Trinity County News - Breakout

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Travis Thorne, Ashton Dain, Ty Havard, Payson Dickinson and Anthony Commiato received accolades and certification during competition. Courtesy photoSpecial to the News-Standard

VIDOR — Centerville ISD FFA students won first through fourth place in safety, as well as other awards, at the fourth annual Vidor Welding Certification Event on April 21.

Centerville fielded five students for the event, which is part of the Texas High School Welding Series.

Students perform basic welding, cutting, underwater welding and Safety/Tool identification, and are ranked for skill and for certification.

There were a total of 460 students entered in the contest, and out of 460 students, Centerville had the top four spots in the safety/tool id test.

Travis Thorne won first and received a $1,000 scholarship from Elite Welding School. Second place was Ashton Dain, third place was Ty Havard, and fourth place was Payson Dickinson. 

In the oxy fuel cutting division, Thorne placed fifth place overall. 

There were 179 students hoping to receive Level 1 certifications, and of those, Anthony Commiato placed fourth and Payson Dickinson placed fifth and receiving their Level 1 certifications, as well as Ty Havard. 

Thorne came home with his Level 2 Certification along with an additional $1,500 in scholarships. Travis will be graduating in May.

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — The Groveton ISD School Board approved holding its annual graduation and honor banquet on May 19 at Mimzy’s Barbecue in Crockett at its regular meeting on May 25.

Superintendent Jim Dillard said the event is for the top honor grads and their immediate family, as well as teachers, the board and school administrators. 

The event was started in 1980 by John Wayne Reynolds, former superintendent; P.D. Hamilton, father of previous superintendent; and Frank Minton, a former coach and administrator. 

Dillard said the top five students academically are chosen based on performance; the next five were nominated and voted on by teaching staff and are comprised of kids who exhibited character and integrity and exemplified academics, who exhibit the proper traits to become successful. 

There is a plaque for every school year from Spring of 1980 until now with the names of the top students, he said.

Full high school graduation will be May 27 in the gym. 

In other business, the board:

• renewed an agreement with Powell Law Group as school attorneys;

• renewed an agreement with TASB Risk Management for insurance;

• approved purchase of a bus from Lufkin Freightliner for Thomas 72-passenger bus for $112,950;

• discussed student enrollment, which is down seven to 747. Dillard said that was an average number for the school; and

• accepted resignations and approved contracts for teaching staff.

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TCNS staff

APPLE SPRINGS — The Apple Springs ISD School Board approved it 2022-23 calendar, which keeps the district on the 4-day schedule it adopted for this year.

Superintendent Cody Moree said that he has not heard any complaints about the new schedule since its adoption last year.

He also said that teachers are enjoying the schedule, parents are finding it convenient to have a day to book appointments for their children, and that in his estimation, attendance has improved.

The students will be taking STAAR tests this week, and Moree said that will give them data as to whether the schedule has had an impact on student performance.

In other business, the board:

• approved several student transfers; and

• discussed progress on construction near the football field.

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — The Groveton City Council re-approved its curfew ordinance for minors at the April 25 meeting.

Mayor Tommy Walton said the ordinance has been on the books since 1997, but only was reapproved for 90 days, at which time it will be reevaluated. 

However, Walton said that Council Member Autumn Dial first moved to do away with ordinance, but that died for lack of a second. 

The next motion was made by Council Member Joe Don Kennedy, and was seconded by Steve Casper to reapprove, and the vote was 4 for and 1 against, which was Dial.

In other business, the council:

• discussed a presentation from Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins and Mott to become collection attorneys for traffic citations; 

• approved a recommendation from the Groveton Economic Development Council to sell the Choate building to Tish Inman. Inman was directed to work on the front of the building initially; 

• approved amending building codes to bring them more current;

• discussed a report from Police Chief Justin Cowart. The department handled 21 calls for service, 18 traffic stops, issued four verbal warnings and two written warnings, wrote 11 citations, made one arrest and served two warrants; and 

•approved a payment of $7,142.74 in Inframark, and discussed a potential 3 percent increase on next month’s billing.