Legal Notices

Public Notice
Effective July 1, 2009 the amount of the Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC) appearing on your Etex bill each month will increase as a result of an increase in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) universal service fund contribution factor from 11.3 % to 12.9%. The new FUSC amount is calculated by multiplying the FCC’s universal service contribution factor against your interstate access service charges. The federal universal service fund program is designed to help keep local telephone service rates affordable for all customers, in all areas of the United States.
Etex Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
801 Hwy 155 N Gilmer, Texas 75644
903-797-2711 or 877-482-3839(Toll Free)

public notice request for competitive proposals for fuel products
Union Grove Independent School District is accepting proposals for the following:
Fuel Products
For complete proposals requirements and specifications, please contact the Union Grove ISD Business Office, 11220 Union Grove Rd., or PO Box 1447, Gladewater, TX 75647, or call 903-845-5509. Sealed proposals are due at the above address no later than 3:00 P.M. Tuesday, July 8, 2009.

Public Notice
Notice of Initiation of the Section 106 Process: ATT Mobility proposes to construct a 325’ guyed telecommunications tower and associated compound at FM 2088, Gilmer, TX, at Latitude N 32° 51’ 13.770" and Longitude W 95° 03’ 36.880". The development addresses a 30’ radius beyond the proposed development area which includes a proposed 100’ x 100’ compound and associated guyed wire anchors and access/utility easements. ATT Mobility seeks comments from all interested persons on the impact of the tower on any districts, sites, buildings, structures, or objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering or culture, that are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Specific information about the project, including the historic preservation reviews that ATT Mobility has conducted pursuant to the rules of the FCC (47 CFR Sections 1.137(4) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (35 CFR Part 800) can be viewed upon request. All questions, comments and correspondence should be directed to: Micky Nielsen, Compliance Specialist, AT&T Mobility, 1801 Valley View Lane, Farrmers Branch, TX 75234, voice 9727066365, fax 9727066364.

Public Notice
Request for Proposal
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for:
Student Athletic Insurance
Student Catastrophic Insurance
Student Voluntary Insurance
For complete proposal requirements and specifications, please contact Beverly Grimes at (903)841-7405 or 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, Tx 75644.
Sealed Proposals are due at the above address no later than 2:00 p.m on Monday, July 13, 2009.

Public Notice
Request for Proposal
Gilmer Independent school District is accepting proposals for:
Milk and Dairy Products
Bread and Bakery Products
For Complete proposal requirements and specifications, please contact Beverly Grimes at (903)841-7405 or 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, Tx 75644.

Sealed Proposals are due at the above address no later than 2:00 p.m on Monday, July 13, 2009

Public notice
Out of date records to be destroyed
The Upshur County Shared Service Arrangement (UCSSA) which is comprised of the Big Sandy, Gilmer, Harmony, New Diana, Union Grove, and Union Hill Independent School Districts, proposes to destroy all out-of-date Special Education records contained in the eligibility folders of students who were dismissed from the program up through July, 2002. Also included in this purging will be records of students who were tested and did not qualify for special education services as well as records of those who qualified but were not placed. These records are presently maintained in the UCSSA office located at 113 West Tyler Street, Gilmer, TX 75644, and include referral information, educational, psychological, medical, admission review and dismissal committee minutes, individual educational plans, and classroom observation data. It is our responsibility to inform you that these records may be needed for social security benefits or other purposes and that it may be to your benefit to obtain them. Those who prefer that their records not be destroyed should send a written request to: Pat Cowan, Administration Assistant, Upshur County Shared Service Arrangement, 113 West Tyler Street, Gilmer, TX 75644 before August 01, 2009. For additional information, call (903)843-5575.

Citation by Publication
Divorce/Domestic
Cause No. 309-07
Clerk of the Court
Carolyn Bullock
P.O. Box 950
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Petitioner’s Attorney or Petitioner
Peggy Garmon
P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, Texas 75644
The State of Texas
TO: Clarence Richard Shepherd, ,, and to all whom is may concern, Respondent(s),
"You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you."
The petition of DEBRA JOHNSON BRINKLEY, Petitioner, was filed in the said Court of Upshur County, Texas on the 3rd day of May, 2007, against CLARENCE RICHARD SHEPHERD Respondent(s), numbered 309-07 and entitled:
IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF DEBRA JOHNSON BRINKLEY AND CLARENCE RICHARD SHEPHERD
The suit request: ORIGINAL PETITION FOR DIVORCE
The Court has authority in this suit to enter any judgment or decree dissolving the marriage and providing fore the division of property that will be binding on you.
Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 10th day of June, 2009.
Attest: CAROLYN BULLOCK, DISTRICT CLERK OF THE 115TH DISTRICT COURT, UPSHUR COUNTY, TEXAS
BY: L. Seahorn Deputy

public notice
Union Hill ISD is currently seeking proposals for the following items:
REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR BREAD & MISCELLANEOUS FOOD SERVICE PRODUCTS
Sealed proposals will be received by the Union Hill ISD for bread and miscellaneous food service items for the 2009-2010 school year. Proposals will be received in the Office of the Superintendent until 10:00 a.m., Thursday July 9, 2009. Any proposals received after that time and date will be returned unopened and not considered. Please mail or deliver all bids and obtain specification forms from:
Office of Superintendent
Union Hill I.S.D.
2197 FM 2088
Gilmer, Texas 75644
The District reserves the right to reject any bid and/or all bids, to make awards as they may appear advantageous to the District and to waive all formalities in bidding.

Public Notice
Notice is hereby given that on July 2, 2009, at 5:15 p.m. the City of Gilmer Planning and Zoning Commission will meet in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 110 Buffalo, Gilmer, to consider the following:
A zoning change request by Transition Two J S Limited Partnership to rezone Lot 15, Block 2, Elwood Addition, east of the railroad on Redbud from R-1 to MF-1, according to the rules and regulations of the City of Gilmer Zoning ordinance.
The public is incited to attend.

Notices of Non-discrimination
Notice #2
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The City of Gilmer does not discriminate on the basis of color, national origin, sex, religion, age and handicapped status in employment or the provision services.
*The City of Gilmer has adopted complaint and grievance procedures regarding its Texas Capital Fund Programs. These procedures outline the steps for a citizens to follow if s/he wishes to file a written complaint about proposed TCF activities. The City will make every effort to respond fully to such complaints within ten (10) working days. Citizens may obtain a copy of these written procedures at the City Hall between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Citizens may also request the procedures be mailed to them by calling the city secretary, at 903-843-2552.

Notices of Non-discrimination
Notice #1
Policy of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of handicapped Status
The City of Gilmer does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in the admission or access to, or employment in, its program or activities. The city secretary has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements contained om the Department of housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) regulations implementing Section 504 (24 CFR Part 8. dated June 2, 1988).

public notice of bid
New Diana ISD is accepting bids for the sale of a 4-wheel drive Kubota tractor with a front-end loader, 1995 backhoe, hydraulic controls and bucket. All bids must be securely sealed and marked "Tractor Bid". Sealed bids will be accepted until Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 1:00 pm at which time bids will be opened. Sealed bids should be submitted to Mrs. Melinda Benson, NDISD Business Manager at 1373 US Hwy 259 S, Diana, TX 75640. Bids will be presented ti the school on July 13, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. To schedule a time to inspect the tractor, etc., please call Bruce Jeffery at 903-663-8000 ext 340. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Administration for the Estate of Sharon Lynn Freeman, Deceased, were issued on Monday, June 1, 2009, in Cause No. 09-PR-7454, styled "In re: The Estate of Sharon Lynn Freeman, deceased," pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: James Garvin Reed, Jr.
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in manner prescribed by law to the following:
James Garvin Reed, Jr., Administrator of the Estate of Sharon Lynn Freeman
c/o Joe W. Newsom, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Todd Tefteller
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
DATED the 1st day of June, 2009.
Joe W. Newsom, Jr.
Attorney for Applicant
State Bar No.: 2045112
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Telephone: (903) 843.5678
Facsimile: (903) 680.2310

notice to all persons having claims against the estate of Jack V. Hayes, Deceased
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Jack V. Hayes, Deceased, were issued on May 26, 2009, in Cause No. 09 PR 7469, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to:
Diane Miller
and
Ray Miller
The residence of such Independent Co-executors is Upshur County, Texas. The post office address is:
c/o Patricia H. Florence
Florence & Florence Attorneys
P.O. Box 1471
Longview, Texas 75606
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
DATED this 1st day of June, 2009.
FLORENCE & FLORENCE ATTORNEYS
PATRICIA H. FLORENCE
Attorney for Applicant

notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Testamentary for the ESTATE OF EVELYN CECIL SMITH DECEASED, were issued on May 26, 2009, in Cause No. 09-PR-7459 pending in the Probate Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: JERRY WAYNE SMITH.
All claims to be filed and served upon said Estate shall be served in the following manner, at the following address:
JERRY WAYNE SMITH
c/o Vincent L. Dulweber, Attorney
P.O. Box 3106
Longview, Texas 75606
(903) 757-2880
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

public notice
The Harmony Independent School District will receive sealed bid proposals for cafeteria food items and non food products for 2009-2010 school years.
All bids will be received until 10:00 a.m. June 18, 2009. Any proposals received after that time and date will be returned unopened and not considered. Bidders are invited to be present at the bid opening. Please mail or deliver all bids to:
Jed Whitaker
Superintendent
9788 S.H. 154W
Big Sandy, TX. 75755
Please mark envelope as follows: Sealed Bid- Food and Non Food Products. For more information contact Janet Albright (903) 725-5492 ext.128.
The district reverses the right to reject any bid and/or all bids and to make awards as they may appear advantageous to the district and to waive all formalities in bidding.
Bids received without proper signature will not be accepted.

public notice
Union Hill I.S.D. is currently seeking bids for building Track & Field. Specifications may be picked up from Union Hill I.S.D. Administration Office on June 1, 2009. Sealed bids will be received by the Union Hill I.S.D. for the above category listed, in the Office of the Superintendent until 2:00 P.M., June 11, 2009. Any bids received after that time and date will be returned unopened and not considered. Bids will be opened June 11, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. Please obtain specifications from:
Office of Superintendent
Union Hill I.S.D.
2197 FM 2088
Gilmer, TX 75644
The District reserves the right to reject any/or all bids, to make awards as they appear advantageous to the District and to waive all formalities in bidding.

Public Notice
Services through the Federal Title Programs may be available for eligible students attending private schools. Private schools and parents interested in learning more about the Federal Title Program are invited to attend an informational meeting on Thursday June 2, 2009 at 3:00 P.M., or 6:00 P.M. The meeting will be held at the Harmony School Board Room located in the Administration Building.
Schools that receive services must comply with all requisite policies and produces. For more information contact David Cochran by phone at 903-725-5493 Ext 161, or by mail at 9788 State Hwy. 154 W. Big Sandy, TX. 75755. A packet of information concerning eligibility requirements for Title services will be available at this meeting.
Agenda
At this meeting the following programs will be discussed and evaluated.
Title I Part A
Title II Part A
Title II Part D
Title III SSA
Title IV Part A SSA
Title V Part A
Title VI Part B
State Compensatory Education
OEYP
ARI & AMM
Carl Perkins
If you would like to help in the planning and evaluations of these programs please attend our meeting.
NONDISCRIMINATION: No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation, be denied the benefits, or be subject to discrimination under any District program or activity.

Public Notice
Ordinance No. 148
Tax freeze for residential homestead property owners if the City of East an ordinance establishing an ad valorem mountain, texas, who are disabled or who are 65 years of age or older; providing for definitions; finding that the meeting at which this ordinance was passed was conducted in strict compliance with the Texas open meetings act; repealing all ordinances in conflict herewith; providing a savings clause; providing for the severability of the provisions hereof; and establishing an effective date.

notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Norman E. Stokes, Deceased, were issued on May 12, 2009, in Cause No. 09-PR-7462, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas. to: Keith Stokes. All persons having claims against this Estate4 which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o: NEAL SMITH
Brown, Bauman & Smith
A Professional Corporation
400 E. Fifth Street
Tyler, TX 75701
Dated the 19 day of May, 2009.
NEAL SMITH
Brown, Bauman & Smith
Attorney for Keith Stokes
State Bar No.: 18656500
A Professional Corporation
400 E. Fifth Street
Tyler, TX 75701
Telephone: (903) 597-6333
Facsimile: (903) 597-6335

notice of sale of surplus and salvage property
The Upshur County Commissioner’s Court is accepting bids for the sale of surplus and salvage property. All items may be viewed online and bids will only be accepted online at AuctioneerExpress.com. Items may be viewed in person by contacting the Upshur County Commissioner’s at (903) 670-8154. Other information is available from Auctioneer Express at (903) 572-4975. the sale will begin ending at 11:00 a.m. on June 3, 2009

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 0946-03-021 for PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PAVED SURFACE WIDTH in UPSHUR County, etc. will be opened on June 09, 2009 at 1:00 pm at the State Office.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for the TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NPO: 29818
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

Public Notice
Ore City Independent School District is accepting proposals for student insurance. Specifications may be obtained from the Ore City ISD Business Office located in the administration building at 100 Rebel Road, Ore City, Texas; or you may call the school at 903.968.3300 and select "0" for the central office. The mailing address for the district is P.O. Box 100, Ore City, Texas 75683 and is located off of Highway 259 North. Proposals must be received in the business office no later than June 25, 2009, 10:00 A.M. Opening of proposals will immediately follow. All late proposals will be returned - unopened. The Board of Trustees will consider proposals for approval at their regular board meeting on July 20, 2009. Ore City ISD is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Public Notice
Ore City Independent School District is accepting proposals for property and casualty insurance. Specifications may be obtained from the Ore City ISD Business Office located in the administration building at 100 Rebel Road, Ore City, Texas; or you may call the school at 903.968.3300 and select "0" for the central office. The mailing address for the district is P.O. Box 100, Ore City, Texas 75683 and is located off of Highway 259 North. Proposals must be received in the business office no later than June 25, 2009, 10:00 A.M. Opening of proposals will immediately follow. All late proposals will be returned - unopened. The Board of Trustees will consider proposals for approval at the regular board meeting on July 20, 2009. Ore City ISD is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

PUBLIC NOTICE FOR EIGHT TERMS STARTING IN
SEPTEMBER OF 2009
Notice is given that the North East Texas Regional Water Planning Group (NETRWPG) is accepting nominations for positions to serve as voting members. Due to the expiring terms of eight positions, appointments will be made for each of the eight terms. State law and the Bylaws of the NETRWPG require diversity in the membership of the NETRWPG. Due to existing overlap, 8 members could be selected from any interest group. Section 16.053 of the Texas Water Code lists the required interest groups and the requirement that the regional planning groups maintain adequate representation from those interests. To preserve geographical diversity on a county level, selection for terms starting September of 2009 must come from the following counties: one member from each of the counties: Bowie, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Smith and Van Zandt. Due to existing overlap, two members could be selected from any county within the region. The effort to strive to achieve geographical diversity is found in Article V, Section 4 of the NETRWPG Bylaws. Terms are expiring for positions held by George Frost, Mendy Rabicoff, Jim Thompson, Sharron Nabors, Jim Clark, Bob Staton, Don Patterson and Darwin Douthit. In this selection process, NETRWPG will strive to achieve interest group, geographic, ethnic and gender diversity. To be eligible, a person must be qualified as set forth in the NETRWPG Bylaws. The conditions of membership are set forth in the NETRWPG Bylaws. This method for submission of nominations shall be to submit nominations to the principal administrative office of the NETRWPG. The mailing address for such office is Northeast Texas Municipal Water District, P O Box 955, Hughes Springs, Texas 75656. The physical address of such office is 4180 Farm Road 250, Hughes Springs, Texas 75656. The deadline for submission is June 17, 2009.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6196-24-001 for TREE TRIMMING TO IMPROVE SIGN VISIBILITY in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on June 24, 2009 at 10:00 am at the District Office for and estimate of $33,000.00.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for the TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NPO: 29771
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

Public Notice of Bid
Union Hill ISD is accepting bids for bank depository for the period of September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2011. All bids must be securely sealed and marked "Bid to Serve as Depository for time bids will be opened. Sealed bids will be accepted until Monday, June 1, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. at which time bids will be opened. Sealed bids should be submitted to Mrs. Micki Miller, UHISD Administrative Assistant at 2197 FM 2088, Gilmer, TX 75644. Bids will be presented to the school board on June 11, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The board of Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

notice to vendors
Ore City ISD is seeking bids for bread, milk and ice cream products for the 2009-2010 school year. Bid packets may be obtained at the OCISD Central Office during business hours of 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Deadline to submit a bid is Monday, June 15, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Sealed bids will be publicly opened, in the board room located in the administration building, immediately following this deadline. Ore City ISD reserves the right to reject any or all bids in the best interest of the District. All bids must be signed. Late bids will not be accepted and will be returned to the company - unopened. "Request for Bid Response" forms may be obtained from the central office by calling the central office at 903.968.3300. Physical address of Ore City ISD is 100 Rebel Road, Ore City, Texas. Ore City ISD is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, contact the USDA Director at : Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independent Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or by phone at 800.795.3272 or 202.720.6382.

City of East Mountain, Texas
Public Notice
A Budget Workshop for the upcoming budget year (2009-2010) will be held at the City of East Mountain City Hall, 103 Municipal Drive, Gilmer, TX on Monday, May 11, 2009 at immediately following the City Council Meeting which begins at 7:00 p.m.

CITATION BY PUBLICATION
Civil Suits
CAUSE NO. 779-08
CLERK OF THE COURT
Carolyn Bullock
PO Box
Gilmer, TX 75644
Plaintiff’s attorney or plaintiff
ELIZABETH ANN FULTON
P.O. BOX 3521
LONGVIEW, TEXAS 75606
THE STATE OF TEXAS
NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: "You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you."
TO: MICHELLE RENEE DEES VANAUKEN AND STEVEN WAYNE DEES
Defendant, Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s PLAINTIFF’S ORIGINAL PETITION at or before ten o’clock a.m. of the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation the same being: Monday the 15th day of JUNE, 2009, before the Honorable 115th District court of Upshur County, Texas at the Justice Center of said County in Gilmer, Texas.
Said Plaintiff’s Petition was filed in said court on the NOVEMBER 20, 2008 In this case numbered 779-08 on the docket of said court and styled,
GWENDOLYN ROSE AKIN VS. STEVEN WAYNE DEES AND MICHELLE RENEE DEES VANAUKEN
The names of the parties to the cause are as follows: GWENDILYN ROSE AKIN plaintiff(s) and STEVEN WAYNE DEES AND MICHELLE RENEE DEES VANAUKEN defendant(S).
A brief statement of the nature of this suit is as follows, to wit: TO REMOVE A CLOUD AND QUIET TITLE OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE TO CLAIM THROUGH ADVERSE POSSESSION IS SITUATED IN UPSHUR COUNTY, TEXAS
as is more fully shown by Plaintiff’s Petition on file in this suit. The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates thereof, and make die return as the law directs.
Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 30th day of April A.D. 2009.
Attest: CAROLYN BULLOCK DISTRICT CLERK OF THE 115TH DISTRICT COURT, UPSHUR COUNTY TEXAS
BY: L.Seahorn Deputy

Public Notice
Request for Proposal
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for
Sports Utility Vehicles
(Minimum 8-passenger capacity)
For complete proposal requirements and specifications, Please contact Beverly Grimes at (903) 841-7405 or via email at grimesb@gilmerisd.org. Proposal packets may also be obtained at the Gilmer ISD Business Office located at 500 South Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644.
Sealed proposals are due at the above address no later than 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2009.Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals.

notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Guardianship for the Estate of Harley H. Jones, an Incapacitated Person, were issued on April 27, 2009, in Cause No. 09-GU-217, pending in the County Court if Upshur County, Texas, to: ERNEST H. JONES.
The residence of the Guardian is Big Sandy, Upshur County, TX: the post office address is:
c/o: PEGGY S. GARMON
Attorney at Law
312 N. Titus Street, P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, Texas 75644
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
Dated the day of April, 2009.
Peggy S. Garmon
312 N, Titus Street
P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Peggy S. Garmon
Attorney for the Estate
State Bar No.: 00790745

Published Notice to Creditors
Notice is hereby given that Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Joyce E. Miller, deceased, were issued on February 24, 2009, in Docket Number 09-PR-7420, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to Janet Lynn Krahn.
The residence of the Independent Executor is in Upshur county, Texas, and the mailing address is:
Estate of Joyce E. Miller
c/o Janet Lynn Krahn
53 Codorus Road
Montgomery, Illinois 60538
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
Dated the 23nd day of April, 2009.
Dwight A. Brannon
P.O. Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Tel: 903-843-2523
State Bar No. 02894500
Attorney for the Estate of
Joyce E. Miller

Public Notice for Parent Meeting Announcement
Services through the federal Title programs may be available for eligible students attending private schools. Private schools and parents interested in learning more about the federal Title programs are invited to attend one of two informational meetings. The first meeting will be Monday, May 4, at 10:00 A.M. in the Board Room of the Gilmer ISD administration building at 500 S. Trinity. A second meeting will be held in the same place on Monday, May 4, at 4:30 P.M. Schools that receive services must comply with all requisite federal policies and procedures. For more information, contact Sigrid Yates by phone at 903-841-7401 or by mail at 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, TX 75644.

Public NOTICE
KINDERGARTEN AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP
Union Grove Elementary – Parents who are planning to send their child to Union Grove Kindergarten or Pre-Kindergarten in the 2009-2010 school year are urged to pre-register at the Union Grove Elementary office anytime on Wednesday, May 6th from 8:15 AM – 4:00 PM. To be eligible for the Pre-Kindergarten class, a child must be at least four years of age on or before September 1st. To qualify for the class, the child must be either unable to speak and comprehend English, homeless, or from a family whose income is at or below subsistence level. (For income guidelines, call the elementary office at 903-845-3481) The child must live in the Union Grove District. Children are eligible to enter the Kindergarten program if they will be five years of age on or before September 1st. To enroll your child for Kindergarten of Pre-Kindergarten you must furnish a birth certificate, a current immunizations record signed by a licensed physician, and Social Security number. It is the policy of Union Grove ISD not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap in its programs, services or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights ACT of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Union Grove ISD will take steps to assure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all education programs.

published notice
to creditors
Notice is hereby given that Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Erwin C. Porter, deceased, were issued on April 7, 2009, in Docket Number 09-PR-7446, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to Fern C. Latino and Homer Lee Porter, Jr.
The residence of the Co-Independent Executors is in Gregg and Upshur Counties, Texas, and the mailing address is:
Estate of Erwin C. Porter
c/o Fern C. Latino
601 Tanglewood
White Oak, Texas 75693
and
C/o Homer Lee Porter, Jr.
63 CR 2321
Pittsburg, Texas 75686
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
DATED the 20th day of April, 2009.
Dwight A. Brannon
P.O. Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Tel: 903-843-2523
State Bar No. 02894500
Attorney for the Estate of
Erwin C. Porter

public notice of upshur county
voting precinct boundary changes
Notice is hereby given of the following voting precinct changes inside Upshur County, Texas. Pending approval by the United States Department of Justice, the following voting precinct boundary changes shall take effect in the first election following January 1, 2010. Voting precincts 2 (West Mountain) and 3 (Union Grove) shall become part of voting precinct 4 (East Mountain) and shall be designated voting precinct 4 (East Mountain). Voting precinct 10 (Lafayette) shall become part of voting precinct 11(Ewell) and shall be designated voting precinct 11(Ewell). Voting precincts 18 (Grice) and 20 (Latch) shall become part of voting precinct 19 (Rosewood) and shall be designated voting precinct 19 (Rosewood).

public notice
gilmer Zoning Board
Notice is hereby given that on May 7, 2009 the City of Gilmer Zoning Board of Adjustments will meet in the Council Chambers at City Hall to consider the following:
A zoning request (#09-01) by Mr. Tony Putman to build a Single Family dwelling located between Buffalo west of REA Road and 154 West. The public is invited to attend the meeting.
Mike Catron
City of Gilmer

affidavit of publication and posting of notice of estray
The State of Texas
County of Upshur
Before me, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared Randall Norred, who after being by me duly sworn deposes and says:
After the herein described estray was impounded, I made a diligent search of the register of recorded brands in the county where said estray was found. The search did not reveal the owner of said estray.
I did then advertise the impoundment of said estray in Gilmer Mirror, a newspaper of general circulation in the county where said estray was found, at least twice during the fifteen (15) days after the impoundment of said estray. The dates of such advertisement were April 18, 2009 and April 22, 2009 and a duly verified printed copy thereof is returned herewith.
I also posted a copy of the Notice of Estray and the Notice of Impoundment of Estray on the public notice board of the courthouse of the county in which the estray was found.
Said estray is described as the following:
Kind of Animal: Horse
Breed: Buckskin
Color: Bucksin
Sex: Female
Age: Approx. 1 yr to 1.5 yr
Size: Ten Hands Tall
Brand, Marks, Identifying Characteristics: Dark mane, white stripe on face, white socks on both rear feet, has blue halter & no brands
Witness my hand, this the 16th day of April, 2009
Anthony Betterton
Sheriff or Designee of Upshur
County, Texas
SWORN to and subscribed before me by Sgt. Randall Norred this the 16th day of April, 2009.
Suzanne Patterson
Notary Public, Upshur
County, Texas
My commission expires: 12-14-2009

Mandatory Public
Notification Language
Notice of Drinking Water Monitoring and Reporting Violations
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has notified the CITY OF ORE CITY that we have violated the monitoring and reporting requirements set forth in Chapter 30, Section 290, Subchapter F. We are required to properly disinfect water before distribution, maintain acceptable disinfection residuals within the distribution system, monitor the disinfectant residual at various locations throughout the distribution system, and report the results of that monitoring to the TCEQ on a quarterly basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not your drinking water is protected from microbial contaminations. During the fourth quarter of 2008 beginning October 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2008, we did not complete all monitoring and/or reporting for disinfectant residual monitoring and reporting, and therefore the TCEQ cannot be sure of the safety of your drinking water during that time.
We are working to correct the problem.
On April 9, 2009, we filed the required reports with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and received electronic conformation of their receipt.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and business). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or disturbing copies by mail.
For further information contact:
Mrs. Gail Weir, 903-968-2511
Public Water System ID # 2300003

Notice of General Election
TO THE REGISTERED VOTERS OF ORE CITY, TEXAS:
Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., May 9, 2009, for voting in a general election to elect three council members. (Notifiquese, por las presente, que las casillas electorales sitados abajo se abriran desde las 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., el 9 de mayo, 2009, para votar en la Eleccion para tres council members)
LOCATION OF POLLING PLACE (DIRECCION DE LAS CASILLA ELECTORALES): 302 E. Main St., Ore City Texas.
Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday at (La votacion en adelantada en persona se llevara a cabo de lunes a viernes en) 302 East Main Street, Ore City between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. beginning on April 27, 2009, and ending on May 5, 2009; and between hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on May 4, 2009 and May 5, 2009 (entre las 7:30 de la manana y las 4 de la tarde empezando el 27 de abril, 2009 y terminado el 5 de mayo, 2009; y entre las 7:00 de la manana & las 7 de la tarde, el 4 de mayo y el 5 de mayo, 2009).
Applications for ballot by mail shall be mailed to (Las solicitudes para boletas que se botaran en ausencia por correo deberan enviarse a):
Mrs. Gail Weir, P.O. Box 327, Ore City, Texas 75683.
Issued this the 10th day of febrero, 2009.
(Emitada este dia 10 de febrero, 2009.)

Notice of Requirement to comply with the subdivision service extension policy of union grove
water supply corporation
Pursuant to Chapter 13.2505 of the Texas Water Code, Union Grove Water Supply Corporation hereby gives notice that any person who subdivides land by dividing any lot, tract, or parcel of land, within the service area of Union Grove Water Supply Corporation in Upshur County, into two or more lots or sites for the purpose of sale or development, whether immediate or future, including re-subdivision of land for which a plat has been filed and recorded or requests more than two water service connections on a single contiguous tract of land must comply with the subdivision service extension policy stated in the tariff/policy The Subdivision Policy contained in Union Grove Water Supply Corporation’s tariff.
Union Grove Water Supply Corporation is not required to extend retail water to a service applicant in a subdivision where the developer of the subdivision has failed to comply with the Subdivision Policy. Applicable elements of the Subdivision Policy include:
Evaluation by Union Grove Water Supply Corporation of the impact of proposed subdivision service extension will make on Union Grove Water Supply Corporation’s water supply service system and payment of the costs of this evaluation;
Payment of reasonable costs or fees by the developer for providing water supply service capacity;
Payment of fees for reserving water supply service capacity
Forfeiture of reserved water supply capacity for failure to pay applicable fees;
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Page 10
Chapter 291- Utility Regulations
Payment of costs of any improvements to Union Grove Water Supply Corporation’s system that are necessary to provide the water service;
Construction according to design approved by Union Grove Water Supply Corporation and dedication by the developer of water within the subdivision following inspection.
Union Grove Water Supply Corporation’s tariff and a map showing Union Grove Water Supply Corporation’s service area may be reviewed at Union Grove Water Supply Corporation’s District’s offices, at (11015 Union Grove Rd, Gladewater, Tx); the tariff and service area map also are filed of record at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and may be reviewed by contacting the TCEQ, c/o Utility Rates and Services Section, Water Supply Division, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711.

Notice to Creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of George F. Dent, Deceased, were issued on the 6th day of April, 2009, under Docket No. 09-PR-7448 pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Deedra Lynn Dent.
 Claims may be presented in care of the attorney for the Estate addressed as follows:
Estate of George F. Dent, Deceased
c/o Ross A. Skolnick
1809 Gilmer Road
Longview, Texas 75604
 All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and manner prescribed by law.
 Dated this 13th day of April, 2009.
ROSS A. SKOLNICK
ATTORNEY FOR ESTATE

Fair Housing Public Service Announcement
Public Service Announcement:
Fair Housing, It’s the Law
 To promote fair housing practice, the City of Gilmer encourages potential homeowners and renters to be aware of their rights under the National Fair Housing Law.
 Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act or 1968, as amended, prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin in the sale or rental of units in the housing market.
 For more information on fair housing or to report possible fair housing discrimination, call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-669-9777.

PUBLIC NOTICE
EXCO Operating Company, LP, 12377 Merit Dr., #1700, Dallas, TX 75251 has applied to the Railroad Commission of Texas for exception to SWR 26/27 for surface commingling of gas well full well stream (gas and condensate) into a common separation and storage facility from separate leases with different ownership. The commingled wells in EXCO’s White Oak facility are: JW Akin 1 (159409), JW Akin 2 (194489), JW Akin 3 (201607), JW Akin A 1 (202689), Oxy Akin 1 (154841), Oxy Akin 2 (234940), Anderson-Christian GU 1 (151811), Anderson-Christian GU 2 (172782), J Bumpus GU 1 (147448), J Bumpus GU 2 (149640) J Bumpus GU 3 (158413), J Bumpus GU 4 (193392), J Bumpus GU 5 (193393), J Bumpus GU 6 (193394), J Bumpus GU 7 (209591), J Bumpus GU 9 (230842), A Carter 1 (159760), PC Castleberry GU 1 (157830), PC Castleberry GU 2 (195569), PC Castleberry GU 3 (200122), PC Castleberry GU 4 (203029), PC Castleberry GU 5 (207823), BC Christian GU 1 (154970), JM Christian GU 1 (153291), JM Christian GU 2 (157574), JM Christian GU 3 (182232), JM Christian GU 4 (193398), JM Christian GU 5 (221610), JM Christian GU 9 (pending), R Christian GU 1 (151843), W Christian GU 1 (151081), W Christian GU 2 (230840), JD Davis E GU 4 (146724), JD Davis E GU 5 (146280), JD Davis E GU 6 (175577), JD Davis E GU 7 (176935), JD Davis E GU 10 (220249), J Flemister GU 1 (153764), FM Fonville 4 (221607), FM Fonville 8 (227362), JW Free GU 1 (150256), TB Harris GU 2 (145235), TB Harris GU 3 (146725), TB Harris GU 4 (150279), TB Harris GU 5 (148253), TB Harris GU 6 (177073), TB Harris GU 7 (175576), TB Harris GU 8 (174008), TB Harris GU 9 (185126), TB Harris GU 10 (190922), TB Harris GU 13 (231800), P Hopkins GU 1 (146415), P Hopkins GU 2 (178509), P Hopkins GU 3 (199604), P Hopkins GU 4 (192448), P Hopkins GU 5 (198109), P Hopkins GU 6A (200689), P Hopkins GU 7 (199065), P Hopkins GU 8 (201144), P Hopkins GU 9 (211678), DB Key 1 (160400), DB Key 2 (230839), G Kutch GU 1 (154896), G Kutch GU 2 (203487), G Kutch GU 3 (212178), McHaney-Loeb GU 1 (154062), McHaney-Loeb GU 2 (194736), M Moncrief 1 (154371), M Moncrief 2 (182240), M Moncrief 3 (195564), M Moncrief 4 (222415), JC Persons 1A (141720), JC Persons 2 (152324), JC Persons 3 (183167), JC Persons 4 (184796), JC Persons 5 (184376), JC Persons 6 (186146), JC Persons 7 (191314), JC Persons 8 (193396), JC Persons 9 (197072), JC Persons 10 (234150), Shiloh School GU 1 (157969), Shiloh School GU 2 (184454), Shiloh School GU 3 (197071), Shiloh School GU 4 (199485), Shiloh School GU 5 (213419), Shiloh School GU 6 (224651), M Smith 1 (145192), M Smith 2 (144725), M Smith 3 (145234), M Smith 4 (150826), M Smith 5 (166436), M Smith 7 (182075), M Smith 8 (183810), M Smith 9 (198025), M Smith 10 (202329), H Stephens 1X (140508), H Stephens 2 (189302), H Stephens 3 (201648), H Stephens 4 (202912), H Stephens 5 (206366), H Stephens 6 (219502), H Stephens 7 (213680), H Stephens 8 (213150), H Stephens 9 (213146), H Stephens 10 (223107), Stuckey-Thrasher GU 1 (148685), Stuckey-Thrasher GU 2 (167387), Stuckey-Thrasher GU 3 (173003), Stuckey-Thrasher GU 4 (182955), A Tooke 1 (156009), A Tooke 2 (192048), A Tooke 3 (203019), A Tooke 4 (214712), A Tooke 5 (205254), A Tooke 8 (237269), all in White Oak (Cotton Valley Sd) field, Gregg Co., TX; RA Adkins GU 1 (150879), JF Bland 1 (155008), JJ Flewellen GU 1 (152721), JW Free 2 (155584), JW Free 3 (160641), JW Free 4 (pending), JW Free 6 (246283), H Hampton 1 (154150), GW Johnson 1 (157934), CC Landers 1 (152230), CC Landers 2 (155215), CC Landers 3 (180864), TJ Mason GU 9 (234752), Phillips-Free 1 (153437), DA Porter GU 1 (150319), DA Porter GU 2 (160972), DA Porter GU 3 (182238), all in White Oak (Cotton Valley Sd) field, Upshur Co., TX; AL Bacle GU 1 (147455), AL Bacle GU 2 (148728), AL Bacle GU 3 (183067), JC & RS McKinley GU 1 (147249), JC & RS McKinley GU 2 (148245), JC & RS McKinley GU 3 (175578), JC & RS McKinley GU 4 (197696), JC & RS McKinley GU 5 (206328), Treadaway 1 (183812), Treadaway 2 (184827), Treadaway 3 (188087), Treadaway 4 (188085), Treadaway 5 (190473), Treadaway 6 (188759), all in Willow Springs (Cotton Valley, W) field, Gregg Co., TX; OJ Albright 1 (161845), Arco Tooke 1 (163903), JC Barrett 1 (176533), JC Barrett 2 (181997), JC Barrett 3 (180099), JC Barrett 4 (180643), JC Barrett 5 (182296), JC Barrett 7 (233055), JF Bowles 1 (157571), JF Bowles 2 (159065), Mary Childress 1 (191084), Mary Childress 2 (204263), T Collins GU 1 (159051), Continental State Bank 1 (159207), Duncan 1 (200981), Duncan 2 (202252), Duncan 3 (232887), JK Edwards 2 (159774), JJ Flewellen 2 (170050), JJ Flewellen 3 (171368), JJ Flewellen 5 (176670), FM Fonville GU 3 (161905), Galvez-Sheppard GU 1 (161969), AL Hughes 1 (159063), L Ingram 1 (164473), H Key 1 (182990), HM Lawrence 1 (159466), TW Lee GU 1 (168372), TW Lee GU 2 (198569), TW Lee GU 3 (202094), TW Lee GU 4 (232860), WC Mackey 1 (181784), WC Mackey 2 (185969), JW Nicholson GU 4 (169072), JW Nicholson GU 5 (173110), JW Nicholson GU 6 (174305), JW Nicholson GU 9 (202844), Oryx-Akin 1 (161362), Oryx-Akin 2 (164504), Oryx-Akin 3 (203947), GW Richey GU 2 (162920), GW Richey GU 3 (165135), GW Richey GU 4 (167000), GW Richey GU 5 (167383), GW Richey GU 6 (168371), GW Richey GU 7 (170052), GW Richey GU 8 (209811), GW Richey GU 9 (177738), GW Richey GU 10 (178960), GW Richey GU 11 (179124), MO Sheppard 1 (165023), EC Shoults 1 (160319), EC Shoults 2 (197981), Tuttle Heirs 1 (200849), Tuttle Heirs 2 (204126), WW Wheeler 1 (160232), JW Wilson 1 (161226), JW Wilson 2 (197068), all in Glenwood (Cotton Valley) field, Gregg Co., TX; RA Adkins GU 2 (172009), RA Adkins GU 3 (234344), J Barksdale GU 2 (163010), J Barksdale GU 3 (165923), J Barksdale GU 7 (169062), J Barksdale GU 11 (225883), J Barksdale GU 13 (232894), DN Barnes 1 (159660), DN Barnes 2 (159661), Brawley 2 (169705), Brawley 3 (186967), Brawley 4 (224455), Brawley 5 (221328), Brawley 7 (227671), Brawley 8 (227359), Brawley 9 (228345), Brawley 11 (231944), Brawley 13 (232768), EH Brawley GU 1 (156283), EH Brawley GU 2 (156765), Buffco Brawley GU 1 (160650), Buffco Brawley GU 2 (194356), Buffco Brawley GU 3 (224400), T Collins GU 2 (171126), T Collins GU 4 (220248), T Collins GU 5 (230843), WL Dixon B 3 (171386), E Edwards 1 (159648), JK Edwards A 1 (156288), JK Edwards A 2 (232807), JK Edwards 1 (156257), JK Edwards 3 (160229), JK Edwards 4 (190362), JK Edwards 5 (232896), H Fenton GU 1 (156256), H Fenton GU 2 (157476), H Fenton GU 3 (184474), H Fenton GU 4 (232806), JJ Flewellen 4 (172013), JJ Flewellen 6 (180909), Gladewater GU 16-4 (166782), Gladewater GU 16-19 (224397), H Hampton 2 (178739), H Hampton 3 (183864), EF Johnson 1 (164177), R Kirkpatrick 1 (164120), WM Landers GU 1 (161173), WM Landers GU 2 (165451), JW Lester GU 2 (194358), JW Lester GU 3 (216863), JW Lester GU 4 (233712), TJ Mason GU 2 (216873), TJ Mason GU 3 (216872), TJ Mason GU 10 (235340), TJ Mason GU 11 (232888), JT Miller 1 (157477), JT Miller 2 (175989), JT Miller 3 (238274), E O’Byrne 1 (157572), RH Petty 1 (163188), RH Petty 2 (207205), RH Petty 3 (212223), RH Petty 4 (214801), J Phillips GU 1 (161361), TC Ramey GU 1 (159210), TC Ramey GU 2 (160324), TC Ramey GU 3A (167069), TC Ramey GU 4 (180234), TC Ramey GU 5 (194745), Rubey Est GU 2 (162901), Rubey Est GU 3 (181220), Rubey Est GU 4 (206043), Rubey Est GU 5 (206367), Rubey Est GU 6 (214066), Rubey Est GU 7 (231942), Rubey Est GU 9 (221426), Rubey Est GU 10 (229257), Rubey Est GU 11 (235305), ID Smith 1 (164119), ID Smith 2 (170436), S Brawley GU 4 (170234), S Brawley GU 5 (175994), S Brawley GU 6 (213665), S Brawley GU 7 (232773), S Brawley GU 8 (235510), S Brawley GU 9 (213462), JN Taylor GU 1 (156324), JN Taylor GU 2 (158157), JN Taylor GU 3 (158524), JN Taylor GU 4 (231941), Watts GU 1 (163714), F White GU 2 (225886), FM Willis GU 1 (167177), FM Willis GU 2 (184723), FM Willis GU 3 (189243), FM Willis GU 4 (215254), all in Glenwood (Cotton Valley) field, Upshur Co., TX; T Collins 3 (14623) Glenwood (Travis Peak) field, Gregg Co., TX; J Bumpus 8 (14529), M Smith 11 (14471) in Willow Springs (Travis Peak) field, Gregg co., TX. The requested exception is to be effective 1/2008. The following wells were added to the system at later dates: J Flemister GU 2 (241346) in 4/08, M Smith 13 (245706) in 2/08, TB Harris 11 (244437) in 2/08, TB Harris 14 (244859) in 5/08, TB Harris 12 (240428) in 7/08, White Oak (Cotton Valley Sd) field Gregg Co., TX; J Barksdale GU 15 (237678) in 6/08, Glenwood (Cotton Valley) field, Upshur Co., TX; JC & RS McKinley GU 6 (2389984) in 6/08, Willow Springs (Cotton Valley) field, Gregg Co., TX. All wells listed are in RRC district 6.
LEGAL AUTHORITY: Texas Administrative Code Title 16. Economic Regulation Part 1. Railroad Commission of Texas, Chapter 3: Oil and Gas Division, Statewide Rules 26 and 27.
Requests for a public hearing from persons who can show they are adversely affected, or requests for further information concerning any aspect of the application should be submitted in writing, within twenty-one days of publication, to the Oil and Gas Division, Railroad Commission of Texas, P.O. Box 12967, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711 (Telephone 512-463-6873).

