News

Veterans Day, once known as Armistice Day, was first celebrated on November 11, 1919, the anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1928, the United States Congress passed a resolution for Armistice Day to be an annual observation, and by 1938, the day became a national holiday.

Differing from Memorial Day in May, Armistice Day, which would be renamed Veterans Day in 1954 under President Dwight Eisenhower, pays tribute to veterans who survived various wars. Memorial Day commemorates those veterans who lost their lives.

Americans celebrate Veterans Day, while residents of Great Britain, Canada and Australia celebrate Remembrance Day. Those who want to learn more about Veterans Day can consider the following facts.

· According to the American Community Survey, there were 19.3 million military veterans in the United States in 2014. Of those, 1.6 million were female.

By J. Leslie Riseden

Special contributor to The Steel Country Bee

The City of Avinger has installed two state-of-theart outdoor emergency sirens. At the regular meeting of the City Council Oct. 24, Bob Kenyan, Instructor and Public Information Officer for the Avinger Volunteer Fire Department, presented details. “These are outside sirens, designed to be heard in all of Avinger by people who are outdoors or are in open areas. Residents who are inside, with televisions and air conditioners going, may not hear them,“ said Kenyan. During severe weather, he urged residents to stay alert, and tune to local radio/TV stations, or to the local weather channel for information and instructions. The Avinger weather radio channel is 162.425 MHz.

Several local residents were recently sentenced in the County Court of Cass County, with Judge Becky Wilbanks presiding. Criminal District Attorney Randal Lee announced the cases for October.

Timothy Michael Bennet, of Avinger, was charged with two counts of burglary of a vehicle. Bennett was sentenced to 90 days in the county jail for both offenses. The sentences will run concurrently.

Randy Joseph Downing, of Avinger, was convicted of driving while license was invalid with a previous conviction. Downing had his community supervision revoked, and was sentenced to 60 days in the county jail.

Donald Justin Naron, of Hughes Springs, was convicted of criminal trespassing. Naron was sentenced to 365 days in county jail, probated for 18 months. He also must pay $737 in fines and court costs, complete 40 hours of community service, submit to random drug and alcohol testing, and have no contact with the victim.

 Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD has added a new career and technology class to the curriculum. This year, students were able to take part in a Criminal Justice class as one of their electives. On Oct. 27, some of those students had the opportunity to take the role of law enforcement in an active shooter situation.

Eighteen students traveled from Daingerfield High School to the old Lone Star Elementary building, where they were given the opportunity to gear up and enter an active shooter situation in an attempt to secure and clear the building. The students used knowledge from their class as the basis for their attempt at securing the building. Accompanying the students from the school were instructor and D-LS ISD Police Chief T. J. Frazier and teacher Ben Ramirez.

Three more arrests have been made in connection with the recent theft of property from Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD, according to D-LS ISD Police Chief T.J. Frazier.

On Sunday, Oct. 16, a 911 call was received, stating a D-LS ISD vehicle was seen driving on Highway 67. Upon investigation of the school grounds, Frazier discovered entry had been made into the maintenance building, where four vehicles and numerous tools and other items had been stolen. The total value of the stolen property, according to Frazier, was $105,000.

Daingerfield has a new location for events, meetings, parties, and get togethers. Chris and Denise Smith are in the process of opening “The Postmark” event center in downtown Daingerfield.

Originally constructed between 1890 and 1910, the building which houses The Postmark has seen numerous incarnations. The earliest record the Smiths can find is that the building was a drugstore in the 1930s. Prior to the building of the current post office in 1954 the building served as the Daingerfield’s post office. There has also been an auto parts store, a clothing store, and numerous restaurants in the building, as well.

An afternoon wreck sent one person to the hospital in critical condition on Oct. 25.

At approximately 1:43 p.m., Morris County dispatchers received a 911 call regarding a wreck at the four-way stop in Omaha, at the intersection of Highway 259 and Highway 67. State troopers arrived at 1:59 p.m. on scene of the wreck involving an eighteen wheeler and a pickup truck.

According to witnesses, a 2016 Freightliner tractor- trailer was travel north on Highway 259 when it struck a 2007 Chevrolet pickup, driven by Joe Clifton. Clifton, who owns Omaha’s Brahma Mart, was traveling west on Highway 67. According to a report from the Texas Department of Public Safety, preliminary reports indicate the driver of the Freightliner, 27 year old Abdiqadir Omar, of Minnesota, failed to stop at the stop sign.

The Morris County Commissioners met on Tuesday, Oct. 11 for their regular monthly meeting. On the agenda included items concerning new software for the Sheriff ’s Department dispatchers and the HOME Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program.

The Homeowner Rehabilitation Assistance (HRA) program funds Units of General Local Governments, Public Housing Authorities, and nonprofits to provide the following services under the Homeowner Rehabilitation Assistance initiative, including 1. Rehabilitation or reconstruction of owner-occupied housing on the same site; 2. New Construction of site-built housing on the same site to replace an existing owner occupied Manufactured Housing Unit (MHU); as well as other initiatives.

By. J.Leslie Riseden

The City of Hughes Springs is looking for applicants for their 2017 HOME program. The HOME program was created by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). Its purpose is to expand the supply of decent, safe, affordable housing, especially in smaller, rural communities. In Hughes Springs, the program is used for the construction of new, owner-occupied homes. Single family homes built with the assistance of HOME funds must comply with required income restrictions and follow certain design and quality requirements. Persons interested in applying for this program should visit Hughes Springs City Hall or call 903-639-7519 for further information.

Beginning Nov. 1, the City of Hughes Springs plans to launch a payment processing service that will accept credit and debit cards for payment of city water bills. At the regularly scheduled City Council meeting Oct. 18, the council voted unanimously to accept the proposal of Heartland Payment Processing Services. The council had previously approved a motion to implement a credit card payment service, but delayed acting on that motion due to costs to the city.