of drug use in the home, neglect and possible physical abuse of the children.     The foster mother reported that after a short time in foster care the children had told her that their biological father, Russell Todd McCree, had sexually abused them when they lived at a house on Sherman Drive in Whitesboro over a several year period prior to the time the children had been removed from his custody.

Whitesboro police took the children to the Grayson County Children’s Advocacy Center for a forensic interview where the children told an interviewer the same account of abuse which had occurred.

“This is just a sad story,” said Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown.  “But hopefully it has a happy ending.   These children have been given a new loving home, and the parental rights of Mr. McCree have been terminated.    This is a good example of how important the job of child protection workers is, and how important foster parents are.”

McCree will be eligible for parole after serving one half of his sentence.   He will be under a lifetime sex offender registration requirement.

The case was prosecuted by assistant District Attorney Matt Johnson.   McCree was represented by Sherman attorney T. Scott Smith.

Pitching with a pad over his right bruised shin, Garrett Fulenchek allowed no runs in 2, 1/3 innings tonight vs. Elizabethton.  He was a bit wild walking three hitters and giving up two hits, but he was able to escape trouble and allow no runs in his start.  His season ERA sits at 3.48, but Fulenchek has still yet to give up a run since being traded from the Braves or to the Rays organization.

 

 

 

 

 

Leigh Claiborn Mahaffey, 36, of Denison, was today sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Sexual Assault of a Child.    The sentence was imposed by District Judge Rayburn Nall pursuant to a plea agreement that Mahaffey reached with the Grayson County District Attorney’s Office.

In March of 2015 the Denison Police Department received a complaint from the father of a 15 year old girl that the father had discovered inappropriate text messages from Leigh Mahaffey on his daughter’s phone.   Investigators brought the girl to the Grayson County Children’s Advocacy Center where she was interviewed and she reported that Mahaffey had been having sexual contact with her for several months, since she was 14.   Detectives recovered multiple text messages corroborating the girl’s account.    Mahaffey, who at the time was employed as a teacher with the Sherman Independent School District, refused to give a statement to investigators.

“Mr. Mahaffey’s contact with this girl was not connected to his work as a teacher,” said Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown.   “This contact happened at home, and he was connected to the victim through her family.    We have been asked about inappropriate contact with children at school, but law enforcement never received any specific complaints about his contact with students.    The school district cooperated with officers from the beginning.”

Mahaffey faced 2 to 20 years in prison for the offense.  As part of Mahaffey’s plea, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.   He will be eligible for parole after serving one half of his sentence.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matt Johnson.   Mahaffey was represented by Sherman attorney T. Scott Smith.

Nellie Mae Cook age 89 of Howe Texas, passed away Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at Texoma Health Care in Sherman. She was born May 28, 1926 in Pottsboro Texas to James Millard, and Rilla McGuffee Millard. She married Jessie Knox Cook October 8, 1954 at the First Baptist Church in Howe Texas.

Nellie loved to play the piano, read her Bible, spend time with her grandchildren and ministry to the nursing home. She was a faithful, devoted wife and mother. She showed unconditional love for her family and friends. She was a life long member of First Baptist Church in Howe, where she worked with children in Sunday School for over 50 years She was a stay at home wife and mother.

She is survived by her children Mary Ruth Cook of Dallas, Linda Goucher of Howe, and Johnny Cook of Quinlan, grandchildren Amber Ewalt and husband Quinton of Pottsboro, Shannon Pugh of Howe, Chad Goucher and wife Sarah of Dallas, David Goucher of Denton, great-grandchildren Cameron Pugh, Noah Pugh, Caleb Ewalt, and Wyatt Ewalt.

Funeral Service will be at 10:00am, Saturday, July 25, 2015 at First Baptist Church in Howe with Rodger Tidwell and Kevin Bouse officiating with burial to follow at Holloway Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday, July 24, 2015 from 6:00pm until 8:00pm.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Scoggins Funeral Home & Crematory. You may sign the online guest book at www.scogginsfuneralhome.com.