The Lindale News & Times€¦ · Thursday, May 14, 2020 Vol. 121, No. 20 1 Section, 10 pages 50¢...

Thursday, May 14, 2020 Vol. 121, No. 20 1 Section, 10 pages 50¢

The LindaleNews & Times

“Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1900”

Funeral Home and Cremation Services Our Family Serving Yours...Since 1895

206 W. South St. Lindale, Texas 75771 | (903)-882-3141 | www.crdfh.comJeff D. Daugherty Robin K. Daugherty

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By Suzanne BardwellThese Red Raiders could be called the Masked

Entrepreneurs. Meeting their sophomore year at Tex-as Tech University the duo’s college friendship has grown over the years and now they are business part-ners. East Texan Kristin Kennedy and West Texan Liz Staggs, after decades of friendship, have be-come business partners in a company, that with the COVID-19 pandemic, is currently focusing on the production of anti-micro-bial masks.

Staggs taught middle school English and Spe-cial Education in Lub-bock in the early ‘90s and after receiving her graduate degree in in-structional technology she worked for Region 10 Education Service Center in Richardson. Kennedy worked in technology for global tech companies including InFocus where she was the senior director of sales, Optoma’s general

manager, and BenQ’s Vice President of Sales for the last 20 years.

A 1988 White Oak High School grad, Kennedy traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe in her former positions. Staggs owns Scrubs

’n Style, a healthcare uniform shop in Lub-bock which includes a small sewing studio in Wolfforth. The college buddies, now business partners, saw a demand for quality face masks at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandem-ic. Kennedy, like most people, couldn’t find reusable face masks for herself or her family.

“After a long phone call, we decided to take a leap and work to solve this problem as quickly and efficiently as possi-

ble,” Kennedy said. “After discovering that elastic ear loops only properly fit one-third

Red Raiders create COVID-19 masks

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Got Life?Will your family be able to pay the bills

if the unthinkable happened to you?Our expert team can help you protect

the ones that need you the most.You can Reach us at

903-707-8566Located in Lindale

Construction of Liberty Crossing, the first street off the I-20 frontage roads into Lindale, is progressing nicely. CR 472 will remain closed to thru traffic for the next 2-3 months as crews work. Customers will have access to the businesses along CR 472 near US 69 and the ability to en-ter CR 472 from Jim Hogg Rd to access Dr. Koten’s facil-ity. If you have questions, please email [email protected]. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we grow Lindale!

Taking tentative steps toward helping the city of Lindale get back on a somewhat normal footing, city council members this past week voted to reopen certain areas of Lindale which had been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the city’s fourth extension to the declaration made in March to lo-cal disaster due to the public health emergency caused by COVID-19, council members opened certain areas in Faulkner Park, Pool Park and Darden Harvest Park.

The order is in keeping with Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent statewide declarations.

At Faulkner Park, the walking park and fishing piers are open, while the athletic fields, playground and bathrooms remain closed.

At Pool Park, the park grounds are open, but the athletic fields, playground and bathrooms remain closed.

At Darden Harvest Park, the walking trails are open while the playground, Dog Park and bathrooms are still closed.

City officials urge those using the parks to continue using social distancing.

The mayor and the city council will continue to reassess these guidelines on a weekly basis as mandated by Abbott’s office.

“We wanted to get the open spaces open for folks,’’ said Lindale Mayor Jeff Daugherty. “I’m glad they are able to use the parks as much as they can.’’

The bathrooms at the parks can’t be opened yet because of sani-tation issues.

“For some reason the governor won’t allow us to open the Dog Park and the ball fields have to be closed because it’s so hard to enforce the social distancing,’’ Daugherty said.

The mayor acknowledged people are frustrated about not being able to get out as much, but these shelter- in-place habits have paid dividends.

“I know people are tired of having to be at home,’’ he said. “But there’s a reason the number of local cases is down and it’s because we are practicing social distancing and not getting out as much. We have to remain vigilant in order to get past this.’’

Council to reopen some city facilities

Lindale residents take advantage of a perfect spring afternoon this week to enjoy the walking trail at Darden Harvest Park. The city council opened the walking trail recently while keeping the playground and other areas closed.

