Iamsoproudto bepartofacommunitywithsucha givingspiritforthe Christmasseason! Waytogo,everyone!Thecontributionsmadebythe communityforthe
SongoftheWeek:
Ihaveasweet, verymusically inclinedfriend whosendsme beautifulChristmassongsdaily duringtheholiday season,manyof whichIhavenever heardbefore.I thoughtthisone, sungbyoneofmy friend’sfavorite EnglishChoirs wasabsolutely beautiful!
Merry Christmas Season, everyone!
TheAngel/Bulldog TreeatHoweISD hadeverychild chosenand providedforoffof thetreebythe deadline!
Additionally, TheHoweVs.Van Alstynefriendly contestfortheSilver SpikeToyDrivewas ahugesuccess! Therearerumors thatHowewonthe contest.Intheend, thechildren providedfor throughthe donationstoToys forTots,won.
TheHowePolice Departmentalong withotheragencies fromGrayson Countyrecently participatedin “ShopwithaCop ShopwithaCopis aneventthat focusesonunderprivilegedchildren andfamilieswithin alocalcommunity. Policeofficersspend timewiththe childrenandshop withtheminalocal store.Duringthe event,thechildren aregivenagift certificateto purchaseanyitems theywantinthe store.Thepolice officeractsasa chaperoneand companiontothe childrenthroughout thedayastheyshop foritems.
ExcellentTurnoutatHoweParade Ashley Husbands
TheHoweChristmas Paradehadawonderful turnoutwithmanynew floatsandcitizensin attendance.
TheMayor,Karla McDonald,walkedher threebeautifulpoodlesin theparadealongwithher decoratedcaraheadof her..CityAdministrator, MonteWalkerwasspottedtakingpicturesofthe
Letters parade,MeetingSanta andMrs.Claus,andthe communitythatwere contributedtothelinks attheendofthisarticle. Hotchocolatewas servedtothe communityby
IndependentFinancial Bank. Picturesoftheparade canbefoundatThe HoweEnterprise Photoshere.Pictures fromMeetingSanta andMrs.
canbe foundhere.
Santa Ashley Husbands
Photo credit: Howe ISD
Howe Mayor, Karla McDonald with her three poodles MonteWalker, posing with The Grinch
Photo Credit:Ashley Husbands
Claus
Boys’ Basketball TheBoys’TeamwonagainstValley View34-30.
NextWeekonDecember30th,the JVA,JVBandVarsityTeamswill competeagainstPottsboroinaDistrict Game,atHome.TheJVAgamebeginsat5:30,theJVBteamgamebeginsat6:30,andtheVarsityTeam competesat7:30p.m..
TheweekendfollowingChristmasa tournamentwillbeheldinLeonard forcompetition.
Girls’Basketball The following was provided by Jaycee Fourkiller, The Head Girls’Basketball Coach:
ResultsfromFridaynight'sgamevs BlueRidge Howe52BlueRidge51 PresleyShockeyledtheteamwith29 pointsand16rebounds.
ResultsfromHoweVSLeonard Howe30Leonard64 PresleyShockeyledinpointswith16 points.
Nextweek,theJVandVarsity teamsplayaDistrictGameat homeagainstPottsboro.The gamesbeginat4:30p.m..The weekendfollowingChristmas theVarsityteamwillcompetein theFirstStateBanktournament inGainesville.Timesforthe gameshaveyettobe announced.
Varsity Boys’Basketball GameAgainst Valley View
Photo Credit for all 3 Photos: Michelle Carney
Ashley Husbands
Torrey Stricklin
AnnualHoweISDSpellingBee TheannualHoweISDSpellingBee washeldonDecember17.
TheIntermediateBeehad23contestantsandlastedfor12rounds.Thewinningwordwasembroiled.Noah Brown,a4thgraderwasthewinner.
TheMiddleSchoolBeehad22contestants.Itlastforatotalof6rounds. Thewinningwordwasocelot.Jude Christman,a7thgraderwasthewinner.
BothboyswilladvancetotheCounty BeeinFebruary.Congratstoallour students.Theyhadtowintheirclassroombeestoadvanceandspendmany hoursstudying.
ThelibrarywouldliketothankMr. KevinWilson,Mrs.JulieSnapp,Mrs. PamKirbyandMrs.MelissaAtchison foryourhelpinmakingourbeeasuccess.
Howe Middle School Spelling Bee Participants
Photo Credit: Torrey Stricklin
Howe Intermediate School Spelling Bee Participants
Photo Credit:Ashley Husbands
Jude Christman, 7th Grade, Middle SchoolWinner Noah Brown, 4th Grade, Intermediate SchoolWinner
Photo Credit: Howe ISD, Ashley Husbands
CityCouncilMeetingReveals FinancialDiscrepanciesin AuditandPoliceUpdates Ashley Husbands ThePlanningandZoningCommissionBoardappointednewmember, BrandonMcKinneythislastTuesday eveningatthemeeting.Themaintopic forthenightattheP&Zmeetingwas OrdinanceNo.829.OrdinanceNo.829 wasrecommendedbytheP&Zforthe requestedzonechangefromSF-2toC -2.Later,intheCityCouncilmeeting, themotiontoapproveOrdinanceNo. 829waspassed4-0,Councilwoman Myrickwasabsentfromthemeeting.
