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​Katie Wilson, a local teacher from Howe High School, has been selected as an NEH Summer Scholar from a national applicant pool to attend one of 32 seminars and institutes supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Endowment is a federal agency that, each summer, supports these enrichment opportunities at colleges, universities, and cultural institutions so that teachers can study with experts in humanities disciplines.

Wilson will participate in an institute entitled “Remaking Monsters and Heroines: Adapting Classic Literature for Contemporary Audiences ” The two-week program will be held at the University of Arkansas.

The 35 teachers from across the nation selected to participate in the program each receive a stipend to cover their travel, study, and living expenses.

The approximately 862 NEH Summer Scholars who participate in these programs of study will teach almost 128,000 American students the following year.

William Levi Smith of Howe Texas passed peacefully in his sleep on May 11, 2018, at the Stone Brook Memory Care facility in Denison.

Bill was born on September 24, 1942, in Wynnewood Oklahoma to Elmer Columbus and Virdie O’Dell Smith. He grew up in Davis Oklahoma and graduated from Davis High school in 1961. On December 22, 1963, he married the love of his life Bonnie Jean Pletcher of Davis Oklahoma. After they married, Bill and Bonnie moved to Dallas where Bill worked for Texas Instruments as an Engineering Technician for 33 years. While in Dallas Bill and Bonnie became active in their community and church and began their family; Bill enjoyed spending time coaching and mentoring his son Chad, and other local boys. In 1977 Bill and Bonnie moved their family to Howe Texas where Bill owned and operated the Howe Mini Storage and ran a small cattle farm. He was always focused on the Lord and served in many ways at church over the years and witnessing to countless friends and acquaintances. He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Virdie Smith as well as his brother Benny Bryon Smith and sister Shirley Ann Codding.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bonnie Jean Pletcher Smith; son and daughter in law Chad and Esther Smith of Brownwood TX, his son in law and daughter Thomas and Andra Troxtell of Howe TX. Grandchildren Mike and Beth Rizkal of McKinney TX, Levi and Shaneigh Smith of Beaumont TX, Matthew Smith of Denton TX, Reagan, Riley and Gage Troxtell of Howe TX, Joshua and Jacob Durham of Powell TN and Justin and Chase Cox of Cotton Valley LA. His mother-in-law Iva Nell Pletcher and many other nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at the First Baptist Church in Howe Texas. Graveside services and interment will follow in Hall Cemetery in Howe Texas. Family visitation will be held Tuesday evening from 6-8 pm at Scoggins Funeral Home in Van Alstyne. Pallbearers will be his grandsons Levi and Matthew Smith, Gage Troxtell, Jacob Durham, and Justin and Chase Cox; dear friends Dalton and Quinton Harris and Mike Garner. Honorary Pallbearers are Jim Huckaby, Randy Moore, Alton Norman, Hoot Rodgers, Dick Smithwick, Freddie Vestal and Darrel Walker. The family would like to give thanks to the staffs of TMC, Carrus, Stone Brook and Hospice Plus for their incredible care of Bill in his last weeks.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be sent to the First Baptist Church in Howe in Bills’ memory or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Some of the area’s best basketball players will suit up one last time in their team’s colors and uniforms to play in the 2nd Annual Texoma All-Star Game.  Of the 20 players rostered is Howe senior Ty Harvey who will be on the home team coached by Ector’s Blake Turner.

The game will take place in Anna on May 12 at 6:30 pm following a 3-point competition and dunk contest.  Awards will be given for each competition and at least one $500 scholarship will be awarded to the MVP thanks to GCEC.

The all-star game is formatted similarly to the NBA All-Star games of the 1990s as teams will wear their home or away jerseys.

In last year’s first event about 500 people were in attendance including high school and college coaches.

Rosters:

Away team

Noah Boling, Van Alstyne
Cooper Smith, Collinsville
Hayden Hollin, Celina
Josh Wood, Melissa
Coleman McCraw, Sam Rayburn
Ryan Mussett, Sam Rayburn
Rayvon Hester, Sherman
Tyler Scott, Gunter
Blakeston Jones, Tom Bean
Byron Bolin, Leonard
Coach Jerod Bingham, Sam Rayburn

Home

Marlen Williams, Texoma Christian
Deviarre Patterson, Ector
Iziah Epps, Bonham
Dylan Pitt, Whitewright
Ty Harvey, Howe
Colby Meek, Bells
Dontre Flowers, Denison
Mykel Anderson, Denison
Ethan Snider, Pottsboro
Javier Rivera, Tioga
Coach Blake Tuner, Ector

Early voting has been going on this week at the Howe Community Center at 700 W. Haning Street and will continue through next week for the Howe City Council elections.  Early voting hours are 8 am – 5 pm this week and 7 am – 7 pm from April 30 – May 1.  Election Day is Saturday, May 5 from 7 am – 7 pm.

