Manyholiday eventsforallages areavailableto checkoutinthe paperthisweekon pages8and9!
Iguesstheholiday seasonmakesme nostalgic.“GoTell ItOnthe Mountain”was oneofmy grandma’sfavorite songs.Icanclose myeyesandstill seeherplayingthe piano,singing loudly,reading fromherold hymnal.UsuallyI would’vefoundan “old”versionof thesong,butIlike tothinkifshewas stillalive,she wouldlikeZach Williams,justlike hergranddaughter, orshewouldat leasttoleratehim, formysake.She wasneat,likethat.
Merry Christmas Season, everyone!
Iwouldliketo requestthatthis Holidayseasonyou wouldeachconsider pickinganAngeloff oftheBulldog/ AngelTree.These sweetchildrenare hopefultoopen theireyesthis Christmasmorning withatleastone itemontheirlist,if notall.
AsoflastMonday, 70Childrenwere stillremainingon thetree,wecando betterthanthat!
Santaisa conceptualman,but eachofyouisareal one,withtheability toprovidehopefor achild.Letusbethe “handsandfeet” thatgivetothosein needthisholiday season!
Hopefullywecanall lightuptheworld foreachother,even thesmallestamong us,thisChristmas Season, the season of giving.
ExcitingChangesattheHowe PoliceDepartmentUnderway Ashley Husbands Chief Jake Sullivan
The following is an update regarding the Howe Police Department, some of the recent changes and those to come from Chief Sullivan:
SincejoiningtheHowe PoliceDepartmenton October21st,wehave beenbusytransforming theagencyintothe21st century.Theprocessof buildingastrongeragencyandonethatistrusted bythecommunitymust beginusingthesixpillars of21stcenturypolicing:
1.BuildingTrustand Legitimacy
2.PolicyandOversight
3.TechnologyandSocialMedia
4.CommunityPolicing andCrimeReduction
5.TrainingandEducation
6.OfficerSafetyand Wellness
Tobeginthatprocess, theagencywent throughseveralaudits, includinga100%audit fromoutsideoftheevidenceroomandaccountabilityofdepartmentassets.Thisallowedforthestart ofbuildingasolidfoun-
(Continued on page 5)
Ashley Husbands
Photo credit: Howe ISD
New PD Car Logo Design
Photo Credit: Howe Police Department
HoweFFAParticipatesinTexas FFAStateLeadershipCareer DevelopmentEvent JohnAnderson
FFAAdvisor
MembersoftheHoweFFAChapter traveledtoHuntsville,Friday,December6,tocompeteinTexasFFA’s LeadershipCareerDevelopment Events.
HoweFFA’sJobInterviewand GreenhandChapterConductingteams qualifiedforthestatecompetitionby finishingfirstorsecondinoneofthe state’s66districtcompetitionsand firstorsecondinoneoftwelvearea competitions.Morethan5,000entries beganthestatewide-tournamentin15 differenteventswhichreflectclassroominstructioninbasicleadership skills.
HoweFFAplaced4thintheJobInterviewContest.Teammember:
CamrynCraddock
HoweFFAplaced9thintheGreenhandChapterConductingContest.
Teammembersinclude:
TatumLindly
KennedyGarner
RylynnSmith
ZoeMilne
KylieeSimms
GabeErickson
CheyenneBeazley LeylaBurris
TheTexasFFAisthenation’slargeststateFFAassociationwitha membershipofmorethan185,000 activeFFAmembers.FFAprogramsteachskillsinleadership, careerdevelopmentandpersonal growth.FFAgivesstudentsthe opportunitytopracticallyapply classroomknowledgetorealworldexperiencesthroughlocal, stateandnationalcompetitions.
SamHoustonStateUniversityhas partneredwithTexasFFAinhostingthesecompetitionsformore than80years.
Left to Right: state FFAofficer, Kyliee Simms, Zoe Milne, Tatum Lindly, Leyla Burris, Rylynn Smith, Kennedy Garner, Gabe Erickson, Cheyenne Beazley, JohnAnderson- advisor
Photo Credit: Howe FFA
Howe FFAFourth Place finisher, Camryn Craddock
Photo Credit: Howe FFA
HoweHSCheerWinsAwards inDallasCompetition Monica Little Cheerleading Coach
HoweHighSchoolCheercompetedat theDallasISDcheercompetition.
Thegirlscheeredtheirheartsoutand wereawarded3ADallasISDCheer ChallengeChampions. Theywere alsoawardedthe “highpoint”award forMostSpiritedbetween3Aand4A.
We’refeelinggoodabouttheState SpiritChampionshipcomingupin January.Westillhavesomeworkto dobeforethen,butthegirlsare doinggreat!
Boys The following is an update of the last week’s games from Coach Forsythe: Last weekend’s tournament resulted in the following results:
L-DallasCovenant42-55
W-MercyCulture51-38
W-HarvestChristian56-17 WonConsolationBracket
AnthonyLowderwasselectedtothe AllTournamentTeam
If you would like to attend the games and cheer the following are the players’numbers:
HoweBasketball 11-AnthonyLowder
Girls TheGirls’VarsityBasketballteam competedintheCelesteTournament thislastweekend.TheJVteam competedintheCookeCounty Tournament.Unfortunatelyresultsfor lastweeks’gameswerenotsubmitted.
