Tyler County News - Breakout

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Pictured left-to-right: City of Woodville councilmember Paula Jones; city administrator Mandy Risinger; state land commissioner Dawn Buckingham and Woodville Mayor Amy Bythewood receive a check from the GLO. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOE BLACKSHER

By Emily Banks Wooten and Chris Edwards
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LIVINGSTON – Dawn Buckingham, who serves as commissioner of the Texas General Land Office (GLO), was the featured speaker for the November meeting of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) and the highlight was Buckingham’s presentation of more than $100 million dollars of funds to various cities and counties within the 11-county DETCOG region. The meeting was held last Tuesday, Nov. 21, at the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe’s multi-purpose center near Livingston.

“Federal funds can be complicated to administer, but the GLO is helping communities across Texas cut red tape and turn funds promised into projects delivered. These projects were prioritized at the local level by those who live in the communities that will ultimately benefit from the improvements. We are in Deep East Texas because we care about this region and want to help move these projects forward for the benefit of these communities,” Buckingham said.

Community Development Block Grant Mitigation funding is administered by the GLO and will be used for a variety of projects to mitigate the impact of future disasters including hurricanes and floods. More than $161 million in mitigation funds were allocated to Deep East Texas following Hurricane Harvey.

Through a method of distribution developed by DETCOG and approved by the GLO, two-thirds of the mitigation funding is going to local jurisdictions, including seven counties, 14 cities and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, giving each community the ability to implement mitigation projects that meet its own unique needs. One-third is going toward regional projects to improve broadband and interoperable public safety communications.

Tyler County received a total of $12,060,000 of the funds, which was allocated in two chunks: $2,672,000 for drainage improvements throughout the county and $9,388,000 earmarked toward water and street improvements and an emergency generator for the Colmesneil area. Two cities, Ivanhoe and Woodville, received checks of $1,933,000 and $3,325,00, respectively.

“The Texas General Land Office is proud to help communities grow knowing that the projects we fund will help protect local infrastructure, businesses and the homes of those who live here,” Buckingham said.

With November being Native American Heritage Month, it was only appropriate that DETCOG’s monthly meeting be held at on the Tribe’s land.

Members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe performed several cultural dances for the crowd as part of a tribal historical presentation, including the grand entry, the round dance which is also known as the friendship dance and the hoop dance which represents the circle of life.

Welcoming the DETCOG members and representatives to Polk County were Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy; County Commissioners Guylene Robertson, Mark Dubose, Milt Purvis and Jerry Cassity; Livingston Mayor Judy Cochran; Alabama-Coushatta Chief Kanicu Mikko Choba Donnis B. Battise; and Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Council Chairman Ricky Sylestine.

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By Chris Edwards
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TYLER COUNTY – Twenty twenty-four is going to be a big election year. Aside from it being a presidential election year, several countywide positions are ready for their turns on ballots, as well as elections at the municipal level and positions with various entities, such as school boards.

The first day for candidates interested in running in the upcoming 2024 March party primaries was Nov. 11, and that period will last until Monday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. that day. The Tyler County Clerk’s Office stated for interested candidates to submit their applications and required filing fees, depending on the office sought, to the party chairman.

The filing fees vary by the office sought and the population of a county, according to the Secretary of State’s website. In Tyler County, to seek the office of Justice of the Peace, the filing fee is $375.

In Tyler County, the chair for the Republican party is Rusty Kuciemba, who can be reached by phone at 512-477-9821, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For candidates wishing to file for the Democratic primary, the county’s Democratic chair is Robert Wood, who can be reached at 409-283-8554 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

One race up for re-election is that of Tyler County Sheriff, which runs during presidential election years, or every four years. Incumbent Sheriff Bryan Weatherford is running for re-election, and has filed in the GOP primary, as has challenger Mike King.

Any office-seekers who aspire to run in the primary for criminal district attorney on up to United States Senator have to file with the state chair of their respective party. In 2024, Senator Ted Cruz is up for re-election, as are all 38 members of the United States House of Representatives, who serve two-year terms. Senators serve six-year terms.

At the state level, all 150 state representatives are up for re-election. They serve two-year terms. A complete listing of all offices up for election next year can be found by accessing this link on Secretary of State Jane Nelson’s website: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2024/offices2024.shtml.

For candidates who are seeking offices in municipal elections, on school boards or water districts, the state’s election code prescribes the authority to take filings from applicants to the respective secretaries of those entities.

For voters, the dates for the March primary are Feb. 20, 2024 through March 1 for the early voting period, and primary election day occurs on Tuesday, March 5. Tuesday, May 28 is set aside in case of a run-off election is triggered.

According to the County Clerk’s office, the last day to register to vote in the March primaries is Feb. 5, 2024, and voters can request an application by contacting Roxanne Hart, the county’s voter registrar, at 409-283-2281.

