July 2020 | ourgunter.com
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OurGunter.com | July 2020
OurGunter.com | July 2020
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OURGUNTER H ISTORY | V ALUES | F UTURE
July 2020 VOL 2, Issue 6 OPINION
#GunterCleanAir
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2020-2021 GHS Band Leadership
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Opinion: Gunter Clean Air
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Hickman Creations
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GISD School Registration Information
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Griggs-Bell Selected Area 1st FFA VP
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Rick Chaffin Named Gunter City Manager
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Getting to Know The Gunter City Council
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Cassady Craddock FFA Scholarship
Tristan May Donates Chicken Coop
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Gunter Library & Museum
SPOTLIGHT Hickman Creations
8 CITY OF GUNTER
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City of Gunter hires Rick Chaffin as City Manager
If you are interested in writing for OurGunter, we would encourage you to reach out to us! We are open to contributions from students, teachers, parents and community members!
ON THE COVER A patriotic display of classic cars inside Hickman Creations shop in dowmtown Gunter, TX Published By 4CMEDIAGROUP, LLC Editorial & Design Renee Marler Renee@4cMediaGroup.com Production Jimmy Marler James@4cMediaGroup.com Contributing Writers Renee Marler | GunterCleanAir Cheyrl Cohagen | City of Gunter
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OurGunter.com | July 2020
Contributing Art & Photography 4CMEDIAGROUP Renee Marler | Jimmy Marler Editorial Submissions Please send editorial considerations to Renee@4CMEDIAGROUP.com
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OurGunter.com | July 2020
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This opinion piece was submitted to OurGunter by #guntercleanair
You may not currently be familiar with a company out of Seguin, Texas named AmeriTex Pipe & Products, but you will be soon. AmeriTex has plans to build a 330 acre manufacturing plant at the north end of Wall St and onto McDonald Rd. This isn’t a ‘maybe’ or ‘sometime in the future’ possibility. The land is under contract and AmeriTex is just waiting on Permit Approval from The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to begin construction. A grassroots coalition of Concerned Citizens has formed #GunterCleanAir and is working tirelessly to find alternative solutions to the proposed Gunter site for this manufacturing plant. #GunterCleanAir and many local citizens are in constant contact with the TCEQ regarding inconsistencies that have been found in the permit application as well as other violations. Small victories include a deferral of a decision regarding an ‘in-person’ meeting with TCEQ and TCEQ requiring AmeriTex to refile their permit application due to irregularities found by #GunterCleanAir. The City of Gunter’s posted site map shows this plant will be in the approximate center of Gunter’s future proposed footprint. This alters the master plan for the ETJ where future home development was planned and also impacts dozens of generational family farms that will surround the plant. Things you need to know: • This Permit is permanent and not temporary like most you see in the area • This plant will never be of any benefit to Gunter • It is not within the city limits and will never pay city taxes • It will never be annexed (there is no benefit to the company owner) • Gunter will not have any regulatory control • This plant runs 24/7 • Trucks will be hauling aggregate in and finished pipes out • he Permit indicates 7 acres of loose aggregate (sand, rock, and cement dust) • The 330 acre plant is roughly twice the size of The Woods of Preston or the campus of Gunter High School including athletic fields and Ag barns • This is not a simple batch plant (think cake batter vs pipes large enough to drive a car through) Things you need to do: • Permit #159336 Project #309557 • Post your questions to the TCEQ at: https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/?fbclid=IwAR1UebuiudLGfQz-NQCsmOBI9_8hTm5V4hDstGoSuIUhabJjIfkD9bDp83g • Donate to #GunterCleanAir at Simmons Bank or • https://www.gofundme.com/f/guntercleanair • Facebook Page: Gunter Against AmeriTex Pipe Plant @gunteragainstameritexpipeplant Cement plants are a significant source of elevated levels of PM2.5 PM10, silica, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide, which are associated with the following health and environmental impacts: • Nitrogen oxide (NOx) can cause or contribute to a variety of health problems and adverse environmental impacts, such as ground-level ozone, acid rain, global warming, water quality deterioration, and visual impairment. Affected populations include children, people with lung diseases such as asthma, and exposure to these conditions can cause damage to lung tissue for people who work or exercise outside. • Sulfur dioxide (SO2) in high concentrations can affect breathing and may aggravate existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Sensitive populations include asthmatics, individuals with bronchitis or emphysema, children, and the elderly. SO2 is also a primary contributor to acid depotion, or acid rain. • Carbon monoxide (CO) can cause harmful health effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body’s organs and tissues, as well as adverse effects on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. CO also contributes to the formation of smog (ground-level ozone), which can cause respiratory problems. EVERYONE has a dog in this fight that lives in Gunter and the surrounding areas. If you want to preserve your property values, raise your kids with clean air or live in what was planned to be the best town in Grayson County, then you need to fight with us.