Public Notice
New Diana ISD is requesting proposals for bakery products for the 2009-10 school year. Proposals with specifications may be obtained at the business administration building during regular business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. New Diana ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals in the best interest of the school. Sealed proposals for bread products will be opened on Tuesday, APRIL 28, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the administration annex building, No late proposals will be accepted. In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independent Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."
Address: New Diana ISD, 1373 US Hwy 259 S, Diana, Texas 75640
Telephone: (903) 663-8000.

Public Notice
Union Hill I.S.D is currently seeking bids for water well with the following specifications:
1. Water well for irrigation only
2. 500-600 foot deep
3. 40 gallons per minute
4. 50lbs. pressure
5. 120 gallon tank
6. 5 hp pump single phase
7. 4 inch well casing
8. Check and backflow prevention valves
Sealed bids will be received by the Union Hill I.S.D. for the above category listed, in the Office of the Superintendent until 3:00 P.M. May 14, 2009. Any bids revived after that time and date will be returned unopened and not considered. Bids will be opened at the School Board Meeting, May 14, 2009 at 7:00 P.M.
Office of Superintendent
Union Hill I.S.D.
2197 FM 2088
Gilmer, TX 75644
The District reserves the right to reject any/or all bids, to make awards as they may appear advantageous to the District and to waive all formalities in bidding.

Mandatory Public
Notification Language
Notice of Drinking Water Monitoring and Reporting Violations
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has notified the CITY OF ORE CITY that we have violated the monitoring and reporting requirements set forth in Chapter 30, Section 290, Subchapter F. We are required to properly disinfect water before distribution, maintain acceptable disinfection residuals within the distribution system, monitor the disinfectant residual at various locations throughout the distribution system, and report the results of that monitoring to the TCEQ on a quarterly basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of wether or not your drinking water is protected from microbial contaminations. During the fourth quarter of 2008 beginning October 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2008, we reporting, and therefore the TCEQ cannot be sure of the safety of your drinking water during that time.
We are working to correct the problem.
On April 9, 2009, we filed the required reports with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and received electronic conformation of their receipt.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and business). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or disturbing copies by mail.
For further information contact:
Mrs. Gail Weir, 903-968-2511
Public Water System ID # 2300003

AVISO DE ELECCIÓN GENERAL
Y ELECCIÓN ESPECIAL
A los votantes registrados de la Ciudad de Gilmer, Texas:
Se da aviso por este medio que la casilla electoral sitada a continuación estará abierta de 7:00 a.m. a 7:00 p.m. el 9 de mayo de 2009, para votar en una elección general para elegir un Alcalde y Concejales para los Distritos Dos y Tres por términos de dos años y una elección especial para elegir un Concejal para el Distrito en General por un término sin expirar de un año.

DIRECCIÓN DE LA CASILLA ELECTORAL
Municipalidad de Gilmer
110 Buffalo
Gilmer, Texas 75644
La votación adelantada en persona será conducida cada día laborable (lunes-viernes) en:
Municipalidad de Gilmer
110 Buffalo
Gilmer, Texas 75644
entre las horas de 8:00 a.m. y 4:30 p.m., comenzando el 27 de abril de 2009 y terminando el 5 de mayo de 2009; y con horas adicionales el lunes, 4 de mayo de 2009 y el martes, 5 de mayo de 2009, desde las 7:00 a.m. hasta las 7:00 p.m.
Las solicitudes para las boletas que se votarán por correo deberán recibirse no más tarde de las 4:00 p.m. el 1 de mayo de 2009, en la oficina de Kathy Davidson, Secretaria de la Votación Adelantada, PO Box 760, Gilmer, Texas 75644.
R. D. Cross, Alcalde
Ciudad de Gilmer

ATESTIGUA:
Kathy Davidson, Secretaria de la Ciudad

NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION
AND SPECIAL ELECTION
To the registered voters of the City of Gilmer, Texas:
Notice is hereby given that the polling place listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on May 9, 2009, for voting in a general election to elect Mayor and Councilmembers from Districts Two and Three for two-year terms and a special election to elect Councilmember At-Large for a one-year unexpired term.
LOCATION OF POLLING PLACE
Gilmer City Hall
110 Buffalo
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday (Monday-Friday) at:
Gilmer City Hall
110 Buffalo
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. beginning on April 27, 2009 and ending on May 5, 2009; and extended hours on Monday, May 4, 2009 and Tuesday, May 5, 2009 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Applications for ballot by mail must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 1, 2009 in the office of Kathy Davidson, Early Voting Clerk, PO Box 760, Gilmer, Texas 75644.
R.D. Cross, Mayor
City of Gilmer
ATTEST:
Kathy Davidson
City Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE OF BID
The Region 7 Educational Service Center is soliciting bids on behalf of one hundred and twenty nine (129) education entities and one (1) education service center in the Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative. Bids are solicited for the following categories.
Category
Opening Date/time
Custodial Supplies
May 05, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Musical Instruments/Service
Equipment & Supplies
May 05, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Library Books & Supplies
May 07, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Classroom Calculators
May 12, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Construction, Building & Supplies May 13, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Electrical Supplies
May 19, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Plumbing Supplies
May 19, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Classroom Furniture & Supplies
May 19, 2009/ 1:30 PM 
Itemized specifications, estimated quantities, or estimated expenditures may be requested by contacting the: Purchasing Cooperative Department, Region 7 Education Service Center, 1909 N. Longview St., Kilgore, Texas, 75662, phone numbers (903) 988-6859 or (903) 988-6786, or FAX (903) 988-6852. Bids will be opened at the Education Service Center on each opening date at designated time. Late bids will be returned unopened. The Board of Directors reserves the right to make final decisions as to the recommendation by the Purchasing Committee.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6166-13-001 for CALLOUT METAL BEAM GUARD FENCE in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on May 21, 2009 at 10:00 am at the District Office for an estimate of $299,025.00.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for the TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 29487.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

notice to all persons having claims against the estate of herbert l. young, deceased
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Herbert L. Young, Deceased, were issued on March 30, 2009, in Cause No. 09-PR-7440, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to SAMMY JOE YOUNG. The address of such executor is c/o Mr, Jon K. Alexander, Wilson, Robertson & Cornelius, P.C., P.O. Box 7339, Tyler, Texas 75711.
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

Public Notice
Request for Proposal
Gilmer ISD is accepting sealed proposals for Bank Depository Services for the period of September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2011. All proposals must be securely sealed and marked "Proposal for Gilmer ISD Bank Depository". Sealed proposals will be accepted until Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at which time proposals will be opened. Sealed proposals should be submitted to Beverly Grimes, Gilmer ISD Director of Finance, 500 South Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644. Proposals will be presented to the Board of Trustees at the May 18, 2009 board meeting which begins at 6:00 p.m. Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals.

Public Notice
Request for Rate Information
Gilmer Independent School District is seeking rate and payment information for
Personal Property Contractual Obligation Short-term Financing
For more information please contact
Beverly Grimes at 903-841-7405 or email request to
grimesb@gilmerisd.org.
Rate Information is due to the Gilmer ISD Business Office
500 South Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644
no later than 2:00 p.m. Central Time on Thursday April 16, 2009.
Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any information received.

Public Notice
Request for Proposals
Gilmer ISD is accepting proposals for
One (1) to Three (3) 2009 Standard-equipped Chevrolet
Suburbans with 3rd-row Seat
Proposals are due to Beverly Grimes, Gilmer ISD, 500 South Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644 no later than 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, 2009. Delivery envelope should be marked: "RFP for Suburbans". Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals. Gilmer ISD is not responsible for proposals not received by the deadline for any reason.

affidavit of publication and posting of notice of estray
The State of Texas County of Upshur
Before me, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared Chad D. Wade, who after being by me duly sworn deposes and says:
After the herein described estray was impounded, I made a diligent search of the register of recorded brands in the county where said estray was found. The search did not reveal the owner of said estray.
I did then advertise the impoundment of said estray in Gilmer Mirror, a newspaper of general circulation in the county where said estray was found, at least twice during the fifteen (15) days after the impoundment of said estray. The dates of such advertisement were April 8, 2009 and April 11, 2009, and duly verified printed copy thereof is returned herewith.
I also posted a copy of the Notice of Estray and the Notice of Impoundment of Estray on the public notice board of the courthouse of the county in which the estray was found.
Said estray is described as the following:
Kind of Animal: Donkey
Breed: Donkey
Color: 3 white, 2 black, 7 gray & white
Sex: all males
Age: unknown
Size: Approx. 10 hands on all
Brand, Marks, Identifying Characteristics: None
Witness my hand, this the 3rd day of April, 2009
Anthony Betterton
Sheriff or Designee of Upshur
County, Texas
SWORN to and subscribed before me by Chad D. Wade this the 3rd day of April, 2009.
Alan Wade
Notary Public, Upshur
County, Texas
My commission expires: 12-14-2009

PUBLIC NOTICE
notice to all persons having claims against
the estate of
corbie lee wigington
Administration of the Estate of CORBIE LEE WIGINGTION, Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original letters testamentary to MELINDA WIGINGTON on March 30, 2009, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 09-PR-7444, styled IN RE: THE ESTATE OF CORBIE LEE WIGINGTON, DECEASED, in which court the matter is pending.
All persons having claims against the estate are notified to present them to the undersigned at the address shown below within the time prescribed by law.
Dated: March 31, 2009.
MICHAEL D. MARTIN
ATTORNEY AT LAW
P.O. Box 657
Gilmer, Texas 75644
ATTORNEY FOR EXECUTRIX OF
THE ESTATE OF CORBIE LEE
WIGINGTION, DECEASED

PUBLIC NOTICE
notice to all persons having claims against the estate of paul autherian donnahoe, jr.
Administration of the Estate of PAUL AUTHERIAN DONNAHOE, JR., Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original letters testamentary on March 30, 2009, by the County court of Upshur County, Texas acting in Cause No. 09-PR-7443, styled IN RE: THE ESTATE OF PAUL AUTHERIAN DONNAHOE, JR., DECEASED, in which court the matter is pending.
All persons having claims against the estate are notified to present them to the undersigned at the address shown below within the time prescribed by law.
Dated: March 31, 2009.
MICHAEL D. MARTIN
ATTORNEY AT LAW
P.O. Box 657
Gilmer, Texas 75644
ATTORNEY FOR EXECUTRIX OF
THE ESTATE OF
PAUL AUTHERIAN DONNAHOE, JR., DECEASED

PUBLIC NOTICE
public notice of a logic and accuracy test of the automatic tabulating equipment
Notice is hereby given that the automatic tabulating equipment being used in the Election to be held on May 9, 2009, will be tested on April 8, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. in the County Clerk’s office, located on the 2nd floor of the Upshur County Courthouse to ascertain that it will accurately count the votes for all offices and measures.
This test will include Big Sandy ISD, City of Big Sandy, City of Ore City, City of Gilmer elections.
Peggy LaGrone
Upshur County Clerk

PUBLIC NOTICE
Un Aviso Publico de la Logica y la Exactitud de la Prueba Equipo de
Tabulacion Automatica
Presente se da noticia que el equipo de tabulacion automatica que se utilizan en la eleccion que se celebrara el 9 de mayo de 2009, se pondra a prueba el 8 de abril de 2009, a las 9:00 de la manana en la oficina del Secretario del Condado, ubicada en el segundo piso de la Casa do Corte del Condado de Upshur Para acetar que contara exacramente los votos para todas oficinas y medidas.
Esta prueba incluira la Big Sandy ISD, la ciudad de Big Sandy, la ciudad de Ore City, la ciudad de Gilmer elecciones.
Peggy LaGrone
Secretaria del Condado de Upshur

public notice
notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that Original Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of Thelma Turner Owens aka Thelma Helen Ruth Owens aka Thelma Turner Duncan, deceased, were issued on March 30, 2009, in Cause No. 09-PR-7439, now pending in County Court, Upshur County Texas, to : Gwendolyn Turner Clark. The residence of the Executor is in Dallas County, Texas. The post office address is:
Dr. Gwendolyn T. Clark
7215 Morton Street
Dallas, Texas 75029-3913
All persons having claims against this Estate are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
Dated March 30, 2009
Mary McLaughlin Aikman
Tx Bar # 00947730
P.O. Box 1015
Kilgore, TX 75663-1015

Public Notice of Bid
New Diana ISD is accepting bids for bank depository for the period of September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2011. All bids must be securely sealed and marked "Bid to Serve as Depository for New Diana ISD". Sealed bids will be accepted until Monday, April 27, 2009 at 1:00 pm at which time bids will be opened. Sealed bids should be submitted to Mrs. Melinda Benson, NDISD Business Manager at 1373 US Hwy 259 S, Diana, TX 75640. Bids will be presented to the school board on May 11, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The board of Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6191-54-001 for INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on May 08, 2009 at 1:00 pm at the State Office for an estimate of $409,919.50. 
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 29260.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

Public Notice
Effective April 1, 2009 the amount of the Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC) appearing on your Etex bill each month will increase as a result of an increase in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) universal service fund contribution factor from 9.5 % to 11.3%. The new FUSC amount is calculated by multiplying the FCC’s universal service contribution factor against your interstate access service charges. The federal universal service fund program is designed to help keep local telephone service rates affordable for all customers, in all areas of the United States.
Etex Telephone Cooperative, Inc. 801 Hwy 155 N Gilmer, TX 75644,903-797-2711 or 877-482-3839(Toll Free)

public notice
union grove isd
request for proposals
Union Grove ISD is requiring bids for the following: 60’x80’x12’ metal building to be erected on Union Grove ISD HS/MS campus on a 4" concrete slab. Proposal should include metal building, dirt work, concrete work and all labor and equipment to complete job. Liability insurance and bond required. Complete specifications can be obtained from the UGISD central administration building-address below.
Competitive proposals should be submitted (no faxed bids), to the Union Grove ISD Administration office by 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2009, and worded as follows:
Union Grove ISD BOE- Metal Building Proposals - Ag Shop
C/O Terri Woodfin, Superintendent’s Secretary
PO Box 1447
Gladewater, Texas 75647
Union Grove ISD reserves the right to reject any proposals and/or all proposals, to make awards as the may appear to be advantageous to Union Grove ISD and to waive all formalities in bidding.

citation by publication
divorce/domestic
cause no. 065-08
clerk of the court
carolyn bullock
p.o. box 950
gilmer, texas 75644
petitioner’s attorney or petitioner
michael d martin
p.o. box 657
gilmer tx 75644
the state of texas
TO: KENNETH JASON KEOUGH, ,, and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s),
" You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you."
The petition of AMANDA JILL KEOUGH, Petitioner, was filed in the said Court of Upshur County, Texas on 23rd day of December, 2008, against KENNETH JASON KEOUGH Respondent(s), numbered 865-08 and entitled:
IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF AMANDA JILL KEOUGH AND KENNETH JASON KEOUGH
The suit requests: Dissolution of Marriage
The date and place of birth of the child (children) who is (are) the subject of the suit:
Autumn Rynn Keough February 23,2005 Longview, Texas
Jasee Michelle Keough October 16,2006 Longview, Texas
The court has authority in this suit to enter any judgement or decree on the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s (children’s) adoption.
Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 12th day of March , 2009.
Attest: Carolyn Bullock, District Clerk of the 115th District Court, Upshur County, Texas
By: Karen Bunn Deputy

public notice
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID
Transet Co., as Construction Manager at Risk for Ore City Independent School District, will receive sub-contractor proposals for the 52,000 sq.ft. Ore City ISD, Elementary Addition. (Bid Packages will include but are not limited to: Site Work; Concrete; Masonry; Metals; Carpentry/Millwork; Insulation; Roofing; Doors/Windows; Finishes; Specialties; Equipment; Furnishings; Plumbing; HVAC; Electrical; as designed by Ted Estep Architect.
Transet Co., will receive proposals from interested subcontractors and suppliers until 2:00 PM on Thursday, April 2, 2009, at the offices of Transet Co., 400 American Legion Blvd., Longview, Texas 75601, 903-753-3086 (Tel), 903-753-3147 (Fax).
Drawings and Specifications will be available March 17, 2009 for review, and may be obtained with a $250.00 deposit at the following locations: office of Transet Co., on line at www.wolfprints.us, Quoin of East Texas (iSqFt) 4614 DC Drive Suite 2H Tyler, Texas 75701, 800-561-9416 (Tel), 903-561-9225 (Fax). Prevailing wage rates in conformance with Texas Law will be paid on this project. All proposals shall remain valid for thirty (30) days. Successful participants may be required to furnish Performance and Payment Bonds, each in the amount of 100% of the contract price. Bonds shall be on forms acceptable to the Construction Manager.
The Owner, CM @ Risk and Architect reserve the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive any informalities and irregularities in the proposal process, and to make the awards in the best interest of the school district. By submitting a proposal, each bidder agrees to waive any claim it has or may have against the Owner, the CM @ Risk, the Architect/Engineer, and their respective employees arising out of or in connection with administration, evaluation, or recommendation of any proposal; waiver of any requirements under the Proposal Documents, or the Contract Documents; acceptance or rejection of any proposals; and award of a Contract.

Public
NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE MATERIALS
The Upshur County Commissioner’s Court is accepting sealed bids for road and bridge materials, including: Oil and Grease; Plant Mixed Asphalt and Hot Oil Sand; Rental Equipment ( including dump truck , laydown machine ,track dozer, haul truck, and track hoe); Reinforced Concrete, Corrugate Polyethylene and Corrugated Steel Pipe Culvert; Emulsified Asphalt and Refined Road Oil; Gasoline and Diesel Fuel; Gravel; and Seal Coat Materials. Specifications for each may be obtained in person from the Upshur County Road and Bridge Department, 2255 Hwy 271N., Gilmer, Texas or by mail request sent to Bubba Pendarvis, P.O. Box 730, Gilmer, Texas 75644 or by calling (903)680-8107 for a faxed copy. Bids should be submitted in lump sum pricing. No bond is required to bid. Method of payment will be cash at the time services are rendered. All bids must be received in the Upshur County Judges office, delivered in person or at the address listed above, on or before March 30, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. The bids will be opened in the regular session of the Upshur County Commissioner’s Court on March 31, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.

Dean Fowler
Upshur County Judge

Notice
Notice of Annual
\Membership Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the Pritchett Water Supply Corporation will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Location: Upshur-Rural Electric Coop., Hwy 154 W. Gilmer, TX. Purpose: To transact any and all Business on the Agenda for Annual Members Meeting Your presence and participation are encouraged.

Public Notice
Etex Telephone Cooperative Director Nomination and Election
Director Nomination and Election Annual Meeting- April 21, 2009 The board of directors appoints a nominating committee of at least 3members, not less than 30 days nor more than 70 days before the annual meeting. The nominating committee shall post a list of the nominations at the cooperative office. Fifteen or more members may also make a nomination by petition by a certain date. Nominations may be made from the floor at the annual meeting. Election is held at the annual meeting for terms of 3 years. Election is by plurality vote of the members in attendance.

Notice to all persons having claims against the estate of john w. bryce, jr., deceased
Independent Administration of the Estate of John W. Bryce, Jr., Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original Letters of Independent Administration to Gail A. Covington on March 2, 2009, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 09-PR-7426, styled " In Re: Estate of John W. Bryce, Jr., Deceased," in which Court the matter is pending.
All persons having claims against the estate are hereby notified to present them to the person at the address specified herein below within the time prescribed by law.
Mrs. Gail A. Covington
Independent Administratrix of the Estate of John W. Bryce, Jr., Deceased
c/o Mr. Joe W. Newson, Jr.,
Attorney at Law
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Dated this 2nd day of March, 2009.
Joe W. Newsom, Jr.

Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Todd Tefteller
403 West Tyler
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Ph: (903) 843.5678
Fax: (903) 680.2310
jwnewsom@teftellerlaw.com
State Bar No. 24051112

notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of HENRY CHARLES ERMLER, Deceased, were issued on March 2, 2009, in Cause No. 09-PR-7421, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: DAVID SCOTT WALKER. All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o: PEGGY S. GARMON
Attorney at Law
312 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, TX 75644
Dated the 3rd day of March, 2009.
Peggy S. Garmon
Attorney for DAVID SCOTT WALKER
State Bar No.: 00790745
312 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, TX 75644
Telephone: (903) 843-2646
Facsimile: (903) 843-5606

Annual Stockholders Meeting
Of First Gilmer Bankshares, Inc. of Gilmer, Texas will be held the 2nd Tuesday in April, April 14th, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at First National Bank, 201 N. Wood Street, Gilmer. Business to be transacted includes election of Directors and other business which may be presented in accordance with the bylaws.
Frank Breazeale
President & CEO

notice to all
persons having claims
against the estate of
betty jo robinson spencer
Administration of the Estate of BETTY JO ROBINSON SPENCER, Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original letters testamentary to the undersigned on March 2, 2009, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 09-PR-7433, styled IN RE: THE ESTATE OF BETTY JO ROBINSON SPENCER, DECEASED, in which court the matter is pending.
All persons having claims against the estate are notified to present them to the undersigned at the address shown below within the time prescribed by law.
Dated: March 2, 2009.
Michael D. Martin
Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 657
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Attorney for co-executors of the estate of betty jp robinson spencer, deceased

tri-county community action
weatherization bid invitation
Tri-County Community Action Inc., Center, TX. is soliciting sealed bids from experienced construction firms relative to the installation of federally eligible Weatherization measures to dwellings of elderly, handicapped, and low-income individuals residing in its 9-county service area which includes: Upshur, Harrison, Panola, shelby, San Augustine, Sabine, Newton, Jasper, and Tyler counties.
Bid packages may be obtained in person, during normal working hours at Tri-County Community Action Inc at 1121 Hurst St, Center, TX. 75935, or may be requested by telephone at 936-598-6315 (Steve Hennigan or Vickie Metcalf). Bid packets may be picked up on March 16-20, 2009. A pre-bidders conference will be held on March 23, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the above address. Bids in response to this solicitation must be received in the TCCA office no later than 3:00 p.m. local time as of April 6, 2009. Bids may be mailed to the above address; however, TCCA shall not be responsible for late or delayed delivery. A public bid opening will be held on April 7, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the above address. EOE

Public Notice
Request for Proposal
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for:
Bullpen Fence
For complete proposal requirements and specifications, Please contact the Gilmer ISD Business Office at (903) 841-7400 or 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, TX 75644.
Sealed proposals are due at the above address no Later than 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.
Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals.

public notice
ordinance no. 09-002
An ordinance by the City of Gilmer, Texas, to establish an identity theft prevention program; to set out definitions, polices and producers for implementation of the identity theft prevention program; to provide a repealing clause, to provide a savings and severability clause and providing for an effective date.

notice to all persons having claims against the estate of estell collier, deceased
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Administration for the Estate of Estell Collier, Deceased, were issued on February 23,2009, in Cause No. 08-PR-7411, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to Bonnie Johnson.
The residence of Bonnie Johnson is 800 Warren Street, Gilmer, Texas 75644. The mailing address is 800 Warren Street, Gilmer, Texas 75644.
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law to:
Bonnie Johnson
c/o Gregory J. Wright
P.O. Box 3349
Longview, Texas 75606-3349
Dated the 23rd day of February, 2009.
Bonnie Johnson, Independent Administrator
By: Gregory J.Wright
State Bar No. 22029800
Attorney for the independent
administrator bonnie johnson

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6190-16-001 for TREE TRIMMING AND BRUSH REMOVAL in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on March 25, 2009 at 10:00 am at the District Office for a estimate of $33,000.00
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 29027.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF BID
The Region VII Educational Service Center is soliciting bids on behalf of one hundred and twenty two (122) education entities and one (1) education service in the Region VII Purchasing Cooperative. Bids are solicited for the following categories.
Category
Opening Date/time
Snacks, Beverages, Ala’ Carte, & Produce
Mar 17, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Cafeteria Equipment & Supplies
Mar 17, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Athletic Equipment & Supplies
Mar 24, 2009/ 1:30 PM
General Office Supplies & Furniture
Mar 31, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Athletic Trainer/Fieldhouse Equipment & Supplies
Mar 31, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Food Service
Apr 21, 200/ 10:00 AM 
Itemized specifications, estimated quantities, or estimated expenditures may be requested by contacting the: Purchasing Cooperative Department, Region VII Education Service Center, 1909 N. Longview St., Kilgore, Texas, 75662, phone numbers (903) 988-6859 or (903) 988-6786, or FAX (903) 988-6852. Bids will be opened at the Education Service Center, on each opening date at designated time. Late bids will be returned unopened. The Board of Directors reserves the right to make final decisions as to the recommendation by the Purchasing Committee.

Public Notice
Request for Proposal
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for:
50’ x 80’ Steel Shelter
on Concrete Slab.
For complete proposal requirements and specifications, Please contact the Gilmer ISD Business Office at (903) 841-7400 or 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, TX 75644
Sealed proposals are due at the above address no later than 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.
Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals.

Public Notice
Request for Proposal
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for:
Tennis Court Repair
and Resurface
For complete proposal requirements and specifications, Please contact the Gilmer ISD Business Office at (903) 841-7405 or 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, TX 75644
Sealed proposals are due at the above address no later than 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.
Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals.

Public Notice
Request for Proposals
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for the following:
Commercial Grade Zero-turn Lawn Mower
(minimum 60" cutting deck)
For complete proposal requirements and specifications, please contact the Gilmer ISD Business Office, 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644 903-841-7405 or 903-841-7428
Proposals will be due in sealed envelope addressed to Beverly Grimes, 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644 no later than Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals.

citation by publication
divorce/domestic
cause no. 71-09
clerk of the court
Carolyn Bullock
P.O. Box 950
Gilmer, Texas 75644
petitioner’s attorney or petitioner
Todd Tefteller
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
the state of texas
To: jose’ humberto garcia, ,,
and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s),
" You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgement may be taken against you."
The petition of tonia camacho, Petitioner, was filed in the said Court of Upshur County, Texas on the 2nd day of February, 2009, against felicia barton garica Respondent(s), number 71-09 and entitled:
in the interest of jose’ humberto garcia, jr. a minor child
The suit request: original petition in suit affecting the parent-child relationship
The date and place of birth of the child (children) who is (are) the subject of the suit: jose’ humberto garcia, jr., January 1, 2008, longview, texas.
the court has authority in this suit to enter any judgment or decree in the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s (children’s) adoption.
Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 2nd day of February, 2009.
Attest: carolyn bullock, district clerk
of the 115th district court, upshur county, texas
by: L. Seahorn Deputy

notice to creditors
On 01/26/2009, Letters of Guardianship of the Estate and Person were issued by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, for Michael C. Pankhurst, Ward, to the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS).
 Any party having a claim against the estate of Michael C. Pankhurst, Ward, is hereby notified to present such claim in a timely fashion for consideration of payment to the Guardian, DADS, at the following address:
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES (DADS)
Estate of Michael C. Pankhurst
Attention of Traci Delaney
1750 N. Eastman Rd.
Longview, TX 75601

citation by publication
the state of texas
TO: CHARLES PATRICK KELLY JR. AND TO ALL WHOM IS MAY CONCERN
GREETINGS: YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to appear and answer before the Honorable 115th District Court, Upshur County, Texas, at the Justice Center of said County in Gilmer, Texas, at or before 10 o’clock a.m. of the Monday next after the expiration of 20 days from the date of service of this citation, then and there to answer the petition of JOY MELISSA AND KEVIN PAUL ANDERSON , Petitioner, filed in said Court on the 30th day of January, 2009, against CHARLES PATRICK KELLY JR. AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN Respondent and said suit being numbered 70-09 on the docket of said Court, and entitled " In The Interest of PAIGE MARIE ELLIOTT, a Child", the nature of which suit is a request to TERMINATE PARENT CHILD RELATIONSHIP, AND THE ADOPTION OF A CHILD.
Said child was born the 12 day of October, 1994, in Alabama.
The Court has authority in this suit to enter any judgment or decree in the child’s interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s adoption.
 The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates hereof, and make due return as the law directs.
 The name and address of the attorney for plaintiff, or the address of plaintiff is JOE THIGPEN 110 NORTH COLLEGE SUITE 1401 TYLER, TEXAS 75702.
Notice to defendant: You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you.
Issued and given under my hand and the seal of said Court at Gilmer Texas, this the 30 day of January, 2009.
CAROLYN BULLOCK Clerk,
115TH DISTRICT Court,
UPSHUR County, Texas.
By Karen Bunn, Deputy.
Address of Clerk: 405 NORTH TITUS
GILMER, TEXAS 75644

public notice
the state of texas
To: richard nunez novoa, and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s),
" You have been sued. You may employ an Attorney. If your or your attorney do (does) not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty (20) days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you. The petition of loretta louise dillender, Petitioner, was filed in the Court of Fannin County, Texas, on the 30th day of October, 2008, against richard nunez novoa, Respondent(s), numbered 37845, and entitled " in the interest of ezra jacob novoa and nathe alexander novoa children." The suit request Termination of the parent-child relationship.
The child/children who is/are the subject of the suit:
Ezra Jacob Novoa and Nathe Alexander Novoa
" The Court has authority in this suit to render and order in the child’s (children’s) interest that will be binding on you, including the termination of parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity, and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s (children’s) adoption. Filed by eileen cox ( attorney for Petitioner), whose address is 308 N. Center St,, bonham, tx 75418 Issued and given under my hand and the seal of the Court at bonham, Texas, this the 3rd day of February, 2009.
Nancy Young, District Clerk
101 E. Sam Rayburn Dr., Ste. 201
Bonham, Texas 75418
Clerk of the District Court of
Fannin County, Texas
By Cheryl Dan, Deputy

Notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of William Henry Sturdivant, Deceased, were issued on February 2, 2009, in Cause No. 08-PR-7415, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Jan Sturdivant.
The residence of the Independent Executrix is Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas; the post office address is:
c/o: Griffith & Smoak, PC
Attorneys at Law
404 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 864
Gilmer, Texas 75644
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
Dated the 3 day of February, 2009.
Griffith & Smoak, PC
404 North Titus
P.O. Box 864
Gilmer, Texas 75644-0864
Telephone: (903) 843-5005
Facsimile: (903) 843-5392
Angela Smoak
Attorney for Applicant
State Bar No.: 00797466

Citation by publication
Civil suits
Cause no. 461-08
Clerk of the court
Carolyn bullock
P.O. box
Gilmer, texas 75644
Plaintiff’s attorney or plaintiff
Dennis G. black
100 E. ferguson, ste. 400
Tyler, texas 75702
The state of texas
Notice to defendant: " You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you"
TO: van Phillips, 1566 Shady Lane, Or Wherever He May Be Found, Diana, Texas 75640, Defendant, Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s PLAINtiff’s original petition at or before ten o’clock a.m. of the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation the same being:
Monday the 2ND day of MARCH, 2009, before the Honorable 115th District Court of Upshur County, Texas at the Justice Center of said County in Gilmer, Texas.
Said Plaintiff’s Petition was filed in said court on the July 1, 2008 In this case numbered 461-08 on the socket of said court and styled,
State farm mutual automobile insurance company vs. Karen wills, as next friend of Dakota wills, Lois Mae mullens, as next friend fo bryson alec mullens, julius rivera and van Phillips
The names of the parties to the cause are as follows: state farm mutual automobile insurance company plaintiff(s) and van Phillips defendant(s).
A brief statement of the nature of this suit is as follows, to wit: payment of insurance policy
as is more fully shown by Plaintiff’s Petition on file in this suit. The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates thereof, and make due return as the law directs.
Issued and given under my hand and the Seal of said court, at office in Gilmer, Texas, this the 12th day of January A.D. 2009.
Attest:
Carolyn Bullock, District Clerk,
of the 115th District Court, Upshur County, Texas
BY: L. Seahorn Deputy

Published notice to
Creditors
Notice is hereby given that Letters of Administration for the Estate of Johnathon Wild Baker, deceased, were issued on October 13, 2008, in Docket Number 08-PR-7366, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to Dwight A. Brannon.
The residence of the Administrator is in Upshur County, Texas, and the mailing address is:
Estate of Johnathon Wild Baker
c/o Dwight A. Brannon
P.O. Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 75644
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
Dated the 3rd day of February, 2009.
Dwight A. Brannon
P.O. Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Tel: 903-843-2523
State Bar No. 02894500
Administrator of the Estate of Johnathon Wild Baker

Public Notice
Harmony ISD is accepting sealed bids for bus shop metal building. Sealed bids must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 19, 2009 in the administration office, 9788 State Hwy 154 West, Big Sandy, Tx 75755. For more information or to receive a bid packet call Bo Bohannon at 903 725-6367 or 903 725-5492 ext 102 or email wrightc@harmonyisd.net.

Notice to creditors

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of ELIZABETH ANN CLOWER, Deceased, were issued on January 26, 2009, in Cause No. 08-PR-7409 pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: LOYCE D. CLOWER.
 All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o: PEGGY GARMON
Attorney at Law
312 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, TX 75644
Dated the 26th day of January, 2009.
PEGGY S. GARMON
Attorney for Loyce D. Clower
State Bar No.: 00790745
312 N. Titus Street
Gilmer, TX 75644
Telephone: (903) 843-2646
Facsimile: (903) 843-5606

public notice
Union Hill I.S.D. is currently seeking bids for dirt work for Track/Field. Sealed bids will be received by the Union Hill I.S.D. for the above category listed, in the Office of the Superintendent until 4:00 P.M. February 12, 2009. Any bids received after this time and date will be returned unopened and not considered. Bids will be opened at the School Board Meeting, February 12, 2009. Please obtain specifications from:
Office of Superintendent
Union Hill I.S.D.
2197 FM 2088
Gilmer, TX 75644
The District reserves the right to reject any/or all bids, to make awards as they may appear advantageous to the District and to waive all formalities in bidding.

housing Authority of the city of Gilmer
Announces a public hearing
Date: April 2, 2008
Time: 10:00 AM till 11:00 AM
Place: Main Office 104 Circle Dr. Gilmer, Tx 75644
The purpose of the hearing is to obtain input from the city residents in reference to the Five Year Agency Plan and Annual Plan Submission to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for fiscal year 2009. Total funds being allocated for this year are estimated at $472,363.00 for Operating Funds and $193,961.00 for Capital Funds. All residents are encouraged to attend this hearing. A copy of the Five-Year Agency Plan and Annual Plan will be available for review from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. prior to public hearing at the address below. Persons can also submit written comments prior to public hearing to:
Housing Authority of the City of Gilmer 104 Circle Drive Gilmer, Texas 76444
For further information please call Gordon Finney, Executive Director at (903) 843-3141.
Published in the Gilmer Mirror Newspaper on the following dates January 28th, 2009 & February 28, 2009.

CITATION BY PUBLICATION
DIVORCE/DOMESTIC
CAUSE NO. 633-08
CLERK OF THE COURT
CAROLYN BULLOCK
P.O. BOX 950
GILMER, TX 75644
MVNT ATTORNEY OR MVNT
KELLY HEITKAMP
1121 JUDSON ROAD SUITE 168
LONGVIEW, TEXAS 75601
THE STATE OF TEXAS
TO: JONATHAN DESHOTEL, Whereever He May Be Found,, and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s),
"You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty two days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgement may be taken against you."
The petition of JESSICA MALLON MVNT., Petitioner, was filed in the said court of Upshur County, Texas on the 12th day of November, 2008, against JONATHAN DESHOTEL Respondent(s), numbered 633-08 and entitled:
IN THE INTEREST OF MASON L. DESHOTEL A CHILD
The suit request: Terminate Parent Child Relationship
The date and place of birth of the child (children) who is (are) the subject of the suit:
Mason L. Deshotel
Date of Birth August 3, 2005

The court has authority in this suit to enter any judgement or decree on the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s (children’s) adoption.
Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 23rd day of December , 2008.
Attest: Carolyn Bullock, District Clerk of the 115th District Court, Upshur County, Texas
By: Karen Bunn Deputy

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6190-16-001 for TREE TRIMMING AND BRUSH REMOVAL in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on February 26, 200 at 10:00 am at the District Office for a estimate of $49,600.00.
 
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 28803.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF BID
 The Region VII Educational Service Center is soliciting bids on behalf of one hundred and eighteen (118) education entities and one (1) education service center in the Region VII Purchasing Cooperative. Bids are solicited for the following categories:
Audio Visual Equipment & Supplies
Feb 09, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Building Maintenance & Safety Supplies
Feb 09, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Copy Paper
Feb 12, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Health Supplies
Feb 12, 2009/ 1:30 PM
Food Service
Mar 09, 2009/ 10:00 AM
Itemized specifications, estimated quantities, or estimated expenditures may be requested by contacting the: Purchasing Cooperative Department, Region VII Education Service Center, 1909 N. Longview St., Kilgore, Texas, 75662, phone number (903) 988-6855, or FAX (903) 988-6852. Bids will be opened at the Education Service Center, on each opening date at designated time. Late bids will be returned unopened. The Board of Directors reserves the right to make final decisions as to the recommendation by the Purchasing Committee.

City of Ore City
Ordinance #2008-01-13B, Requiring in habitable structures within the city limits of Ore City to have proper connections to electrical, water and sewer services; effective January 13, 2009.
Ordinance #2008-01-13A, amending the Code of Ordinances Chapter 14, regulations the environment within the city limits of Ore City: effective January 13, 2009.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 0520-02-035 for REPLACE BRIDGE AND APPROACHES in UPSHUR County, etc. will be opened on February 10, 2009 at 1:00 pm at the State Office.  
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 28758.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6189-99-001 for CALLOUT PAVEMENT in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on February 11, 2009 at 1:00 pm at the State Office for a estimate of $400,000.03.
 
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 28686.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

union grove independent school district
public meeting notice
The Union Grove ISD will hold a public meeting for the purpose of discussing the 2007-2008 Academic Excellent Indicator System (AEIS) Report as part of the regular January board meeting. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2009, in the high school library. Members of the District Level Site-Based Committees and the Campus Site-Based Committees will be present to address questions or comments.
The District will also review the School Report Card reports from the Texas Education Agency during this meeting. Administrators will be available to answer any questions. Interested school patrons are encouraged to attend.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6190-19-001 for CALLOUT RAISED PAVEMENT MARKERS in HARRISON County, etc. will be opened on February 10, 2009 at 1:00 pm at the State Office for a estimate of $325,065.60
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 28619.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

Notice to all persons having claims against the estate of LESLIE W. WEAVER, deceased
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Leslie W. Weaver, Deceased, were issued on January 5, 2009 in Cause No. 08-PR-7405, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to Marilyn Weaver.
The residence of Marilyn Weaver is 800 Lyles Road, Gilmer, Texas 75644. The mailing address is 800 Lyles Road, Gilmer, Texas 75644.
All person having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present to them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law to:
Marilyn Weaver
c/o Gregory J. Wright
P.O. Box 3349
Longview, Texas 75606-3349
Dated the 5th day of January, 2009.
Marilyn Weaver, Independent Executor
By: GREGORY J. WRIGHT
STATE BAR NO. 22029800
ATTORNEY FOR THE
INDEPENDENT EXECUTOR
MARILYN WEAVER

Notice to all persons having claims against the estate of essie derrick, deceased
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Essie Derrick, Deceased, were issued on January 5, 2009 in Cause No. 08-PR-7414, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas to Sandra Montogmery.
The residence of Sandra Montgomery is 5661 Bob-O-Link Road, Gilmer, Texas 75644. The mailing address is 5661 Bob-O-Link Road, Gilmer, Texas 75644.
All person having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present to them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law to:
Sandra Montogmery
c/o Gregory J. Wright
P.O. Box 3349
Longview, Texas 75606-3349
Dated the 5th day of January, 2009.
Sandra Montgomery, Independent Executor
By: GREGORY J. WRIGHT
STATE BAR NO. 22029800
ATTORNEY FOR THE
INDEPENDENT EXECUTOR
SANDRA MONTOGMERY

Notice of sheriff’ sale
(Real estate)
By virtue of a execution issued out of the 188th district Court of GREGG County, Texas, in a certain cause numbered Case #2008-1787-A. On the 5th day of November A.D. 2008, styled: kilgore national bank vs. spencer mccown sr, individually and spencer mccown jr individually and D/B/A mccown builders, to me, as civil deputy rick WOLOSZYN directed and delivered, I have levied upon this 15th day of December A.D. 2008 and will between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. on the first Tuesday in FEBURARY A.D. 2008, it being the day of said month, at court house door of said UPshur County, proceed to sell at public auction to the highest bidder, for cash in hand, all right, title and interest, if any, which the defendant had on the 15TH day of DECEMBER A.D. 2008, or at any time thereafter, of in and to the following described property:
Property 66041 legal description abs a1 davenport, J B B, house on mccown land (note: undivided interest)
Property Address: 412 Holloway Ln Big Sandy, TX 75755
Said property is levied on as the property of spencer mccown sr and will be sold to satisfy the judgment for $46,162.62 Dollars.
Given under my hand on this 15 day of December A.D. 2008.
SHERIFF A. BETTERTON
UPSHUR County, Texas
By CIVIL DEPUTY RICK WOLOSZYN

NON DISCRIMINATION POLICY
TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY
ACTION, INC.
Tri-County Community Action, Inc. Certifies that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, or beliefs be excluded from participation in the administration of or in connection with any program or activity the agency operates. For complaints or comments call Janette Williams at 936-598-6315.