Last week Howe faced– off against Calvary resulting in:
Howe35
CalvaryAcademy33
Howe3-3recordontheyear
Nextweek,thegirls’teamwillcompeteinahomedistrictgameagainst BlueRidgeandanothergameat Leonard.
Howe Girls’Basketball
Photo credit: Michelle Carney
Howe HS Cheerleading Team
Photo Credit: Monica Little
PoliceUpdateContinued (Continued from page 1)
dation.Next,areviewofthedepartment’spolicyandprocedures, training,andfieldtrainingofofficer’s vsthestandardthatwillbeexpected. Lastly,IreviewedthecurrenttechnologyoftheagencyandIrealizedvery quicklythedepartmentisabout10-15 yearsbehindcurrentlawenforcement trends.Ihavehadtheprivilegeof teachingnewpolicesupervisorsand newpolicemanagersandbelievethat onethingpolicingoverlooksiscustomerservice.Asabusinessownerif youdonottakecareofyourcustomers,youdonothavebusinessforlong, policingisnodifferent,forourcitizens areourcustomers.Transparency,and accountabilityarekeyforsuccessin 21stcenturypolicing.
AttheNovembercouncilmeetingI presentedtothecounciltheimportance ofbecominganaccreditedagency, whichwehaveinternallybegunby implementingtherequiredbestpractices.InNovember,23bestpractices wererolledoutofthe173requiredto meetaccreditationstandard.Overthe nextseveralmonths,officerswillreceivetheremainingbestpracticesand mandatorytrainingthatarerequired. Thereareover2700lawenforcement agenciesinTexas,withlessthan225 obtainingaccreditation.
Thedepartmenthasimplementeda newmarkingstrategy,withnewbadges,patches,andcargraphicstobe moremodernizedandmarketthe agencyinamoreprofessionalimage torecruit
newofficersasthedepartmentpreparesforgrowth.
TheHowePoliceDepartmenthasembarkedonanewerainimplementing innovativetechnology.ByFebruaryof 2025,thedepartmentwillhaveimplementedthefollowinginnovativetechnology:
-NewRecordManagementSystem (ReportSystem),thisallowsforcrime trendingmapping.
-E-CitationSystem(warnings,citations,vehicleimpoundmentandcriminaltrespasswarnings).Thisallowsfor electronicsubmissiontotheMunicipal courtsystemandtheRMS.Italsodecreasestheamountoftimeofficers spendatatrafficstop.
-Newhandgunswithfactforduty camerassystemandlightsystem.This helpsnegateliabilityandincreases transparencyshouldacriticalincident occurlikeanofficerinvolvedshooting. HowePDwillbe16thagencyinTexastoimplementguntechnology.
-NewCarcameraswithLicenseplate readers(searchesforactivestolenor wantedvehicles)andnewbodycameras,whichallowforsupervisorsto logintothesystemlivewhileofficers areonsceneshouldtheneedtooccur. Thisincreasesofficeraccountability andcommunitytransparency.
-Upgradedradiosystemssoofficers arealwaysabletocallforassistance andbeonlinewithotheragenciesin GraysonCountyastheytransitionto anupgradedradiosystem.
Innovativetechnologywillallowfor (Continued on page 7)
TheHoweMercantile SponsoredHoweHumpDay Ashley Husbands
ThislastWednesdaytheHowe HumpDaywassponsoredbyThe HoweMercantile.
Beautifuldecorationsweresetouton eachtable,showcasingthecreativity andartisticsideofthesponsor,and
manyofthelovelydecorationsofferedinherstore.
Theturnoutwasexcellent,including Christmasoutfits,andevenasuit withlightsonit!
ThankyoutotheHoweChamberof Commerceforhostingtheevent!
representatives
UpdateRegardingUpcoming CityCouncilMeeting Ashley
The following was provided by City Administrator, Monte Walker regarding what to expect at the upcoming City Council Meeting. The P&Z Meeting followed by the City Council meeting will be held beginning at 6 p.m., Tuesday, December 17th:
Nextweek’sagendawillincludea councilvotetoactonappointing BrandonMcKinneytothePlanning &ZoningCommission.TheP&Z willthenactuponazonechangerequestforfourparcelstotalingseven acresalongE.DukeStreetfromSF-2
(single-family2)toC-2(commercial district2).Later,thecouncilwillalso actuponthisitem.
Thecouncilwillactuponrepealing OrdinanceNo.527whichestablished acurfewinHowein2000.Dueto Gov.AbbottsigningHouseBill1819, municipalitiesmustrepealanycurfewordinance.
Thecouncilwillalsoactonupdating oftheHowePersonnelPolicy& ProceduresManual.
Local business
and Mayor McDonald, plus the “holiday” suit mentioned, worn by Casey Davis Photo Credit: The Howe Enterprise
All attendees of the Howe Hump Day business meet-and-greet Photo Credit: The Howe Enterprise
Husbands MonteWalker
bettertransparencywiththecommunitybyimplementinginternalaccountabilityprocessestoholdboth officersandoffenders accountable.
