Houston County News - Breakout

Write a comment

By Jan White
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CROCKETT – On Monday, Nov. 21, the Bethel Baptist Church opened its doors to the community to offer a thanksgiving meal for the elderly and homebound.

One of the organizers of the event, KJ Johnson, reported that they feed around 113 people. Police Chief Clayton Smith and the Crockett Police Department were instrumental in delivering the meals.

A special thanks goes out to donors of the food and drinks, including Kathy Gay Murphy, Angie C. Brown, Greg Ritchie, Kathy Colter, DeGerrian Evans, Sha Rhonda Johnson, Kevonna Johnson, and Monica D. Davis. Also, organizers would like to thank Pastor D Moffitt Jr. and his wife Gretchen Moffitt and Bethel Baptist Church for the use of their facilities and kitchen crew and Genell Lamb, who prepared the dressing, pies, and cakes.

Write a comment

By Ellen Brooks

The monthly free produce distribution (food provided by East Texas Food Bank) was held just before Thanksgiving on the third Monday, Nov 21.

Volunteers from Piney Woods Lions Club, Leo Club, and Standing with Crockett handed out food from rows of food at the Civic Center.  ETFB provided about 24 pallets of food this month that included sweet potatoes, Yukon potatoes, onions, carrots, watermelons, a variety of frozen meats and pastries, and 18-count containers of large eggs.  Thanks to everyone that came out to take food home for themselves and for other families.

The Leos also visited the assisted living home Enchanted Pines, on the day before Thanksgiving.  The Leos delivered flowers to each resident.  Many of the residents expressed their gratitude for the youth stopping by to see them.

Write a comment

Rangers perform a graveside service for Judge Elijah Gossett. Courtesy Photo

By Jan White
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CROCKETT – Judge Elijah Gossett was honored by the Texas Rangers at a ceremony held on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Glenwood Cemetery in Crockett.

Gossett was born in Tennessee in 1788. His family moved to Texas in 1833 and settled in the community of Hurricane Bayou, just north of where Crockett is presently located. Because of concerns over local settlements’ vulnerability to Indian hostilities, Texas President Sam Houston organized mounted men in the area to help maintain order. Gossett was part of the first group to organize itself under the command of Captain Elisha Clapp. Clapp and his Mounted Rangers received an order to range from any point on the Brazos to Mr. Hall’s Trading Post on the Trinity, where he served from September 10, 1836, to December 12, 1836. After his death on November 24, 1948, Gossett was buried at the Glenwood Cemetery.

The ceremony conducted on Saturday was to honor Gossett’s service by presenting him with a Texas Ranger Memorial Cross. The cross is 18” x 36” with a mounted Texas Ranger circle star badge at its apex. It is made of steel and powder-coated for protection from the outside elements.

A fiddle duet performed by Hannah Keith and Bekah Clay opened the ceremony, which included the reading of the life of Judge Gossett, information on the Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT), the induction of new members to the SRT, and the unveiling of the Texas Rangers Memorial Cross. The members inducted into the SRT are four descendants of Gossett – Kenneth P. Cowin, Daniel R. Cowin, Matthew A. Cowin, and Levi P. Clay.

Excerpts from a story written by Daniel Cowin about Gossett were read by his daughter, Hannah. Cowin, fourth great-grandson of Gossett, wrote the article from Elijah Gossett’s point of view, telling of his longtime friendship with David Crockett and his experiences as Chief Justice of Houston County.

Crockett Mayor Dr. Ianthia Fisher read a proclamation honoring Gossett. Following the ceremony, guests were invited to take pictures with Gossett’s descendants in front of the mural on Goliad Avenue.

in the area to help maintain order. Gossett was part of the first group to organize itself under the command of Captain Elisha Clapp. Clapp and his Mounted Rangers received an order to range from any point on the Brazos to Mr. Hall’s Trading Post on the Trinity, where he served from September 10, 1836, to December 12, 1836. After his death on November 24, 1948, Gossett was buried at the Glenwood Cemetery.

