Polk County News

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Facility embarks on program promoting healthy living

From Enterprise Staff

IAH Secure Adult Detention Facility is embarking on a new yearlong campaign to help its residents focus on their health. This new initiative is happening at Management & Training Corporation facilities throughout the country.

“It’s no secret that making a few small changes to our diet or being a little more active can go a long way in our overall health,” IAH Facility Administrator Alexander Sanchez said. “MTC’s mission is to help people succeed in life. We deeply care about our residents and want them to be healthy during their time with us and throughout their lives.”

The new 2022 campaign will focus on four areas, one per quarter. They are healthy eating, fitness, mental health and environmental health.

Eating a salad a day increases the levels of vitamins and minerals in the blood stream. Leafy greens are the foundation for any hearty salad and offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits to the body.

For the first quarter, the plan is to provide nutritious salads as an option for lunch Monday through Friday to the residents who wish to take part in the mission to eat healthier.

“Our awesome staff will be a big part of rolling out this healthy eating initiative, and as mentors, will improve their health in the process,” Sanchez said.

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From Enterprise Staff

Polk County Criminal District Attorney William Lee Hon made the decision today to “decline acceptance” of the Polk Countian of the Year award he was presented last Thursday at the 86th annual awards banquet of the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce.

Presentation of the award came as a shock to many as the chamber has always had a strict policy of not presenting awards to political candidates during election years. Hon is presently a candidate for 258th District Judge.

Such an uproar ensued that a special called meeting of the chamber’s board of directors was held Monday–lasting five hours the Enterprise was told–in which the board accepted the resignation of Janet Wiggins, its president/CEO. Wiggins is Hon’s first cousin. It’s been intimated that Hon was selected over other nominees who Wiggins allegedly deemed ineligible.

“I had no prior knowledge of my consideration for the award, my nomination, or that my children would surprise me by being there for the presentation. As you might expect, it was a very emotional and uplifting evening. Subsequent to that evening, it was brought to my attention that due to my present candidacy for district judge and pursuant to some written or unwritten chamber rule or bylaw, I should not have been considered for the award,” Hon said in a press release emailed to the Enterprise Wednesday.

He added that he and his family have subsequently “been subjected to scurrilous public criticism by my political opponents to the point that any honor associated with the award has lost its luster.

“I have been informed by members of the chamber board that a nominations committee considered and approved my award–presumably well before January 27th and with ample time to be aware of my candidacy for district judge. Why the award was allowed to proceed I do not know,” Hon’s press release said.

“I did not seek it, nor expect it. My career has never been motivated by the pursuit of personal accolades but rather by a simple desire to give back to the community I grew up in and that I have called home for the vast majority of my life,” Hon’s press release stated.

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From Enterprise Staff

Two people were shot, one fatally, following an altercation that occurred at the Down Under Club in the 300 block of Pan American Drive early Sunday and a local man has been charged with murder.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Ranger responded to the 911 call arrived at the scene and learned that two people had been shot and taken to St. Luke’s Health Memorial Hospital by personal vehicles, according to Chief Deputy Rickie Childers. Jeric Smith, 26, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Tykedrick Love, 22, was air-lifted to a Houston hospital.

The suspect, Marcell Thomas Jr., 39 of Corrigan, turned himself in to the sheriff’s office where he was interviewed by investigators, charged with murder and booked into the Polk County Jail.

The case is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 936-327-6810.

“We would like to thank the Livingston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Ranger Eric Lopez for their assistance in the investigation,” Childers said.   

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From Enterprise Staff

The Board of Directors of the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce accepted the resignation of President/CEO Janet Wiggins Monday following “an exceptionally long and arduous special called meeting” according to an email that went out to all chamber members Tuesday, notifying them of the resignation.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, I would like to express our appreciation to Janet for her many contributions to the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce. Please join me in wishing her well with her future endeavors,” the email continued before listing the current board: Chairman Craig Jones, Chair-Elect Andrew Boyce, Treasurer Brandon Wigent, Vice Chair Amber Dominy, Vice Chair Dan Ellis, Vice Chair Krystal Parker, Vice Chair Mandy Wilson, Past Chair John Clifton and Directors Tina Alexander-Sellers, Matt Anderson, Kim Brown, Cheryl Downing, Judy Ebert, Joyce Knierim, Shane Lyons and Kole Puckett.

The brouhaha stemmed from the presentation of the Polk Countian of the Year Award to Lee Hon, Wiggins first cousin, at the culmination of the chamber’s 86^th annual awards banquet. It came as a surprise to many in attendance as the chamber has always had a strict policy of not presenting awards to individuals seeking office during election years. Hon, the Polk County district attorney, is running for 258^th District judge in a contentious race against Incumbent 258^th District Judge Travis Kitchens.