OnJanuary16that6:30pmthe HowePoliceDepartmentwillholda townhallmeeting.Thisallowsthe communitytomeettheHowePolice Department,beinformedofchanges tomakeourcommunitysafer,and newpolicecommunityprogramsthat willberolledoutin2025.
InApril,theHowePoliceDepartmentwillholditsfirstCitizenPolice Academy.NationalNightOutWill ReturntoHowePDonTuesday,October1,2025.Theseprogramsare onlyafewthatwillbeimplemented
in2025. WehaveanewpolicenarcoticsK9, Judge.Wearewaitingonequipment forthepoliceunitbeforehehitsthe street.
Recently,weaddedanewpolicerecruit,whoisaHoweISDgraduate, OfficerCaydenSutherland. Wearerecruiting,ifyouarelooking foranexcitingcareerwithgoodtechnologyandagrowingcommunity, jointheHowePoliceDepartment.
OnSaturday,December7,2024,the HowePoliceDepartmentalongwith otheragenciesfromGraysonCounty participatedininShopwithaCopfor
Judge, the new narcotics canine Officer Cayden Sutherland, graduate of Howe ISD
Photo credit: Howe Police Department
LocalUpcomingEvents December 12th
HoweBand/HoweISD
ChristmasConcert
6:30p.m.-9:00p.m.
200PonderosaRd,Howe,TX
December 13th
SilverSpikeToyDrive–Last DaytoDonate
116EastHaningSt,Howe,TX
Dropoffanew,unwrappedtoy atyourCityHalltobedonated toToysforTots.
December 14th
HoweCommunityLibrary
SantaMeetandGreet
10:00a.m.
315S.CollinsFrwy,Howe,TX
Phone:903-745-4050
Thelibrarywillbeproviding storytime,cookiesandacraft.
HoweChristmasParade
4:30p.m.-6:30p.m.
TheAnnualHoweChristmas ParadewillbeSaturday,
December14,2024withastart timeof4:30pm.Theparade willbeginfromtheCharlesR. ThompsonGymnasiumparkinglotatHoweMiddle/ IntermediateSchoolcampuses andtravelsouthtoDukeStreet andeasttoHighway5.The routewillturneastonDavis StreetinfrontoftheFirstBaptistChurchandnorthon HughesStreettoHaningStreet. Theparadewilltravelthrough downtownandcontinuewest alongHaningStreetwhereit willturnsouthonKingStreet andreturntotheoriginalstartingpoint.
Aftertheparade,kidscanmeet andgreetSanta&Mrs.Clausat nochargeatSummitGardensat 100E.O'ConnellStreet,Howe, TX75459.(Sponsorshipavailable).
Toregistertobeintheparade, pleaseclickhere:https:// hysa.wufoo.com/forms/ ruxluhq11gkmjb/
(Continued on page 9)
Parade Route and Info
Photo Credit: Howe Chamber of Commerce
(Continued from page 8)
Formoreinformation,emailthe HoweChamberofCommerce atinfo@howechamber.com
Howe’sFirstAnnualFall AthleticBanquet
7:30p.m.-9:30p.m.
200PonderosaRd,Howe,TX
TheAthleticbanquetisDecember14th,followingtheHowe ChristmasParade.
December 16th
HoweISDBoardofTrustees Meeting
6:00p.m.–7:00p.m.
LocalEventsContinued 105WTuttSt,Howe,TX
Agendasfortheboardmeetingcan befoundhere.
December 17th
CityofHowePlanningandZoningandCityCouncilMeeting 6:00p.m. SummitGardens 100E.O’ConnellSt.
TheAgendaforthemeetingscanbe foundhere
TheAngelTree/BulldogTree Childrenarestillavailabletobe chosenatthelocalHoweISDCampuses.
CityEmployeeSpotlight Ashley Husbands Karla McDonald
This week The Howe Enterprise would like to recognize the City Employee, Michelle Hewitt. Michelle is the City Secretary, Mayor McDonald had the following to say about Ms. Hewitt:
TheCityCouncilhitahomerunwhen theyhiredMs.Hewittassheisessentialtoourteam,attheCityof Howe. Ms.Hewittisverythorough, organized,andhardworking;she knowsherjobwell.
Ms.Hewittisagreatleaderandmentorforothers.Shecollaborateseffectively,hasstrongcommunication skills,apositiveattitude,sharesher
ideas,listenstoothers,andworkswell withotherstowardscommongoals.
Nomatterhowbusyshemaybe, Michellewillalwaystakethetimeto makeothersfeelheard.Shemakes othersfeelwelcomedinherpresence. Ithinkthisisanexcellenttrait.
Michellehasagreatsenseofhumor andalwaysmakesmelaugh!Andshe rockssomereallygreatheels!
Thank you Michelle, for all of your hard work and dedication to the City of Howe!
Michelle Hewitt, Howe City Secretary
Photo Credit: Michelle Hewitt
APPLIANCEREPAIR
TECHNICIAN
workintexas.com
PostingID 16784562
Location VanAlstyne
PostingCloseDate
02/07/25
PostingLink
https://bit.ly/4g3Hthg
Description
Alocalcompanyislooking foranAPPLIANCEREPAIRTECHNICIANwho willinstall,serviceandrepair varioushouseholdappliances.Swiftlyrespondtocustomercallsregardingissues ormalfunctions. Evaluate andtroubleshootproblems. Beabletodemonstrate excellentdiagnosticand problem-solvingskillsas wellasachieveexceptional customerservice.
