News

By Marlene J. Bohr
mbohr@steelcountrybee.com
 Northeast Texas Community College’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society accumulated 19 awards recently, as reported to the board of trustees at the March 26 meeting. Dr. Melissa Weinbrenner, advisor for the Northeast Texas Community College chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, presented a report to the board. Dr. Weinberenner said that NTCC’s Alpha Mu Chi Chapter won 19 awards at the 2013 Texas Regional Convention in Dallas, in addition to one of the members being elected District III vice president. Four students were in attendance at the board meeting during the report. They were Alisha Richardson of Avinger, Noah Griffin and Ashley Hall, both of Pittsburg, and Stephen Milburn of Mount Pleasant.
“This is one of the most active student organizations on the campus,” President Dr. Brad Johnson said.

By Marlene J. Bohr
mbohr@steelcountrybee.com
Changes in the condition of raw water from Lake O’ the Pines were discussed by the board of directors at its March 25 meeting of the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District.
Pete Wright detailed information to the board on the changing conditions.
“Over the last 90 days there has been about a 1½ feet rise in elevation at Lake O’ the Pines,” Mr. Wright said. “The lake remains about 3 feet low and during these episodes of high flow that made the lake elevation rise, constituents were floating in the water and came into the lake. The majority of the constituents causing the taste and odor are organic, plus there are iron and manganese that contribute also. That means the raw water has been changing considerably.”
Mr. Wright went over the changes in the treatment methods that have been adjusted to respond to this raw water change.

Boys and Girls State representatives from Hughes Springs High School were presented to the Sesame Literary Club on March 7. Boys and Girls State is sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary. Students attend in the summer following their junior year. The purpose of the programs is to instill a sense of pride in American government and to teach the processes of state government. Students, from left, are Austin Sandefur, Nicole Willis, Wanda Cockrill (club president), Caitlyn Moreland, and Chase Cooper.
 

Tyler Moore, a 2008 graduate of Hughes Springs High School, has been accepted by the University of Pittsburgh to study in the prosthetic/orthotics program.
He has graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science in biology from Southern Arkansas University.
Mr. Moore is the son of Robert and LuAnn Moore and grandson of Leland and Wanda Cockrill of Hughes Springs.

North East Texas Credit Union has one motto – “work hard, but have fun while we’re doing it.”  By creating a culture that motivates and inspires, President and Chief Executive Officer Kay Stewart says staff in turn has a higher level of satisfaction and that results in a higher quality of service for their 15,000 plus members.  
Of course building employee loyalty requires far more than just having a fun work environment. Ms. Stewart says North East Texas Credit Union is committed to providing exceptional benefits for its staff.  For example, the credit union pays 100 percent of all employee health insurance coverage and 50 percent for dependent coverage. Other benefits that the credit union offers staff is a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement and paid time-off for six months of perfect attendance. They recognize employees for long term service milestones and encourage community involvement.

The Paul R. Carter College of Business at Harding University held its annual Delta Mu Delta induction ceremony March 24, selecting undergraduate and graduate students for membership in the business honor society.
Will Bone of Hughes Springs, a junior management information systems major, was inducted into Delta Mu Delta. The top 20 percent of the junior and senior classes, and Masters of Business Administration students, are invited to join. An induction ceremony is held each spring for those who accepted the invitations during the school year.
The induction ceremony was held in Cone Chapel in the American Heritage Center, and featured keynote speaker Letain Devore of RE/MAX Realty.
Harding is the largest private university in Arkansas with 6,815 students and attracts more National Merit Scholars than any other private university in the state.

The latest tests and monitoring looking for zebra mussels in North Texas lakes yielded mixed results.

While zebra mussel DNA was detected in Lakes Texoma, Ray Roberts, Lewisville, Bridgeport and Bob Sandlin, no zebra mussel populations could be confirmed by physical inspection in Lewisville, Bridgeport and Bob Sandlin.

Amateur photographers can compete for top honors and $3,250 in prize monies in an online photo contest conducted by Texas Forest Trail Region for use in promoting East Texas heritage and culture.

Titled “We Pine for East Texas,” the photo contest calls for original, full-color photographs that reflect the wonder, the uniqueness, and the character of the Texas Forest Trail Region, a 35-county area of East Texas. Suggested ideas for the photo subjects are regional events, family fun, nature scenes, East Texas heritage, remarkable East Texans, and the unique ways of East Texas culture. The submitted photos will be used in publications and social media to market the region and credit is given to the photographers.

During the month of April, the Comptroller’s Office will conduct 12 free taxpayer seminars across the state. At these seminars, taxpayers can learn how to properly fill out tax forms, and file and pay taxes electronically. Information about e-services will also be available to help taxpayers manage their accounts online. Comptroller representatives will be on hand to answer questions and provide assistance to attendees.

“We want to empower Texas business owners by making resources and information accessible. Conducting these seminars and making our team of tax specialists available provides guidance for businesses,” said R.J. DeSilva, spokesperson for the Comptroller’s office.

By Marlene J. Bohr
mbohr@steelcountrybee.com
 
It was a war of words between a Lone Star resident and the town’s mayor at the March 21 meeting of the Lone Star City Council. Each signed up to speak in the citizens comment portion of the meeting regarding the mayor’s mileage records.
Travis Pool said he wanted Mayor Nick Nichols to talk about reimbursement records for his mileage charged to the city.