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John Vinson Cherry made his way home to his Heavenly Savior on October 26, 2020. John was born on January 26, 1956, at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. to US Air Force Sgt. Joel Lee Cherry and Martha Ann Vincent. He was raised growing up as a traveling military family spending his childhood in El Paso, Texas, and Springfield, Missouri later graduating a proud Viking from Parkview High School in 1974. Soon after, in 1979, Mr. Cherry moved his family to the Texoma area. He worked as a sheet metal fabricator and then as a security officer at L.O.F. and Midway Mall. It was during that time that he found his passion for serving and protecting his community.

Mr. Cherry graduated from the Texoma Regional Police Academy in October 1988. He began his law enforcement career serving the cities of Sherman, Pottsboro, and Denison before finding his home at the Howe Police Department in 1992. During his 20 years of service to the City of Howe, he rose through the ranks to become Chief of Police in 2005 until he medically retired in December 2012. Some of his proud accomplishments were obtaining his Master Peace Officer License and attending the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, facilitating grants for many of the police department training, equipment, and community Texoma National Night Events, and mentoring officers. Mr. Cherry loved being a Police Officer. It was his calling in life and his way to minister to those in need for over 23 1/2 years.

When not in uniform, Mr. Cherry still found ways to serve his community through Texoma Emmaus, Boy Scouts of America, and his local church. Over the years, he was an active member of Christ Church Cathedral in Sherman, First United Methodist Church of Howe, and Community Bible Fellowship in Howe. Later in life his love of God, ancient church history, and theology allowed him to briefly attend seminary, he then went on to become a North Texas United Methodist Registered Lay Speaker. In 2006, John attended the Texoma Emmaus Walk #54 and later served as Lay Director on Walk #88. It was his honor to minister that weekend through one of his favorite scriptures “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called “Sons of God” Matthew 5:9. He has many reunion brothers but especially the friendship grateful for Brian Gaskill, David Buechler, Bruce Evans. For many years, he served as the Troop 45 Scouting Charter Organization Representative, Religious Emblem Coordinator, Texoma Valley District Commissioner, Youth Protection Training Officer, during that time he earned the TVD Unit Award of Merit, and attended WoodBadge Leadership Training. He also throughout his life enjoyed coaching his children’s sports teams, bowling and even winning tournaments at the championship levels, playing adult league softball, playing the drums for relaxation, and in church when needed, he enjoyed listening to classic rock and was a woodcarver.

Mr. Cherry was proceeded in death by his maternal grandparents Roy and Vivian Vinson, paternal grandparents Warren and Doreen Cherry, parents Joel and Martha Cherry, and sister Barbara Fretwell.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn, son Samuel Cherry and fiancé Kaylee Dwyer, daughter Sophie Cherry all of Howe, TX. Son Timothy Cherry, daughter Christine Cherry and their mother Debbie Crabtree of Sherman, TX. Daughter Sarah Warren and husband Michael of Sherman, TX. Sister Shannon Hicks of Denison, TX. In-laws-in-love Mike and Nelda Edwards of Sherman, TX. Brothers-in-law Eddie Moore of Houston, TX, Steve Moore of Rosharon, TX, Tim and wife Angela Berry of Mounds, OK, Chris and wife Sharon Edwards of Saginaw, TX. Along with numerous nieces, nephews, numerous friends especially childhood friend Skip Steiger and his Brothers and Sisters in Blue.

Memorial Service will be held at Community Bible Fellowship Church in Howe on Saturday, November 7, 2020, at 11:00 AM with Jesse Farrer, Jeremy Moore, and Tom Medley officiating. Family and friend’s visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Friday, November 6 at Scoggins Funeral Home in Van Alstyne. The family would like to invite all to attend a fellowship meal immediately following. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Vinson Cherry please visit our Tribute Store.

Howe- Frankie Miriam Cole was born the youngest of 5 children to Frank and May Cole on August 15th, 1927 in Dallas, TX. She moved with her parents to Van Alstyne, TX for her freshman year of high school in 1940. While in high school she was a Majorette and participated in the Choral Club. She loved to sing and dance and was always ready to have fun.

George Cavender moved to Van Alstyne in 1942 during his junior year. Frankie introduced herself to George during study hall and they dated their junior and senior year and both attended the Methodist Church in Van Alstyne. Frankie’s parents owned Cole Chicken Hatchery there and she lived with them in an apartment above it. Because George didn’t own a car, the two of them would sit in her parents’ 1937 Chevrolet Coupe outside the hatchery until her dad would call her up.

After graduation, George went into the Merchant Marines. He and Frankie corresponded and George asked her to marry him while he was in on leave. George was stationed in New Orleans for a time, and he purchased an engagement ring there and had it mailed to Frankie to confirm his intentions. Once WWII was over and George came home, the two were married at the Methodist parsonage by Pastor W. L. Vail on October 27, 1945. After the wedding, they started their home at the house where George was born, on the Brooks place west of Howe.

George and Frankie moved their membership to the Methodist Church of Howe in 1949, where she served for many years overseeing the children’s department and children’s choir and singing in the adult choir. The church has remained a large part of their lives and the friendships made there have enriched their lives.

Frankie worked at Pevetos Furniture and Texas Instruments before devoting all of her efforts to raising their four children, Karon, Lynn, Chris and Kay. Frankie ran their household and participated in the children’s education by taking them to music lessons, cub scouts, sports, 4-H and FFA events, and church. She was a faithful wife and mother. After Karon was involved in a life-changing wreck, Frankie devoted her time to her rehabilitation until the time of Karon’s death in 2003.