Description
ThispositionrequiresaHigh SchoolDiplomaorEquivalent,andaminimumof6 monthsofrelatedexperience.
LEAD PostingID16758167
Location Sherman PostingCloseDate 12/30/24
PostingLink
https://bit.ly/4iosUWX
Description
AlocalcompanyislookingforaCATERING LEADwhowillhelp customersplanandselect greatPanerafoodfor theirevents,yousupport theirquestionsandneeds, andyoumakesuretheir foodisdeliveredwhen andhowtheyneedit. Thispositionrequiresa validdriver'slicenseand atleast18yearsofage.
BulkTrashPickup2ndFriday ofeachmonthinHowe. CityofHowe SECONDS
COUNTINANEMER-
GENCY!That's whytheCityofHowehas institutedthe CodeREDEmergency NotificationSystem -anultrahigh-speedtelephonecommunica- tionserviceforemergency notifications.This systemallowsustotelephoneallortargeted areasincaseofanemergencysituationthat requiresimmediateaction (suchasaboil-waternotice,missingchildorevacuationnotices).The systemiscapableofdialing60,000phonenumbersperhour.Itthen deliversapre-recordedmessagedescribingthesituationstoalivepersonoranansweringmachineintheaffectedareapossiblyincluding instructionsrequiringactiononthepartoftherecipient.Oncethesituationisremedied,anothercallwillbeplacedtotheareasignalingthat theissuehasbeenaddressedandthatnormalactivitiescanberesumed.
Thefollowinginformationisrequiredtoaddatelephonenumberinto the"CodeRED"database:firstandlastname;address(physicaladdress,noP.O.boxes);city;state;ZipCode;andprimaryphonenumber.Thesystemworkswithcellularphonesbutrequiresavalidstreet address.Whenenteringinformation,pleasefilloutallofthescreens becausethenewestdataenteredwillreplacetheolddata.Signupby visitinghttp://www.co.grayson.tx.us/page/oem.cred
2022-23Localtaxation StateSalesTax
GeneralRevenueSalesTax EconomicDevelopment(TypeB) SalesTax
Total
CityofHoweTaxRate
HoweI.S.DTaxRate
GraysonCountyTaxRate
GraysonCollegeTaxRate
Total(per$100valuation)
City Hall
116 E. Haning St., 903-532-5571
Mayor: Karla McDonald
City Council: Michael Hill, Rodney Hough, Billie Ingram, Sarah Myrick, Joe Shephard
City Administrator (interim): Monte Walker
City Secretary: Regina Harris
Utility Billing and Municipal Court
116 E. Haning St. 903-532-5571
Utility Clerk: Beccy Roberts Court Clerk: Tammy Grisolia (After hours night drop available)
Public Works
317 S. Hughes St.
Public Works Director: Mickey Phillips
Code Enforcement
317 S. Hughes St. Code Enforcement Officer: Benjamin Fuhr
Howe Volunteer Fire Department
118 E. Haning 903-532-6888 (nonemergency)
Fire Chief: Robert Maniet
Howe Police Department
700 W. Haning St. 903-532-9971 (non-emergency) Dispatch 903813-4411
Police Chief: Carl Hudman
Economic Development
100 E. O’Connell St. 903-532-6080
EDC Director: Monte Walker
& Zoning
TexasHistoryMinute Galveston,once themostimportant portcityinTexas, sufferedacrushing blowwiththehurricaneof 1900. Oncethe watersrecededand theextentofthedamagebecameclear, thecityfacedtheoverwhelmingtask ofrebuilding. Oneofthemostimportanttasks,survivingresidentsdecided,wastoensurethatsuchadisasterneverrepeateditself. Thismeant theconstructionofaseawallalongthe coasttoshieldthecityfromthefull furyoffuturestorms. Todesignthe wallandoverseeitsconstruction,Galvestonrecruitedateamofthe bestengineerstheycouldfind,ledby oneofthemostrespectednamesin engineeringatthetime,Gen.Henry MartynRobert.
Howmanypeoplediedinthe 1900hurricanewasneverfullyestablished. Somefledthedevastationin thedaysafterward,andmanyothers werewashedouttosea,theirfatesnevertobeknown. Asmanyas8,000 peopleweredead,andjustasmany werelefthomeless. Theentirecity wasinruins. Thecitywasunableto function,andthegovernmenteffectivelycollapsed. Onceorderwasrestoredunderanewcommissionform ofgovernment,thefirstinthenation, thecitybegantheworkofconstructing theseawall,whichwouldrequiretremendouseffortandimagination. The cityturnedtoGen.HenryM.Robert, whoreadilyacceptedthetask. RobertwasbornontheAtlanticcoast onthesoutherntipofSouthCarolinain1837. Hisfather,apreacher,educator,alterpresident ofMorehouseCollege,wasanoutspokenabolitionistandleft SouthCarolinabecauseofhis stands. TheyoungerRobertgrewup inOhioandwasnominatedtotheU. S.MilitaryAcademyatWestPointin 1853. HisgradesatWestPointwere excellentashestudiedengineering. Hegraduatedin1857witha commissionasalieutenant.
