Another downtown building sold

makes me more comfortable to let it go."

On Friday, the paperwork was finalized for the 103 E. Haning St building to change ownership from Paris Palacios to Tom and Leslie Defrange Palacios has ran a hair salon called Designer Cuts in the building since 2005. After being downtown for 10 years, she said she will miss it greatly

The sale of the building makes six of the seven units having been sold to new owners in a little over a year The building that houses Don's Smokehouse was the first to sell In August, M E Curtis sold the corner hardware store to Monte Walker, who is currently renovating it to become the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development office In January, Georgia Caraway purchased the three buildings, 107-111 E. Haning St. and is refurbishing those units as well. The entire row on the south side of downtown are

"I'm going to miss my building." said Palacios. "I love my building, but it's going to somebody who cares about the town and the integrity of Howe and that continued on Page #2

Five seeking three school board seats; city seats unopposed

Howe ISD teacher Janie Finney, attorney Micah Belden and office administrator Amber Dimayuga Pat Stewart is not seeking another term

Bruce Dawsey Mark Abner

The City of Howe and Howe ISD decided once again to have their election process combined. This year, Howe Independent School District currently has two Board of Trustee seats coming up for re-election The incumbents are Mark Abner and Bruce Dawsey They will be challenged by three individuals including former

Jeff Stanley, mayor of Howe will run unopposed as will council members continued on Page #4

Continued from Page #1 full and now that the old Chisum's building is occupied, by Founders Day all of the available spaces in downtown will be full of businesses

"When I first moved down here, it was just me and Mr. Clinton except City Hall and the fire department." said Palacios. "I started decorating for Halloween and it took me a couple of years, but after that, the kids expect me to be here and that's what I'll miss the most, the kids."

Palacios commented that it's even harder to leave now that things are picking up downtown and that Howe had the best Christmas celebration in downtown in her 10 years there

Palacios will be moving her salon, Designer

Cuts, to 1014 FM 902 just east of Howe The 532-6151 phone number for Designer Cuts will stay the same as in town

"We're going to put a little cabin outside next to my house and get it fixed up " said Palacios "I'm hoping it won't take too long to get it up and ready"

But in the meantime, she will make house calls if needed, but has been given 30 days by Defrange before she has to completely move out.

103 E. Haning was constructed in 1900 and was purchased by M.E. Curtis in 1999 from Bob Estep, who purchsed the building in 1978 from Lowell Thompson While Thompson's Hardware, the building was easily identifiable because of the large Zenith Radio sign that hung above the windows

"It was a real estate investment and a way to expend the space needed for the business." said Tom Defrange. He and his wife Leslie operate TLD Design Consulting. They are in business for design technology for new construction and innovations. He has been operating inside #1 Fitness workout centers on Haning Street, but with the business growing so fast and having 12 employees, Defrange said that they needed something bigger in a hurry

The plans are to build out the back 75 percent of the 2,500 square feet building for offices for his company and the front 25 percent will be a retail environment with a top-end hair salon in mind Their ability to lease the front quarter allows the downtown district a variety of options for consumers One of the Defrange's ideas are a hair salon boutique

"My brother owns a salon in downtown Dallas and travels all over the world." sad Tom Defrange. "He's going to help me design the interior of the boutique area based on what you would typically see when you walk into a Dallas high-end salon."

They will be doing extensive work on the inside of the building including separate heating and cooling systems for the front and the back as well as removing the beadboard ceiling and fully insulating the interior Defrange plans to build five offices in the back with a break room, kitchenette and open cubicle area of ten cubicles The plan is to try

Continued on Page #3

Downtown Continued from Page #2 and keep the original hardwood floors.

Defrange says that it will take about two months at least two months until construction is completed That would make all available spaces occupied by Founders Day weekend which begins downtown on Friday night, April 24 with the Howe Area Chamber of Commerce Hall of Honor induction ceremony

The offices in the back will be completed first before they start working on the retail portion in the front of the building.

"If it's not going to be a salon up front, it's going to be something on the retail side " said Defrange "We'll put the initial barrier wall in up front and then plumb the building, run electric and get started "

With the work that the Defranges will be doing on the 103 building, it means that 101, 103, 105, 107, and 111 will have all been recently renovated The only one in the mix in that row that has not been renovated is 109 which about to be renovated when Clinton Upholstering changes locations in a few weeks Jack Leavenworth refurbished the old Chisums building and currently being leased by Advanced Business Machines

The downtown area won't be the same without Paris Palacios who's vibrant holiday spirit kept life in a downtown that at times was only spirited by her

Like Bob Dylan said, "The times they are a-changin'"