(Editor’s note: First Methodist Church of Livingston is celebrating its 175th anniversary and this milestone will culminate with a celebration on Oct. 22 that will include a combined worship service at 10:30 a.m., a luncheon at noon and a concert that evening. Local Historian Gary Davis has compiled the history of the church and snippets from that history will be featured on these pages in a multi-part series leading up to the celebration.)
By Gary Davis
In the year 2023, the Methodists of Livingston will be celebrating 175 years of service in the community. Methodism in Texas originated from the frontier days of circuit riding – itinerant preachers, who traveled on horseback from one village to the next. This system of sending out these preachers to minister to the widely scattered settlers proved to be a very effective way of spreading Methodism across Texas.
The first protestant preacher to cross into Texas was undoubtedly William Stevenson (1768-1857). From Tennessee, the itinerant Stevenson entered the frontier of Texas at Jonesboro (often spelled Jonesborough) in the year 1817. This was the same village where Sam Houston crossed the Red River and entered Texas years later in 1832. Stevenson also has the distinction of being the first protestant in East Texas as he traveled down Trammel’s Trace and preached in Nacogdoches to a mixed assemblage of both Mexican and Anglo citizens. At this time the introduction of protestant beliefs was contrary to Mexican law.
An early written reference to Methodism in Polk County is contained in Homer S. Thrall’s 1872 History of Methodism in Texas. It refers to the year 1843, when circuit rider, Reverend Frances A. Wilson (1790-1867), held protracted camp meetings throughout East Texas. Brother Frank, as he was called, spent a lifetime traveling on horseback, swimming across creeks and sleeping on the ground in the rain, all the while being under the threat of an Indian attack. He faithfully delivered the gospel to the socially isolated and spiritually starved people who traveled from miles around to hear him preach. One such meeting was held on Wolf Creek in Polk County (in 1870 this area was split from Polk and became San Jacinto County). By his estimates, he traveled a total of 150,000 miles, delivered 7,000 sermons and made over 4,000 conversions to Methodism. Wilson is listed on the Livingston Methodist Church Honor Roll of Pastors as having served here from 1853-1855.
At the General Conference of 1844, held in New York City, a schism occurred within the Methodist Episcopal Church over the slavery issue. In a special called conference held on May 1, 1945, in Louisville, Kentucky, a new and separate denomination called the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or simply the MEC, S was formed. The Texas delegates voted to join this new denomination. It should be noted that black families had been included in Methodist congregations in Texas since 1822 and the East Texas conference appointed, in 1846, Reverend Frank Wilson as “missionary to the people of color within the bounds of the Conference.”
In 1845, the Republic of Texas was divided into two conferences, with the Trinity River as the boundary between the West Texas or simply the Texas Conference and the East Texas conference. Frank Wilson was the Presiding Elder (PE) of the San Augustine District. One of the circuit riding preachers in the East Texas conference was Reverend David McGowen Stovall.
Born in Tennessee in 1828, D.M. Stovall was ordained in the Methodist church at age 18. He recalled in a 1907 letter to the Houston Post that his family crossed the Sabine into Texas on February 1, 1836. Stovall was one of seven brothers that were circuit riding preachers that delivered the Methodist faith in Southeast Texas. In a genuine gift of an article in the Polk County Enterprise of July 6, 1911, Stovall advised that he traveled as an itinerant preacher in the East Texas conference for 36 years and that Livingston and Moscow were on his circuit.
Stovall answered the call to serve four years in the Civil War as a Captain from Rusk County. He recalled that in 1858-59 he built the first house of worship in Livingston. He advised that prior to this, the neat little courthouse on the square was the preaching place. Stovall died on March 21, 1912, having served 65 years as a Methodist minister. He is buried in Diboll, Texas.
From Enterprise Staff
The nomination period for the Polk County Enterprise’s 2023 Best of Polk County Reader’s Choice Awards began Friday and will conclude on Sept. 30. The annual awards process provides an opportunity to recognize local businesses, professionals and non-profits.
All nominations and voting will be conducted online and no paper ballots will be accepted during this fourth year of the annual contest. Voters will participate by going to the website easttexasnews.com and clicking on the Contests tab. To register only involves using an email address.
The 2023 Best of Polk County Readers’ Choice Awards will occur in three distinct phases this year. The first phase is the nomination process. Individuals may nominate their favorite local businesses up to once a day per email address. The month-long nomination process will determine the finalists who will be eligible for best of Polk County.
The top eight selections in each category will enter the second phase which will run from Oct. 1-31. During this time voters will have the opportunity to select their favorite among the top eight in each category and will be allowed to vote up to once a day per email address.
The third phase is the culmination of the annual readers’ choice awards when the winners of each category are recognized in a special section that will be included in the Dec. 3 issue of the Polk County Enterprise.
