News

The Daingerfield Junior High Math and Science team continued their hot streak to begin the season, again placing second at the Foster Middle School meet held on Oct. 29. Queen City won Division 1, and Spring Hill finished third.

Students placing in the top ten in individual events are as follows.

In number sense for eighth grade, Riley Scholl finished first, followed by Laura Carter in third and Natalie Beasley in fourth. In seventh grade, Sanaa Fields finished second, followed by Jazmin Mendez in ninth. In sixth grade, Kylah Haley finished first.

In the eighth grade calculator competition, Natalie Beasley finished fifth, followed by Ebony Chalk in sixth, Riley Scholl in seventh, Laura Carter in eighth, and Alivia Ragsdale in tenth. For the seventh grade, Sanaa Fields finished first, with Jaci Simmons in third, Nam Vu in fourth, and Jazmin Mendez in sixth. For sixth grade, Kylah Haley placed sixth, Sarah Meacham placed eighth, and Harley Scholl placed tenth.

The Daingerfield Junior High Student Council went to Daingerfield businesses to pass out Red Ribbon Week material and to invite the community to participate in the Red Ribbon Week campaign. Red Ribbon week is held annually the last week in October, and promotes keeping a drug and alcohol free lifestyle for students.

Members of the DJH Student Council are: 8th grade, President, Sonny Wu; Vice President, Kayleigh Phillips; Secretary, Bryce Ridenour; Treasurer, Gracey Smith; Parliamentarian, Braxton Jimmerson. 8th grade representatives: Jaycee Bailey, Laura Carter, Riley Scholl, and Cosangsin Soeung. 7th grade representatives: Journei Ferguson, Sanaa Fields, Sydney Key, and Jazmin Mendez. 6th grade representatives: Miguel Bello, Hailey Crews, Kami Driggers, Kylah Haley, and Alexis Williams.

Early voting saw good turnouts in Morris County. Through the two weeks of early voting, 2,419 votes had been cast in a race that will determine local and state races, and will also have a bearing on who could be the next President of the United States.

The first week of early voting brought out 1,387 voters to the polls, while 1,032 voted during the second week of early voting.

With Election Day falling after press time, The Steel Country Bee will offer full election results in the Nov. 17 edition.

Military service can vary in length. Some stay in for just a few years, while others continue serving for several years. One local veteran made contributions during his 20-year military career that were used long after his retirement.

Roy Truman Bishop lived in Daingerfield before enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1954. Bishop attained the rank of Technical Sergeant during his 20 years of service. He served overseas in the Philippines, Korea, Panama, Peru, Columbia, and British Guiana. Bishop also served multiple stateside assignments, as well.

Five years of his time was spent photomapping, mostly in South America, spending approximately six months of each year. The last five years of his career, Bishop served in Air Training Command, teaching electronics.

Veteran’s Day has long been a day set aside to honor the service of those men and women who have put their lives on the line. For one Rocky Branch resident, Veteran’s Day reminds him of his reasons for serving in wartime.

Donald O. Schumacher first had a desire to serve in the military following the death of his cousin in World War II. At the age of seventeen, Schumacher’s desire, coupled with his cousin’s death, convinced his parents to sign for him to join the Marine Reserves while still in high school.

“I was a high school senior in Wisconsin when my parents signed to let me join the Marine Reserves,” says Schumacher. “In June of 1950, the president activated all reserves to go into duty. I was given the choice to graduate or go to boot camp. I chose boot camp,” added Schumacher.

The Northeast Texas Community College Board of Trustees appointed a new member Tuesday night. Sondra Fowler of Daingerfield was tapped to replace John Bryan, who resigned from the board in September.

Fowler has 30 years of experience in communications with five major multinational corporations. She retired from Conoco in 2002 as head of global external communications at the time of the company’s merger with Phillips. Fowler moved to Northeast Texas in 2003, where she served as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation. She currently works as a freelance consultant and recently spent three months in Amman, Jordan working to upgrade marketing practices for a company that employs disadvantaged women.

Captain Mike Bullock of the Avinger Volunteer Fire Department introduced the new Mobile Command Unit (MCU) to the Avinger City Council at its regular meeting Oct. 24. The vehicle is equipped with work stations and command radios as well as a battery charging station. The MCU, which was a joint venture between Avinger and Hughes Springs, will be useful when there is an incident or emergency condition that requires interdepartmental cooperation. “Sometimes, we might have a situation that involves more than one location, or that requires the attention of personnel from both cities, or the county,” explained Bob Kenyan, Instructor and Public Information Officer for the Avinger VFD. “This mobile unit can be transported easily to a convenient site, which will allow multiple emergency and law enforcement personnel to establish a single base of operations. This will enhance their ability to work together, and share information in a faster and more efficient manner.”

Cass County has issued a new most wanted list.

Demonya Deray Carson, wanted for bond forfeiture one driving while intoxicated and bail jumping charges.

Rick Ensin Comstock, wanted for bond forfeiture on theft charges.

Carlee Joleen Davis, wanted for probation violation, on possession of controlled substance charges.

Everett Undra Dickerson, for probation violation on theft charges, as well as for probation violation on secure execution document deception charges.

Kenneth Wayne Fincher, wanted for bond forfeiture on assault charges.

Michael Eugene Harris, wanted for bond forfeiture on criminal trespass charges.

Zackery Ervin Jones, wanted for possession of child pornography.

Kinzie Mosley, wanted for bail jumping.

Veronica Bryant Pendleton, wanted for assault.

Demarshae Kiunte Perry, wanted for probation violation on possession of controlled substance charges.

By: J. Leslie Riseden
Special Contributor to
The Steel Country Bee

Randall County Judge Ernie Houdashell of Amarillo spearheaded a 2015 project to locate a Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopter from the Viet Nam era. With assistance from local, state and federal officials, the aircraft was found, restored and moved permanently to the Texas Panhandle War Memorial.

When Avinger area resident James L. “Jay” Riseden learned that Amarillo had secured a Huey for its veterans’ memorial, he was interested in the story, as he had been a helicopter pilot himself. Then, Judge Houdashell contacted Riseden to get some history on the aircraft because, as it turns out, the aircraft that had been restored was actually one from Riseden’s unit, the 128th Assault Helicopter Company based in Phu Loi.

Daingerfield Jr. High Math- Science team kicked-off the year by competing at the Hallsville Jr. High School meet held on Oct. 22. All team members did an awesome job. Overall the team placed second behind Spring Hill. Atlanta was the third place team.

Students placing in the top ten in individual events are:

In number sense for eighth grade: Laura Carter placed fifth, Natalie Beasley placed sixth, Riley Scholl placed seventh, Sonny Wu placed eighth, and Ebony Chalk placed ninth. Seventh grade saw Sanaa Fields finish second, Jazmin Mendez finish third, Haley Lewis finish fifth, Nam Vu finish seventh, and Jaci Simmons finish tenth. In the sixth grade division: Kylah Haley placed first, Corey Miller placed fourth, Miguel Bello placed seventh, and Sarah Meacham placed eighth.