Polk County News - Breakout

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A special meeting of the board of the trustees was called on Saturday to approve a budget increase for two positions.

Approval for the additional school-based officer positions with the Livingston Police Department was the sole agenda item.

“I applaud the board of trustees for their continued investment in school security,” Livingston Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins said. “Our board has proven over time that they will make the toughdecisions to ensure that their commitment to the vision of school security becomes a reality. The increase in these funds ensures that each campus in LISD is covered by a school-based officer for the 2022-2023 school year.  This is one of many actions that have been taken by the board and the school district to ensure the mission and priority of keeping our school’s students and staff as safe as possible.”

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 Local appears on The Price is Right

By Emily Banks Wooten

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 “Oh. My. Gosh. It was so fun. I had been waiting to spin that wheel since I was five,” Livingston Resident Melissa Russo said of her recent appearance on the long-running CBS game show, The Price is Right.

“I used to watch with my grandmother when I was sick or had early dismissal or during summer vacation. We watched it every day and every day my grandmother would say, ‘Some day you and I are going to fly out to California and stay with Cousin Timmy and go to a Price is Right taping,’” she said.

Melissa Russo, of Livingston, and Drew Carey, host of the CBS game show, The Price is Right, are shown together on the day that Russo fulfilled a childhood dream by appearing on the show. Courtesy photo

Russo’s grandmother has been gone for over 20 years, but Russo was in California last year visiting Cousin Timmy and told him about it. “He’d never heard the story before but when he did, he said, ‘We must do it,’” Russo said.

A lot of things had changed due to the pandemic and the whole process was different, Russo said, adding that they have a much smaller studio audience now, following the pandemic.

“He (Timmy) sent me an application before the holidays, and I filled it out and sent it in. They contacted me and conducted several interviews and then we selected a date. We made T-shirts with my grandmother’s picture on them, so she’d be there with us. It was amazing. I think she was loving it,” Russo said.

“There were four things I wanted to do, and I got to do all four. I wanted to bid $1 on something. I wanted to bid $.01 on something. I wanted to win something, and I wanted to spin the wheel,” she said.

Russo won a pool table and a rowing machine although she ended up forfeiting them, as she’s currently traveling full-time in a camper. When asked if she received money in place of them, she said, “No, unfortunately.

“I did when a pretty fancy mini-fridge with French doors that I sent to my mother and stepfather,” she said.

Originally hailing from the East Coast where she grew up in Pennsylvania, Russo maintains her Livingston, Texas address as her legal address while she’s on the road traveling.

Melissa Russo, of Livingston, and her cousin Timmy sport the T-shirts they made to wear to a taping of The Price is Right. The T-shirts feature a picture of their grandmother who watched the show daily and promised Russo that one day they’d go. Courtesy photo

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To honor the upcoming 100-year anniversary of State Farm, Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy recently signed and issued a proclamation designating June 7 as State Farm Day in Polk County. (l-r) State Farm Agent Bradley Welborn, Murphy and State Farm Agent Christopher Scott. Photo by Emily Banks Wooten

Like a good neighbor

From Enterprise Staff

To honor the upcoming 100-year anniversary of State Farm, Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy recently signed and issued a proclamation designating June 7 as State Farm Day in Polk County.

In the early 1920’s, insurance salesman and retired farmer G.J. Mecherle had an idea. He knew farmers drove less and had fewer accidents than drivers who lived in the city.

He thought they should pay less for insurance. His employer didn’t agree and said that if G.J. had such a great idea, he should start his own company. Mecherle took those words to heart and started a tiny insurance company he called State Farm. One hundred years later, State Farm has not only endured, but also achieved tremendous success by leading the insurance market for decades.

Less than half a percent of companies today have existed for 100 years. Set to celebrate their 100-year anniversary in June 2022, State Farm is on the doorstep of an incredible achievement – one that calls for some celebration, reflection, and an affirmation of what has made State Farm what it is and what it can be. According to the company, State Farm was born out of a vision to deliver honest insurance coverage at fair prices. Doing so takes heart. And, with persistence, this vision became reality.

Besides offering insurance products that help customers recover from the unexpected, State Farm has long been an advocate for other causes that impact the community in positive ways. In the highway safety area, State Farm has provided supplies, data, funding, and lobbying efforts to make sure the country’s roadways have improved tremendously. State Farm has successfully advocated all the way to the Supreme Court to require the installation of passive safety restraints in all passenger vehicles. And because of State Farm, more people wear seat belts, more children’s lives are saved in safety seats, and thousands of lives are saved because of air bags.

“As we approach our 100th anniversary, we are excited about what we have accomplished,” Agent Christopher Scott said. “The best part is how we have for the past 19 years continued to meet the needs of our customers and look forward to expand on helping more people in more ways.”

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Ben Overstreet, younger brother of Cole, holds up the diploma, surrounded by friends and his sister.

One of the special moments of Saturday morning’s graduation at Livingston High School was the diploma for Cole Overstreet.

Accepting on his behalf was his sister, Anna. Cole was killed in a hit-and-run vehicle collision that occurred Sept. 24, 2021, on FM 350 South near Kate Lowe Road. Cole was giving a fellow band member a ride home after the homecoming football contest.

“I thought it was just wonderful,” Cole’s mother, April Overstreet, said. “It was very heartwarming to all of us and our whole family that was there. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

On the stage, Anna accepted Cole’s diploma and a standing ovation from the graduates near the end of the ceremony.

“I was so proud of her,” April said. “She did a good job going up there and I know it took a lot of courage and was hard for her. She did it, of course, with tears, and that is understandable. I know that Cole wanted her to do it and he is proud of her. They called it the posthumous diploma. Everybody clapped and they took her picture. We have the diploma and it is right next to (Cole’s) picture.”
April said the family was able to go out for dinner at a local restaurant following the ceremony.

Livingston ISD issued the diploma through Texas House Bill 1563. It states diplomas may be given for a student who died while enrolled in the district at grade level 12 on request of the student’s parents, provided the student was academically on track at the time of death. 

“The district felt it was appropriate to honor the memory of a fine young man and his family,” Livingston Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins said. “While it does not go to fulfill the loss of Cole, the one thing that was abundantly clear to me was that Cole was with us on graduation day in the faces, the smiles, and hearts of his family, friends, and classmates that he made such an impact on. Where Cole was a relatively young man, there is no doubt in my mind that the love he had for his family and classmates will endure the test of time.”