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OurGunter.com | July 2020
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OurGunter.com | July 2020
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HICKMAN THE Coolest Gunter Business You’ve Never Heard About How many times have you driven by a place and wondered what all went inside those walls but never stopped?
quick. They spend hundreds of hours fabricating and perfecting each and every part of every project in their shop.
At least twice a month I visit either the Gunter Post Office or Gunter City Hall and each time I pass Hickman Creations, a seemingly unremarkable metal building strewn with older vehicles around the perimeter.
Randy basically had to drag me from room to room inside the shop because I was so overwhelmed by everything I was seeing. Then he took me to see the fabrication area. Hickman Creations does everything from scratch. On a table was some leather interior patterned and laid out on a table ready to be cut. Some wood was also being molded for a custom dash in a different area.
I assumed it was a simple mechanic garage or body shop and never gave it a second thought. Shame on me! One Saturday afternoon, my husband and I were driving through downtown Gunter, truly just taking a scenic drive on a sunny day, when we noticed a huge crowd gathering around that metal building I had passed by for the last eighteen months. But this was not ordinary crowd, this was an organized group of close to 80 classic car owners. Unbeknownst to us, the Texoma Spring Classic Car & Hot Rod Tour was making its way through Gunter at that exact time. Their stop was Hickman Creations. Wide-eyed, I walked through the rows of immaculate cars and trucks that were older than me and ultimately made my way inside that metal building I’d passed by at least fifty times, Hickman Creations. The moment I walked inside I stopped in awe of the enormous American Flag hanging from the far side of the shop and knew immediately I wanted to use it for a cover for OurGunter magazine. I can only guess my facial expressions were quite transparent because a gentleman walked over to me and introduced himself as Randy Hickman. I did the quick calculation in my head and realized this was someone I needed to speak with in order to get my cover photo. Little did I know, there would be so much more I would come to learn and appreciate about Hickman Creations. Randy was incredibly friendly and was quick to tell me that his two sons, Keith and Brandon were the talent of the company, but nonetheless, he offered to take me on a quick tour while Keith and Brandon were talking to the drivers on the tour. That quick tour turned into a jaw-dropping walk through of what I can only describe as a real life build-your-own car museum. That little building is actually over 20,000 square foot of awesome! The cars out front are incredible. The first glance inside was superb,. But that was just the tip of the Hickman iceberg. I walked through rows of vehicles from the 20’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s. 70’s and 80’s in various stages of completion. The green 1928 Buick can be seen up on a lift in our photos. That’s one of the oldest cars Hickman Creations has had. One car, in particular, was a 1959 Chevrolet Biscayne. It reminded me of a Batmobile. It was impressive, to say the least. But equally as impressive is the 1958 Corvette Fuelie that was taken all the way down to its chassis. No motor, no wheels, no seats, no wiring, nothing. It was literally a blank slate. A beautiful blank slate. They have spent about nine months on this project so far and estimate completion around the spring of 20201. Most of the projects Hickman Creations take on are neither simple nor 8
OurGunter.com | July 2020
