White resigns from House

last six Legislative sessions was “a privilege and honor,”

“I am proud of the work that I have accomplished for my community and for our whole state,”

White wrote in the letter.

White’s term was set to end on Jan. 10, 2023, and he announced that he is stepping into the role of executive director for the Texas Funeral Service Commission, which was effective on the day of his resignation announcement.

District 19, which comprised Tyler, Polk, Hardin, Jasper and Newton counties, will no longer exist due to last year’s redistricting maps.

Jail now in compliance

following the 2019 session. The magazine profile referred to him as “a rock-ribbed conservative in good standing with the right… and one of his party’s leading advocates for criminal justice reform.”

By Chris Edwards news@tylercountybooster.com

HILLISTER – Long-serving Texas House of Representatives member James White (R-Hillister) announced his resignation from the state’s lower chamber last week. White, who has served District 19 since 2010, said in a resignation letter to Gov. Greg Abbott that serving in the House for the

The district, instead, was divided to four surrounding districts.

Tyler County will be represented in the House by District 57 and Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin).

White challenged incumbent Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller in the Republican primary this year and lost.

In addition to his achievements during his 11 years in office, White was named to the Texas Monthly list of top legislators,

During his tenure, White served as the chairman for the House Committee on Corrections and on the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and Redistricting committees. He received many accolades from a variety of organizations and publications, including the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Eagle Forum and the National Federation of Independent Business in Texas.

Among many of the bills White authored, co-authored or sponsored, he was involved with bills relating to eminent domain, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas and criminal justice reform. He co-authored HBs 2 and 3, which sought to reform property taxes and school finance, respectively, which both passed with bipartisan support.

County sets tax rates for coming year

By Chris Edwards news@tylercountybooster.com

WOODVILLE – In a special-called meeting of the Tyler County Commissioners Court on Thursday, August 18, county officials voted to set the tax rates for the coming fiscal year. The first item on the agenda was the proposed tax rate for the county’s general fund.

County Auditor Jackie Skinner explained the numbers for the commissioners and County Judge Jacques Blanchette. She noted that there had been funds taken out of the general fund balance for the road and bridge accounts to keep from raising taxes.

She explained the proposed tax rate of $0.5619 per $100 of valuation is an increase over previous years, for which the county had adopted the no new revenue tax rate.

“We can’t keep using the same amount of fund balance we did this year. It catches up with you,” Skinner said.

Skinner added that she and tax assessor-collector Lynette Cruse refigured road and bridge budget, but the county can’t go with no new revenue. “The money won’t be there,” she said.

Pct. 3 Commissioner Mike Marshall motioned to adopt the proposed rate for the general fund.

Pct. 2 Commissioner Stevan Sturrock and Pct. 4 Commissioner Buck Hudson voted in favor of the proposed rate, while Pct. 1 Commissioner Joe Blacksher and Blanchette voted against it.

The next rate to be voted on was the county’s farm to market flood control fund, or its county special rate.

The proposed rate of $0.2178 per $100 was approved by a 3-2 vote, with Marshall, Sturrock and Hudson voting in favor and Blacksher and Blanchette voting against.

“If we try to lower that rate...we’re not going to have the money to operate on. We’re going to have to cut employees,” Marshall said.

The last proposed tax rate the commissioners tackled was the rate for the Tyler County Hospital District.

Sturrock motioned to adopt the $0.1800 rate for the Hospital District.

TCH CEO Sondra Williams answered a question posed by Blacksher about the increase in the hospital’s needs, which is due to indigent care cases, which the county pays for.

The hospital tax rate was approved by a unanimous vote of the commissioners and Blanchette.

Skinner advised the officials of a date and time, considering legal postings of the rates, of a hearing for the proposed tax rates. That date and time was approved to be 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the Commissioners Court, in the County Courtroom (Room 101) at the Tyler County Courthouse.

Allen speaks about possible public transportation project Terry Allen, with the county’s Juvenile Probation Department, said she had spoken with a DETCOG representative who was “very positive” about helping to bring public transportation to Tyler County.

