Polk County News - Breakout

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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The May 6 General Elections have come and gone and the dust is beginning to settle. There are several key takeaways. The cities of Livingston and Onalaska both had long-serving councilmen ousted, Corrigan-Camden ISD’s board of trustees experienced a fruit basket turnover with none of the incumbents being reelected and Chester ISD passed a bond election, albeit narrowly.

The City of Livingston had three at large positions up for reelection, those held by Clarke Evans, Elgin Davis and Dr. Ray Luna. All three incumbents filed and a fourth person, Bobby Jackson Sr., also filed. Unofficial results reflected Jackson, Davis and Luna the winners. Jackson received 119 votes, Davis received 115 votes, Luna received 101 votes and Evans received 99 votes.

The City of Onalaska also had three at large positions on the ballot, those held by Zachary Davies, Shirley Gilmore and J.R. Chance. All three incumbents filed and a fourth person, Ronald Gilbert, also filed. Unofficial results indicate Gilmore, Davies and Gilbert were victorious. Gilmore received 110 votes, Davies received 109 votes, Gilbert received 95 votes and Chance received 78 votes.

Positions 1, 2 and 3 were 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. All three incumbents were ousted. Unofficial results reflect Woodard the victor for Position 1, garnering 265 votes with Burks receiving 245 votes. Bell captured Position 2 with 331 votes, compared to 163 votes for Roberts and 26 votes for Martinez. Position 3 went to Cobb who received 319 votes, compared to Jolly who received 163 votes and Currie who received 38 votes.

In the Onalaska Independent School District, Positions 4 and 7, held by Johnny Byrd and Candice Davies, were on the ballot. Byrd did not file for reelection but Jake Ard and Bubba Cleveland did file for Position 4. Davies filed for reelection to Position 7 and drew no challengers. Unofficial results indicate Ard was victorious for Position 4, garnering 140 votes to Cleveland’s 119. Davies, unopposed, retained Position 7 with 233 votes.

The bond election in the Chester Independent School District passed with 159 people voting “for” and 137 people voting “against,” unofficial results reflect. Passage of the bond election will result in 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 the 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.

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Debrina Sylestine Dirden recently spoke at the AAUW about the history of the tribe and what it means for a tribe to be federally recognized. Photo by Emily Banks Wooten

By Emily Banks Wooten
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Debrina Sylestine Dirden, communications director for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, recently provided a program for the Polk County Branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW).

Dirden began by giving a brief history of the tribe.

“The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas has the oldest reservation in the state, located on approximately 10,200 acres in the Big Thicket of deep East Texas. The tribe is a fully functioning sovereign government with a full array of health and human services, as well as law enforcement and emergency services.

“There are more than 1,400 members, about half of whom live on the reservation. The tribe is governed by an elected tribal council and advised by a principal chief and second chief. Although they were two separate tribes, the Alabamas and Coushattas have been closely associated throughout their history. The tribes lived in adjacent areas in what is now the state of Alabama. By 1780, the tribes had been forced to modern-day East Texas. Their cultures have some differences but for the most part, are nearly identical.

Dirden then explained what it means to be a federally recognized Indian Tribe.

“Federally recognized tribes are acknowledged as having natural inherent rights to self-government (tribal sovereignty) and are entitled to certain federal benefits, services and protections because of the special trust relationship. The United States recognizes the right of these tribes to self-government and supports their tribal sovereignty and self-determination. These tribes possess the right to establish the legal requirements for membership. They may form their own government, enforce laws (both civil and criminal), tax, license and regulate activities, zone and exclude people from tribal lands.

Dirden explained that those who serve on the tribal council are elected to three-year terms and that for the first time in history, there are more women than men on the tribal council.

She said the principal chief is Mikko Kanicu Donnis Battise and that is a lifetime role. The second chief is Mikko Poliika Istaaya Millie Thompson Williams who is the first woman to ever serve in this capacity. Members of the tribe voted Sept. 14. To vote, one has to be a tribal member 18 or older. Williams was inaugurated on Jan. 1.

Dirden showed several pine needle baskets made from long-leaf pine needles wrapped in raffia and some handmade river cane baskets. She also showed some elaborate beadwork, including the beaded crown she wore when she served as tribal princess in 2009-2010.

She also told the story of a man who was traveling to Beaumont in the late 1800s for a Presbyterian meeting and got lost in the Big Thicket. Tribal members came to his rescue and guided him and he was so grateful that he later came back and established the Indian Presbyterian Church, the oldest church on the reservation.

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The Onalaska City Council will canvass the general election and consider approval of a resolution declaring the results of the election during its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday. In other election related activity, the oath of office will be administered to the newly elected officials and a mayor pro tem will be elected.

Council will review and consider approval of two resolutions – one designating the signatories for all city bank accounts and the other authorizing the submission of a criminal justice grant application for pole cameras to place throughout the city.

A police officer labor pool will be reviewed and considered, authorizing salary range, maximum hours and budget to be utilized.

In personnel matters, Council will consider approval of the release of Police Officer Toni Murray and will review and consider approval of the hiring of Bethany Evans and Madalynn Morrow as labor pool telecommunications operators and Richard Harrelson as a labor pool police officer.

Council will also review and consider action on longevity and certification pay scales and update the personnel policy to reflect the changes and authorize implementation.

Reports will be presented on behalf of the police department, fire department, fire marshal/building inspector and library representative.

Other items on the agenda include approval of the minutes, vouchers and financial reports.

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The Livingston City Council will consider action on a proposed cost of living adjustment for the employee salary schedule, to be effective Oct. 1, during its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The reappointment of the municipal court judge for the term of May 2023 through May 2025 will be considered.

Council will consider action on a proposed resolution approving a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Trinity River Authority of Texas authorizing the Trinity River Authority of Texas contract revenue refunding bonds (Livingston Regional Water Supply System Project) and approving and authorizing instruments and procedures relating thereto.

Regarding the request for proposals for waste collection and disposal, Council will hear from Piney Woods Sanitation, Pro Star Waste/Waste Connections and Republic Services.

City Manager Bill S. Wiggins will present his monthly update on projects and events.

An executive session is on the agenda at which time Council will consult with the city attorney. Any action, however, will be taken upon return to open session.

Other items on the agenda include approval of the minutes of the April 11 meeting and the accounts over $500.