Notice to all persons having claims against the estate of johnnie lou
sorrells, deceased
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the estate of Johnnie Lou Sorrells were issued on December 8, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7403, pending in County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to:
Gregory G. Turner
The residence of such Independent Executor is 2100 Ross Ave. Suite 2920, Dallas. Dallas County, Texas 75201. The post office address is:
2100 Ross Ave, Suite 2920
Dallas, Texas 75201
All person having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
Dated the 5th day of January, 2009.
Gregory G. Turner, Independent Executor of the Estate of Johnnie Lou Sorrells, Deceased.
By: Gregory G. Turner
Attorney for Applicant
State Bar No. 20315900
2121 San Jacinto, L.B. 38
Dallas, Texas 75201
214-871-7283

ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’
MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting for the stockholders of Gilmer National Bancshares, Inc. of Gilmer, Texas will be held at the Gilmer National Bank on the 10th day of February 2008 at 3:30 o’clock p.m. for the election of Directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Larry Cowan, President

Notice to all persons having claims against the estate of ketherine morgan verner A/K/A Catherine Morgan Verner, Deceased
Administration of the Estate of Katherine Morgan Verner a/k/a Catherine Morgan Verner, Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original Letters of Independent Administration to Kelly Mack Verner on December 19, 2008, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 08-PR-7407, styled and captioned "In Re: The Estate of Katherine Morgan Verner, a/k/a Catherine Morgan Verner, Deceased," in which Court the matter is pending.
All persons having claims against the estate are hereby notified to present them to the person at the address specified herein below within the time prescribed by law.
Mr. Kelly Mack Verner,
Independent Administrator of the Estate of
Katherine Morgan Verner, a/k/a Catherine Morgan Verner, deceased
c/o Joe W. Newsom, Jr., Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Todd Tefteller
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Ph: (903) 843-5678
Fax: (903) 680-2310
jwnewsom@teftellerlaw.com
Dated this 19th day of December, 2008.
Joe W. Newsom, Jr.
State Bar No. 2405112

Notice to all persons having claims against the estate of Charles jay king, Sr.
Administration of the Estate of Charles Jay King, Sr., Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original Letters of Administration with Will Annexed to Jessica Louise King Mitchell on December 19, 2008, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 08-PR-7408, styled and captioned "In Re: The Estate of Charles Jay King, Sr.., Deceased," in which Court the matter is pending.
All persons having claims against the estate are hereby notified to present them to the person at the address specified herein below within the time prescribed by law.
Mrs. Jessica Louise King Mitchell,
Administratrix with Will Annexed of the Estate of Charles Jay King, Sr.
c/o Joe W. Newsom, Jr., Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Todd Tefteller
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Ph: (903) 843-5678
Fax: (903) 680-2310
jwnewsom@teftellerlaw.com
Dated this 19th day of December, 2008.
Joe W. Newsom, Jr.
State Bar No. 2405112

Public Notice
Bid Advertisement
The Union Grove Independent School District Board of Trustees will be accepting competitive sealed proposals for an asphalt parking area at the high school/middle school complex. Your company must furnish all labor, materials and equipment necessary. Specifications may be obtained by contacting:
Keith Hess
Union Hill ISD
PO Box 1447
Gladewater, Texas 75647
903-576-1400
Competitive proposals should be submitted (no faxed bids) to Union Grove ISD Administration office by 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 8th, 2009 and worded as follows:
Union Grove ISD BOE- HS/MS Parking Lot Proposal
C/O Terri Woodfin, Superintendent’s Secretary
PO Box 1447
Gladewater, TX 75647
Union Grove ISD reserves the right to reject any proposals and/or all proposals, to make awards as they appear advantageous to Union Grove ISD and to waive all formalities in Bidding.

Request for Proposals
Harmony Independent School District intends to select a construction manager-at-risk for construction of an addition to the existing high school pursuant to Texas Education Code section 44.038
Proposals in response to the district’s request for qualifications are due at 2:00 p.m. on January 6, 2009 in the administration office, 9788 State Hwy 154 West, Big Sandy, TX 75755. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the Request for Proposals. The request for Proposals is available from:
Jed Whitaker, Superintendent of Schools
Harmony Independent School District
9788 State Hwy 154 West
Big Sandy, TX 75755
Phone: 903-725-5492
Fax: 903-725-6737

notice to all person having claims against the estate of william lester dixon, jr., deceased
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of William Lester Dixon, Jr., Deceased, were issued on December 8, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7401, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas to:
William L. Dixon, Independent Executor of the Estate of William Lester Dixon, Jr., Deceased. Claims may be presented to the following address, in care of William L. Dixon, Independent Executor:
5577 FM 726 South
Gilmer, Texas 75645
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
Dated the 8th day of December, 2008
Lowrey & Millikin, L.L.P.
1127 Judson Road, Suite 141
Longview, Texas 75601
By: D. Kent Lowery
Attorney for the Estate

Notice to all persons having claims against the estate of Spencer Lee Morris, Deceased
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of SPENCER LEE MORRIS, Deceased, were issued on December 9, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7395, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: BARBARA JANE MORRIS. The residence of the Executrix is in Upshur County, Texas; the post office address is:
c/o J. Powers Branch
Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 1066
Longview, Texas 75606
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and the manner prescribed by law.
Dated this 9th day of December, 2008
Barbara Jane Morris
Independent Executrix
By: J. Powers Branch
Attorney for the Estate

Notice to Creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Miriam Edward Davis, deceased, were issued on December 8, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7379, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Michele Petticrew.
 All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o: Peggy S. Garmon
Attorney at Law
312 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, TX 75644
Dated the 10th day of December, 2008
Peggy S. Garmon
Attorney for Michele Petticrew
State Bar No.: 00790745
312 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, TX 75644
Telephone: (903) 843-2646
Facsimile: (903) 843-5606

Notice of sale of real property
The Board of Trustees of the New Diana Independent School District("NDISD") hereby serves notice that it will accept sealed bids for the purchase of the following real property: The surface estate only of approximately 96 acres of land, more or less, located in the J. Scott Survey, Abstract 440, and E. Martin Survey, Abstract 323, Upshur County, Texas, together with 30 foot wide non-exclusive access easement, and being the southernmost approximate 96 acres of land out of a 210.55 acre tract of land owned by New Diana Independent School District described in Warranty Deed recorded in Volume 396, Page 449, Official Records, Upshur County, Texas, the exact location of said approximately 96 acres of land, together with 30 foot wide non-exclusive access easement, to be determined by actual survey by a registered public land surveyor.
Bids are solicited on the entire property.
Interested parties may contact Melinda Benson, NDISD Business Manager, at the address below to receive a Bid Package and arrange for inspection of the property. The property will be conveyed subject to the conditions, exceptions, covenants, restrictions and reservations contained in the Bid Package. NDISD reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informality in bids received. Bids received after the deadline or faxed bids will not be considered.
Sealed bids will be received until: 1:00 p.m., February 10, 2009.
Address: New Diana Independent School District 1373 US Hwy 259 S Diana, Texas 75640 (903) 663-8000.

Public notice
Union Hill I.S.D. will hold a hearing for public discussion of the Annual Performance Report on Thursday, December 11, 2008, in the Union Hill Administration Building at 7:00 P.M. The report is comprised of the District’s 2007-2008 AEIS Report, Campus Report Card and Campus Performance Objections.

notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of Willie Lee Starr, deceased, were issued on October 27, 2008, in Docket No. 08-PR-7332, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to Willie David Starr.
The residence of the Independent Executor is in Upshur County, Texas, and the mailing address is:
Estate of Willie Lee Starr
c/o: Willie David Starr
10629 St. Hwy 155 South
Big Sandy, Texas 75755
All person having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

Dated the 26th day of November, 2008.
Dwight A. Brannon
P.O.Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Tel: 903-843-2523
State Bar No. 02894500
Attorney for the Estate of
Willie Lee Starr

notice to all person having claims against the estate of michael ray perkins
Administration of the Estate of Michael Ray Perkins, Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original letters of testamentary to the undersigned on August 1, 2008, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 07-PR-7264, style in: the estate of Michael ray perkins, deceased, in which court the matter is pending. All persons having claims against the estate are notified to present them to the undersigned at the address shown below within the time prescribed by law

notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of Mildred E. Reese, deceased, were issued on November 18, 2008, in Docket No. 08-PR-7389, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to Rita K. Frantzen.
The residence of the Independent Executrix is in Upshur County, Texas, and the mailing address is:
Estate of Mildred E. Reese
c/o: Rita K. Frantzen
P.O. Box 9
Diana, Texas 75640
All person having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

Dated the 20th day of September, 2008.
Dwight A. Brannon
P.O.Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Tel: 903-843-2523
State Bar No. 02894500
Attorney for the Estate of
Mildred E. Reese

PUBLIC NOTICE
EXCO Operating Company, LP, 12377 Merit Dr., #1700, Dallas, TX 75251 has applied to the Railroad Commission of Texas for exception to SWR 26/27 for surface commingling of gas well full well stream (gas and condensate) into a common separation and storage facility from separate leases with different ownership. The commingled wells in EXCO’s Gladewater #1 facility, Upshur Co., TX are the Barksdale GU 4 (06-168370), Barksdale GU 5 (06-172010), Barksdale GU 6 (06-173188), Barksdale GU 8 (06-204440), Barksdale GU 9 (06-206194), JD Fenton A GU 6 (06-176970), JD Fenton A GU 7 (06-202246), Gladewater GU 14-3 (06-174307), Gladewater GU 14-2 (06-175993), Gladewater GU 14-4 (06-183170),Gladewater GU 14-5 (06-204345), Gladewater GU 15-3 (06-163902), Gladewater GU 15-4 (06-165629), Gladewater GU 15-5 (06-166026), Gladewater GU 15-6 (06-166027), Gladewater GU 15-7 (06-166028), Gladewater GU 15-8 (06-167178), Gladewater GU 15-9 (06-168503), Gladewater GU 15-11 (06-185622), Gladewater GU 15-12 (06-205298), Gladewater GU 15-10 (06-177744), Gladewater GU 19-7 (06-169275), Gladewater GU 19-5 (06-170237), Gladewater GU 19-4 (06-170972), Gladewater GU 19-6 (06-171369), Gladewater GU 19-8 (06-185627), Gladewater GU 19-10 (06-199060), Gladewater GU 6-3 (06-189559), Gladewater GU 8-4 (06-203932), Gladewater GU 8-5 (06-205680), Gladewater GU 9-4 (06-177072), Gladewater GU 9-5 (06-185745), Gladewater GU 9-8 (06-203931), Gladewater GU 9-6 (06-204391), Gladewater GU 9-7 (06-206042), Phillips E GU 5 (06-181291), Phillips E GU 6 (06-185163), Phillips E GU 9 (06-206195), all located in the Glenwood (Cotton Valley) field, the Gladewater GU 7-2 (06-165022), Gladewater GU 8-3 (06-177739), Phillips E GU 3 (06-172466), JH Sobey GU 1 (06-167003), F Willeford GU 1 (06-162010), all located in the Gladewater E (Cotton Valley Sd) field. The requested exception is to be effective 10/2004. The following wells were added to the system at later dates: Phillips E GU 11 (06-207210), Phillips E GU 8 (06-207504), eff. 12/2004, Gladewater GU 14-6 (06-207348) eff. 1/2005, Gladewater GU 14-9 (06-208392), Gladewater GU 14-8 (06-208955), Phillips E GU 10 (06-208954) eff. 2/2005, Phillips E GU 7 (06-209924) eff. 3/2005, Gladewater GU 19-9 (06-212179) eff. 4/2005, Gladewater GU 6-6 (06-212181) eff. 5/2005, JD Fenton GU 10 (06-221097), JD Fenton GU 5 (06-221099), Gladewater GU 9-9 (06-221051) eff. 1/2006, JD Fenton A GU 9 (06-221102) eff. 2/2006, Gladewater GU 6-5 (06-222074) eff. 6/2006, Barksdale GU 10 (06-225224) eff. 9/2006, Barksdale GU 12 (06-227358) eff. 11/2006, Gladewater GU 8-6 (06-228347) eff. 2/2007, JD Fenton A GU 8 (06-231940) eff. 3/2007, Phillips E GU 13 (06-233058) eff. 7/2007, Gladewater GU 19-12 (06-234535) eff. 9/07, Gladewater GU 19-13 (06-234342) eff. 11/2007, all in the Glenwood (Cotton Valley) field.
LEGAL AUTHORITY: Texas Administrative Code Title 16. Economic Regulation Part 1. Railroad Commission of Texas, Chapter 3: Oil and Gas Division, Statewide Rules 26 and 27.
Requests for a public hearing from persons who can show they are adversely affected, or requests for further information concerning any aspect of the application should be submitted in writing, within twenty-one days of publication, to the Oil and Gas Division, Railroad Commission of Texas, P.O. Box 12967, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711 (Telephone 512-463-6873).

PUBLIC NOTICE
EXCO Operating Company, LP, 12377 Merit Dr., #1700, Dallas, TX 75251 has applied to the Railroad Commission of Texas for exception to SWR 26/27 for surface commingling of gas well full well stream (gas and condensate) into a common separation and storage facility from separate leases with different ownership. The commingled wells in EXCO’s Gladewater #2 facility are the Gladewater GU 16-5 (06-167130), Gladewater GU 17-3 (06-170450), Gladewater GU 16-7 (06-179613), Gladewater GU 16-16 (06-192219), Gladewater GU 16-15, (06-193399), Gladewater GU 17-7 (06-195610), Gladewater GU 17-10 (06-169568), Gladewater 17-8 (06-197070), Gladewater GU 17-9 (06-197075), Gladewater GU 17-14 (06-198903), Gladewater GU 17-12 (06-200754), Gladewater GU 17-11 (06-201574), all located in the Glenwood (Cotton Valley) field, Gregg Co., TX, the Gladewater GU 16-8 (06-178346), Gladewater GU 16-12 (06-181075), Gladewater GU 16-13 (06-186663), Gladewater GU 16-14 (06-188677), SP Victory GU 4 (06-177743), all located in the Glenwood (Cotton Valley) field, Upshur Co., TX. The requested exception is to be effective 10/2004. The following wells were added to the system at later dates: Gladewater GU 17-13 (06-206652) Gregg Co. eff. 12/2004, SP Victory GU 5 (06-217746) Upshur Co. eff. 9/2005, SP Victory GU 6 (06-222948) Upshur Co. and Gladewater GU 16-17 (06-221552) Gregg Co. eff. 3/2006, Gladewater GU 17-15 (06-224652) Gregg Co. eff. 7/2006, SP Victory GU 9 (06-234537) Upshur Co. eff. 11/2007, all in the Glenwood (Cotton Valley) field.
LEGAL AUTHORITY: Texas Administrative Code Title 16. Economic Regulation Part 1. Railroad Commission of Texas, Chapter 3: Oil and Gas Division, Statewide Rules 26 and 27.
Requests for a public hearing from persons who can show they are adversely affected, or requests for further information concerning any aspect of the application should be submitted in writing, within twenty-one days of publication, to the Oil and Gas Division, Railroad Commission of Texas, P.O. Box 12967, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711 (Telephone 512-463-6873).

PUBLIC NOTICE
EXCO Operating Company, LP, 12377 Merit Dr., #1700, Dallas, TX 75251 has applied to the Railroad Commission of Texas for exception to SWR 26/27 for surface commingling of gas well full well stream (gas and condensate) into a common separation and storage facility from separate leases with different ownership. The commingled wells in EXCO’s Gladewater #2 facility are the Gladewater GU 16-5 (06-167130), Gladewater GU 17-3 (06-170450), Gladewater GU 16-7 (06-179613), Gladewater GU 16-16 (06-192219), Gladewater GU 16-15, (06-193399), Gladewater GU 17-7 (06-195610), Gladewater GU 17-10 (06-169568), Gladewater 17-8 (06-197070), Gladewater GU 17-9 (06-197075), Gladewater GU 17-14 (06-198903), Gladewater GU 17-12 (06-200754), Gladewater GU 17-11 (06-201574), all located in the Glenwood (Cotton Valley) field, Gregg Co., TX, the Gladewater GU 16-8 (06-178346), Gladewater GU 16-12 (06-181075), Gladewater GU 16-13 (06-186663), Gladewater GU 16-14 (06-188677), SP Victory GU 4 (06-177743), all located in the Glenwood (Cotton Valley) field, Upshur Co., TX. The requested exception is to be effective 10/2004. The following wells were added to the system at later dates: Gladewater GU 17-13 (06-206652) Gregg Co. eff. 12/2004, SP Victory GU 5 (06-217746) Upshur Co. eff. 9/2005, SP Victory GU 6 (06-222948) Upshur Co. and Gladewater GU 16-17 (06-221552) Gregg Co. eff. 3/2006, Gladewater GU 17-15 (06-224652) Gregg Co. eff. 7/2006, SP Victory GU 9 (06-234537) Upshur Co. eff. 11/2007, all in the Glenwood (Cotton Valley) field.
LEGAL AUTHORITY: Texas Administrative Code Title 16. Economic Regulation Part 1. Railroad Commission of Texas, Chapter 3: Oil and Gas Division, Statewide Rules 26 and 27.
Requests for a public hearing from persons who can show they are adversely affected, or requests for further information concerning any aspect of the application should be submitted in writing, within twenty-one days of publication, to the Oil and Gas Division, Railroad Commission of Texas, P.O. Box 12967, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711 (Telephone 512-463-6873).

PUBLIC NOTICE
EXCO Operating Company, LP, 12377 Merit Dr., #1700, Dallas, TX 75251 has applied to the Railroad Commission of Texas for exception to SWR 26/27 for surface commingling of gas well full well stream (gas and condensate) into a common separation and storage facility from separate leases with different ownership. The commingled wells in EXCO’s Big Sandy facility are the Billie Graham 1 (06-175995), TD Marsh GU 2 (06-173625), and Wertz 1 (06-168799) all located in the Wilkins, N (Cotton Valley Sand) field, Upshur Co., TX. The requested exception is to be effective 10/2004.
LEGAL AUTHORITY: Texas Administrative Code Title 16. Economic Regulation Part 1. Railroad Commission of Texas, Chapter 3: Oil and Gas Division, Statewide Rules 26 and 27.
Requests for a public hearing from persons who can show they are adversely affected, or requests for further information concerning any aspect of the application should be submitted in writing, within twenty-one days of publication, to the Oil and Gas Division, Railroad Commission of Texas, P.O. Box 12967, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711 (Telephone 512-463-6873).

CITATION BY PUBLICATION
DIVORCE/DOMESTIC
CAUSE NO. 88-02
CLERK OF THE COURT
CAROLYN BULLOCK
P.O. BOX 950
GILMER, TX 75644
PETITIONER’S ATTORNEY OR PETITIONER
LORI CHISM
100 WEST ALABAMA
MT. PLEASANT, TEXAS 75455
THE STATE OF TEXAS
TO: SAMUEL DEWAYNE ANDERSON, May Be Served Whereever He May Be Found,, and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s),
"You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty two days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgement may be taken against you."
The petition of DELTINA MASON, Petitioner, was filed in the said court of Upshur County, Texas on the 22nd day of May, 2008, against GERTIE FAYE ANDERSON Respondent(s), numbered 88-02 and entitled:
IN THE INTEREST OF DEKEVIONE TYWAUN ANDERSON AND DEKENDRIC VONSHAYE ANDERSON CHILDREN
The suit request: Petition to Modify Parent Child Relationship
The date and place of birth of the child (children) who is (are) the subject of the suit:
Dekevione Tywaun Anderson
DOB: 10-10-96 Morris County
Dekendric Vonshaye Anderson DOB: 02-02-98 Morris County

The court has authority in this suit to enter any judgement or decree on the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s (children’s) adoption.
Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 6th day of November, 2008.
Attest: Carolyn Bullock, District Clerk of the 115th District Court, Upshur County, Texas
By: Karen Bunn Deputy

PUBLIC NOTICE OF BID
The Region VII Educational Service Center is soliciting bids on behalf of one hundred and twenty two (122) education entities and one (1) education service in the Region VII Purchasing Cooperative. Bids are solicited for the following categories.
Category
Opening Date time
Substance & Alcohol Abuse Testing
Dec 02, 2008 1:30
Itemized specifications, estimated quantities, or estimated expenditures may be requested by contacting the: Purchasing Cooperative Department, Region VII Education Service Center, 1909 N. Longview St., Kilgore, Texas, 75662, phone number (903) 988-6855, or FAX (903) 988-6852. Propoals will be opened at the Education Service Center on each opening date at designated time. Late proposals will not be considered. The Board of Directors reserves the right to make final decisions as to the recommendation by the Purchasing Committee.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 2157-01-016 for REHABILITATE BRIDGE AND APPROACHES in UPSHUR County, will be opened on December 04, 2008 at 1:00 pm at the State Office.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP:28237.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6108-88-001 for TREE TRIMMING in PANOLA County, etc. will be opened on December 17, 2008 at 10:00 am at the District Office for a estimate of $152,070.00
 Contract 6185-75-001 for ILLUMINATION MAINTENANCE in BOWIE County, etc will be opened on December 17, 2008 at 10:00 am at the District Office for an estimate of $149,815.00.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 28302.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

Grant Management Service and Engineering Services
Public Notice
The City of Gilmer has received funding for a Texas Capital Fund (TCF) project under the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) program. The City is requesting qualified firms or individuals submit proposals for grant management and engineering services. The City is procuring these services and will enter into contract upon the grant award.
In order is be considered, proposals must be submitted prior to 10:00 a.m. on the 1st day of December. The City of Gilmer is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and individuals or firms submitting proposals will not be discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, mental or physical disability, marital status, parenthood or age.
The City reserves the right to negotiate with any and all management consultants or firms that submit proposals, per the Texas Professional Services Procurement Act and the Uniform Grant and Contract Management Standards Act of 1981. The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.
A complete Request for Proposals outlining services required by the City submission requirements, and evaluation criteria has been prepared. Interested parties may obtain copies of this Request for Proposals by contacting the person below:
Mr. Jeff Ellington
City Manager
City of Gilmer
P.O. Box 760
Gilmer, Texas 75644
903-843-2552

CITATION BY PUBLICATION
TO ALL PERSONS interested in the estate of JAMES M. SKINS, deceased,
1. Dennis Sinks, Brother; and unknown heirs;
2. Diane Seamans, Sister; and unknown heirs;
3. Judy McKinney, Sister; and unknown heirs;
4. All unknown heirs.
 Dennis Sinks has filed in the County Court of Upshur County, an Application To Determine Heirs-At-Law of James M. Sinks Deceased.
 The file number of such application and the Probate Docket number being No. 6842 and the style of the case begun by such application is: Estate of James M. Sinks, deceased.
 All persons interested in said estate ARE CITED TO APPEAR in County Court of Upshur County, Texas, in the Courthouse thereof at or before 10 o’clock a.m. on the first Monday after service is perfected by the completion of such Publication, to contest said application if they desire to do so, by filing opposition in writing.
 The name and address of the attorney for applicant, or the address of application is: Karen Bishop, P.O. Box 1330, Gilmer, Tx 75644 (903) 843-2255 Issued this the 30th day of October, 2008.
 The officer executing this Citation shall have a the copy of this Citation served by publication in the newspaper in the City of Gilmer, for not less than 10 days before the return day thereof, exclusive of the date of publication and return the original copy of this Citation to the Clerk stating in a written return thereon the time and place where citation was published.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court, at the office in Gilmer, Texas this the 30th day of October, A.D., 2008
PEGGY LAGRONE, Clerk
County Court, Upshur County, Texas
By B. Wenchester Deputy
P.O. Box 730, Gilmer, Texas 75644
75644

GILMER INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF TAX-EXEMPT DEBT
Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to be held by the Gilmer Industrial Development Corporation (the "Issuer") at 4:30 p.m. on November 19, 2008 at the Gilmer Airport Terminal Building, 40 Aviation Drive, Gilmer, Texas, on the proposed issuance by the Issuer of one or more tax-exempt bonds (the "Bonds") to provide financing for the construction and equipping of a facility for the manufacture and installation of fiberglass liners for oilfield steel tubular lining (the "Project"). The Project will be located at 250 Bluebird Road, Gilmer, Texas, and will be owned and operated by Duoline Technologies, L.P. and its assigns. The maximum aggregate face amount of the Bonds to be issued with respect to the Project is $10,000,000. All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing to express orally, or in writing, their views on the Project and the issuance of the Bonds. The Bonds shall not constitute or create an indebtedness, general or specific, or liability of the City of Gilmer, Texas (the "City"), the State of Texas, or any political subdivision thereof. The Bonds shall never constitute or create a charge against the credit or taxing power of the City, the State of Texas, or any other political subdivision thereof. None of the City, the State of Texas, or any political subdivision thereof shall in any manner be liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Bonds or for the performance of any agreement or pledge of any kind which may be undertaken by the Issuer and no breach by the Issuer of any agreements will create any obligation upon the City, the State of Texas, or any other political subdivision thereof. Further information with respect to the proposed Bonds will be available at the hearing or upon written request prior thereto addressed to the Issuer at the address below.
GILMER INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
110 Buffalo Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644

Notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of LAMON ELOISE GAVIN, Deceased, were issued on October 27, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7383, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: LAMON E. GEDDIE.
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o: PEGGY S. GARMON
Attorney at Law
312 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, TX 75644
dated the 27th day of October, 2008.
PEGGY S. GARMON
Attorney for LAMON E. GEDDIE
State Bar No.: 00790745
312 N, Titus Street, P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, TX 75644
Telephone: (903) 843-2646
Facsimile: (903) 843-5606

Notice to all person having claims against the estate of Joe Mack gardner, deceased
Independent Administration of the Estate of Joe Mack Gardner, Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original Letters Testamentary to Jimmy Kaye Gardner on October 27, 2008, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 08-PR-7386, styled :In Re: Estate of Joe Mack Gardner, Deceased," in which Court the matter is pending.
All persons having claims against the estate are hereby notified to present them to the person at the address specified herein below within the time prescribed by law.
Mrs. Jimmie Kaye Gardner
Independent Executrix of the Estate of Joe Mack Gardner, Deceased
c/o Joe W. Newsom, Jr.
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Dated this 27th day of October, 2008.
Joe W. Newsom, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Todd Tefteller
Gilmer, Texas 75644
PHONE: (903) 843.5678
FAX: (903) 680.2310
TSB#24051112
Jwnewsom@teftellerlaw.com

public notice
notice to vendors
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting vendor proposals for the 2008-2009 school year for the following items:
Snack Foods
Office Supplies
Awards/Plaques/Trophies
Building Materials
Misc. Hardware Supplies
Misc. Automotive Supplies
Misc. Apparel
Misc. Goods & Services
Integrated Pest Management Services
For proposals packet, please contact Beverly Grimes at 903-841-7405 or Gilmer ISD Business Office 500 South. Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644.
Proposals will be received in the Business Office until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12,2008.

PUBLIC NOTICE
The Gifted/Talented program in Gilmer Schools offers the opportunity for academic challenge to students who are capable of functioning at advanced levels. This program also serves the unique needs of students who have advanced abilities that are expressed creatively and/or artistically. If at anytime you feel that your child would qualify for the Gifted/Talented program, please go by your child’s campus to pick up a GT Nomination Packet. Nominations for grades K through 12 will be accepted Oct. 30 through November 25.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Bybee Ward Weisinger, Deceased, were issued on August 25, 2008 in Cause No. 08-PR.7363 pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: David Bybee Weisinger, Independent Executor.
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o: David Bybee Weisinger
3627 Bobwhite Road
Gilmer, Texas 75645

DATED the day of , 2008.

Jordan A. Glaze
State Bar No.: 24059826
1428 W. 24th Street
Houston, Texas 77008
Telephone: (713) 822 4730
Facsimile: (713) 228 3003
ATTORNEY FOR THE ESTATE

Invitation to Bid No. 901-09
Sale of Building
Upshur County Texas
Notice to Bidders
Sabine Valley Regional MHMR Center dba Community Healthcore will receive sealed bids in the office of James W. Dees, Purchasing Manager, at 107 Woodbine Place, Longview Texas 75601 for the sale of the building located at 316 N. Trinity Street, Gilmer, Texas. This property is offered on an "AS IS" basis. Bids will be accepted until 11:00 am, 17th of November, 2008 in the Purchasing Manager’s office, Room 132. Bid opening is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on the 17th of November, 2008 in the Ben Bane Room at 107 Woodbine Place, Longivew Texas 75601. To review the property record, obtain information or to schedule a site visit, please call Jim Dees at (903)237-2364. Payment from the successful bidder will be required by 5:00 p.m. upon the date of award which is anticipated to be the 5th of December 2008. Community Healthcore reserves the right to accept or reject in whole or in part any bids received and to waive any irregularities or formalities in the best interest of Community Healthcore.

public notice
Harmony ISD is accepting sealed bids for two school busses through 9:00 a.m. November 3. They are Bluebird busses with Cummins diesel engines, 1989 and 1991 models. For more information contact Mr. Bohannan at 903-725-6367. Bids may be mailed or delivered to Harmony ISD 9788 State Hwy 154 West, Big Sandy, TX 75755.

Notice to creditors
No. 08-Pr-7376
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Kermit Theolphus Mize, Jr., Deceased, were issued on October 6, 2008, in the above styled and numbered cause to Barbara R. Mize, Independent Executrix of the Estate of Kermit Theolphus Mize, Jr.
  The residence of the Independent Executor is Gilmer,, Texas; the mailing address is:
c/o Bradley T. Steele
Attorney at Law
1101 Judson Road
Longview, Texas 75601
 All person having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and manner prescribed by law.
 Dated the 14th day of October, 2008.
Law Office of
Bradley T. Steele, P.C.
1101 Judson, Texas 75601
(903) 234-8844
Fax: (903) 234-8848
BY: Bradley T. Steele
State Bar No. 19099350

Notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Maysel C. Watkins, deceased, were issued on 5th day of May, 2008, in Docket Number 08-PR-7333, pending in the County court of Upshur County, Texas, to Joe C. Watkins.
  The residence of the Independent Executor is in Upshur County, Texas, and the mailing address is:
Estate of Maysel C. Watkins
c/o Joe C. Watkins
P.O. Box 703
Gladewater, Texas 75647
 All person having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and manner prescribed by law.
 Dated the 13 day of October, 2008.
Dwight A. Brannon
P.O. Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Tel: 903-843-2523
State Bar No. 02894500
Attorney for the Estate of
Maysel C. Watkins, deceased

PUBLIC NOTICE OF BID
The Region VII Educational Service Center is soliciting bids on behalf of one hundred and twenty two (122) education entities and one (1) education service in the Region VII Purchasing Cooperative. Bids are solicited for the following categories.
Category
Opening Date time
Substance & Alcohol Abuse Testing
Nov 04, 2008/ 1:30 PM
Computer Software & Supplies
Nov 06, 2008/ 1:30 PM
Physical Education/Recreational Sports & Supplies
Nov 06, 2008/ 1:30 PM
Science Supplies
Nov 06, 2008/ 1:30 PM
Instructional Catalog
Nov 13, 2008/ 1:30 PM
Transportation Maintenance & Supplies
Dec 03, 2008/ 1:30 PM 
Itemized specifications, estimated quantities, or estimated expenditures may be requested by contacting the: Purchasing Cooperative Department, Region VII Education Service Center, 1909 N. Longview St., Kilgore, Texas, 75662, phone number (903) 988-6855, or FAX (903) 988-6852. Bids will be opened at the Education Service Center, on each opening date at designated time. Late bids will be returned unopened. The Board of Directors reserves the right to make final decisions as to the recommendation by the Purchasing Committee.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6181-46-001 for TREE AND STUMP REMOVAL in CASS County, etc will be opened on November 20, 2008 at 10:00 am at the District Office for an estimate of $181,300.00
 Contract 6181-48-001 for TREE AND STUMP REMOVAL in MARION County, etc will be opened on November 20, 2008 at 11:00 am at the District Office for an estimate of $161,250.00.
 Contract 6183-79-001 for MOWING RIGHT OF WAY TRACT 2 in MORRIS County, etc will be opened on November 19, 2008 at 10:00 am at the District Office for an estimate of $97,848.00.
 Contract 6183-80-001 for MOWING RIGHT OF WAY TRACT 2 in UPSHUR County, will be opened on November 19, 2008 at 10:00 am at the District Office for an estimate of $115,905.60.
 Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 27939.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 0046-05-045 for SEAL COAT in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on November 4, 2008 at the State Office.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NPO: 27843.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

Union Hill ISD
Notice of General Election
(Aviso De Eleccion General)
To the Registered Voters of Union Hill School, Gilmer, Texas: (A los votantes registrados de Distrito Escolat, Gilmer, Texas:) Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on November 4, 2008, for voting in a general election to elect school board members. (Nortifiquese, por las presente, que las casillas electorales sitadoes abajo se abriran desde las 7:00 a.m. hasta las 7:00 p.m. ed 4 de Noviembre de 2008 para votar en la Eleccion General para elegir miembros del board.)
Location(s) of Polling Places
(Direccion(es) de las casillas electorales)
Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday at (La votacion adelantada en persona se llevara a cabo de lunes a viernes en) Union Hill Vocational Building/el edificio vocacional de Union Hill between the hours of 7a.m. and 7 p.m. beginning on Monday, October 20, 2008 (entre las 7 de la manana y las 7 de la tarde empezando el lunes, 20 de Octubre) and ending on Saturday, October 25, 2008 ( y terminando el Sabado, 25 de Octubre 2008.
Applications for ballot by mail shall be mailed to: ( Las solicitudes para boletas que se votaran en ausencia por correo deberan enviarse a:)County Clerk’s Office 100 W. Tyler St.Gilmer, TX 75644
Applications for ballot by mail must be received no later then the close of business on (Las solicitudes para boletas que se votaran en ausencia por correo deberan recibirse para el fin de las horas de negocio el) October 28, 2008.
Issued this the 8th day of October, 2008
(Emitada este dia 8 de Octubre, 2008.

Notice of general election
New Diana Independent School District will conduct early voting by personal appearance for the school board trustee election for positions 1,3,6 and 7. Voting will be conducted at the School Administration Office 1373 US Hwy 259 S, the S.E. corner of the intersection of Hwy 259 and 154 between the hours of 7:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday October 20th through October 31st. Early voting at the administration office will be only for the trustee election and not the presidential election. Contact your county clerk’s office for times and locations of early voting in the presidential election.
The General Election will be held on Tuesday November 4th from 7am to 7 pm at the following locations:
Upshur County
S.E. Gilmer-Rock Building
Voting Box # 1
South Diana-New Diana Auditorium
Voting Box # 6
Pine Acres 1st Assembly of God Church Hwy 271
Voting Box #7
North Diana-Walnut Creek Baptist Church
Voting Box #8
Ore City-Ore City, City Hall
Voting Box #9
Harrsion County
Precinct #16 Syrmna Methodist Church
Precinct #23
Morton Baptist Church
Applications for ballot by mail must be received no later than the close of business on October 28th
Applications for ballot by mail shall be mailed to:
Lana Barton
Early Voting Clerk
1373 US Hwy 259
Diana, Texas 75640

NOTICe to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Okemah Haber, Deceased, were issued on June 2, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7330, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Don Gray.
 All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o:
Raymond E. "Bo" Rogers, Jr.
Attorney at Law
2500 Judson Rd., Ste. H
Longview, TX 75605
Dated October 8, 2008.
Raymond E. "Bo" Rogers, Jr.
Attorney for Don Gray
State Bar No.: 04010358
2500 Judson Rd., Ste. H
Longview, TX 75605
Telephone: (903) 234-2600
Facsimile: (903) 234-2511

Notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that Letters of Guardianship for "In the Matter of the Guardianship of Heather Mayree Wolf." An Incapacitated Person were issued on October 3,2008, under Docket No. 08-GU-207, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas to Richard Park, Guardian of the Person and Estate of Heather Mayree Wolf.
Claims may be presented addresses as follows:
Richard Park
Guardian of the Person and Estate of Heather Mayree Wolf
c/o Karen Bishop
Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 1330
Gilmer, Texas 75644
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and manner prescribed by law.
Dated this 8th day of October, 2008.
By: Karen D. Bishop,
Attorney for Richard Park

Notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Kenneth Venoy Benefield, Deceased, were issued on August 25, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7361, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Jeannie Benefield.
 All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o David Griffith
Attorney at Law
404 North Titus
P.O. Box 864
Gilmer, Texas 75644-0864
Dated the 3 day of October, 2008.
David Griffith
Attorney for Jeannie Benefield
State Bar No.: 00797466
404 North Titus
P.O. Box 864
Gilmer, Texas 75644-0864
Telephone: (903) 843-5005
Facsimile: (903) 843-5392

Notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of DAN GWINN, Deceased, were issued on September 29, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7378, pending in Probate Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: HELEN MARIE SIMS.
 All claims to be filed and served upon said Estate shall be served in the following manner, at the following address:
HELEN MARIE SIMS
c/o Vincent L. Dulweber, Attorney P.O. Box 3106
Longview, Texas 75606
(903) 757-2880
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

Public notice
New Diana ISD will have a public meeting to discuss the District’s State Financial Accountability Rating (FIRST) on Monday, October 13, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the New Diana Board Room in the Business Office/Technology Hall (formerly Kindergarten Wing), 1373 US Hwy 259 South, Diana, TX 75640.

Public notice
Request for qualifications
Ore City Independent School District intends to select a Construction Manager-At-Risk for construction of a new elementary school in a two-step process pursuant to Texas Education Code section 44.038.
Proposals is response to the District Request for qualifications are due AT 2:00 PM on October 21, 2008, in the Administration Office, 100 Rebel Road, Ore City, Texas. Proposals must be submitted on accordance with the Request for Qualifications.
The Request for Qualifications is available from:
Lynn Heflin, Superintendent of Schools
Ore City Independent School District
P.O. Box 100
100 Rebel Road
Ore City, Texas 75683
Phone: 903-968-3300 FAX: 903-668-3797

notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of Dan Gwinn, Deceased, were issued on September 29,2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7378 pending in the Probate Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Helen Marie Sims.
 All claims to be filed and served upon said Estate shall be served in the following manner, at the following address:
Helen Marie Sims
c/o Vincent L. Dulweber, Attorney
P.O. Box 3106
Longview, Texas 75606
(903)757-2880
 All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

Public notice
City of ore city
Texas community
development program
The City of Ore City has recently completed Texas Community Development Program activities under its 2006 TCDP Contract #726491 with Office of Rural Community Affairs. One public hearing will be held to allow citizens an opportunity to comment on the completed project activities, amount of funds spent and the amount of funds spent on activities that benefited low/moderate income persons. Specific information on the TCDP program will be available.
The public hearing will be held at City Hall at 302 E. Main on October 9,2008 at 3:30 P.M., to review the City’s program performance including the actual use of the TCDP funds. The city encourages individual citizens and citizen’s groups to make their views known at this public hearing and welcomes the full participation of its citizens in the close-out and completion of this TCDP contract. Written complaints and grievances regarding this TCDP contract and project activities will be received until October 24, 2008 and will be responded to in writing within fifteen (15) working days. Citizen comments may be delivered to City Hall at any time. Groups representative of persons of low and moderate income may request technical assistance in developing comments by contacting the person listed below.
A copy of the City’s Project Completion Report and Certificate of Expenditures will be available for inspection at City Hall after the hearing. Handicapped individuals who may have difficulty in attending this meeting should contact City Hall to arrange for assistance Para residentes necesitados de interpretes, favor de comunicarse con la municipalidad antes de las audiencia publica.
For further information, contact Gail Weir at 903-968-2511.

Public Notice
Request for Proposals
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for
Audio Equipment
For complete information and specifications, contact Beverly Grimes at 903-841-7405 or email request to grimesb@org. Proposals are due at the Gilmer ISD Business Office 500 South Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644 no later than 10:00 am Central Time on Friday, October 10,2008. Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

PUBLIC NOTICE
ORDINANCE NO. 08-010
An ordinance providing for sanitary control covering land use within 150 feet of the city’s public water supply well(s). Further, providing for the protection of groundwater sources by TCEQ rules and regulations considering Texas Administrative Code Title 30 Chapter 290, current and future modifications, and/or replacements and providing a penalty clause.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS GILMER ISD’S
State Financial Accountability Rating

GILMER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT will hold a public meeting at 6:00 P.M., Monday, October 20, 2008, in the Board Room at the District Administration Building located at 500 South Trinity Street, Gilmer, Texas.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss Gilmer ISD’s FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System) Report and Gilmer ISD’s rating on the state’s financial accountability system. The public is invited to attend.


CITATION BY PUBLICATION
DIVORCE/DOMESTIC
CAUSE NO. 655-08
CLERK OF THE COURT
CAROLYN BULLOCK
P.O. BOX 950
GILMER, TX 75644
PETITIONER’S ATTORNEY OR PETITIONER
MATTHEW R. PATTON IV
P.O. BOX 1110
GILMER, TEXAS 75644
THE STATE OF TEXAS
TO: JOHNNY DARRELL BAILEY, ,,
and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s),
"You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty two days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgement may be taken against you."
The petition of PATRICIA ANN KAMONT, Petitioner, was filed in the said court of Upshur County, Texas on the 24th day of September, 2008, against JOHNNY DARRELL BAILEY Respondent(s), numbered 655-08 and entitled:
IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF PATRICIA ANN KAMONT AND JOHNNY DARRELL BAILEY
The suit request: ORIGINAL PETITION FOR DIVORCE
The court has authority in this suit to enter any judgement or decree on the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s (children’s) adoption.
Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 24th day of September, 2008.
Attest: Carolyn Bullock, District Clerk of the 115th District Court, Upshur County, Texas
By: L.Seahorn Deputy

PUB LICE NOTICE
CITY OF GILMER
TEXAS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
The City of Gilmer is giving notice of the City’s intent to submit a Community Development Block Grant Fund application for a grant from the Texas Community Development Block Grant Program. The grant application request is $250,000 for street improvements in the northern and southern sections of town. The application is available for review at City Hall during regular business hours.

