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Rotary Club learns all about FCCLA

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Livingston High School CTE (Career/Tech) Coordinator Blake Thornton and FCCLA students Emma Bradley, Jy’Asia Terry, Cole Gann and Sofia Fitzgerald stand with Rotary President Brandon Wigent after presenting a program for the Rotary Club of Livingston recently. Photo by Emily Banks WootenLivingston High School CTE (Career/Tech) Coordinator Blake Thornton and FCCLA students Emma Bradley, Jy’Asia Terry, Cole Gann and Sofia Fitzgerald stand with Rotary President Brandon Wigent after presenting a program for the Rotary Club of Livingston recently. Photo by Emily Banks Wooten

By Emily Banks Wooten
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Livingston High School CTE (Career/Tech) Coordinator Blake Thornton and four Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) students recently presented a program for the Rotary Club of Livingston. Cole Gann, Jy’Asia Terry, Emma Bradley and Sofia Fitzgerald all serve as regional and state officers for Texas FCCLA.

Prior to turning it over to the students, Thornton provided a recap of the FCCLA achievements from the 2022-2023 school year. Three students were elected to serve as Region IV officers and one student was elected to serve as a Texas FCCLA state officer for the 2023-2024 school year. Thirty-three teams competed at the regional level, with four students placing first, five placing second, one placing third, four placing fourth and three placing fifth.

During the Region IV conference, $12,500 in scholarships were awarded to competitors from the Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. For the Region IV service project, 102 items were donated to CASA of Galveston. Seventeen teams competed at state, with one placing first, two placing third and two placing fifth.

There was one competitor at the national conference. The region and state officers also attended and gained valuable leadership skills throughout the week in Denver. One student brought home a gold medal in her event, placing fourth in the nation. The students attending national had the opportunity to visit Garden of the Gods, the Air Force Academy and Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.

Members at the national conference listened to national officer candidate speeches and gave valuable insight to the voting delegates for Texas FCCLA which had two national officer candidates, with one being successfully elected.

The region and state officers attended a week-long officer training camp. During this time, they planned yearly fall leadership, region conference and state conference. They created media materials to be used throughout the year and learned how to be leaders and advocate for FCCLA. They selected “Uncover the possibilities” as the theme for the 2023-2024 school year. They also practiced etiquette and parliamentary procedures.

The students shared how the opportunity to join FCCLA organization is offered to any students enrolled in family and consumer sciences classes anywhere in the country. The LHS chapter has monthly meetings and events. They encourage members to compete and engage in leadership activities, attend regional conferences and workshops. LHS hosted a fall leadership workshop that introduced new members to community service opportunities and a record 130 students attended from Livingston and surrounding schools. The local chapter at LHS has a school record of almost 300 members. There are 28,000 members in the state and LHS has had much success at the state and national level competitions. The FCCLA advisors are Chef Kristi Gann, Cayla Young and Laura Gokey.

Cole Gann talked about the number of ways to get involved and reviewed some of the goals for this year, one of which is to show every one of the members that they have a place with FCCLA.

Jy’Asia Terry talked about how FCCLA participation benefits the school and the students by providing scholarships and introducing them to various careers. She said they have the opportunity to compete in events and participate in job interviews which helps to prepare them for the real world. She said their national leadership conference will be in Seattle, Wash. this year.

Sofia Fitzgerald talked about attending the leadership conferences and how FCCLA creates a safe environment for students, allowing them to take the lead in their studies and their lives. She also spoke highly of the FCCLA advisors, adding that they serve in leadership positions within the region.

Emma Bradley talked about the various community service projects in which the students participate.

“Unfortunately, we hear all the negatives that go on in the world, but I could bring in any one of these individuals and say this is representative of our best students. They understand respect and hard work and it makes me proud to see them grow as people,” Thornton said.

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Help shape the county’s future

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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Survey1 QRAs of Tuesday afternoon, there had been 257 responses to the countywide survey that went live Sept. 11. Of those, 193 were resident surveys, 29 were business surveys and 35 were elected official/government staff surveys. While that may be a good start, additional input is sought.

Due to the overwhelming growth Polk County has experienced in recent years, the Polk County Commissioners Court approved entering into a strategic planning process that is a collaborative effort aimed at developing a comprehensive countywide strategic plan. Once developed, this plan will serve as a roadmap to guide the collective vision and goals for Polk County. It will outline the aspirations, priorities and strategies to enhance various aspects of the community, including economic growth, public services, infrastructure development and more.

The collaboration is between Polk County, the Polk County Economic Development Corporation and the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce.

There are three distinct surveys being used to gather insight from residents, local business owners and entrepreneurs, and elected officials and government staff members. The Polk County Strategic Planning Committee recognizes the importance of involving all stakeholders in the planning process to ensure a well-rounded and inclusive strategy. The surveys have been carefully crafted to capture perspectives from different points of view, to help understand the unique needs, aspirations and priorities of the diverse community.

All county residents are encouraged to participate in the survey to share thoughts on various aspects of the community. From public services and recreational opportunities to transportation and environmental concerns, the survey results will contribute to a well-rounded strategic plan that enhances the quality of life for everyone.

Survey2 QREach survey is designed to be quick and easy to complete, taking just a few minutes to complete. Participants are welcome to take one or all three surveys, depending on their unique viewpoints and interests. Input will help create a strategic plan that truly reflects the aspirations of the entire community.

