News

By: J. Leslie Riseden

Special Contributor to The Steel Country Bee

The title of the book is “Don’t Monkey Around with Safety in Your Neighborhood.” Marcus Sandifer, Public Information Officer for the Atlanta District of the Texas Department of Transportation, distributed these books to about 30 boys and girls at the Hughes Springs Area Library June 30, then they all read the story together. Through the adventures of a day in the life of Marigold and her brother Milton, the children learned about safety while playing outside.

(StatePoint) Hitting the road for an outdoor adventure or just headed to a local park or pool? Get prepared. Before summer fun, comes summer safety.

These tips can help ensure you have the tools you need to enjoy your summer days safely.

Be Prepared

Whenever you hit the road for an outdoor adventure in warm temperatures, it’s important to be prepared for whatever might come your way. For example, keep certain safety items in your car all the time, such as a first aid kit and rain gear. It’s also a good idea to bring along more water than you think you need.

You may be relying on your device to listen to music, take photos, use GPS, check the weather and of course to text and make calls, so always carry extra backup batteries to stay charged. Charge external batteries before leaving the house so they are ready to go if you need them.

Keep an Eye on the Weather

Enrollment numbers at Northeast Texas Community College are up sharply this summer. Dr. Josh Stewart, NTCC Vice President for Student and Outreach Services, reported that the summer enrollment headcount is up by 15.3 percent at the NTCC Board of Trustees at the regular June meeting Tuesday.

Applications for admission and enrollment for the fall 2016 semester are also running well ahead of this time last year, as well.

“There is a cycle of enrollment at community colleges that tends to follow employment. When people need jobs, they enroll at community college because they know our programs lead to better opportunities,” Stewart said.

A young child is recovering from a potentially tragic incident on Tuesday, June 28, thanks to the quick actions of his mother and Lone Star first responders.

Lone Star Police Officer Steven Blythe had gone off duty at 5 p.m. on June 27. At approximately 5:15 p.m., Blythe, who lives near the entrance to the city park, heard a knock on the door. “When I opened the door, there was a juvenile male subject stating a baby had drown in the lake at the park,” said Blythe. Without hesitation, Blythe grabbed his boots and drove to the park.

“I asked the boy if they had called 911, and he said they did not have a phone. I immediately radioed Morris County Dispatch and informed them of the situation and that I needed first responders immediately to the City Park,” Blythe said.

Toni Walker

Editor

news@steelcountrybee.com

The city of Daingerfield has received their Annual Drinking Water Quality Report from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The report showed no violations in sources of drinking water that furnish the city of Daingerfield.

The TCEQ tests issues a Water Quality Report annually based on the previous Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 time frame, so this report, which was mailed to residents of Daingerfield, is based on the 2015 calendar year.

The TCEQ tests drinking water sources, and reports all findings, along with a detailed description of what the contaminant is, how it could have made its way to the source, and what the acceptable levels of each contaminant are. In Daingerfield’s report, there were no contaminants that exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended levels.

Ten couples applied for Morris County Marriage licenses during the month of June.

Christian Reed Barrett and Katherine Rose Brooks.

Jason Mattox Stone and Christy Ann Newland.

David Levern Kellen and Sokeang Song. Philip Ryan Golden and Kayla Denise Cox.

David Earl Richardson and Wendi Michelle Bazar.

Alan Wayne Easterling and Elizabeth Ann Armstrong.

Calvin Wayne McKinney and Shannon Marie Casper.

Dustin Kyle Kizer and Sarah Elizabeth Maxson.

Brian Anthony Craig and Sally Suzanne Hicks. G

erry Don Turner and Sherry Delaine Fulp.

Children in Daingerfield began July with yet another program sponsored by the Friends of the Daingerfield Public Library. This one, featuring Todd McKinney, was truly magical.

McKinney began by laying the ground rules for the children. Basically, children where to clap if they liked a trick, and pretend like they liked the ones that weren’t their favorites and clap anyway. They were also encouraged to volunteer, as McKinney would need several volunteers for his tricks.

McKinney performed tricks ranging from making a disc appear in a box on a child’s head, to magically completing a Rubik’s Cube in a magic box. Children especially enjoyed when McKinney created “sneaker juice,” using an audience member’s tennis shoe.

Moter's Day Out

Robert Wren, Ginger Stevens, Raina Ayers, Leslie Lee, Elizabeth Saunders, Jenninfer Rimel, Kevin Proctor, Chris Smith, and Jason Vickers make a plea for other children to join them at Mother’s Day Out in Daingerfield. This ad was run by First Baptist Church in 1977. (All names were printed as they were originally printed in 1977.)

By: J. Leslie Riseden

Special Contributor to

The Steel Country Bee

Work is progressing on the new Culinary Arts facility at Hughes Springs High School. At the regular meeting of the Hughes Springs ISD board on June 13, the board approved expenditures of $12,183.49 for flooring and $34,273.00 for culinary equipment. Other expenses that were approved were security cameras for the school district at $16,190.38 and the purchase of classroom furniture for both the high school and elementary school.

 On Saturday, June 18, Chief Deputy Robbie Gray received a call of an unwanted guest on private property north of Naples. Chief Gray responded and investigated. During his investigation, Chief Gray determined that a Felony theft had occurred, and determined the suspects to be Nicholas Deshun Betts, 42, and Barbara Ann Stallworth, 50, both of Naples. Also during his investigation, Chief Gray located and seized illegal narcotics from the suspects. Betts and Stallworth were arrested and charged with Theft of Aluminum, Bronze, or Copper Material and Possession of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group One, less than One Gram. Both charges are a State Jail Felony, and are punishable by up to two years confinement in a Texas State Jail Facility, and a fine of up to $10,000.