Hotter 'N Howe

Continued from page 3

The planning is in the beginning stages, but the chamber has had great responses from the youth sports organizations, Howe Volunteer Fire Department, Girl Scouts, and more.

Confirmed are Howe Youth Baseball who will host a home run derby at Hash Field, sell burgers, and are considering a movie after dark at the ballpark. Howe Youth Volleyball will sell funnel cakes and host a volleyball tournament. Howe Youth Softball will be hosting a kickball tournament. The Howe Volunteer Fire Department will have their trucks on-site and are considering a water-balloon fight and a slip ‘n slide. The Howe Development Foundation will be selling drinks including sodas and water. The Howe Chamber will provide a water slide, sell popsicles, and sausage on a stick.

The Girl Scouts Troop 3698 will be selling Cowboy Nachos and the Howe Athletic Booster Club will be selling Dippin Dots.

Others are meeting to determine their role in the event. Howe Youth Football is considering a football throw and Howe Youth Basketball is considering a basketball goal onsite.

All Howe non-profits should contact the Howe Area Chamber of Commerce, info@howechamber.com, to become a part of this event.

Each organization could use sponsorship help as the Howe Chamber’s water slide is sponsored by HIT Exteriors, LLC, TLD Design Consulting, and Housewarmers of Grayson County.

Continued from page 1 celebrated its grand opening on June 28 at its property at 709 North Collins Fwy, Howe, TX 75459, with residents, community members, and dignitaries in attendance The grand opening event marked the completion of the final phase of major improvements to the community made by Havenpark Capital, Pradera MHC’s management company that is focused on securing and improving manufactured home communities to preserve long term affordable housing for their residents

Havenpark Capital took over management of Pradera MHC with the goal of investing in the property’s infrastructure to enhance the lives of their residents Over the past 2 years, there have been significant investments committed for improvements including fixing and laying sidewalks, trimming and planting trees, adding additional landscaping, full renovation of the clubhouse, and the installation of sports courts, pool area, and playgrounds

“I’ve lived at Pradera MHC for more than 10 years, and I’m thrilled to see the work that’s been done to improve the overall community,” said Marlena Mickelson “I am now truly proud to say that I am a resident of this community”

Dozens of community members from nearby towns attended the grand opening event to participate of Commerce, Howe Mayor Jeff Stanley, Director of Economic Development Monte Walker, Howe Chamber board members, local police chiefs, and others

“We are so happy at the positive response we have received from community members, as our mission is to provide safe and affordable housing options,” said Felix Tormos, Community Manager at Pradera MHC “We want to create an environment that fosters community, connection, and respect among our residents We thank everyone that joined us for celebrating this milestone as we fill the last few available homes at Pradera MHC ”

Pradera MHC also offers residents a wide array of amenities including a clubhouse with a business center, pool, two playgrounds, a basketball court, covered mailboxes, and more Havenpark plans additional upgrades as needed on an ongoing basis

Just north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Pradera MHC has 218 homes of various sizes within its community Homes in Pradera MHC are available for purchase or rent Homes available for rent, ranging from 1-bedroom and 1-bathroom to 4-bedroom and 2-bathroom, are priced from $700 to $1,000 All available homes are model year 2017 and each comes with its own porch, central air conditioning, and shed for storage A washer and dryer are provided

Wheeler

the latter part of 1956 followed by Michael, Paula, and Mark

When Wheeler arrived in Howe, there was not a bank, but there were three grocery stores - all in the downtown area

Once he got settled in Howe, he purchased a downtown building, was elected to the school board and city council He and Lucy also joined First Baptist Church in Howe where he later became a deacon

As a city councilman, Wheeler pushed for a water line that was proposed to run west of the railroad tracks along Old Highway 6

"I guess we didn't have the money, but that line would have paid for itself in a hurry with all of the homes that were built out there," said Wheeler "We did some good things and some bad things. We could've done it better"

One of the hardest things for Wheeler was being on the council when Howe Police Chief Ken Vickers was let go of his duties

"I voted for him to stay because I was hoping he could get things turned around. We had a room full, but we had to let him go and that was hard to do," said Wheeler

He says the best thing that ever

Continued from page 3 happened to his family was joining First Baptist Church in 1956 He's served in just about every capacity there is from teaching Sunday School to the youth and helped with the elders

"Harry Cone was the preacher there and he left two weeks after we joined," said Wheeler "He and Jack Norman came down and visited us about joining We needed to get into church We had kids and that's the best thing you can do If you're not going to church, you need to get in a church "

Wheeler says he was saved as a child in Elmont but was too young

"I was drug down the aisle in Hess, Oklahoma," said Wheeler "I went down a sinner and come up a sinner I was just a kid"

Later in life, when his son Michael was baptized, Wheeler was baptized the same day

"I knew there was something lacking, so that's why I did that," said Wheeler

In the mid-1970s, he worked alongside Gerald Hickox and Norman Dickey and others to construct Bicentennial Park where now sits Hash Field, North Field and a t-ball field While volunteering to coach baseball, he once hit a fly ball to a young kid that bounced hard off his forehead That little kid grew up to be Mayor

Jeff Stanley

"I went down to one of the council meetings a few years ago and told him, 'I know I hurt you bad, but I didn't know I hurt you this bad,'" Wheeler joked

Tragedy struck Wheeler in March of 2016 when he lost his wife Lucy of 60 years

"It's like losing half of your life," said Wheeler

He found himself having to do things he never thought of such as cooking, cleaning, and housework He says he eats out quite a bit now, but he can cook and bake a cake

"I can do about anything if I want to," said Wheeler who quickly changed the subject to his grandkids who he obviously cherishes and the time he gets with them