AttheCityCouncilmeetingdepartmentreportsweregivenbyalldepartments.ChiefSullivanreportedthatto date,thecurrentHowePoliceDepartmenthassurpassedthe53citations writteninallof2023fortheyear’s total.TheHowePDalsoacceptedthe resignationof2formerofficersafter twointernalinvestigationsrevealed oneofficerfor“violationofdepartmentalpolicy”andtheotherfor “violationoflaw.”
Areserveofficer,ChristineLabertew, wasapprovedbytheCityCouncilfor hireforherexpertiseinsexcrimes,sex trafficking,familyviolence,etc.She bringsalmost15yearsofexperience andwilldevote8hourspermonth, freeofcharge,totheCityofHowe. Hercontributionswillincludetraining personnel,allowadjustmentsforwhat isneededfromaperspectiveoffamily violence,andtoorganizetherecords roomwhichis,accordingtoSullivan, “amess,toputitmildly.”Itwasalso statedthatnofamilyviolencepacket wascurrentlyincludedinthePolice DepartmentatthetimeofSullivan’s hire,whichisrequiredbylaw.
InJanuarytrainingwillbeginforSexualAssaultandFamilyViolencefor thecommunity.
January16,2025theHowePolice DepartmentwillhostaTownHall Meetingat6:30p.m.InAprilthe HowePDwillhostthe1stCitizenPoliceAcademy.Moredetailswillbe postedatalaterdate.
MichelleHewitt,theCitySecretary, deliveredinformationregardingrecent auditprogress.Anissuehasbeen foundinthatpreviousCitySecretaries orAdministrationdidnotproperly balancethebalancesheetsatthe month’send.Thishasresultedina $35,000differencebetweenthebalancesinthebankversusthebalances onpaperinthe2022audit,foundthus far.HewittandStevensareworkingto findthediscrepancy,getthebalancing correct,andstartthenextyear’saudit.
MonteWalker,theCityAdministrator reportedonrecenteventsatTheCity. Someupdatesincluded,activeprojects atNobleRidge,ConnectionsPark, commercialcontractshavebeen signedforPonderosaPoint,NRP groupisbeginningconstructiononthe multi-familyproject,GraceMeadows, HilltopRanch,HoweMeadows,TalbottEstates,andSaddlebackareall movingforwardorinprogress.AlthoughtheTalbottplatwasapproved lastmonthnegotiationsarestillinprogressforannexation.CityStaffhas metwithBVRTIIandwithQualico Homestodiscussdetailsofapotential partnership(s).
Therewasarecentissuewithwaterin Howe.GTUAdidnotfillupthecity’s tankbeforetheyunderwentrepairson theirsystemwhichcreatedasituation inwhichwaterwasalmostlosttothe entireEastsideofHowe.Fortunately, repairsweremadebeforethesystem wentfullydry.Flushingofsediment, whichwaspickedupandsentthrough thesystem,hasbeenflushedforthe mostpartbutmaycontinueincertain areasforafewdays.
TheCityCouncilthenconvenedforan ExecutiveSession,afterwhich,the meetingended.
PictureofBrandonMcKinney’s appointmentontothePlanningand ZoningComissionBoardcanbeseen onPage6.
BrandonMcKinneyAppointedtoThePlanningandZoning CommissionBoard Brandon McKinney, the newest member of the Planning and Zoning Commission Board inducted by Mayor Karla McDonald
Photo Credit:Ashley Husbands
BillyDanEstepObituary Nov. 16,1934-December13,2024
The following was provided by Scoggins Funeral Home:
BillyDanEstepwasbornNovember 16,1934inBelton,TXtoPaulEstep andRuieEvans.Hewasagraduate ofBeltonHighSchool.Heleftthis earthlyworldtobewithhisHeavenly Fathershortlyaftercelebratinghis 90thbirthdaywithfamilyand friends.Hepassedpeacefullywith hislovedonesbyhisside.Hewasa residentofMelissa,TXatthetimeof hispassing.
Billspentmostofhistimeworking. Asakidhemowedlawnsandenjoyedgoingtothelocalpoolwithhis cousin.Heoftentoldstoriesabout goingtoadoublefeaturemoviewith just.25cents.Hewouldgetaburger, coke,candybarandhaveenoughleft overforpopcorn!Hestartedschool intheFirstgradeandadvancedtwo gradesalongtheway.Aftergraduating,hebeganhissuccessfulworking career.