The ceremony conducted on Saturday was to honor Gossett’s service by presenting him with a Texas Ranger Memorial Cross. The cross is 18” x 36” with a mounted Texas Ranger circle star badge at its apex. It is made of steel and powder-coated for protection from the outside elements.

A fiddle duet performed by Hannah Keith and Bekah Clay opened the ceremony, which included the reading of the life of Judge Gossett, information on the Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT), the induction of new members to the SRT, and the unveiling of the Texas Rangers Memorial Cross. The members inducted into the SRT are four descendants of Gossett – Kenneth P. Cowin, Daniel R. Cowin, Matthew A. Cowin, and Levi P. Clay.

Excerpts from a story written by Daniel Cowin about Gossett were read by his daughter, Hannah. Cowin, fourth great-grandson of Gossett, wrote the article from Elijah Gossett’s point of view, telling of his longtime friendship with David Crockett and his experiences as Chief Justice of Houston County.

Crockett Mayor Dr. Ianthia Fisher read a proclamation honoring Gossett. Following the ceremony, guests were invited to take pictures with Gossett’s descendants in front of the mural on Goliad Avenue.

the area to help maintain order. Gossett was part of the first group to organize itself under the command of Captain Elisha Clapp. Clapp and his Mounted Rangers received an order to range from any point on the Brazos to Mr. Hall’s Trading Post on the Trinity, where he served from September 10, 1836, to December 12, 1836. After his death on November 24, 1948, Gossett was buried at the Glenwood Cemetery.

The ceremony conducted on Saturday was to honor Gossett’s service by presenting him with a Texas Ranger Memorial Cross. The cross is 18” x 36” with a mounted Texas Ranger circle star badge at its apex. It is made of steel and powder-coated for protection from the outside elements.

A fiddle duet performed by Hannah Keith and Bekah Clay opened the ceremony, which included the reading of the life of Judge Gossett, information on the Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT), the induction of new members to the SRT, and the unveiling of the Texas Rangers Memorial Cross. The members inducted into the SRT are four descendants of Gossett – Kenneth P. Cowin, Daniel R. Cowin, Matthew A. Cowin, and Levi P. Clay.

Excerpts from a story written by Daniel Cowin about Gossett were read by his daughter, Hannah. Cowin, fourth great-grandson of Gossett, wrote the article from Elijah Gossett’s point of view, telling of his longtime friendship with David Crockett and his experiences as Chief Justice of Houston County.

Crockett Mayor Dr. Ianthia Fisher read a proclamation honoring Gossett. Following the ceremony, guests were invited to take pictures with Gossett’s descendants in front of the mural on Goliad Avenue.

Write a comment

By Jan White
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CROCKETT – In the regular board meeting of the Crockett Economic and Development Corporation (CEIDC), investors from the Houston area gave a presentation on a proposal for Project Texas Futura – an oil re-refinery endeavor in Crockett.

The investors previously reached out to the CEIDC with a proposal back in 2018 – 2019, but because of Covid, plans were delayed. The company plans to start with a small, one-acre plot. The company will refine or ‘repurpose’ oil to be used in passenger car motor oil, light-grade hydraulics, and transmission fluid.

Although the re-refinery would bring a handful of jobs to Crockett, there would have to be some reconfiguring of the CEIDC’s plan to lay a commercial-grade gas line in the Industrial Park. The presentation was for informational purposes, and there was no action taken on the matter.

The board also discussed funding the “Early Morning” project, which is the construction of the Starbucks located across Loop 304 from Walmart. The business made a request for additional funding to help with the construction of the project. No action was taken on the matter.

After a brief adjournment to Executive Session, the board reconvened but took no action on the items discussed during the session.

The meeting closed with a summary of community outreach activities by CEIDC. Executive Director James Gentry said that the agreement with the Workforce Commission for the purchase of a forklift and medical equipment for the Crockett ISD was nearing completion.

Gentry also reported that the CEIDC is exploring the possibility of acquiring the designation of a Free Trade Agreement, which would allow the import and export of goods and services without some of the tariffs, quotas, and other trade restrictions, and give the CEIDC a competitive edge in attracting new businesses to the area.