Tyler County News - Breakout

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By Chris Edwards
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WOODVILLE – In a special-called meeting of the Tyler County Commissioners Court last Thursday, the commissioners unanimously voted to approve a vendor agreement for the county’s senior nutrition program.

The agreement signed is between the county and the Tyler County Hospital District, and Pct. 1 Commissioner Joe Blacksher, who took the reins on the program for the county after the previous provider ended its service last year, was authorized to sign the agreement.

The program outlined for the county puts the service at $8.51 per meal, with two options noted on the agreement, one price for 30 meals per day at $253.30 and another figure of 42 meals per day at $357.42.

The item had been tabled from a December 2022 meeting. Blacksher explained in the meeting that the number of meals would fluctuate but wanted to get the information for the two per-day figures, as a ballpark average of when the program picked up. The vendor agreement will give the county time to go out for bids for food suppliers starting in February, Blacksher said.

The agreement “had never been a permanent thing…we’re going to get off the ground [with the program],” he added.

Blacksher emphasized the importance of the nutrition program for the county’s senior population, providing low or no-cost meals. “We need to do this for our senior citizens,” he said, and noted that in today’s economic climate, many seniors have little money left for food after healthcare and other expenses.

In meeting with counsel on the matter, Blacksher said the agreement should not exceed $45,000 per year, and noted also that the funding from DETCOG on the program will help greatly, as there will be staffing to consider as well as the meals.

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By Chris Edwards
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IVANHOE – The Ivanhoe City Council met in its regular monthly meeting last Thursday, with Mayor Skip Blackstone starting off with his report, which outlined some grant-funded projects.

Blackstone said the $11.4 million GLO-allocated grant for flood and drainage is waiting for the state Historical Commission to approve archeological digs, and once approved the final notice will run through the granting authority, with the estimated authority to use the funds starting February of this year.

For the $7.9 million CDBG-funded streets and flood drainage improvements grant, Blackstone provided a map outlining some of the areas intended for work under the funds and said the map will be published to the city’s website.

Blackstone also provided an update on a $1.9 million grant for roadway drainage that is part of the 75979 Project, is awaiting GLO review and requests for more information. Blackstone said it may end up going to contract late this summer.

Another grant, a $300K to repair 22nd street, which is funded through the TDA Community Development Grant, is “a done deal,” Blackstone said, with a contract anticipated in March.

A $300K comprehensive plan that is ongoing needed more input from the council, Blackstone said, as to what would fit the city’s needs. A previous plan was conducted, and a lot of things were found to be ill-fitting of what would fit Ivanhoe, Blackstone said.

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Sergio Ramos is sworn-in by city secretary Terri Bible to begin serving as the temporary municipal judge for the City of Woodville. Ramos’s wife Susan is also shown, assisting him in his swearing-in. MOLLIE LA SALLE | TCB

By Mollie LaSalle
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WOODVILLE – Sergio Ramos was appointed temporary municipal judge at a special called meeting Monday evening.

Mayor Amy Bythewood put his name before council for the appointment, and he was unanimously approved to the position to replace long-serving magistrate Judith Haney.

Ramos is well-known in the community, having recently retired from a 55-year post as one of the winningest tennis coaches in Texas High School history. Ramos began his coaching/teaching career at Woodville ISD in 1967; becoming head coach in 1970. Ramos led the tennis teams to several district wins (26 years in a row) and state playoff appearances through the years. “When excellence and winning become a tradition, everything falls into place”, he has been quoted as saying.

Also, he added, “Remember who you are and remember who you represent.” He officially retired from coaching/teaching last year, after he was persuaded to join the staff at Colmesneil ISD a few years back, to help get their tennis team in winning form. Under his guidance, CISD’s tennis teams have won district honors.

His final “retirement” coincided with the unveiling of a new state of the art tennis facility at CISD in 2022.

Ramos was named the Texas 3A Tennis Coach of the Year in 1989 and was inducted into the Texas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame in 2008. Ramos is a Stephen F. Austin State University alum, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university in the 1960’s. He married his wife Sue, in 1969, after they met a Baptist Student Union get-together while both were students at SFA. He became a naturalized United States citizen in 1970. Ramos and his wife are long time members of First Baptist Church in Woodville, and he led several mission trips to Peru.

Before Ramos was sworn into his new position, he was quoted as saying “the last time I took an oath on a Bible, was when I became a US citizen.”

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WOODVILLE – Pct. 1 Commissioner Joe Blacksher sent a memo out to all Tyler County senior citizens; that they are eligible to sign up for the countywide Senior Citizens Nutrition Meal Program. Seniors can walk-in to sign-up for the program on any day of operation. The program is expected to begin on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 11:30 a.m.

The program is for seniors, aged 60 and up, to have a low to no-cost meal.

Blacksher said that if anyone needs additional information, they can contact him at 409-790-4149. Blacksher’s office location is at 205 North Charlton in Woodville.