As I was walking back to the front of the building, Randy introduced me to Keith and Brandon. This was where the fun began. You can tell these men are exactly where they want to be the first time you meet them. Both knew early on they wanted to be in this business, but I don’t think when Keith painted his first motorcycle helmet as a teenager, that he knew would be working on cars from all over the country. These days, Keith has won many awards for his exceptional custom paint jobs, but if you would like to see just how far he has come, that helmet is on display in the shop. Both Keith and Brandon went to trade school and took advantage of vocational programs offered. They are big supporters of vocational training in schools as they believe that training gave them the ability to pursue their dreams. Brandon is a performance specialist and the two brothers, with a combined 35 years experience, together lead a very special team who create true art. The quality of work is beyond compare. I have never seen anything done so precisely and with meticulous detail as the work I have seen from Hickman Creations. Keith said his favorite project so far was the 1959 Chevrolet Biscayne (center on the cover), but Brandon’s favorite project was a 1971 Chevrolet Corvette. When I asked them their most difficult project, they said - almost in unison - 1967 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Convertible. This is their sixth year in this building in Gunter. When I admitted I had been by so many times, they assured me that wasn’t the first time they had heard that, which made me feel a bit better. I asked them if there was anything they did not do and they said some of the “old timers” will even ride their tractors up to the shop to sharpen the blades, so I took that as a no. I shared my idea of using their flag and maybe a car or two for a cover photo and they literally took it from there. We scheduled the shoot and when I arrived, I was awed by their vision. I even got to ride a scissor lift driven by a first-time driver who asked if I was scared. To which I replied, “I have three sons, I don’t scare that easily.” I don’t often write about a business “just because”, but after spending a couple hours with the Hickman family and the crew at Hickman Creations, as well as speaking to a number of Gunter residents whom also had no clue about the goings-on inside that little metal building, I knew I wanted to let the community know what a cool place - and amazing community partners - we have right here in Gunter.
CREATIONS Custom Paint/Design-PPG Fabrication of any kind One off restomods to one of a kinds
Chassis Wiring Assembly Upholstery Custom Everyting NCRS
Vintage Air Artmorrison Holley Ridetech Classic Instruments Dakota Digital Relicate Leather Intro Wheels
Hickman Creations 424 W. Main Street Gunter, TX 75058 www.HickmanCreations.com (website coming soon)
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Student Registration 2020-2021
https://www.gunterisd.org/registration
Returning Student Registration (for ALL CURRENT GISD students - Every student must register) • • •
If you already have an active Parent Portal Account, click here to login. (instructions for you start in Section III of the manual if you need them) If you have a Parent Portal Account, but do not have all of your kids connected, go to the my students tab on the navigation bar and add them. You will need your student’s birthday and their portal ID. If you need your student’s portal ID, please contact the PEIMS clerk at the appropriate campus (see names below). If you do not have a Parent Portal Account, please begin by creating an account by clicking https://txeis22.esc11. net:8443/ParentPortal/login?distid=091917. • When creating this account, you MUST use an email associated with your child’s information in our student information system. This is the email where you receive important notifications from Gunter ISD. • If you do not know which email is associated with your student’s account, please contact the PEIMS clerk at the appropriate campus (see names below).
New Student Registration (for NEW GISD students – you just moved here; you were approved as a transfer; you’re beginning pre-K or Kinder for the 1st time with GISD) • •
Click https://txeis22.esc11.net:8443/ParentPortal/login?distid=091917 and choose Create Account. • When creating this account, you MUST use an email you would like associated with your child’s information in our student information system. This is the email where you receive important notifications from Gunter ISD. After completing new student registration please email the appropriate PEIMS clerk for your campus to let them know that you have finished that process. They will contact you with your Portal ID to complete registration. The email contact information is listed below by campus.
