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Tyler County News - Breakout

Ashby seeking re-election

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Trent AshbyAfter a successful legislative session distinguished by conservative accomplishments, Republican State Representative Trent Ashby announced he will seek re-election to Texas House District 9 to build on the momentum gained toward securing the border and cutting property taxes. Texas House District 9 includes the entirety of Angelina, Houston, Polk, San Augustine, Trinity and Tyler Counties.

“I’m very proud to have helped secure a monumental $5.1 billion investment in border security to take the fight to Biden’s open border policies,” said Rep. Ashby. “At the same time, we cut property and business taxes by $18 billion – setting a record for the largest state tax cut in American history.  We also expanded rural broadband access and passed a long-needed cost-of-living increase for our retired teachers. It’s the honor of a lifetime to represent the folks of House District 9, and I’m committed to continuing to provide effective and conservative leadership to ensure our rural family values drive Texas forward.”

Rep. Ashby announces his re-election with broad support from elected officials across the district. A small sample includes:

Keith Wright, Angelina County Judge

Jim Lovell, Houston County Judge

Sydney Murphy, Polk County Judge

Jeff Boyd, San Augustine County Judge

Danny Martin, Trinity County Judge

Doug Page, Former Trinity County Judge

Tom Selman, Angelina County Sheriff

Kenneth Hammack, Fmr. Polk County Sheriff

Byron Lyons, Polk County Sheriff

Robert Cartwright, San Augustine County Sheriff

Bryan Weatherford, Tyler County Sheriff

Mark Hicks, Mayor of Lufkin

Judy Cochran, Mayor of Livingston

 

Rep. Ashby serves as Chairman of the influential Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee and on the critical Select Committee on Educational Opportunity & Enrichment, which was charged with reviewing education policy solutions in advance of the forthcoming Special Session. In his capacity as a member of the powerful Transportation Committee, Rep. Ashby led the fight for infrastructure project funding for Deep East Texas communities.

Ashby has earned a distinction as an advocate for teachers and rural education. As a graduate of Henderson High School, he remains grateful for his public school education and is committed to paying it forward.  Being raised on a dairy farm and cattle operation, he’s passionate about supporting rural communities and those who make their living off the land.

Today, Trent is Senior Vice President for VeraBank. He and his wife, Nickie, live in Lufkin where they raised their two sons — Garin and Grant — who are both in college. Prior to being elected to the Legislature, Ashby served as President of the Lufkin ISD Board of Trustees. Both he and Nickie are very active in their community and attend Harmony Hill Baptist Church.

 

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Grammer running for Woodville council seat

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Liz GrammerWoodville residents, I am Elizabeth Grammer, and I am seeking your vote to fill the office of Alderman Place 3 on the ballot for the upcoming City of Woodville election. My husband Trey and I have chosen to make Woodville the place we have lived for most of our lives, were we raised our girls, owned businesses, and above all and simply put – the place we have chosen to call Home.

I would like to take a minute to explain why I have chosen to run for this position on the Woodville City Council. It is my belief that we should not merely sit by and watch others do the work that needs to be done. I honestly believe it’s everyone’s responsibility If we are to continue to make Woodville the best place to live, work and play.

As I stated previously, the responsibility for the success of Woodville lies in the hands of each of us; and I accept that responsibility. I see success starting with open communication, transparency, and honesty. I want to be the voice of the citizens of our city. I want to represent your values, concerns, and issues. I have long been an advocate for doing the right thing – even when no one is watching. I have always tried to speak up for those whose voices aren’t always heard.

My experience in owning and operating a successful business, and currently (as well as previously) serving on the boards of several local civic organizations has prepared me to be able to make wise and sound decisions as it pertains to our city budget and finances. That same experience, along with my various volunteer endeavors, has also taught me the value in listening to what other have to say. I have learned over the years the skill of listening might possibly be the greatest asset one could possess. It has taught me that everyone has the right to be heard, and just because we may disagree, it does not mean we cannot put our differences aside and work together to reach the intended results.

I have learned over the years that sometimes you have to change your method in order to achieve your goals. Sometimes a new perspective is a welcome change. If you are looking for someone to bring a new perspective and be your voice, I am asking for your vote.

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CUTTING HAIR...AND RIBBONS

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Legends Ribbon Cutting

The Tyler County Chamber of Commerce welcomed Woodville-based Legends Salon to the business community on Saturday morning with a ribbon cutting. The event featured a morning, and afternoon, filled with door prizes and an opportunity for attendees to get a look at the full-service salon, which offers massages and spa treatments. Legends’ proprietress SJ Herrington (pictured front row, second from right) spoke about her passions for serving the people and for cosmetology. Herrington, who graduated from Woodville High School, boasts a pair of eagle wings painted upon the wall of the salon, which provide a great photo-opportunity for customers. Her brother, David, an abstract-expressionist painter, also supplied many works adorning the walls. CHRIS EDWARDS | TCB

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Dispatcher asks city for police personnel increase

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Woodville City SealBy Mollie LaSalle
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WOODVILLE – Woodville City Council held there regular monthly meeting last Tuesday at city hall. The meeting was rescheduled from the regular Monday time slot due to Oct. 9 being a holiday.

