City reports

By Chris Campbell

While waiting to take off from Chicago recently I was scrolling through my online movie service trying to find something interesting to watch Now, I’m a little different when it comes to movies. I watch movies that I know I will like which means I usually opt for movies I’ve already seen multiple times. When “Big” appeared on the screen I was thrilled – I remembered liking it when I saw it in college, but I hadn’t seen it since So I nestled into my seat, fired up my movie and waited for an unknown stranger to get me home at a rate of 500 MPH

If you’ve never seen the movie the plot is fairly simple – a 12-year-old boy becomes fed up with being a kid While at a carnival with his family he finds a mysterious game that allows him to make a wish He wishes to be “big” The next morning he wakes up as a 30-yearold man…but with the mind of a 12-year old

Through several strokes of cinematic luck and with the help of his best friend he rockets to VP status at a toy company in Manhattan He is living the good life – all the money he can spend, a penthouse apartment with video games and pinball machines, a pretty girlfriend, the works! But then he takes a walk through the park and sees children doing one thing they’re excellent at Being kids!

I won’t ruin the rest of the movie

First…SLOW DOWN! We all remember times, while growing up, when we couldn’t wait to be an adult. We couldn’t wait to drive, to date, to move out on our own, to get a job, to make money We wanted to be “big", but hopefully we had parents or other mentors in our lives that encouraged us to enjoy each moment as it comes One need only go to Facebook to see how many adults are rushing kids into adulthood. Parents force their kids to pick one activity to concentrate on so that they’ll be great at it, meanwhile, the child wants to play a different sport or join a different club Parents encourage their little ones to have a boyfriend or girlfriend so they can post cute pictures, while many kids are not mature enough to understand what a relationship is Adulthood will always be there waiting for them – we need to encourage our kids to grow while reminding them of the value of being a child The final words of another great movie, “Stand By Me,” eloquently capture the thoughts of one who fondly remembered his childhood: “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12.”

The second theme REMEMBER! Somewhere inside our head, when we reach a magical age, we suddenly think we become too old to do certain things But it’s a lie! You’re never too old to ride a sled down an icy hill. You’re never too old to sing at the top of your lungs. You’re never too old to watch a cartoon and laugh until you cry And you’re never too old to dance to your favorite song – no matter how out-of-date your misguided teenagers might think you are

Slow down…remember…and encourage those around you to do the same

Howe Police Chief Carl Hudman told the council that in August, The Howe Police Department answered 222 calls for service, made five felony arrests, 11 misdemeanor arrests, generated 28 forms, invesstigated three accidents and issued 65 citations Officers attended mandated training and Hudman told the council that Officer Robert Todd turned in his resignation and this will be his last week on the force

Public Works Director David Wortham reported 52 work orders, and nine leaks He said that Grayson County finished the street repair

Howe Fire Chief Robert Maniet said that they've had 27 calls since the beginning of August.

In October with Fire Prevention Month, the Howe Fire Department will be at Home Depot on Oct. 3 between the hours of 8 am and noon. On Oct. 9, they will be at Howe Elementary School with Care Flight or AirEvac.

President of Howe Development Alliance Monte Walker told the council that Abbington Meadows apartments managing staff will set up temporary headquarters in the HDA office downtown to accept lease applications and job applications A new restaurant will open soon across from the fitness center on Haning Street Price Hanning's old garage has sold to Jack Leavenworth from Buddy Baker The chamber will hold a Blue Bell Ice Cream party on Thursday night thanks to Cavender H Th t