By Brian Besch
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monday’s Livingston ISD regular board meeting for August was highlighted by the release of STAAR testing scores and the tax rate. Livingston had a few that need improvement, but outperformed the state average in several areas. District officials are pleased with the improvement seen in LISD over the past decade.
The 2023-2024 tax rate has been set at $0.91864 on $100 valuation, broken down as $0.7575 for maintenance and operations, and $0.16114 for principal and interest on debts. The tax rate will effectively be lowered by nearly 19% and will lower taxes for maintenance and operations on a $225,000 home by approximately $522.
In 2023, the state average went from 47% to 52% in overall progress of STAAR scores. Livingston’s progress on the test was reported Monday.
“When we look at student scores from our district this past year, we know the state considers ‘approaching’ as passing,” Livingston Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins said. “Livingston ISD scored higher than the state average by eight points in third-grade math. The LISD scores from fourth-grade and fifth-grade math were also higher than the state average.
“In science, we scored equal to the state average. Third-grade reading, we are higher than the state average. In fourth-grade reading, we are lower than the state, and in fifth-grade reading, we are the same as the state average.”
On the district level, third-eighth grade math scores in algebra were 50. In 2019, that score was 43. Sixth-grade math was higher than the state average, seventh-grade math was lower than the state average, which Hawkins said was the only “blemish,” while eighth-grade math was higher than the state average.
The algebra students excelled and were significantly higher than the state average. A percentage of 39% is the state average. LISD scored 95%. Sixth-grade reading scored higher than average, seventh-grade reading was a few tenths of a point from the state average, and eighth-grade reading was below average.
In social studies, Livingston was below the state by two percentage points. In math, they are higher than the state by six percentage points.
“Ten years ago, we were double digits behind the state average. We ordered a curriculum audit to be brutally honest to address our needs,” Hawkins said. “I submit to you that a lot of work has been done. We dreamed of reaching the level we are today at the state level. I want to emphasize the amount of work by the board in supporting the curriculum audit. The staff, the students, and the parents put in the work. We may be more economically disadvantaged than the state, but we are performing at the state level. We ought to be very encouraged by the impact that we have made in the lives of the students, and not by teaching the context of teaching the test, but in the right way. We know the next curriculum audit is coming, and it will be brutal to get us where we want to be. It is a very challenging situation when 20% of your student body is mobile. Looking back 10 years ago, it was a hard hill to climb to where we are today. I have confidence in our staff and our students. When our curriculum and assessment align and give kids the support they need, they can be successful. We’re not perfect, but that’s where we are headed.”
A public hearing was held for the proposed 2023-2024 budget. Hawkins shared the highlights of the upcoming budget.
“There are no new monies in Texas Public Education, except for the action of the board and 92% of the voters in LISD that passed the tax ratification election in 2015, which gave the district access to golden pennies through the ‘tax swap’ for the district,” Hawkins said. “This funding mechanism allowed the ability to fund the 3% salary increase to the employees of the district. Because the buses were paid off, $495,000 was moved to the transportation function. The budget process begins in November, and it takes us this much time to get to where we are. We are hopeful that the $3.9 billion that is not appropriated in Austin will come back to public schools. Districts need this revenue to offset the inflationary costs that have occurred since the pandemic, and staff needs additional adjustments to combat the same needs as well.”
The next public hearing is on the ESSA — the Every Student Succeeds Act is federal legislation that replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. The main purpose of ESSA is to account for student achievement for all K-12 students. It covers federal programs, which were formerly known as “title programs.” The intended use of the funds will go toward items such as campus payroll positions, substitute teachers, software contracts, supplies, increasing student achievement, and increasing the capacity for technology-based learning.
The superintendent said the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-Tech) application approval reflects that Livingston High School is designated as a P-Tech provisional campus, putting the campus “in a whole new class of career technology. This increases the capacity of the district to move toward the vision of college for all, by reaching students who are in the career and technical pathways.”
Hawkins also delivered the report on a lawsuit.
“On April 17, the board directed me, as superintendent, to file a case in an effort to recoup district funds. On Aug. 24, the case was brought before a judge and was ruled in favor of LISD. This case resulted from facility use, but the owed debt was for the operational cost of the facilities. Salaries were paid to custodial and maintenance employees, and these costs were not collected. The judgment is the cost of salaries.”
Currently, student enrollment at LISD is 4,020. New students make up 10.7% of the population, and according to the Texas Education Agency, there is a mobility rate of 19.8%, and 97 homeless students served in the district.
“Since COVID, we have struggled to get an accurate socio-economic percentage of students,” Hawkins said. “Because we are a CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) district, where all of our students are provided free breakfast and lunch, we do not consistently receive college household applications. The district receives funding for dual credit classes and grants like GEAR UP, so it’s very important for us to have an accurate count of our socioeconomic status. The state average is at 50%, but the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) for the class of 2022 showed, as a district, that we were 40% more socio-economic disadvantaged in the graduating class than the state.
