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Pine Tree OKs alternative high school
Pine Tree ISD on Monday approved the creation of an alternative high school designed to help students recover missed class credits and reduce dropout rates.
“This new high school will expand the options available to students for whom a traditional school setting has not been the right fit,” Assistant Superintendent Nate Carman.
The program, set to begin in August, is an expansion and extension of a credit recovery program the high school has used since 2002, he said. An administrator will oversee teachers who work with students. Two teachers work in the district’s program, but school officials have not determined how big of a staff will be needed for the new high school.
Officials plan to cap the program’s size at 150 students.
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What do you think of the program?
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Longview construction permit value jumps 24 percent in 2009
It was not a record setting year for construction activity in Longview, but thanks in large part to several school construction projects, 2009 was a whole lot better than 2008.
The City of Longview issued $145.8 million worth of construction permits in 2009, up by about $28.5 million, or 24 percent, from the $117.3 million worth of construction value issued on 2008. That came in spite of a 43 .5 percent drop in the number of permits issued in 2009.
Kevin Cummings, director of developmental services for Longview, said the jump in construction value is largely due to some big dollar projects — namely school construction projects that continue to keep many building trade workers on the job through the first months of 2010.
“School projects have been very important for us,” Cummings said Monday. “They’ve really helped keep our permit values up.”
Commercial construction in Longview in 2009 was valued at $79.1 million, about a 150 percent increase above the $31.6 million worth of commercial projects permitted in 2008, Cummings said. That came despite the number of building permits issued overall falling by about 43 percent, from 1,704 in 2008 to 963 in 2009, officials reported.
Are you surprised at the numbers?
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Heart luncheon speaker focuses on life’s essentials
The younger sister of a popular 1970s and 80s group of country musicians offered some tunes from a different genre Friday in Longview.
LaDonna Gatlin, a sibling of The Gatlin Brothers, wasn’t performing though.
She was giving life lessons to a group of several hundred women and a few men at the annual Go Red for Women luncheon at Pinecrest Country Club.
The event is a fundraiser for the American Heart Association, a national group committed to fighting heart disease and stroke and raising awareness of these diseases. Gatlin patterned her lessons on the song “Do, Re, Mi” from “The Sound of Music.”
“First, you do the right thing,” Gatlin said. “Then you realize your potential and mind your manners.”
Continuing on the theme, Gatlin suggested that the next word in the song, “Fa,” should remind people to learn from failures and that “So” should prompt them to look for solutions . “La” is for laughter and “Ti” is for time.
“Time is valuable and we need to make the most of it, because what we do with our limited time on this earth will count in eternity,” Gatlin said. “That brings us back to where we began, with doing the right thing.”
Gatlin urged the audience to pay attention to their heart health by eating right, exercising and seeing a doctor regularly. It’s also important for women to realize that one decision can change the course of their entire lives, she said.
Did you make it to the event? What are you doing for your heart health?
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Small business benefiting from more access to funds
A Small Business Administration official on Friday encouraged more lender participation to aide the financial needs of East Texas’ small businesses.
Yolanda Olivarez, regional administrator for the U. S. Small Business Administration for Region VI, spoke at a banker training workshop in Longview.
“Small business drives the economy,” she said. “We know small businesses are facing tough times. It’s always a challenge because things never stay the same.”
The session was hosted by the SBA and the Kilgore College Small Business Development Center. Brad Bunt, director, said the training was designed for lenders to gain a better understanding of SBA loan programs.
Olivarez said some of the changes at the federal level in recent months have improved her agency’s ability to serve small business operators.“One of the most important ways we can help small business today is by providing them capital when they need it,” she said. “I have a passion to contribute to the success of small business and our agency is on a mission to accomplish that.”
What do you think of small businesses’ role in the local economy?
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LISD officials prepare for school shuffle
As Longview Independent School District prepares for the August opening of several new or expanded campuses and the closing of schools that have existed for decades, administrators said they are trying to make the transition as smooth as possible for all staff and students.
By the end of the school year, the district will lose three principals, while numerous teachers and staff members will be moved around the district.
All district employees will be offered a position, but where and what is yet to be determined.
“Our goal is to make this as simple and noninvasive for everyone involved,” Superintendent James Wilcox said. “Our first priority is to the students. Everything will be looked at and we’re going to make decisions that are in the best interest of our students.”
What do you think about the changes?
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Advocates see increased interest in open government
Open government advocates are noticing a recent uptick in Texans taking advantage of the 1972 Public Information Act.
“There seems to be an increase in interest in open government,” said Pamela Mayo Clark, education and special projects director for the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. The nonprofit group, formed shortly after the 1972 Texas Open Meetings Act, holds seminars and conferences throughout Texas to educate Texans about open records law.
