Polk County News - Breakout

Write a comment

User Rating: 5 / 5

Corrigan-Camden High School Graduate Irissa Vera and Polk County Go Texan Chairman Bill S. Wiggins attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship Reception in Houston where Vera was presented a $20,000 scholarship. Courtesy photo

From Enterprise Staff

Irissa Vera, a recent graduate of Corrigan-Camden High School, received a Polk County Area Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Go Texan Scholarship for $20,000. Vera has been very active in high school both academically and in leadership roles. She plans to attend Texas A&M University in the fall.

“I always knew the Houston Rodeo Scholarship represented hard work and academic excellence, so I maintained those standards for myself,” Vera said. Her leadership qualities, academic honors, community service and determination led her to win the HLSR Scholarship.

She attended dual credit college classes in high school and took honors classes at CCHS while being involved in extracurricular activities.

“My most dedicated activity was leading the Corrigan-Camden FFA chapter, where I served as president. Within FFA, I competed in contests such as senior quiz, vet science and public speaking. I’m extremely proud of what the FFA members accomplished together,” she said.

“Additionally, I volunteered for my community through the National Honor Society and LEO Club, as vice-president for both. I competed in UIL current events since 2020 and I was this year’s district champion. My teammates and I also competed at the state level for UIL social studies,” she said.

Vera will attend Texas A&M University this fall and major in bioenvironmental sciences. She plans to become an environmental consultant to advise agricultural and forestry producers.

“Receiving the Houston Rodeo Scholarship is an absolute blessing for me and my family. I’m very grateful for everyone who has supported me. I hope that my example will inspire other students at Corrigan-Camden to always strive for the best,” Vera said.

Write a comment

By Brian Besch
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Goodrich ISD School Board met for its June meeting last week to approve construction on campus and review checklist items occurring over the summer months.

Gas line testing has occurred at the school over the past week. A valve began leaking at the school and has been repaired.

Floors in all district buildings have been stripped and waxed. Superintendent Daniel Barton said he was impressed by the job of the maintenance staff, completing the task in two and a half weeks.

“In years past, that has not been the case,” Barton said. “They worked well together and did a bunch of work. They have to move all of that furniture out and it is a lot of work. We schedule it for a full month, but I said if they could get it done in time, they could go on four-day weeks. We’ve got an exceptional staff when it comes to that.”

A heater is being replaced in a bus, and two others are in for air conditioning repairs.

A lawn mower cut a two-inch water main and that could not be stopped at the school. There is no shut-off valve at the meter. It is since been repaired.

The board voted to keep all positions for the 2023-24 school year as they have been for the past year. Rigoberto Reyes remains the president, Rosalie Blackstock is vice president, Thomas Finger serves as secretary and Timothy Harrell is assistant secretary.

The district has decided to construct a chain link fence from the elementary down Highway 59 that will enclose the school. The fence would come back around the agriculture building and across to the library near the fitness center. Barton said the fence would lock the entire campus. The district received three bids, with the highest at well over $200,000, but went with a bid of $94,000.

Windows to be installed a the lower elementary have wood that has rotted and will need replacement. Two bids were received, and the repairs will cost just over $14,000.

Door replacements at the high school, ag building, upper elementary and middle school will come at a price of $49,000.

Write a comment

From Enterprise Staff

Eliminating the state property tax and providing lasting property tax rate cuts are on the agenda for the second special session of the Texas Legislature, Governor Greg Abbott announced Tuesday.

“We achieved a great deal during the 88th Legislative Session that I have signed into law, including laws to provide more than $5.1 billion for border security, hold rogue district attorneys accountable, and add $1.4 billion to make schools safer, but the job is not done,” Abbott said. “I am bringing the Texas Legislature back for Special Session No. 2 to provide lasting property tax cuts for Texans. During the five-month regular session, the Texas House and Texas Senate both agreed on cutting school district property tax rates, while the House wanted to add appraisal caps and the Senate advocated for increased homestead exemptions.

“The Special Session No. 1 agenda was limited to the only solution that both chambers agreed on – school property tax rate cuts. After yet another month without the House and Senate sending a bill to my desk to cut property taxes, I am once again putting the agreed upon school district property tax rate cuts on the special session agenda,” Abbott said. “Unless and until the House and Senate agree on a different proposal to provide property tax cuts, I will continue to call for lasting property tax cuts through rate reductions and working toward eliminating the school property tax in Texas. Special sessions will continue to focus on only property tax cuts until property tax cut legislation reaches my desk.”

Write a comment

From Enterprise Staff

Memberships are available for the 2023-2024 season of the Livingston Community Concert Association. An exciting lineup is scheduled for the upcoming season which marks the organization’s 38th anniversary (1985-2023). It includes: Key of G Live!; Sounds of Silence Tribute; Southeast Texas Swing Band; The Suits; and Bennie & the Jets.

Key of G Live!, a tribute to country superstar Garth Brooks, will kick off the season at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 12. The group is led by AJ Bisto on lead vocals and guitar and backed by a six-piece band of drums, fiddle, bass, steel guitar and keys. This concert captures all of the signature sounds that Garth Brooks fans know and love and pays tribute to the chart-topping artist in classic country music style.

The second concert of the season is The Sounds of Silence Tribute at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17. This tribute journeys back in time to the 1970s Greenwich Folk Village Scene to a timeless era of music when lyrics and melody meant something more. Award-winning musicians Steven Delopoulos and Johnny Phillips are known for their unique sound, energetic live shows and introspective lyrics underscored by their remarkable musicianship. Their concert features the music of Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, John Denver, Cat Stevens, Don McLean and more.

Rounding out the Christmas season will be the local Southeast Texas Swing Band which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 9. The local group will bring a Christmas special you won’t want to miss as they usher in the Christmas season.

Kicking off the new year will be The Suits, who are slated for 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17. The Suits are four dynamic gentlemen performing four genres of hit music across four decades. The group fuses smooth choreography and tight harmonies with exciting showmanship and fun audience interaction and take audiences on a journey from the 50s through the 80s. The repertoire features recognizable hits like “Oh What a Night,” “My Girl,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and more.

The final show of the upcoming season will be Bennie & the Jets, the premier Elton John tribute, at 7:30 p.m. on March 9. Led by Greg Ransom on piano and vocals, this group has performed around the world for a variety of audiences. In honor of his 2022 farewell tour, this concert offers audiences the opportunity to relive Elton John’s iconic catalog of music, including “Candle in the Wind,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Rocket Man.”

Memberships are available at varying levels: Adult $50, Family $110 (two adults and children), Patron $150, Sponsor $300, Benefactor $500 and Endowment $1,000-plus. Checks may be mailed to Livingston Community Concert Association at P.O. Box 960, Livingston, Texas 77351. All concerts are held at the Polk County Commerce Center located at 1017 Hwy. 59 Loop North in Livingston. For additional information, contact Sally Frasier at 936-967-0219 or visit www.livingstoncommunityconcert.org.

The Livingston Community Concert Association is the fruition of an idea of Jo Nevins and her family 38 years ago that was discussed with Sherry Peterson Foster, Debbie Haynes Jenke, Nell Franklin and Miriam Young. The idea grew into a community dream come true. While there were just a handful of patrons then, there are now over 368 patrons, endowment contributors, benefactors and sponsors and over 217 members of the Livingston Community Concert Association, Inc. The organization has made a tremendous impact on the community with years of outstanding musical talent and musical education for both adults and students.