Frankie passed on hers and George’s 75th wedding anniversary. She leaves George behind, as well as her children Lynn Cavender and his wife Brenda, Chris Cavender and his wife Laura and Kay Mills and her husband Tony, nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.

The family received friends from 2:00-3:00 PM Thursday, October 29 at the First Methodist Church of Howe. The funeral began at 3:00 PM and burial followed at Hall Cemetery.

The registry book can be signed online at waldofuneralhome.com.

The City of Howe is applying for a grant to makeover Memorial Park on Highway 5. In order to qualify, community support must be achieved and the city is reaching out to community members for input and support of the needed grant. Those willing to help can please fill out the questionnaire below by clicking on the link.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5NLTP88

Founders Day will be held Saturday, Oct. 24 from 2 pm to 8 pm in conjunction with the Downtown Howe-lloween Festival.  Founders Day has been a May event since its inception in 1986, however, due to COVID-19, it was rescheduled.  The Howe Area Chamber of Commerce initially rescheduled the event for June but was pushed back again due to Gov. Abbott’s social distancing orders at that time.

Kids are welcomed to wear their costumes to the festival. Vendors are requesting that “trick or treating” take place after 5 pm to be able to help each kid participate.

The festival will host a record number of vendors nearing 100 and occupying both Haning and O’Connell Streets.  Bent Creek will again be the featured performer on stage at the west end of downtown and food vendors will be located on the east end.  On O’Connell Street, a wine-tasting will take place near Summit Gardens.

Due to health concerns, the chamber has chosen not to include bounce houses and the kid train with this event, but kids are welcome to wear their favorite Halloween costumes and “Trick or Treat” at the vendor locations.

This will be the fourth year in a row the chamber has hosted the Downtown Howe-lloween Festival.  It has become one of the most popular community events of the year as ghouls and goblins flock to the downtown area.

The Howe Chamber will be taking COVID-related precautions and encourage all festival attendees and participants to do the same- this includes adhering to any current governor’s orders/any city/county recommendations given. Hand sanitizing stations will be located throughout festival grounds, and face masks are required by the State of Texas when 6-foot social distancing cannot be achieved. The chamber requests those to please stay home if you, or anyone you spend time with, is having any Covid-19 symptoms, or has been around anyone who has recently tested positive for the virus.

FOR VENDORS:

Haning Street and a portion of O’Connell Street will be blocked at noon.  It is suggested to park vehicles at Independent Financial, First Baptist Church, or along the railroad track area.  No parking will be allowed on Haning Street or O’Connell Street. It is advised to not to park at any time near Haning Street and Highway 5.  The chamber asks to please do not drive onto either Haning or O’Connell Streets to set up your vendor booth.  There will be too many vendors trying to set up in the middle of the street and there will not be access to either street for unloading.  

The Howe Area Chamber of Commerce booth will be in front of the Chamber office on Haning Street.  It is space #1 and will be available for those that need assistance locating their vendor space. The vendor space number will be marked on the street for convenience and maps will be located throughout the downtown area.  Vendors do not have to check-in at the chamber booth.  Chamber board members will come around and greet each vendor. 

HOWE, Texas – Howe Police officers arrested 42-year-old Mario Gabriel Muniz at his Sherman home Wednesday morning on two warrants for Sexual Assault of a Child.

The parents of the juvenile, who will remain unidentified, found sexually explicit texts between Muniz and their child and notified police. Officers interviewed Muniz who admitted that he met the child through a family member and was aware of the child’s age when they began a sexual relationship that started in May and continued until the days leading up to his arrest. The sexual activity occurred in Sherman and McKinney.

If convicted, Muniz faces up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each charge.

There are no indications Muniz had a relationship with any other juvenile.

PARIS – The Texas Department of Transportation will host an online virtual public meeting at 5 p.m. Oct. 27 to gather public input on construction of a new roadway location from Scharff Road (four miles west of Gunter, Texas) to State Highway 289 (Preston Road) in Grayson County. The new roadway is known as the Gunter Relief Route.

A pre-recorded audio and video presentation will be available. After viewing the online presentation, residents can provide comments and input on this proposed roadway. Comments must be received on or before Nov. 11, 2020 to be part of the official public meeting record.

The purpose of the proposed project is to provide infrastructure options to reduce traffic congestion on the existing roadways and in the town of Gunter; improve operations of the roadway; provide a safer, more convenient route through the area; increase mobility, and provide improved connectivity in this area..

The project will construct a new four-lane divided roadway with two-lane left turn lane from FM 121 four miles west of Gunter to SH 289 south of Gunter, a distance of approximately 3.6 miles. The project includes identifying, developing, and evaluating alternatives for engineering feasibility; selecting a recommended alternative; and developing environmental documentation to analyze potential social, environmental, and economic effects in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, officials said.

To view the pre-recorded presentation, go to www.txdot.gov and click on Inside TxDOT. Then click on Get Involved, followed by Hearings-Meetings. Then select the Paris District.

Residents can also copy/paste this link into their browser:

https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/paris/102720.html

Comments can also be written and mailed to: Duane Good P.E., TxDOT Paris District Office, 1365 N. Main Street, Paris, TX 75460. Comments may also be sent via email to Duane.Good@txdot.gov .

Special communication or accommodation needs for the virtual meeting, such as the need for an interpreter, can be arranged by contacting the TxDOT Paris District office at (903) 737-9282 no later than 4 p.m. on Oct. 22. Please be aware that advance notice is required as some services and accommodations may require time for TxDOT to arrange.

TxDOT’s Paris District includes Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Hunt, Hopkins, Lamar, Rains and Red River counties.