TheArmyCorpsofEngineers wasresponsiblefornotonlybuilding militaryfortificationsbutalsoriverand portimprovements,bridgeconstruction,andevenmilitaryrailroadconstruction. Hispositionhadhimtravelingoften. Amonghisfirstassignmentswasbuildingfortifications nearVancouver,BritishColumbia,in 1859asaborderdisputebetweenGreatBritainandtheU. S.threatenedtoescalate. Thisincident wasknownasthe“PigWar”asawar nearlystartedoveranargumentbetweenanAmericanandIrishfarmer overapiginagarden.
Mattersmuchmoreserious woulddominatethenextstageinhis career. DuringtheCivilWar,he helpeddesign,build,andmaintaindefensivefortifications forWashington,DC, andPhiladelphia. HealsohelpedimprovedefensesforNewEnglandports againstanypossiblesurpriseConfederateattack.
Afterthewar,heworkedon riverimprovements inWashingtonandOregonasEngineerfortheDivisionofthePacific. He
wouldspendsixyearsafterwardworkingonimprovingharbors forWisconsinandMichiganalong theGreatLakes. Later,hewouldhelp buildaseriesoflocksanddamson theTennesseeandCumberlandrivers tohelpbargetrafficandhelpcontrol flooding.
Robertwasusedtotheorder ofmilitarybriefingsandthechainof command,buthewasinexperienced withciviliancrowds. Presidingovera meetingoverharborimprovementsfor thecityofNewBedford,Massachusetts, atFirstBaptistChurchin1876,the meetingdisintegratedintoascreaming match. Heimmediatelyresearched parliamentaryprocedurestomakesure futuremeetingswouldrunmore smoothly. Afterresearchingprotocols inCongressandthestatelegislatures, hewroteabookthateventuallybecameknownaroundtheworld asRobert’sRulesofOrder. In1895,Robertbecamepartofthe BoardofEngineers,agroupofofficers whooversawtheCorpsofEngineers, leadingtheboarduntil1901. Itwas herethathestudiedwaystopossibly deepenthesouthernendof theMississippiRivertoimprovetraffic. Inhisfinalactinhislongarmy career,hewaspromotedtoChiefof EngineersinApril1901. Hewould serveforthreedaysbeforeretiringafter48yearsinthearmy.
Galvestoninvitedhimin 1901toheadaboardofengineersto designandbuildthenewseawallthat includedAlfredNobleandH.C.Ripley. Thecity,county,andstatewould allpitchinonfinancing. Thewall wouldbebuiltonwoodpilingsand concrete,designsRobertcarefullyexamined. Buttheseawallwasnot enough,Robertandtheotherengineersrealized. Thecityitselfneeded toberaised. Everybuildinginthecity wasraisedeightfeet,buildingby buildingandblockbyblockwith whateverdirt,sand,anddebriswas available. Allofthiswasdoneby hand. InOctober1902,construction onthefirstmileoftheseawallbegan. ByJuly1904,theseawallranfor 3.3milesalongtheGulfCoastata heightof17feet.
Thecity’sfirstmajortestwasthe1915 hurricane. Astormatleastaspowerful asthedisastrous1900stormscoreda directhit,buttheareasbehindtheseawallfacedlittledamage. Theseawall worked,andGalvestonbecameamajortouristdestinationagainbythe 1920s.
RobertdiedathishomeinwesternNewYorkinMay1923atage 86. Inthemeantime,Robert’sRules ofOrderhavebecomethestandard rulesforholdingmeetingsacrossthe UnitedStatesandmanynations aroundtheworldforcivicclubs, schools,andevengovernmentmeetings.
Between1904and1963,theseawall wasextendedevenfurther,ultimately runningtenmiles. Discussionson improvingtheseawallhavecirculated inthecommunityforseveral years.Thebeachhasfacedproblems fromerosionandincreasinglypowerfulhurricanes. Inspiteofacenturyof hurricanes,thewallhascontinuedto keepthecitysafefromthedeadliest stormsfromthesea.
MakingtheDecisionto LiveGod’sWay It’saspiritual revelationto comprehend thatwords havetremendouspower butwhere thereisprivilegethereis alsoaccountability.Communicationnot onlyshapes ourviews whileinfluencingourbehavior,but wordsalsoexposewhowereallyare aswecanlearnagreatdealabouta person’sviewswhenwehearthem speak.Thisisawonderfulprayerto begineachday,“Setaguard,OLord, overmymouth;keepwatchoverthe doorofmylips”Psalm141:3.
Yes,wehavemuchtoprayabout,and thispetitioniscrucialifwearetolivea holylifeofintegrity,respect,andlove. Encouragingwordsareworthmuch, andcostlittle,andsincewhatwesayis whatwethink,itwouldbewiseto monitorourthoughtsandwhatwe believe.WordscanaccomplishGod’s intentionsandcarryustoencouraging places,but,unfortunately,theycanalso leadusintosomedarksituations.As children,manyofusquotedthislittle rhyme,“Sticksandstonesmaybreak ourbones,butwordswillneverhurt us”whichwasacourageousstandas wewerebeingthreatenedorinsulted. Still,werealizedafterwegrewupthat inmostcases,thewordsweremore emotionallypainfulthanifwehad beenphysicallyassaulted.
