Polk County News - Breakout

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Country Place Senior Living broke ground for its new memory care residence on April 13. The memory care residence will be located next door to Country Place’s assisted living residence located at 1860 N. Washington Ave. in Livingston. (l-r) Country Place President Andrew Oksner, Livingston Mayor Judy Cochran, Country Place Director of Operations Taammy Lenamond, Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce Chairman Andrew Boyce and Country Place Manager Carole Renfro. Photo by Emily Banks Wooten

From Enterprise Staff

Country Place Senior Living broke ground for its new memory care residence on April 13. The memory care residence will feature 16 suites and will be located next door to Country Place’s assisted living residence, located at 1860 N. Washington Avenue, less than a quarter mile from St. Luke’s and other medical facilities. Country Place Memory Care will serve seniors and others who wish to reside in a safe, comfortable, well-appointed environment, where they can enjoy personalized assistance and specialized memory care.

Livingston will be Country Place’s first memory care location in Texas. The home-like environment will include a library, restaurant-style dining room, fireplace, activity room and secure outdoor spaces. All 16 suites are comfortable and spacious, with a choice of private or semi-private living and can be furnished as the resident wishes.

“We’re excited to introduce Country Place Memory Care to local seniors and their families,” Tammy Lenamond, Director of Operations for Country Place, said. “We know residents and their families will be delighted to find a truly caring, perfectly-sized memory care option that offers a safe environment, quality care and socialization with assistance as needed.”

Country Place Memory Care boasts one of the industry’s most innovative activity programs. Residents will be encouraged to participate in activities specifically designed for those with memory care issues. The robust activity program will include events that stimulate the mind, provide physical activity and create moments that bring joy to life. A full-time nurse on staff provides peace of mind to residents and their families, while personal alarm technology allows residents to call for assistance at any time. Assistance programs are tailored for each resident’s specific needs and services include assistance with bathing, dressing, medication, incontinence and more.

Country Place is known for their delicious dining, with three home-cooked meals daily. A spacious, restaurant-style dining room provides an ideal setting to relax and enjoy favorite meals while socializing with friends.

“Residents and family members are often surprised when they first visit a County Place residence. We design our residences to be intimate and home-like, the exact opposite of traditional, institutional-feeling memory care facilities. The residence will be simply beautiful, with comfortable decor and a home-like atmosphere,” Lenamond said.

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Breya Passmore is congratulated by the Goodrich ISD School Board and superintendent after being awarded the Terry scholarship. PHOTO BY BRIAN BESCHBy Brian Besch
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April’s meeting of the Goodrich ISD school board began with student recognition of a Terry scholarship winner. Breya Passmore, a standout student and athlete is one of two winners of the prestigious scholarship at Goodrich this year.

For incoming college freshmen, the Terry Foundation provides full scholarships that are renewable for up to four years to Texas high school students. The students are selected from a highly competitive pool of incoming freshmen who have excelled in academics and demonstrated leadership.” 

“If you are a Terry scholar and accepted, you are part of an organization,” Goodrich superintendent Daniel Barton said. “Terry scholars know other Terry scholars. Her, along with Kaitltyn Pond — so we had two students out of the graduating class of 19 this year — actually got the Terry scholarship. It is very prestigious. For our little school to have two Terry scholars, you would think that everybody gets to do this — they don’t. I have run big high schools and I might have one every 10 years, so it is something really special and I am really proud of what they have done.”

Passmore said she will attend the University of Texas at Arlington in the fall.

On Thursday morning, the district submitted an Effective Schools Framework grant. Goodrich Finance Director Sarah Fulcher said the funds of $100,000 would go toward Region 6 and professional development.

“We’ve been working really hard with both of our principals,” Fulcher said. “Mr. Barton and I brainstormed and went through all kinds of stuff for the application. I have no idea when it will come back to us to see if we are approved or not. We are really excited about (the possibility of) getting that money to go into our school district and help with that framework.”

Barton said the focus of the funds would be allocated toward the elementary, where he said the need is most right now.

A tray washer was purchased by the district around two and a half years ago, however, the dispensers were never attached. The chemical dispensers are now working to help employees in the cafeteria.

The roof has been completed over the old gym dressing rooms for the cost of $4,200. Some painting will need to be completed to finish that project.

 
There is an active water leak by the elementary on the city side. The city has already been out to examine the problem, which Barton says has been a slow leak for some time.

The district is continuing to work on bids for doors with safety grant money that was procured. 

The board delegated hiring authority to the superintendent for April 1 through Aug. 31 so the district could offer contracts and hire teachers without a board meeting.