Ashleigh Hicks, who is a 911 dispatcher with the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office, spoke to council during the communications with the audience.

Hicks spoke about the tough job tasked to the city’s police officers and asked for an increase in personnel; stating that the department in understaffed in light of recent events.

Hicks spoke of the personal horror she experienced when she received a call that woke her up on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 17, informing her of the fact that Woodville Police Department officer Troy Costello had been shot.

“Each of these officers are part of my family, I have spent 10 years of my life as a 911 operator and police dispatcher. Of all the heart wrenching, nerve-wracking, and panic inducing things I have heard come across the phone or police radio, nothing compares to the call that woke me up on a Sunday morning to hear that one of our own officers had been shot,” she said.

“We ask our officers to be a psychiatrist, a counselor, an addiction specialist, a mediator and an expert in both criminal and civil law. They should be at our door 30 seconds after we call, no matter what the emergency. Woodville PD has not had an increase in staff since 2009. Houston PD has 22 officers for every 10,000 people, by ratio, for the 15,000 people that pass through Woodville on a daily basis, we should have 33 officers; we have one.”

Hicks implored council to give the police department a personnel increase. “Show them that their safety is as important to you, as yours is to them,” she said.

Other Business

On the consent agenda, the council approved a lease agreement with the city to lease the offices at 408 West Bluff to house city offices and municipal court so the renovations of city hall can continue. The agreement began Oct. 1, and all city personnel have until Oct. 23 to be moved into the new building. Renovations are expected to be complete in 180 days. Council meeting will be moved to the fire station, beginning in November.

The city will soon have another garbage truck, courtesy of Local Sanitation. James Broussard submitted the lowest bid, $155,000 for a 2021 truck with 52,000 miles on it. Council approved the purchase, and the city will soon have another truck.

Several events are upcoming. The Harvest Festival takes place this weekend at Heritage Village, and Kim Cruse will perform on the festival stage Saturday at 3 p.m. There will be a Fall Festival at the hospital, Thursday, Oct. 19, from 5-7, the city will have its annual Red Ribbon parade, Monday, Oct. 30, and also a Trunk or Treat on Oct. 31 at the Intermediate school, from 8:45-10:45 a.m.

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Early voting begins next Monday

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By Chris Edwards
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Checkmark STOCKEarly voting for 14 statewide constitutional amendment propositions, as well as three Woodville City Council seats and an at-large Ivanhoe City Council seat are on the ballot for Tyler County voters.

Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 23 at 8 a.m.

One at-large position on the Ivanhoe council is up for grabs. Incumbents Justin Gregory; David Herrington and Joe D. McWhorter are on the ballot with challenger Bob Stoneman. Ivanhoe voters will vote for up to three choices on the ballot in this election.

The Woodville City Council has its alderman place 1, 3 and 5 seats up for grabs. Joyce Wilson, who serves in place 1, is running unopposed, as is Lee P. Mann, of place 5. The place 3 seat has incumbent Clifton “Cliff” Wright running against challengers Paula M. Jones and Elizabeth Grammer.

The amendments on the ballot include:

•Proposition 1: Establishing a right to farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management on owned or leased personal property.

•Proposition 2: Allowing local governments to exempt childcare facilities from property taxes.

•Proposition 3: Prohibiting the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax on individuals or families.

•Proposition 4: Increasing the homestead tax exemption by a school district to $100,000 and increasing state funding for public education.

•Proposition 5: Renaming State University Research Fund from National Research University Fund and establishing an ongoing revenue source from the accrued interest of the Economic Stabilization Fund (the Rainy Day Fund.).

•Proposition 6: Creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state.

•Proposition 7: Creating the Texas Energy Fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities.

•Proposition 8: Creating the Texas Broadband Infrastructure Fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects.

•Proposition 9: Authorizing the state legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

•Proposition 10: Authorizing the state legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation tangible personal property manufactured by medical or biomedical companies.

•Proposition 11: Authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.

•Proposition 12: Providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County.

•Proposition 13: Increasing the mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices from 75 to 79 and the minimum retirement age to 75 years, up from 70.

•Proposition 14: Providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.

In 2022, during the midterm gubernatorial election, Tyler County voters turned out to the polls to the tune of 51.01% of the county’s electorate, with 7,401 out of 14,509 registered voters making their voices heard at the polls. Of those, 3,699 took advantage of the early voting period.

Early voting runs from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3 at the XXXXXXXXXXXX

Hours of operation for early voting:

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23 through Tuesday, Oct. 27

8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30 through Wednesday, Nov. 1

8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2 through Friday. Nov. 3

Election Day Hours of Operation: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7

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