News

The Daingerfield Lone Star Educational Foundation will once again be hosting their Annual Spelling be on Jan. 29. The Spelling Bee serves a fundraiser for the Foundation, which uses the funds to fund teacher grants. In 2015, the Foundation funded teacher grants that totaled over $13,000. Those grants then benefit the teachers and students in Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD. Teams consist of three members and one alternate, and the entry fee is $25. Anyone interested in placing a team in the Spelling must submit an entry form to Texas Heritage National Bank by Friday, Jan. 23. Teams are also invited to bring their cheering squad, as the 2016 Spirit Award will be up for grabs. This award will be given to the most innovative and enthusiastic cheering squad, and table decorations are encouraged and included in the judging.

For individuals interested in running for Daingerfield-Lone Star Independent School District School Board, the first day to file was Jan. 20. The School Board elections will be held on May 7. There are three positions up for election. The District 4 seat, which is currently held by Miguel Larsen is the only district seat available. At-large position 3 and 4 are both up for election as well. Position 3 is currently held by Marie Skipper, while Mike Alcorn holds Position 4. Potential candidates for School board district positions must live in the district they wish to represent. So, anyone wishing to challenge Larsen to that position must be a resident of District 4. Anyone who lives in the school district may run for the at-large positions, however. Interested parties should contact Rona Elwell at the Administration office, 903- 645-2239. The final day to file will be Feb. 19, at 5 p.m.

Youth are being targeted with alcohol-related advertisements on social media platforms, according to new research by a Texas A&M University professor. Adam Barry, professor of health education, contends that youth – as young as 13 – have unrestricted access to alcohol advertising on social media platforms. Despite regulations which should limit advertising to youth, alcohol brands were even found to send alcohol advertisements directly to underage profiles on social media platforms such as Instagram. Due to a lack of published studies on the topic, Barry says he was curious about the direct engagement of today’s youth with different alcohol brands. “We wanted to see if an underage profile could view alcohol brand content and interact with that content directly from smartphones,” Barry says. He explains that alcohol brands are supposed to have an “age gate” system in place that restricts those under the minimum legal drinking age (21) from accessing and viewing their content.

John (Tommy) and Martha Jane (Lunsford) Mullins will be celebrating 50 years of marriage. Family and friends are invited to celebrate with them on Jan. 30, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., in the Walnut Room of the Mount Pleasant Civic Center. Come and go, or come and stay. No gifts, please, although cards and/or pictures from the past will be welcomed.

The following marriage licenses were filed in Morris County during the month of December.

Jeremy Dean Livingston and Natalie Marie Gaines. Jose Roberto Arredondo and Ashley Estelle Green. Mauricio Manuel Arellano and Laura Netro. Shawn Ray Sibley and Joyce Anne Rosenthal. Latorion Shatay Dowell and Carrie Sharice Whetstone. Christopher Chance Smith and Alaina Jayne Chambliss. Daniel Keith Strickland and Jennifer Bree Elwell. Brnadon Kane Parker and Kara Deann Bailey. Benjamin Lopez-Castro and Alicia Juana Juarez. Donald Mark Nance and Rhonda Gail Gildon.

The Northeast Texas Coalition Against Substance Abuse will be hosting their parent meeting at Daingerfield High School Thursday, Jan. 21, in an effort to raise parent’s awareness to the problem of underage drinking. Parents will be given facts and learn practical ways to talk to their teens about underage drinking. They will be provided with resources to take home, and learn valuable information that any parent should know. There will be a door prize for those in attendance, and students from Daingerfield High School whose parents attend will be treated to a pizza party the next day. The free event will be held at the high school cafeteria, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and is open to the public, as well.

To continue reading this article, purchase the January 14th edition of the Steel Country Bee, or go to our online e-edition at: http://www.etypeservices.com/Daingerfield%20BeeID312/default.aspx

In a recent article, it was
stated that several schools
in the area were on a list
from the Texas Education
Agency of schools that
were failing. Two schools
in Daingerfield-Lone Star
ISD, South Elementary and
Daingerfield High School,
were included that list.
Since publication, it has
been learned that there was
actually more information
behind the bare facts of
that list that were used in
creation of the article.
According to
Superintendent Sandra
Quarles, D-LS ISD did
have two schools placed on
the TEA’s PEG List.
“Unfortunately, in the new
accountability system,
when a school misses on
one index of the four, they
are placed on the PEG list
for three years. This is to
ensure that they sustain
their progress, and that it is
not just a one year fix,”
Quarles said. The high

The January meeting of the Morris County Commissioners’ Court was held on Jan. 11. All commissioners were present except Weldon Lilley, who was attended jury duty. After a prayer by Commissioner Dennis Allen and reciting of the pledges, the court got down to the business at hand. The first five agenda items concerned approving reports, bills, and the restatement of the Morris County 457 plan, which covers optional employment retirement benefits with Security Benefits. Treasurer Nita Traylor stated that there were no changes to plans, the company just periodically had to restate the plan, and be voted upon by the commissioners. All items were approved unanimously. Kathy Broyles, a spokesman with the HOME Program, presents the three bids that were received for building contractor in the HOME Program. The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME Program) is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Clint and Joseph Lowery have opened a new tire and automotive shop in Hughes Springs Texas. Lowery Performance Tire and Auto held their ribbon cutting and grand opening on Jan. 8 at 916 W. First Street. The location had previously been a automotive shop owned and operated by the Lowery’s grandfather, Hubert Mathis.

When voters go to the polls on March 1, they will vote for their candidate of choice from their chosen party. Each party also has multiple referenda or propositions on the ballots for voters to share their voice on. On the Republican primary ballot, there will be four propositions on which voters will be able to cast the ballot. Proposition 1 is in reference to the property tax system, and will be worded “Texas should replace the property tax system with an alternative other than an income tax and require voter approval to increase the overall tax burden.” Proposition 2, which will read “Texas cities and counties should be required to comply with federal immigration laws or be penalized by loss of state funds,” and references national immigration laws.