“When we started with the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) plans and were deciding what we needed to do to help students close the learning gaps, the only historical data used was the data collected from New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina. After that crisis, it took five years for students to recover. Based on this data, the state allowed districts to stretch ESSER funds over five years to help with closing the learning gaps. This is the direction we decided to take rather than a three-year plan, so we still have years of student services left to benefit our students.”
Over the past year, LISD buses drove 570,924 miles. A total of 32,034 rides are given each day on average. The daily trip distance is equivalent to driving to New York and back every day. In a year, it’s the same as driving to the moon and back, or 60 times around the world.
Under the consent agenda, the board approved purchases over $50,000, which included a new walk-in freezer at the LISD warehouse for $78,841 from Lyons AC & Heating that will be paid out of the child nutrition fund.
Other action items were the board also nominating candidates by resolution for the Polk County Appraisal District Board to include Dan Ellis, and current board members Pam Pierce, Mike Nettles, Tom Curran, Paul David Evans, and Steve Hullihen. Also approved was the request for proposal from Berry and Clay for a construction manager at risk for the athletic facilities project.
The LISD Board of Trustees meeting opened with student recognition of Livingston High School junior and senior GEAR UP students who took advantage of camp scholarships. The video depicted students sharing camp experiences and appreciation to GEAR UP for the opportunities. Justice Fryar and Jayden Fryar attended the meeting in person and shared the leadership skills gained while attending M3 faith-based camps. GEAR UP, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a seven-year federal grant program provided by the Department of Education designed to increase the number of students who attend college by preparing them from sixth and seventh grade through their first year of college.
From Enterprise Staff
Although Polk County has received some rainfall, the countywide burn ban remains in effect until further notice.
“Thanks to the quick action of responders Sunday, homes were saved from a fire in the Corrigan area,” Polk County Emergency Management Coordinator Courtney Comstock said.
“Be aware that although we received some rainfall in the county, it was not enough to alleviate drought and fire weather conditions. Polk County remains under a burn ban until it is lifted by the Polk County Commissioners Court,” Comstock said, adding, “Law enforcement has been issuing citations to persons that violate the order prohibiting outdoor burning.”
To view the commissioners court order prohibiting outdoor burning, go to https://polkcountyoem.com/page/public_notices.
“Please remain vigilant and prepared should a wildfire occur near your home or workplace. Residents are encouraged to prepare a go-to bag should you need to evacuate. Plan evacuation routes and know where you will go to seek shelter and safety,” Comstock said.
To obtain information, following the Polk County Office of Emergency Management on Facebook for notifications and updates; visit the website at www.polkcountyoem.com for information; and register for AlertMePolkCounty to receive emergency alerts from the Polk County Office of Emergency Management, by visiting https://polk.genasys.com/portal/en.
By Emily Banks Wooten
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
“Unlocking the Culture Code: Keys to Developing Amazing Company Culture” was the theme of the program for the Aug. 22 Lunch and Learn hosted by the Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce. Marketing Strategist Crystal Williams and Creative Director Emily Fleniken, both with Lemon Seed Marketing, presented the program.
Lemon Seed is a full-service marketing agency established in 2020 that specializes in strategy and branding for the home service industry. The agency has 27 team members and 54 contractors from across the country and the average age of its team members is 28-30.
Williams kicked off the program with the following statistic – “63% of the American workforce don’t trust their leaders.” So how to combat that?
“Trust. Trust is transparency, consistency and empathy,” Williams said. “You have a culture – but are you defining it?”
She said that transparency is “sharing the actual things. When you’re transparent, teams get closer, solve problems faster and trust grows stronger. You can build transparency by management interaction, team retreats, budgets, goals and having tough conversations.”
Fleniken agreed. “Retaining employees is so much better than training or re-training employees.”
Williams also emphasized the importance of follow-through with goal-setting. “Don’t shoot out a goal and never return to it. That’s inconsistency and inconsistency leads to lack of accountability and lack of progress.”
“Consistency will help foster accountability,” Fleniken said, adding, “bad behavior is easily replicated. Ask yourself – are people afraid of what version of me they’re going to get? We can set the tone. Be self-aware. Are you having a bad five minutes or a bad day? If you’re having a bad five minutes, we can deal with it. If the team isn’t meeting expectations, you probably haven’t made them clear.
Williams talked about empathy. “You have to get to know your team, adjust to who you’re talking to, plan events that appeal to your team, celebrate your team and send handwritten thank yous. This provides personal connections.
“Empathy is hard because people are high-maintenance,” Williams said. She then shared a quote the two women like, ‘You deserve what you tolerate. You get what you reiterate. You keep what you celebrate.’ What are you tolerating? Reiterating? Celebrating?”
Williams and Fleniken emphasized the importance of having a clear mission statement, vision statement and core values and the importance of everyone on the team knowing this information. Fleniken even showed a purse/wallet-size trifold containing this information that every team member carries.
“Being intentional to earn trust is the key to unlocking the culture code,” Williams said.