Proposed future changes to Howe's US Highway 75

At last week's Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for the ShermanDenison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), they reviewed plans that were submitted for each city for upgrades to US Highway 75 for the long-range plan

Representing Howe was City Administrator Joe Shephard, who is a TAC committee member, and Economic Development Director Monte Walker

The two submitted plans several weeks back for an interchange (bridge) to connect Hall Cemetary Road to L B Kirby Avenue One other plan was submitted for the reversal of the southbound on-off ramps between FM 902 and Haning Street The off ramp dumps out near the youth ballfields where drivers try to make a sharp right turn from the ramp into the field area which is a safety concern The reversal also allows for increased opportunities for commercial development along US 75 between those two major roads

At the meeting on Wednesday, Shephard and Walker made an addition to Howe's plan by upgrading the FM 902 overpass and lifting it to freight corridor standards which is 18' 15" The bridge currently does not meet TxDOT's freight corridor standards

In discussions of Prop 1 funding projects pre-determined from a project list in October of 2015 (excluding the US 75 corridor), Howe had no prior projects submitted However, due to the federal government declaring that it requires approval from the Texas Legislature, that delayed the Prop 1 funding until July of 2017 at the very earliest That also gives Howe a chance to move a project from the most current Prop 7 funding into the first phase Howe's project is to connect FM 902 from the east to west by way of Ponderosa Road A study will have to take place to determine the exact route and most plausible way to have the bypass from within the city

Currently, trucks traveling from east to west have to make a sharp left turn on Hughes Street - then take another sharp right turn on Kosse Street to get them to Highway 5 Some trucks avoid the "No Trucks" sign and continue on Young Street to meet Highway 5

This FM 902 connector would eliminate 90 percent of all of the inner-city truck traffic while also improving access to Howe High School

Howe girls finish 4th in USSSA tourney at Disney

Peggy's Porch gets an actual porch

Eagle Scout Adam Gregg completed his Eagle Scout project by placing a porch on the front of Peggy's Porch Gregg had the help of many and the project was completed last week Howe has seen big upgrades over the years from Eagle Scouts and the latest being the carport for the First United Methodist Church by Samuel Cherry, the Welcome to Howe sign by Cody Hartleben and now the porch on Peggy's Porch by Gregg

Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) The designation "Eagle Scout" has a long history since its founding over one hundred years ago. Only four percent of Boy Scouts are granted this rank after a lengthy review process The requirements necessary to achieve this rank take years to fulfill Since its founding, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than two million young men