Bill’sresumewasquiteremarkable. HebeganasaDallasBranchManageratEastTexasOxygen.Aftertwo years,hemovedtoJackson,MSand workedastheSalesManagerfor CapitalCorporationfor12years.He heldthepositionsofOrganization ChairmanandSectionChairmanon theCentralMississippiSectionfor theAmericanWeldingSociety.Itwas duringthistime,thathemethislate wifeMargointhesmalltownofMenominee,MI.BeingacrosstheUS fromeachothershouldhavekept themapartbut,fromthemomentof meeting,itwasloveatfirstsight. TheyweremarriedFebruary26, 1972inJackson,MSandenjoyed46 yearsofmaritalbliss.Blendingtheir familiestogether;Bill’ssonMichael D.Estepcametolivewiththem,and shortlythereaftertheywelcomed daughterCandaceMichelle(Estep) Simmons.Asafamilytheyenjoyed theirhorsesandattendedmanyhorse shows.BillwaseventhePresidentof theMississippiWesternHorseshow Association.
In1975thefamilymovedtoHowe, TXandhebecamePresidentand CEOofasmallweldingsupplycompany.Growingthatbusinessover20 yearsintofivelocations:Industrial WeldingProductsinSherman,TX, AtokaandMadill,OK,GrandOxygeninParis,TXandWichitaWelders SupplyinWichitaFalls,TX.While runninghisbusinesshewasonthe BoardofDirectorsatCommunity NationalBankinSherman,TX,as wellasamemberoftheKoikeAronsonManufacturingDistribution CouncilinBuffalo,NY.Inaddition tohisbusinesspositions,hefound timetobeinvolvedinhisdaughter’s schoolingandathleticsandwasa proudmemberoftheHoweISD SchoolBoardforthreeterms.
AftersellingthebusinesstoAirgas, Inc.in1995,BillandMargoretired
andpurchasedtheirmotorcoachand traveledtheUS.Theyenjoyedlifeon theroadforabout20years,making memoriestogetherandmeeting manygreatfriendsalongtheway.He becameaPawPawin1991toDevin “Gator”Hargrove,andin2016,he becameaGreatPawPawtoEaston “Scooter”Hargrove.Fromthere,his greatgrandchildrengrewandheenjoyedtimewithColt“Bud”Hargrove,HaydenWilsonandTheoWilson.Heenjoyedmanyofhisgrandson’sandgreatgrandson’sbaseball gamesandmostrecentlyattendedhis firsthockeygame.Hecherishedthe timewithhisfamily.
Billwasa32nddegreeScottishRite MasterMasonandamemberofthe HellaTempleShrine.Hishome lodgewasTravisLodgeNo.117in Sherman,TX.
BillwasanactivememberatFirst MelissaChurchinMelissa,TX.He enjoyedparticipatinginSunday schoolandworkedcloselywiththe HopeCancerComfortMinistry group.Godandfamilyweretopprioritiesandallthatknewhimenjoyed hiswitandcompany.
BillissurvivedbyhisdaughterCandaceSimmonsandhusbandJeffof Melissa,TX;sisterGayelaBickof Edmond,OK;sister-in-lawJudy SemrauofMenominee,MI;brotherin-lawJohnnyHuffmanandwife MaryofMenominee,MI;grandson DevinHargroveandwifeAlexandria ofBells,TX;greatgrandchildren EastonHargrove,ColtHargrove, HaydenWilsonandTheoWilson; severalnieces,nephews,andcousins. Heisprecededindeathbyhiswife MargoEstep;sonMichaelEstep; motherRuieEvans;fatherPaul Estep;sisterRobinJohnsonWells, brother-in-lawGeneSemrauand sister-in-lawGloriaHuffman.
Inlieuofflowers,thefamilyasksyou makedonationstotheScottishRite Children’sHospitalortheFirst MelissaChurch.
Billy Dan Estep
Photo Credit: Scoggins Funeral Home website
Ashley Husbands Robert Maniet
This week The Howe Enterprise would like to recognize the City Employees, Trevor Reed, Captain/Paramedic and Jacob Taylor, Paramedic for The Howe Fire and EMS Services. Chief Maniet had the following to say about Reed and Taylor:
CaptTrevorReedhasbeenwith theHoweFDforseveralyears now. CaptReedwasbeena
CityEmployeeSpotlights insturmentalpartoftheteam hereandhashelpedwiththesetupof thenewHoweEMS. CaptReedisour actingtrainingofficerfortheFD also.
CaptReedhasneverturneddownan opportunitytohelpsomeoneorothers. Hehasbeenahugepartofthedept whenitcomestoideastofurtherthe deptintothefuture. CaptReedisatrue partofthetraditionoftheFireService.
JacobTaylorhasbeenanemployee withtheHoweEMSsinceApril 2024. Jacobstartedhisadventure withtheHoweFDyearspriorto hisfulltimeemploymentwiththe newEMS.
Jacobhasbeenawonderfuladditiontotheteamwiththis knowledgeandabilities.
Jacobhasbeeneagerandwillingto learnandfurtherthedeptasawhole intothefuture.
