Year in Review

As 2016 winds down, and we prepare for the beginning of a New Year, it is time we take a look back at memorable events that made the news in 2016.

January

2016 opened with new handgun laws becoming effective Jan. 1. The new Texas laws allowed for legally licensed handgun owners to openly carry their handgun, as long as it was holstered. Those owners who already had a concealed carry permit were already considered licensed for open carry, as the requirements did not change.

Open carry was not the only big news in January. It was announced on Jan. 15 that all three local Walmart Neighborhood Market stores would be closed. Stores in Hughes Springs, Lone Star, and Naples, which had only been open since early 2015, were among those affected by the closure. Employees were either relocated to another store, or provided 60 days’ pay to those who were eligible.

Another event that sent shockwaves through the Steel Country Bee readership area was the sudden and immediate resignation of Daingerfield Athletic Director and head football coach, Aric Sardinea. Sardinea’s resignation, effective Feb. 2, led to a firestorm of events associated with the selection of a replacement, and led to one of February’s newsworthy moments.

February

Following the resignation of Sardinea, there were two distinct groups who each had their own opinions on who deserved to be Daingerfield’s next Athletic Director. Many community members rallied around Daingerfield coach Michael Mason, who had been with the district for many years. The group brought petitions signed by community members, as well as one signed by students, in favor of Mason. According to board member Mike Alcorn, there were 110 applicants, including Mason, for the position. The board, acting on a recommendation from the selection committee, chose to go in another direction, bringing in Mike Waldie, from Woodville, to fill the position.

While the change in leadership of Daingerfield’s storied football program possibly provided the most fireworks for the month, it was not the only memorable event from the month. February 2016 also saw Morris County welcome a new Assistant District Attorney. Ricky Shelton, Jr., of Hughes Springs, was hired to assist District Attorney Steve Cowan. Shelton would serve a joint position as Assistant DA in both Morris and Marion Counties.

February also, once again, was the time when area towns chose to honor their own with Chamber of Commerce Banquets. Hughes Springs was the first, actually holding their “Crystal Globe Awards” banquet on Jan. 30. Educators from each campus at Hughes Springs ISD were honored as that campus’ “Educator of the Year.” Other awards were handed out as well, including the “Spirit of Beauty” award, given by Gina’s Hair Salon and awarded to Darlene Stewart. Possibly the most prestigious award of the night was the “Lifetime Achievement Award,” which was awarded to someone who was both a Hughes Springs alum, as well as a 30 year teacher in the district. Mrs. Wanda Cockrill was honored with the distinguished honor.

Avinger was the next to honor their own, hosting their Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Feb. 20. Avinger Pizza and Subs was awarded the Business of the Year Award, while plaques were also handed out to the Firefighter of the Year (Tim Taylor), AISD Employee of the Year (Reba Ball), and Volunteer of the Year, Jim Moulton. Two Avinger students were honored with Youth Service Awards for their contributions to the community. Those students were Aleshia Fort and Paige Hitt.

March

Similar to Hughes Springs, Daingerfield held their awards banquet the last Saturday of the month. Some notable honorees during the patrioticthemed banquet included sister Kallye and Baylee Sullivan, who were awarded the Lion’s Club Horizon award for their outstanding academic, and extra-curricular achievements, and their community involvement, and an educator for each of Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD’s four campuses as “Educator of the Year.” Becky Breazeale was awarded the B&PW’s Woman of the Year Award, and Daingerfield State Park earned the Chamber’s Community Service Award. Citizen of the Year was awarded to Mr. John Bryan, for his attitude of service to the community that he has instilled by encouraging employee involvement in community activities. He himself is very active in the community, serving with the Lion’s Club, and as co-founder of the Daingerfield-Lone Star Education Foundation and Alumni Association, as well as many other positions.

The March primary offered little excitement, as most local races went uncontested. Only two county positions were left contested following the primary. Precinct 1 commissioner Dennis Allen would be challenged on the Nov. 8 ballot by Mike Rogers. Precinct 3 commissioner Michael Clair would run against Justin Cobb. Morris County’s choice for Republican Presidential nominee was Ted Cruz, while Hillary Clinton was the county’s pick for the Democratic nominee.

