Tyler County News - Breakout

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The Colmesneil City Council and Mayor Duane Crews wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Pictured from left-to-right: Gene Allen; Billy Andrus; Mayor Crews; Dennis Moffett; Bubba Sheffield and Virgie Barnes. MOLLIE LASALLE | TCB

By Mollie LaSalle
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COLMESNEIL – Lesley Waxman, of David Waxman, Inc, of Jasper, and Stephen West, the engineer from Leavins Engineering and Design of Beaumont were on hand to discuss the plans for the North Pitser Street project, which entails water and draining crossing improvements.

Waxman announced that they (city council) and opened the bids last week, after receiving five very competitive bids. West went on to explain, “all the bids were reviewed, and our recommendations were based on the amount of available funds for this project”. Waxman added, “we already knew money was going to be tight with inflation and whatnot; this gave us a way to do the project without having all the money or not”.

After discussing all the bids, council voted to award the project to SeTex Construction of Beaumont. Waxman added, “we will get in touch with the contractor, and my office, and the engineer’s (West) office will put together a pre-construction conference which will be held at Colmesneil City Hall, sometime in mid-January of 2024. We will go over everything that my office and West’s office is responsible for. We are trying to keep on the schedule given to us by the state, which we are”.

In other business, council voted to keep Bubba Sheffield as mayor pro-tem for the upcoming term. Council approved all necessary office reports, and minutes from previous meetings. Council adjourned at 6:15 p.m. to attend their annual Christmas party at the Community Center.

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By Chris Edwards
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COLMESNEIL – A true icon of Texas high school baseball, of Colmesneil ISD, and the city of Colmesneil, died last Monday.

Ben Stewart, Jr., a teacher, coach and school administrator, died at the age of 75, in Woodville, from complication of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Stewart was one of the most legendary coaches in Texas high school baseball history, with four state championship victories to his credit, and having led the Colmesneil Bulldogs to six appearances at the UIL State Baseball Finals.

A Tyler County native, Stewart grew up in Rockland and graduated from Colmesneil High School. After college, he coached and taught and Mineola and Corpus Christi for a year in each locale, and then returned to his alma mater, where he coached, taught history and worked as an administrator, as high school principal, for 38 years, before retiring.

Stewart coached the Bulldog baseball team for decades, with championship titles in 1980, 85, 86 and 1990, which put him in the record books of Texas high school baseball as the coach with the most state championship rings, and as one of the first coaches with consecutive wins. In the 1986 season, the ‘Dogs earned a 28-0 record defending their title under Stewart’s leadership. The school also earned the titles of State Finalists for the 1979 season and Semi-Finalist in 1989.

His accomplishments on the diamond also earned him a place in the Texas Baseball Coaches’ Hall of Fame.

In 2019, the Colmesneil ISD baseball field was renamed to honor Stewart, as the Handley-Stewart Field, which also co-honored the late CISD administrator James Handley.

His family noted in his obituary that Stewart was an honest and fair man with a great sense of humor, who loved the Dallas Cowboys and to be surrounded by family, colleagues, former students and friends.

Memorials to Stewart can be made to the Colmesneil Athletics program by sending a contribution to PO Box 37, Colmesneil, TX 75938, or funds can be delivered to either Stewart’s daughter Dena Settlocker or CISD Athletic Director George Taylor to go toward the program, with the text “Ben Stewart’s Memorial” in the memo line for check contributions.

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 Frankie Rogers spoke to the Tyler County Commissioners Court about a topic concerning veterans’ prescription access and affordability on Monday. CHRIS EDWARDS | TCB

By Chris Edwards
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WOODVILLE – During its regular meeting on Monday morning, the Tyler County Commissioners Court heard a presentation from Frankie Rogers on behalf of veterans in the county.

Rogers, who served in both the Navy and the Air Force as a medical tech and later, in civilian life, as the City of Woodville health inspector for about 13 years, said that the county’s veterans need some assistance, particularly when acquiring needed medications.

Rogers explained that Walmart pharmacy no longer accepts prescriptions for veterans who use Express Scripts, but that Brookshire Brothers’ pharmacy is looking to expand and possibly take on the veterans’ prescriptions program.

“Our veterans are suffering,” Rogers said, and noted the increasing prices of medications. “Why can’t we just take care of our own?”

Rogers said that many veterans have to go outside of Tyler County in order to get needed medications, and for many older veterans who cannot drive, it is problematic. Rogers, who is 85 himself, alluded to some of the complications that arise with age.

