News

Hughes Springs senior Levi Hawkins competed in the state UIL competition in Austin on Wednesday, May 25. Hawkins placed second in the Poetry competition to be the state runner- up and earn the silver medal.

 Northeast Texas Community College will soon begin phase two of its campus renovation after the Board of Trustees approved the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the project at the regular May meeting Tuesday.

The board unanimously approved the GMP of $8,990,848 as presented to allow work to begin over the summer. Projects included in this amount are the Humanities building, overhauling the main plaza area, phase one of the Charlie and Helen Hampton Learning Resource Center and phase one of the Student Union Building. The GMP is calculated by the construction manager at risk and guarantees that the project will not exceed the amount.

“It is critical that this work begins early this summer in order to allow for minimal disruption to our campus,” Dr. Brad Johnson, NTCC President said. “The goal is to finish as much of this work before fall classes begin as possible.”

On April 3, Officer Brandon Fulcher attempts to stop a vehicle for traffic violation. The person fails to stop for short period and finally does. Officer Fulcher detained the driver, Lori Sharpe, 38 year old from Daingerfield. Search was conducted and suspected methamphetamines were located inside the vehicle. Sharpe was arrested and booked for Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than one gram State Jail Felony, Evading Arrest Detention with a vehicle State Jail Felony, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Class C Misdemeanor.

Ann-Marie Murrell, formerly of Hughes Springs, and her husband, Mark Murrell, announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their son, Jason Robbins, to Mimi Page, of Los Angeles, California.

Page is the daughter of Cheryl Clark, of Los Angeles. Page is a singersongwriter, and her original music can be found at MimiPage.com, as well as on Pandora Radio, Sirius/XM Satellite radio, and in various television networks, as well.

Robbins, is the grandson of Hughes Springs residents Lou and Gene Brown of Hughes Springs. His mother was a Hughes Springs graduate. Robbins works in television and music production, was the tour manager for Nico Vega, and manages Mimi’s career, as well.

The couple will exchange vows on Wednesday, June 8 at Wayfarer’s Chapel in Palos Verdes, California.

Dwyatt Bell (left), CEO of Texas Heritage National Bank, and Brenda Howard, Senior Vice President, Texas Heritage National Bank, are pictured presenting a $4,000 check to Dr. Jonathan McCullough (right), NTCC Vice President for Advancement, which will be used to sponsor a Presidential Scholar in Honors Northeast.

By: Toni Walker

Editor

news@steelcountrybee.com

Tragedy hit the community in the form of a three car accident involving nine local high school students recently. Local law enforcement investigating the accident determined that the majority of those students involved had participated in what is typically known as senior skip day prior to the accident.

It was determined that alcohol and drugs were a part of the party, and factored into the crash. Hughes Springs senior Jaren Jones was arrested and charged with Intoxicated Vehicular Manslaughter in the death of Meagan Hendricks, who was a passenger in one of the vehicles.

No, this is not an actual report. Jones, Hendricks, and many other area high school students recently took part in a program known as “Shattered Dreams,” a Texas Department of Transportation program aimed at showing teens the dangers and consequences of impaired driving.

By: Toni Walker

Editor

news@steelcountrybee.com

Hughes Springs High School has announced their Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Class for 2016. Ms. Savannah Wright and Shelby Golden are the top two graduating Mustangs.

Ms. Shelby Golden is the Hughes Springs Salutatorian for 2016. Shelby is the daughter of Brandon and Jennifer Golden and the sister of Garrett and Sadie. Her grandparents are Paul and Kaye Reynaud and Jimmy and Gail Golden, all of Hughes Springs.

By: Toni Walker

Editor

news@steelcountrybee.com

The Daingerfield Tigers have named their top honor graduates for the 2016 commencement. Commencement exercises will be held at Mickey Mayne Tiger Stadium on Friday, May 27.

Mr. Karter Ford is the Valedictorian for the Daingerfield High School class of 2016. Ford competed as a part of the DHS Math team for four years, winning the State Championship in 2014 and the runner-up title in 2013 and 2015. Ford also ran the flag following Tiger football touchdowns during the last two seasons. The son of Billy and Esparanza Ford, Ford plans to attend Texas A&M University-College Station, and major in mechanical engineering.

By: Toni Walker

Editor

news@steelcountrybee.com

On May 30, banks, schools, and most government buildings will be closed in observance of Memorial Day. People all over the area will head out to lakes, or celebrate with bar-b-ques and get-togethers. However, it is important to remember the truth and meaning behind Memorial Day, to honor those who gave their lives protesting our freedoms.

In May of 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson officially declared Waterloo, New York as the birthplace of Memorial Day, although the true origins are unknown. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is set aside in remembrance of those who died in service to the United States of America. Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor those who died during service, and was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan.

On Sunday, May 1, the Morris County Sheriff ’s Department received a report of a stolen Kubota all-terrain vehicle. Investigator Hershel Stroman obtained information related to the stolen vehicle, which led to the arrest of Summer Rae McEntire, 37, of Hughes Springs, and the recovery of the ATV. McEntire was charged with Theft, more than $2,500, less than $30,000, which is a State Jail Felony.