Thank you Trevor and Jacob, for all of your hard work and dedication to the City of Howe!
Trevor Reed, Captain/Paramedic
Jacob Taylor, Paramedic
Photo Credit: Howe FD
Ashley Husbands Jake Sullivan
This week The Howe Enterprise would like to recognize the City Employee, Cayden Sutherland. Cayden is the newest Howe PD member, Chief Sullivan had the following to say about Sutherland:
TheHowePoliceDepartmentisina transitionofchangingtheculture withintheorganizationandwithour citizens. Amongthechangesthe HowePoliceDepartmentselected CaydenSutherlandtojointheDepartmentasanewpolicerecruit.Sutherland,aHoweHighSchoolgraduate hasalreadyhelpedtransitionourculture. SincejoiningHPD,theHowe PoliceDepartment,wehaveseenan
CityEmployeeSpotlights uptickinyoungofficerswantingto joinHowePD.Inhisbrieftime,Sutherlandhasdemonstratedhiscustomer servicemindsetwhichisparamount forthesuccessofHowePD’sculture change.Sutherland’seagernessto learnandknowledgeaboutourcommunityisagreatassetforHowePD.I hopetofindmanymoreHoweISD studentswhowanttojoinourteamin thefuture.
Thank you Cayden, for all of your hard work and dedication to the City of Howe!
Cayden Sutherland Photo Credit: Howe PD
XYZEnjoysChristmasActivities Joanne Dickey
TheSeniorCitizensgroupfromFirst BaptistChurchHoweenjoyeda Christmasprogramonthe"Legend oftheCandyCane"recentlyattheir monthlyXYZ(eXtraYearsofZest) meetingintheFellowshipHallofthe church.
JulieSmithsharedadevotional abouttheChristiansymbolsin"The CandyCane". Thecandycane, whileyummytoeat,isatoolinitself totellaboutJesusbecause: thecandycaneupsidedownmakesaJfor Jesus; itcanbeastaffliketheshepherdsusedastheytendedtheirsheep
thenightJesuswasborn;thered stripesremindusofthebloodof Christashediedforoursins;andthe whiteremindsusofthepurityand sinlessnessofJesus. Itssweetflavor remindsusofGod'sloveforusat Christmastime. Themembers watchedavideoofthestorybeing readtothem;craftedacandycane ornamentandatecandycanecookies. TerryMcLaughlinledthegroup insingingChristmasCarols. The groupfellowshippedoveradelicious lunch.TheXYZgroupmeetsonthe secondThursdayofeverymonthat FBCHoweandvisitorsarewelcome."
Local FBC Howe XYZ Christmas Meeting Photo Credit: Joanne Dickey
HoweISDBoardofTrustees MeetingHearsFacilityPlanningCommittee’sRecommendationsforHoweSchoolDistrict ImprovementsViaProposed BondElection Ashley Husbands
Thisweek’sHoweISDBoardof Trusteesmeetingwasparticularly eventfulduetodiscussionsofafuture bondelection.
Elevencitizenswereinattendance including8membersoftheFacility PlanningCommittee.TheFacility PlanningCommitteeconducteda presentationledbyNickUpton regardingdetailsofthefuture projectedbondneededforHowe ISD.
Thecommitteehasmet4timessince OctobertodiscusstheHowe District’sneededrepairsandfuture. Currentprojectionsshowinthenext 10yearstheElementaryschoolwill reachcapacityin2027/2028,theIntermediateschoolwillreachcapacity in2029/2030,theMiddleschoolwill reachcapacityin2030/2031andthe HighSchoolisprojectedtoreach capacityin2032/2033.
PhaseIIofthebondproposedforthe May2025BondElection,willbethe majorityofthemoneyneededforthe overallbond.PhaseIIconsistsofconstructionplansforSummitHillElementary.Earlydesignsareindiscussionfora5-7monthconstructiontime forchangesmadetotheschool.
Theoverallamountaskedforinthe proposedbondwouldbe32.5million dollars,23.5million,ofwhich,willgo towardSummitHillElementaryimprovements.Theremaining9 milliondollarswouldbedevotedto replacingtheroofattheHighSchool, whichislongoverdueandtolookat landforpurchasingfutureschool sites,amongothernecessities.
Noactionwastakenatthemeeting thislastMondaybuttheopportunity wasgiventoheartheFacilityPlanningCommittee’srecommendations. Ifabondelectionistobecalledfor,it willbedecideduponinJanuary.
PostingID 16797583
Location Sherman
PostingCloseDate
3/10/25
PostingLink
https://bit.ly/4gCpuyi
Description
Alocalcompanyislooking foraCONTROLSTECHNICIANwhowillberesponsibleforoperating,maintaining,repairing,andtroubleshootingfacilityPLC, SCADAandallplantancillararysystems. Thisincludescalibrationofsystem instrumentationfielddevices,managementofPLC controlpanels,ladderlogic, fieldinstrumentationloops, networkcommunications, andalarmmanagement. ThispositionrequiresaHigh SchoolDiplomaorEquivalent,andaminimumof5 yearsofrelatedexperience.
