By Chuck Davidson CHESTER – With a meal provided later by the Chester Buyer’s Club on Thursday, Jan. 26, Superintendent Dr. Paul Drake welcomed about 75 community members who came to learn about the district’s facility needs and review ideas for bond propositions. Chester ISD has served the Chester community for more than 100 years and currently has several old buildings needing major upgrades or replacement. Goodwin-Lasiter-Strong out of Lufkin recently completed a structural assessment on all campus buildings and presented updates as to what is needed for each one. Bottom line: this audit recommends that the current high school building (not the gymnasium) and the current junior high building and old gym be demolished. Both buildings are out of compliance with security gaps and the high school has asbestos which must be abated. An analysis by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) estimated that it would cost more than 125% to remodel these vs replacing them. The preliminary…

Top firefighters for 2022 include (from left) Scott Womack, Jerry Tullos, Neal Smith, Ricky Hortman, John Chamberlain, Billy Slaughter and Dustin Napier. Photo by Tony Farkas By Tony Farkaseditor@trinityconews.com TRINITY — Firefighters were honored for years of service as well as their service the past year at the annual Trinity Fire Department banquet on Thursday. Assistant Chief Keith Johnson said 2022 was the busiest year in the department’s 109-year history. “We responded to 210 calls this past year, with eight of those being wildfires of 100 acres or more,” he said. “I’m proud to say we lost only a greenhouse and storage shed and had no injuries of firefighters.” Fire Chief Wayne Huffman was named top firefighter for 2022, with Johnson in second place and Truman Withers in third. Additionally, nine members were honored for five or more years of service; retiring member Larry Hortman was honored for 24 years of service; and other retired firefighters were acknowledged. Service Awards…

Livingston Junior High School Student Josylin Clark placed third and Livingston Junior High School Student Edward Turk placed first in a Patriot’s Pen essay contest for junior high school students that was sponsored by the VFW Post 8568. The students read their essays and were presented with medals and a cash scholarship during a scholarship banquet Monday. (l-r) Post Quartermaster Dannelle Reichert, Clark, Turk and Post Commander Phillip Sinnett. Courtesy photo By Kristina MillerContributing Writer The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8568 and Auxiliary hosted the 2022-2023 Scholarship Awards Banquet Monday. In the fall, the VFW sponsored a Patriot’s Pen essay contest for junior high students. Livingston Junior High student Josylin Clark placed third for the post, White Oak Middle School student, Brady Mears placed second and LJH student Edward Turk placed first. The students read their essays aloud and were presented with medals and a cash scholarship. Post Commander Sinnett told the…

From Enterprise Staff An Azle woman died from injuries sustained in an automobile/pedestrian accident that occurred at 10:50 a.m. Sunday in downtown Livingston. According to the accident report filed by Livingston Police Officer Chad Lilley, a 2022 Chevrolet C2500 pickup truck driven by Wesley A. Bryant, 36 of Livingston, was stopped at a red light facing south on Washington Avenue, attempting to turn east. Teressa M. May, 55 of Azle, was attempting to cross the roadway heading north but was not in the crosswalk. As the light turned green for Bryant to go, he waited on two cars to continue north before making his turn to the east. He made his turn at the same time May began to cross the street east of the crosswalk, striking her. May was transported to St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Hospital emergency room in Livingston via Allegiance Ambulance and died at 1:54 p.m. No charges were filed in conjunction with the accident.