Tyler County News - Breakout

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SPURGER – The Snow River Masonic Lodge, #385, of Spurger, will celebrate 150 years of serving the community on Saturday, April 27.

The lodge is inviting the public to come and join in the celebration, which will begin at noon in the fellowship hall of the First Baptist Church, which is located at 12676 FM 92 in Spurger, right across the road from the lodge.

A meal will follow, with a requested $10 donation. Prior to the celebration, Snow River Lodge will open the lodge at 10 a.m., call off and open a representation of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas.

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From Staff Reports

This Friday, March 29, marks the nationwide honoring of Vietnam War veterans. Each year, on March 29, the nation commemorates the sacrifices of those veterans and their families, and “is part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home more than 40 years ago,” according to information on the commemorative date from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

The date was established as an observance in 2017 under the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, which was signed into law by then President Donald Trump.

Most states celebrate “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” on March 29 or 30 of each year. Though there is some debate, March 29 is generally viewed as a more appropriate date. On that day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil. It is also the date President Nixon chose for the first Vietnam Veterans Day in 1974.

According to reports, more than 2.7 million Americans served in Vietnam, and of those who were killed in duty, 61% were younger than 21 years of age. One out of every 10 servicemen was a casualty and 75,000 were severely disabled. Despite these sad facts, Vietnam War veterans received little to no recognition and/or gratitude upon returning home to American soil.

The final American troop left Vietnam on March 29, 1973. In 2012, on Memorial Day, then President Barack Obama launched a Vietnam War Commemoration to remember the 50th anniversary of the war over a 13-year period. During that time, the federal government pledged to partner with local communities and private organizations to honor more than 58,000 veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America, and for the 150,000 who were wounded, as well as to do everything possible to bring home more than 1,700 veterans who are listed as missing in action.

That 13-year period will conclude on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025.

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By Chris Edwards
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IVANHOE – At the regular meeting of the Ivanhoe City Council, Ivanhoe mayor Skip Blackstone gave updates on several grant-funded projects addressing street improvements in the city.

Blackstone said that work on Galahad Loop is complete; that all sections scheduled to be worked on are done, although “it may not look like it,” he said. Additionally, work on Mill Creek is well underway, and 22nd Street improvements are almost complete.

Blackstone said that the city recently signed its contract with the state for the $1.9 million grant earmarked for work on Lakewood Drive. He said all of the support work is done in order for the city to receive the funding.

Blackstone asked the council on Thursday to consider putting an additional $5,000 toward the Camelot Park project. The council had approved the purchase price of $5,000 for the site as part of the work done in the grant-funded dam rebuilding projects, Camelot Dam being one of them.

The disruption to the park, he said, is great, in the work, and extending the funding to $10,000 allows the city the ability to go in and clear out the rest of the park for the northwest side. The request for the additional $5,000 for the Camelot Park was approved.

Short-term rental ordinancediscussed

One item that came up on the agenda for Thursday’s council meeting concerned that of a short-term rental ordinance for the city pertaining to Airbnb accommodations.

Councilman Will Warren spoke about the matter, and said the topic arose when talking to the grant writers for the city’s comprehensive plan, about commercial properties.

Warren said that although the city does not have a lot of commercial property, it does have 11-20 Airbnb, which range in fees from $90 to $450 per night for rental.

Warren said the city could issue an annual short-term rental permit for Airbnb owners, which could bring the city around $7,000 per year, and could be a method to get away from doing a hotel tax on those accommodations, which would have to go to tourism, instead.

During discussion of the topic, councilmember Joe McWhorter said he was against the notion, as homeowners who rent out their properties as Airbnbs are already paying property taxes, and such an ordinance would be an additional tax. Blackstone said the matter does warrant more discussion.

Exercise class idea brought to council

Prior to the regular meeting agenda, Ivanhoe resident Lynn Young spoke on behalf of an idea for an exercise program during the public comments portion.

Young, who serves as the secretary of the Ivanhoe Civic Club, said she did a survey among members of the club to see if there was interest in starting an exercise class

“As you know we get older, staying physically fit…is important,” Young said.

She said 20 people indicated they would be interested, and she’d reached out to an exercise instructor in Woodville who said she’d be interested in coming to Ivanhoe to do a twice-a-week exercise class at the civic center.

Young asked council for permission to get the classes going, and Blackstone said it would be discussed further as to how to move forward.

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The Festival of the Arts was held last weekend, featuring vendors, demonstrators, quilt exhibits, live music, dancing and lots of great food on Sunday’s Dinner-on-the-Grounds event. As shown: the 2024 Dogwood Princesses appeared onstage, Sunday, as did musicians such as violinist Yasha Hubert. Princesses, pictured left-to-right: Ebony Lacey (Woodville); Kinsley Barnes (Chester); reigning Dogwood Queen Natalie Standley, of Warren; Kaylynn Deckert (Spurger) and Elyn Meredith (Warren). Not pictured was Colmesneil princess Bernice Pittman.