Log in

Top Stories        News         Sports

Tyler County News - Breakout

FOR TYLER COUNTY, THE BELL TOLLS ONCE AGAIN

2 Comments

User Rating: 5 / 5

Star ActiveStar ActiveStar ActiveStar ActiveStar Active

CourthouseBellReturns

The bell at the Tyler County Courthouse was reinstalled in its belfry on Wednesday afternoon. It had been taken to its original foundry in Missouri to be restored. MOLLIE LASALLE | TCB

  • Hits: 1084

Rotarians hear program on Memorial Day project

Write a comment
Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Flags Flying 052820The flags at Magnolia Cemetery last year. TCB file photo

By Mollie LaSalle
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

WOODVILLE – Last Wednesday, the Rotary Club of Woodville reeived some history and an update on its annual Memorial Day flag project.

Rotarian Chris Edwards brought the program for the club’s noon meeting at the Pickett House.

He spoke about the project, as well as the history and meaning of Memorial Day.

Edwards began his program referencing what a quote from fellow Rotarian Fred Sullivan from two weeks prior: “We Are Just Beginning to Serve”. Sullivan spoke on the long history of the club in Woodville and the many service projects they are involved in throughout the year.

The Memorial Day Flag Project at Magnolia Cemetery is the club’s next service project. “Our club has been blessed to be a part of this for six years”, Edwards said. The club places around 400 flags on the graves of every veteran. Magnolia Cemetery was established in 1845, and there are graves from every single war represented. There are several Civil War graves, a lot from WWI and WWII, and interestingly, there is also a grave from the War of 1812.

Memorial Day had its beginnings as “Decoration Day” back in 1868. The date was always May 30, up until 1970, when it was set as the last Monday in May. It is a day to celebrate and commemorate all those who died in service to our country. Veterans Day, formerly known as “Armistice Day”, began when major hostilities were formally signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

  Edwards gave the history of Memorial Day, as well as spoke about the difference between it and Veterans Day, which he said is often confused by many people.

Whereas Memorial Day is a different date every year, Veterans Day is always November 11. In 1949, “Armed Forces Day” was established, to take the place of the individual days for each branch of the service. Armed Forces Day is celebrated the third Saturday in May.

Edwards closed out the program with a reading of the poem “Bivouac of the Dead” by Theodore O’Hara. O’Hara. O’Hara wrote it to honor fellow soldiers from Kentucky who died in the Mexican-American War in 1846. Verses of the poem are featured in various cemeteries across the United States. A marker in Arlington National Cemetery contains the verse “On fames eternal camping ground, their silent tents are spread, and glory guards with solemn round the bivouac of the dead.”

Mark your calendar to drive by the Magnolia Cemetery after the flags have been put out. It is a sight to see, and a wonderful photo opportunity.

The club will place the flags May 25 and take them back up Tuesday, May 30.

  • Hits: 262

Woodville FFA Welding Team accomplishing great things

Write a comment

User Rating: 5 / 5

Star ActiveStar ActiveStar ActiveStar ActiveStar Active

FFA Welding Kids

The Woodville FFA Welding Team has accomplished a lot in the past two weeks, according to welding instructor George Pyle. On May 4, the team, consisting of Tyler Hatton; Marc Sanchez; Nathan Simmons and Karson Fowler (pictured above) competed in a barbecue pit build-off and won “reserve champion” status. Last week, on Thursday, May 11, the team consisting of Fowler; Hatton; Lance Landry and Sanchez (pictured below) competed at the Lamar Institute of Technology Welding Competition at the Deep East Texas College and Career Alliance campus in Jasper and brought home several awards. Fowler won first place; Hatton won sixth; Landry won 10th and Sanchez won 12th. Coach Pyle said he wanted to tell the students “great job,” and to remind the public that the FFA still has a barbecue pit and a new 12’x6’x10’ trailer with a loading ramp for sale. “Come by the Ag Shop and we will make you a great deal,” he said.

  • Hits: 418

Booster hosts Chamber ‘Lunch and Learn’ event

Write a comment
Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

BoosterHosts

By Mollie LaSalle
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 WOODVILLE – The Tyler County Chamber of Commerce’s held a “Lunch and Learn” event hosted by the Tyler County Booster, Monday, May 15.

Publisher Kelli Barnes warmly welcomed attendees to the luncheon and explained to everyone the ins and outs of the newspaper business. She introduced the staff and informed all what each employee does on a daily basis. Attendees learned how the local newspaper operates, and how each member of the staff contributes to put out a consistently quality product every week.

The Booster was honored to be included in this series. When it was all said and done, Barnes explained, “this week’s Tyler County Chamber of Commerce Lunch and Learn was so fun to host. We enjoyed a full house, old and new friends, good food and fellowship. It is essential to put real faces with real names and have real in person conversations. I believe the Chamber is on the right track providing opportunities for businesspeople to mingle. I look forward to more opportunities to lunch and learn together.”

The Booster is one of four newspapers within the Polk County Publishing family; PCPC also owns the Polk County Enterprise in Livingston, the Trinity County News-Standard in Groveton, and the San Jacinto News-Times in Shepherd. Until recently, PCPC owned a newspaper in Houston County (Crockett) and sold the paper to a competing paper in Grapeland, which merged the two papers.

The Lunch and Learn series is one of many events that the chamber has introduced to the community this year. They hosted a successful after-hours meet and greet at the Magnolia Bar and Grill in March as the first “Cheers with the Chamber” and the Chamber plans on hosting more Lunch and Learn events.

The Chamber is promoting its next event, a Cheers with the Chamber at Naskila Casino scheduled for Thursday, June 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Additionally, the Chamber is helping promote a “Coffee and Connection Tour” stop in Woodville with the Better Business Bureau of Southeast Texas. It will take place at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 26 at Simply Charming Event Center, which is located across the street from the Booster office.

The event is being hosted by Education First, and Chamber Executive Director Holly Wells said the Chamber would like to encourage all businesses in the county to stop by, get some refreshments and meet our local BBB representatives.

  • Hits: 411

Baggett named to UT Tyler President’s Honor Roll

Write a comment
Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

UT Tyler logo

TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler announced students who were named to the spring 2023 President’s Honor Roll. 

 To qualify for the President’s Honor Roll, a student must have completed, in one semester, 12 or more semester hours of undergraduate college-level credit with an “A” in all courses. To be considered for this recognition, a student must qualify as a matriculated student pursuing a first bachelor’s degree. This recognition is made in fall and spring semesters.

Rebekah Baggett, of the UT Tyler College of Education and Psychology, from Colmesneil, was named to the Spring 2023 President’s Honor Roll.

  • Hits: 296