News

The Texas Education Agency has released its performance report of Accountability ratings for 2016. Daingerfield-Lone Star Independent School District has met standard in all four of the measured indices. To receive a “Met Standard” rating in 2016, districts must meet the targets on three of the indices. The indices measured are: Index 1, Student Achievement; Index 2, Student Progress; Index 3: Closing Performance Gaps; and Index 4, Post-secondary readiness. To receive “Met Standard,” district and campuses must meet either Index 1 or Index 2, and then both Index 3 and Index 4. According to Superintendent Sandra Quarles, “We are proud of the students and staff at each school for once again meeting the state’s standards on the STAAR. This achievement reflects their hard work and commitment. At the same time, we understand that success is a journey, not a destination, and we will continue to strive to excel.

 Toni Walker

Editor

news@steelcountrybee.com

The last week has had historical importance for the city of Hughes Springs. Internationally renowned artist, Karl W. Wilkes, began his Legacy Tour with a week-long artist residency at The Legacy Center in Hughes Springs.

The journey that led to Wilkes’ Hughes Springs residency began at the beginning of the year, when local frame shop owner Sandy Lanier was clearing out her father’s frame shop. “I bought out my dad’s shop,” said Lanier, “all of his inventory and everything. There were hundreds of prints that Lanier was going through, when she found one that caught her eye.

A Daingerfield man has become Texas’ newest centenarian. Mr. William Jones celebrated his 100th birthday on Saturday, Aug. 27.

In the same year that the National Parks Service was created, Jones was born in Daingerfield on Aug. 27. According to family, the only time that Jones did not reside in Daingerfield was during his service in the Army, which came near the end of World War II. One hundred years later, friends and family gathered at his home on Bert Street to celebrate the milestone with the former plumber.

When asked what the secret to reaching 100 years old was, Jones simply replied, “I ain’t ready to leave yet.”

Hughes Springs welcomed a new business to town on Friday, Aug. 26, as East Texas Custom Framing held their official ribbon cutting.

Owner Sandy Smith- Lanier has been framing and matting projects for several months, but chose to hold her ribbon cutting during the time that artist Karl Wilkes was in town for his artist residency. Smith offers custom framing, unique gifts, specialty mats, and “vacuum matting.”

Contact her at 903-960-1000 for all your framing needs. East Texas Custom Framing is located at 510 Taylor Street.

Suspects charged with burglary of home of musician “Bugs” Henderson

By: J. Leslie Riseden

Special Contributor to

The Steel Country Bee

The Marion County Sheriff ’s Office arrested two area school teachers and their daughter on Aug. 22. Tim K. Davis, 42, his wife, Amber E. Davis, 37, and their daughter, Drew A. Davis, 17, were all arrested for Burglary of a Habitation, which is a second degree felony. All three subjects are charged with entering a home on Reeves Lane, north of Jefferson, and removing numerous items without the owner’s permission. According to Marion County Sheriff David McKnight, it is possible that the burglary actually occurred over a period of time. It appears, McKnight said, that the suspects may have entered the house more than once and removed “several loads” of property.

By: J. Leslie Riseden

Special Contributor to

The Steel Country Bee

As the organizers of the Avinger Wine Festival count down to their fourth annual event, they are taking steps to reach a wider audience.

The Avinger Wine Festival will be held Saturday, Sep. 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the corner of Church and Pine, just off Texas Hwy 49, in the heart of Avinger. The festival is an annual fundraiser put on by the CRESS Community Foundation. “This is our second year in the new location,“ said CRESS Executive Director Elaine Moulton. “One of the distinct advantages of this site is that we have plenty of parking and open space. This is a perfect venue to expand the number and variety of attract tions.”

The Daingerfield-Lone Star Independent School District met for their regular monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 15. On the agenda was the consideration and possible hiring of a permanent Business Manager.

Former Business Manager Jeff Chambers, who left the school for a position at Northeast Texas Community College, was in attendance as interim Business Manager David O’Dell presented the board with the recap of July, 2017 Financial Reports. During their executive session, the board considered hiring of a Business Manager, pursuant to Texas Government Code 555.074. After returning to open session, board President Neil Roney entertained a motion from Jerry Stoermer to hire O’Dell as the permanent District Business Manager. The motion was seconded by Marie Skipper, and was passed unanimously by the board.

Motorists who normally travel Farm-to-Market Road 144 South in Cason will need to find an alternate route on Saturday, Aug. 27. Kansas City Southern Railroad will be closing the highway to through-traffic on this date to make repairs to the railroad crossing. Traffic will officially be detoured through Daingerfield, but local traffic may use alternate routes.

Portable message boards will be placed near the railroad crossing beforehand to warn motorists of the scheduled road closure. The construction schedule and road closure can change due to inclement weather or other unforeseen problems.

Anyone having any questions about the road closure, detour routes or construction work can call the Texas Department of Transportation Daingerfield maintenance section at 903-645-2519 for more information.

Motorists who normally travel Farm-to-Market Road 250 (Hanes Boulevard) in Hughes Springs will need to find an alternate route on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Kansas City Southern Railroad will be closing the highway to through-traffic on this date to make repairs to the railroad crossing. Traffic will officially be detoured onto State Highway 11/49 and FM 2612.

Portable message boards will be placed near the railroad crossing beforehand to warn motorists of the scheduled road closure. The construction schedule and road closure can change due to inclement weather or other unforeseen problems.

Anyone having any questions about the road closure, detour routes or construction work can call the Texas Department of Transportation Daingerfield maintenance section at 903-645-2519 for more information.

Motorists who normally travel State Highway 11 west of Cason in Titus County should expect short delays on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 23-24. AEP will be closing the highway to through-traffic on these dates to make repairs to the railroad crossing. Traffic will officially be detoured onto a temporary one-way bypass around the work zone. Flaggers will be posted continuously at each end of the temporary detour to control traffic passing through until the work is completed. Portable message boards will be placed near the railroad crossing beforehand to warn motorists of the scheduled road closure. The construction schedule and road closure can change due to inclement weather or other unforeseen problems. Anyone having any questions about the road closure, detour routes or construction work can call the Texas Department of Transportation Mount Pleasant maintenance section at 903-572-8511 for more information.