City spokesman Shawn Hara said requests for Longview municipal records have increased steadily in the past few years, from 73 requests in 2007, to 105 requests in 2008 and more than 140 requests in 2009. For simple requests, often people can ask for the information verbally, but the city requires a written request when the information involves a more thorough search of records.
Not every agency has noticed increases. Judge Bill Stoudt said he’s witnessed no such increase in open records requests for Gregg County public information.
“Anything someone wants from Gregg County, we’re happy to give it to them,” Stoudt said. “They don’t have to make a request.”
The Public Information Act and other public records legislation allows people to ask for public information from local, state and federal government agencies through written requests. E-mail and links from government Web sites have made asking for information simpler.
What do you think about the increase?
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Gregg County Courthouse, Tatum High going batty
A bat man arrived on the scene Wednesday to help Gregg County battle its problem with the flying mammals.
Tim Hanks, who owns a bat extermination service in San Antonio, has been hired by the county to rid the courthouse of bats. He estimates that about 200 bats have made their home in the upper attic of the building. They are Mexican free tail bats and, if not relocated now, their numbers will almost certainly increase during the spring and summer.
“We’ve had an unusually warm winter, which has led to a lot of these bats staying in Texas, rather than migrating to Mexico as they usually do at this time of year,” Hanks said.
Hanks said his company will handle the bats by a combination of caulking and sealing any openings and installing its bat excluders. The bat excluders serve as “one way doors” for bats, allowing them to leave the courthouse to feed, but making it impossible for them to return. Other East Texas structures have experienced bat problems in recent weeks, including the Panola County Courthouse.
It turns out Gregg County courthouse isn’t the only place going batty with bats, Tatum High School has also been invaded by the dark winged rodents.
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Are you surprised at the batty problem?
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Bramlette price under budget
Bids for Bramlette Elementary School came in Wednesday more than $200,000 under budget, but prices for Longview High School renovations weren’t available.
The Longview Independent School District school board met to hear guaranteed maximum prices for Bramlette and the high school renovations. Trustees are set to consider accepting Bramlette’s maximum price on Monday.
Bramlette’s guaranteed maximum price is $18,179,252 — $229,687 under budget, Assistant Superintendent Lynn Marshall said.
Longview High School renovation costs were not presented at the meeting because officials are still working through complications on several of the bids, said Tom Lueck with Huckabee and Associates, the company overseeing the district’s bond projects. As an example, Lueck said one person submitted a bid to renovate the whole high school instead of just the areas that need renovation. They’re revising some of the bids, he said.
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What do you think of the progress?
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Local folks who help take care of homeless, ‘try to show compassion’
Against Sunday’s sunshine, John Mason, 58, rested beside an East Marshall Avenue pharmacy while eating a bag of dates. A woman stepped from her car to hand him a flattened dollar bill, and tears fell from his eyes.
“I’m from Dallas. My family is all dead. I’ve got nowhere to go,” Mason said. He said his last job was in Terrell, but he refused to talk more of himself. Instead, he grabbed his folded blanket and trudged west in the direction of Dallas and the Hiway 80 Rescue Mission.
According to Iris Stankorb, a homeless housing manager for Longview Wellness Center, Mason was among more than 560 homeless people in the Longview area this past weekend, not including 115 homeless persons living in Longview area motels.
The North East Texas Homeless Consortium on Jan. 29 counted the local homeless population.
House of Hope worker Karen Reynolds doesn’t think Longview’s population of homeless people is high compared with national averages.
“It’s just a tiny town,” Reynolds said. “I guess you notice it more since it’s a smaller town.”
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Why do you think the homeless population in Longview is more noticeable?
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UIL realignment: New districts mean new travel schedules
When the 2010-11 school year arrives, Longview High School’s athletes, performers and academic competitors will be in old familiar territory with Class 5A opponents.
Travel time to compete against the larger schools will be longer than in the past couple of seasons. Students will be out later. Some parents and fans probably won’t be able to attend as many events.
The district will likely earn less revenue and will have to cough up more money to compete.
“I’m not out to spend the district’s money,” said Pat Collins , Longview’s director of extracurricular activities. “I’m looking to get the kids to the site as safely and as comfortably as possible.”
The University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment announced Tuesday sent the Lobos from Class 4A to Class 5A, which Collins said basically means the teams will have to “jump on I-20 and trek it.”
It also means the athletic department’s transportation budget will have to at least double — if not triple, Collins said.
Will you make the trip to Mesquite to watch the Lobos?
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Candidates for judge speak at forum
The three candidates for judge of County Court at Law No. 2 discussed their experience and judicial philosophies at a Monday evening forum.