PostingID 16781451
Location Denison
PostingCloseDate 1/30/25
PostingLink
https://bit.ly/4gF0tSU
Description
Alocalcompanyis lookingforCAREGIVERSwhowillprovide avarietyofnonmedicalservicesinthe TexomaAreathatallowseniorstoremain intheirhome.ThispositionrequiresaHigh SchoolDiplomaor Equivalent,andavalid driver'slicense.
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 CharlesM.Schulz createdacomic stripthatcaptured theheartsofmillionsinthenearly 50yearsthatPeanutsraninthousandsofnewspapersaroundtheworld. Schulz,an amiableandsoftspokenMinnesotanativeandWorld WarIIveteran,hadbeendrawingthe dailystripsince1950. Fifteenyears later,hewouldberesponsiblefor aChristmasstorythathassincebecomeaculturalicon. Butitwasalmostentirelybyaccident.
InApril1965,executivesattheCocaColaCompanycontactedtheiradvertisingagency,McCann-Ericksonin NewYork,andaskediftherewere anyChristmasspecialstheycould sponsorthatwinter,stillmonths away. Theadagencyimmediately suggestedanadaptationofSchulz’s Peanutsstripeventhoughnonehad evenbeenproposedandSchulzhad noteventhoughtoftheidea.
Withindays,Schulz,alongwith producerLeeMendelsonandanimator BillMelendez,producedastoryoutline. ExecutivesatCBSagreedtoair thespecialbutonlygaveitabudgetof $76,000(or$768,000in2024dollars).
Inspiteofthespecial’spurposeofadvertisingCoca-Cola,Schulzchosea storylinethatwascriticalofcrassprofiteeringandemphasizingthesimple messageoftheChristmasspirit. By theearly1960s,manyculturalcommentatorshadalreadycriticizedthe commercializationofChristmasand theemphasisongiftsandholiday spending. In2023,Americansspent hundredsofbillionsonChristmasby oneestimate,somuchthatmanybusinessesdependon briskChristmasshoppingtostay afloat.Thenumberislikelytoberepeatedin2024.
Inthestorylinethatemerged, inspiredbystripsthatSchulzhadrun previously,themaincharacterCharlie Brownwasfeelingdisconnectedand depressedasChristmasapproachedas everyonearoundhimmadedemands onreceivingextravagantgifts,includinghissisterSallyaskingSantaClaus inalettertomakeitsimplebyjust sending“tensandtwenties.”
Aspartofdirecting aChristmasplay,CharlieBrownand hisfriendLinus,ablanket-totingtheologian,attempttobuy aChristmastree. Thetwofindalot filledwiththealuminumChristmastreesthathadbecome popularbytheearly1960s. Thinking thealuminumtreesweretoosuperficial,CharlieBrownchosetheonelive treeavailable,asmall,dilapidatedsapling. Mockedbyhisfriendsabouthis choiceoftreelater,heaskedwhatthe meaningofChristmaswas,prompting LinustoquoteLuke2:8-14fromthe BibleonthebirthofChrist. “And that’swhatChristmasisallabout, CharlieBrown,”LinussaidtoCharlie Brown,satisfiedandinspiredbythe answer.
Thenetwork,studioexecutives,and advertiserswerereluctanttoinclude themonologue. Thebiggestquestion theyhadwaswhetheritwasingood
tastetotakeascripturalmessageso specialtomillionsofAmericansand turnitintoacartoon. Televisionhad onlybeenwidelyavailableforalittle overadecadebythe 1960s. Televisionanimationhadbeen aroundforalmostaslong,butcritics didnotseeitasverysophisticated. Schulz,however,insistedthatthe scenebeincluded. Intheprocess,it becamethefirsttimetheBiblewas quotedinatelevisioncartoon. Animatorsworkedfeverishlytoproducethethousandsofimagesneeded foracartoonbeforethedeadline. With 12imagesneededeachsecondfora 25-minutespecial,theirworkwascut outforthemaseachneededtobe drawnandcoloredbyhand. Children auditionedtovoicethecharacterswith 8-year-oldPeterRobbinscastasCharlieBrownandChristopherSheaas Linus,whowouldbothrepeattheir rolesinfuturespecials. CBSexecutiveswereuncertainhowaudiences wouldreacttothecartoon,tryingwithoutsuccesstoconvinceSchulz,Mendelson,andMelendeztomakechangestotheproduction,alreadyover budget.