We would like for ALL students to be registered by Friday, July 31st. GES – Valerie Layton – vlayton@gunterisd.org I GMS – Rachel Standerfer – rstanderfer@gunterisd.org I GHS – Missy Crutchfield – mcrutchfield@gunterisd.org Other items you should complete for registration: Free & Reduced Paperwork You will be able to access the paperwork for Free & Reduced meals beginning July 1st on our website. Please make sure to get that paperwork filled out and return it to Lauren Rogers as soon as possible. Class Remind Accounts Important messages are sent through this medium, and you need to be a part of it. To join the Remind groups, text 81010 and enter the @message for your specific class below: • • • • • • •
Class of 2027 @gunterms5 Class of 2026 @gunterms6 Class of 2025 @gunterms7 Class of 2024 @kd694g Class of 2023 @dbkh92 Class of 2022 @29hd8f Class of 2021 @khcec
Telehealth Telehealth brings health care to schools. To enroll for the service, go to childrens.com/schools. An information page is available in the Upload area of Parent Portal for you to view. Student Handbooks https://www.gunterisd.org/Page/456
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OurGunter.com | July 2020
Gunnar Griggs-Bell Selected as FFA Area 1st Vice President
Congratulations to Gunnar GriggsBell for being selected to serve as the 2020-2021 FFA Area 1st Vice President. The Area V Association is located in the Northeastern part of the state and is one of the largest Area associations in the state of Texas. There are 14,363 FFA members strong in 123 FFA chapters being led by 282 Agriculture Science Teachers / FFA Advisors.
Building For The Future In Prestigious School Districts
•GUNTER ISD
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CENTURIONAMERICAN.COM
OurGunter.com | July 2020
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City of Gunter Appoints Rick Chaffin as City Manager The Gunter City Council unanimously appointed Rick Chaffin as City Manager at the May 28th City Council meeting. Chaffin’s first day as City Manager will be Monday, June 15th. “Mr. Chaffin brings a high level of knowledge, skills, abilities and more than 25 years of municipal experience to the City of Gunter. Mayor Mark Millar said. “We believe he will be a great asset in working with the City Council and staff. We believe that citizens and employees will find him open and approachable and collaborative in his leadership and management approach. The Council and I are excited to welcome Mr. Chaffin to the City of Gunter.” Rick has served as City Manager and Deputy City Manager in cities with population ranging from 6,700 to 155,000. Some cities in which Rick has served include being the City Manager of Mount Pleasant, TX (pop, 15,000), Roswell, GA (pop 90,000) and Corinth, TX (pop 22,000). He also served as Deputy City Manager in McKinney overseeing police, fire, public works, parks and recreation and development services. “We are encouraged by Rick’s strong desire to be the City Manager for Gunter and his commitment to openness and transparency and operating within a framework of integrity and ethics. Rick has strong long-range planning skills and we are looking forward to having him come on board. He will be a great fit for a City Council, our Staff and our community.” Mayor Millar said. Rick has a Master of Urban Affairs from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor of Science of Political Science from the University of Texas at Tyler. He also graduated from the Public Executive Institute of the University of Texas and the Senior Executive Institute of the University of Virginia. Rick is also a US Army veteran having served as an intelligence analyst at the NSA at Fort Meade, MD. “I am blessed and honored to have been selected as the City Manager for Gunter. It is obvious that a lot of people have worked hard for a long time to make Gunter the great place that it is today. I look forward to working at the direction of and in collaboration with the Mayor and City Council, the City Staff and the Citizens of Gunter,” said Chaffin. “I know this is a huge decision for the Mayor and City Council and I appreciate the trust and confidence they have placed in me. I am fully committed to the City of Gunter for this opportunity and commit to doing the very best job possible.”
