David Wortham will celebrate 40 years with the city in July

The drive-by meters allow for Wortham to set up his laptop in his vehicle and simply drive by the location and a signal is sent from the meter.

Wortham says that he should be able to keep going another five years or so.

"In five years, I'll be almost 65 and I think that I ought to still be in good enough health if we want to travel and do stuff, we can do that " said Wortham

Wortham and his wife Jerri will celebrate 30 years of marriage on July 20 They have two sons

David Wortham comes from a family who served for and worked for the City of Howe Wortham's mother Marilee was the city secretary for a number of years and his father, Dug Wortham, was the mayor of Howe in the 1960's Taking a job with the city in 1975, just after graduation from Howe High School, David Wortham has had hands-on experience with every street and pipe in Howe In July, he will celebrate 40 years with the city

"Back then, you couldn't hardly find a job " said Wortham. "I went and lived with my aunt in Duncanville for a little bit. Mother was the city secretary and said they had someone quit and was looking for someone. I said, I'll go back to

Howe and go to work until I find something better I haven't found nothing better yet "

Wortham started on the trash service crew in 1975 He worked on that crew until Howe started contracting out the trash service At that time, he moved into the water side of public works and says that part of the job has changed drastically over the years.

"Getting the drive-by meters changed everything." said Wortham. "With all of this rain we've had, it would've taken a week to read meters because you'd have to pump out the water (from the meter boxes) "

As a youngster, growing up in Howe, he went from having his father as the mayor to having his father die suddenly at the young age of 43 Dug Wortham was elected mayor in April of 1967 by a landslide vote of 194 to 7 over E B (Smokey) Christopher. He replaced C.C. Jones, who did not seek re-election. He was re-elected in 1969 by defeating Joe King 131-65. Wortham was recognized by the Howe Chamber for his long-range economic growth plans. Under his leadership as mayor came the Dairy Queen, the opening of US 75, new Church of Christ building on Collins Freeway, new High School on Beatrice Street, new Enco gas station on Collins Freeway, new joint sewer contract with Sherman, new housing in Western Hills, new Bethel Baptist Church, doubled the city sales tax income, and negotiated a deal to bring Magni-Fab to Howe He may have opposed a mobile home development pushed by City Manager George continued on Page #6

It took Nelms a couple of months before she won her first pageant, which was at a state fair competition.

Nelms entered her fourth preliminary competition earlier this year and competed for Miss Lake Worth against 12 competitors When she was named Miss Lake Worth, that qualified her for the Miss Texas competition which is taking place now

The Miss Texas contestants checked into the Eisemann Center in Richardson on Saturday morning and immediately had a fashion show and gala. After those events, the contestants are completely sequestered with their phones taken away

"I don't get any contact " said Nelms in a Friday interview "Our parents aren't allowed to talk to us except for visitation which is after each competition We don't have our phones from 6 am to 11 pm and we're completely cut off from everyone "

This schedule will take place until Sunday On Tuesday, Nelms will interview, which is a 10 minute process where judges ask the contestants anything from political questions to current affairs After that interview, she'll get two minutes with her parents before doing the swimsuit and evening gown performances. Wednesday is the talent portion of the contest which Nelms is a talented flute player. On Thursday, Nelms will face the on-stage questions.

"You have to really know yourself " said Nelms "You have to know what you think and have an opinion They don't care what your opinion is, you just need to be able to defend your opinion "

With media today, everything is scrutinized so Nelms wants to make sure and avoid the moments of losing train of thought add up, but it has also paid off for Nelms who has received over $2,000 in scholarships from pageants

"You just can't allow yourself to get scared " said Nelms "One time I fell on stage and it was an awesome face-plant. When my family gets together, my dad will play it on a loop."

"It's not cheap, but you get so much out of it " said Nelms "I have great interview skills now I have a job because I can interview well and I can now talk in front of thousands of people So it is expensive and it offsets the scholarships, but it gives you so much more."

Nelms says that her favorite part of the pageant is the interview.

"It's the only part that you can control what they think about you " said Nelms "Everything else is based on how you look and present yourself But in the interview, you get to actually have a conversation with them I love talking to people "

This confident girl used to hide behind her mom and cry at school because she was so afraid to talk to people My how far this little girl from Howe has come

Nelms wants to be a surgical nurse, but first wants to be Miss Texas and then Miss America.

Nelms continued from Page #1 continued on Page #10