  For those who may not have access to a computer, Priscilla Emrich, director of the Livingston Municipal Library, has agreed to provide stations for community members to complete the survey. Livingston Municipal Library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. It is located at 707 N. Tyler Ave. in Livingston.

For additional information about the strategic planning process, please visit the website at https://www.co.polk.tx.us/page/polk.county.news.

 

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HISTORIC RENOVATION CONTINUES

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HistoricRenovation

Over time, the brick and mortar have seen their fair share of challenges from washing methods and natural wear, and numerous patches have been made due to the building’s shifting, resulting in a lack of uniform color. To combat this, the contractor, Komatsu Architecture, worked closely with the Texas Historical Commission to find the perfect mixture of historically accurate mortar – one that is soft, permeable and matches the original color. Surprises have occurred. A concealed door was found within the exterior east wall of the basement. Also uncovered was evidence of the stage’s expansion. They are presently in the process of removing the “add-on” section of the stage, paving the way for an updated floor plan for the stage area, complete with a shiny new door in the basement. Committed to maintaining historic accuracy, the historic facilities from the third-floor restroom were carefully relocated and will be reinstalled when the time is right. Contractors are presently in the “discovery” phase, ensuring that everything that is revealed aligns with the original plans. Photo by Brian Besch

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Petition efforts continue for electric rate review of city

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From Enterprise Staff

As of Friday afternoon, over 150 people had signed the petition being circulated by “Citizens of Livingston for Fair and Equitable Rates,” the coalition of residents and business owners that is gathering signatures to petition the Public Utility Commission of Texas for a review of the City of Livingston’s electric service rates.

“We’re seeking a remedy for the ongoing lack of transparency from our city officials and the outrageous electric rates assessed on City of Livingston electric customers,” Joshua Grant said.

“If you have not yet signed the petition, we will be in front of Patron Grill from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday for anyone who would like to sign. Please share with your friends, family and neighbors who live in the city limits of Livingston and are registered to vote,” Grant said.

“We are making excellent progress with the petition, but we still have a ways to go. We need a bare minimum of 276 signatures and would like to have between 350-500 with 3 weeks left to file our petition with the state. While we are happy with the progress, we could really use help canvassing neighborhoods going door to door to gather more. If you’re able to dedicate one evening or more to canvassing in your or another neighborhood, please let me know,” Grant said.

For additional information or to volunteer, go to livingstonratereview.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Students recognized

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Emma Bradley, Jy’Asia Terry, and Cole Gann addressed the LISD Board of Trustees during the September meeting. Gann shared that the LHS chapter has a record number of almost 300 student members of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). These leaders serve as regional and state officers for Texas FCCLA.Emma Bradley, Jy’Asia Terry, and Cole Gann addressed the LISD Board of Trustees during the September meeting. Gann shared that the LHS chapter has a record number of almost 300 student members of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). These leaders serve as regional and state officers for Texas FCCLA.

By Brian Besch
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The September meeting of the Livingston ISD Board of Trustees opened with student recognition. Officers of the Livingston High School chapter of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) including Emma Bradley, Jy’Asia Terry, and Cole Gann addressed the board.

The group shared how the opportunity to join the FCCLA organization is offered to any students enrolled in Family and Consumer Sciences classes anywhere in the country. The LHS chapter has monthly meetings and events. They encourage members to compete and engage in leadership activities, and to also attend regional conferences and workshops.

LHS hosted a fall leadership workshop that introduced new members to community service opportunities, and a record of 130 students attended from Livingston and surrounding schools. The local chapter at LHS has more members than ever before at almost 300. There are 28,000 members in the state, and LHS has had much success at the state and national level competitions. FCCLA advisors are Chef Kristi Gann, Cayla Young, and Laura Gokey. 

Livingston superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins said the district will soon have numbers on those registered in college classes.

“At the next board meeting, we will inform you of our enrollment in both academic college and CTE dual credit courses,” Hawkins said. “The number of students earning certifications is a significant thing we do right now. There is not a larger indicator in the state right now. The commissioner is pushing that part of the piece of accountability. I would like to celebrate the success of being able to shift and transition in a relatively short time with our higher (education) partners – the three Lamar schools. I’m very proud of where we stand today with 583 courses that our students are enrolled in. This number is up from last year, a drastic difference from 2013, when we compare to 48 students having to pay their tuition and fees. This isn’t the destination, but I would like to thank everyone along the way. A lot of people make things happen, and a lot of people came together to make this happen.”

The board approved the several items under the consent agenda. Among them were minutes from previous board meetings, financial statement and payment of bills, overnight trips, and personal property donations. Also approved was the quarterly investment report and annual investment report. The district realized $524,744 in interest earnings during the June-August quarter and $1,731,185.53 in interest earnings during the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

The consent agenda included the sale of property acquired by sheriff seizure, designation of non-business days for purposes of the Texas Public Information Act under HB 3033, and approval of Craig Davis as the authorized official for the bullet-resistant shield grant. Continuing, the purchase of replacement of the serving lines at Timber Creek Elementary, Pine Ridge Primary, and Livingston Junior High for $297,272.93 will be paid out of the Child Nutrition Fund. There will also be an increase in extracurricular student meals from $7 to $8 per student.

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