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Getting to Know Your Gunter City Council Larry Peters, Mayor Pro Tem It has been my honor to serve the citizens of Gunter for the last nine years. I take great pride and responsibility in ensuring every item that comes before Council is reviewed and considered with utmost integrity. My goal has always been and will continue to be what is best for the city of Gunter. It is my top priority to be fiscally responsible and spend your hard earned tax dollars wisely on what is good for the community as a whole. I’ve spent my entire career serving others, and I will not make business decisions based off loyalties or just because “it’s always been done that way.” I have forty-seven years experience: Federal, State, and City Government, It has been a pleasure being your City Council member these past few years. I’m working hard to make sure our growth is controlled and manageable with the best interest of our citizens and City. Cheyrl Cohagan I am a 41 year resident of Gunter who works with my community and school system to help build a town where people want to call home. As a Gunter Elementary Principal for 32 years, gave me insight into working as a team leader and dealing with diverse populations. I continue to work with Gunter ISD by serving on the Strategic Planning Team. Being a member of the Park Foundation Board, I worked cooperatively with Gunter citizens and children to build an exemplary playground in Gunter Park. Serving on the Economic Development Corporation and Development Review Board has broadened her knowledge of different aspects of city government. As a co-founder of Gunter Growth, the goal is to keep the residents informed on the issues being addressed at the city level. Her primary goals as a City Council member would be to initiate a Road Improvement Plan, a Revitalization Initiative for the downtown area, and focusing on responsible growth. She looks forward to working along side you to make the city of Gunter HOME. David Long I have served on both the City Council and the EDC board now for a little over two years. I have lived in Grayson County for thirty years and in the City of Gunter for 3 ½ years. I have been married for 29 years and have a daughter and two granddaughters. I graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Mathematics. Spencer Marks I grew up in West Texas and obtained a Bachelors Degree in Microbiology from Texas A&M and a Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio. My family and I moved to Gunter, from Celina, in 2011. I have served on Gunter City Council since May 2018 and feel honored to play an integral role in the future of our city. I have three children: a daughter that is a sophomore and twins that are entering the 7th grade. They are all very active in FFA, showing pigs, sheep, goats, heifers, as well as participating in Ag Mechanics. My wife and I own a small business in Gunter, Hometown Mercantile, which sells everything from gift tables, apparel, fresh flowers, home décor, and much more. Hometown is a give back shop, supporting many organizations as well as our schools within Gunter ISD. Jason White My name is Jason White and my family has called Gunter home since 2015. I’m a native Texas, spending most of my youth growing up in Prosper when the population was 600. I’m married with 3 kiddos, 2 currently in the Gunter ISD and one I sadly lost in 2016. I’m a real estate agent, soon to be broker, with the only locally based Real Estate company in Gunter, Goetz Realty and Development. I’ve served on the City Council since 2017, the P&Z board from 2017-2020, and proudly call Gunter my home.
OurGunter.com | July 2020
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Cassady Craddock Receives Texas FFA SA Livestock & Rodeo Scholarship Congratulations to Cassady Craddock for receiving the Texas FFA San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo scholarship! This is a prestigious scholarship valued at $20,000. Competition for the award is fierce and takes many years of involvement in FFA along with academic success in school to be awarded this honor. Cassady willl be recognized during the 4th General Session of the Texas FFA Virtual Convention on Thursday, July 9th. You may tune in live at 3 PM to view the award ceremony at this link: convention.texasffa.org
Tristan May Donates Chicken Coop to Tiger Gardens We are so proud of Tristan May for his hard work this year! His chicken coop has been delivered to the Tiger Gardens. GISD will have some happy chickens for sure. OurGunter was happy to be a small part of the group who helped contribute to make this happen!
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OurGunter.com | July 2020
Proudly keeping Gunter in Good Hands
Living in Gunter can be expensive, but I’m here to help you find ways to save. I’ll help you find the right amount of coverage specific to your needs to keep more of your hard-earned money in your wallet. Give me a call today.
David Vogel The Vogel Agency 903-892-0380 5621 Texoma Parkway Sherman, TX 75090 davidvogel1@allstate.com
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Proud to support Gunter ISD and Gunter Athletics! Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co. © 2019 Allstate Insurance Co.
The Gunter Library and Museum has been a part of the Gunter community for sixteen years. We are a 501 c3 non profit Library with volunteers who give their time and talents to serve our area’s business, academic, imagination, and reading needs. Visit us 110 S. Hwy 289 (next to the donut shop) and take advantage of our services • Books in print/audio/e-books/DVDs • Storytime, STEAM, and kids Summer Reading programs • Book Club • Free wifi and computer access with printer and fax services • Visit our museum and featuring artifacts, picture, and stories about the history of Gunter
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Stay current on all library events and activities by visiting us at gunterlibrary.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Gunter Library & Museum 110 S. Hwy 289 (next to the donut shop) Jackie Kruzie Library Director Phone: 903-771-3066 Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Tuesday, Thursday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday: CLOSED OurGunter.com | July 2020
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Local Postal Customer
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OurGunter.com | July 2020
PRST STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID Celina TX Permit #10