The first day to apply for a ballot by mail is Jan. 1, 2024. Applicants need to contact elections coordinator Amanda Stephens at 409-331-8133, extension 1011, to request an application to be mailed, as the clerk’s office is no longer allowed to automatically send one. The request must come from the voter, themselves.

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By Chris Edwards
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TYLER COUNTY – On Tuesday, Tyler County Judge Milton Powers announced that the county would like to welcome aboard John Settlocker as its new Emergency Management Coordinator.

Settlocker will take the position formerly held by Ken Jobe, who resigned in September, after seven years. In the interim, Trisher Ford served in the position.

As the head of the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Settlocker brings a wealth of experience, according to Judge Powers. “He is no stranger to many parts of our county, as he lives in Tyler County. He comes to us with a multitude of experience stemming from his 20 years of service with the Texas A&M Forest Service,” Powers said.

Powers said that during the process of finding a new coordinator, he received multiple applications and did interviews with a committee and wanted to thank each applicant who applied.

Powers added that Settlocker has numerous hours of training in the NIMS (National Incident Management System) and with the ICS (Incident Command System), and he also teaches classes for the Forest Service.

“We look forward to working with Mr. Settlocker and moving Emergency Management in Tyler County forward,” Powers said.

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Heritage Village is decorated for Christmas, and ready for folks to come on Saturday for the annual Twilight Tour, which will include music and a church service in the Cherokee Church. FILE PHOTO BY CHRIS EDWARDS

By Chris Edwards
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TYLER COUNTY – With Thanksgiving now just a hint in the rearview mirror and the taste of turkey a memory, the countdown to Christmas is now ticking. This week sees the beginning of countywide Christmas celebrations.

One unique Tyler County tradition that will take place during the Friday and Saturday cheer is the Christmas Twilight Tour at Heritage Village in Woodville. The Village has been decorated by volunteers, and on Saturday, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., attendees can come and tour the Village by oil lamps and lanterns.

Heritage Village director Ofeira Gazzaway said that everyone should come out and enjoy natural greenery, as well as music on the Village Green stage and a Christmas service inside the Cherokee Church.

Attendees can also pick up a snack box as they leave, she said. The event is free for all who wish to attend and is a way of saying “thanks” to all who support the Village.

During the event, tours of the Clyde Gray House Museum are also available. The house, located on the adjacent to the Village, on the property, is the former home and studio of founder and artist Clyde Gray, and serves as a tribute and museum to preserve his legacy.

At 6 p.m., the children from the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, under the direction of Sharon Brown, will perform, followed by the singers from the Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church, under the direction of Bro. Jimbo Swinney. The church service inside the Cherokee Church will be at 7 p.m.

The Tyler County Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Christmas in Tyler County” celebration begins Friday, Dec. 1, with vendors on the town square in Woodville, and the county lighting the Tyler County Courthouse, as well as presenting an open house for the public to see the renovations to the facility.

For the Chamber’s Christmas offerings, it is presenting a Mistletoe Market on Friday, Dec. 1, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., during the lighting of the downtown Woodville square and courthouse celebration, and the next day, Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are still vendor spots available, and those forms, and pertinent information, can be accessed via the Chamber’s website, www.tylercountycoc.com.

The Chamber is also hosting a tree contest that is open to all businesses in Tyler County. According to Chamber director Holly Wells, the incentive for participants is to “Get creative.”

“It can be a real tree, an artificial one, or not even a tree at all,” Wells said. Participants must submit photos of their entries by Monday, Dec. 11. Voting begins on Tuesday, Dec. 12. There is a $10 entry fee, and the winners will be announced on Dec. 20.

Also during the events next weekend, the Chamber is hosting a Santa’s Workshop event for Chamber business members to provide a craft, or some sort of activity, for the kids, while providing a way to promote businesses, according to Wells.

During Saturday’s events, the Chamber is hosting a car show and toy drive from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The entry fee is an unwrapped new toy, which will go to the Tyler County Child Welfare Board’s Angel Tree program.

Wells said the theme is for participants to decorate their car, truck motorcycle in Christmas themes, and the public will vote for their favorite.

The Chamber’s Jolly Jeep Jingle will take place at the same time, and the entry fee is $25. Awards will be given in three categories for the Jeep Jingle: Best Christmas Decorated; People’s Choice and Chamber’s Choice.

There is also a separate contest, with a $10 entry fee for “Superb Sound and Custom System,” for Jeep owners to show off what their sound systems can do.

The Rotary Club of Woodville will host its tasty annual Christmas fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., “Breakfast with Santa.”

Pancake and sausage breakfast plates will be available for $5 for children and $6 for adults at the St. Paul’s Episcopal fellowship hall.