Citation by publication
Divorce/domestic
Clerk of the Court
Carolyn bullock
P.O. Box 950
Gilmer, texas 75644
Petitioner’s Attorney or Petitioner
Christina Hollwarth
P.O. Box 488
Longview, Texas 75606
The State of Texas
To: Jessica Katherine Gailes, ,,
and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s),
"You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty two days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgement may be taken against you."
The petition of Curtis Jarman, Petitioner, was filed in the said Court of Upshur County, Texas on the 19th day of September, 2008, against Jessica Katherine Gailes Respondent(s), number 643-08 and entitled:
In the interest of marrissa stetler-Gailes a child
The suit request: original petition in to adjudicate parentage and original petition in suit affecting parent-child relationship
The date and place of birth of the child (children) who is (are) the subject of the suit: Marrissa Kalynn Stetler-Gailes, 9/30/2006, Arlington, Texas
The court has authority in this suit to enter any judgement or decree on the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s (children’s) adoption.
Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 19th day of September, 2008.
Attest: Carolyn Bullock, District Clerk of the 115th District Court, Upshur County, Texas
By: L.Seahorn Deputy

public notice
notice to vendors
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting vendor proposals for the 2008-2009 school year for the following items:
Snack Foods
Office Supplies
Awards/Plaques/Trophies
Building Materials
Misc. Hardware Supplies
Misc. Automotive Supplies
Misc. Apparel
Misc. Goods & Services
Integrated Pest Management Services
For proposals packet, please contact Beverly Grimes at 903-841-7405 or Gilmer ISD Business Office 500 South. Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644.
Proposals will be received in the Business Office until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 8,2008.

union grove independent school district public meeting notice
The Union Grove ISD will review the School F.I.R.S.T. (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) report from the Texas Education Agency during a regularly scheduled board meeting on Monday, October 13th, 2008, in the high school library. Administrators will be available to answer any questions. Interested school patrons are encouraged to attend.

notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Administration for the Estate of Felton Sam Johnson, Jr., Deceased, were issued on September 16, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7345, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Bonnie Lorene Johnson.
 All person having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o: Thomas W. Reardon, Jr.
Attorney at Law
404 North Green Street
P.O. Drawer 2072
Longview, Texas 75606-2072
Dated the 19th day of September, 2008.
Thomas W. Reardon, Jr
Attorney for Bonnie Lorene Johnson
State Bar No.: 16640500
404 North Green Street
P.O. Drawer 2072
Longview, Texas 75606-2072
Telephone: (903) 757-4001
Facsimile: (903) 753-5123

Notice to Vendors
Gilmer ISD is seeking proposals for a multi-year exclusive contract to provide Non-alcoholic Beverage Products.
Vendors wishing to submit proposals must agree to abide by and comply with all federal and state regulations and laws related to the availability of and product dispensed from school vending machines.
Please contact Beverly Grimes at 903-841-7405 or Gilmer ISD Business Office, 500 South Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644, to request proposals packet. Proposals will be received in the Business Office until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 8, 2008. Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals.

notice to vendors
Gilmer ISD is seeking proposals for the purchase of fuel for district buses and vehicles. For complete information, contact Beverly Grimes at 903-841-7405 or Gilmer ISD Business Office, 500 S Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644.
Proposals will be received in the Business Office until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 8, 2008. Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids

NOTICE TO ALL PERSON HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF LUCILLE ALLRED, DECEASED
Independent Administration of the Estate of Lucille Allred, Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original Letters Testamentary to Jack Phillips on September 10, 2008, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 08-PR-7360, styled "In Re: Estate of Lucille Allred, Deceased," in which Court the matter is pending.
All persons having claims against the estate are hereby notified to present them to the person at the address specified herein below within the time prescribed by law.
Mr. Jack Phillips,
Independent Executor of the Estate of Lucille Allred, Deceased
c/o Joe W. Newsom, Jr., Attorney at Law
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Dated this 11th day of September, 2008.
Joe W. Newsom, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Todd Tefteller
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
PHONE: (903) 843-5678
FAX: (903) 680-2310
TSB# 2405112

public notice
The City of Gilmer will hold a public hearing at Gilmer City Hall, 110 Buffalo, Gilmer, Texas, on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, at 5:15 p.m. to discuss the proposed budget for fiscal year 2008-2009. This budget will raise more total property taxes than last year’s budget by $83,500.00, 5.90 percent, and of that amount, $9,143.00 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year. The City encourages citizens to participate in the discussion of the budget and to make their views known at the public hearing. Citizens unable to attend this meeting may submit their views to Kathy Davidson, City Secretary, at the Gilmer City Hall. Handicapped individuals wishing to attend this meeting should contact Gilmer City Hall at 903-843-2552 to arrange assistance.

Public notice of test of automatic
Tabulating equipment
AVISO PUBLICO DE PRUEBA
DE EQUIPO PARA TABULAR
AUTOMATICAMENTE
Notice is hereby given that the automatic tabulating equipment being used in the Election held on November 4, 2008 will be tested on September 18, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. at the Upshur County Courthouse to ascertain that the equipment will perform accurately.
Por ls presente se de aviso que el equipo para tabular Automaticamente que se usara en la Eleccion que se Llevara a cabo el 4 de noviembre de 2008 se probara el 18 de Septiembre a las 9:00 manana en del la Corte Condado de Upshur para acertar queel equipo contara Con exactitude los votos para todos los puesto Oficiales.
Peggy Lagrone, County Clerk
(Secretario del Condado)

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6182-27-001 for INSTALLATION OF PAVEMENT MARKINGS in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on October 16, 2008 at the State Office for a estimate of $1,352,201.25.
 Contract 6183-99-001 for BRIDGE REPAIR in MORRIS County, etc will be opened on October 15, 2008 at 1:00 om at the State Office for an estimate of $695,946.90.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 27537.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

Public notice
City of east mountain
Texas community development block grant program
The City of East Mountain is giving notice of the City’s intent to submit a Community Development Block Grant Fund application for a grant from the Texas Community Development Block Grant Program. The grant application request is $250,000 for water system improvements for a city-wide benefit. The application is available for review at City Hall during regular business hours.

Public hearing
City of east mountain
Texas community development block grant program
The city of East Mountain will hold a public hearing at 7:00 PM on Monday, September 8, 2008 at City Hall at 103 Municipal Drive in regard to the submission of an application to the Office of Rural Community Affairs for a Texas Community Development Block Grant Program (TXCDBG) grant. The purpose of this meeting is to allow citizens an opportunity to discuss the citizen participation plan, the development of local housing and community development needs, the amount of TXCDBG funding available, all eligible to TXCDBG activities, and the use of past TXCDBG funds. The City encourages citizens to participate in the development of this TXCDBG application and to make their views known at this public hearing. Citizens unable to attend this meeting may submit their views and proposals to City Hall. Persons with disablities that wish to attend this meeting should contact City Hall to arrange for such assistance. Individuals who require auxiliary aids or services for this meeting should contact City Hall at least two days before the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Para residents necesitados de interpretes, favor de comunicarse con la municioalidad antes de las audiencia publica.
For further information, contact Tammy Hazel at the City Hall at 903-297-6041.

Clerk of the court
Ms. Barbara Duncan
Gregg County district Clerk
P.O. Box 711
Longview, Texas 75606
The state of texas
Notice to defendant: " You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written Answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you."
TO: Gerald Hughes, Defendant, Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to appear by filing a written Answer to the Plaintiffs’ Original Petition and Jury Demand at or before ten o’clock a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation, before the Honorable County Court at Law of Gregg County, Texas at the courthouse at Law of Gregg County, Texas at the courthouse of said county Longview, Texas. Said Plaintiffs’ Petition was filed with the court on the 12th day of March., 2008, in this case, numbered 2008-573-ccl2 on the docket of said court and styled,
GERALD HUGHES, Plaintiffs
vs.
GARY JESUS SMITH AND WHI, LLC Defendant
The names of the parties to the cause are as follows: GERALD HUGHES is the Plaintiff and GARY JESUS SMITH AND WHI, LLC are Defendants.
A brief statement of the nature of this suit is as follows, to wit:
Auto Damages
as is more fully shown by Plaintiff’s Petition and Jury Demand on file in this suit.
The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandated thereof, and make due return as the law directs.
Issued and given under my hand and seal of said court, at office in Longview, Texas, this date: 27th day of August, 2008.
Attest: Ms. Barbara Duncan
Gregg County District Clerk
By: Connie Sirratt

Public notice
City of Ore City is accepting bids for solid waste collection and disposal service to begin January 1, 2009. Sealed bids should be submitted on "Request for Proposals" provided by the City, and submitted to Mrs. Gail Weir, PO Box 327, or 302 E Main St, Ore City Tx 75683 by Friday, October 31, 2008, at 4pm. Bids will be opened and awarded Tuesday, November 11, 2008, at 7pm at City Hall. The City Council reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

Notice to all persons having claims against the estate of Betty Jo mayfield mccoy, deceased
Administration of the Estate of Betty Jo Mayfield McCoy, Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original Letters of Administration to Odie B. Mayfield on August 25, 2008, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 08-PR-7367, style "In Re: The Estate of Betty Jo Mayfield McCoy, Deceased," in which Court the matter is pending.
All persons having claims against are hereby notified to present them to the person at the address specified herein below within the time prescribed by law.
Mr. Odie B. Mayfield,
Administrator of the Estate of Betty Jo Mayfield McCoy, Deceased,
c/o Joe W. Newsom, Jr., Attorney at Law
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Dated this 27th day of August, 2008.
Joe W. Newsom, Jr.
Attorney at Law
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
PHONE (903) 843-5678
FAX: (903) 680-2310
State Bar No. 24051112

Public notice
City of gilmer
Texas community development block grant program texas capital fund
The City of Gilmer is giving notice of the City’s intent to submit a grant application to the Texas Department of Agriculture for a Texas Capital Fund Infrastructure Program grant. The grant application requests $543,600 of grants funds to carry out the construction of sanity sewer and road improvements within the southern portion of the City of Gilmer and its extraterritorial jurisdiction in support of the development of a new manufacturing facility. The application is available for review at City Hall during regular business hours

notice of renewal
Notice of renewal application for private club registration permit for Gilmer County Club located at Highway 155 South side 2 miles southwest city limits, Gilmer, Texas.
Owner- Gilmer County
Club Corporation
President- George Heath
Vice President- Louis Fennell
Secretary- Vonna Crowler

the state of texas
Citation by publication
To all persons interested in the estate of Felton Sam Johnson., Jr., deceased,
 1. Stedarole Keith Johnson, and unknown heirs;
 2. Steffond O’Shea Johnson, and unknown heirs;
 3. All unknown heirs
 Bonnie Lorene Johnson has filed in the County of Upshur County, an Application To Determine Heirs and a First Amended Application for Letters of Administration of said FELTON SAM JOHNSON, JR., Deceased.
 The file number of such application and the Probate Docket number being No. 08-PR7345 and the style of the case begun by such application is: Estate of FELTON SAM JOHNSON, JR., deceased.
 All persons interested in said estate ARE CITED TO APPEAR in County Court of Upshur County, Texas, in the Courthouse thereof at or before 10 o’clock a.m. on the first Monday after service is perfected by the completion of such Publication, to contest said application if they desire to do so, by filing opposition in writing
 The name and address of the attorney for applicant, or the address of applicant is: THOMAS W. READON, JR., P.O. Drawer 2072, Longview, TX 75606.
 Issued this the 22nd day of August, 2008.
 The officer executing this Citation shall have a the copy of this Citation served by publication in the newspaper in the City of Gilmer, for not less than 10 days before the return day thereof, exclusive of the date of publication and return the original copy of this Citation to the Clerk stating in a written return thereon the time and place where citation was published.
 GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court, at the office in Gilmer, Texas this the 22nd day of August, A.D., 2008.
Peggy lagrone, Clerk
County Court, Upshur County, Texas
By B. Wenchester Deputy
P.O. Box 730, Gilmer, Texas 75644

Notice of forfeiture
Notice is hereby given that in cause of United States of America v. William Allen Pipes, Cause No. 6:08CR39, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas entered a Preliminary Order forfeiting specific property to the United States of America. Said property being:
A. Compaq Presario Model S5100NX, Serial #MXK3331TN; and
B. Blackberry ESN #07608898097
 The United States hereby gives notice of its intention to dispose of the forfeiters property in such manner as the United States Attorney General may direct. Any persons having or claiming a legal right, title or interest in the aforementioned property must file a petition with the Court within thirty (30) days of the final publication of this notice or of receipt of actual notice, whichever is earlier, pursuant to the provision of Title 21, U.S.C 853(n).
 The petition shall be for a hearing to adjudicate the validity of the petitioner’s alleged interest in the forfeited property. The petition shall be signed by the petitioner under penalty of perjury and shall set forth the nature and extent of the petitioner’s right title or interest in the forfeited property, the time and circumstances of the petitioner’s acquisition of the right, title and interest in the forfeited property and any additional facts supporting the petitioner’s claim and the relief sought. The original petition shall be filed with the Clerk of this Court, and a copy mailed to Assistant United States Attorney Bill Baldwin, United States Attorney’s Office, 110 N. College Suite 700, Tyler, Texas 75702.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 0063-04-053 for RELOCATE DYNAMIC MESSAGE in PANOLA County, etc. will be opened on September 10, 2008 at 1:00 pm at the State Office.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 27419.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

public notice
Ore City Independent School District will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, August 28, 2008, beginning at 6:00 P.M. in the boardroom located in the administration building at 100 Rebel Road, Ore City, Texas, for the purpose of discussing the proposed tax rate for 2008-2009. The OCISD Board of Trustees will meet to adopt the budget and set the tax rate at 6:30 P.M. on Thursday, August 28,2008.

Public notice
Ore City ISD public notification of nondiscrimination career and technology education programs. Ore City ISD offers career and technology education programs in Business, Family and Consumer Science, and Agriculture. Admission to these programs is based on interest, aptitude, age appropriateness and class space available. It is the policy of Ore City ISD not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in its vocational programs, services or activities as required by Title VI or the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Ore City ISD will take steps to assure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational and vocational programs. For information about your rights or grievance procedures, contact the Title IX Coordinator, Mr. Lynn Heflin, at 100 Rebel Road, P.O. Box 100, Ore City, Texas 75683, 903-968-3300 and/or the Section 504 Coordinator, Dr. Ray Deason at the same address and number.

REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR FUEL PRODUCTS
Union Grove Independent School District is accepting proposals for the following: Fuel Products
For complete proposal requirements and specifications, please contact the Union Grove ISD Business Office, 11220 Union Grove Rd., or PO Box 1447, Gladewater, TX 75647, or call 903-845-5509. Sealed proposals are due at the above address no later than 3:00 P.M. Tuesday August 26, 2008.

The state of texas
Citation by publication
To All persons interested in the estate of FELTON SAM JOHNSON, JR., deceased,
 1. Kimberly Renee Johnson, and unknown heirs;
BONNIE LORENE JOHNSON has filed in the County Court of Upshur County, an Application to Determine Heirs and a first Amended Application for Letters of Administration of said FELTON SAM JOHNSON, JR., deceased.
 The file number of such application and the Probate Docket number being No. 08-PR-7345 and the style of the case begun by such application is Estate of FELTON SAM JOHNSON, JR. deceased.
 All persons interested in said estate ARE CITED TO APPEAR in County Court of Upshur County, Texas, in the Courthouse thereof at or before 10 o’clock a.m. on the first Monday after service is perfected by the completion of such Publication, to contest said application if they desire to do so, by filing opposition in writing
 The name and address of the attorney for applicant, or the address of applicant is: THOMAS W. READON, JR., P.O. Drawer 2072, Longview, TX 75606.
 Issued this the 14th day of August, 2008.
 The officer executing this Citation shall have a the copy of this Citation served by publication in the newspaper in the City of Gilmer, for not less than 10 days before the return day thereof, exclusive of the date of publication and return the original copy of this Citation to the Clerk stating in a written return thereon the time and place where citation was published.
 GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court, at the office in Gilmer, Texas this the 14th day of August, A.D., 2008.
Peggy lagrone, clerk
County Court, Upshur County, Texas
By B. Wenchester Deputy
P.O. Box 730, Gilmer, Texas 75644

Public notice
Notice is hereby given that on Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. the City Planning and Zoning Commission will meet in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 110 Buffalo, Gilmer, to consider the following:
A zoning request by JOART, LLC - Joe Rice and Richard Henson to change Lot 7, Block 5, Bledsoe Addition at Bradford just south of Pine Street on the east side, from R-1 to MF-1, according to the rules and regulations of the City of Gilmer Zoning Ordinance. The public is invited to attend.

Request for competitive proposals for ice cream products
Union Grove ISD is accepting bids for miscellaneous Ice Cream products for the 2008-2009 school year. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to accept of reject any or all bids. Sealed bids will be accepted until Tuesday, August 26 at 3:00 pm at which time bids will be opened. Sealed bids should be submitted to Terri Woodfin, specifications forms may be obtained from the Office of the Superintendent, 11220 Union Grove Rd., P.O. Box 1447, Gladewater, TX. 75645, (903) 845-5509.

Notice to Creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testmentary for the Estate of Lola Fay Hitt, Deceased, were issued on July 7, 2008. in Cause No. 08-PR-7335, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Lynn Hitt. The residence of the Independent Executor is Kingwood, Harris County, Texas; the post office address is:
c/o Griffith Law Firm
Attorneys at Law
404 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 864
Gilmer, Texas 75644
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
Dated the 1st day of August, 2008.
GRIFFTH LAW FIRM, P.C.
P.O. BOX 864
GILMER, TEXAS 75644
PHONE (903) 843-5005
FAX (903) 843-5392
David B. Griffith
State Bar No.:08479300
Attorneys for Estate

Public notice
Notice is hereby given that on Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. the City Planning and Zoning Commission will meet in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 110 Buffalo, Gilmer, to consider the following:
A zoning request by JOART, LLC - Joe Rice and Richard Henson to change Lot 7, Block 5, Bledsoe Addition at Bradford just south of Pine Street on the east side, from R-1 to MF-1, according to the rules and regulations of the City of Gilmer Zoning Ordinance. The public is invited to attend.

notice to all persons having claims against the estate of james welton wilbanks, deceased
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of James Welton Wilbanks, Deceased, were issued on August 1, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7365, which is pending on the Probate Docket of Upshur County, texas, to:
Annie Cele Wilbanks
304 N. Montgomery Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644.
All persons having claims against said estate being administered are hereby required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
Date this 6th day of August, 2008.
Russell & Wooten, P.C.
By Kerry Wootten
P.O. Box 1135
Mt. Pleasant, TX 75456-1135
Phone (903) 572-3653
State Bar No. 21993600

Public Notice
Notice is hereby given by Lauren Parish, 115th District Judge, pursuant to Section 152.905 if the Local Government code that a public hearing will be held at 8:15 a.m. on August 19, 2008, in the Jury Room located in the Upshur County Justice Center for the purpose of setting the amount of the annual compensation of the County Auditor, Assistant Auditor and Court Reporter.

Notice of public hearing
The Upshur County Commissioners Court will hold a Public Hearing at it’s Regular meeting in the Upshur County Commissioners Courtroom on August 15, 2008 at 9:00 AM for the purpose of establishing a Reinvestment Zone located at the Southeast Corner of Bluebird and State Hwy 271. Anyone may speak in favor or against the proposed designation of the Reinvestment Zone at this meeting. A Reinvestment Zone is necessary for the consideration of a Tax Abatement agreement with anyone located within the Zone. Dean Fowler Upshur County Judge

Notice of meeting to consider proposed budget
The Upshur County Commissioner’s Court will consider and take action on the proposed budget for Upshur County at 9:00 a.m. on August 15, 2008 in a meeting to be held in the Commissioner’s Courtroom, third Floor, Upshur County Courthouse, 100 Tyler Street, Gilmer, Texas. Members of the public are encouraged to attend this hearing and express their views.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6098-20-001 for COLD POUR CRACK SEAL in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on September 10, 2008 at 1:00 pm at the State Office for an estimate of $474,861.60
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for the TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.txdot.gov and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 27290.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS
In the estate of John Scott Denson, Deceased, in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of John Scott Denson, Deceased, were issued on June 23, 2008 in Cause No. 08-PR-7351, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: John Burba Denson. All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned attorneys within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o: H. CHUCK BAUMAN, III
Brown, Bauman & Smith
A Professional Corporation
400 E. Fifth Street
Tyler, TX 75701
Dated the 18th day of July, 2008
Respectfully submitted
BROWN, BAUMAN & SMITH
A Professional Corporation
400 E. Fifth Street
Tyler, Texas 75701
Telephone: (903) 597-6333
Facsimile: (903) 597-6335
H. CHUCK BAUMAN
State Bar No.: 01930990
ATTORNEYS FOR APPLICANT

State of texas
County of upshur
Citation
TO: William Brett Mitchell
6000
6000
You are hereby commanded to appear before me, Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 2, of Upshur County, Texas, at or before 10:00 A.M. on the Monday next after the expiration of 10 days from the date of service of this citation upon you, at my office at 405 N. Titus, Gilmer, TEXAS 75644, to answer in the suit
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF GILMER vs. WILLIAM BRETT MITCHELL
 Being cause number 40-CO8 on the Docket of said Court, the Plaintiff’s demand being for the sum of $3,846.25 dollars, due upon: SEE ATTACHMENT.
 The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates hereof, and make due return as the law directs.
 Issued and given under my hand at Upshur County, Texas this the 16th day of July, 2008.
LYLE Potter
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PCT. 2
Upshur County, Texas

Public notice
Request for proposals
 Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for Computer to be purchased in September, 2008.
 For complete information and specifications, contact Rusty Ivey at 903-841-7400 or email request to iveyr@gilmerisd.org. Proposals are due at the Gilmer ISD Business Office 500 South Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644 no later then 2:00 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday, August 13, 2008.
 If awarded, vendor will be notified and purchase order issued after September 1, 2008. Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

Notice of public hearing
The Upshur County Commissioners Court will hold a Public Hearing at it’s Regular meeting in the Upshur County Commissioners Courtroom on Thursday, July 31st at 9:00 AM for the purpose of establishing a Reinvestment Zone located at the Southeast Corner of Bluebird and State Hwy 271. Anyone may speak in favor or against the proposed designation of the Reinvestment Zone at this meeting. A Reinvestment Zone is necessary for the consideration of a Tax Abatement agreement with anyone located within the Zone. Dean Fowler Upshur County Judge

request for competitive proposals for fuel products
Union Grove Independent School District is accepting proposals for the following: Fuel Products For complete proposals requirements and specifications, please contact the Union Grove ISD Business Office, 11220 Union Grove., or PO Box 117, Gladewater, TX 75648, or call 903-845-5509. Sealed proposals are due at the above address no later than 3:00 P.M. Monday, August 4th, 2008.

public notice
Harmony ISD is accepting sealed bids for any of the following items until the opening of the bids on July 30, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.
1991 Bluebird diesel bus. 5.9
Cummins diesel
1989 Bluebird diesel bus. 5.9 \Cummins diesel
Gravely X260 0-turn mower. 8 years old, needs some engine work
E-Z go electric Golf cart
Air compressor
Rolls of 4 foot cyclone fence
For more information contact John Bohannan. 903-725-6367
9788 State Hwy. 154 West
Big Sandy, TX 75755

NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF ROBERT WELDON WILLS, DECEASED
Independent Administration of the Estate of Robert Weldon Wills, Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original Letters Testamentary to Keith Ray Wills on July 7, 2008, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 08-PR-7358, styled "In Re: Estate of Robert Weldon Wills, Deceased," in which Court the matter is pending. All person having claims against the estate are hereby notified to present them to the person at the address specified herein below within the time prescribed by law.
Mr. Keith Ray Wills,
Independent Administration of the Estate of Robert Weldon Wills, Deceased
c/o Joe W. Newsom, Jr., Attorney at Law
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Dated this 7th day of July, 2008.
Joe W. Newsom, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Todd Tefteller
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
PHONE: (903) 843.5678
FAX: (903) 680.2310
TSB#24051112

Notice to creditors
Notice to hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Donna T. Herrmann were issued on June 23, 2008, in Docket No. 08-PR-7355, pending the County Court of Upshur County, texas, to: Donald E. Herrmann, Independent Executor. All claims against the Estate shall be presented to the Independent Executor at the following address:
Mr. Donald E. Herrmann
201 Main Street, Suite 2500
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
All persons having claims against this Estate which currently being administered are required to present them within the time and manner required by law. Dated this 7th day of July, 2008.
Donald E. Herrmann
State Bar No. 09541300
KELLY HART & HALLMAN LLP
201 Main Street, Suite 2500
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Telephone: (817) 332-2500
Facsimile: (817) 878-9280
ATTORNEY FOR THE ESTATE

public notice
request for proposal
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for the following.
High School Flooring Project
 For complete proposal requirements and specifications, Pleas contact the Gilmer ISD Business Office, 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, TX 75644. 903-841-7405 or 903-841-7428.
 Proposals will be due in sealed envelope addressed to Beverly Grimes at 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, TX 75644 no later than Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.

Public notice
Invitation to bid
SEALED BIDS WILL BE RECEIVED BY THE UNION GROVE ISD on the following item(s) offered for sale by the Union Grove Independent School District:
1 Portable Building: Determined by the Board of Trustees to be surplus property; located on the high school/middle school campus; to be removed at bidder’s expense before August 8, 2008. Building will be open for inspection by appointment only Monday-Thursday, July 7, through July 25, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. To make an appointment, call 903-845-5509. A campus plat designating the building for sale will provided on request to interested bidders.
ALL BIDS MUST BE MADE IN A SEALED ENVELOPE. Bids must be received on or before 3 p.m., Monday July 28, 2008 at the Office of the Superintendent, P.O. Box 1447, or Old Highway 271, Gladewater, Texas 75647. Attention Terri Woodfin- Portable Building Bid. Bids will be opened and examined after that time.
 Union Grove ISD reserves the right the right to reject any proposal and/or all proposals, to make awards as the may appear to be advantageous to Union Grove ISD and to waive all formalities in bidding.
 Questions, or information required to complete your bid proposals, may be directed to the Office of the Superintendent, 903-8475-5509.

Citation By Publication
Domestic
Cause No. 431-08
Clerk of the Court Carolyn Bullock
P.O. Box 950
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Petitioner’s Attorney or Petitioner
Pro Se
The State of Texas
TO: FRANKLIN THOMAS ALLEN JR, 7156 Forest Hill,, Frankston, Texas 75763 and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s),
" You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgement may be taken against you."
The petition of JOY FAY ALLEN, Petitioner, was filed in the said Court of Upshur County, Texas on the 20th day of June, 2008, against FRANKLIN THOMAS ALLEN JR Respondent(s), numbered 431-08 and entitled:
IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRAGE OF JOY FAY ALLEN AND FRANKLIN THOMAS ALLEN JR.
 The suit request: DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE.
 The Court has authority in this suit to enter any judgment or decree in the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to child’s (children’s) adoption.
Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas this 3rd day of July, 2008.
Attest: Carolyn Bullock, District Clerk of the 115th District Court, Upshur County, Texas. BY L. Seahorn DEPUTY

Public notice
The City of Gilmer in accordance with Section 9.71 Dangerous Buildings Ordinance as shown in the City of Gilmer Code or Ordinances will conduct a public hearing before the hearing officer concerning the condemnation of the structure located at:
908 South Montgomery
Lot 1, block 92
Newsome Addition
The meeting will be held July 30, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. All interested parties are invited to attend this hearing.
The City of Gilmer
By: Mike Carton
Code Enforcement Officer

Public Notice
Mental health service forum
Sponsored by community healthcore
Community Forum to obtain input from consumers, family members, potential mental health service providers and other community stakeholders regarding changes in Community Healthcore’s mental services will be held on Monday, July 7, 2008 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at 107 Woodbine Place, Longview, Texas.

the state of texas
Citation by publication
TO ALL PERSONS interested in the estate of LUCILLE ALLRED, deceased,
1. Danny Houge, Nephew; and unknown heirs;
2. ______ Houge, Nephew; and unknown heirs;
3. Linda Smith, Niece; and unknown heirs;
4. Judy ______, Niece; and unknown heirs;
5. Frank _______, Jr., Nephew; and unknown heirs;
6. All unknown heirs.
JACK PHILLIPS has filed in the County Court of Upshur County, an Application For Letters of Administration of said, LUCILLE ALLRED Deceased.
 The file number of such application and the Probate Docket number being No. 08-PR-7360 and the style of the case begun by such application is: Estate of LUCILLE ALLRED, deceased. ALL PERSONS interested is said estate ARE CITED TO APPEAR in County Court of Upshur County, Texas, in the Courthouse thereof at or before 10 o’clock a.m. on the first Monday after service is perfected by the completion of such Publication, to contest said application if they desire to do so, by filing opposition in writing.
Notice:: HEARING HAS BEEN SET FOR : JULY 28, 208; 1:30 P.M. The name and address of the attorney for applicant, or the address of applicant is: JOE W. NEWSOME, JR. 403 WEST TYLER ST., GILMER, TX 75644 (903) 843-5678. Issued this the 30th day of June,, 2008. The officer executing this Citation shall have a copy of this Citation served by publication in the newspaper in the City of Gilmer, for not less than 10 days before the return day thereof, exclusive of the date of publication and return the original copy of this Citation to the Clerk stating in a written return thereon the time and place where citation was published.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court, at the office in Gilmer, Texas this the 30th day of JUNE, A.D., 2008.
PEGGY LAGRONE, Clerk
County Court, Upshur County, Texas
By Wenchester Deputy
P.O. Box 730, Gilmer, Texas 75644

notice of impoundment of estray
Cause No. 199
Date 6-19-08
On the 19 day of June 2008, I impounded the following estray
Kind of Animal: Goat
Color: White & Red
Sex: Female
Age: Adult
Size: Large
Brand, Marks, Identifying Characteristics: Yellow tag with # 56 on ear.
And, on the 25 day of June, 2008, I filed a Notice of Estray in the Estray Book of Upshur County, Texas. I have made a diligent search of the recorded brands in Upshur County & Gilmer Tx County, Texas, for the owner of the said estray, but the search did not reveal the owner. Notice is hereby given that, if the ownership of said estray is not determined by the 9 day of July, 2008, said estray will be sold at public auction/sheriff’s sake at Gregg County Humane Shelter "Longview, Tx". Witness my hand this 25 day of June, 2008.
A. Betterton
Sheriff of Upshur
County, Texas
(Designee of Sheriff of Office W. Pope
County, Texas)

public notice
request for proposal
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for Asphalt Paving of the bus Parking Lot.
 For complete proposal requirements and specifications, Pleas contact the Gilmer ISD Business Office at (903) 841-7400 or 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, TX 75644
 Sealed proposals are due at the above address no later than 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

public notice
request for proposal
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for 50’ x 80’ Steel Shelter on Concrete Slab.
 For complete proposal requirements and specifications, Pleas contact the Gilmer ISD Business Office at (903) 841-7400 or 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, TX 75644
 Sealed proposals are due at the above address no later than 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

public notice
request for proposal
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for
Student Athletic InsuranceStudent Catastrophic Insurance
Student Voluntary Insurance
For complete proposal requirements and specifications, Please contact Beverly Grimes at (903) 841-7405 or 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, TX 75644. Sealed proposals are due at the above address no later then 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2008.

Public notice
Out of date records to be destroyed
The Upshur County Shared Service Arrangement (UCSSA) which is comprised of the Big Sandy, Gilmer, Harmony, New Diana, Union Grove, and Union Hill Independent School Districts, proposes to destroy all out-of-date Special Education records contained in the eligibility folders of students who were dismissed from the program up through July, 2001. Also included in this purging will be records of students who were tested and did not qualify for special education services as well as records of those who qualified but were not placed. These records are presently maintained in the UCSSA office located at 113 West Tyler Street, Gilmer, TX 75644, and include referral information, educational, psychological, medical, admission review and dismissal committee minutes, individual educational plans, and classroom observation data. It is our responsibility to inform you that these records may be needed for social security benefits or other purposes and that it may be to your benefit to obtain them. Those who prefer that their records not be destroyed should send a written request to: Pat Cowan, Secretary/Records Clerk, Upshur County Shared Service Arrangement, 113 West Tyler Street, Gilmer, TX 75644 before August 01, 2008. For additional information, call (903)843-5575.

public notice
Union Hill ISD is currently accepting proposals for the following items:
 1. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR NEW CARPETING IN HALLWAYS FOR JR. HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, AND ELEMENTARY BUILDINGS.
 2. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR NEW ALUMINUM BLEACHERS.
 3. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR NEW DURO LAST ROOF FOR H.S. FIELD HOUSE.
 4.REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR EXPANSION OF THE PRE-K/KINDERGARTEN BUILDING
 Sealed proposals will be received by the Union Hill ISD in each of the above categories listed, in the Office of Superintendent until 4:00 P.M., June 26, 2008. Any proposals received after that time date will be returned unopened and not considered. Proposals will be opened at the School Board Meeting June 26, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. Please mail or deliver all bids and obtain specifications forms from:
Office of Superintendent
2197 FM 2088
Gilmer, TX 75644
The District reserves the right to reject any bid and/or all bids, to make awards as they appear advantageous to the District and to waive all formalities in bidding.

Public Notice
Effective July 1, 2008, the amount of the Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC) appearing on your bill each month will increase as a result of an increase in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) universal service fund contribution factor from 11.3 % to 11.4%. The new FUSC amount is calculated by multiplying the FCC’s universal service contribution factor against your interstate access service charges. The federal universal service fund program is designed to help keep local telephone service rates affordable for all customers, in all areas of the United States. Etex Telephone Cooperative ,Inc. 801 Hwy 155 N Gilmer, TX 75644 903-797-2711 or 877-482-3839(Toll Free)

public notice
Union Hill ISD is currently accepting proposals for the following items:
 1. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR NEW CARPETING IN HALLWAYS FOR JR. HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, AND ELEMENTARY BUILDINGS.
 2. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR NEW ALUMINUM BLEACHERS.
 3. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR NEW DURO LAST ROOF FOR H.S. FIELD HOUSE.
 4.REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR EXPANSION OF THE PRE-K/KINDERGARTEN BUILDING
 Sealed proposals will be received by the Union Hill ISD in each of the above categories listed, in the Office of Superintendent until 4:00 P.M., June 26, 2008. Any proposals received after that time date will be returned unopened and not considered. Proposals will be opened at the School Board Meeting June 26, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. Please mail or deliver all bids and obtain specifications forms from:
Office of Superintendent
2197 FM 2088
Gilmer, TX 75644
The District reserves the right to reject any bid and/or all bids, to make awards as they appear advantageous to the District and to waive all formalities in bidding.

public notice for union hill isd non-discrimination notice
Union Hill I.S.D. offers career and technical education programs in Ag. Science and Business Education. Admission to these programs is based on interest and aptitude, age appropriateness, and class space available.
 It is the policy of Union Hill I.S.D. no the discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap in its vocational programs, services, or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
 Union Hill I.S.D. will take steps to assure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational and vocational programs.
 For information about your rights or grievance procedures contact the Sharon A. Richardson, Title IX Coordinator, and or the Section 504 Coordinator, at 2197 FM 2088, Gilmer, TX 75644-5557, (903) 762-2140.

public notice that application has been made for Package Store Permit
Application has been made for a Package Store Permit by Nancy Ann Harman, doing business as Fat Dog Beverages #9, located at 8915 Highway 175 West, Cuney, Cherokee County, TX.
Ben Albin Lanford, Jr., President
Kyle Tate Fair, CEO
John Melvin Bratton, CFO/Secretary
Said application has been made to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in accordance with the provisions of the TABC Code.

Public notice application has been made for a wine only package store permit
Application has been made for a Wine Only Package Store Permit by Majestic Liquor Stores, Ins. doing business as Fat Dog Beverages #5, located at 8955 Highway 175 West, Cuney, Cherokee County, Tx.
Ben Albin Lanford, Jr., President
Kyle Tate Fair, CEO
John Melvin Bratton, CFO/Secretary
Said application has been made to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in accordance with the provisions of the TABC Code.

Citation by publication
Civil suits
Cause no. 68-08
Clerk of court
Carolyn bullock
P.O. Box
Gilmer, texas 75644
Plaintiff’s attorney or plaintiff
Brent goudarzi
P.O. drawer 910
Gilmer, texas 75644
The state of texas
NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: " You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. On the Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you."
 TO: DENNIS DELON STEWART, Defendant, Greeting:
 You are hereby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s PLAINTIFF’S ORIGINAL PETITION at or before ten o’ clock a.m. Of the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation the same being:
 Monday the 28TH day of JULY, 2008, before the Honorable 115th District Court of Upshur County, Texas at the Justice Center of said County in Gilmer, Texas.
 Said Plaintiff’s Petition was filed in said court on the JANUARY 30, 2008. In case numbered 68-08 on the docket of said court and styled, JERRI FORT AL VS. ALLSTATE COUNTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY ET AL
The names of the parties to the cause are as follows: JERRI FORT plaintiff(s) and DENNIS DELON STEWART defendant(s)
 A brief statement of the nature of this suit is as follows, to wit: INJURY OR DAMAGE OF MOTOR VEHICLE as is more fully shown by Plaintiff’s Petition on file in this suit. The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates thereof, and make due return as the law directs.
Issued and given under my hand and the Seal of said court, at office in Gilmer, Texas this the 16th day of June A.D. 2008.
 Attest: CAROLYN BULLOCK, DISTRICT CLERK OF THE 115TH DISTRICT COURT, UPSHUR COUNTY, TEXAS
BY: L. MARSHALL DEPUTY.


Citation by publication
Divorce/domestic
Cause no. 378-08
Clerk of the court
carolyn bullock
p.o. box 950
gilmer, texas 75644
petitioner’s attorney or petitioner
mathew r patton iv
p.o. box 1110
gilmer, texas 75644
the state of texas
TO: LARRY WAYNE MASSIE, ,,
and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s),
"You have been sued. You may employ and attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgement may be taken against you"
The petition of ROBIN LYNNE NEW, Petitioner, was filed in the said Court of Upshur County, Texas on the 30th day of May, 2008, against LARRY WAYNE MASSIE Respondent(s), numbered 378-08 and entitled:
IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF ROBIN LYNNE AND LARRY WAYNE MASSIE
The suit request: DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE
The Court has authority in this suit to enter any judgement or decree in the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s (children’s) adoption. Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 30th day of May, 2008.
Attest: CAROLYN BULLOCK, DISTRICT CLERK
OF THE 115TH DISTRICT COURT, UPSHUR COUNTY, TEXAS
BY: L. Seahorn deputy


public notice of bid
The City of Gilmer is accepting bids for grounds maintenance at the City Cemetery. Specificatins may be obtained at Cuty Hall beginnig Wednesday, June 11, 2008 between the hours of 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Deadline to submit bids will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Bids will be opened at Council Chambers, City Hall, 110 Buffalo, Gilmer, at 10:15 a.m. on the same day. The City of Gilmer reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.


citation by publication
divorce/domestic
cause no. 576-07
Clerk of the Court
Carolyn Bullock
P.O. Box 950
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Petitioner’s Attorney or Petitioner
Heather L. Slawson
4th Floor Courthouse
Gilmer, Texas 75644
The State of Texas
To: THEODORE THOMAS, 33
Clyde Ave.,, Hempstead, Ny 11550-7001 and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s)
" You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you."
 The petition of DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, Petitioner, was filed in the said Court of Upshur County, Texas on the 21st day of December, 2007, against TOSHA WILSON Respondent(s), numbered 576-07 and entitled:
 DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES VS. TOSHA WILSON
The suit requests: FIRST AMENDED PETITION FOR PROTECTION OF A CHILD, FOR CONSERVATORSHIP AND FOR TERMINATION IN SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT CHILD RELATIONSHIP
 The date and place of birth of the child (children) who is (are) the subject of the suit
MALIAKAIA BUNBARY
DOB: 11/25/1990
KARLEEK BUNBARY
DOB: 12/11/1991
WILMIAQUEA BUNBARY
DOB: 07/03/1993
THEASIA BUNBARY
DOB: 10/31/1998
THEODORE THOMAS
DOB: 4/26/2000
RODRIANNIE FORD DOB:07/21/2005
 The court has authority in this suit to enter any judgment or decree in the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s (children’s) adoption.
 Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 5th day of June, 2008.
 Attest: CAROLYN BULLOCK, DISTRICT CLERK OF THE 115TH DISTRICT COURT, UPSHUR COUNTY, TEXAS
BY: L. MARSHALL DEPUTY.



request for proposals for expansion of the pre k/kindergarten building
Union Hill ISD is currently accepting proposals for the following items: Request for proposals for expansion of the pre k/kindergarten building. Sealed proposals will be received by the Union Hill ISD for the above category listed, in the Office of Superintendent until 4:00 P.M., June 16, 2008. Any proposals recieved after that time and date will be returned unopened and not considered. Proposals will be opened at the School Board Meeting, June 17, 2008. Please mail or deliver all bids and obatin specifications from:
Office of Superintendent
2797 FM 2088
Gilmer, TX 75644
The District reserves the right to reject any bids and/or all bids, to make awards as they may appear advantageous to the District and to waive all formalities in bidding.


public notice
request for proposals
Gilmer ISD is accepting proposals for a Used Utility Van or Truck less than five (5) years old with less than 75,000 miles. Proposals may by hand delivered or mailed to Beverly Grimes, Business Manager, Gilmer ISD, 500 South Trinity Street, Gilmer, Texas 75644. Proposals will also be received via fax to Beverly Grimes at 903-843-2250. All proposals must be received in the Business Office prior to 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 12, 2008 in order to be considered. Gilmer ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals. Gilmer ISD is not responsible for proposals not received by the Business Office by the deadline for any reasons. Vendor submitting proposal my contact Beverly Grimes or Tammie High at 903-841-7400 to confirm receipt of proposal.


