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Polk County News - Breakout

Filing for March primaries ends

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Vote GraphicBy Emily Banks Wooten
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The filing period for the 2022 Texas Primary Elections ended Monday. It began Nov. 13 and allowed candidates to file with their respective party chairs for a place on the March 1, 2022 primary ballot.

For primary elections, candidates file their applications with their state party chairs or, in the event that a district is wholly contained within a single county, their county party chairs. The state and county chairs, in turn, upload approved candidates into the Texas Secretary of State’s portal.

Locally, the following seats will be on the ballot:

• 258th Judicial District Judge Travis E. Kitchens Jr. who has filed for reelection. William Lee Hon has also filed for this position.

• Criminal District Attorney William Lee Hon. Hon is not seeking reelection as criminal district attorney. Shelly Sitton, Tommy Coleman and Julie Mayes Hamrick have filed for the position.

• District Clerk Bobbye Christopher who has filed for reelection.

• County Clerk Schelana Myers Hock who has filed for reelection.

• County Judge Sydney Brown Murphy who has filed for reelection.

County Treasurer Terri L. Williams who has filed for reelection. Louis Ploth Jr. has also filed for this position.

• Precinct 2 Commissioner Ronnie Vincent who has filed for reelection. Mark Dubose has also filed for this position.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Overstreet who is retiring and not seeking reelection. Justin Cude, Jerry Cassity and Jason Richardson have filed for the position.

County Court at Law Judge Tom Brown who has filed for reelection.

Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Darrell G. Longino who is retiring and not seeking reelection. Terri Lynne Mayer and John Cabiness have filed for the position.

Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Sarah Rasberry who has filed for reelection.

Precinct 3 Justice of Peace Robert “Dooley” Johnson who has filed for reelection.

Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Jaime Richardson who has filed for reelection.

Polk County Publishing Company has a policy to run a free announcement with photo in the newspaper for every candidate who runs for a political office in the county, or as a representative of the county, allowing the candidates to have the opportunity to introduce themselves and their vision to readers.

The photo should be a large .jpg and the announcement should be typed in a Word document not to exceed 400 words. Both should be emailed to the editor or can be brought into the office on a flash drive.

In addition, a candidate may choose to pay a one-time charge to be added to the official Political Calendar. This advertisement runs every week in the newspaper through the election and includes the candidate name/position/party affiliation. The cost is the same if you sign up early or late for the calendar. The pricing is as follows: $100 for precinct offices, $150 for county offices, $200 for state offices and $250 for national offices.

According to PCPC Publisher Kelli Barnes, all political advertising must be paid for by 5 p.m. Monday of the week you want your advertisement to run in the newspaper. Late advertisements can only be accepted as space allows due to press concerns. Advertising position requests can accompany advertisements. We do not charge more for location requests and we cannot guarantee location without advance notice of two weeks. We no longer accept political ads for our Facebook page. Ask to speak to an advertising representative at your newspaper to discuss paid advertising. 

Barnes added that the PCPC Print Shop is available to help with political signs and other print materials. Contact Jessica at 936-327-4357 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for pricing and availability.

“We look forward to helping all candidates in their campaign efforts,” Barnes said.

Early voting for the March 1, 2022 Primary Elections begins on Feb. 14.

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Boosters available

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boosters available 1000From Enterprise Staff

The Polk County Office of Emergency Management is hosting a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 16 at the Dunbar Gym located at 1103 Dunbar Ave. in Livingston.

Booster immunization with the Moderna vaccine will be available for individuals 18 and older. Walk-ins are welcome without an appointment. Follow the posted signage regarding parking at the location.