“Anyone 60 or older who would ride public transportation, DETCOG would reimburse us,” Allen said. A transport van would have to be registered in the county. She said the investment from the county would not be a lot of money, according to the DETCOG rep.

By Chris Edwards news@tylercountybooster.com

AUSTIN – The Texas Commission on Jail Standards announced that it re-inspected the Tyler County Justice Center, and it is now in compliance.

In a letter addressed to Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford and cc’d to Tyler County Judge Jacques Blanchette, the Commission’s Executive Director Brandon S.Wood announced that a re-inspection was conducted, following a July 13, 2022 finding of the facility being in non-compliance.

“All deficiencies have been cor- rected and your jail facility is now in compliance with minimum jail standards,” Wood stated in the letter. The certificate was dated August 11. The Commission conducts an audit of Texas jails each year and bases its decision on a variety of metrics, ranging from food service and personal hygiene to health services and exercise.

The sole violation given to the Tyler County jail was listed, under the chapter heading “Supervision,” which states that the jail staff failed to perform observation checks for several hours.

The checks, according to the letter, must be performed no less than once every 60 minutes.

According to Weatherford that citation stemmed from an escape in 2021, in which two inmates, Blaze Hicks and Christopher Mobley, escaped the jail through the building’s ventilation system. They were both caught later the same day they escaped.

The state inspectors had only recently inspected that incident.

Alderman declares write-in candidacy for County Judge

commitment, dedication and experienced business leadership. Every decision I make will be for the betterment of this county and its citizens. It is in my heart to serve the whole, not cliques, clans or clubs. I enter this race to stand up and make a difference, not a dollar.”

“I am Neil Alderman and I am announcing my write-in candidacy for Tyler County Judge. The time has come to offer myself as a candidate of choice. I am seeking the office of County Judge, but I am really running for Tyler County. I am a Christian and a Conservative Republican committed to the prosperity and future of this county. My roots, love and passion are cemented here. I have a vision for healthy economic growth and developing opportunities for everyone. I plan to restore the voice of the people as I lead Tyler County with integrity,

“I urge everyone to make their voices heard by write-in vote, Tuesday November 8th, 2022.” Neil is a resident of Warren. He grew up in Jasper, Texas and has deep roots in Tyler County dating back to the 1830’s. He is a direct descendant (4th Great Grandson) of Captain James Gautney Collier, who was the founder of Beech Creek Baptist Church in Spurger. William Richard Ratcliff, Neil’s 2nd great grandfather, was the son-inlaw of Collier who married Lucy Collier, Neil’s 3rd Great Grandmother and was buried at Beech Creek next to Captain Collier. Ratcliff also founded a shoe factory for the Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Neil is also descended from William Harmon Perryman. William’s son, Neil’s 2nd Great Grandfather, Matthew John Perryman, was Postmaster of Spurger

Life Tributes

Lloyd Edwin “Ed” Walters, 84, of Warren passed away August 19, 2022.

Born in Warren to Milton and Hazel Walters, he lived in Warren all of his life. Lloyd Ed worked as a millwright/machinist for the first 25 years of his adult life. He then went into carpentry and took great pride in the carpentry work and homes that he built for the next 30 years. He was loyal and devoted to his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and they were his top priority in life. He was loved and will be greatly missed.

Lloyd Ed is survived by his loving wife, Lily Walters; children, Stephanie Wilson of Warren, Dean Walters and wife, Polly of Warren; grandchildren, Chelsea Restivo and husband, Russell, Sloan Wilson and wife, Megan, Sierra Wilson, Josie Pate and husband, Brian and Mallory Walters; great grandchildren, Cooper, Addilynn, Abbott, Jaclyn and Anastynn; sister, Sammy Faye Kincaid and hus- band, Conrad; and a host of other family members and friends.

Funeral service will be held Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Chance Sims officiating. Burial will follow at the Warren City Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be Sloan Wilson, Larry Neal, Billy Umfrid, Dale Williams, Brian Pate and Kent Gore.

Services are held under the direction of Riley Funeral Home, Woodville. 234