Notice to Creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of MARK WADE HUMPHREY, Deceased, were issued on June 2, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7348, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: LYNDY LEANN HUMPHREY. All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o PEGGY S. GARMON
Attorney at Law
312 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, TX 75644
DATED the 2nd day if June, 2008.
PEGGY S. GARMON
Attorney for LYNDY LEANN HUMPHREY
State Bar No,: 00790745
312 N. Titus Street; P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, Tx 75644
Telephone: (903) 843-2646
Facsimile: (903) 843-5606


notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given the original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Margie Orme Stallings, Deceased, were issued on May 27, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7344, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Rosemary Fletcher. All person having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o: Bill D. Rosenstein
Attorney at Law
1104 First Place
Tyler, Texas 75702
Dated the 28th day of May, 2008
Bill D. Rosenstein
Attorney for Rosemary Fletcher
State Bar No.:17279500
1104 First Place
Tyler, Texas 75702
Telephone: (903) 531-9803
Facsimile: (903) 531-9805


notice to all persons having claims against the estate of james champion, deceased
Independent Administration of the Estate of James Champion, Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original Letters Testamentary to Geraldine Champion on May 27, 2008, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 08-PR-7343, styled "In RE: The Estate of James Champion, Deceased," in which Court the matter is pending.
All persons having claims against the estate are hereby notified to present them to the person at the address specified herein below within the time prescribed by law.
Mrs. Geraldine Champion
Independent Executrix of the Estate of James Champion, Deceased
c/o Mr. Joe W. Newsom, Jr.,
Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Todd Tefteller
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Dated this 27th day of May, 2008
Joe W. Newsom, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Todd Tefteller
403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Phone: (903) 843-5678
Fax: (903) 680-2310
TSB#24051112


THE STATE OF TEXAS
Citation by Publication
TO ALL PERSONS interested in the estate of JOYCELYN V. HODGE, deceased,
1. Brenda Michelle Howell, and unknown heirs;
2. Patricia Jeanine Howell, and unknown heirs;
3. John Thomas Howell, and unknown heirs;
4. The unknown heirs of the Howells or of the decedent, Joycelyn V. Hodge;
DARIAN J. HODGE has filed in the County Court of Upshur County, an Application For Probate of Will not produced in court as a Muniment of Title of said estate, JORCELYN V. HODGE Deceased.
 
  The file number of such application and the Probate Docket number being No. 08-PR-7350 and the style of the case begun by such application is: Estate of JOYCELYN V. HODGE, Deceased.
 ALL PERSONS interested in said estate ARE CITED TO APPEAR in County Court of Upshur County, Texas, in the Courthouse thereof at or before 10 o’clock a.m. on the first Monday after service is perfected by the completion of such Publication, to contest said application if they desire to do so, by filing opposition in writing.
 
The name and address of the attorney for applicant, or the address of applicant is:
TODD TEFTELLER, 403 WEST TYLER, GILMER, TX 75644, (903) 843-5678
Issued this the 23rd day of May, 2008.
 The officer executing this Citation shall have a the copy of this Citation served by publication in the newspaper in the City of Gilmer, for not less than 10 days before the return day thereof, exclusive of the date of publication and return the original copy of this Citation to the Clerk stating in a written return thereon the time and place where citation was published.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court, at the office in Gilmer, Texas this the 23rd day of May, A.D., 2008
PEGGY LAGRONE, Clerk
County Court, Upshur County, Texas
By B. Wenchester Deputy
P.O. Box 730, Gilmer, Texas 75644


public notice that tri county seeking board member for private sector
Tri- County is seeking a representative of the private sector to serve as a board member for the Upshur County. Representative may be from private social service agencies within the community as well as business, industry, labor, educational, and religious organization. Please Contact: Cindy Gilberg 700 East Scott Gilmer, Texas 75644 Phone: 903-843-0604 or Janette Williams 936-598-6315.


notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters if Independent Administration for the Estate if Donna Barboza Everitt Wiesner, Deceased, were issued on April 28, 2008, in Cause No. 07-PR-7230, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Donna Wiesner Keene. The residence of the Independent Administrator is Alexandria, Virginia; the post address is:
c/o Griffith Law Firm
Attorneys at Law
404 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 864
Gilmer, Texas 75644
All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and manner prescribed by law. Dated the 20th day of May, 2008.
Griffith Law Firm, P.C.
P.O. Box 864
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Phone (903) 843-5005
Fax (903) 843-5392
By: Paula Hunt
David B. Griffith
State Bar No.:08479300
Paula Hunt
State Bar No.: 24005027
Attorneys for Estate


public notice for request of proposals
Gilmer Independent School district is accepting proposals for the following:
Workers Compensation Insurance
Student Athletic Insurance
Student Catastrophic Insurance
Voluntary Insurance
Milk & Dairy Product
Bread & Bakery Products
For complete proposals requirements and specifications, please contact the Gilmer ISD Business Office, 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644 903-841-7405 or 903-841-7428
Proposals will be due in sealed envelopes addressed to Beverly Grimes, 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, Texas 75644 no later than Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.


NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6178-90-001 for TREE TRIMMING CASS County, etc. will be opened on July 16, 2008 at 10:00 am at the State Office for an estimate of $121,685.50.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.dot.state.tx.us and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 26864.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.



Public notice Harmony isd for services through the federal title programs
Services through the Federal Title Programs may be available for eligible students attending private schools. Private schools and parents interested in learning more about the Federal Title Programs are invited to attend an informational meeting on Thursday May 22, 2008 at 3:00 P.M., or 6:00 P.M. The meeting will be held at the Harmony School Board Room located in the Administration Building. Schools that receive services must comply with all requisite policies and procedures. For more information contact David Cochran by phone at 903-725-5493 Ext 161 or by mail at 9788 State Hwy. 154 W. Big Sandy, TX 7577. A packet of information concerning edibility requirements for Title services will be available at this meeting. At this meeting the following programs will be discussed and evaluated.
Title I Part A
Title II Part A
Title Part D
Title III SSA
Title IV Part A SSA
Title V Part A
Title VI Part B
State Compensatory Education
OEYP
ARI & AMI
Carl Perkins
If you would like to help in the planning and evaluations of these programs please attend our meeting. NONDISCRIMINATION: No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation, be denied the benefits, or be subject to discrimination under any District program or activity.


public notice for parent meeting announcement
Services through the federal Title programs may be avaiable for eligible students attending private schools. Private schools and parents interested in learning more about the federal Title programs are invited to attend one of two informational meetings. The first meeting will be Tuesday, May 27, at 10:00 A.M. in the Board Room of the Gilmer ISD administration building at 500 S. Trinity. A second meeting will be held in the same place on Tuesday, May 27, at 4:30 P.M. Schools that receive services muct comply with all requisite federal policies and procedures. For more information, contact Sigrid Yates by phone at 903-841-7401 or by mail at 500 S. Trinity.


union hill is currently seeking proposals for the following items Request for competitive
proposals for bread & miscellaneous food
service products
Sealed proposals will be received by the Union Hill ISD for bread and miscellaneous food service items for the 2008-2009 school year. Proposals will be received in the Office of the Superintendent until 10:00 a.m., Thursday June 12, 2008. Any proposals received after that time and date will be returned unopened and not considered. Please mail or deliver all bids and obtain specification forms from:
Office of Superintendent
Union Hill ISD
2197 FM 2088
Gilmer, Tx 75644
The District reserves the right to reject any bid and/or all bids, to ,make awards as they may appear advantageous to the District and to waive all formalities in bidding.


City of East mountain, texas
Public Notice
A Budget Workshop for the upcoming budget year (2008-2009) will be held at the City of East Mountain City Hall, 103 Municipal Drive, Gilmer, Tx on Monday June 2, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.


Public notice for Harmony ISD Sealed bid proposals for cafeteria food items and non food products for 2008-2009 school year.
The Harmony Independent School District will receive sealed bid proposals for cafeteria food and non food products for 2008-2009 school years. All bids will be received until 10:00 a.m. June 10, 2008. Any proposals received after that time and date will be returned unopened and not considered. Bidders are invited to be present at the bid opening. Please mail or deliver all bids to:
Jed Whitaker 9788 S.H. 154W Big Sandy. Tx 75755.
Please mark envelopes as follows: Sealed Bid Food and Non Food Products. For more information contact Janet Albright (903) 725-5492 ext. 129. The district reserves the right to reject any bid and/or all bids and to make awards as they may appear advantageous to the district and to waive all formalities in bidding. Bids received without proper signature will not be accepted.


notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Administration for the Estate of JUAN SANCHEZ DOMINGUEZ, Deceased, were issued on April 28, 2008. in Cause No. 08-PR-7328, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Juan Dominquez. All person having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o Mr. Marty Young Goudarzi & Young, LLP P.O. Drawer 910 Gilmer, Tx 75644.
Dated the 12 day of May, 2008.
Respectfully submitted. GOUDARZI & YOUNG, LLP P.O. Drawer 910 Gilmer, Tx 75644 Telephone: (903) 843-2544 Facsimile: (903) 843-2026. Marty Young Attorney for Estate of Juan Dominguez State Bar No: 24010502.


notice to all persons having claims against the estate of herbert ray horton, deceased
Independent Administration of the Estate of Herbert Ray Horton, Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original Letters Testamentary to Ruthy Elaine Dansby on May 13, 2008, by the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, acting in Cause No. 08-PR-7324, styled "In Re: Estate of Herbert Ray Horton, Deceased," in which Court the matter is pending.
All person having claims against the estate hereby notified to present them to the person at the address specified herein below within the time prescribed by law.
Mrs. Ruthy Elaine Dansby, Independent Executrix of the Estate of Herbert Ray Horton, Deceased c/o Mr. Dwight Brannon, Attorney of Law P.O. Box 670 Gilmer, Texas 75644
Dated this 13th day of May, 2008
Dwight Brannon
Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Phone: (903) 843-2523
Fax: (903) 843-6014
TSB#02894500


Texas commission on
Environment quality
notice of receipt of
application and intent
to obtain air permit
Proposed air quality
permit number 84664L001
Application Flat Rock Minerals, LLC has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for issuance of Air Quality Permit Number 84664L001, which would authorize construction of a portable rock crushing facility located 5.8 miles southeast of Ore City in Upshur County, Texas. The applicant provides the following directions to the site: from the intersection of FM 2796 and FM 557, travel 3.2 miles to the west on FM 2796. Turn left at the LaFayette Ranch and enter through the gate on the ROW. The facility will emit the following contaminants: organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter including particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter.
 This application was submitted to the TCEQ on April 14, 2008. The application is available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ central office, the TCEQ Tyler regional office, and the Upshur County Library, 702 West Tyler, Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas. The facility’s compliance file, if any exists, is available for public review in the Tyler regional office of the TCEQ.
 The TCEQ executive director has determined the application is administratively complete and will conduct a technical review of the application.
 Public comment/public meeting You may submit public comments, a request for a public meeting, or request a contested case hearing to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. The TCEQ will consider all public comments in developing a final decision on the application. The deadline to submit public comments is 30 days after newspaper is published.
 The purpose of a public meeting is to provide the opportunity to submit comments or ask questions about the application. A public meeting about the application may be held if the executive director determines that there is a significant degree of public interest in the application or if requested by local legislator. A public meeting is not a contested case hearing.
 If only comments are received on the application, the response to comments, along with the notice of the executive director’s action on the application , will be mailed to everyone who submitted comments or is on the mailing list for this application.
 If a hearing request is timely filed, the executive director will complete the technical review, issue a preliminary decision on the application, and a Notice of Application and Preliminary Decision will be published and mailed to those who are on the mailing list for this application. That notice will contain the final deadline for submitting public comments.
 After the final deadline for public comments following any required Notice of Application and Preliminary Decision, the executive director will consider the comments and prepare a response to all relevant and material, or significant public comments. If comments are received, the response to comments, along with the executive director’s decision on the application, will then be mailed to everyone who submitted public comments or is on a mailing list for this application.
 Opportunity for a contested case hearing You may request a contested case hearing. A contested case hearing is a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial in state district court. Unless a written request for a contested case hearing is filed within 30 days from this notice, the executive director may approve the application. If no hearing request is received within this 30-day period, no further opportunity for hearing will be provided. A contested case hearing will only be granted based on disputed issues of fact that are relevant and material to the Commission’s decision on the application. Further, the Commission will only grant a hearing on those issues raised during the public comment period and not withdrawn.
  A person who may be affected by emissions of air contaminants from the facility is entitled to request a hearing. If requesting a contested case hearing, you must submit the following: (1) your name ( or for a group or association, an official representative), mailing address, daytime phone number, and fax number, if any; (2) applicant’s name and permit number; (3) the statement "(I/we) request a contested case hearing"; (4) a specific description of how you would be adversely affected by the application and air emissions from the facility in a way not common to the general public; (5) the location and distance of your property relative to the facility; and (6) a description of how you use the property which may by impacted by the facility. If the request is made by a group or an association, the one or more members who have standing to request a hearing and the interests which the group or association seeks to protect, must also be identified. You may also submit your proposed adjustments to the application/permit which would satisfy your concerns.
 If a hearing request is timely filed, additional notice may be provided. Following the close of all applicable comment and request periods, the executive director will forward the application and any requests for contested case hearing to the TCEQ Commissioners for their consideration at a scheduled Commission meeting. If a hearing is granted, the subject of a hearing will be limited to disputed issues of fact relating to relevant and material air quality concerns raised during the comment period. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside the Commission’s jurisdiction to address in this proceeding.
 Mailing List In addition to submitting public comments, you may ask to be placed on a mailing list to receive future public notices for this specific application mailed by the Office of the Chief Clerk by sending a written request to the TCEQ Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below.
 Information Written public comments or requests for a public meeting or contested case hearing should be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, TCEQ, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. For more information about this permit application or the permitting process, please call the Office of Public Assistance, Toll Free, at 1-800-687-4040. Si desea informacion en Espanol, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040. General information regarding the TCEQ can be found at www.tceq.state.tx.us.
 Further information may also be obtained from Flat Rock Minerals, LLC, P.O. Box 2967, Longview, Texas 75606 or by calling Mr. Mitch Wilson, Consultant, Titanium Environmental Services, LLC at (903) 234-8443.


Notice to
Vendors
Ore City ISD is seeking bids for the following food service items: bread, milk and ice cream products for the 2008-2009 school year. Sealed will be received in the Central Office of Ore City Independent School District, P.O. Box 100, Ore City, Texas 75683, until 10:00 A.M. June 16, 2008. All bids must be signed. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud immediately following the deadline for receiving bids. Bids received late will be returned to the company unopened. "Request for Bid Response" forms may be obtained from the central office of the superintendent by calling 903-968-3300. The District reserves the right to reject any or all bids.


Public notice of request for proposal
Gilmer Independent School District is accepting proposals for District Photography Services for complete proposals requirements and specifications, Please contact the Gilmer ISD Business Office, 500 S. Trinity, Gilmer, TX 75644. 903-841-7405 or 903-841-7428. Sealed proposals are due at the above address no Later then 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2008.


notice of sale of surplus and salvage property
The Upshur County Commissioner’s Court is accepting bids for the sale of surplus and salvage property. All items may be viewed online and bids will only be accepted online at AuctioneerExpress.com. Items may be viewed in person by contacting the Upshur County Commissioner’s at (903) 680-8154. Other information is available from Auctioneer Express at (903) 572-4975. The sale will begin ending at 11:00 a.m. on May 29, 2008.


Notice to all persons having claims against the estate of mattie ruth WILLIAMS, deceased
Notice is hereby given the original Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of MATTIE RUTH WILLIAMS, Deceased were issued on April 28, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7319, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to DON WIL WILLIAMS, STEPHEN J. WILLIAMS and PAUL D. WILLIAMS. The address of such executors is c/o Mr. Jon K, Alexander, Wilson, Robertson & Cornelius, P.C., P.O. Box 7339, Tyler, Texas 75711. All person having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.


NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6179-51-001 for REHABILITATION OF AN EXISTING ROADWAY in UPSHUR County will be opened on June 5, 2008 at 10:00 am at the District Office for an estimate of $290,190.75.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for the TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.dot.state.tx.us and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 26656.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.



CITATION BY PUBLICATION
DIVORCE/DOMESTIC
CAUSE NO. 819-04
CLERK OF THE COURT
CAROLYN BULLOCK
P.O. BOX 950
GILMER, TEXAS
PETITIONER’S ATTORNEY OR PETITIONER
TODD TEFTELLER
403 WEST TYLER STREET
GILMER, TEXAS 75644
THE STATE OF TEXAS
TO: HANNAH JACKSON, Wherever She May Be Found,, and to all whom it may comcern, Respondent(s), " You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you." The petition of JOHN MICHAEL JACKSON, Petitioner, was filed in the said Court of Upshur County, Texas on the 10th day of April, 2008, against HANNAH JACKSON Respondent(s), numbered 819-04 and entitled: IN THE MARRIAGE OF HANNAH JACKSON AND JOHN MICHAEL JACKSON AND IN THE INTEREST OF WESLEY JAMES JACKSON, A MINOR CHILD The suit requests: MODIFICATION OF DECREE OF DIVORCE DATED MARCH 28, 2005. The date and place of birth of the child (children) who is (are) the subject of the suit: WESLEY JAMES JACKSON AUGUST 13, 2004 LONGVIEW, GREGG COUNTY, TEXAS. The Court has authority in this suit to enter any judgment or decree in the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to child’s (children’s) adoption. Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas this 23rd day of April, 2008.
Attest: Carolyn Bullock, District Clerk of the 115th District Court, Upshur County, Texas. By Karen Bunn DEPUTY


published notice
to creditors
Notice is hereby given that Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of Mildred Faulkner Cly, deceased, were issued on April 28, 2008, in Docket Number 08-PR-7320, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to Jackie Wayne Cly and Rex Karl Cly as Independent Executors.
 The residence of the Co-Independent Executors is in Upshur County, Texas, and the mailing address is:
Estate of Mildred Faulkner Cly
c/o Jackie Wayne Cly
326 Old Coffeeville Road
Gilmer, Texas 75644
and
Rex Karl Cly
P.O. Box 1433
Gilmer, Texas 75644
 All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
 Dated the 29th day of April, 2008.
Dwight Brannon
P.O. Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 756444
Tel: 903-843-2523
State Bar No. 02894500
Attorney for the Estate of
Mildred Faulkner Cly


published notice
to creditors
Notice is hereby given that Letters of Testamentary for the Estate of Myrtis Easley, deceased, were issued on April 28, 2008, in Docket Number 08-PR-7331, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to Estella Scaggs.
 The residence of the Independent Executrix is in Dallas County, Texas, and the mailing address is:
Estate of Myrtis Easley
c/o Estella Scaggs 810 Summit Drive DeSoto, Texas 75115.
 All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
 Dated the 29th day of April, 2008.
Dwight Brannon
P.O. Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 756444
Tel: 903-843-2523
State Bar No. 02894500
Attorney for the Estate of
Myrtis Easley


notice to creditors
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of MALBA C. THORN, Deceased, were issued on April 28, 2008, under Docket 08-PR-7322, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to Charles M. Johnson.
Claims may be presented in care of the Representative for the estate, addressed as follows:
Representative,
Estate of Malba C. Thorn, Deceased
c/o Charles M. Johnson
1044 S. Mimosa
Gilmer, Texas 75644
All persons having claims against this estate, which is currently being administered, are required to present them within the time and manner prescribed by law. Dated April 28, 2008.
Gordon McCool
Attorney for Applicant
State Bar No. 13450500
1213 N. Bradford
Gilmer, TX 75644
(903) 843-3009
FAX (903) 843-3009

Citation By Publication
Domestic
Cause No. 282-08
Clerk of the Court Carolyn Bullock
P.O. Box 950
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Petitioner’s Attorney or Petitioner
Todd Tefteller 403 West Tyler Street
Gilmer, Texas 75644
The State of Texas
TO: Michael Arnold, address unknown and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s),
" You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgement may be taken against you."
The petition of Nicholas Dwain Bonnette and Candice Lynnette Bonnette was filed in the said Court of Upshur County, Texas on the 21st day of April, 2008, against Michael Arnold Respondent(s), numbered 282-08 and entitled:
 In the interest of Chloe Faith Godwin A Child
 The suit request: original petition for termination and adoption of minor child. The date and place if birth of the child(children) who is (are) the subject of the suit: Chloe Faith Godwin, December 11, 2006 Longview, Gregg, County, Texas
 The Court has authority in this suit to enter any judgment or decree in the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to child’s (children’s) adoption.
Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas this 21st day of April, 2008.
Attest: Carolyn Bullock, District Clerk of the 115th District Court, Upshur County, Texas. BY Tina Henson DEPUTY

ordinance publication
On April 22, 2008 at a meeting of the City Council of the City of Gilmer, at which a quorum was present, the City of Gilmer, Texas passed the following ordinance which provides for fees and/or fines:
Ordinance No. 08-005
An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gilmer, entitled "Curfew hours for minors, defining terms; creating hours of minors, and business establishments violating curfew regulations; providing defenses; providing for enforcement by the Police Department; providing for review of this ordinance within 36 months after the date of passage; providing penalties; providing a saving clause; providing a severability clause; and providing an effective date.


public notice for an application for a Package store permit
Application has been made for a Package Store Permit by Nancy Ann Harman doing business as Fat Dog Beverages #4, 709 West Broadway, Big Sandy, Upshur County, Tx. Said application has been made to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code.


Notice of Public bid
City of Ore City is accepting sealed bids on 1994 Ford Taurus Auto may be inspected at 302 E. Main Street. Bids will be opened May 13, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. City reserves the right to refuse any or all bids.


public notice of bid
New Diana ISD is accepting bids for leasing fiber optics between the current facilities and the new construction of the PK-3 buildings. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. Sealed bids will be accepted until Friday, May 9, 2008 at 1:00 pm at which time bids will be opened. Sealed bids should be submitted to Mrs. Melinda Benson, NDISD Business Manager at 1373 US Hwy 259 S, Diana, TX 75640. For additional information or to obtain a copy of the bid specifications, contact Technology Director Sharon Wager (903) 663-8000 ext 215 swager@ndisd.org.


Notice of Requirement to comply with the subdivision service extension policy of union grove
water supply corporation
Pursuant to Chapter 13.2505 of the Texas Water Code, Union Grove Water Supply Corporation hereby gives notice that any person who subdivides land by dividing any lot, tract, or parcel of land, within the service area of Union Grove Water Supply Corporation in Upshur County, into two or more lots or sites for the purpose of sale or development, whether immediate or future, including re-subdivision of land for which a plat has been filed and recorded or requests more than two water connections on a single contiguous tract of land must comply with the Subdivision Policy contained in Union Grove Water Supply Corporation’s tariff.
 Union Grove Water Supply Corporation is not required to extend retail water to a service applicant in a subdivision where the developer of the subdivision has failed to comply with the Subdivision Policy.
 Among other requirements the Subdivision Policy requires Applicable elements of the subdivision Policy, depending on the specific circumstances of the subdivision service, may include:
 Evaluation by Union Grove Water Supply Corporation of the impact of proposed subdivision service extension will make on Union Grove Water Supply Corporation’s water supply service system and payment of the costs of this evaluation:
 Payment of reasonable costs or fees by the developer for providing water supply capacity.
 Payment of fees for reserving water supply service capacity;  Forfeiture of reserved water supply capacity for failure to pay applicable fees.
 Payment of costs of any improvements to Union Grove Water Supply Corporation’s system that are necessary to provide the water service.  
 Construction according to design approved by Union Grove Water Supply corporation and dedication by the developer of water facilities within the subdivision following inspection.
 Union Grove Water Supply Corporation’s tariff and a map showing UGWSC service area may be reviewed at UGWSC offices at 11015 Union Grove Rd Gladewater, Tx; the tariff/policy and service area map also are filed of record at the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission in Austin, Texas and may be reviewed by contacting the TNRCC, c/o Utility Rates and Services (Certification and Rate Design) Section, Water Utilities Division, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711.


NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6178-90-001 for TREE TRIMMING in CASS County, etc. will be opened on May 14, 2008 at 11:00 am at the District Office for an estimate of $121,685.50.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.dot.state.tx.us and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP:26617.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.



PUBLIC NOTICE FOR ORE CITY ISD PRE REGISTRATION ROUNDUP
The Ore City Independent School District will hold its annual Pre-Registration Roundup for children living in the school district who will be four or five years old on or before September 1, 2008. Registration will be held in the elementary office from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on May 5,6,7 and 8, 2008. Children who qualify for participation in pre-kindergarten by being limited English proficient or low income will be served. Parents or guardians should bring a copy of the child’s original birth certificate, an up-to-date immunization record, the child’s social security number, proof of income, and proof of residence. Parents or guardians are asked to bring their kindergarten child to registration because there will be a short test administered. The information gathered should help us better meet your child’s educational needs. Children who are presently enrolled in pre-kindergarten will automatically be enrolled in kindergarten for the next year; therefore, they do not need to attend round-up. Any questions concerning Pre-kindergarten or Kindergarten Roundup should be directed to the school by calling 968-3300 and asking for the elementary office.


Un Aviso Publico
La escuela Independiente Regional de Ore City Invita ha la comunidad de Ore City atentamente Asistir ha la Reunion de registracion de sus hijos que esten listo para el Pre-kinder para este presente ano. Esta invitacion es para las personas que vivenen la region de la escuela de Ore City y, que tienen ninos que ya cumplieron los 4 anos o los 5 anos de edad antes del primero de Septiembre o que los ban ha cumplir en el 1 de Septiembre. La reunion se ba ha llevar acabo en la officina Elemental. Desde las 9:00 de la manana hasta las 2:00 de la tarde los dias 5,6,7,8 Mayo del ano 2008. Los ninos que cualifican para participar en Pre-kinder por estar limitados en la Idioma de Ingles y de tener bajos recursos economicos podra participar. Padres o cuidadores legales deben de traer una copia original del certificado de nacimiento y la tarjeta de sus vacunas tienen que estar al corriente de las fechas mas recientes. El numero de seguro social y una prueba de sus recursos ingresos de ano. Una prueba de residencia por ejem. (una carta con su diveccion). Padres y cuidadores legales. Se les pide que traigan sus ninos ha las registraciones. Porque se les ba hacer un apequena prueba, esa prueba nos ba hayudar ha darle major educacion ha su nino(a). Los ninos que ya estaban en el Pre-kinder ban hacer automaticamente registrados en el kinder. Para el siguiente ano escolar. Asi que No tienen que venir ha registrarlos. Si tienen alguna pregunta hacerca de la reunion del Pre-kinder favor de llamar ha la escuela y preguntar porla officina Elemental. Ph. 903-968-3300.


NOTICE OF GENERAL
ELECTION TO THE REGISTERED VOTERS OF ORE CITY, TEXAS
Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., May 10, 2008, for voting in a general election to elect mayor and two council members. (Notifiquese, por las presente, que las casillas electorales sitados abajo se abriran desde las 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., el 10 de mayo, 2008 para votar en la Eleccion para mayor y dos council members.)
LOCATION OF POLLING PLACE (DIRECCION DE LAS CAILLA ELECTORALES): 302 E. Main St., Ore City, Texas.
Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday at (La votacion en adelantada en persona se llevara a cabo de lunes a viernes en) 302 East Main St., between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. beginning on April 28, 2008, and ending on May 2, 2008; and between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on May 5, 2008, and May 6, 2008 (entre las 7:30 de la manana y las 4 de la tarde empezando el 29 de abril, 2008 y terminado el 30 de abril, 2008; y entre las 7:00 de la manana & 7 de la tarde, el 5 de mayo y el 6 de mayo, 2008). Applications for ballot by mail shall be mailed to (Las solicitudes para boletas que se botaran en ausencia por correo deberan enviarse a): Mrs. Gail Weir, P.O. Box 327, Ore City, Texas 75683. Issued this the 18th day of April, 2008. (Emitada este dia 18 de Abril, 2008.)
Mayor Glenn Breazeale


NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 1895-01-024 for REHABILITATE BRIDGE AND APPROACHES in UPSHUR County, etc. will be opened on May 09, 2008 at 1:00 pm at the State Office.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.dot.state.tx.us and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 26516.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.



PUBLIC NOTICE that East Texas Radio proposing a New Build
East Texas Radio Group is proposing a New Build 1,549-foot Guyed Tower located at Northeast of Martin Lane , Gilmer, Upshur County , TX 75645. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30-days from the date of this publication to: Jennifer Clark, Telecoms Projects, Environmental Resources Management, 10101 Alliance Rd., Suite 140, Cincinnati, OH 45242, e-mail: Jennifer.clark@erm.com, Telephone # : 513-830-9030.



Public Notice of
Fair Housing
To promote fair housing practices, Upshur County encourges potential homeowners and renters to be aware of their rights under the National Fair Housing Law. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended, prohibits discrimination aginst any person on the bases or race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin in the sale or rental of units in the housing market. For more information on fair housing or to report poaaible fair housing discrimination, call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Deelopment’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-669-9777.


NOTICE OF ELECTION
CITY OF EAST MOUNTAIN
MAY 10, 2008
Notice is hereby given that a City Election will be held on May 10, 2008, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the above named City for the purpose of voting to elect two Council Members and Mayor. Early Voting for the said election will be held at the East Mountain Municipal Building, at 103 Municipal Drive, Gilmer, Texas during the regular hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday April 28, 2008 through Friday, May 2, 2008 and Monday, May 5, 2008 through Tuesday, May 6, 2008 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. To request an application to vote by mail contact the City Secretary by calling 903-297-6041. Applications for ballot by mail should be mailed to:
Tammy Hazel
Early Voting Clerk
103 Municipal Dr.,
Gilmer, Texas 75645
Applications for ballot by mail must be received no later than the close of business on May 2, 2008.
Ronnie Hill-Mayor
Tammy Hazel- City Secretary


NOTICE OF TRUSTEE ELECTION
AVISO DE ELECCION (de Regentes)
To the Registered Voters of Ore City ISD, Ore City, Texas:
(A los votantes registrados del Ciudad de Ore City ISD, Ore City, Texas) Notice is hereby given that he polling places listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. To 7:00 p.m. On May 10, 2008, for voting in a Trustee election to elect two (2) trustees for full three (3) year terms. (Notifiquese, por las presente, que las casillas electorales sitados abajo se abriran desde las 7:00 a.m. hast alas 7:00 p.m. el 10 mayo de 2008 para votar en las Eleccion para el proposito de elegir dos (2) regented por un periodico tres (3) anos cada.)
LOCATION(S) OF POLLING PLACE (DIRECCION(ES) DE LAS CASILLAS ELECTORALES)
City of Ore City Office, Ore City, Texas Cuidad de Ore City oficina de cuidad, Ore City, Texas
Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted weekday at (La votacion adelantada en persona se llevara a cabo de Lunes a Vierner en) Ore City Independent School District, Board Room in the administration building, Ore City, Texas between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. beginning on April 28, 2008 (entre las 7:30 a.m. ded la manana y las 4:00 p.m. de la tarde empezando el Lunes, 28 de abril de 2008) And ending May 6,088 ( y terminando el 6 de mayo, 2008)
Applications for ballot by mail shall mailed to: (Las solicitudes para boletas que se votaran en ausencia por correo deberan enviarse a:)
Nancy Snelgrove
Ore City ISD
P.O. Box 100
Ore City, Texas 75683
Applications for ballots by mail must be received no later than the close of business on(Las solicitudes para bolets que se votaran en ausencia por correo deberan recibirse para el fin de las horas de negocio el)
May 2, 2008
2 de mayo, 2008
Issued this 16th day of April, 2008
(Emitada este dia 16th de abril, 2008)
Lyle Potter, President
Ore City ISD Board of Trustees


NOTICE OF GILMER ISD
GARAGE SALE
Gilmer ISD public garage sale. April 19 7am-4pm. Hwy 271 North the white building past Texas Department of Transportation.


Public Notice New Diana ISD is requesting proposals for bakery and dairy products
New Diana ISD is requesting proposals for bakery and dairy products for the 2008-09 school year. Proposals with specifications may be obtained at the business administration building during regular business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. New Diana ISD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals in the best interest of the school. Sealed proposals for bread products will be opened on Tuesday, APRIL 29, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in the administration annex building. Sealed proposals for milk and dairy products will be opened on Tuesday APRIL 29, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. also in the administration annex building. No late proposals will be accepted. In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independent Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Address: New Diana ISD, 1373 US Hwy 259 S, Diana, Texas 75640
Telephone: (903)663-8000.


NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6173-72-001 for INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on May08, 2008 at 10:00 am at the State Office for an estimate of $349,999.75.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.dot.state.tx.us and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 26582.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.



Notice to Bidders for road and bridge materials
The Upshur County Commissioner’s Court is accepting sealed bids for road and bridge materials, including: Oil, and Grease; Plant Mixed Asphalt, Oil Dirt, Hot Mix Asphalt and Hot Oil Sand; Rental Equipment (including dump truck, laydown machine, track dozer, haul truck, and track hoe); Reinforced Concrete, Corrugate Polyethylene and Corrugated Steel Pipe Culverts; Emulsified Asphalt and Refined Road Oil; Gasoline and Diesel Fuel; and Seal Coat Materials. Specifications for each may be obtained in person from the Upshur County Road and Bridge Department, 2255 Hwy 271 N., Gilmer, Texas or by mail request sent to Bubba Pendarvis, P.O. Box 730, Gilmer, Texas 75644 or by calling (903)-680-8107 for a faxed copy. Bids should be submitted in lump sum pricing. No bond is required to bid. Method of payment will be cash at time services are rendered. All bids must be received in the Upshur County Judge’s office delivered in person or at the address listed above, on or before April 29, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. The bids will be opened in the regular session of the Upshur County Commissioner’s Court on April 30, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.


PUBLISHED NOTICE
TO CREDITORS
Notice is hereby given that Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Charlene Brannon, deceased, were issued on March 31, 2008, in Docket Number 08-PR-7314, pending in the County of Upshur County, Texas, to Dwight A. Brannon.
 The residence of the Independent Executor is in Upshur County, Texas, and the mailing address is:
Estate of Charlene Brannon
c/o Dwight Brannon
P.O. Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 75644
 All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by the law. 
 Dated the 31st day of March, 2008.
Dwight A, Brannon
P.O. Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 75644
903-843-2523
Sate Bar No. 02894500
Independent Executor of the Estate of
Charlene Brannon, deceased


Notice of Sale
The State Of Texas
By Virtue of an Order of Sale
County of Upshur
Dated April 2, 2008, and issued pursuant to a judgment decree of the District Court of Upshur County, Texas, by the Clerk of said Court on said date in the hereinafter styled and numbered causes, and to me directed and delivered as Sheriff of said Court, I have on April 2, 2008 seized, leived upon, and will on the First Tuesday in May, 2008, the same being the 6th day of said month at the Courthouse door of said County, in the City of Gilmer, between the hours of 10:00 o’clock A.M. and 4:00 o’clock P.M. on said day, proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder all of the right, title, and interest of the defendants in such suit in and to the following described real estate levied upon as the property of said defendants, the same lying and being situated in the County of Upshur and the State of Texas to wit:
Cause No. Styling, Defendants and Property Description
01-173-TX
Gladewater Independent School District/City of Gladewater V. Thomas Gage, Deborah Gage and Billy Foote, Lienholder (In Rem Only) 10.366 Acres, more or less, out of Abstract 296 of the A T Mitchell Survey, Upshur County, Texas being that property more particularly described in Volume 345, Page 56 of the Official Records of Upshur County, Texas (02950-29600-01715-000009)
05-150TX
Gladewater Independent School District/City of Gladewater V. Jimmy Carl Richardson AKA Jimmy Richardson AKA Jim Richardson AKA Carl Richardson and Conseco Finance Servicing Corp., Lienholder (In Rem Only) Lot 5, Block 4, Sunny Acres Addition to the City of Gladewater, Upshur County, Texas (68290-00004-00500-000009)
06-6TX
Gladewater Independent School District/City of Gladewater V. Curtis L. Hudson AKA Curtis Hudson AKA C L Hudson and Rebecca A. Hudson AKA Rebecca Hudson AKA Becky Hudson AKA Rebecca Clark AKA Becky Clark Part of Lot 10, Quail Run Acres Subdivision of Upshur County, Texas being that property more particularly described in Volume 478, Page 597 of the Deed Records of Upshur County, Texas SAVE AND EXCEPT Volume 114, Page 91, Volume 120, Page 972 and Volume 122, Page 325 of the Official Records of Upshur County, Texas (57200-00000-01000-000009)
06-122TX
Gladewater Independent School District/City of Gladewater V. Martin Lopez, Linda Lopez, and Shirley L. Mauldin AKA Shirley Mauldin, Lienholder (In Rem Only) Lot 5, Block 1, Gladeview Addition to the City of Gladewater, Upshur County, Texas (26250-00001-00500-000009)
06-167TX
Gladewater Independent School District/City of Gladewater V. Claude L. Dickens AKA Claude Dickens and Kathryn Dickens AKA Kathy Dickens Lot 20, Block 3, Silver City Addition No. 2, Upshur County, Texas (64200-20003-02000-000009)
06-170TX
Gladewater Independent School District/City of Gladewater V. Angienetta Brewster .351 Acre, more or less, out of Abstract 229 of the George Hampton Survey, Upshur County, Texas and being Lot 27 as shown by plat of partition, plat "A" of the Hawley Estate as recorded in Volume 4, Page 606 of the Plat Records of Upshur County, Texas being that property more particularly described in Volume 120, Page 808 of the Deed Records of Upshur County, Texas (01730-22900-02800-000009)
The following property held in trust by Gladewater Independent School District/City of Gladewater, Trustee, will be offered for resale pursuant to Section 34.05 of the Texas Property Tax Code:
Tract 1: Lot 4A, Block 1, Jackson-Rotramel Addition to the City of Gladewater, Upshur County, Texas which was bid in trust on August 7, 2007 at a tax foreclosure sale pursuant to a judgement in Cause #06-119TX styled Gladewater County Line ISD/City of Gladewater v. Donna Hall Lamb (34600-00001-00401-000009)
Tract 2: .352 Acre, more or less, out of Abstract 229 of the George Hampton Survey, Upshur County, Texas being that property more particularly described in Volume 100, Page 742 of the Official Records of Upshur County, Texas which was bid in trust on August 7, 2007 at a tax foreclosure sale pursuant to a judgement in Cause #06-125TX styled Gladewater County Line ISD/City of Gladewater v. Leonard Merrill et al (01730-22900-02600-000009)
Or upon the written request of said defendants or their attorney, a sufficient portion thereof to satisfy said judgment for delinquent property taxes and accrued penalties and interest and costs of suit and sale; subject, however, to the right of redemption, the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem said property, or their interest therein, within the period of time and in the manner provided by law, and subject to any other and further rights to which the defendants or anyone interested therein may be entitled, under the provisions of law. Said sale to be made by me to satisfy the judgement for delinquent property taxes and accrued penalties and interest rendered in the above styled and numbered cause, together with interest therein and costs of suits and sale and the proceeds of said sale to be applied to the satisfaction thereof, and the remainder, if any, to be applied as the law directs.
Dated April 2, 2008, at Gilmer, Texas.
By Sheriff A. Betterton
Deputy Sheriff Rick Woloszyn , Upshur County, Texas.
You may contact the Plaintiff’s attorney, McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen at 903-757-5757


NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6162-41-001 for CALLOUT METAL BEAM GUARD FENCE in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on May 14, 2008 at 10:00 am at the State Office for an estimate of $255,160.00.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for the TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.dot.state.tx.us and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 26466.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.



Notice of Public Meeting
Regional Water Planning
The North East Texas Regional Water Planning Group (Region D) will receive suggestions and recommendations from the public on the issues that should be addressed or provisions that should be included in the scope of work for Phase II of the Third Round of Regional Water Planning (2011 Planning Cycle). Region D consist of a 19-County planning area that includes all or part of the following counties: Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Rains, Red River, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood.
The public meeting will be held in conjunction with the next meeting of the North East Texas Regional Water Planning Group at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center, 1800 North Jefferson Ave., Mount Pleasant, Texas, on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. Written and oral comments will be accepted at this meeting.
Notice is also given that the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District (NETMWF) will submit a water planning grant application for financial assistance for Phase II of the Third Round of Regional Water Planning (2011 Planning Cycle) to the Texas Water Development Board by June 13, 2008.
Copies of the grant application may be obtained from the
Northeast Texas Municipal Water District when it becomes available. Written comments on the grant application must be submitted to the North East Texas Regional Water Planning Group by July 31, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. and to J. Kevin Ward, Executive Administrator, TWDB by July 31, 2008 as follows:
Walt Sears Jr.
Administrative Agent for Region D
Northeast Texas Municipal Water District
P.O. Box 955
Hughes Springs, Texas 75656
J. Kevin Ward
Executive Administrator
Texas Water Development Board
P.O. Box 13231
Austin, Texas 78711-3231


NON DISCRIMINATION POLICY
TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY
ACTION, INC.
Tri-County Community Action, Inc. Certifies that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, or beliefs be excluded from participation in the administration of or in connection with any program or activity the agency operates. For complaints or comments call Janette Williams at 936-598-6315.