A group of seven young men from Avinger traveled to San Antonio to compete in the Texas State Basketball Championships. The “Magnificent 7,” as they came to be known, won the championship with a win over the Lenora Grady Wildcats. This came 20 years after their previous State Championship in 1996, and 39 years after their first Championship, which came way back in 1977. Another tidbit: a key player from the 1996 championship team was Treston Dowell- the coach of the 2016 team.

When time for spring break rolled around in March, it was met by soggy weather in most of the area. Over a midweek period from March 8- 10, the Daingerfield area received 7.93 inches of rain. By that weekend, the Jenkins community turned in a whopping 12.27 inches of rainfall during that time. Flooded roads were the norm, but offered a chance to see good Samaritans in action, as numerous stories rolled in of neighbors helping neighbors during the flood waters.

April

April, 2016 saw the return of the Mickey Mayne Relays to Mickey Mayne Tiger Stadium in Daingerfield. The return of the meet on April 7 marked the first time since 2007 the event was held. The event's return was made possible in large part by the new track that had been installed during the summer and fall of 2015.

April also saw the iconic Greer Farm head to the auction block. Sid and Eva Greer had owned the farm, known for its “pick your own” berries, grain-fed beef, and other amenities, since 1994, after gaining sole ownership of the location originally owned by Eva’s father. The sale, scheduled for April 28, never came to fruition, however, as Greer was unhappy with the prospective owners' plans for the property.

Hughes Springs was thrust into the spotlight when a local shop owner, Sandier Lanier, uncovered a priceless piece of artwork while cleaning out her father’s frame shop. The print, which was numbered 167/2500, was signed by the artist Karl Wilkes, and is entitled “History Lesson, #5,” and features Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Frederick Douglas, and Martin Luther King, Jr. By finding the print and speaking with the artist, Lanier was able to organize an art show and visit by Wilkes, which occurred during the first week of school in August.

Hughes Springs also hosted their annual Wildflower Trails Festival, as did Avinger and Linden, as well. Unlike 2015, when storms threatened the event, Mother Nature cooperated for the Forty- Sixth Annual event, held the weekend of April 23.

May

Followers of Daingerfield football tuned into the National Football League’s Annual Draft, which was held Thursday, April 28 through April 30, as threetime state champion Keyarris Garrett was set to continue his career. Garrett, who had become the leading receiver in all of college football during the 2015 season, and fans waited for his name to be announced during the draft. That call never came during the draft, but Garrett did not give up hope, signing with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted rookie freeagent. Garret followed up that signing by earning a place on Carolina’s practice squad, where he works and waits for the opportunity to make the roster in the coming years.

As excited as everyone was about Keyarris’ signing, there was another announcement that brought tears to the Daingerfield community, as Gene and Vickie Mixon closed their restaurant, Kissin’ Kousins, after 13 years. What had become known as one of the best places to eat in the area, Kissin’ Kousins boasted one of the best chicken fried steaks around. The Mixons moved to Branson, where they began a new adventure, with nothing to do with the food business. (Later in 2016, while the building was on the market, the Kissin’ Kousins building caught fire, destroying any chance a restaurant would return any time soon.)

With proms and graduations on students minds in May, students from several area schools came together to warn against the dangers of drinking and driving. The program, known as “Shattered Dreams,” took students through from a graduation party, to an accident, and all the consequences that followed. The program is sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation. Though no students were injured or killed in the “accident,” it did bring to light all the possible consequences of drinking and driving.

June

June saw a Daingerfield institution celebrate a milestone birthday and new ownership on the same day. Lollipop Kid Stop has been educating and caring for children for forty years. Under the watchful eye of owner Jan McCoy, the program flourished, leaving few families that have not been impacted by the childcare center. May 27 also marked the beginning of a new era for the center. For the first time in those 40 years, Lollipop would be under the ownership and leadership of someone not named “Mrs. Jan.” Gina Cobb, who had been with McCoy for 22 years, took over the center as owner and director, ensuring that as much as possible would stay the same.

Also in June, Hughes Springs police chief Randy Kennedy announced that counterfeit twenty dollar bills had been passed at the Corner Mart Exxon. Kennedy later arrested Brendan Huggins, of Hughes Springs, for forgery of money, which is a third degree felony.

Be sure to pick up the Jan. 5 issue of The Bee to read the rest of “A Year in Review.”