Generalexcellence

Page 1

Health & Fitness Special - page 4B

The Farmersville Times • Farmersville, Texas, Thursday, January 28, 2016

Serving Farmersville and East Collin County Since 1885

• 2 Sections, 12 Pages

75¢

Election filing continues By Wyndi Veigel News Editor

news@farmersvilletimes.com Currently, two incumbents have filed to keep their seats both for mayor and for city council. Filing officially opened Jan. 20. Current Mayor Joe Helmberger has filed to run in the May 7 election to keep his seat as mayor. “There are a myriad of reasons but the main reason is to continue to facilitate the progress being made in the city with the reconstruction and renovation to the city’s aging infrastructure and to continue the planning required to prepare the city for future growth,” Helmberger said. He was elected in 2010 and has served as mayor since that time. Helmberger has been active within the community, previously serving on the FISD Board of Trustees for 10 years; president of the Farmersville Athletic Association; past chairman of the Farmersville Recreational Center Feasibility Committee; past member of the Farmersville Branding Committee; president of the Farmersville Marketing Committee; past president of the Farmersville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; past president of the Farmersville Economic Development Corporation (4A); chairman of the 2011 Audie Murphy Day Committee; chairman of the 2011 Old Time Saturday Auction Committee; past director of the Northern Collin County Leadership Program Executive Committee; past president of the Parish Pastoral Council, St. Anthony Catholic Church; president of the Building Committee, St. Anthony Catholic Church; Cantor at St. Anthony See FILING page 7A Contact us at: 972-784-6397 or news@farmersvilletimes.com www.farmersvilletimes.com

Food for fines continues at library

The Rike Library is hosting their annual Food for Fines program through Feb. 27. Each food item donated equals $1 of fine forgiveness. All food will be donated to the Farmersville food pantry. Food items must be brought to the circulation desk.

Inside

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .3B Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . .. .3A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6A Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . 3B Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1B

Lake Lavon Levels Normal – 492

494.17

as of 1/26/16 Lake Jim Chapman Normal 440 – Current 441.44

Source: US Army Corps of Engineers

Volume 130 Issue 8

Wyndi Veigel/The Farmersville Times

A Greenville Fire Engine slammed into the Farmersville Dairy Queen Jan. 20. Three people suffered minor injuries in the crash. For more photos see page 8A.

Fire engine crashes into Dairy Queen By Wyndi Veigel News Editor

news@farmersvilletimes.com “It’s like a nightmare.” Dairy Queen owner Joe McKee awoke Jan. 20 not knowing that within hours his life and his business would be forever changed. Hundreds are without their favorite eatery for a while after a Greenville fire engine slammed into the Farmersville Dairy Queen Jan. 20. The Dairy Queen, located at 201 Hwy. 380 East, has been in business for more than 60 years and owned by

McKee for 30 years. While standing near the back of the building talking to his son on the phone, McKee heard a huge noise. “It sounded like a bomb went off and I told my son to head this direction that something has happened,” he said. The fire engine crashed into the building at approximately 11:30 a.m. Emergency responders were on scene almost instantly as texts and pages about the incident flooded phones across Farmersville. The fire engine was being driven by Christopher

Shawver, 36, of Ponder. Shawyer is an employee of Siddons-Martin Emergency Group in Denton and according to information released by the city of Greenville, he was returning the fire engine to Greenville after it underwent maintenance repairs. It is unknown at this time what these repairs were, however, the Pierce fire apparatus had only been in service about six months, according to reports. “City of Greenville officials See DAIRY page 8A

Christmas redone for families By Joe Reavis

Wyndi Veigel/The Farmersville Times

The tail end of a Greenville fire engine peeks out from beneath the Dairy Queen structure.

City secretary resigns By Wyndi Veigel

Staff Writer

News Editor

news@farmersvilletimes.com

news@farmersvilletimes.com

A room brimming with gifts awaited area families who were victims of the Dec. 26 tornados in a DoOver Christmas hosted over the weekend by Farmersville VFW Post 7426 in conjunction with a number of motorcycle clubs across Texas. Christmas gifts replacing ones lost in the tornado were given to about 20 families and children got to thank Santa Claus, who arrived at the VFW astride a shop-built chopper tricycle. Santa was Earnest Matthews of Van Alstyne, a member of Lone Star Santas. The event was put together by Bikers United Disaster Relief Teams (BUDRT), which contacted the VFW to volunteer its manpower and expertise, VFW Post Commander Darrell Moore reported. “It was great, but I am tired,” Moore declared. “It was well worth it.” One of the first to show up Saturday Jose and Zuleyma Santillamo and their three children, Junior, Hayti and Michael. The Santillamo family sustained injuries, lost their home and lost an infant,

The city of Farmersville is currently without a city secretary after Edie Sims turned in her resignation Jan. 21. City of Farmersville representatives cannot comment on what led to the resignation because it is a personnel matter. Sims had been city secretary for Farmersville for more than seven years. Her resignation was effective immediately.

Currently, the job duties of city secretary are being handled by Paula Jackson, and according to City Manager Ben White, a part-time office assistant is being hired to help with general office duties until city council can provide directive on what will be done. There is a closed session agenda item regarding the resignation of the city secretary and an agenda item listed to appoint Paula Jackson as interim city secretary on the Jan. 26 city council agenda.

Joe Reavis/The Farmersville Times

The Santillamo family of Blue Ridge, which lost their home and sustained injuries in the Dec. 26 tornado, check out a table full of treats at the Do-Over Christmas event hosted at Farmersville VFW Post 7426. Pictured in front are Hayti, Junior and Michael, with Mom and Dad, Zuleyma and Jose, behind. Aaleyah, in the tornado. Mom and Dad followed their children around the post as they selected wrapped gifts and goodies, visited with Santa and met several therapy dogs that were on hand. Slated for one day, Saturday, the Do-Over was extended to Sunday in order to assist more families from the Farmersville, Copeville and Blue Ridge area who suffered losses in the tornado. Moore says the members of the VFW

took a back seat to much of the goings-on, providing the facility and volunteer help as needed. The VFW post, however, has raised more than $5,000 for tornado relief, an amount that the national organization will match, Post Chaplain Ron Brown reported. “This is our first attempt to have a location event, to throw a party,” BUDRT State See REDO page 2A

Headed to the top

Wyndi Veigel/The Farmersville Times

Ty Rolen received several awards at the Collin County Junior Livestock Show. He received Reserve ARB Breed Champion with his heifer Bonnie, first in class with his Red Angus, Freckles and first in class with his Hereford, Miami, which is pictured with Rolen. For the FFA page, see page 4A.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Generalexcellence by msjournalist - Issuu