“Queen of the Trinity Star” 45th Annual Pilgrimage
Sunday, May 3rd, 2015 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Free Children’s Activities Live Big-Ticket Auction Melodrama Style Show Door Prizes
Moody-Bradley House
Adults, $15 Children 12 & under, $7 No Charge for Children 5 & Under
318 Moody Street, Fairfield, Texas
Purchase tickets from any History Club Member, Accessories, Etc., Kennedy’s Korner, Texas Outfitters, or Armadillo Emporium
The Times
Sponsored by Community National Bank & Trust of Texas - Fairfield
Freestone County
Honor Rolls (Page 4-C)
Sports News (Section C)
Independent News That Matters
Seventy-five cents
Vol. 14 No. 16
PUBLISHED IN THE FREESTONE COUNTY SEAT, FAIRFIELD, TEXAS
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
A Little Child Shall Lead Them
Childers Family Testifies in Austin “C
As they compare property lines with the proposed route for the High-Speed Railway project, Freestone County landowners were assured that their farms and ranches would be accessible and all county roads passable. (Photo by Karen Leidy)
Conversations
Continue for Bullet Train Project
“P
robably the most important issue in this room,” observed one representative of Texas Central Partners (TCP), when picking up a flier addressing land acquisition and landowner rights. Indeed, perhaps the most populated display during the High-Speed Rail Open House & Informational Meeting in Teague was the one mapping out the proposed locations. The come and go meeting was held Saturday, April 18, 2015 at the Teague High School cafeteria. Those attending were able to converse one-on-one about the proposed project that will run between Dallas and Houston. The overall mood was cordial and, although local landowners voiced concerns on how the
project would affect them, information flowed freely throughout the room. The proposed highspeed passenger railway is patterned after the Japanese Bullet Train that connects Tokyo and Osaka. Construction is expected to begin in 2016. When completed in 2021, the Texas “bullet” train will travel 240 miles an hour, taking 400-500 passengers between Dallas and Houston in 90 minutes. The venture is estimated to cost between $20 billion and $40 billion to build. Although the final route yet to be finalized at this point in the project, the two proposed locations (one following existing freight trains, the other following utilities) each run to the east of Wortham
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Calendar
Inside
FISD Bond Election Info Meeting
Four Sections Classifieds...........Pages 3 & 4-D Viewpoints.................Page 6-A Oil & Gas...................Page 2-D Obituaries..................Page 2-A Real Estate.................Page 3-D
Fairfield
April 23 - 7pm FHS North Lecture Room
alla won the day for us,” Kevin Childers says of his 11-year-old daughter, after her testimony before the House Public Education Committee in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, April 14th concerning the tragedy in her own family. The Fairfield father/daughter duo spoke separately in support of House Bill 2186, the Jason Flatt Act –Texas in Honor of Jonathan Childers, which seeks to require all Texas teachers to go through suicide prevention training every year. The Jason Foundation training, provided free of charge, is already in place at the Fairfield Independent School District. According to Mr. Childers, a coach and teacher at Fairfield High School, the program has resulted in lives being saved at Fairfield. The Childers Family, which includes wife and mother, Jana, faced the unthinkable in 2013 when their own son, Jonathan, took his life. Representative Bryon Cook (R) authored the bill, after learning from Mr. Childers of his son and other teens in his district that had succumbed to this, the third leading cause of death in teens. Joining in as bi-partisan cosponsors are Representatives
Among those testifying in Austin in support of the Jason Flatt Act were 11-year-old Calla Childers and her dad, FHS Coach Kevin Childers. The proposed legislation, filed in honor of the late Jonathan Childers, seeks to require all Texas teachers to go through suicide prevention training each year. (Photo by Melissa Lee) _______________________________________________________________________ Dan Huberty (R), Dr. Alma Allen (D), Garnet Coleman (D), and Patricia Harless (R). House Representative Dr. Allen joined the effort after receiving numerous letters from Fairfield students, some of whom recounted their own experiences with the death of a friend or loved one who had committed suicide.
In a return letter to the students, Dr. Allen acknowledged the students’ respect and trust in their teachers who are on the “front line” of communication with them. “Their ability to recognize signs of distress in a student makes them a first line of intervention, hence becoming
a significant person in saving a child’s life,” Dr. Allen wrote. There are many steps involved in getting a bill passed. It is now a waiting game for the Childers and other Freestone County residents hoping to see this bill passed. Mary McDonald reporting. ____________________
New Awnings for Civic Center T
SAN JACINTO DAY April 21st, 2015
he Civic Center (Green Barn) will soon receive a facelift after Fairfield Councilmen gave their conditional approval of a bid from McLeod Construction during their regular meeting
Tuesday, April 14th. Once materials have been specified and approved, construction of new awnings will begin. The proposed awning would be placed above the large
Flower Garden & Herb Fest - April 24-26, 2015
Market Days Opens Friday W
ith the recent Spring rains, everything is looking very lush around town. If your green thumb is getting itchy, you may want to check out the Flower Garden and Herb Fest at Fairfield Market Days this weekend April 24-26, 2015.
Held at the historic W.L. Moody Reunion Grounds in Fairfield, Texas, this month’s event will feature Demonstrations on Growing Herbs and Learning About Essential Oils. Talks will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 25th under Pavilion #2. A special Spring Sewing class will be held
Saturday, April 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Civic Center in Fairfield, Texas. Learn to use, clean and maintain your machine from Debra Harrod, a quilting instructor. Bring your own machine to participate in this series of classes. Supplies may be purchased the day of class at the Sew-N-Cottage booth at Fairfield Market Days. Tables will be set up on the stage in the Civic Center for the class. For more information, and a supply list, contact Debra at 469-245-9680 or via email to thesweingcottage@yahoo.com Fairfield Market Days features several vendors. Shop for antiques & collectibles,
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front doors of the center. This awning would be wide enough for two cars and include an extended concrete drive and walkway for more convenient entry into the building. Three smaller, flat roofed awnings are expected for the remaining doors. Councilmen discussed the Public Utilities Commission of Texas’ 2015 Consumer Price Index as it relates to residential and municipal telephone rates in Fairfield. According to the index, maximum rates have increased due to inflation, meaning that the City could choose to adjust or retain the same rates as 2014. Unwilling to increase, the Council voted unanimously to preserve last year’s rates. In other business, the purchase of a new patrol vehicle for the Fairfield Police Department was approved by the Council.
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