Rogers asked Tyler County Judge Milton Powers for the Commissioners Court to voice support for Brookshires expanding its pharmacy and expanding its offerings to help veterans. Powers said the court would draft a letter, on behalf of the county, and run it by its legal counsel.

Changes approvedfor renovations

The court approved on Monday morning a change order for the Phase II renovations to the Tyler County Courthouse. Pct. 1 Commissioner Joe Blacksher spoke about the issue, and noted changes in the waterproofing job, and that leaks were discovered underneath the staircase, along with cracks in the sidewalk.

Blacksher noted that the treasurer’s office, which was flooded, is coming along good and “looks really sharp,” which drew a smile from Judge Powers, who said he was excited to get back into his office, which County Treasurer Leann Monk and staff have utilized in the interim.

Other Business

During Monday morning’s meeting, the Tyler County Commissioners Court approved the following items on the agenda:

• The renewal for a lease at the airport for a hangar between the county and George “Jim” Huckins, Jr. Pct. 3 Commissioner Mike Marshall said there are currently six hangars being leased at the airport.

• The bid process was approved for a 2024 Chevrolet for the Pct. 4 road and bridge department.

• The approval was given for county departments to give employees payouts for vacation and compensation pay before the end of the year.

• A donation from the Tyler County Booster to go toward the county’s Veterans Service Office was accepted. The donation funds were raised through the newspaper’s Veterans Day special section project, and Booster publisher Kelli Barnes was present to present the check to Veterans Service Officer Tina Cleberg.

• Commissioners Marshall, Ethel Rogers and Betty Whitworth were reappointed to serve on the Tyler County Hospital Board of Managers.

• Glenn Kenney, L.R. Johnson and Ronald Willmon were reappointed to serve on the county’s Emergency Services District #5 board for a two-year term.

• Judge Powers was authorized to execute the TxDOT Local Government Assistance program agreement for Tyler County.

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Mandy to Council

By Chris Edwards
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WOODVILLE – The Woodville City Council held a hearing on Monday evening, prior to the council’s regular monthly meeting. The topic of the hearing was to receive an update on the Willis Motel.

The council spoke via Zoom, and in person, with representatives of the property’s owners, including Caitlin Morrell, an attorney, who was present at the meeting.

The owners have indicated that there is a pending sale, and the potential buyer has asked for additional time to close the sale, as well as assurance that the council has no demolition order scheduled.

Last month, another hearing was held, where city attorney Brad Elrod informed council that the owners had reacquired the property from foreclosure. Previous owners had been served notice two years ago by the city that the property was found to be a nuisance and ordered condemned in August 2021.

An inspection showed the property is more than 50% dilapidated and would cost more to repair or rehab than what it is worth.

The council agreed to give 30 days to resolve the sale of the property, and have asked the owners to report back with an update at the Jan. 8 meeting of the city council, along with a written plan for what is to be done with the property.

Councilmember Lee Mann said “we just need to move forward with this.”

The city does not have the ability or resources to secure the property, since it is private property, however, the owners have said they have taken the steps to secure it.

Subdivision variance denied

A subdivision within the city limits, the plat of which was approved in 2021, came up on Monday’s agenda. Representatives with Suarez Construction interacted with the councilmembers via Zoom and approached the city about decreasing setback lines for the lots in the subdivision as well as the size of the lots.

City ordinance calls for lots to be at least 5,000 square feet, and the request called for 3,900 square-foot lots for a total of 20 lots in the subdivision, with 20-foot setback lines from the street and seven foot from the rear.

Originally, the subdivision, which is owned by Gil Tubb and to be located behind the former Magnolia Bar and Grill, called for 12 lots, each 50-foot wide.

The representatives said that all of the information on the subdivision is, at present, preliminary, as no replatting or survey has been done, but the idea is to offer 1,000-square foot, two-bedroom homes in the $225-$250K range.

Mayor Amy Bythewood warned that a precedent is set once an ordinance variance is granted and added that she did not see how it would be possible to fit 20 homes in the space outlined by the developers.

Councilmember Paula Jones motioned to not grant the variance, and all but Lee Mann voted with Jones.

Other Business

During Monday evening’s meeting, the Woodville City Council also approved the following items of business:

• Councilmember Paula Jones was appointed to represent the City of Woodville on the Tyler County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

• Councilmember Joyce Wilson was appointed to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem for the current term.

• City Administrator Mandy Risinger announced the plans for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade to take place on Jan. 15, 2024.