Board meetings in the summer months have been rescheduled to June 29 and July 27.

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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Local firefighters, police officers, DPS troopers, prosecutors and the Overstreet family were the guests of honor at the Cole Overstreet Memorial Breakfast in honor of Livingston’s First Responders hosted Wednesday by Debra Jenke’s Angelina College dual-credit government class at the Angelina College Polk County Center. Cole, an 18-year-old Livingston High School senior, was killed by a hit and run drunk driver following the homecoming game on Sept. 24, 2021.

“Every year in the senior government class when we get to Texas government, we do a project on civic responsibilities. This (the Cole Overstreet Memorial Breakfast) is what they voted on last year and it’s what they voted on again this year. This is a day of remembrance for Cole,” Jenke said.

Livingston ISD Superintendent Dr. Brent E. Hawkins thanked Jenke for her efforts. “There’s a lot of work and love that went into this. Thank you, first responders, for the work that you do in this crazy world. Students, thank you for doing this. There are very few things in life that are more precious than our friendships. Cole is a young man that was gone too soon but the one thing he has proven is he lived a lot bigger life than a lot of us. And to his family, I thank y’all for sharing him with us.”

Commenting that he had never met the Overstreet family until the tragedy, Livingston Volunteer Fire Chief C.L. “Corky” Cochran talked about how very emotional the tragedy was and still is.

“Whether we’re volunteer or career, we go out on calls and then we prepare for the next call, but the circumstances of Cole’s tragedy still weigh hard on all of us. We appreciate being honored as responders but it’s not about us, it’s about Cole – a life stolen too soon. I said this last year and I’ll say it again. Youngsters, y’all are our future and when you’re making decisions, stop and think about what is going to be at the end of that decision. We’re here to keep Cole’s memory alive and we want the family to know that we’re here for you today and tomorrow.”

Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton introduced Kari Allen, the prosecutor on Cole’s case. “Kari is retired, but there are some cases she thinks are more important than retirement and this is one of them.”

Stating that the case will probably be set for trial late fall or early winter, Allen said it will be an open courtroom and that everyone is welcome to be there to support Cole. “It is a great privilege to me to prosecute Roy Wagner for Cole’s death.”

The memorial breakfast began with a prayer given by Livingston High School Senior Lainey Galloway.

 

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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Early voting begins Monday and will conclude on May 2 for the May 6 local city and school district elections.

The City of Livingston has three aldermen up for reelection – Clarke Evans, Elgin Davis and Dr. Ray Luna. All three incumbents filed and a fourth person, Bobby Jackson Sr., also filed. Early voting for the City of Livingston will be held at the Livingston City Hall located at 200 W. Church St. in Livingston from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through May 2.

The City of Onalaska has three at-large positions on the ballot, those presently held by Zachary Davies, Shirley Gilmore and J.R. Chance. All three incumbents filed and a fourth person, Ronald Gilbert, also filed. Early voting for the City of Onalaska will be held at the Onalaska City Hall located at 372 S. FM 356 Ste. 102 in Onalaska from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 1-2.

Positions 1, 2 and 3 will be on the ballot in the Corrigan-Camden Independent School District. Position 1 Incumbent Peter Burks filed for reelection and drew one challenger, Misty Woodard. Position 2 Incumbent Thomas Roberts filed for reelection and drew two challengers, Carmen Martinez and Elisha Bell. Position 3 Incumbent Lawrence Jolly Jr. filed for reelection and drew two challengers, Tracy Cobb and Krystal Currie. Early voting for Corrigan-Camden ISD will be held at the Sechrest Webster Community Building located at 101 W. Front St. in Corrigan from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through May 2.

Positions 4 and 7, presently held by Johnny Byrd and Candice Davies, will be on the ballot in the Onalaska Independent School District. Although Byrd did not file for reelection, Jake Ard and Bubba Cleveland filed for Position 4. Davis filed for reelection to Position 7 and drew no challengers.

The Chester Independent School District is holding a bond election in which voters will vote “for” or “against” the issuance of $5,315,000 school building bonds for the construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, renovation, expansion and equipment of school buildings in the district, and levying and imposition of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds and the costs of any credit agreements.

The proposed projects to be funded by passage of the bond include: a new junior/senior high school consisting of eight to 10 classrooms plus a science lab, restrooms, teacher workroom, teacher restroom and front office; demolition of the junior high classrooms, high school building and weight r; a new entry and restrooms for the competition gym; fume ventilation for the ag shop; and cafeteria kitchen repairs. Early voting for Chester ISD will be held at Chester ISD Administration Building located at 273 Yellowjacket Dr. in Chester from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through May 2.