Request for
Competitive Proposals for Bread & Miscellaneous Food Services Products
Sealed proposals will be received by the Union Grove ISD for bread and miscellaneous food service items for the 2008-2009 school year. Proposals will be received in the Office of the Superintendent until 10:30 A.M. Friday, May 2, 2008. Specification forms may be obtained from the Office of the Superintendent, 11220 Union Grove Rd., P.O. Box 1447, Gladewater, TX. 75647, 903-845-5509.


NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6177-11-011 for GUIDE AND CALLOUT SIGN INSTALLATION IN UPSHUR County, etc. will be opened on May 13, 2008 at 10:00 am at the District Office for an estimate of $271,830.00.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.dot.state.tx.us and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 26432.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.



Notice That Amount of the Federal Universal Charge Will Increase
Effective April 1, 2008, the amount of the Federal Universal Charge (FUSC) appearing on your bill each month will increase as a result of an increase in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) universal service fund contribution factor from 10.2% to 11.3%. The new FUSC amount is calculated by multiplying the FCC’s universal service contribution factor against your interstate access service charges. The federal universal service fund program is designed to help keep local telephone service rates affordable for all customers, in all areas of the United States. Etex Telephone Cooperative, Inc. 801 Hwy 155 N Gilmer, TX 75644. 903-797-2711 or 877-482-3839 (Toll Free).


Public Notice of Bid
New Diana ISD is accepting bids for recoating of track and any structural or drainage issues related to track project. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. Sealed bids will be accepted until Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 1:00 pm at which time bids will be opened. Sealed bids should be submitted to Mrs. Melinda Benson, NDISD Business Manager at 1373 US Hwy 259 S, Diana, TX 75640. For additional information, contact Athletic Director Roger Adams or Superintendent Pat Clark at (903) 663-8000.


Notice of Application for Wine Only Package Store Permit
Application is being made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Wine Only Package Store Permit by Hometown China Restaurant, Inc. doing business as Lucky Beer & Wine, to be located at 507 Hwy 155 South, Big Sandy, Upshur County, Texas. Officers of said corporation: Gina Weng; President. Steve Tao Weng; Secretary.


Notice of Application for
Package Store Permit
Application is being made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Package Store Permit by Hometown China Restaurant, Inc. doing business as Lucky Spirits, to be located at 611 Hwy 155 South, Big Sandy, Upshur County, Texas. Officers of said corporation: Gina Weng; President. Steve Tao Weng; Secretary


Un aviso publico de la logica y la presision de ensayo para la eleccion actual base de datos sobre el sistema de votacion del condado Upshur
Presente se da noticia de que una prueba da la logica y la exactitud de la base de datos actual de eleccion en el Condado del Upshur Hart sistema de votacion que sera utilizado en la Elession Democratica Escorrentia celebrado 8 de abril de 2008 se llevara a cabo el 26 be marzo de 2008, a las 9:00 A.M. en la oficina del Secretario del Condado, unicado, ubicado en la segundo piso de la casa de corte del condado Upshur que se cercioren de que se precisa contar con los votos de todas las oficinas y medidas.
Peggy LaGrone
Secretario del Condado de Upshur


Notice of a Logic and Accuracy Test For the Current Election Database on the Upshur County Voting System
Notice is hereby given that a logic and accuracy test for the current election database in the Upshur County Hart Voting system that will be used in the Democratic Runoff Election held April 8, 2008 will be conducted on March 26, 2008 at 9:00 A.M. in the County Clerk’s office, located on the 2nd floor of the Upshur County Courthouse to ascertain that it will accurately count the votes for all offices and measures.
Peggy LaGrone
Upshur County Clerk


APPLICATION FOR WINE ONLY PACKAGE
Application has been made for a Wine Only Package Store Permit by Majestic Liquor Stores, Inc. doing business as Fat Dog Beverages #3, 707 West Broadway, Big Sandy, Upshur County, Tx
Ben Albin Lanford,Jr., President
Kyle Tate Fair, CEO
John Melvin Bratton, CFO/Secretary
Said application has been made to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in accordance with the provisions for the TABC Code.


APPLICATION FOR PACKAGE STORE PERMIT
Application has been made for a Package Store Permit by Majestic Liquor Stores, Inc. doing business as Fat Dog Beverages # 4, 709 West Broadway, Big Sandy, Upshur County, TX.
Ben Albin Lanford,Jr., President
Kyle Tate Fair, CEO
John Melvin Bratton, CFO/Secretary
Said application has been made to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in accordance with the provisions for the TABC Code.


NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The Annual Meeting of the Pritchett Water Supply Corporation will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Upshur-Rural Electric Coop., Hwy 154 W. Gilmer, TX.
Purpose: To transact any and all Business on the Agenda for Annnual Members Meeting. Your presence and participation are encouraged.


Annual Stockholders Meeting
Of First Gilmer Bankshares, Inc. of Gilmer, Texas will be held the 2nd Tuesday in April, April 8th, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at First National Bank, 201 N. Wood Street, Gilmer. Business to be transacted includes election of Directors and other business which may be presented in accordance with the bylaws.
Frank Breazeale
President & CEO


NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6163-41-001 for INSTALLATION OF PAVEMENT MARKINGS in BOWIE County, etc. will be opened on April 09, 2008 at 1:00 pm at the State Office for an estimate of $1,799,997.14.
 Contract 6173-72-001 for INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS in BOWIE County, etc will be opened on April 08, 2008 at 1:00 pm at the State Office for an estimate of $349,999.75.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.dot.state.tx.us and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 26263.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.



NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Notice is hereby given that original of Independent Administration for the Estate of PATSY MARIE McFADDEN, Deceased, were issued on March 3, 2008, in Cause No. 08-PR-7296, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: ANGELA M. BRUNO. All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
c/o: PEGGY S. GARMON
Attorney at Law
312 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, TX 75644
DATED the 3rd of March, 2008.
PEGGY S. GARMON
Attorney for ANGELA M. BRUNO
State Bar No: 00790745
312 N. Titus Street
P.O. Box 1412
Gilmer, TX 75644
Telephone: (903)-843-2646
Facsimile: (903)-843-5606


PUBLIC NOTICE FOR TRI COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION
 Tri-County Action, a non-profit community action agency, is required to have a market analysis of all of our leased properties at least once every three years. We would like to hire one agency to do the appraisals for all of our sites in Center, Lufkin, Newton, Hemphill, Jasper, Woodville and San Augustine. For further information and bid packet, please contact Latricia Reynolds or Lenola Wyatt-Tutt at 936-598-6315.


NO. 08-PR-7299 IN THE ESTATE OF RICHARD ELLIS GRAY DECEASED IN THE COUNTY OF
UPSHUR COUNTY, TEXAS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Richard Ellis Gray, Deceased, were issued on February 25, 2008, in Cause No.08-PR-7299, pending in the County Court of Upshur County, Texas, to: Kathryn Lynn Launey. The residence of the Independent Executrix is Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas; the post office address is :
c/o Griffith Law Firm
Attorneys at Law
404. N Titus Street
P.O. Box 864
Gilmer, Texas 75644
All persons having claims against this Estate is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. Dated the 26 day of February, 2008.
GRIFFITH LAW FIRM, P.C. P.O. BOX 864 GILMER, TEXAS 75644 PHONE 903-843-5005
FAX 903-843-5392


NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF GRADY "BULL" KING, JR., DECEASED
Administration of the Estate of Grady "Bull" King, Jr., Deceased, has been commenced by the issuance of original Letters of Testamentary to the undersigned on February 25, 2008, by the County Court of Upshur County Texas, acting in Cause No. 08-PR-7303 styled " In Re: Estate of Grady "Bull" King, Jr., Deceased," in which Court the matter is pending. All persons having claims against the estate are hereby notified to present them to the person at the address specified herein below within the time prescribed by law.
John E. King
Independent Executor
913 Success St.
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Dated this 25th day of February, 2008
John E. King
913 Success St.
Gilmer, Texas 75644
Independent Executor of the Estate of Grady "Bull" King, Jr., Deceased


CITATION BY PUBLICATION CIVIL SUITS CAUSE NO.788-07
CLERK OF THE COURT
CAROLYN BULLOCK P.O. BOX GILMER, TEXAS
PLAINTIFF’S ATTORNEY OR PLAINTIFF BRENT GOUDARZI P.O. DRAWER 910 GILMER, TEXAS 75644
NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: " You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you."
TO: UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE , Estate of Thomas Paul Beck, Deceased,,, Defendant, Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s Original Petition or before ten 0’ clock a.m. of the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation the same being: Monday the 17th day of March, 2008, before the Honorable 115th District Court of Upshur County, Texas at the Justice Center of said County in Gilmer, Texas.
Said Plaintiff’s Petition was filed in said court on the January 28, 2008 In this case numbered 788-07 on the docket of said court and styled, MICHAEL CHANE YOUNG, IND. AND AS PARENT AND NEXT FRIEND FOR SHELBY YOUNG AND STACI YOUNG VS. THOMAS PAUL BECK
The names of the parties to the cause are as follows: MICHAEL CHANE YOUNG plaintiff(s) and UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE defendant(s).A brief statement of the nature of this suit is as follows, to wit: Plaintiff’s Original Petition as is more fully shown by Plaintiff’s Petition on file in this suit. The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates thereof, and make due return as the law directs. Issued and given under my hand and the Seal of said court, at office in Gilmer, Texas, this the 30th day of January A.D. 2008.
Attest:
Carolyn Bullock, District Clerk, OF THE 115 TH DISTRICT COURT, UPSHUR COUNTY, TEXAS BY: KAREN BUNN DEPUTY


CITATION BY PUBLICATION CIVIL SUITS CAUSE NO. 739-07
CLERK OF THE COURT
CAROLYN BULLOCK P.O. BOX GILMER, TEXAS
PLAINTIFF’S ATTORNEY OR PLAINTIFF SHELLEY L. DOUGLAS 15000 SURVEYOR BLVD. SUITE 100 ADDISON, TEXAS 75001
NOTICE TO DEFENDAT: " You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you."
TO: UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW OF MARIE KURPIAS,,,, Defendant, Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s Summary of Suit for Citation by Publication at or before ten 0’ clock a.m. of the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two days after the date of issuance of this citation the same being: Monday the 10th day of March, 2008, before the Honorable 115th District Court of Upshur County, Texas at the Justice Center of said County in Gilmer, Texas.
Said Plaintiff’s Petition was filed in said court on the January 23, 2008 In this case numbered 739-07 on the docket of said court and styled, CHASE HOME FINANCE, LLC VS. ZACHARY KURPIAS ET. AL
The names of the parties to the cause are as follows: LLC CHASE HOME FINANCE plaintiff(s) and UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW OF MARIE KURPIAS defendant(s).
A brief statement of the nature of this suit is as follows, to wit: Enforcement of Loan Agreement as is more fully shown by Plaintiff’s Petition on file in this suit. The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates thereof, and make due return as the law directs. Issued and given under my hand and the Seal of said court, at office in Gilmer, Texas, this the 25th day of January A.D. 2008.
Attest:
Carolyn Bullock, District Clerk, OF THE 115 TH DISTRICT COURT, UPSHUR COUNTY, TEXAS BY: KAREN BUNN DEPUTY


CITATION BY PUBLICATION DIVORCE/DOMESTIC CAUSE NO. 116-08
CLERK OF THE COURT
CAROLYN BULLOCK
P.O. BOX 950 GILMER, TEXAS 75644
THE STATE OF TEXAS
TO: JERRY MICHELLE PERVIN, May Be Served Wherever She May Be Found,, and to all whom it concern, Respondent(s),
" You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you." The petition of RICKY SHANE PARVIN AND JERRY MICHELLE PARVIN The suit request: DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE The date and place of birth of the child (children) who is (are) the subject of the suit: NATAS PARVIN, ALEXIS PARVIN, SKYLAR PARVIN
The Court has authority in this suit to enter any judgement or decree in the child’s (children’s) interest will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to contest to the child’s (children’s) adoption. Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 21st day of February, 2008. Attest: CAROLYN BULLOCK, DISTRICT CLERK OF THE 115TH DISTRICT COURT, UPSHUR COUNTY, TEXAS BY: Karen Bunn Deputy


PUBLIC NOTICE
GILMER ZONING BOARD
Notice is hereby given that on February 25, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. the City of Gilmer Zoning Board of Adjustments will meet in the Council Chambers at City Hall to consider the following:
A zoning request by Mr. Wayne Myers to locate an RV trailer, for the purpose of providing security for his business, at Lot 13, Block 89 of the C E Florence Addition. The public is invited to attend this meeting.


NOTICE FOR ETEX TOWER IN ORE CITY
Etex proposes to construct a communications tower located at Verbena Rd., Ore City, Tx 75863. If you have concerns of any historic properties that might be adversely affected by this tower, please write to: Amy, Trileaf Corp., 10845 Olive Blvd., Ste. 310, St. Louis, MO 63141., 314-997-6111. Please include the tower location and the location of the historic resource that you believe might be affected.


GILMER ISD
ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLAN
Gilmer ISD makes every effort to maintain compliance with federal and state regulations concerning asbestos. A copy of the asbestos management plan is available in each campus principal’s office as well as in the school’s district office. If you have any questions about the plan or this federally mandated program please contact Steven Schoon, Gilmer ISD Asbestos Program Coordinator @ 903-841-7469.



NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
CONSTRUCTION/MAINTENANCE/BUILDING FACILITIES CONTRACT(S)
Dist/Div: Atlanta
Contract 6169-14-001 for INSTALL LEFT TURN LANES in UPSHUR County, etc. will be opened on March 04, 2008 at 1:00 pm at the State Ofice.
Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.dot.state.tx.us and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NOP: 26107.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.



PUBLISHED NOTICE
TO CREDITORS
Notice is hereby given that Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Grace H. Weisinger, deceased, were issued on October 29, 2007, in Docket Number 07-PR-7256, pending in the County of Upshur County, Texas, to David B. Weisinger.
 The residence of the Independent Executor is in Upshur County, Texas, and the mailing address is:
Estate of Grace H. Weisinger
3627 Bobwhite Rd.
Gilmer, Texas 75645
 All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by the law. 
 Dated the 4th day of January, 2008.
Dwight A, Brannon
P.O. Box 670
Gilmer, Texas 75644
903-843-2523
Sate Bar No. 02894500
Attorney for the Estate of
Grace H. Weisinger


CITATION BY PUBLICATION
STATE OF TEXAS
 TO: J.L HESS a/k/a JOHN L. HESS, J.W. STEVENS, ROGER DEAN MASSEY, LARRY JEAN MASSEY, ETHEL MASSEY, JOHN REED, GWENDOLYN SAYLES and VELMA SAYLES and their unknown heirs, Defendants GREETINGS:
 You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of forty-two (42) days form the date of the issuance of this citation, a default judgment may be taken against you.
 You are hereby commanded to appear by filing a written answer to the Plaintiff’s Application for Appointment of Receiver at or before ten o’ clock a.m. of the Monday next after the expiration of forty-two days from the date of the issuance of this citation, same being Monday the 24th day of March, 2008, before the Honorable 115th Judicial District Court of Upshur County, Texas, at the Court House of said County in Gilmer, Texas.
 KEY EXPLORATION, LTD., Petitioner, filed in said Court on the 5th day of February, 2008, against J.L HESS a/k/a JOHN L. HESS, J.W. STEVENS, ROGER DEAN MASSEY, LARRY JEAN MASSEY, ETHEL MASSEY, JOHN REED, GWENDOLYN SAYLES and VELMA SAYLES and their unknown heirs, Defendants, and said suit being numbered 74-08 in the docket of said Court, and styled, KEY EXPLORATION, LTD.v.J.L. HESS a/k/a JOHN L. HESS, J.W. STEVENS, ROGER DEAN MASSEY, LARRY JEAN MASSEY, ETHEL MASSEY, JOHN REED, GWENDOLYN SAYLES, and VELMA SAYLES
 A brief statement of the nature of this suit is as follows, to wit:
 Plaintiff is seeking appointment of a receiver to execute an oil, gas and mineral lease or other necessary documents relating to the undivided mineral interest for the following tract of land:
 Tract1: 75.00 acres, more or less, located in the John B. Goy Survey, A-168, Upshur County, Texas and being all of that certain 100.00 acre tract being more particularly described in that certain Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien from Charlie Massey, at ux Pirena Massey to Clifton Malone, et ux Carrie Mae Malone, dated December 14, 1942 and recorded in Volume 150, Page 556 of the Deed Records of Upshur County, Texas; SAVE AND EXCEPT, 25.00 acres, more or less, in the form of a square out of the Northwest corner of the said 100.00 acre tract, described in the above described deed.
 TRACT 2: 25.00 acres, more or less, a part of the John B. Goy Survey, A-168, Upshur County, Texas, and being the same land described as being in the form of a square out of the Northwest corner of a certain 100.00 acres described in a Deed dated December 14, 1942 from Charlie Massey et ux, Pirena Massey to Clifton Malone et ux, Carrie Mae Malone, recorded in Volume 150, Page 556, Deed Records, Upshur County, Texas.
 TRACT 3: 82.00 acres, more or less, a part of the John B. Goy Survey, A-168, Upshur County, Texas and being Block 3 of 41.00 acres and Block 4 of 41.00 acres of the Jesse Newsome 205.00 acres and being the same land described as First Tract in a Deed dated March 28, 1941 from Mrs. M. Talley to J.J. Mulloy and M.F. Reed, recorded in Volume 144, Page 189, Deed Records, Upshur County, Texas.
 TRACT 4: 100.00 acres, more or less, located in the John B. Goy Survey, A-168, Upshur County, Texas and being that same land described as 110.00 acres, LESS AND EXCEPT 10.00 acres therein, in that certain Warranty Deed dated November 1, 1943 from Mrs. Rosa H. Crowley, widow of J.W. Crowley, deceased, to Vadice Johnson and Wife, Ada Johnson, recorded in Volume 154, Page 327 of the Deed Records of Upshur County, Texas.
As is more fully shown by Plaintiff’s Application for Appointment of Receiver on file in this suit.
 Petitioner is represented by TRAVIS L. BOOHER, P.O. BOX 2665, LONGVIEW, TEXAS 75606.
 If this citation is not served within ninety days after the date its issuance, it shall be returned unserved, The officer executing this writ shall promptly serve the same according to requirements of law, and the mandates hereof, and make due return as the law directs.
 Issued and given under my hand and the seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, the 5th day of February,2008.

Carolyn Bullock
Upshur County District Clerk
Lory Seahorn
Deputy Clerk


NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Housing authority of the city of Gilmer announces a public hearing January 3, 2008, 10:00 A.M., 104 Circle Dr.
The purpose of the hearing is to obtain input from the city residents in reference to the Streamlined Annual Plan Submission to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008. All residents are encouraged to attend this hearing. A copy of the Streamlined Annual Plan and Annual plan will be available for review from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. beginning January 3, 2008 thru March 6, 2008 prior to public hearing at the address below. Persons can also submit written comments prior to public hearing to:
Housing Authority of the
City of Gilmer
104 Circle Drive
Gilmer, TX 75644
For further information please contact Gordon Finney, Executive Director at 903-843-3141.


PUBLIC NOTICE TO ALL
PERSONS BUYING PROPERTY IN THE VICINITY OF THE
SHARON WATER SUPPLY CORP.
Sharon Water Supply Corp. urges any prospective buyers to verify with the Manager at the office located at 6175 N. State Hwy. 37, Winnsboro, Texas, whether or not water is available at the tract of land in question.
Sharon Water Supply Corporation
6175 N. State Hwy. 37
Winnsboro, Texas 75494
903-342-3525


Un aviso publico de la logica y la precision de ensayo para la eleccion actual base de datos sobre el sistema de votacion del condado Upshur
Presente se da noticia de que una prueba de la logica y la exactitud de la base de datos actual de eleccion en el Condado de Upshur Hart sistema de votacion que se utilizaran en la Primaria Republicana Democratica y Eleccion celebrada el 4 de marzo de 2008 se llevara a cabo el 11 de febrero, 2008 a las 9:00 AM en la oficina del Secretario del Condado, ubicado en el segundo piso de la Corte del Condado de Upshur que se cercioren de que se precisa contar con los votos de todas las oficinas y medidas.
Peggy LaGrone
Secretario del Condado de Upshur


PUBLIC NOTICE OF A LOGIC AND ACCURACY TEST FOR THE CURRENT ELECTION DATABASE ON THE UPSHUR COUNTY VOTING SYSTEM
Notice is hereby given that a logic and accuracy test for the current election database on the Upshur County Hart Voting system that will be used in the Democratic and Republican Primary Election held March 4, 2008 will be conducted on February 11, 2008 at 9:00 AM in the County Clerk’s office, located on the 2nd floor of the Upshur County Courthouse to ascertain that it will accurately count the votes for all offices and measures.
Peggy LaGrone
Upshur County Clerk


NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS
BUYING PROPERTY IN THE
VICINITY OF THE PRITCHETT
WATER SUPPLY CORP.
Pritchett Water Supply Corp. understands that property is sometimes sold with the representation that water is available to the property from the PWSC System. Such is not always the case, and the PWSC urges any prospective buyer to verify with the operator by calling 903-734-5438 (Mon.-Fri., 8-4) or writing PWSC, 3670 State Highway 155 South, Gilmer, Texas 75645 that water is in fact available at the particular tract in question.


THE STATE OF TEXAS
Citationa by Publication
TO ALL PERSONS interested in the estate of FRANCES RUTH SNOW, deceased,
 1. James Neil Snow, and unknown heirs.
 2. Martha Jan Ray, and unknown heirs.
 3. Pasty Ruth Long, and unknown heirs.
 MARTHA Jan. RAY has filed in the County Court of Upshur County, an Application To Determine Heirs of said FRANCES RUTH SNOW, Deceased.
 The file number of such application and the Probate Docket number being No. 08-PR-7301 and the style of the case begun by such application is: Estate of FRANCES RUTH SNOW, deceased.
 ALL PERSONS interested in said estate ARE SITED TO APPEAR in County Court of Upshur County, Texas, in the Courthouse thereof at or before 10 o’clock a.m. on the first Monday after service if perfected by the completion of such Publication, to contest said application if they desire to do so, by filing opposition in writing.
 The name and address of the attorney for applicant, or the address of applicant is: Dwight A. Brannon, P.O. Box 670, Gilmer, TX 75644 903-843-2523 Issued this the 25th day of January,2008
 The officer executing this Citation shall have a copy of this Citation served by publication in the newspaper in the City of Gilmer, for not less than 10 days before the return day thereof, exclusive of the date of publication and return the original copy of this Citation to the Clerk stating in a written return thereon the time and place where citation was published.
 GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court, at the office in Gilmer, Texas this the 25th day of January, A.D.,2008.
PEGGY LAGRONE, Clerk County Court, Upshur County, Texas By Raine Howerton Deputy P.O. Box 730, Gilmer, Texas 75644


ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’
MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting for the stockholders of Gilmer National Bancshares, Inc. of Gimer, Texas will be held at the Gilmer National Bank on the 12th day of February 2008 at 3:30 o’clock p.m. for the electiof of Directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Larry Cowan, President

NOTICE TO BIDDERS
FOR ROOF BIDS
The Upshur County Commissioner’s Court is accepting sealed bids for the contracting of a re-roofing project for the Upshur County Courthouse. Specifications may be obtained in person in the Upshur County Commissioner’s Office, Second Floor Upshur County courthouse, 100 Tyler Street, Gilmer, TX or by mail request sent to Upshur County Commissioners, P.O. Box 730, Gilmer, Texas 75644 or by calling (903)680-8154 for a faxed copy. All bids must be received in the Upshur County Judge’s office, by mail at P.O. Box 790, Gilmer, TX 75644, or in person on the Third Floor of the Upshur County Courthouse, 100 Tyler Street, Gilmer, TX on or before February 14, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. The bids will be opened in the regular session of the Upshur County Commissioner’s Court on February 15, 2008 at 9:00 A.m. Bidders should use lump-sum pricing. Payment by Upshur County shall be cash. Bidders are not required to post a bond in order to bid.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ON THE NEW DIANA
AEIS REPORT
New Diana Independent School District will hold a hearing for public discussion of the annual Performance Report on Monday, January 14, 2008 in the New Diana High School Library at 6:30 p.m. The report is comprised of the District’s 2005-2006 AEIS report, a report of violent or criminal incidents and campus performance objectives.


CITATION BY PUBLICATION
DIVORCE/DOMESTIC
CAUSE NO.4-08
CLERK OF THE COURT
Carolyn Bullock
PO Box 950
Gilmer, TX 75644
PETITIONER’S ATTORNEY OR PETITIONER
Kelly M. Heitkamp
1121 Judson Rd. Suite 168
Longview, TX 75601
THE STATE OF TEXAS
TO: NORMA PATRICIA PARSONS, Cordoba, Argentina and to all whom it may concern, Respondent(s),
"You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the Clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you."
The petition of RONALD PAUL PARSONS, Petitioner, was filed in the said Court of Upshur County, texas on the 3rd day of January, 2008 against NORMA PATRICIA PARSONS, Respondent(s), numbered 4-08 and entitled:
IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF RONALD PAUL PARSONS AND NORMA PATRICIA PARSONS The suit requests: Original Petition For Divorce
The date and place of birth of the child (children) who is (are) the subject of the suit:
Jonathan Jak Parsons July 27, 1995. The Court has authority in this suit to enter nay judgment or decree in the child’s (children’s) interest which will be binding upon you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, the determination of paternity and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s (children’s) adoption.
Issued and given under my hand and Seal of said Court at Gilmer, Texas, this the 19th day of November, 2007.
Attest: CAROLYN BULLOCK
DISTRICT CLERK
OF THE 115TH DISTRICT
COURT, UPSHUR
COUNTY TEXAS


NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS OF PROPOSED TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) CONTRACTS
Sealed proposals for contracts listed below will be received by TxDOT until the date(s) shown below, and then publicly read.
Contract 6169-69-001 for CALL OUT PAVEMENT in BOWIE County, etc will be opened on February 8, 2008 at 1:00 pm at the State Office for an estimate of $361,675.00. Plans and specifications are available for inspection, along with bidding proposals, and applications for t he TxDOT Prequalified Contractor’s list, at the applicable State and/or Dist/Div Offices listed below. If applicable, bidders must submit prequalification information to TxDOT at least 10 days prior to the bid date to be eligible to bid on a project. Prequalification materials may be requested from the State Office listed below. Plans for the above contract(s) are available from TxDOT’s website at www.dot.state.tx.us and from reproduction companies at the expense of the contractor. NPO: 25878.
State Office
Constr./Maint. Division
200 E. Riverside Dr.
Austin, Texas 78704
Phone: 512-416-2540
Dist/Div Office(s)
Atlanta District
District Engineer
701 E Main
Atlanta, Texas 75551-1210
Phone: 903-796-2851
Minimum wage rates are set out in bidding documents and the rates will be part of the contract. TXDOT ensures that bidders will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin.

Sarah Greene Archives

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

2 hrs 22 mins ago | 1 views | 0 | 0 | |

CONFINED within four walls of a rehab center room for the last few weeks, I have found myself overdosing on television.

Daily reruns of The Golden Girls, perhaps an homage to Bea Arthur after her recent death, are laugh-out-loud funny even the second time around.

But what has impressed me most is the pre-World War II movies on the Turner Classic Movies channel.

The racial stereotyping of 1930s films is downright shocking to view in our (somewhat) more enlightened times.

TAKE BUTTERFLY McQueen, for example. Anyone who has ever seen Gone with the Wind remembers her character Prissy, the young slave who told Scarlett O’Hara she could take charge of the saintly Melanie’s childbirth.

When the time comes, General Sherman is attacking Atlanta, townspeople are fleeing, the family doctor is too busy amputating limbs to leave the Confederate hospital and Prissy utters her famous line, “Lawdy, Miss Scarlett, I’se don’t know nothin’ ’bout birthin’ babies.”

I was reminded of Butterfly the other day when I watched The Women, a 1939 film based on the play of that name by Clare Booth Luce.

Now recognized as a classic, this movie had more than 130 speaking roles, all of them female. The script revolved around a high society Manhattan matron, played by Norma Shearer, whose husband was stolen by a department store perfume sales lady played by Joan Crawford at her meanest.

Butterfly McQueen had a bit part as a perfume counter maid.

I HAD RECENTLY read that Hattie McDaniel, who won an Oscar for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind, resented having to play darkie roles, but that was the only kind of work she could get.

Wondering if McQueen felt the same way, I researched her career using Google.

She agreed, and then some.

I learned that she was actually a successful Broadway dancer who was critically praised for her movie portrayals in the ’30s and ’40s She went on to rebel at Hollywood’s system of racial stereotyping, and announced in 1947 that she would no longer accept “handkerchief head” parts. And that almost destroyed her career.

ALTHOUGH there were more TV, movie and Broadway roles in her future (she lived until 1995, when she was 84) she had no movie offers for the next 20 years.

She worked as a sales clerk, a waitress, a dishwasher, and an old ladies’ companion in order to make ends meet.

Not quite time yet to say we’ve come a long way, baby. But at least racial stereotyping has been drastically reduced since the days when Amos and Andy were popular on radio and the white end men in the Gilmer Firemen’s Minstrels performed in blackface.

ALSO ON THE current TCM schedule has been the 1936 film, the Green Pastures, based on a novel by Roark Bradford and the subsequent play by Marc Connelly. An all-black cast depicts stories from the Bible. “De Lawd” is an old bearded man played by Rex Ingram, and Noah is played by Eddie “Rochester” Anderson.

Anderson played many other racially-stereotyped roles in movies, but was best known as Jack Benny’s valet on Benny’s long-running radio and TV programs.

According to Wikipedia, the relationship between Anderson and Benny became more complex and intimate as the years went by, with Rochester’s role becoming both less stereotypical and less subservient (though he remained a valet), reflecting changing social attitudes toward blacks.

According to Jack Benny’s posthumous autobiography, Sunday Nights at Seven, the tone of racial humor surrounding Rochester declined as a conscious decision between Benny and the writing staff during World War II, once the enormity of the Holocaust was revealed. Benny didn’t find racial humor funny any more, and he made an effort to erase it from the character of Rochester.

BACK IN MY everyday soap opera world, I have been keeping up with Days of Our Life, which I have been watching since it began in 1965. And I often wonder why, so much has changed since the days when Dr. Tom and Alice Horton were the “tent pole” characters around whom revolved a cast that more or less simulated the real world.

Today, the recorded voice of the late Dr. Tom (played by McDonald Carey) and an occasional cameo appearance by Alice Horton is about all that remains of the original story.

Today the soaps compete for the age 18 to 34 demographic, and the teen-age/early 20s cohort dominates. One by one favorite characters depart, the latest being Dr. Marlena Evans and her husband-of-several-identities, John Black.

MERE HABIT is all that keeps me watching the NBC soap. Meanwhile, over at CBS, word comes that The Guiding Light, longest-running drama on television, will bite the dust.

Begun as a 15-minute radio serial in 1937, it moved to TV in 1952. Among the future stars who got their start on The Guiding Light are James Earl Jones, Kevin Bacon and Calista Flockhart. During the height of the radio soap opera years, 1930-1960, there were as many as 200 serialized programs.

I recall my personal favorites — Stella Dallas, Young Dr. Malone and others — which were a special treat on days when I stayed home from school, sick.

According to USA Today, Guiding Light is the least-watched of eight remaining network soaps, averaging 2.2 million viewers this season. It’s a favorite only with viewers over 50, a sure kiss of death in today’s advertising world.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

7 days ago | 87 views | 0 | 1 | |

NOOKS AND CRANNIES of Texas history are illuminated in the folklore that is preserved by the Texas Folklore Society. At its 100th annual meeting in Nacogdoches last month, there were several of these little-known stories.

Black Diamond, whose sad demise was the subject for Henry Wolff Jr. of Victoria, was a rogue elephant that was “executed” on Oct. 16, 1929, a few days after he had killed a woman.

Born in India in 1898, Black Diamond had come to Texas with the Barnes Circus, which had been bought by John Ringling.

BLACK DIAMOND and other elephants were parading through the Corsicana circus grounds when he attacked a Kerens woman, apparently thinking she had taken his beloved handler away from him.

A Dallas Morning News story said that the elephant had trampled on the woman, but a close bystander denied that. The 6-ton monster animal had previously killed two circus workers.

It was at Kenedy in Karnes County that Black Diamond was marched to the edge of town and shot by several gunmen, who took 105 shots to bring him down. The head was removed for mounting and was kept at a funeral home in Kenedy for years. It has since been preserved by the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which has loaned it to the Watkins Construction Co. museum in Corsicana. One of the elephant’s feet was made into a footstool.

NEWS TO ME, though perhaps well known to this area’s many fishermen and women, was the fact that in the 1950s the State of Texas prohibited the sale of fish caught from rivers. Before that, especially in the Great Depression of the 1930s, there was a thriving trade in catfish, buffalo and other bottom feeders found in rivers such as the Red and the Sabine.

Wildwood Dean Rice of Bonham, wearing overalls, told of his role in this enterprise. He has traveled the Red River, recording its folklore. Many of the river denizens today are descended from river people, the Missouri and Red having been highways into the interior.

Fishing the Red was dependable in the face of Depression starvation, Wildwood Dean said, but it was no way to get rich, and lasted only a few years. These market fishermen were different from commercial fishermen, he explained. They made their own rules and created their own markets, which sometimes included bartering to doctors and others.

By the 1880s, salmon runs in the Northwest and Scandinavia were declining, and the nets and boats used to catch salmon were becoming surplus. It was a displaced salmon fisherman who taught Dean’s dad how to net river fish. Hunting, fishing and gathering wild foods were a good way to supplement the family income, Dean recalled, but the Depression made it more urgent.

Catch and seine nets used in salmon fishing were of little use east of the Rockies, so fishermen on the Red developed a net that was a forerunner of the barrel, or hoop, net. Wildwood Dean displayed a tool he made of bois d’arc wood to make hoop nets.

These river fishermen used a Joe boat, made of pine boards, and a marvelous design, according to Dean. By the 1950s, when the new rules took effect, channel and flathead catfish had nearly disappeared from the Red River, he said.

Not coincidentally, this was the decade when catfish farming began in East Texas. A fish farm in northeast Upshur County was started but never really got off the ground. Evidently there were not enough Texas fish farms to create the kind of industry that thrives today in Mississippi.

THE POSSUM, a creature that roamed with dinosaurs, preceded humans by millions of years and will no doubt still be around when we have faded out. They’re so prolific that huge numbers can wander fatally onto highways at night without making an impact on the species overall.

It’s not surprising that they crop up often in folklore. Melvin Mason and Woody C. Swinburne told the Texas Folklore Society audience how Possum Walk Road near Huntsville came to acquire that name in 1887.

It seems that W. L. Holloway, a land owner, donated three acres for religious purposes; a combination church and school house was built and named Union Hill.

One Sunday morning as church services were under way, a possum entered from the front, walked down the center aisle and left by the back door. No doubt the stunned congregation felt such an event should be commemorated, and that was how the Walker County road from Union Hill to Huntsville got a new name. Union Hill Church still stands but is now used only for funerals.

Trinity County also has a Possum Walk Road and cemetery, which memorializes the time a family doctor ran into a possum while making a house call.

Possums are really popular in geography, especially in the South, the speakers said.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

21 days ago | 98 views | 0 | 2 | |

Unfortunate fall on The Gilmer Mirror parking lot on April 11 has kept me bedridden at home, hospitalized at ETMC Gilmer, and, at this writing, in the Clairmont at Longview.

My rehabilitation, from a fractured sacrum, is expected to be slow, but between overdosing on TV, reading newspapers and magazines, and calling “near and far” on my cell phone, I don’t feel out of touch.

Browsing the May-June issue of the AAA members magazine, Texas Journey, I turned to page 52 and was greeted by a familiar face — Jo Ann Andera, director of the Texas Folklife Festival in San Antonio (as Mirror readers know, a Yamboree delegation has taken part in each festival since the first one in 1972).

She’s pictured in living color at a table laden with ethnic foods sold by festival participants. No yam pie? Not in the picture, but not left out either.

In the interview story, Jo Ann is asked about her favorite festival food. Her reply: “If you like to eat, this is the place to be. Some popular dishes are the Wendish noodles, yam pie and Lebanese shish kebab, I couldn’t choose a favorite.”

Jo Ann started working for the Folklife Festival sponsor, the Institute of Texan Cultures, in 1970. Lebanese herself, she started out performing in a dance group. As director, she has a different perspective on how much work it takes to put on the annual show.

She explains: “You hear the phrase Folklife Festival, and you assume we’re talking about a small-town community event. But our festival is done on a huge scale. We have 10 stages spaced around 20 acres. Performers in authentic regalia represent more than 40 cultures.”

Because the Upshur County group is one of the few that has taken part in every Folklife Festival, it ranks high with the director. Jo Ann came to the Yamboree in the 1990s and marched in the Queen’s Parade with Possumologist “Dr.” Richard Potter and International Possum Queen “Miss Daisy” Potter.

The other founding father of Possumology “Professor” Jack F. (Spot) Baird had sadly passed from the scene by then. Potter, too, has since gone on.

But this June 12-14 the Yamboree delegation will hold forth once more at its familiar spot on the Back 40 of the Institute grounds.

I’ll be there in spirit.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

9 days ago | 114 views | 0 | 3 | |

Whan that Aprille with his shoures sote

The Droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote, . . .

So priketh hem nature in hir corage:

Than longen folk to goon on pilgrimages -

IN THE PROLOGUE to Chaucer’s Tales of Canterbury, the 14th century poet struck a chord that has echoed down the ages: the earth’s springtime renewal gives humans the urge to travel.

Chaucer was speaking of the English, of course. But it was that same urge that brought 225 of the folk to Nacogdoches last weekend to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Texas Folklore Society.

Like Chaucer’s group of 30 who told tales while wending their way to Canterbury, the pilgrims who came to Nacogdoches represented all layers of society. Their ages ranged from 2 to around 90, and their homes were widely dispersed. Some may have told tales on the way — Lee Haille indicated that his family did — but most came to listen to those who were on the program.

A HIGHLIGHT was the 100th anniversary reminiscence of Dr. Francis E. (Ab) Abernethy, who has stepped down as secretary-editor of the Society after a run of more than 30 years.

When Ab joined the society 50 years ago, folklore was just coming in as an academic discipline, he recalled. As a new Ph.D. whose field was Renaissance drama, he was taken aback when the head of the English department at Stephen F. Austin State asked him to teach a folklore class.

BY 1965, he was serving as president of the Texas Folklore Society and his course was set. The meeting that year was held at the Driskill Hotel in Austin and Janis Joplin was on the program. Ab said he was “scared to death” of how radical her ’60s singing might seem to the gathered folk, but she came across as more folk-tunish than shocking. Janis signed up for Ab’s folklore class, but never showed up, he said.

Because of a few interruptions, the 100th anniversary was celebrated at the 93rd of the annual meetings. The Thursday and Friday night hootenannies have been an important feature for decades. Ab recalled the 1960 gathering at San Antonio’s Menger Hotel, when the “hoot” was held at Casa Rio on the San Antonio River.

IT WAS THERE he first met the late Hermes Nye of Dallas, whom he described as a fashionably dressed, would-be hippie lawyer who had his own radio show and was a great interlocutor. That night, Hermes would sing two songs and then pass his guitar to Ab for his two songs. Long since equipped with his own guitar, Ab said he felt a sense of belonging that night that he’s never gotten over. And since then, the only annual meeting he has missed was the 2008 meeting at Lubbock.

The personalities he met through the Folklore Society, including the iconic early leader J. Frank Dobie as well as Mody Boatright, Martha Emmons, Wilson Hudson, Martin Shockley, John Lomax Jr. and others were the greatest part of his education, Ab said.

THE SOCIETY has “made you and me rich with a side of life we would not have known otherwise,” he commented, adding that he has complete faith that the members will carry on into the next century. He said he believes the society is a success because members have loved and preserved folklore wihout involvng it in academic pressures. Indeed, he observed, folklore is declining in the academy. But never mind.

“We are a solid bunch of folks,” Ab summed up. “We come together as loving kinfolks, loving the old songs and stories and learning new ones — always growing.”

The Old English quote that led off here is an homage to my Gilmer High School teacher of English and Latin, the late Eunice Hart.

AT A TIME during World War II when nearly all the men teachers went into the armed forces and qualified replacements were hard to find, she was special.

For those who were interested in learning about Chaucer, she taught an informal non-credit course before school started each day.

At one time I had almost 50 lines of the Canterbury Tales prologue memorized. Each spring I think of them when I, too, long to go on a pilgrimage.

And they made my own visit to Canterbury Cathedral a few years ago more memorable.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

15 days ago | 136 views | 0 | 1 | |

AFGHANISTAN is a problem the world has never solved.

President Barack Obama, without doubt a student of history, acknowledged as much when he made getting aid for dealing with that nation a top goal of his trip to Europe last week.

The president told a town meeting in Strasbourg, France: “We have no interest in occupying Afghanistan. This is a joint problem requiring a joint effort.”

He left saying he was pleased with pledges to send troops there from Britain and the NATO countries.