Howe Bulldogs football is one thing that Wheeler has seen a lot of over the years As his eyes looked off to the left, he began to talk about the 1970 regional championship team and of Rick Hanning's high punts Asked if that was the best team he'd seen; he began to stir over the 1985 Bulldogs team that his son Mark was a part of With the team down 16-14 in the regional championship game against Groveton with seconds remaining and Howe within field goal range, Wheeler still believes Howe should've won that game in Corsicana

"Groveton was pretty good, but I thought we were pretty good though," said Wheeler "If they'd have let him (Mark) try it, we'd have probably won the ballgame " Wheeler said he's still a Bulldog fan and hopes Howe will do a better job of keeping their coaches

As anyone who lives a long life, they begin to see their friends pass away and it's been hard for Wheeler He was recently shocked by Chuck Pelkey's death and recently witnessed friends such as Norman Dickey and Marion Allison pass away

Wheeler, himself, experienced bad health recently when he fell in his home which caused a bleed in his esophagus Daughter Paula took him to the hospital where he stayed for two weeks before going to physical therapy He's back at home now and has a walker that he uses, although he says he doesn't need it

After years of driving his friends to the doctor and refusing money for anything he did, he's now the one that has people checking in on him The kids that he and Lucy reared in the church and disciplined are now the ones taking care of the ideal citizen who is aging Howe needs more Billy Joe Wheelers

Local Church Calendar

First United Methodist Church of Howe

Tuesday

9:30 am - Women's Bible Study

6:30 pm Boy Scouts

Wednesday

9:00 am - Wednesday Workers

6:30 pm - JrHigh and Sr High Youth

Saturday 9:00 am - Feed My Sheep (1st and 3rd Sat each month)

Sunday

8:40 am - Fellowship and Donuts

9:00 am - Sunday School

10:00 am - Worship service

3:00 pm - Cub Scouts

First Baptist Church Howe

Tuesday

7:00 pm - Bible Study

Wednesday

6:30 pm - Adult Bible Study

Kids Activities - Check Church FB Page Youth Activities - Check Church FB Page Throughout Summer

Sunday

8:30am - Prayer Time

9:15am - Bible Fellowship

10:30am - Worship Service

First Baptist Church Dorchester

Wednesday

6:00 pm - Meal (Donations for adults and kids eat free)

6:30 pm - Praise service

7:00 pm - Youth Bible Study

7:00 pm - Adult Bible Study

7:00 pm - RA's/GA's/children's group

Sunday 9:00 am - Men's Prayer Time

9:45 am - Sunday School

10:45 am - A M Worship Service

5:00 pm - Adult Chior Practice

6:00 pm - Evening Worship

Howe Church of Christ

Wednesday 7:00 pm - Bible Classes (all ages)

Sunday 9:00 am - Bible Classes (all ages)

10:00 am - Worship Service

5:00 pm - Worship Service

New Beginning Fellowship

Wednesday 7:00 pm - Radiate Youth

7:00 pm - Sanctuary of for prayer

Sunday 9:30 am - Sunday School (kids, youth, women, men)

10:30 am - Worship Service

10:30 am - Kids Church

A Christian Fellowship, Luella

Wednesday

6:30 pm – Potluck Meal

7:00 pm – Worship Service

7:00 pm – Jr & Sr High Youth

Sunday

9:30 am – Sunday School (all ages)

10:30 am – Worship Service

10:30 am – KidZone Children’s Service (5yr – 12 yr)

Community Bible Fellowship

Wednesday 6:30 pm - Food and Fellowship

7:00 pm - Community Kids (ages 3

- 6th grade, nursery available)

7:00 pm - Youth and Adult Bible Study

Sunday 10:30 am - Worship Service

Times are subject to change. Please check with each church for any possible changes

Texoma Hot Jobs

Job Title PUBLIC WORKS OPERATOR workintexas com

Posting ID 6743395

Location Tom Bean

Posting Close Date 07/31/2019

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This position requires a High School Diploma or Equivalent.

Job Title MONTESSORI LOWER ELEMENTARY TEACHER:1ST-3RD

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Description A local company is looking for a MONTESSORI LOWER ELEMENTARY TEACHER:1ST-3RD

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This position requires a Bachelor's Degree, and a minimum of 2 years of related experience

Eugene Clarence White was welcomed home to Heaven on July 4, 2019, at Texoma Healthcare Center in Sherman, Texas

Gene was born in Sherman, TX on Thursday, November 22, 1944, on Thanksgiving Day to parents Eugene Houston and Leah Tuley White Known to many longtime friends and family as “Sonny” he was raised in the Farmington Community Southwest of Howe

Gene was a 1963 graduate of Howe High School and received an Associates Degree from Grayson County College He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Howe Gene married the former Norma Jean Savage in Gunter, Texas on Saturday, April 6th, 1968 They were married 51 years at the time of his death

Gene joined the U S Navy in 1966 and served a tour of duty in Vietnam with NSA Det Cat Lo with the Swift Boats PCF squadron Coastal Division 13 While serving in Vietnam he was awarded a Letter of Commendation and promoted to a second-class electrician in 1967

After serving a tour of duty in Vietnam he was stationed aboard the minesweeper USS Observer MSO 461 from 1968-1970 as second class electrician in Charleston, SC He was also awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon His last duty station was the US Naval Base at Corpus Christi, TX in 1970 and after that served 2 years in the Naval Reserves He was honorably discharged on March 13, 1972 He became 100% disabled from exposure to Agent Orange while serving his country in Vietnam He was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Organization

He was employed by Texas Instruments first in Dallas and then in Sherman, as a Process Engineering Technician for 32 ½