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MANNAFEST’S CANSTRUCTION PROGRAM A SUCCESS

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SHECO CANS

Five local businesses have been recognized for their participation in MannaFest Food Pantry’s annual CanStruction contest. Through the contest, local businesses or civic groups use canned goods and other packaged food items to build interesting structures and help fill the shelves at the local food pantry. “MannaFest would like to thank the businesses who participated in our CanStruction project this year. Not only have visitors to these businesses been able to enjoy wonderful displays in their lobbies, but you can see by the pictures how much food is being donated to MannaFest to help fight hunger in Polk County,” MannaFest Executive Director Marilyn Wise said. “Linemen light up the world,” Sam Houston Electric Cooperative’s entry, was deemed the overall best display. Not only does it highlight hunger and Polk County, it also honors lineman Yancy Williams who passed away in October. The lineman scaling the pole in the display wears Yancy’s number 181.  Courtesy photos

“Open the Vault to Fight Hunger” was the theme of First National Bank Downtown’s entry.“Open the Vault to Fight Hunger” was the theme of First National Bank Downtown’s entry.

“Fighting to Erase Hunger” was the theme of First National Bank Westside’s entry.“Fighting to Erase Hunger” was the theme of First National Bank Westside’s entry.

“Fighting to End Hunger in Polk County” was the theme of Attorney Joe Roth’s entry.“Fighting to End Hunger in Polk County” was the theme of Attorney Joe Roth’s entry.

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Election equipment upgrade on agenda

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Election Equipment 500The Polk County Commissioners Court will discuss and consider any necessary action to upgrade the county election equipment to comply with the Texas Election Code, Chapter 129, updated in the 87th legislative session during its regular meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Overpayment of wages on a memorandum of understanding between Polk County and the Polk County Precinct 1 constable who has provided constable reserve deputy patrol in Precinct 1 will be considered for action.

An order regulating certain fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the county during the December holiday period will be discussed and considered for adoption.

Commissioners are expected to discuss and consider a memorandum of understanding between Polk County and Precinct 3 Commissioner Milt Purvis for the storage of county transportation infrastructure fund materials.

A resolution for the TxDOT off-system bridge replacement program will be considered for approval.

Commissioners will discuss and consider any necessary action regarding expenditures from maintenance capital outlay buildings (budgeted funds) for a replacement walk-in cooler at the aging department.

A request for the replat of Four Corners Subdivision Phase 4, Block 1, Lots 15-30 and Lots 65-73, Block 3 (removing lots) and a new preliminary plat for Four Corners Phase 4 (The Park) and the scheduling of a public hearing on the proposed re-subdivision will be considered for approval.

A request from Falcone Forest, Section 3 Subdivision in Precinct 4 for a variance to the Polk County Subdivision Regulations Design Standards, increasing the limit of single-family dwellings per lot to two, will be considered for approval.

A request for the approval of a certificate of exemption to exempt from county subdivision regulations the development of Abstract 970 Peter Whitaker Survey (5.3 acres) located in Precinct 4 and consisting of one tract with individual access to existing public roads with no other common areas and/or streets will be considered.

In personnel matters, Commissioners will review and consider personnel action form requests submitted since the last meeting and review any authorized emergency hirings. Commissioners will also consider approval of an update to the personnel management system.

Fiscal year 2021 and Fiscal year 2022 budget revisions and amendments, as presented by the county auditor’s office, will be reviewed.

During informational reports, there will be a presentation of the Polk County Safety Committee’s “Excellence in Safety” award for fiscal year 2021. The yearly informational report from the museum will also be presented.

Items on the consent agenda include the following:

Approval of the minutes of the Nov. 22 meeting;

Approval of the schedules of bills;

Approval of an order designating surplus property;

Approval of renewal of an agreement with Blackboard Connect;

Approval of an interlocal agreement renewing services with Harris County for postmortem examinations; and

Approval of a request from Precinct 1 Constable Scott Hughes for asset forfeiture expenditure of seized property not to exceed $268.22 for travel reimbursement to Reserve Deputy Beau Price.

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Jonas Davis Log Cabin getting new roof

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Jonas Davis new roof

NEW ROOF GOING UP - Contractor Patrick Swilley and members of his crew are shown putting the new roof on the Jonas Davis Log Cabin in Heritage Park. Having been taken over by resurrection fern to the point of deterioration, work has been underway for several months to repair and refurbish the cabin. Photo by Emily Banks Wooten 

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