ACharlieBrownChristmasairedon December9,1965. Morethan15.5 millionhouseholdswatched. Itimmediatelybecameaclassic. ItsheartwarmingmessagethatChristmaswas morethanaboutshoppingbecamea comfortablereminderformillions. ThespecialwonanEmmy Awardin1966. Ithadsuchaprofound impactonAmericanculturethataluminumChristmastreesceasedtobe madeby1968. Inthefollowingyears, thespecialwastranslatedintonumerousotherlanguagesandbroadcastin countriesaroundtheworld. CBS agreedtoproducemorePeanutscartoons,averagingaboutoneperyear intothe1990s. AndaslewofotherChristmasspecials,inspiredbythe Peanutssuccess,wouldfollowinthe yearsafterward.
WiththepopularityofACharlieBrownChristmas,CBSwouldair thespecialeachDecemberuntil2000 whenitwaspickedupbyABCfora fewyearsafterward. Now,itisbroadcastondigitalstreamingnetworks. Nearly60yearsafteritsfirst airing,itisstillaprogramenjoyedby millionsofchildrenandalsoparents andgrandparentswhogrewupwatchingit. Itssimplemessagecriticizing thecommercializationoftheholiday andemphasizingthetruemeaning ofChristmasstillresonatesinthe twenty-firstcenturyascountlesspeoplecontinuetolooktoChristmasasa timeoffamilyandtogethernessanda timeofthespecialpromiseofamangerinBethlehem.
Thingsarenotalwaysthe waytheyseem Formany yearsI’vehad theprivilegeto visitthosein jails,prisons, hospitals,recoverycenters,andnursing homes,asI trulyenjoy spendingtime withallpeople.Innursing homes,Ising,teachBiblestudies,and appreciatehearingabouttheirformer lives.TheLordhasallowedmeto makesomepreciousfriendshipsandI wanttosharewithyouaboutalovely ladywhoafteradevastatingstroke wasnolongerindependentandisnow inacomfortablesettingwheresheis welltakencareof.Ilovetalkingwith herandawhilebackinthemiddleof oneofherstorieswediscoveredthat longagoshewasactuallymymother’s next-doorneighborandas children,theyplayedtogether.What weretheoddsofthat?Anyway,Ilove herpositiveandupbeatpersonality andhowkindandthoughtfulsheis. Shenevermarriedandlivedasimple lifeofworkingandbeingadevoted memberofherchurchwhereshesang inthechoirforoverfiftyyears. Barbaraisintelligentwithaclever senseofhumor,anditwarmsmyheart towatchherlaugh.Recentlyshe experiencedalife-changingeventthat hascausedmetodosomeserious thinkingaboutthemissionofevery Christian.Withinourconversations aboutGod,ithadnotcrossedmymind tobeconcernedaboutherspiritual condition.Ifeltconfidentshewasa Christianandwasreadytolivewith Jesusforever.However,acoupleof weeksago,anotherministervisited thisfacilityandbroughtasalvation message,andinclosing,hesimply asked ifanyonewouldliketoacceptChrist astheirpersonalSaviorandbeborn again.Barbarasaidastrangefeelingof concernandguiltwashedoverherand laterthateveningshebegantoexperiencesorrowandconviction.The nextweek,theministerreturnedand prayedwithher,andthroughGod’s mercy,shereceivedJesusasherLord. WhenIcametoseeher,shewasglowingwithjoyandexcitementandsaid withalltheyearsofgoingtochurch shecouldnotrememberanyoneever mentioninghowJesuscametoredeem andsaveus.Shetoldaboutbeing sprinkledwhenshewasalittlegirlasa traditionalformalityandhadnever seriouslyfelttheHolySpirit revealingherneedtoacceptChristinto herheart.Soat78yearsold,shehas nowrespondedtoGod’sinvitation, andwithchildlikefaith,herspiritual eyesareopen.I’msogratefultothe LordthatshereceivedHimbeforeit wastoolate.AfterIleft,Iwasconcernedaboutmylackofdiscernment fornotrecognizingherneedtobeborn again,andtodayIwonderhowmany individualsarelivingthesameemotionalpretense?
WereadintheNewTestamentabout thePhariseesandnoticetheywere
highlyrespectedforkeepingthelaw, goingtochurch,andhavingreligious knowledge,butyetinJohnchapter eight,Jesus“knew”theydidnotreally knowGodatall.Theywerejustgoing throughthemotionsofreligiouslegalism.Thereareseveralaccounts whereChristconfrontedthereligious leadersandexplainedthatgoodworks meannothingunlessaperson becomesbornagainthroughGod’s giftofatonement.Weallwanttohear aboutgoingtoheavenbutmanyrefuse toassociateeternallifewithbeingina literalcovenantwithGod.Yes,salvationisfreebecauseofGod’sgrace butit’sourresponsibilitytorealizethat wecanonlyenjoyapersonalrelationshipwithHimwhenweare ransomedbythebloodofJesus.Those ofuswhohavebeendeclaredrighteousarecommissionedtoboldlytell othersaboutwhyJesuswenttothe crossandtosharetheentireprocessof howGodinviteseveryonetobe spirituallytransformedintoanewcreation.
