Polk County News - Breakout

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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.

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The Polk County Commissioners Court will enter into an executive session to discuss and consider the appointment of an interim tax assessor-collector during its regular meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Any action, however, will be taken upon return to open session. Polk County Tax Assessor-Collector Leslie Jones Burks is retiring effective May 31.

A budget workshop is on the agenda during which the Court will discuss and consider: the long-range impact of changes to the longevity policy; an adjustment to the pay scale; requests for new positions; a request for vehicles to be included in the Enterprise Fleet Leasing Program; capital purchases and maintenance capital outlay (buildings); and budget considerations and timeline.

The Court will consider action regarding the request for bids for the Corrigan Sub-Courthouse, to be paid from the general fund balance and included on the fiscal year 2023 reimbursement resolution for the year-end issuance of legally authorized debt, and will also consider action regarding the request for bids for the Precinct 4 Road and Bridge renovations, to be paid from the American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Action regarding expenditures from the maintenance capital outlay buildings (budgeted funds) will be considered for action, specifically, the replacement of the air conditioning unit at the jail laundry facility and advertise for bids for the replacement of windows at the Dunbar complex.

The Court will consider a request for purchase to be paid from the general fund balance and included on the fiscal year 2023 reimbursement resolution for the year-end issuance of legally authorized debt, specifically, courtroom furnishings in the amount of $1,070.89 for the Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace.

Sheriff Byron Lyons’ request for the purchase of a replacement vehicle for a patrol officer using the funds paid by insurance for the totaled vehicle and the method of funding the remaining balance will be considered. Commissioners will also consider action to replace the information technology department’s totaled vehicle.

An order authorized the sale of fireworks during the Memorial Day period of May 24 through midnight May 29 will be considered.

In personnel matters, the Court will review and consider personnel action forms submitted department heads since the last meeting, review any authorized emergency hires and receive and record personnel actions forms submitted by elected officials since the last meeting.

The Court will also consider action on fiscal year 2023 budget revisions and amendments, as presented by the county auditor’s office.

A proclamation recognizing Soil and Water Stewardship Conservation Week will be presented during the portion of the meeting reserved for informational reports. Additionally, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for fiscal year 2023 will be presented on behalf of the Government Finance Officers Association.

Items on the consent agenda include:

Approve minutes of the April 11 regular meeting;

Approve schedules of bills;

Approve order designating surplus property;

Receive county auditor’s monthly report, pursuant to Local Government Code Sec. 114.025;

Receive county treasurer’s second quarter fiscal year 2023 report;

Receive county treasurer’s monthly report for March;

Approve renewal agreement with Texas Department of Public Safety for the release of driver records for county employment;

Approve memorandum of understanding with Onalaska ISD for local disaster preparedness (sheltering);

Ratify agreement with Beard Drafting & Design to provide bid specifications for remodel of Corrigan Sub-Courthouse and Precinct 4 Road and Bridge;

Approve extension of Bancorp South equipment finance lease #27 (for eight Mack granite 64FRF dump trucks) from April 20, 2023 to June 30, 2023, with additional interest payment to be paid from the road and bridge capital leases fund; and

Approve request from District Attorney Shelly Sitton for asset forfeiture expenditure of seized property, not to exceed $27,988, for the purchase of a used 2022 Ford Escape.

 

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The April Livingston ISD school board meeting included service contracts, a report on Career and Technical Education, as well as the renaming of athletic fields Monday from the high school library.

Under action items, the board approved the Direct Solutions service contract for district facilities, including maintenance, custodial, and grounds. The board had questions about the company’s ability to provide insurance long term for its employees. The vote for the item was 6-1. In a special meeting three weeks ago, the board authorized LISD Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins to negotiate a service contract with Direct Solutions for district facilities, including maintenance, custodial, and grounds. Livingston ISD was previously in a contract with SSC for the past five years.

Also approved was the authorization of Hawkins to take the action necessary to recover the facility usage fees owed to the district. The outstanding balance of $11,200 will be filed through small claims court.

The meeting of the LISD Board of Trustees opened with a Career and Technical Education (CTE) audit report presented by LHS CTE Coordinator Blake Thornton.

“Currently, LHS has 17 programs of study with 18 CTE teachers servicing 1,000 students,” Thornton said. “Classes are full, six programs of study were complete with no issues, and six programs need to address future growth, as well as the need to add or take away class offerings. We will address continued student growth, close a few classrooms of study not being utilized, and improve communication with staff to be sure staff needs are being addressed.

“Health science is growing so quickly that we may have to add an additional teacher. TEA has changed a number of industry-based courses, and LHS students have 150 industry-based certifications so far, with several weeks left in the semester. There is a group of students who will be certified through the criminal justice path. This Friday is the second in-house certification event in welding to be held at LHS.”

Hawkins shared, “I would like to reiterate that the folks from Lamar State College were here last week to meet with our eighth-grade parents of PTECH students who will be entering LHS next year. If you need motivation and can see the opportunities for our kids, it’s very heartwarming. It’s what we should be about. We appreciate the interest from our parents, and they were appreciative and had good questions.”

The board approved the consent agenda. The baseball field located at the LISD Baseball-Softball complex will be named the Ross Hightower Field. The City of Livingston is allowing the name of the field at Pedigo Park to be transferred to the LISD field at the complex. Also included on the agenda was out-of-state travel for FCCLA students to attend the national convention in Denver with the travel expenses co-funded by GEAR UP. Another item accepted was the amended consumer price index fixed-rate contract flexibility for food service management. USDA and TDA have allowed adjustments to the food service contract due to the inflationary mechanisms affecting the industry. This was allowed because the labor and food increases do not allow for operation under the current contracts.

Purchases recommended by the board facility committee and approved under the consent agenda include track resurfacing and repairs at the Livingston Junior High campus in the amount of $189,680, as well as a new roof at Creekside Elementary in the amount of $975,518. Also approved under the consent agenda was the change to summer hours at the district offices and the purchase of 600 Chromebooks in the amount of $223,614.