FBC Memorial Bell Plaza

Librarian First Baptist

(Continued from page 1) Church creating substitute. She returned to fulltime Memorial Bell Plaza teaching last year as a kindergarten teacher in Trenton.

Stricklin says the Howe Librarian position is the only job she applied for and was surprised when getting the call.

“I definitely thought there would be someone (apply) with a lot more experience, but I had served on the library board in Van Alstyne which was helpful,” said Stricklin who finished her Library Practicum in McKinney during the 2020 year during the pandemic.

She says that she loves the small town atmosphere although saying it is much bigger than Trenton where she came from.

“Everyone is so kind when they come in,” said Stricklin. “Everyone says it’s such a nice peaceful place.” She says the uniqueness of the Howe Community Library serving both the school and the public is a very different concept than what she’s used to. A library director in a school district does not deal with patrons from the public.

“But I like that because you’re able to have the public library interaction and meet people in the community and also work in the school,” said Stricklin. The original bell at the First Baptist Church of Howe was installed in 1905 in a constructed belfry that was added to the original First Baptist Church of Howe at the corner of Davis and Denny Streets (present location of the tire shop).

In 1955, the bell was removed and placed in the new auditorium across the street where the Baptist Fellowship Hall now currently located. It remained there even when the new sanctuary was constructed in the mid1970s.

Sometime during the 1980s, the bell was removed because of weathered and dangerous rafters. It's been in storage behind the church office since. Church members have made a couple of attempts to resurrect it and it's finally happening thanks to the Memory Bell Committee led by Art Rayburn.

Former Library Director Melissa Atchison has been helpful in the transition as she has been to the library three or four times to help Stricklin.

She says the popular summer programs will remain in place during June 2023.

ments to this building [Community Center] as well as City Hall and any other things we need to have done. We still have wells that still need to be updated.”

Stanley said the note would be for seven years and coming out of the Maintenance and Operating funds instead of Interest and Sinking funds where debt money typically resides.

Mayor Bill French said the creation of the $277,000 loan project makes the rate acceptable and legal.

Councilman Joe Shephard asked what the time frame was to borrow the $277,000 in which Stanley said he was still working through the details as the actual tax rate has to be set by Sept. 15. Councilmember Sarah Myrick suggested setting the preliminary tax rate at $0.54 then having another special meeting called with details and specifics about the loan before the actual tax rate is confirmed.

The public hearing for setting the tax rate and for the loans would take place during the same meeting next month according to Stanley.

He said that the total tax burden would increase per household by approximately $20. Shephard suggested it could be higher than that.

Councilman Dale Rideout made a motion to set the preliminary tax rate at $0.54 which was second by Myrick. The final vote was three to one as Shephard was the only dissenting vote.

The council then reluctantly voted to accept the resignation of Kerri Pruitt as the city secretary as she is moving to East Texas. Mayor French remarked how valuable she has been to the city in her five years.

“You’ve been such a remarkable addition to the staff, and you have contributed above anything we had ever hoped for, and we thank you for that,” said French.

The council later approved Regina Harris to take over as city secretary on September 1. Whitesboro 2-0. Farmersville then beat Howe 2-0 and Denton Calvary took down the Lady Bulldogs 2-0. Howe lost to Sherman 2-0 and to S&S by the same score. Tioga defeated Howe 2-0 before Howe got in the win column with a 2-0 win over Gainesville. Howe finished out the tournament with a 2-0 loss to Callisburg.

Stats

Frisco Leadership Prep 2, Howe 0 Kendall Griffin- 2 aces, 3 kills, 6 digs Kamry Snapp- 1 ace, 2 kills Talia Bjorn- 3 aces, 2 kills Korie Bouse- 1 ace, 2 digs, 12 assists Presley Shockey- 3 kills, 1 block Emery Snapp- 3 kills Jenna Clark- 4 digs Teagan Stubblefield- 4 digs Reese Smith- 3 digs Jordan Brunner- 2 digs

Whitesboro 2, Howe 0 Kendall Griffin- 1 ace, 3 kills, 5 digs Kamry Snapp- 1 kill Talia Bjorn- 2 digs Korie Bouse- 6 assists, 3 digs Presley Shockey- 1 ace, 2 kills Emery Snapp- 1 kill, 1 dig Jenna Clark- 2 digs Teagan Stubblefield- 1 ace, 4 digs Shelbee Taylor- 1 ace Reese Smith- 4 digs Jordan Brunner- 3 digs

Farmersville 2, Howe 0 Kendall Griffin- 1 kill, 1 ace, 3 digs Kamry Snapp- 1 kill, 1 block Talia Bjorn- 2 assists, 3 digs Korie Bouse- 1 ace, 3 assists, 4 digs Presley Shockey- 2 kills, 1 block Emery Snapp- 1 kill Jenna Clark- 2 digs Teagan Stubblefield- 2 digs Shelbee Taylor- 1 kill,1 block, 1 assist Reese Smith- 3 digs Jordan Brunner- 1 dig

Denton Calvary 2, Howe 0 Kendall Griffin- 2 kills, 1 dig Kamry Snapp- 2 aces, 2 kills, 1 block, 8 digs Talia Bjorn- 1 dig, 2 assists Korie Bouse- 7 assists, 1 dig Presley Shockey- 3 kills, 1 dig Emery Snapp- 3 kills, 3 digs Jenna Clark- 3 digs Keira Robertson- 2 digs Teagan Stubblefield- 1 ace, 6 digs

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2021-2022 rate, but due to rising property valuations, the overall impact to taxpayers will increase slightly. The average household increase will be roughly $50 higher than a year ago, however, those with higher valuations will see a higher tax burden.

The enrollment on the first day of school was 1,240 which is an increase of 29 students from the same period a year ago. It’s an increase of 32 students from 10 years ago and 340 from 30 years ago. By Monday’s meeting, they had gained 15 students which puts them at 1,255 currently.

The ISD performed their required exterior door checks. Wilson said there were several doors that needed some adjusting and were corrected. All doors are functional currently.

“This is going to be an ongoing issue because three of our campuses are 20plus years old and some are 50 years old,” said Wilson who said weekly door checks will be taking place.

New cameras were also installed at the high school which Wilson says is a significant upgrade.

The school participated in Active Shooter Training with staff members. All of the substitute teachers were also trained in safety procedures.

Keyless card readers have been in-

Howe ISD Superintendent Kevin Wilson

stalled in the Administration Office which is controlled by a switch or an app.

Graduation was set for Saturday at 2 pm on May 27 in the Howe High School Gymnasium. There was a great discussion between board members and Wilson whether to move it to Bulldog Stadium on a Friday night as the gymnasium is becoming too crowded for the ceremony. The stadium holds approximately 2,000 on the home side bleachers as opposed to the gymnasium’s 1,000 capacity. It was mentioned that this could be the last year for graduation in the gym.