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The Howe Area Chamber of Commerce and Keep Howe Beautiful will host the 2nd Annual “Back to School Blues Downtown Block Party on August 1 from 5pm – 9pm.”  The Bill Boyd Band, who performed in downtown last year will once again play from 6pm – 9pm on the raised area between City Hall and Abby’s Restaurant.

The event is sponsored by the downtown sector businesses, Advantage Business Machines, Abby’s Restaurant, My Estrella Mexican Restaurant, Howe Mercantile, TLD Designs, Don’s Smokehouse, Howe Emporium, Howe Development Alliance, Salvage Junky, and The Howe Enterprise.

The Chamber is asking for those that want to set up a free vendor booth downtown that night to please contact the chamber office at 903-532-6080 or email info@howechamber.com.  Spaces are limited, so first come-first-served.

On July 9, 2015 at approximately 10pm, Howe Police Officer Robert Todd stopped a 29-year-old Dallas man on Us Hwy 75 near exit 53 for a traffic violation. After noticing that the man was overly nervous, Officer Todd had him step out of his vehicle. As he was getting out, he dropped a glass methamphetamine pipe to the ground. When Officer Todd attempted to frisk the man for weapons, the man actively resisted and had to be physically forced to the ground. He was eventually handcuffed. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed approximately one ounce of methamphetamine. Officers from Tom Bean and Van Alstyne responded to the scene of the stop and assisted. The suspect was charged with Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance PG 1 > 4 grams, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also arrested on an outstanding Grand Prairie warrant for Theft.

Greg Barnett Photography released a photo of Howe’s Garrett Fulenchek in his new Princeton Rays uniform. The Howe Enterprise will release a slideshow of photos of Fulenchek soon.

DeAndrae Derelle Perry, 26, of Sherman, was today sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Cocaine With Intent to Deliver.     The sentence was handed down by 59^th District Court Judge Rayburn Nall in accordance with a plea agreement Perry reached with the Grayson County District Attorney’s Office.   As part of his plea, Perry was also sentenced to 2 years in state jail for Possession of Marijuana, and Perry forfeited to the state $3,138 in cash and various electronic items that had been seized from him.

In October of 2014, Sherman Police began receiving complaints about drug related traffic at an apartment complex on Crescent Street.    Narcotics officer began surveillance on the apartments and observed behavior at a particular apartment consistent with drug sales.   Officers learned that the apartment was rented by DeAndrae Perry.    Officers were familiar with Perry from confidential informants who had given information in the past that Perry was selling drugs from a prior residence in Sherman.

On November12, 2014, officers stopped a vehicle after it left Perry’s apartment and arrested the driver after he was discovered to be in possession of cocaine.   The driver told officers he had gotten the cocaine from Perry at the apartment on Crescent.   Officers obtained a search warrant for Perry’s apartment and, upon entering, found Perry inside and located over 40 grams of Cocaine, more than a pound of marijuana, and $3,138 in cash.   Officers also found several expensive electronics, including televisions and tablet computers which they seized, along with the money, as proceeds of drug transactions.

“Sherman Police did a great job with getting this drug dealer off the street,” said Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown.   “Neighbors should report this kind of behavior to law enforcement.   If you see in and out traffic, smell funny smells – most everybody knows the signs.   Turn these people in.”

Assistant District Attorney Matt Johnson prosecuted the case.   Perry was represented by Sherman attorney Rick Dunn.

Howe native Garrett Fulenchek made his debut for the Princeton Rays tonight vs. Pulaski, which is a farm team for the New York Yankees.  Wearing the number 43 because Nolan Ryan’s 34 was not available, he entered the game in the fourth inning after relieving starter Brock Burke.  Fulenchek went 2.1 innings, striking out 5 and walking 2 while giving up no runs on 3 hits before being relieved in the seventh inning by Ruben Paredes.  Pulaski was leading 5-3 went Fulenchek left the game.

Fulenchek, now on the season has thrown 7 innings on the year combined with both the Braves and Rays organizations.  He’s given up 8 hits, 10 walks, and 4 earned runs while striking out 9.

Released on June 21, 2015, the Howe Development Alliance launched a promotional video about Howe with the direct purpose of luring businesses, developers, home builders and residents to Howe. The three minute, thirteen second promo was produced by Heritage Preservation Studio, which normally focuses their attention to documentaries on historical significance, however, HDA Economic Development Director Monte Walker was looking for a little bit of a different flavor and Heritage obliged.

The video shows scenes of Howe’s friendly atmosphere and shows many citizens captured during the Founders Day celebration in April.

Featured speakers in the pitch are Walker, Mayor Jeff Stanley, County Commissioner Jeff Whitmire, Justice of the Peace, Rita Noel, Howe Police Chief Carl Hudman, former Executive Director of Keep Howe Beautiful Laura Duree, Howe Area Chamber of Commerce President Robert Cannaday and local Howe businessman Todd Creekmore.

Walker said that since he’s been hired as the economic development director, he’s found from visiting with numerous developers and home builders that Howe has had a reputation of anti-growth.

“The largest part of my job has been to start from ground zero and educate those that think Howe doesn’t want them.” said Walker. “Businesses and developers were interested in Howe seven or eight years ago, but found resistance from city leaders. We have a renewed interest here with a renewed outlook.”

Howe’s geographic location makes the city very attractive to developers. With US 75 carrying more traffic than Interstate 35, Howe sees its fair share of that traffic with over 36,000 daily commuters passing through the city on US 75.

Walker says that no one wants Howe to turn into Frisco or McKinney, but a healthy tax base is a must for street improvements, parks, recreation and general quality of life. New homes mean distribution of the cost of utility bills amongst citizens also.

“If we didn’t make an attempt to grow, there is no question that Howe would be swallowed up by the neighboring US 75 communities in the next 10-15 years which would make us the economic weak-link on the corridor.” said Walker. “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. There is no such thing as staying the same.”

The video, located here, took approximately a month and a half to produce. Jen Davis, of Heritage Preservation Studio and her family captured all of the footage and performed all of the interviews. They also edited the hours and hours of footage and even left some of the interviews out.

While Walker said the video has been sent to major companies and developers, he couldn’t say who specifically has been targeted.

“About 10 times a week people tell me to bring in a grocery store.” said Walker. “You can be assured that one or more grocery stores have seen the video. When we have the rooftops to support a grocery store, it’s a much easier sell, but I feel we’re just in too good of a position to not see something start rolling soon in this town.”

Howe is in a unique situation right now with a supportive council, mayor and city administrator who seem to be all on the same page. The next five years are crucial for Howe.