I’mlearningthatencouragingand comfortingothersistrulyamuchneededblessingbutletusprayforspiritual sensitivitysothatwemightbebean alertmessengerwhoisnotpresumptuousorembarrassedtowitnessto someoneeveniftheyhavebeena churchmemberalltheirlife.Things arenotalwaysthewaytheyseem.It’s nevertoolatetobeforgiven,delivered, andtransformedintoachildofGodas Heisalwaysdrawingpeopleby HislovebecauseHewantstorescue everyonefromtheirsinsanddoesnot wanttoseeanyoneperish.Christwas borntodiesothatallwhobelievein Himcanbesaved.Ipraythatalliswell withyoursoultoday.
Read 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
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” Hebrews 12:1 NIV The Patriot Pony OpioidConsultingSettlement ConsultingfirmMcKinsey&Companyhasagreedtopay$650Mtosettlea federalinvestigationintoitsrolein boostingopioidsalesfornowbankruptPurduePharma.OxyContin, apowerfulprescriptionpainkiller,is widelyblamedforfuelingtheopioid epidemicthatresultedinnearly 500,000USdeathsbetween1999and 2019.
Accordingtocourtdocuments,McKinseycontinuedtoadvise PurduePharmaandotherdrugmanufacturersonincreasingOxyContin salesdespiteknowingtherisksassociatedwithopioids(watchoverview here).Thefirm'sstrategiesincluded identifyinghigh-prescribingdoctors anddevelopingmarketingtacticsto "turbocharge"sales.McKinsey,which cuttieswithopioidmanufacturersin 2019,issuedanapologyFridayforits role.Thefirmhaspaidnearly$1Bto settlecivillawsuitsrelatedtothe
epidemicinall50states.Visualize theopioidcrisishere.
Underthesettlement,McKinseymust fulfillagovernment-mandatedcomplianceprogramsupervisedbytheDepartmentofHealthandHumanServicesforprosecutiontobedeferred andterminated.Aformerseniorpartneralsoagreedtopleadguiltytoobstructionofjusticefordestroyingrecordsrelatedtothecase.
SupportforSouthKorea'sYoon hitsall-timelowaheadofsecond impeachmentvote Thomas Maresca
SEOUL,Dec.13(UPI) Embattled SouthKoreanPresidentYoonSuk Yeolsawhisapprovalratingsinktoa recordlowof11%onFridayaheadof asecondimpeachmentmotionover hisshort-liveddeclarationofmartial law.
Yoon,alreadydeeplyunpopularbefore hismartiallawattempt,receivedan 85%negativeratingintheweeklytrackingpollreleasedbyGallup Korea.Some75%ofrespondentssupportedhisimpeachment,while21% opposedit.
TheDemocraticParty-ledopposition reportedanewimpeachmentmotion totheNationalAssemblyonThursday andplanstoholdavoteSaturdayat4 p.m.Yoonsurvivedthefirstimpeachmentattemptlastweekendasallbut threemembersofhisrulingPeople PowerPartyboycottedthevote.
AmericansinSyria Twenty-nine-year-oldTravisTimmermanwasfreedfromaSyrianprison cellthisweek,oneofatleasttwoUS citizenswhowentmissingunderthe Assadregime.TheUShasaskedleadingrebelgroupHayatTahriral-Sham foritshelpinlocatingjournalistAustin Tice,whohasbeenmissingsince 2012.
Timmermanwaslastseenseven monthsagoinHungarybeforehewas discoveredbarefootthisweekinaDamascussuburb.Inaninterviewwith CBS,hesaidheillegallycrossedfrom LebanontoSyriabyfootwhileona Christianpilgrimage.Timmermansaid thatuponhisarrest,hewasallowedto usethebathroomonlythreetimesper daybutwasotherwisewellcaredfor andfed.
Roughly150,000people mostlySyrians havegone missingundertheAssadregime, withnearly60,000believedto havebeenkilledortorturedin prisoncells.HayatTahriralSham whichendedthe regime's54-yearrulethis week hasvowedtoclosethe prisons.
Yoon'ssupportappearstobewaning, however,inthewakeofadefiantaddressThursdayinwhichhedefended hisdecisiontodeclaremartiallawon Dec.3andvowedto"fighttotheend." PPPleaderHanDong-hoon,wholed thewalkoutonthepreviousvote,said hewasnowinfavorofimpeachment afterYoon'sremarks.
"Ithoughtthatanearlyresignationbeforetheimpeachmentperiodwouldbe amorepredictableandquickermeasure,"Hansaidinastatement.
MirrorCell,MirrorCell Dozensofscientistsissuedawarningyesterday,urgingotherstoend researchonmirrorcells.Suchamicrobe potentially10to30years away waslikenedtothepossibilityofcreatingasecond"Treeof Life."
Whileit'snotclearwhy,allDNAis madeupof"right-handed"molecules,whileproteinsaremadeupof "left-handed"aminoacids(see overview).Inrecentyears,scientists havemanagedtocreaterighthandedproteinsmirroringthosein ourbodies.Theseproteinstake longertobreakdownandmaylead totreatmentsforHIVandAlzheimer's.