Geography has sealed Afghanistan’s fate for two millennia. Bordered today by Iran, Pakistan, Turkministan and several other countries of the former Soviet Union, it has been fought over by many groups, but did not become a single country until 1747, when Ahmed Shah Durrani founded a monarchy that ruled Afghanistan until 1973.

IN THE 19TH and 20th centuries Afghanistan was situated between the expanding Russian and British empires.

Great Britain was pulled into fighting with Afghan tribes three times during its imperial days when nearby India was its colony. In wars carried on in 1838-41, 1878-79 and 1919, thousands of British soldiers were sacrificed to the fighting skills of the fierce tribal Afghans.

Rudyard Kipling, the British writer who was not born until 1865 but in his work reflected famously on the empire’s triumphs and defeats, was best known as a poet for his Gunga Din. (“You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din,” said a British soldier in India about a native water-bearer who saved his life.)

For his use of dialect and other reasons, Kipling is not politically correct or highly regarded these days. But still relevant is his poem, The Young British Soldier. Its 13th and final verse has this macabre conclusion:

When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,

And the women come out to cut up what remains,

Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains

An’ go to your Gawd like a soldier.

MUCH MORE recently, in the 1980s, Lufkin’s congressman Charlie Wilson conspired with a rogue CIA operative, Gust Avrakotos, to launch a covert operation that is credited with helping to hasten the downfall of the Soviet Union.

With Charlie Wilson’s influence on the House Appropriations Committee, the mujahideen “freedom fighters” in Afghanistan received millions of dollars worth of munitions and armaments that led the Red Army to reluctantly withdraw in 1989.

George Crile, veteran producer of TV’s 60 Minutes, told the story in a best-selling book, Charlie Wilson’s War. (It was made into a movie by that title starring Tom Hanks as Charlie Wilson.)

HAVING SPENT ALL of the 1980s trying to conquer Afghanistan. the Soviet forces withdrew in 1989 with 28,000 of their soldiers dead. The CIA viewed its part in the war as a noble cause, Crile wrote, and considered it the agency’s greatest victory. But the unintended consequence was that in a secret war, the funders got no credit.

In Crile’s analysis, the mujahideen and their Muslim admirers around the world never viewed U.S. support as a decisive factor in their victory.

“As they saw it, that honor went to Allah, the only superpower they acknowledge,” Crile wrote.

SO THE JIHAD continues today, when we face native Afghans harboring the Al Qaeda terrorists who have been considered such a serious threat since Sept. 11, 2001.

Crile’s book was published in 2003, and it was then that Charlie Wilson, who had become a Washington D. C. lobbyist, came to Nacogdoches to give a lecture for the East Texas Historical Association. I bought a copy of the book from Mr. Wilson and had him autograph it. A gripping read it is.

But by then the victory was far from the clear triumph it had appeared to be just a few years earlier.

ON TV NEWS Monday was a live transmission of the return of Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Myers’ body to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. According to CNN, it was a solemn moment that had been repeated more than 5,000 times at the base since the war in Afghanistan started in late 2001.

But it was the first time the media was allowed to cover the return. Sgt. Myers was killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan on Saturday. Through a recent change in policy, coverage was allowed with the family’s permission.

When I attended journalism school at the University of Texas in Austin not long after World War II ended, we had a textbook that warned future editors not to be guilty of “Afghanistanism.” This was a code word for filling up a newspaper with wire service dispatches from faraway lands instead of doing the more difficult work of covering local news.

It was beyond my imagination to think that six decades later, Afghanistan would have become a local story.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

23 days ago | 169 views | 0 | 1 | |

JEFFERSON GOT a double dose of attention in the March 28 edition of The Mirror, with Fred Tarpley writing about the town’s colorful past in the All Things Historical column on Page 4 and Bob Bowman recounting the story of the Jefferson Carnegie Library on Page 5.

I was familiar with the fact that the Carnegie building near downtown Jefferson is still used as both a library and community center, for when the Texas Folklore Society met there in 1986 the 2-story building provided the necessary meeting spaces.

But there’s much more to the Texas Carnegie Library story, and it tells a lot about what a different place the state has become in the last century.

In 1896, a $5,000 grant gave Pittsburg the first Texas library financed by the steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie’s foundation.

LIKE THE OTHER 31 towns and cities favored by Carnegie, Pittsburg had a new source of civic pride in its library (all the buildings were good-looking and well-built; most had two stories and a basement.)

Between 1898 and 1917, Carnegie gave $645,000 to the five biggest cities and to towns as small as Pecos and Stamford. In our area the favored communities were Clarksville, Winnsboro, Marshall, Tyler and Sulphur Springs.

Women’s clubs often applied for the grants in the smaller places. As has been well documented in The Mirror, it was the 20th Century Club that got what is now the Upshur County Library started in the county superintendent’s office in the courthouse; in the 1930s it was moved to the tiny building that still stands on the north end of Roosevelt Park.

SO WHY DIDN’T Gilmer get a Carnegie Library? According to my mother, the late Georgia Laschinger, who was one of the club women just mentioned, it was because the contract required the town to agree to support the library budget, and Gilmer was way too poor to commit.

It took the great East Texas oil boom of the 1930s to rescue Gilmer from a downhill slide. According to the Texas Almanac, Gilmer’s population dropped from 2,268 in 1920 to 1,963 in 1930, while Pittsburg grew slightly in that decade to 2,640 in 1930.

Upshur County family farmers, many of them sharecroppers, were mostly self-sufficient in raising their food, but cash income depended almost entirely on the cotton crop. And that was in the lap of the weather gods.

Pittsburg was a much more important trading and shipping point throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

THE WPA TEXAS Guide, published as a part of the New Deal Federal Writers’ Project of the 1930s, divided the state into convenient tours. Gilmer and Pittsburg were on a tour that started at the Oklahoma line near Paris on U.S. 271 and ended 137 miles later at Tyler.

Pittsburg is described as a town that “spreads out in neighborly fashion, the newer homes and buildings blending with those of more ancient vintage. Few people hurry in Pittsburg. Its most outstanding feature is an odd elbow effect of the main street. According to local tradition, when the town’s one street was being laid out, a huge, beautiful tree blocked the way, and rather than cut it down the citizens chose to walk and drive around it.”

GILMER, THE Guide says, at the end of the 1930s was “a rapidly growing oil and farming center, built around a smart cream-coloured courthouse that is surrounded by drab weathered brick buildings.”

They might have been drab, but they attracted all-day Saturday crowds that stayed into the night, a dramatic contrast to downtown Gilmer today on most Saturdays.

A picture made by Russell Lee in an unidentified town that could have been Gilmer identifies a “farm couple in town on Saturday afternoon.” The husband is wearing a fedora and a handlebar mustache, and the wife’s obviously homemade long cotton dress is complemented by a white sun bonnet.

Lee was one of several Farm Security Administration photographers, later to become famous, who toured middle America documenting the plight of farmers through the Great Depression and droughts of the 1930s.

THE WRITER noted that “Gilmer’s annual celebration is the Yamboree, a gay festival during the early part of October, in celebration of the harvesting and curing of yams.”

A footnote described Kelsey, on a graveled road eight miles west, as “a colony established by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1902. Kelsey Academy, a school conducted by the church, with 150 students, places emphasis on poultry and stock raising and dairying.”

The Guide made Gilmer sound more modern than Mount Pleasant, where in such areas far from cities, “rural sports and recreations reflect the daily tenor of the lives of the people.”

Among several examples are fox hunting and community ‘possum hunts. At the conclusion of such hunts, it was said, “it is the custom for those in attendance to concoct huge ‘pot stews’ — a type of ‘mulligan’ made with chicken and vegetables, cooked in wash boilers over open fires.”

MY EDITION OF the WPA Guide is a 1986 reprint by Texas Monthly Press with a new introduction by Don Graham, UT Austin professor of English. He meditates eloquently on what a different state Texas was in 1940.

“Sixty percent of the population lived in rural areas . . . many babies were still born at home; and country doctors still made house calls. It all sounds a bit like a Merle Haggard song about the good old days. Texas in 1940 was a bigger place than it is now. It took a lot longer to get somewhere.”

INDEED, the speed limit was 45 mph, and the narrow 2-lane roads were scarce by today’s standards. The 1940 Texas Almanac map of Upshur County shows only three paved highways: U.S.271 north to south, Hwy. 154 from Gilmer to the eastern county line, and U.S.80 from west of Big Sandy to Gladewater.

The Almanac echoed the WPA Guide in noting that discovery of oil had greatly increased the population and wealth of the county.

What neither book said was that the wealth flowed from wells in the south end of the county to landowners there, and into Gilmer from the oil boom in general. But many of the farmers were still as hard up as the couple pictured in Russell Lee’s striking photograph.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

2 days 5 hrs ago | 69 views | 0 | 1 | |

LIKE MANY OTHER UT-Austin ex-students, I recently received an e-mail from the Texas Exes organization asking:

“Would you please write or call your state representative and senator TODAY and express your support for amending the Top 10 percent law? SB 175 by Senator Florence Shapiro and HB 52 by Representative Dan Branch are specific bills we urge you to support, which call for a cap of the top 10 percent admits of the freshman class.”

I haven’t contacted my legislators; put me in the “undecided” camp in what seems to be a rural-urban conflict.

As you may have heard, UT-Austin for the last three legislative sessions has tried to amend the law that requires it to admit any freshman who graduated in the top 10 percent of his public school class. Shapiro’s bill would limit these automatic admissions to 50 percent of a university’s freshman class.

THIS YEAR THE UT-Austin Admissions Office has already sent acceptances to 10,500 students in the top 10 percent when the “normal” total for a freshman class is 7,000, according to the e-mail.

“We simply can’t provide a first class educational experience if even 70 percent of them accept the admission offer,” it continued. “It is conceivable that the entire class for fall 2009 could be top 10 percent.

“We will be unable to admit many students with extraordinary skills in music and art, or out-of-state students, or students from smaller rural or private schools, or international students. We are also running out of room to recruit minority students with exceptional leadership qualities who may not be in the top ten percent of their class. . . The diversity of the student body and the recruitment of future leaders depend on all these factors.”

THE MENTION of “smaller rural” schools surprised me, because the record indicates that rural legislators have opposed the change because they think kids from small town and country schools would have a harder time getting into either of the two Tier One public universities (UT-Austin and Texas A&M) without the rule. (Rice is the only other Tier One university in this state.)

I am almost persuaded by the Texas Exes position. And a Dallas Morning News editorial Sunday encouraged a new kind of thinking on the dilemma. California has nine Tier One public universities, defined as being major research institutions; having three is hardly a point of Texas pride.

THE EDITORIAL argues that if Texas had more leading research universities there would be less pressure on UT-Austin or A&M to fill up their classes with only the top public school scholars. Backers of UT-Dallas, Texas Tech, UT-Arlington, University of North Texas, the University of Houston and perhaps other UT branches go for this idea.

The News’ editorial concludes that it’s the long-term answer, which both sides should pursue. In the short term, though, states from the Atlantic to the Pacific are strapped for cash, and more likely to cut back university funding than to inject new money.

********

NEWS LAST WEEK that the actress Natasha Richardson had died at 45 of the head injury she suffered in a skiing accident brought back memories of her New York performance in the musical Cabaret. I was fortunate to see the production in 1998 at the Roundabout Theater off Broadway.

The original, produced on Broadway in 1966, had been made into a movie starring Liza Minelli and Joel Gray in 1972. Though I had seen the movie, I had read that the new stage production was, in effect, a new show, darker than the original. It proved to be memorable indeed.

All three versions were set in the pre-Hitler Germany of 1930, with many emanations, musical and in the libretto, that bad, bad changes were on the horizon.

A REVIEW in the All Music Guide said that the 1998 Cabaret dug deeper and cut harder than the earlier versions, and was even seedier than the original and movie versions in depicting the German nightlife of the time.

Ms. Richardson played the role of Sally Bowles, an English girl whose mother thought she was at a convent in the south of France. Instead, she was a chanteuse in the Kit Kat Klub, where the emcee, played by the astonishing actor Alan Cumming, welcomed guests in three languages and sounded menacing in all of them.

Ms. Richardson won a Tony award for her role in Cabaret, and, according to the Associated Press report of her death, remained true to her classical training in the theater even though she had an active film career. Part of an acting dynasty, she was the daughter of the actress Vanessa Redgrave and the granddaughter of the distinguished British actor, Sir Michael Redgrave.

ANOTHER STORY, this one in the Los Angeles Times, brought back a much earlier musical memory. It described rehearsals for the play, Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara, which opened last week in Los Angeles and will run through April 26.

The co-writers and actors, Jake Broder and Vanessa Claire Smith, portray Louis Prima and Keely Smith as they became one of the hottest nightclub acts in the country in the mid-1950s.

It was in 1953 that Ray Greene and I were vacationing in New Orleans and, as tourists are wont to do, were wandering down Bourbon Street in search of entertainment. We decided to try a club where Prima, his band and vocalist/wife Keely were the attraction.

PRIMA, multi-talented New Orleans native who I recall singing Just a Gigolo along with playing the trumpet and leading his band, was a zany clown in contrast to the cool vocalist Keely. I thought the show well worth the rather low price, and learned only later that Prima had met Keely five years earlier when she was only 16. In fairly short order she became his fourth, but not last, wife.

The LA Times story said Louis and Keely were a Sonny & Cher act years before Sonny met Cher.

Louis Prima died in 1978 at age 68. Keely Smith just turned 77 and still does an annual Valentine Day’s show in Palm Desert, Calif.

Ms. Smith, the co-author/actor, grew up in Louisiana and knew all about Louis Prima from an early age. On her resume is a stint in Romeo and Juliet at the Texas Shakespeare Theater in Kilgore. That fine institution, incidentally, has just released its 2009 schedule, which includes Romeo and Juliet again.


Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

9 days ago | 108 views | 0 | 2 | |

WHEN THE distinguished singer Barbara Smith Conrad performed with a Community Chorus at the Gilmer Civic Center on June 10, 2005, documentary film makers were on hand to record an important phase of the diva’s career.

Having retired from opera roles with companies including the Metropolitan and New York City Operas, the Vienna State Opera, the Houston Grand Opera and others, the Camp County native has a new cause: the preservation of American spirituals.

She sang spirituals with the Community Chorus, and on her 2007 visit held two master classes on the subject, examining the history and impact of the spiritual on American culture.

THE CENTER for American History at The University of Texas in Austin has established the Endowment for the Study of American Spirituals. Ms. Conrad serves as artistic adviser and ambassador for the initiative.

The Center is producing a documentary, When I Rise, the Story of Barbara Smith Conrad, which will reflect her many accomplishments (as noted in this space, last month she was honored by the Texas Legislature for being a UT Distinguished Alumna and civil rights pioneer as well as an internationally-renowned mezzo-soprano.)

I ENJOY listening to Ms. Conrad’s CD of spirituals, which includes such classics as Certainly, Lord, Steal Away to Jesus, Deep River, and My Lord, What a Morning. She is accompanied by the Convent Avenue Concert Choir of New York City.

Ms. Conrad is far from alone in her crusade to conserve the American art form known as Negro spirituals.

On XM Radio’s PRI channel last week I heard Bob Edwards interview Everett McCorvey, professor of music at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, who in 1995 founded the American Spiritual Ensemble to keep the spiritual alive.

Its performers, all soloists in their own right, have sung in theaters and opera houses around the world. They also include jazz and Broadway numbers that highlight the black experience.

McCORVEY explained how spirituals grew out of slavery, and some, such as Follow the Drinking Gourd, contained hidden signals to help slaves escape from Alabama north on the underground railroad.

The “drinking gourd” is a code name for the Big Dipper constellation, which points to Polaris, the Pole Star, and north.

The song lends its name to the title of the 1928 publication of the Texas Folklore Society, Foller de Drinkin’ Gou’d, which was edited by J. Frank Dobie. The book gives H.B. Parks credit for “collecting” the folk song in three different parts of the South, including Texas. At that time folklorists were arguing about whether the song had any basis in reality, but McCorvey thinks there is proof that it was an actual road map.

I HAVE LONG been a fan of another group that is keeping spirituals alive in a powerful way, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. It was founded in 1995 by Alvin Ailey (1931-1989), Texas native born in Rogers and raised in Navasota. He became a dancer after moving to California as a high school student.

Revelations is the title of Ailey’s dance suite that the company performs to such spirituals as I Been ‘’Buked, Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel? Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham, Wade in the Water and several others.

The company is based in New York City and today is directed by Judith Jamison, who is interviewed on one of the CDs in my set of Alvin Ailey music. She eloquently summarizes its appeal.

She says that Revelations “speaks directly to the human experience” and is embedded in the black church, which has a rich tradition of color pageantry. The dancers portray “the shuddering of the Holy Ghost going through the body.”

Ms. Jamison calls the black church “the single most important community enterprise.” Regardless of what happens on Saturday night — Sinner Man is one of the Revelations pieces — Sunday morning is a time of redemption and praise, she asserts.

THESE IMAGES of faith, humor, passion and love are familiar to older generations, but must be preserved for those coming on, she said.

I have traveled many miles to see the Alvin Ailey dancers perform when touring in Texas, and once happened to be in Washington D. C. when I got to see them at a downtown theater.

Whatever else they program from today’s dance repertoire, Revelations is a must, and draws the biggest audience reaction.

As Ms. Jamison commented: “Mr. Ailey knew that this would be a testament to everyone — based in the church, but universal.”

That audiences are moved and touched is a tribute to Ailey’s faith, and to “his belief that dance should be something that touched your spirit,” she said.

She didn’t say, but certainly could have: it’s not just a black thing.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

16 days ago | 141 views | 0 | 3 | |

ACROSS THE nation, library usage is up.

From Seattle to Boston and many points in between, newspapers and blogs available on the Internet suggest that in hard economic times, many folks are swapping their credit cards for library cards.

According to examiner.com, owned by Clarity Media Group, library systems nationwide report an increase in patrons getting library cards, in program attendance, and in circulation.

“It also doesn’t hurt that Americans are actually reading more fiction these days,” the Seattle book examiner wrote, adding, “According to a study done by the National Endowment for the Arts, in the last six years the number of people who reported reading something online or in print had increased by 16.6 million people (roughly three percent of the population) . . .

A LIBRARIAN in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., was quoted as saying that increasing usage of public libraries, due to the down economy, was only half good news.

He said the bad half is that funding is dwindling with state budget cuts, and libraries are being forced to serve more people with fewer resources.

This is a way of backing in to a testimonial for the Upshur County Library, not the first from this corner, by any means.

Like most libraries in the 21st century, the library on Tyler St. offers much more than books, though books are still vital. The library is much used as a computer center for patrons wanting to use the Internet, and there are videotapes, CDs and DVDs to check out. The magazine and newspaper selection is excellent.

THE CHILDREN’S area is large and attractive, a suitable home for regular programs designed specially for the little ones.

In this Lenten season the display cases are filled with Jan Williams’ amazing collection of dolls and figurines that reflect this special spring time in a most appealing away.

A group of dedicated Friends of the Library, ably led by Carole Rodenbaugh, is always seeking new ways to raise extra funds for this worthy cause.

A plant sale is scheduled on the library grounds for March 18-21.

Check it out. A book, if that’s your choice, or any of the library’s other offerings.

ON THE SUBJECT of volunteer efforts that mean so much to our community, I’d like to mention the Upshur County Arts Council presentation of the German Band of North Texas on April 4.

I had the pleasure of meeting the band’s director, Edward Lobb, last week when Joe Woodson brought him by the Mirror office to talk about the performance.

As described in a story elsewhere in this issue, The German Band may not be unique in Texas, but it’s certainly unusual.

Far more than an “oompah” band, this 45-strong aggregation plays authentic German and Austrian music ranging from The Beer Barrel Polka to Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (a Little Night Music) to Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral from Wagner’s opera, Lohengrin.

THIS CONCERT band uses original German instruments and emphasizes the mid-range and low-range brass.

It will provide a great opportunity for high school band members to experience a variety of unusual arrangements played by professional musicians.

Now in its 18th season, the Upshur County Arts Council has lived up to its goal of “bringing the arts home” with a wide variety of performances, both classical and popular.

There have been bands before — Denton’s One O’Clock Lab Band, Quantum Brass from Wisconsin, the Lone Star Band from the Dallas Wind Symphony, among other — and many programs ranging from the Light Crust Doughboys and Johnny Gimble in the Western Swing mode to the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra and the Lone star Ballet.

The recent performance by the Hughes Brothers from Branson drew one of the larger audiences. The German Band of North Texas is equally worthy of a big turnout. The price of $15 for adults and $5 for students is more than competitive; it’s a true bargain compared to what you would pay for comparable entertainment in Longview, Tyler or other larger cities.

********

A PIECE OF hardwood flooring labeled “made in Gilmer, Texas USA” on the back was brought to the Mirror office recently by Joe Ballowe, who found it as part of a floor that needed replacing in a house he was working on. Joe had not heard of the Gilmer Flooring Mill, which produced it, and no wonder.

The mill operated for a few years after World War II on a site fronting Smith St. on the west side of the railroad tracks in North Gilmer.

The late B. D. Futrell managed the plant, which was owned by several local investors. It turned out high quality oak flooring that was economical enough to use in new houses down to the lower price ranges.

IN THE EARLY 1950s my family and I were the first occupants of a new rent house that had Gilmer flooring mill floors except the kitchen and bathroom. They were fine looking, and I used only area rugs to leave much of it showing. When we moved out and a new owner covered the entire living and dining areas with wall-to-wall carpeting I considered it a mistake. And I still do.

The flooring mill burned to the ground sometime in the 1950s and was never rebuilt. The site is a pasture today, and shows no traces of the factory that once operated there. Until I have time to research the Mirror microfilm files I won’t be able to say exactly when this happened.

sgreene@tatertv.com


Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

3 days ago | 28 views | 0 | 1 | |

“Makes me proud to be from Texas, where Bob Wills is still the king.”

—From song written by Waylon Jennings

I SHARED that sentiment with the hundreds who filled the Eisemann Center in Richardson Saturday night to enjoy the musical play, A Ride with Bob, written and starred in by Asleep at the Wheel leader Ray Benson.

I’ve attended many a performance over many a year, but this audience topped any I’ve ever experienced in sheer enthusiasm. The story of Western Swing icon Bob Wills and his music simply rings a lot of bells.

Hill Hall at the Eisemann Center must seat well over 1,000, but A Ride with Bob was sold out before I noticed the Dallas area date. My sister Mary Kirby and I got in with a couple of widely-separated unsold single seats.

AT THE END of a nearly 3-hour show, Benson explained that he and Anne Rapp wrote the play four years ago as a tribute to Bob Wills on the 100th anniversary of his birth, thinking it would be a one-time thing. But the response was so great that it just won’t let him go. In the words of one Benson song, The Wheel Keeps On Rollin’.

The plot was inspired by an actual incident in the rich musical life of Benson, who was Texas State Musician in 2004 and is a close associate of Willie Nelson and others on the Austin music scene.

In 1973 Benson had a date with Bob Wills to discuss his role in creating Western Swing, a musical genre that combines country, rock and roll, jazz, big band and other sounds that give it a lasting appeal. On that very day Wills had a severe stroke and never recovered consciousness before his death in 1975.

IN THE PLAY, Benson, playing himself, imagines how the conversation might have gone.

In a bus mock-up at the side of the stage Wills’ ghost, played by actor Marco Perella, has returned from heaven to tell his story as the bus travels to Tulsa. One of the first among many great musical numbers is, quite logically, Take Me Back to Tulsa.

A cast of 25, some playing multiple roles, acts out Wills’ progression on a set backed by a collage of old gasoline signs representing the highways of yesteryear.

Wills goes from West Texas cotton fields and ranch dances to a medicine show and barber shop on the way to his final departure from Turkey, Texas. As the scenes changed so did the dancing couples, from square dance to jitterbugging.

WILLS LED THE original Light Crust Doughboys, but fell out with W. Lee (Pappy) O’Daniels in Pappy’s flour-salesman, pre-governor days. The band moved on as the Texas Playboys, broadcasting over radio stations in Waco and Tulsa as well as making it big on records and in dance halls.

Though tunes like Cherokee Maiden, Roly Poly, Miss Molly and Milk Cow Blues were well received, it was Faded Love and New San Antonio Rose which, as they say, just about brought the house down.

Jason Roberts, a member of Benson’s Asleep at the Wheel band, did a superb job of both fiddling and acting in his role as the young Bob Wills.

The second act featured a hilarious scene of the Texas Playboys working on a movie in Hollywood, Wills’ own “faded loves” and his encounter with the Grand Ole Opry. When the bus reached Tulsa the play ended with what seemed a full evening’s entertainment.

BUT IT WASN’T over yet.

“Are you ready for some music?” Benson asked.

No question about it. A more-than-ready audience was treated to nearly an hour of Asleep at the Wheel playing numbers like Miles and Miles of Texas, Route 66 and a medley sung by special guest Leon Rausch, onetime vocalist for the Texas Playboys.

Having been impressed with two young teenage girls who won awards in the 2008 Yamboree fiddlers’ contest, I was interested to hear from Ruby Jane Smith, 14, billed as “one of the world’s premiere junior fiddlers and a fast-rising star in country and bluegrass-American music.” She played both Bob Wills as a kid fiddler and Mary Louise Parker Wills.

EQUALLY A HIT was the Quebe Sisters Band, featuring triple fiddles and 3-part harmony singing by Grace, Sophia and Hulda.

The cast came together to wish Happy Trails to a reluctant-to-leave crowd.

In the fall of 2005 the play began touring regionally, selling out, getting great reviews and standing ovations. By the summer of 2006 the show broke out of Texas and was entertaining audiences as large as 3,000 plus.

THE TOUR wrapped up at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. with President and Mrs. Bush in attendance. The Washington Post reviewer said it seemed to be someone other than Laura Bush who was heard to cry out “Yeehaw.”

Yankee-born Ray Benson, 6 feet 4 inches tall with a pony tail that has turned grey in his 36 years as a Texan, is an unlikely prospect to channel Bob Wills. Not bad for “a Jew from Philadelphia” (as Benson described himself in closing).

For as we often have heard from composer Waylon and other singers, “It don’t matter who’s in Austin, Bob Wills is still the king.”

A Ride with Bob will play five times this week in Galveston, Thursday through Sunday at the Strand Theater, and it is scheduled for March 13 at the Michael & Susan Dell Hall in Austin.

I hope it goes on and on. I expect I’m not the only fan who would like to see it again.

sgreene@tatertv.com


Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

10 days ago | 58 views | 0 | 2 | |

IN THIS SPACE on Jan. 7 I wrote about the membership drive being held by the East Texas Historical Association, and offered to send an application blank to anyone interested in joiniing. I responded to five requests.

But imagine my surprise, when registering for the spring meeting at the Holiday Inn in Paris last Thursday, to learn that 10 new members had given my name as the person they heard about it from. I was told that I’m leading the new member competition that will be decided at the September meeting in Nacogdoches.

I think this says something about the power of the press, and I am appreciative. I repeat my offer to send anyone interested an application blank.

Three of these new members, Judy Penick Chance and her husband Paul of Tyler and Bill Starnes of Gilmer, made it to the Paris meeting. They and others attending had a rich feast of historical information to choose from.

ARCHIE McDONALD, retired executive director fo the association, sometime columnist on these pages and newly working as a liaison person at Stephen F. Austin State University, gave a delightful program of World War II songs. He accompanied himself on the guitar, and linked the songs with a narrative of why each song was appropriate for its particular year — from Remember Pearl Harbor to the hopeful ballad, The White Cliffs of Dover.

I enjoyed hearing Dr. Jerry Lincecum of Austin College read a paper on Ruby Allmond, a champion woman fiddler who went on to distinction as a song writer recorded by well-known Nashville artists, including Chet Atkins.

RUBY GREW UP on a cotton farm during the Depression and started performing at age four. In the late 1940s she had a fiddle band and one of her fans was the late speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn of Bonham. The band often entertained for “Mister Sam” when he was campaigning.

Ruby’s best friend, Audra M. Brock, was in the audience, and had available the book and CDs that record Ruby’s prolific output. The 41 songs in the book, titled Today I’ll Think About the Rain, are divided into three parts: Sounds of Texas, A Little About Life and A Lot About Love.

My favorite is Texas Red, a paean to chili in our state. A note appended to the lyrics says that when the state Legislature in 1977 made chili the Texas state dish, Ruby’s song was played.

THE MOST UNUSUAL feature of the recent meeting was that it was held, for the first time, in two different towns. Early Friday afternoon the attendees made the 30-mile trip to Clarksville, where they were met at the town square by horse-drawn carriages and wagons that took us on a tour of Clarksville’s many historic sites.

I hadn’t been to Clarksville in years, and the main thing I knew about its recent history was that Wal-Mart had closed its store there, the first to open in Texas. (Mt. Pleasant’s was second and Gilmer’s, third.)

So I was pleasantly surprised to see what the Main Street program has done for the downtown square, which is centered by a tall Confederate monument and is three blocks southeast of the handsomely-restored 1885-vintage courthouse with its tall tower.

AN INFUSION of $400,000 from the local Lennox Foundation helped dig up the solid concrete of the square and replace it with grass and plantings. And many of the old stores have been restored in a picturesque style.

We learned about the Lennox family and its foundation in a talk by Jack Herrington, Clarksville lawyer who has been involved with the foundation. The family owned a large amount of rural Red River County land that produced oil and gas, and had other farming, ranching and banking interests. The last surviving member of the family was Martha Lennox, who was murdered in 1993 at age 85.

TWO MEN were convicted ot the murder, carried out as part of a robbery that netted only $13. One of them, Willie Earl Poindexter Jr., is scheduled to be executed on March 3 and the second one, James Henderson, is on the Texas death row.

A late afternoon program and banquet were held at the Clarksville First Presbyterian Church, which was built in 1905 and boasts a history dating back to 1833, which makes it the oldest Protestant congregation in Texas.

After the banquet we adjourned to the Lennox House, the 2-story, 112-year-old Victorian frame family home located just west of downtown. It has been restored and refurnished as a $500,000 project of the Lennox Foundation.

CLARKSVILLE on the east has in common with Archer City in West Texas the distinction of being the native town of an author recognized around the world for literary merit.

Archer City, of course, is the home town of Larry McMurtry, who has always looked west in his (usually futile) attempts to destroy myths of the Old West.

And William Humphrey (1924-1927) spent his first 13 years in Clarksville. He has been compared with William Faulkner as a chronicler of the Old South, Texas version.Though he never returned except for brief visits, the town and surrounding countryside became the fictionalized scene of much of his work.

The town square where we gathered for our tour was the setting for chapter one of Humphrey’s novel, Home from the Hill. It began with men standing around, commenting on the hearse that was bringing Hannah Hunnicutt home for burial from the mental hospital where she had spent 15 years. The novel, her family’s story, was told backwards from there.

A MOVIE WAS made from the novel in 1960, with Robert Mitchum in the role of Wade Hunnicutt, mighty hunter of both wildlife and women; Eleanor Parker as his wife Hannah and George Hamilton as their son Theron.

In conversation with one of our local hosts I learned that he had been one of the child extras who was hired for the movie, which was mostly filmed in and around Clarksville. He said they were paid more than $3 an hour at a time when the minimum wage was 75 cents. One of his jobs was to climb a tree and hold the rain-making machine over George Hamilton in a Sulphur River bottoms hunting scene.

The tall spire of the handsome Red River County courthouse, the building recently restored at a cost of more than $3 milllion turns up in one of my favorite Humphrey short stories, The Human Fly, which appears in his book, A Time and a Place.

Today, we were told on a tour of the courthouse, it holds only one office, the county judge’s. But the second floor houses an exceptionally handsome district courtroom.

sgreene@tatertv.com


Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

1 day 6 hrs ago | 6 views | 0 | 0 | |

IN A PERFECT world, or, indeed, in the world today’s oldest generation grew up in, we assumed that the purpose of our state’s criminal justice system was just what the name implies: a means to obtain justice for those accused of crimes.

We thought this meant that criminals would be punished and the innocent would go free.

Maybe we were naive in those days. But whenever the system started to fail, it’s broken now.

Consider the statistics: Between 1994 and the present, DNA evidence proved the innocence of 35 convicted Texas felons, the most of any state. Thirteen of these were from Dallas County, the most of any county in the nation.

The statistics come from the Innocence Project of Texas, part of a national network of nonprofit groups made up of lawyers, students and other volunteers dedicated to overturning wrongful convictions and securing freedom for men and women wrongfully imprisoned for serious crimes in Texas.

HOW HAS THE need for the Innocence Project come about? Mainly because of a political culture in which the public appears to be so afraid of crime that district attorneys must go after convictions at all cost — never mind if the evidence against the accused is flimsy.

The Feb. 14 edition of The Mirror carried a story about how District Judge Charlie Baird of Austin rectified one such miscarriage of justice. After a hearing he ruled on Feb. 6 that Timothy Cole, who died in prison in 1999, was not guilty of a 1985 rape a Lubbock jury had convicted him of. Serving a 25-year sentence, Cole died at age 39 from complications of asthma.

It was the first time in Texas that a deceased inmate was cleared of a charge in court and only the second in the nation. The verdict made national news and drew many criticisms of Texas justice.

COLE WAS CONVICTED on the basis of testimony from the victim, who picked him out of both photographic and live lineups. When another convict confessed and DNA established Cole’s innocence, the victim was dismayed, and joined Cole’s family in seeking exoneration from the court that convicted him.

The Lubbock court denied their request, whereupon the family and the Innocence Project turned to Judge Baird’s 299th District Court.

The Lubbock authorities have been accused of manipulating the lineups and withholding evidence that another man (the eventual confessor) had done the rape.

As an eyewitness to one violent crime and the victim of a robbery, I never want to see anyone convicted on the basis of eyewitness testimony alone. I know how flawed mine was, and I don’t think I am much different from any other eyewitness and/or victim.

THE INNOCENCE Project contends that one of the reforms needed is in the way police lineups are conducted for eyewitnesses.

In a news report posted on its website, the Innocence Project noted that the “fallout” of the Timothy Cole case is continuing. It said:

“Texas lawmakers this session are seeking to prevent misidentifications in the future. State Senator Rodney Ellis, the Innocence Project Board Chairman, has introduced an identification reform bill in the state senate.” It added that Cole’s family (along with a dozen exonerees) visited with lawmakers to support the legislation. Ellis has also introduced bills to improve compensation for exonerees and to create an innocence commission.

In a story on the case in its February edition, Texas Monthly magazine quoted Judge Baird ‘s closing remarks to Cole’s family, as follows:

“ ‘This went from aggravated sexual assault to robbery, and the judicial system robbed the Cole family of Tim’s love, and I’m sorry for that.’ He concluded that Cole had suffered the ‘greatest miscarriage of the justice system imaginable.’

“ ‘This system was designed by wise men and women to serve justice, and you’ve shown that this system is broken. We are fools if we don’t fix it. It is the duty of prosecutors not to convict but to seek justice, and somewhere out in Lubbock, that duty was lost in the tunnel vision of trying to convict Timothy Cole.’ ”

I DON’T BELIEVE that seeking justice, as Charlie Baird is doing today and did when he previously served on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is being soft on crime.

Our Feb. 14 story also told about a parenting class Judge Baird has set up for probationers who, lacking father figures themselves, were demonstrating failures that possibly can be corrected. If so, it can keep them out of prison. If they mess up their probation will be revoked.

Innovations like this are praiseworthy, and should inspire others in the judicial system to put effort into rehabilitation as well as prosecution — not that all perpetrators can be rehabilitated, but everyone who is lifts a burden off of the rest of us.

********

EXPANDING ON bird-watching notes from this space last week:

The Audobon Society reported last week that many species of migratory birds are no longer traveling as far south to winter as they once did. This provides new and powerful evidence that global warming is having a serious impact on natural systems, according to Audubon scientists.

The report said that analyses of citizen-gathered data from the past 40 years of Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count reveal that 58 percent of the 305 widespread species that winter on the continent shifted significantly north since 1966, some by hundreds of miles.

Purple finch, pine siskin, and boreal chickadee have retreated dramatically north into the Canadian forests, their ranges moving an estimated 433, 288, and 279 miles respectively over 40 years, the report said. This answers my question as to why my bird feeders no longer attract purple finches, striking little birds that look like sparrows dipped in raspberry juice.

Population shifts among individual species are common, fluctuate, and can have many causes, Audubon scientists point out, but they say the ongoing trend of movement by some 177 species — closely correlated to long-term winter temperature increases — reveals an undeniable link to the changing climate.

Movements across all species—including those not reflecting the 40-year trend—averaged approximately 35 miles during the period.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

8 days ago | 21 views | 0 | 3 | |

I’VE HEARD IT argued that most people like only one kind of music. So those who plan performances, such as the dedicated volunteers who program and present the Upshur County Arts Council events, have to consider what kind of audience they might attract.

The same folks who may turn out for the Tyler Big Band may not be interested in hearing Anton Kuerti, concert pianist, for example. Or the Light Crust Doughboys may not please the same people who make up the audience for the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra.

Many other such contrasts could be drawn from the dozens of concerts that the Arts Council has brought for more than a decade to the Gilmer Civic Center and, before the Center was opened, to the Trinity Street Gym.

ONE OF THE nationally syndicated newspaper columnists recently wrote on the subject of whether federal money should support classical music through the National Endowment for the Arts. He made the flat statement that no one likes both Merle Haggard (or maybe Waylon Jennings or some other big country name) and a Bruckner Symphony.

The name of the columnist escapes me, but the idea stuck, because I couldn’t disagree more.

I may be in a minority, as often happens, but I enjoy both Waylon, Willie and the boys and symphonies by Bruckner — or Mahler, or Beethoven, Brahms and others. I’ve recently read Joe Lynn Patoski’s excellent biography of Willie Nelson, which both justified my fondness for and added to my knowledge about that great one.

I ALSO ENJOY grand opera, and for more than 15 years have trekked to Tyler for Jim Yancy’s excellent non-credit opera classes, now held at the UT Tyler Cowan Center in a special room with excellent sound and movie/video equipment for the Yancy collection of great opera recordings from around the world.

Each of those years I have enjoyed season tickets for the Dallas Opera with transportation in the chartered buses that the class takes from Tyler.

I saw my first grand opera at age 10 when my mother sent me to Dallas on the train for a friend to take me to the Metropolitan Opera’s production of The Daughter of the Regiment with Lily Pons at the State Fair Music Hall.

MANY ARE the other Metropolitan productions I enjoyed there before the tours, which had begun in 1898, were stopped in 1986 because of financial problems. Dallas Opera is still at the Music Hall, but it will be taking a step up next fall when the new Winspear Opera Center opens in the arts district downtown. I have my seat reserved.

Without a doubt, the music of one’s youth and young adulthood has a lasting effect, as proven by the audiences that show up for ‘50s doo-wop concerts broadcast as public television fund-raisers.

These are apparently made up of the same age cohort that always fills up large halls for Johnny Mathis concerts, which take place about once a month, on average, with symphony orchestras in Dallas, Houston, and elsewhere around the country.

If children are exposed to all kinds of music, they may grow up with an appreciation of the many forms it takes. That’s one of the aims of the Arts Council’s student programs.

Considering the appeal Branson music demonstrably holds for Northeast Texans, there should be a good turnout for the Hughes Brothers Variety Show when it comes here next Tuesday as a post-Valentine’s Day treat.

The adult tickets priced at $15 are a bargain compared to other live performance venues in this area. The show starts at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center.

Hope to see you there.

********

AS YOU MAY have heard,Texas hosts more migratory birds than almost any state. The state Parks and Wildlife Department in 2002 established the three divisions of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trails and began distributing maps that can guide you to the top birding sites.

Many serious birders from all over the world converge on these areas in the fall and spring when huge bird migrations pass through these areas and provide great chances to add to their “life lists” of birds sighted.

The Upper Coast map covers driving loops from the Louisiana border, through the Houston and Beaumont coastal areas, and down to Brazosport. The Central Coast map starts near Matagorda Bay, goes through the coast around Victoria and Corpus Christi, and ends just south of Kingsville.

The Lower Coast map takes in the southern tip of Texas along the border with Mexico, from South Padre Island through Brownsville, Harlingen and McAllen, and west towards Laredo.

I ENVY THOSE who have both the strength and the wherewithal to settle in with their binoculars at these sometimes remote sites, but I must content myself with backyard bird watching. This year it’s been pretty good at my north Gilmer house.

The migratory goldfinches, juncoes and song sparrow flocks are still competing for the seeds in feeders and on my deck. They will soon be gone, no doubt to the relief of the resident cardinals, titmice, chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches and downy woodpeckers, the smallest of their breed, that compete with them.

THE OTHER DAY I was watching from my living room when a Eurasian collared dove swooped down like a bomber, scattering all the other birds that were less than half his size.

It wasn’t the first I had ever seen, but the first this season. Like the house sparrow, this dove is an import from Europe that stowed away on some ship and entered through Florida a few years ago.

My 2000 edition of the Sibley Guide to Birds shows it resident only in Florida and along the coastlines of states from South Carolina to Lousiana along with isolated spots through the Middle West, Texas and elsewhere.

The Eurasian collared dove is easily distinguished from our native mourning doves by its larger size, very pale grey color and a black neck mark that does, indeed, look like a collar.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

15 days ago | 62 views | 0 | 2 | |

IN HER ROLE as a UT Distinguished Alumna, internationally renowned mezzo-soprano and civil rights pioneer, Barbara Smith Conrad will be honored Thursday at the Texas capitol in Austin.

And what a deserved honor it will be when resolutions are read in the House and Senate chambers that morning, preceding a noon performance by the singer in the Capitol rotunda at noon.