There’sagoodchanceyouremember whensomeonesaidsomethingthat causedyoutofeelrejectionand piercedyoursoul.Maybederogatory wordsfromaparent,teacher,coach, familymember, neighborhoodkids,orabullyfrom school,andunfortunatelythesepainful woundswillalwaysberemembered. Thankfully,someindividualschange overtheyearsastheyrecallthehurtful thingstheyhavesaidandare convictedtoapologizeastheyrealize thatfoolishpeoplesayfoolishthings.
Ontheothersideofthetwo-edged swordofwords,it’sastoundingtounderstandtheyalsohavethepowerto bringinspiration,joy,hope,andhealing.InProverbs16:24,theHolySpirit relayedtokingSolomonthathighly sensitivepeoplearediscreetandcarefultousegoodjudgmentwiththeir speechwhiletheuncaringdonotplan orconsiderwhattheysay.Weknow thisistruebecausewehavebeencomfortedbyGod’seternalpromisesand fromthosewhosincerelycareabout us.Intheancientworld,honeywasthe sweetestsubstanceavailable,and Solomonwasintentionalwithhisimageryashepennedthesewords, “Pleasantwordsareahoneycomb, sweetto thesoulandhealingtothebones.”We havetheopportunitytofilterour speechthroughtheHolySpirit,butit’s ourchoicetoapplythesespiritualprinciplesorignorethem.Thewiseperson
whodesirestowalkinthe awarenessofGod’spresencewilllearn tocontroltheircarnalnature.Ouremotionsareinterestedinpleasingour flesh,butourspiritisalwayspassionateaboutpleasingtheLord.
Acommandassociatedwithobedience toGodistodevelopspiritualsensitivityandself-controlwhichare includedinthefruitsoftheSpirit.Asa resultofchoosingwordswisely,our communicationcanandshould becomeaconsistentrelayofthemessageofJesus.EllenG.Whiteisquoted assaying,“AChristianrevealstrue humilitybyshowingthegentlenessof Christ,bybeingalwaysreadytohelp others,byspeakingkindwordsand performingunselfishacts,whichelevateandennoblethemostsacredmessagethathascometoourworld.” Somebelievethatwhenwecancontrolourwords,wehavemorematurity anddiscernmenttocontrolourlives. James1:26says,“Thosewhoconsider themselvesreligiousandyetdonot keepatightreinontheirtongues deceivethemselves,andtheirreligion isworthless.”
TheAlmightywantsHispeopleto revealHischaracter,anddevelop agapecharitywhichmotivatesusto embracethisbeautifulwayofconnectingwithothers.Thosewhodisregard speakingasadivineappointmentto witnessforChristanddonotcarewhat theysayarequitefamiliarwiththe flavoroftheirownfoot.Ephesians 4:29declares,“Donotletanyunwholesometalkcomeoutofyour mouths,butonlywhatishelpfulfor buildingothersupaccordingtotheir needs,thatitmaybenefitthosewho listen.”Mayweconsiderwhatisinthe wellcomesupinthebucket.Inthis light,werealizethathate-filledand destructivewordsareintentionalsin.
Thegoodnewsisthatrepentanceisan opportunitytobeforgivenandrestored byGod’sgrace.
This is an excerpt from Dr. Holland’ s book, “Receiving Our Healing – Going to War on our Knees” Learn more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com
KenBridges
Dr.BillyHolland
AttendtheChurchofYourChoice EachSunday... CommunityBibleFellowship
JeremyMoore,pastor
415SCollinsFwy,Howe,TX75459
Wednesday
6:30pm-FoodandFellowship
7:00pm-CommunityKids(ages36thgrade,nurseryavailable)
7:00pm-YouthandAdultBible Study
Sunday
10:30am-WorshipService
FirstBaptistChurchHowe RogerTidwell,pastor
100E.DavisSt.,Howe,TX903-5325504
Wednesday
5:30pm FreeMeal
6:30pm-TeamKid
6:30pm-YouthMinistry
6:30pm-AdultBibleFellowship
Sunday
9:15am-BibleFellowship
10:30am-WorshipService
6:00pm PotluckFellowshipand BibleStudy
HoweMethodistChurchofHowe JBBryant,minister
810NDennySt,Howe,TX75459 903-532-6718
Tuesday:
8:30am-1:00pmWeeCareDaycare (Registrationneeded)
9:30am-Women'sBibleStudy 6:30pm-BoyScouts
Wednesday:
9:00am-WednesdayWorkers
6:00pm-1stand3rdWednesdays
FamilyNight
Thursday:
8:30am-1:00pm-WeeCareDaycare (Registrationneeded)
Saturday:
9:00am-12:00pm-FeedMySheep (1st&3rdSat.ofeachmonth)
Sunday:
8:30am-CoffeeandDonuts
9:00am-SundaySchool
10:00am-WorshipService 3:00pmCubScouts
FirstBaptistChurchDorchester ZachPoling,pastor
11831FM902,Dorchester,TX75459903-476-5525
Wednesday
6:30pm-Worshipservice
Sunday
9:00am-Men'sPrayerTime
9:45am-SundaySchool
10:45am-WorshipService
5:00pm-EveningService
SummitViewChurch BrettandDebHetrick,pastors
910SDennySt,Howe,TX75459903-532-6828
Wednesday
7:00pm-RadiateYouth
7:00pm-Sanctuaryofforprayer
Sunday
9:30am-SundaySchool(kids,youth,women,men)
10:30am-WorshipService
10:30am-KidsChurch
HoweChurchofChrist
AaronAlsbrook,minister
1205NCollinsFwy,Howe,TX75459903-532-6441
Wednesday
7:00pm-BibleClasses(allages)
Sunday 9:00am-BibleClasses(allages)
10:00am-WorshipService 5:00pm-WorshipService
“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. The Patriot Pony NetanyahuStandsTrial IsraeliPrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahutookthestandyesterdayina corruptiontrialagainsthim.Itmarked thefirsttimeasittingIsraeliprime ministertestifiedasacriminaldefendant.