However,scientistsnowwarn buildingother"mirror"elementsof acellcouldleadtoaviable"mirror microbe"withinyears.Theysay suchbacteriacouldevadenotonly humans'immunedefensesbutall organisms'immunedefenses,faster thanresearcherscoulddeviseamirrorantibiotictoendapandemic.
Thegroupof38scientistsincludes twoNobellaureatesandDr.Craig Venter,wholedtheprivateeffortto sequencethehumangenomeinthe 1990s.
The Patriot Pony Biden'sRecordCommutations PresidentJoeBidencommutedthe sentencesofroughly1,500prisoners andpardoned39nonviolentoffenders yesterday,thelargestsingle-dayactof clemencybyaUSpresidentsincerecordsbeganin1900.Themajorityof thosewhosesentenceswerecommutedwereonhomeconfinementsince thepandemic.
Thedecisioncomesaweekafterthe presidentunconditionallypardonedhis son,Hunter,ofallgunandtaxconvictions,walkingbackassuranceshe wouldnotdoso.Morepardonsare expectedinthecomingweeks,with BidenreportedlyconsideringpreemptivelypardoningofficialswhoinvestigatedtheJan.6,2021,stormingofthe USCapitol.
TheUSConstitution'sArticleIIgrants thepresidentbroadpowertopardon federalprisoners(whichremoves guilt)orcommute(lessen)their
sentences,exceptinimpeachmentcases.EveryUSpresidentservingafull termhasusedthispower,commonly usedtowardtheendofapresident's tenure.
NewJerseyDroneMystery ManyreporteddronesightingsinNew Jerseysincemid-Novemberarelawful mannedaircraft,theDepartmentof HomelandSecurityandFBIsaidSaturday.DHSSecretaryAlejandro Mayorkasnonethelessacknowledged yesterdaysomeremainunidentified andsaidtheagencyismonitoringthe situationanddeployingadditionalresources.
ThestatementcomesastheFBIhas receivedover5,000tipssinceNovemberregardingdronesightingsinNew JerseyandfiveotherEastCoaststates, includingsightingsoveramilitaryair base.Manyoftheseobjects,largely observedatnight,aredescribedas largerthantypicalhobbyistdrones, withsomereportedlyaslargeascars. Theactivityhaseventemporarilyshut downarunwayinNewYork.Seevideoofsomesightingshere.
Theactivityhassparkedcomparisons tolastyear'sChinesespy
Germany’sGovernmentCollapses Germany’sgovernmentcollapsedyesterdayafterChancellorOlafScholzlostavoteofconfidence.Acaretakergovernmentisnow steeringEurope’slargesteconomy, withsnapelectionsplannedforFeb. 23.
Scholzcalledtheunusualvotelast monthafterfiringhisfinanceministeroverdifferencesontaxanddebt policy,triggeringhiscoalition’scollapse.Someanalystssuggestthevote playedoutasintended,spurringearly electionsScholzhopeswilldeliverhis center-leftSocialDemocraticPartyan outrightmajority.Still,recentpolls suggestthecenter-rightChristian DemocraticUnionisontracktoreturn topower,withtheconservativepopulistAlternativeforGermanypollingin second.
ThecollapseofGermany’sgovernmentisthelatestinastring ofpoliticalupheavalsthisyear; incumbentpartiessufferedlossesorsetbacksinat leastadozencountries.The economyisregularlycitedasa leadingconcernforvoters,with inflationupacrosstheglobe.
balloonsightings,withRep.JeffVan Drew(R,NJ-2)suggestingIranisbehindtherecentdrones.TheFBIand USCoastGuardmaintainthereisno evidencetodateofforeigninvolvementorillegalormaliciousactivity.
RussianWeaponsLeaderKilled Ukraine’ssecretserviceassassinatedIgorKirillov theheadofRussia’schemicalandbiologicalweaponsdefenseprogram yesterday.It marksthehighest-levelkillingofa RussianmilitaryofficialinsideRussiasincethestartofthewarin2022; Russiahasvowedtoretaliate.
The54-year-oldgeneraldiedaftera bombdetonatedat6:12amlocal timeonanelectricscooterinMoscow,shatteringwindowsonresidentialbuildingsnearby.Ukraine acknowledgedthekilling,callingit legitimate.KyivhadchargedKirillovinabsentiathedaybefore,tying himtoover4,800allegedcasesof chemicalweaponsdeploymentin Ukrainianterritory.Kirillovwas separatelyknownforpubliclyaccusingtheUSofabiologicalweaponsprograminUkraine.
Russialostover1,520soldiersper daylastmonth,accordingtoUKestimates,andisbelievedtobestrugglingtoreplenishitsranks.Russiais relyinginpartonNorthKorean troopstocounterUkrainianforcesin Kursk.