Vince Dulweber, Snow E. Bush Jr. and Greg Neeley, local lawyers in private practice, are running in the Republican primary. There are no Democrats seeking the seat, which was vacated when Judge Alfonso Charles became judge of the 124th District Court.
Bush and Neeley both began their legal careers in the Gregg County District Attorney’s office, while Dulweber’s experience has all been in private practice.
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Did you go to the forum? What do you think of the candidates?
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Committee recommends Pine Tree bond election
A community committee on Monday formally provided Pine Tree Independent School District trustees with a recommendation to pursue a bond election for a new athletic complex.
The trustees scheduled a special meeting to hear from the committee, and members who voted in favor of and against the recommendation shared their opinions. About eight people from the 21-member committee attended the meeting.
Chris Jones, committee chair, said the safety and access issues of Pirate Stadium are significant and warrant immediate action. He said he believes committee members were unanimous in knowing something needed to be done.
“As a committee, we decided there was only one prudent choice,” Jones said.
Jones said the process was moving quickly, but he argued the safety problems in the stadium warranted the quick speed. The safety and access issues include stadium ramping, aisle widths and entry and exit points. An engineer told the committee that the stadium was not in danger of collapsing but could lead to fall-related injuries.
“We’re dealing with the safety of school children,” Jones said.
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LeTourneau University to change loan plan
LeTourneau University is switching to a federal direct loan program for the 2010-11 year, officials announced Monday.
The university plans to process student loans through the William D. Ford Direct Loan program, which lets students and parents borrow money from the federal government rather than from banks or credit unions, according to university officials.
“LeTourneau students and parents should see minimal change to the processing of their loan funds during the transition from the Federal Family Education Loan to the William D. Ford Direct Loan program,” said Delinda Hall, senior director of enrollment services and financial aid.
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What do you think about the school offering direct loans?
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County, health care providers work to meet needs of mentally ill
Gregg County officials and local health care providers hope to eventually provide intermediate care for mentally ill residents.
“This is something we’ve been working on ever since I took office,” County Judge Bill Stoudt said. “We would like to have a way of dealing with people who have moderate levels of mental illness that wouldn’t require them to be transported outside the county for help.”
Part of the problem the county is facing is state laws mandate a certain percentage of beds in mental health facilities be reserved for mentally ill people who have been accused or convicted of crimes, he said. This means it’s often harder for people who have diagnosed mental illnesses, and who seem to be a danger to themselves or others, to get the help they need if they have not broken any laws.
Mark Dodd, the county’s mental health deputy, works with people who have been arrested and show signs that indicate they may have mental illness. Stoudt is responsible for dealing with people who have not been accused of a crime, but whose relatives or neighbors request a mental health evaluation.
“We’re trying to put in place a process that can be used by every medical professional and every law enforcement officer within the county to evaluate the mental health needs of the people they come into contact with,” Stoudt said.
What can the city do to help make sure mentally ill people get the care they need?
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Rain to stop — at least for a while
Meteorologists expect the temperature to drop below freezing again Saturday , but the area likely won’t see rain again until the middle of next week.
More than an inch of rain fell Thursday night and Friday morning at the East Texas Regional Airport, but today’s weather is forecast as mostly sunny with a high temperature of 43 degrees, according to the National Weather Service’s Web site. The low temperature is expected to be 25 degrees.
Beginning Sunday, the temperature should climb above freezing, ranging from the mid-30s to the mid-50s for most of the week. Meteorologists believe the skies will be mostly clear until Tuesday, when a chance of rain returns. Tuesday has a 20 percent chance of rain, Wednesday has a 40 percent chance of rain and Thursday has a 30 percent chance of rain.
What do you think of the rainy weather?
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10,000 attendees expected at annual boat show
The economic recession hampered the boating and recreational vehicle industry in 2009.
Arthur Harris hopes that means good deals in 2010.
Harris was among a dozen patrons to walk in as the doors opened noon Friday for the 28th Annual East Texas Boat, RV and Camping Expo at Maude Cobb Activity Center and Longview Exhibit Hall.
Harris, who met friends and his daughter at the show, has owned his boat since 1995. He bought a new motor for it in the past year.
“I didn’t feel like I wanted to put myself under long-term payment in an uncertain economic environment,” Harris said.
Longview Marine owners Dale Clark and Gene Brady started the event in 1982 with volunteers from the Longview Chamber of Commerce. It began as an event focused on boats and yachts from local dealers blossomed into the largest boat and travel expo east of Interstate 35, with more than 150 boats, 100 RV/travel trailers and 50 ATVs and motorcycles all within 60,000 square feet of interior space.
Some 10,000 attendees are expected before the 28th expo closes Sunday evening.
Are you going to the boat show?
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Pine Tree panel advises bond for athletic complex
Pine Tree Independent School District’s facility advisory committee voted Thursday to recommend calling a bond election for a new athletic complex.