Thetrial,whichbeganin2020,covers threeseparatecasesinvolvingalleged fraudandbribery.Netanyahustands accusedofreceivingalmost$200Kin giftsfromabillionaireHollywoodproducerandpositivepressfrommedia mogulsinexchangeforregulatory favors.TheIsraelileaderwasnot grantedexemptionfromstandingtrial; hewilltestifyforsixhoursaday,three daysperweekinthecomingweeks, passingnotestocontinuerunningthe country.Averdictisexpectedin2026.
Separately,Israellauncheddozensof
airstrikesintoSyriayesterday,claimingtohavedestroyeditsnavalfleet andstrikingairbasesandweapons arsenals.Netanyahusaidtheoffensive includingenteringthedemilitarizedzonebetweenthetwocountriesearlierthisweek isdesignedto protectIsraelfollowingSyria’sregime change.
GMHitstheBrakesonCruise GeneralMotorsannounceditwillstop fundingitsCruiserobotaxiproject, citingcompetition,costs,andtimerequiredtoscalethebusiness.GMwill insteadfocusondevelopingadvanced driverassistancetechnologiesandautonomoussystemsforpersonalvehicles,mergingCruise'stechnicalteam withitsown.GMspentover$10Bon Cruisesinceacquiringitin2016and expectstosaveroughly$1Bannually fromtherestructuring.
ThedecisionfollowsaseriesofchallengesforCruise,includinganOctober2023incidentwhereoneofitsvehiclesstruckanddraggedapedestrian, leadingtofederalregulatoryscrutiny andoperationalsetbacks.Amidthe fallout,CruisecofounderandCEO KyleVogtresigned,andCruiselaidoff 900employees,orabout24%ofits workforce.Lastmonth,Cruisepaida $500Kcriminalfineforsubmittinga falsereportrelatedtotheOctober2023 incident.
Inotherautonews,Amazonlaunchedanonlinedealershipwith SouthKorea'sHyundaiasitsfirstpartner.Consumersin48UScitiescan browse,order,finance,andpickup newHyundaivehiclesthroughAmazon.
CEOShooterSuspectSeized AdvertisingBehemoth PolicehavearrestedasuspectinconnectiontothekillingofUnitedHealthcareCEOBrianThompson,who wasshotoutsideofaManhattanhotel lastweek.Thesuspecthasbeen chargedwithfivecrimesinPennsylvania,wherehewasfound,including carryingafirearmwithoutalicense, forgery,andtamperingwithrecords. Hehasalsobeenchargedwithmurder inManhattan.
Twenty-six-year-oldLuigiMangione wasidentifiedataMcDonald’syesterdayinAltoona,westernPennsylvania roughly280milesfromNew YorkCity,wherethefatalshooting tookplace.Policesayhewasfound carryingaso-called“ghostgun,”afirearmmadeusingpartsprintedorpurchasedonlinethatmaybemoredifficulttotraceortietopastcrimes.The silencerandotherfeatureswereconsistentwiththemurderweapon,accordingtoauthorities.
Thesuspectwasalsocarryingmultiple fakeIDsandahandwritten,three-page manifestoallegedlycriticizingthe healthcareindustryforprioritizing profitoverpatientcare.Seeliveupdateshere.
OmnicomGroupisacquiringInterpublicGroupina roughly$13Bdealthatwouldcreatetheworld'slargestadvertising agencyvaluedatmorethan $30B.Thecompaniesarebehind iconicmarketingcampaignslike “GotMilk”fortheCaliforniaMilk ProcessorBoard,“BecauseI’m WorthIt”forL’Oreal,and“Think Different”forApple.
Underthetermsofthestock-forstocktransaction,Omnicomshareholderswillown60.6%ofthecombinedcompany,whileInterpublic shareholderswillown39.4%.The combinedentitywilloperateunder theOmnicomnameandtradeunder theOMCtickersymbolontheNew YorkStockExchange.Thedealis expectedtohaveanannualcost savingsof$750Mandissettoclose inthesecondhalfof2025.