Regrettably, a commitment to the Texas Press Association convention in Arlington Thursday will keep me from accepting the invitation I received to the Capitol honors and the reception to follow.

AS IS WELL KNOWN in this area, Barbara grew up in the Center Point community near Pittsburg, and she has many friends and admirers as well as relatives in this area. (She is the niece of the late Bruce School principal, Curtis Smith.)

Audiences here have been privileged to hear her sing several concerts at the Gilmer Civic Center, part of a career that has touched the lives of opera audiences and other music lovers around the world..

Her story tells, in its own way, as much about interracial change in this country as does the election of the first African American president. Certainly Barack Obama never encountered the kind of treatment Barbara Smith Conraf faced at the University of Texas when she enrolled there as a talented music student in the 1950s.

THE CENTER for the Study of American History at UT Austin describes the courageous behavior that has been well rewarded by her alma mater in recent years. The Center’s website explains:

“She entered UT in 1956, the first year in which African American students were admitted to the University as undergraduates. With her natural talents and stage presence, Barbara was encouraged to audition for a role in the University’s 1957 production of Dido and Aeneas. She was awarded the leading role of Dido, the Queen of Carthage, opposite a white boy as Aeneas, her lover.

“Soon after the start of rehearsals, word spread that a black girl and a white boy were to play the lead roles in a romantic opera, and Barbara’s trouble began. Ultimately, the controversy escalated to the Texas legislature, and the president of the University was advised to remove her from the cast.

“Barbara’s story was covered by national news media, prompting a carte blanche offer from Harry Belafonte to underwrite her studies at the institution of her choice. Barbara, however, chose to remain at the University. She was one of the early pioneers in the movement to create a more open and diverse university community, and her accomplishments and fortitude as a student represent an important chapter in the University’s history.

“The Texas Ex-Students’ Association named her a Distinguished Alumnus in 1985, and the University has honored her with the founding of the Barbara Smith Conrad Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Fine Arts.”

THE GEORGE Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, Huston-Tillotson University and UT Austin’s Butler School of Music sponsored “An Evening with Barbara Conrad” on Tuesday of this week, and the Museum has an archive that gives the flavor of the uproar that even a hint of integration elicited in the Texas legislature of the 1950s.

Letters to the editor to the Daily Texan, UT student newspaper, had comments such as these:

“It strikes me after reading the statements by two of our legislators in the Barbara Smith story of May 8 that there is some confusion in these gentlemen’s minds as to the true function of an educational institution.

“I would like to say that the University is not a public relations organization for this state, but rather an educational institution. And as such, gentlemen, it is its proper function to explore the expanding frontiers of interracial relations.

“The girl in question had a good voice; but this of course is not the point. We agree that the time is not quite ripe for a member of her race to take such a part. But we rejoice that soon such a casting at this University will occasion no lifted eyebrows or sneers of disapproval.”

ANOTHER, more sarcastic, writer opined:

“I was shocked to hear that a Negro was ever granted the part of Dido in the coming University opera. I was shocked because I felt sure, in my secure little way, that our wonderful fellow citizens down the street had special controlling measures to see to it that just any old Negro couldn’t participate in campus activities with us Texans. . .

“Yes, we almost sneaked by casting the best voice, we almost made a step to pull our University and our state away from the South. Thank God that we have foresighted individuals . . . in our government. They are protecting us from Communism, they are helping to make our college educations make sense, they are 100 per cent Americans.”

Barbara Conrad performed with the Metropolitan Opera for eight years, from 1982 to 1989, and has performed leading operatic roles with the Vienna State Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera, and many other international opera houses around the world.

IN 1977 she played Marian Anderson in the 3-hour ABC movie Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years and in 1994 followed that performance with a European concert/recital tour commemorating the renowned contralto.

She has recorded a collection of Negro spirituals with the choir of Harlem’s Convent Avenue Baptist Church on the Naxos label.

That CD, which I’m pleased to own, includes a wonderful variety of songs, from Steal Away to Jesus!, Certainly, Lord; Wade in the Water to My Lord What a Morning and He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand. And of course, Amazing Grace.

RETURNING to her story as the UT Center for American History tells it:

“Today Barbara continues to complement her performing activities with artist residencies and master classes, establishing herself as one of the foremost builders of voice both in the U.S. and abroad. She is the co-director and co-founder of the Wagner Theater Program at the Manhattan School of Music, and maintains a private vocal studio in Manhattan.

“Barbara traces her musical roots to her family’s home in the tiny east Texas community of Center Point, where she and her siblings explored a variety of musical genres on the family piano an in their local Baptist church. It was in this community, to which she still maintains ties, that her love of the spiritual first developed.

“Barbara works closely with The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, which is the home of the University’s Endowment for the Study of American Spirituals, to preserve this important American art form.”

At 68, she deserves all the kudos that are coming her way — not least, for her magnanimous forgiveness of the 1950s racists. Without doubt, a majority of white Texans then shared the legislators’ views.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

22 days ago | 75 views | 0 | 2 | |

THE MIRROR is blessed with a stable of both local and distant writers who sometimes have good ideas at the same time. For example:

Columnist Pappy Moore expounded on Jan. 17 about his dislike for Billy Mays, the all-too-present TV commercial pitchman who is not a pirate but could easily be called Blackbeard — except that no self-respecting pirate would have such an irritating high-pitched voice.

Tumbleweed Smith, writing below here in this edition, expands his dislike for Billy Mays to take in the whole world of TV commercials. Both he and Pappy preempted my future column on the Mays phenomenon. May’s success evidently bears out the advertising maxim that litte drops of water and little grains of sand can wear away the hardest stone.

PRITCHETT Correspondent Jim Eitel wrote in the Jan. 21 Mirror about the successful 1941 Buckeye football team. It was a bare bones account that is supplemented in this issue by a fuller history written by Mary Lee Baird and Joe Blount, who were seniors that year.

Joe was too modest to recount some of the accolades he got in The Mirror that season, when he played tackle.

My father, Russ Laschinger, was the sports writer that fall, in addition to being publisher, bookkeeper and sometime printer, among other duties. Of the Oct. 3 game that Gilmer won over Judson, 38-0, he wrote:

Murphy Lee, Sonny Hamberlin and W.A. Phillips scored on “three of the most thrilling touchdown jaunts seen on the local sod in many a day.” And, “Blount was a terror to the Blue Devils all night, turning in some of the most quick thinking and aggressive defensive plays of the entire year.”

WINNING ON Oct. 10 at Pittsburg, 13-0, the Buckeyes had their toughest regular-season game. End Ray Reid scored one of the touchdowns on a Statue of Liberty play.

Today’s Buckeyes and their fans may be surprised to learn that in that long-ago time, a Thanksgiving afternoon game was a tradition.

By beating Winnsboro 20-0 that Nov. 20, the Buckeyes gave Coach Leonard Pickitt his first district championship.

It was the first time since 1933, when Gilmer won bi-district over the Odd Fellows’ Home at Corsicana and then defeated Texas State Home in the same city for regional that the Buckeyes had gotten out of the district.

My dad’s Looking ‘em over on the Gridiron column said the man to be singled out against Winnsboro was W.A. Phillips, and the old standouts in the line were outstanding again: Blount, Huggins, Pilcher and Smith.

OF THE DEC. 4 bi-district game at Gladewter in which Gilmer defeated Van, 7-0, he wrote:

“Twelve iron men. Twelve. Count ‘em. Clinnon Baxley, Joe Blount, Gene Smith, B. J. Bullard, Dude Huggins, Paul Pilcher, Ray Reid, Sonny Hamberlin, J. E. Thweatt, W. A. Phillips, Murphy Lee and R. H. Barrett. Shout their names and sing their praises to the skies. For it was these 12 stalwart Buckeyes who snatched glorious victory from from what seemed certain defeat from an inspired, rough and ragged crew of Vandals to determine the bi-district winner for Districts 19-AA and 20-A.

“A crowd of 1,700 thrilled to the play of these most evenly matched teams ... Van was ahead on 20-yard-line penetrations when a seemingly hopeless pass from Sonny Hamberlin reached 40 yards into the arms of Ray Reid on the Van 2-yard line.”

THE GAME FOR the regional championship the next week was almost an anti-climax.

The Mirror reported:

“All Gilmer closed for the game, which the Buckeyes won, 51-0, the season’s biggest score.

“They proved themselves probably the greatest Class A team in Texas this year of 1941. Those fans who have followed the Buckeyes’ every game have seen them rally with an invincible spirit whenever the occasion demanded it . . . Gilmer scored 369 points to 6 for opponents (Emory).

The Buckeyes were also regional champs in 1930, beating Mart, 13 to 6, and in 1929, winning over the legendary Mighty Mites of Fort Worth’s Masonic Home, 25-6.

ONLY TWO OF the 1941 Buckeyes returned for the next season, Sonny Hamberlin and Gene “Bird Dog” Smith, who were co-captains. That team won the bi-district championship over New Boston, which, according to Joe Blount’s memory, had a line anchored by big Dan Blocker, later known as Hoss Cartwright on the TV series Bonanza.

By the fall of 1942, the World War II exodus of male Gilmer High students to the armed forces had begun in earnest. And it also extended to male faculty members of an eligible age.

AS FAR AS I can tell, there was one Gilmer High annual produced between the 1920s and the post-WWII years.

I guard that 1943 Buckeye, published when I was a sophomore, more intensely than any of the other books I have acquired in a long lifetime. Thus I am able to look at it today and see that by the spring of 1943 all the regular faculty members and administrators were women.

The only man pictured is Supt. John Avery, who doubled as football coach. By the end of the war he was also teaching physics and college-level math courses, including trigonometry and college algebra. Theoretically there were no advanced placement courses for high school students then as there are now, but Mr. John was not one to let that stand in his way.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

1 day 5 hrs ago | 4 views | 0 | 0 | |

MANY COMPARISONS have been made to Barack Obama’s inauguration as president this week to the ceremonies that elevated John F. Kennedy to the office on Jan. 20, 1961.

Did President Obama’s address contain any lines as memorable as these from Kennedy?

“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

“My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

At this writing we haven’t heard the new president’s address. But of course he and his speech writers will hope to make the kind of historical impact achieved by Kennedy and only a few other inaugural speechmakers.

THERE ARE similarities between the two inaugurations — each replaces an 8-year Republican administration with a new young Democratic leader saddled with great expectations — and the excitement level is high.

But so much has changed in the last 48 years. What was then a nation of 180 million people now has more than 305 million, according to a Jan. 1 estimate.

And nowhere near the two to five millions who streamed into the capital this week showed up that frigid late January in 1961.

THANKS TO THE new vice-president, Lyndon B. Johnson, my husband Ray Greene and I were privileged to have close-up seats for the JFK swearing-in and many other inaugural events.

Until President Ronald Reagan moved the inauguration to the west side of the Capitol in 1981, the ceremonies were held on the much more restricted east side. Instead of the 250,000 with tickets on the mall to see Barack Obama take the oath of office, only a few thousand huddled in the cold on that Friday in 1961.

An 8-inch snow had ended only hours before and the sun had come out. The temperature was 22 degrees with a 17 mph wind, making the chill factor 7 degrees, a recent check of the weather records showed.

IT TOOK AN extreme effort for this Southerner to concentrate on the speech, but I remember thinking that the “ask not” lines were designed to be engraved in marble some day.

Ray had the same reaction, for he wrote in his Mirror story that these were “Probably the most remembered words, directed right at every American man and woman . . . ”

There were no taxis available, and it seemed like a mighty long walk from the Capitol to the White House, where we had tickets for seats in the bleachers set up just below where the presidential party watched the inaugural parade.

OUR WALK ended in frustration. Men from all three service academies (there were no women students then) were marching by and police would not let anyone cross Pennsylvania Ave. We learned later that John Kenneth Galbraith, the Harvard economist, got the same treatment, though he said he was a personal friend of the president.

We looked for Gilmer’s Charlie Hogg, then a West Point cadet, and Phil Maywald, attending the Air Force Academy, but could not spot them. Nor could we locate former Buckeye Bob Parsons, who marched with the UT Longhorn band.

Seated near us in the parade bleachers were Barefoot Sanders and his wife, Barefoot already well known to Ray and me from his year as student body president at UT-Austin. Sadly, he will miss this inauguration, for he died last September after a long and distinguished career as a U.S. district judge in Dallas.

SOME OF my other reflections, as reported in The Mirror:

En route to a coffee given by Texas Sen. William P. Blakley (temporary appointee, as it turned out) at his office, we saw Joseph P. Kennedy, the president’s father, bound from a Cadillac limousine up the steps of the Senate office building to shake hands and engage in back-slapping with Virginia Sen. Harry Byrd, whose very conservative political views are said to be similar to the elder Mr. Kennedy’s.

(It was the following December that Joseph P. Kennedy suffered the crippling stroke that afflicted the last eight years of his life.)

A [Jan. 18] night reception for Sen. Johnson, which attracted 8,000 people to the Statler Hiilton Hotel, came to a halt for 15 minutes when President-Elect Kennedy stopped by. The $5 ticket included a buffet. (That cost would be $25 now.)

AT THE YOUNG Democrats dance at the Mayflower Hotel the center of attention was the box where Lynda Bird and Lucy Baines Johnson were seated with their Texas escorts. Lynda wore the blue gown she had chosen for her apppearance as a visiting duchess at the Yamboree in the fall of 1960. She and Jim Cockrell of Hillsboro danced the Charleston to music by Woody Hermann’s band. Lynda asked to be remembered to her Gilmer friends.

At the inaugural ball at the Sheraton Park Hotel, attended by mostly Texas and Indiana folks, Jackie Kennedy had left the presidential party by the time it arrived. Three hundred Marines formed a corridor where the new cabinet officers and their wives entered, followed by the president introduced with Hail to the Chief. The Armory ball and others preceded ours, and by the time the president left and we shared a taxi a gracious Indiana couple had hailed, it was 2:30 a.m.

I’M MORE THAN happy to watch the Obama inauguration on TV, as he himself suggested for any tempted at the last minute to attend in person.

My mother, the late Georgia Laschinger, wrote a column in Ray’s absence and the final paragraph said that he and I did not have to wire home that we had arrived.

“That very afternoon the Huntley-Brinkley NBC news program took pictures at the tea for distinguished ladies and Sarah Greene was seen standing in the receiving line.”

(The receiving lines were distinguished, not the attendees. I still remember the Marine officer in dress uniform who said, “Mrs. Auchincloss, Mrs. Greene” when I was introduced to Jackie Kennedy’s mother.)

MY MOTHER also wrote about how special lyrics are sometimes written for old tunes and the adaptation becomes better known than the original. For example, she noted, England’s God Save the Queen became My Country ‘Tis of Thee. The column concluded:

“Now that we have a vice-president from Texas newscasters are finally learning the Texan’s favorite tune is The Eyes of Texas and not I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.

“So it goes. maybe some day An Army of Buckeyes will supersede The Stars and Stripes Forever. When President Kennedy entered the inaugural platform to this Sousa march our 5-year-old granddaughter jumped to attention, saying, ‘Why that’s the Buckeye song.’ ”

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

9 days ago | 61 views | 0 | 2 | |

THE MIRROR is blessed with a stable of both local and distant writers who sometimes have good ideas at the same time. For example:

Columnist Pappy Moore expounded on Jan. 17 about his dislike for Billy Mays, the all-too-present TV commercial pitchman who is not a pirate but could easily be called Blackbeard — except that no self-respecting pirate would have such an irritating high-pitched voice.

Tumbleweed Smith, writing below here in this edition, expands his dislike for Billy Mays to take in the whole world of TV commercials. Both he and Pappy preempted my future column on the Mays phenomenon. May’s success evidently bears out the advertising maxim that litte drops of water and little grains of sand can wear away the hardest stone.

PRITCHETT Correspondent Jim Eitel wrote in the Jan. 21 Mirror about the successful 1941 Buckeye football team. It was a bare bones account that is supplemented in this issue by a fuller history written by Mary Lee Baird and Joe Blount, who were seniors that year.

Joe was too modest to recount some of the accolades he got in The Mirror that season, when he played tackle.

My father, Russ Laschinger, was the sports writer that fall, in addition to being publisher, bookkeeper and sometime printer, among other duties. Of the Oct. 3 game that Gilmer won over Judson, 38-0, he wrote:

Murphy Lee, Sonny Hamberlin and W.A. Phillips scored on “three of the most thrilling touchdown jaunts seen on the local sod in many a day.” And, “Blount was a terror to the Blue Devils all night, turning in some of the most quick thinking and aggressive defensive plays of the entire year.”

WINNING ON Oct. 10 at Pittsburg, 13-0, the Buckeyes had their toughest regular-season game. End Ray Reid scored one of the touchdowns on a Statue of Liberty play.

Today’s Buckeyes and their fans may be surprised to learn that in that long-ago time, a Thanksgiving afternoon game was a tradition.

By beating Winnsboro 20-0 that Nov. 20, the Buckeyes gave Coach Leonard Pickitt his first district championship.

It was the first time since 1933, when Gilmer won bi-district over the Odd Fellows’ Home at Corsicana and then defeated Texas State Home in the same city for regional that the Buckeyes had gotten out of the district.

My dad’s Looking ‘em over on the Gridiron column said the man to be singled out against Winnsboro was W.A. Phillips, and the old standouts in the line were outstanding again: Blount, Huggins, Pilcher and Smith.

OF THE DEC. 4 bi-district game at Gladewter in which Gilmer defeated Van, 7-0, he wrote:

“Twelve iron men. Twelve. Count ‘em. Clinnon Baxley, Joe Blount, Gene Smith, B. J. Bullard, Dude Huggins, Paul Pilcher, Ray Reid, Sonny Hamberlin, J. E. Thweatt, W. A. Phillips, Murphy Lee and R. H. Barrett. Shout their names and sing their praises to the skies. For it was these 12 stalwart Buckeyes who snatched glorious victory from from what seemed certain defeat from an inspired, rough and ragged crew of Vandals to determine the bi-district winner for Districts 19-AA and 20-A.

“A crowd of 1,700 thrilled to the play of these most evenly matched teams ... Van was ahead on 20-yard-line penetrations when a seemingly hopeless pass from Sonny Hamberlin reached 40 yards into the arms of Ray Reid on the Van 2-yard line.”

THE GAME FOR the regional championship the next week was almost an anti-climax.

The Mirror reported:

“All Gilmer closed for the game, which the Buckeyes won, 51-0, the season’s biggest score.

“They proved themselves probably the greatest Class A team in Texas this year of 1941. Those fans who have followed the Buckeyes’ every game have seen them rally with an invincible spirit whenever the occasion demanded it . . . Gilmer scored 369 points to 6 for opponents (Emory).

The Buckeyes were also regional champs in 1930, beating Mart, 13 to 6, and in 1929, winning over the legendary Mighty Mites of Fort Worth’s Masonic Home, 25-6.

ONLY TWO OF the 1941 Buckeyes returned for the next season, Sonny Hamberlin and Gene “Bird Dog” Smith, who were co-captains. That team won the bi-district championship over New Boston, which, according to Joe Blount’s memory, had a line anchored by big Dan Blocker, later known as Hoss Cartwright on the TV series Bonanza.

By the fall of 1942, the World War II exodus of male Gilmer High students to the armed forces had begun in earnest. And it also extended to male faculty members of an eligible age.

AS FAR AS I can tell, there was one Gilmer High annual produced between the 1920s and the post-WWII years.

I guard that 1943 Buckeye, published when I was a sophomore, more intensely than any of the other books I have acquired in a long lifetime. Thus I am able to look at it today and see that by the spring of 1943 all the regular faculty members and administrators were women.

The only man pictured is Supt. John Avery, who doubled as football coach. By the end of the war he was also teaching physics and college-level math courses, including trigonometry and college algebra. Theoretically there were no advanced placement courses for high school students then as there are now, but Mr. John was not one to let that stand in his way.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

7 days ago | 24 views | 0 | 0 | |

THANKS TO Mirror reader Jo-Ann Zimmerman of Euless for writing about a Johnny Mathis concert she attended on Jan. 6 at Bass Hall in Fort Worth, and for sending a clipping of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s review of it.

Punch Shaw wrote that the 1,437 in the audience “melted a little each time he eased into a signature number such as Chances Are or Misty.”

Shaw also wrote, “Mathis, who was born in Gilmer, was supported by a 30-piece-plus band comprising mostly Fort Worth Symphony players.”

The critic thought some of the singer’s lesser-known numbers, such as Secret Love and 99 Miles from L.A. were more impressively delivered than his classics. At 73, Shaw asserted, Mathis “has lost little of the magic that graces his impossibly smooth vocals.”

********

RESEARCHING the microfilm files of the 1941 Gilmer Mirrors, I came across a fish story that represents the writing style of my late uncle, Jinx Tucker of Waco.

My mother’s brother is still remembered there through, among other things, the annual award of the Waco Tribune-Herald Jinx Tucker Trophy. Quoting from the newspaper, “The Jinx Tucker is given each year by the Trib to honor the memory of a man who gained national respect in his 33 years as the Trib sports editor until his death in 1953.

“The award is emblematic of Tucker, who stressed sportsmanship, fairness and team play.”

Summer, 1941 editions of The Mirror reflected the fact that this country was on the verge of entering World War II. They also reported on a disastrous fire that destroyed the Mirror building on the east side of the courthouse square, and led to construction of the present building at the corner of U. S. 271 and Hwy. 154.

The (then daily) Mirror was printed at the Pittsburg Gazette plant until the new building was finished in 1942.

No doubt thinking that the publisher, my father, needed a break, the family arranged an outing that my uncle reported on. What follows is a slightly shortened version, but still with a twist:

WE HAVE JUST returned from a fishing trip with Russell Laschinger of the Gilmer Mirror and Horace Davis, mayor of Gilmer.

For years they have been endeavoring to get this scribe to go to Black Lake over in Louisiana fishing. It is a beautiful lake about 70 miles south of Shreveport and it is 50 miles long. At some spots it is five miles wide and it is full of fish—mostly white perch, or crappie and bass. It had been pictured to us as a fisherman’s paradise.

Up at 4 o’clock Thursday morning, we got into a motor boat with a guide and went roaring away to a group of tall cypress trees growing out of the beautiful limpid water. The still waters were disturbed only by silvery bass leaping out to snap at bugs or whatever they snap at when they jump out of the water.

Before the sun had risen, we had our hook in the water, felt something pulling, brought it up, but it was only 12 inches long, so we were told to throw it back.

Then on and on until the sun’s rays bore down with customary Louisiana midsummer emphasis, we fished and fished and fished. The next one we landed was 24 inches long, and we pulled it in. Never did we go for over five minutes without catching something.

Shortly before 8 o’clock we snagged one that we could not handle. It must have been four feet long as we had it at the top of the water when the hook was turned as straight as a nail, but we did not land it.

We got the limit finally and were back in camp before 11 o’clock, the limit being 20.

The next morning we were up again at four after lolling around the modern Collins camp for the rest of Thursday. Out once more, we darted past the innumerable stumps, into the clear channel, and back into another lake forest. Then midst the tall trees furnishing shade we started fishing once more.

We pulled in one weighing eight pounds, another weighing less than that by only a few ounces, and then a half dozen varying from 24 to 36 inches. Once more we snagged one over four feet long, and this time profiting by the experience of the day before, did no jerking, played it carefully, let it handle the boat, and then with skill, aided by the guide, pulled it in. It was our largest catch, and before the sun was very high, once more we had the limit of 20.

In fact, during the two days we hauled in enough wood and stumps to keep the home fires burning throughout the winter if we just had had a way of getting it back to Waco, because everything that we caught or snagged was some sort of a stump or log.

The Gilmer mayor had told us that we could get lots of action at Black Lake if nothing else, and he was eminently correct. When we were not hooking a log we were trying to get our hook loose from one. We forgot to mention that we also caught and landed without any help, one 7-inch white perch. How it found its way to the hook midst all of the logs and stumps will always be a mystery to us, but it was a very small fish and I take it for granted that it had become lost from its parents while feeding.

This trip did much for us. It proved beyond a doubt just what a great place Lake Waco is to fish. Now in Lake Waco you won’t see as much action as you do in Black Lake. You won’t be busy all day trying to get your hook out of one log so you can hook it into another, but otherwise you will find the fishing about the same.

[We] headed for home . . . carrying with us enough bruised places on our anatomy to let the folks back in east Texas know that we did get a number of bites, if no fish, but all, of course, were mosquito bites. Yes, sir, if you want action, go to Black Lake, but if you also want fish, carry them with you and at Collins’ camp you can get them cooked for you in a manner to appease the appetite of a king.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

2 days 5 hrs ago | 8 views | 0 | 0 | |

IT’S BEEN SAID that newspapers write the first draft of history. Since The Mirror itself has a considerable history, dating back to 1877 as a continuous publication, and to 1915 under the current family’s ownership, we take that responsibility seriously.

We find it interesting, and useful, that several of our correspondents currently add local history to their community reports: Jim Eitel from Pritchett, Lurline Johnson from Bettie, Charles Johnson from Rosewood, Katie Breazeale from Ore City and perhaps others.

This is the time of year when regional history is on many minds, since the semi-annual meeting of the East Texas Historical Association draws near.

When members gather at the Holiday Inn in Paris Feb. 20-21, they will be representing the second largest historical organization in the state. Only the Texas State Historical Association is larger.

DURING THE PAST year the longtime executive director/editor, Archie P. McDonald, turned over the leadership reins of the association to Scott Sosebee. But Archie has not really retired. In a new role he will still be writing his regular historical column for The Mirror and other newspapers.

And he will be on the program in Paris doing one of his specialties: singing songs of World War II.

The only drawback to ETHA meetings is the concurrent sessions, which require you to make a choice between speakers who often have equally interesting subjects.

AT THE SAME time Archie is singing, a session on WWII prisoner of war camps will feature two speakers, one of them, Kyle McGrogan, speaking on the POWs at Camp Maxey in Paris.

Old Buckeyes from that era can remember when our legendary coach, Henry McClelland, left his 1940s position as Gilmer school superintendent to accept a commission as an Army captain. He served out the war at Camp Maxey, and John Avery took his place as superintendent.

The Friday afternoon program at the spring meeting will take place in Clarksville, and will include a tour of that historic town and a banquet at its First Presbyterian Church.

I look forward to the Women’s History Breakfast, held on the Saturday mornings of the meetings. Women in attendance are expected to, and do, give reports on their current historical research or interests.

THE SATURDAY morning program also will include a session on East Texas Women, with Dee Rinkes Marshall of Commerce speaking on Ruby Allmand, Northeast Texas Musician, and Gail Beil of Marshall reporting on Martin Dies Jr. and the Marshall Housewives.

The final Saturday morning sessions willl require a difficult choice for me.

Historian James Smallwood will preside over two talks on East Texans in the Civil War; Karen O’Neal of Panola College will introduce two papers on Northeast Texas Shootouts and Shootists and a third session will offer three speakers on The People Known as Redbones and Multi-EthnIc Legacies in East Texas.

NOT CONTENT with the present total of 700 enrolled, Membership Chairman Smallwood has launched a membership drive. For dues of $25, ($35 for a family) one receives, among other benefits, a subscription to the East Texas Historical Journal, a quarterly that always covers topics of interest in our region and sometimes beyond.

The current issue, No. 1 for 2009, has a story by Ken Untiedt, who succeeded F. E. (Ab) Abernethy as secretary editor of the Texas Folklore Society, another organization close to my heart. Both ETHA and TFS are headquartered on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State university in Nacogdoches, where the folklore society will hold its 100th anniversary meeting on Easter weekend.

The younger ETHA was founded in 1962 at the Nacogdoches university.

Dr. Smallwood, retired Oklahoma State University history professor, has proposed that each member be challenged to recruit one new member in the next year. Modest awards are offered for the most successful.

So I would like to extend an invitation to anyone interested in East Texas history to join. Just e-mail me at slgreene@etex.net" or contact me otherwise and I’ll be glad to provide a membership form.

THE AFOREMENTIONED Pritchett Correspondent Eitel, as his readers all know, has been preoccupied in recent months by the buzzard question, concerned that their numbers stay large enough to carry out their essential scavenging function. He has given custody of the Patterson Addition flock to Dr. Randy McDaniel, whose residence on the Cherokee Trace is northwest of my Patterson Addition home.

I never fail to wonder, when I see the buzzards circling my place, what they know that I don’t. Some days, as they mount ever higher, I think the buzzards may just be riding thermals.

READING John L. Tveten’s excellent book, The Birds of Texas, one learns that the turkey vultures (more common here than the shorter-winged black vultures) have a slow wake-up period. After roosting all night, probably in trees, they raise their 6-foot wings and hold them out to dry. They also need to warm up after having maintained a a lower body temperature through the night. When they do launch, they seek a thermal to carry them high.

According to this book — commercial note: on sale at The Mirror ­— ornithologists have long wondered whether the vulture/buzzard locates its decaying food by sight or smell. Most likely, Tveten writes, one vulture spots carrion from on high and others follow it down.

WHAT I REALLY wonder about is the flock of crows that frequent the streets in my neighborhood. Something in the 900 block of Madelaine Dr. has kept them busy for months, and made them something of a traffic hazard.

I was slow getting a feeder out last fall, but once I did the goldfinch and slate-colored junco flocks that had found some kind of wild seeds on my driveway soon located the bought variety in my back yard.

They are regularly joined by the more solitary birds: two pairs of cardinals, tufted titmouse, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch and red-bellied woodpecker. All are fun for this not-very-accomplished bird watcher.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

2 days 6 hrs ago | 3 views | 0 | 0 | |

There is no frigate like a book

To take us lands away . . .

The poet Emily Dickinson wrote these lines.

For readers, the current hard times may mean fewer opportunities to buy the new books that keep presses constantly rolling, regardless of what you may have heard about the disappearance of ink on paper as a medium.

In this season of hard times that may or may not turn out to be as bad as the Great Depression, but at least rates comparison, the public library is more valuable than ever. And it’s always one of any community’s most important institutions.

Librarian Mark Warren reports in the current Friends of Upshur County Library Newsletter that the library has been buzzing with activity this fall.

STORY TIME and arts and crafts activities for the youngsters have been popular, and two authors had book-signings: Kathy Patrick of Jefferson for her entertaining work, The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara-Wearing, BookSharing Guide to Life, and Dub Mowery’s Colloquial Phrases and Sayings.

And no matter if the library does have computer terminals that many patrons use to connect to the Internet, an outstanding genealogical collection, audio and visual materials, many magazine subscriptions and more—books are still the heart of it.

As Poet Dickinson, wrote, metaphorically making the book a vessel for travel:

This traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of toll . . .

For the library’s web page, with its history and other data, see http://www.youseemore.com/upshur/. (Alas, if you Google up Upshur County Public Library, the first page of websites will refer you to the library in Buckhannon, W.V.)

FOR READERS suffering from a true addiction to books, there is no better Christmas present.

I have already received one such present early, and I will get to it as soon as I finish reading Willie Nelson: an Epic Life, a biography by Joe Nick Patoski. I bought it in Jefferson at the aforementioned Kathy Parker’s Beauty and the Book store, when she had an autographing party for Patoski.

Love him or leave him alone, Willie is a Texas original, I am convinced by this book. Though he tried several times to fit into the Nashville scene, the pull of Texas was always too strong.

Patoski even credits Willie with some of the 46 percent growth the Austin metro area experienced between 1970 and 1980. (Some of us UT-exes who remember the small city Austin was before then still find it hard to believe that the metro area has now passed one million residents.)

WILLIE NELSON was born a performer and that is all, apparently, that really interests him. That’s why he was able to smile and shrug his way through an argument with the Internal Revenue Service about $17 million in back taxes that nearly cost him everything before it was ended in 1993.

And what but the love of an audience could have moved Willie to take part in Stephen Colbert’s Christmas special on Comedy Central TV channel last week.

Colbert was hiding out in a mountain cabin decorated for the holidays, afraid to go outside because of a lurking bear. The manger scene on a shelf suddenly came to life and one of the three Wise Men (thanks to the wonders of trick photography) was Willie Nelson, appropriately costumed.

Willie sang a song about being one of the Magi, but one who had no frankinsense, gold or myrrh to bring the Christ child. What he did bring was not exactly spelled out, at least not for me, but suddenly smoke began arising from the manger scene and miniature police cars pulled up on each side.

FOR THE TRULY addicted book buyer, being crowded out of living space can become a problem.

In the Nov. 20 New York Times Book Review, this was expressed eloquently in an essasy by Laura Miller, staff writer for Salon.

She wrote that although she follows a rigorous “one book in, one book out” policy, she found things had gotten out of hand when she contracted to have her apartment repainted. She pulled every book off its crowded shelf and asked herself whether she really wanted it.

Ms. Miller concluded that there are two general schools of thought on which books to keep: The first “views the bookshelf as a self-portrait, a reflection of the owner’s intellect, imagination, taste and accomplishments.”

THE SECOND sees a book collection “less as a testimony to the past than as a repository for the future; it’s where you put books you intend to read.”

I suppose I follow the second view. I have stacks of unread or unfinished books, mainly biographies. Among them are a new biography of Lyndon B. Johnson by Randall B. Woods, an Arkansas professor; and books on the late Gov. John B. Connally, writer Pearl Buck and the composer Kurt Weill.

Then there is an assortment of other fiction and nonfiction that I have bought, or been given, but not yet read. I may have something in common with Laura Miller, who summed up her failing quest to get rid of books:

“I have turned out to be less rational about this than I thought, and have made my library into a charm against mortality. As long as I have a few unread books beckoning to me from across the room, I tell myself I can always find a little more time.”

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

4 hrs 52 mins ago | 0 views | 0 | 0 | |

TEXAS PRESS Association’s current program to have member newspapers exchange issues with their counterparts around the state has impressed me anew with the variety of news Texans make.

Last week a Page One story in the Baylor County Banner at Seymour,just south of Vernon in Northwest Texas, was headlined, “K9 Harley Passes.” A picture showed a handsome German Shepherd with the caption, Officer Harley 1996-2008.

The story related how Harley was responsible for numerous drug busts in Baylor and other counties. Retired in 2005 from the Seymour Police Department because of arthritis in his hips. Harley at one time won a competition that made him the No. 1 drug dog in Texas.

BUT IT WAS his most famous case that caught my attention.

As told by Police Chief Tommy Duncan:

In 2003 Shooter Jennings, the son of Jessi Colter and the late Waylon Jennings, was traveling with his band through Baylor County on their way to do a show in Wichita Falls. When they were stopped for speeding Harley alerted on the trailer filled with musical equipment. A small amount of marijuana was found.

This inspired Shooter Jennings to write a song called Busted in Baylor County, which soon climbed the music charts across America and was used as the opening song in the 2005 movie, The Dukes of Hazard.

THIS EXCHANGE matter works the other way, as well. When The Mirror’s Yamboree edition arrived at the office of the Clay County Leader in Henrietta, we got an e-mail saying that the staff wondered how much the queen’s royal gown cost.

I replied that I wasn’t privy to that information, but I assured them that our Yamboree is a high-class, high-dollar operation all around.

NEWSPAPERS and many other pieces of mail are welcomed, whether they come through the Postal Service or via the Internet. Junk mail can be another beast altogether, particularly when it arrives in the form of what has become known generically as the 419 scam.

This is a thriving industry involving e-mail scammers who extort money from thousands of victims by promising them compensation for help in moving funds from foreign countries to banks in the United States. Nigeria began as the most common point of origin, but now the scammers may claim residence in many other nations.

A sample of those I have received in the past week:

Mrs. Lucy Baines wrote that “Your e-mail have won the sum of £516,778.00 pounds, for more informations about your winnings and claim of prize, contact your claim agent . . . ”

Said agent is named Peter Taylor. Casual observer will note that Lucy Baines is the name of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s younger daughter and Taylor was the maiden name of Lady Bird Johnson. Perhaps a subliminal message to convey authenticity?

AN ERIC ALLEN wrote from the Ivory Coast that his parents were both killed in a civil war, his house was burned down but his father has left $5.5 million in a bank there. He confided that he needs my help to get the money transferred out of the country “because of the political situation here.”

Tony Clive, who said he is an Internal Auditor of one of the leading banks in the United Kingdom, discovered an abandoned $12.2 million deposit made by Andrea Schranner, who died along with his entire family in an automobile crash. None of his relations has come forward to lay claims for this deposit as the heir, so Mr. Clive wants me to apply for the money so that his London bank can release it.

THESE ARE such obvious frauds that it’s hard to believe anyone could be taken in, but it only takes a few per million to make the scammers’ efforts worthwhile, apparently.

I got one the other day that alarmed me, since it sounded almost realistic. It said:

“We are pleased to inform you that you have emerged a recipient of our Rotary International Cash Grant Programs. You were selected by our Electronic Random Selection System (ERSS) from an exclusive list of 800,000,000 individual and corporate bodies generated from our resource database. . .

“As members of the world’s first service club organization, Rotarians have much to be proud of as they put Service Above Self while advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and business and the alleviation of poverty.”

(The above paragraph is all true.)

“. . .You are therefore to receive a cash prize of 750.000 EURO .”

A list of 800 million is hardly exclusive, but otherwise the letter might pass muster, at least with non-Rotarians.

ROTARY spent many millions of dollars in a drive to wipe out polio worldwide without getting much public notice — not, that is, until the Bill Gates foundation got in on the act. It is offering a $100 million challenge grant to the Rotary Internaitonal Foundation to complete the polio project.

Any Rotarian would know that grants are given to clubs that apply for them, not to individuals who don’t apply. And certainly not to “randomly selected” ones.

Sadly, in a world where more than a billion people suffer deprivations that include going to bed hungry every night, and many people of good will are working every day to alleviate their suffering, so many other people devote their lives to the big rip-off.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

7 days ago | 19 views | 0 | 1 | |

DURING RECENT months of speculation about President and Mrs. George W. Bush’s future home, one Internet writer reported that Laura Bush was checking out houses in Preston Hollow, a town north of Dallas “with views of lakes and mountains.”

So much for accuracy on the worldwide web. But even this off-the-wall dispatch had an element of truth. It was announced last week that a house at 10141 Doria Place in Preston Hollow has been purchased for the Bushes as their post-presidential residence.

PRESTON HOLLOW, a long-established neighborhood, is notable mainly for views of the Dallas cityscape around Northwest Highway and Preston Road; it’s just north of the Park Cities and west of North Park shopping center.

Of course there are some lakes in the area, but nary a mountain for hundreds of miles.

I am familiar with the Preston Hollow street where George and Laura Bush lived from December,1988 until January, 1995, when he was associated with the Texas Rangers.

MY FRIENDS Vee and Allen Maxwell, who owned a farm near Little Mound that they used as a rural retreat until a few years ago, have their main residence on a Preston Hollow street, Northwood.

When I visited them there during the administration of the first President Bush, they pointed out the Secret Service cars parked in front of a house a couple of blocks down the street. The younger Bush’s ranch-style house was under surveillance.

George W., Laura and family lived there until he became governor of Texas in 1995.

IN JANUARY, the Bushes will move into a new home about a mile northwest of their former Northwood residence, dividing their time between Dallas and their ranch house at Crawford.

The house on Daria Place, a cul-de-sac, is described as a one-story, 8,501-square-foot light red brick that was built in 1959.

A smaller house at 10151 Daria Place has recently changed hands, and may be used as Secret Service headquarters, according to reports.

The Dallas Morning News described a mix of excitement and concern among neighbors at the prospect of an ex-president moving in next door. Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks, oilman T. Boone Pickens and Ross Perot have large houses in the neighborhood.

********

FOLLOWING UP on the discussion here last week of the Civilian Conservation Corps and other New Deal agencies that were created to fight the Great Depression in the 1930s, be it noted that the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin has a special CCC exhibit on display through next September.

Crosscut, the museum’s newsletter, interviewed three former CCC workers for its current issue.

Three Lufkin men, Floyd Mize, Henry Morehead and Charles Kimball, each spent a year with the CCC and each took advantage of the opportunities it gave to work during a time when jobs were very scarce.

THE HARD WORK and strict discipline prepared them to serve in the Army during World War II, and all three vividly remember the lessons learned in the CCC, the story said.

Morehead and Campbell both had long careers with the Southland Paper Mill and Floyd became a college teacher and grant writer at South Dakota State University.

All three think their CCC work meant something to the country, and they apparently take pride in the fact that some of the roads and buildings they built are still being used.

IN AN APPEARANCE on Meet the Press Sunday, President-Elect Barack Obama referred to President Roosevelt’s challenge during the Great Depression of the 1930s, saying there is no doubt that FDR “had to create an entire economic structure that had entirely collapsed.” But there was up to 30 percent unemployment across the country then, and “we didn’t have many of the social safety nets that emerged out of the New Deal,” he pointed out.

And this was President-Elect Obama’s response to a question about his plans:

“Fortunately, as tough as times are right now — and things are going to get worse before they get better — there is a convergence between circumstances and agenda. The key for us is making sure that we jump-start that economy in a way that doesn’t just deal with the short term, doesn’t just create jobs immediately, but also puts us on a glide path for long-term, sustainable economic growth.

“And that’s why I spoke in my radio address on Saturday about the importance of investing in the largest infrastructure program — in roads and bridges and other traditional infrastructure — since the building of the federal highway system in the 1950s.”

Considering how the world has moved on, can’t we assume that there will be no more CCCs, WPAs or other alphabet agencies, and private contracts will be let for infrastructure work? If current experience is any guide, the contractors’ crews will be mostly Hispanic.

sgreene@tatertv.com

Sideglances

by SARAH GREENE

14 days ago | 42 views | 0 |