The recommendation does not include a bond amount or a location for the new facility. Superintendent Marian Strauss said those decisions would be made by district trustees.
The vote followed more than an hour of questions for district architect Jeff Potter and engineer Stephen Lucy. The men provided answers about a Pirate Stadium engineering report which outlined multiple structural and safety issues at the facility. They said the stadium is not in danger of collapsing, but several aspects do not meet building codes and could pose “life safety risks.”
“I think you have an aged facility that we can’t make right,” Potter said.
Ed Moore, a bond consultant for the district, presented the committee with tax rate information for bonds ranging from $10 million to $15 million, raising the district’s tax rate to between six cents and eight cents. Moore said now would be a good time to have a bond because of the low interest rates the district could receive.
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What do you think of the proposed bond election?
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Council accepts $130,000 deal with ex-fire chief
Michael Pruitt and the city of Longview are officially divorced.
The City Council on Thursday accepted terms of a $130,000 settlement with the former fire chief. In exchange for the money and a letter acknowledging his accomplishments as chief, Pruitt agreed not to sue the city.
“I think it was perfectly done as it should be done,” said Councilwoman Sidney Bell Willis.
City Manager David Willard on Nov. 6 fired Pruitt after disagreements between him and other members of the Longview Fire Department surfaced. The City Council upheld the decision by a 4-3 vote in November.
Thursday’s vote to accept the settlement was unanimous.
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What do you think of the settlement?
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Doing what you love is bliss, but it’s also work
The philosopher Joseph Campbell once said, “follow your bliss.” Some local business owners say doing what you love for a living might sound like a luxury, but it takes a lot of hard work to become successful. The Longview News-Journal visited with a few people who weighed in about their struggles and triumphs on the road to bliss.
The News-Journal takes a look at some local folks who love their vocation. Do you love what you do or is it your dream to make your hobby your work?
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Under fire, Obama tries to soothe public
WASHINGTON — Declaring “I don’t quit,’” President Barack Obama fought to recharge his embattled presidency with a State of the Union vow to get jobless millions back to work and to stand on the side of Americans angry at Wall Street greed and Washington bickering.
Defiant despite setbacks, he said he would fight on for ambitious overhauls of health care, energy and education.
“Change has not come fast enough,” Obama acknowledged Wednesday night before a politician-packed House chamber and a TV audience of millions. “As hard as it may be, as uncomfortable and contentious as the debates may be, it’s time to get serious about fixing the problems that are hampering our growth.”
Obama looked to change the conversation from how his presidency is stalling — over the messy health care debate, a limping economy and the missteps that led to Christmas Day’s barely averted terrorist disaster — to how he is seizing the reins.
He spoke to a nation gloomy over double-digit unemployment and federal deficits soaring to a record $1.4 trillion, and to fellow Democrats dispirited about the fallen standing of a president they hoped would carry them through this fall’s midterm elections.
With State of the Union messages traditionally delivered at the end of January, Obama had one of the presidency’s biggest platforms just a week after Republicans scored an upset takeover of a Senate seat in Massachusetts. With the turnover erasing Democrats’ Senate supermajority needed to pass most legislation, it also put a cloud over health care and the rest of Obama’s agenda.
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Did you watch the address? What did you think?
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LHS prepares for new football field
If all goes as planned, Longview High School will have a new track, lights and turf on the football field before graduation in June.
The district is spending about $2 million from its reserve funds to replace the track, turf and lighting at Lobo Stadium. There were cracks and drainage issues around the perimeter of the track; water seeped into a sub-grade of the stadium’s surface causing problems on the field; and the district’s lighting was neither efficient nor TV-quality, officials said.
The new turf will come with a 10-yard Rocking L logo at its center, said Pat Collins, director of extracurricular activities. The goal posts also will be replaced with 30-foot uprights.
Hellas Construction, the company that installed the turf at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, is overseeing the project.
So far, the turf has been removed from the stadium as has the pad the district used for its pole vault and high jump, Collins said. The new turf won’t be laid until all groundwork is done, he said.
Construction of a 100-space parking lot behind the visitor’s side of the stadium is set to begin in early February.
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What do you think about the school getting new turf?
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... read the full comment by Josh | Comment on Pine Tree panel advises bond for athletic complex Read Pine Tree panel advises bond for athletic complex
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... read the full comment by Cherie | Comment on Candidates for judge speak at forum Read Candidates for judge speak at forum
Josh, I taught my kids to read, write, count, name every state with two cities in each, read a map and how to count money and give change with out the use of machines all before the age of 5. I took my job as a parent and mother seriously. My kids were
... read the full comment by Cherie | Comment on Pine Tree panel advises bond for athletic complex Read Pine Tree panel advises bond for athletic complex