Omnicomisthethirdlargestadvertisingholdingcompany globallybyrevenue,generating roughly$15Bin2023,whileInterpublicfollowswithroughly$11B.
Combined,thetwoagencieswillsurpasscurrentindustryleaders:UKbasedWPP,whichreportedapproximately$18Binrevenuein2023,and Paris-basedPublicisGroupe,which reportednearly$16Binrevenue.
The Patriot Pony QuantumBreakthrough ResearchersatGooglereachedamajor milestoneintheracetobuildpractical quantumcomputers,revealingadevicewithanerrorratethatgetslower asthenumberofqubitsincreases.The companysaysthebreakthroughcould allowittobuildacommerciallyviable quantumcomputerbytheendofthe decade.
Quantumcomputersrelyonindividual qubits,whichharnessthepowerof quantummechanicsbutarehighly susceptibletothingsliketemperature fluctuations,potentiallyintroducing errors.Google'sWillowchipeffectivelyspreadsthequantuminformation acrossmorethan100qubits making one,single"logical"qubit.Seeadeep divehere(w/video).
Todemonstrate,researchersperformed abenchmarkcalculationusingWillow inaboutfiveminutes.Incontrast,a supercomputerwouldtake714trillion
timeslongerthantheageoftheuniverse,whichisabout14billionyears old,toperformthesamecomputation. Researcherswillnowworktoscaleup multiplelogicalqubitsconnectedtogether.
Learnaboutthebasicsofquantum computingandseethebestresources onthetopicfromacrosstheinternet.
SyrianGovernmentFalls SyrianPresidentBasharal-Assadresignedandfledthecountryyesterday toRussia,endingtheAssadregime's 50yearsinpower.Seephotosfromthe streetsofSyriahere;watchvideohere.
Theannouncementcamealittleover oneweekafterrebelscapturedthe country'scommercialcapitalofAleppoinadays-longassault.They thencapturedthecitiesofHamaand Homsbeforetakingcontrolofthecapital,Damascus,yesterday Thestunningoffensiveendedfouryearsofa relativelyquietceasefireand13years ofcivilwar,inwhichanestimated 500,000Syrianshavebeenkilled.
TherebelsareledbyHayatTahriralSham,whoseleaderAbuMohammed al-Golaniestablishedthegroupasan al-Qaidaaffiliatein2012underadifferentname.
USDATargetsBirdFluinMilk TheUSDepartmentofAgriculture yesterdayorderednewtestingofthe country'smilksupplyforbirdflu,beginningDec.16.
Birdfluwasfirstreportedincowsin Marchandhasspreadtoatleast720 herdsin15states.Nearly60people, mostlyfarmers,havebeeninfected throughcontact(seeoutbreaktracker). Theinitiativeaimstobettertrackand controlthespreadofavianinfluenzain dairycattlebyrequiringnationwide dairyfarms,bulkmilktransporters, andprocessingfacilitiestoshareraw, unpasteurizedmilksamplesuponrequest.
ClassifiedasH5N1,thevirusisavariantofinfluenzaA thefamilythat includesstrainsresponsibleforthe seasonalandepidemicfluinhumans (seeoverview).Theproteinsonthe H5N1surfacecorrespondtoreceptors foundinmanybirdspecies.Infection inhumans(whosereceptorsareless accessiblethanbirds')israreandtypicallyresultsinmildsymptomsand lowtransmissionrates.
In2016,thegroupseveredtieswithalQaida,rebranded,andsoughttowork closelyalongsideotherrebelgroups;it remainsdesignatedaterroristorganizationbytheUSandUN.
Yesterday,GolanispokefromthehistoricUmayyadMosqueinDamascus. Hedeclaredvictoryandsuggestedthe currentprimeministerwouldstayon untilatransitionofpoweriscomplete.
However,astudythis weekfoundasinglemutationin thevirusmayenablehuman-tohumantransmission.
Globally,fewerthan500human deathshavebeenlinkedto H5N1since2003.Seeavisual explainerofhowbirdflucan infecthumanshere.
ColumbianDrugLordReleased ColombiandruglordFabioOchoa VásquezwasreleasedfromUS prisonthisweekafterserving25 yearsofa30-yearprisonsentence. Ochoaisexpectedtobedeportedto Colombiainthecomingdays.
OchoawastheMiamidistributor forColombia'sinfamousMedellín cartel,ledbyPabloEscobar(watch thedocumentary).Atitsheightin the1980s,theMedellíncartelsupplied80%oftheworld'scocaine market.By1987,OchoawasincludedinForbes'listofbillionaires.
AfterseveralyearsinprisoninColombia,Ochoawasextraditedtothe USondrug-traffickingchargesin 2001.Hewasalsoimplicatedinthe 1986killingofDrugEnforcement AdministrationinformantBarry Seal,thesubjectofthe2017film "AmericanMade"starringTom Cruise.Ochoa'slifewasrepresented intheNetflixTVshow"Narcos."
Colombiaistheworld'sbiggestcocaineproducerandexporter,responsibleforabout90%ofcocaineseized intheUSasof2019.Learnaboutthe traffickingroutehere(w/video).