Howe has three incumbents including Sam Haigis, Darren Foster, and Georgia Richardson with one challenger being Lisa Tibbets.

SHERMAN, Wednesday, April 25, 2018 – Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG) will soon have a different face leading the organization as it has formally announced the launch of a search to find a new executive director. At last week’s Governing Board meeting, Susan B. Thomas, PhD, who has served as Executive Director of TCOG for over nine years, announced her resignation in order to pursue new endeavors. Dr. Thomas’ last day will be Wednesday, July 18, 2018.

 

When asked for remarks about her impending resignation, Dr. Thomas replied, “It has been an honor and privilege to serve as TCOG’s Executive Director for more than 9 years, and I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences the position has provided me both personally and professionally.

As an organization, TCOG is strong and well-positioned to grow and flourish under new leadership. From directors to the front line staff, TCOG employees know and understand the vision and mission of the organization, and, perhaps more importantly, know and understand their roles and value in leading the way to a better quality of life for all Texomans.”

Dr. Thomas went on saying, “TCOG is a vital resource for the people of Texoma, and the organization provides critical services and support for this region’s most vulnerable populations. I am proud of the work my staff and I have accomplished over the last several years, and I am confident TCOG employees will continue to serve this region with commitment and compassion for years to come.”

In response to the notice of resignation, Cooke County Judge Jason Brinkley, who currently serves as TCOG’s board president, as well as Grayson County Commissioner Jeff Whitmire, Fannin County Judge Spanky Carter, Denison City Councilmember Teresa Adams and Gainesville’s mayor, Jim Goldsworthy, have formed a search committee and will be accepting applications through May 21st.

Judge Brinkley stated, “I know the TCOG board is thankful for the many years of service by Dr. Thomas. She has been a great asset to TCOG and to the Texoma region. We wish her the best of luck in all future endeavors.”

Applications and resumes may be submitted online on TCOG’s website at www.tcog.com/employment.

Texoma Council of Governments is a voluntary association of the local governments in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson Counties. Established in 1968, Texoma Council of Governments promotes economy and efficiency in the coordinated planning and development of the tri-county region through its community and economic development activities. Either directly, or through contractors, the Council provides housing, utility assistance, and weatherization services for low-income citizens in the region and assists the elderly through a variety of Area Agency on Aging programs. The Council also facilitates the delivery of grant funding for homeland security and criminal justice.

 

HOWE, Texas – The Howe Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying two persons of interest in a 2017 homicide investigation.
On August 24, 2017, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Howe Police was called to a shooting scene along U.S. Highway 75 just south of Hall Cemetery Road in Howe, Texas. Preliminary investigation indicates a vehicle year and model of 2012 to 2014 black Toyota Camry was following a gray 2017 Hyundai Veloster when the Veloster was struck by several bullets believed to have been fired from the Camry. A passenger in the Veloster, Tahbari Collins, 20, of Houston, died as a result of gunfire.

Investigators are looking for two persons of interest in the case. Security footage from a service station clearly shows the individuals occupying the black Toyota Camry (pictured above). Anyone with information on the identity of those pictured is asked to call the Howe Police Department at 903-532-9971 or by email at howepdtips@cityofhowe.org.

Click the photo below for photo gallery, or click here.

At approximately 8:45 am this morning, the Howe Police Department received a call of an overturned concrete truck in the creek at Howe Estates mobile home park.  Howe Police Lieutenant Michael Hill stated that the driver of the concrete truck crossed a bridge that compromised while he was driving across.  As the truck rolled to the driver’s side, the driver attempted to exit through the passenger side door.  The man was trapped in the vehicle for the better part of the morning but was rescued by multiple fire and rescue agencies from the area.  He has been care-flighted to a Dallas hospital.

Click the photo below for photo gallery, or click here.