Photo by Terry Cannon

Smith County residents will be able to buy fireworks to celebrate Memorial Day again this year, said public information officer Casey Murphy.

On Tuesday, Smith County Commissioners voted to approve an order authorizing fireworks sales from May 20-25, 2020.

The 84th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1150, authoriz-ing three additional periods that fireworks may be sold to the pub-lic as long as the Commissioners Courts in each county issues an order authorizing such sales each year. The three additional holidays are Texas Independence Day, San Jacinto Day and Memo-rial Day.

Smith County residents are allowed to pop fireworks through-out the year, and are only restrict-ed on when they can buy them. Before the three additional hol-idays were approved, fireworks could only be bought and sold for New Year’s and July 4th.

Smith County urges everyone to use caution and be safe when using fireworks.

Fireworks sales approved for Memorial Day

in county

To help combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus among em-ployees and inmates of the Smith County Jail, Sheriff Larry Smith has put in a State of Texas Assis-tance Request to have all inmates in the North Jail Facility tested for the virus, spokesman Larry Christian said.

Following that request, an Emergency Medical Task Force from the Governor’s Rapid Re-sponse Team has been mobilized to provide the testing, and the results are pending, Christian said.

“Since the outbreak (of COVID-19) in the United States and more especially in Texas, we made numerous changes and

Sheriff seeks statehelp in testing inmates, employeesutilized precautionary measures in the Smith County Jail as were recommended by NET Health,’’ the sheriff said. “These precau-tions ranged from more frequent disinfecting and cleaning, discon-tinuing the crossover of employ-ees working in both jail facilities, discontinuing the movement of inmates from facility to facility, quarantined inmate’s areas were professionally cleaned and dis-infected.’’

Despite these actions, Smith ac-knowledged the virus was able to take hold in the North Jail Facility, with the first positive test traced to a North Jail employee who became ill while at work.

Smith said it was determined this employee contracted the virus from a family member who works in the medical field.

“It is unfortunate that due to the range of symptoms from COVID-19, some people have the virus prior to displaying symp-toms allowing for the unknown and easy spread,’’ Smith said. “That employee is back to work after testing negative in two tests for the virus.’’

As a result of that positive test, several inmates who had been in contact with that employee also tested positive which allowed for the further spread of the virus.

“(County Judge) Nathaniel

Moran and I made the decision to test all employees of the North Jail Facility in order to determine if there were more positive cases that were yet unknown,’’ said Smith. “Those tests began early Tuesday (May 5) morning and Wednesday (May 6) we determined there were five employees of the North Jail Facility that tested positive yet were asymptomatic.’’

Tyler Junior College’s student media, The DrumBeat, has proved to be among the top in the state with its recent winnings at the 2020 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association’s (TIPA) awards presentation.

TIPA is the oldest state collegiate press association in the nation. TJC students were awarded more than 40 honors for their digital and print work during the spring and fall 2019 semesters.

The DrumBeat’s TV broadcast and website, thedrum-beat.com, placed third in overall excellence while its radio program placed second in its division. Through the broadcast, students aspiring to work in TV journalism gain hands-on experience by working in the TJC Mass Communication Department’s newly renovated studio.

Students also excelled in electronic reporting, sweep-

TJC DrumBeat wins top honorsing various categories such as in-depth multi-media reporting and audio program production with first-, second- and third-place wins. Sever-al students were recognized for their audio and video productions, including podcasts, visual storytelling and photography.

Student media comprises a printed newspa-per, an online edition with multimedia content and a news broadcast. It is one of the oldest student organizations at TJC.

Students, listed by hometown, include: Big Sandy: Michael BaldBullard: Isaac Belota, Serin ShowersCanton: Trey MartinCedar Hill: Sydni Cunningham

, The Lindale News & Times, Thursday, May 14, 2020

The Lindale News & TimesNews & Advertising Deadlines: Noon Monday

104 S. Main St., Lindale, TX 75771Office Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday (closed Wednesday)

Telephone: 903-882-8880 Fax: 903-882-8234Email: www.lindalenews-times.com

Owners: Jim & Suzanne Bardwell Publisher: Jim Bardwell Editor: Terry [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] Office Manager: Susan Duncan

The Lindale News & Times is published every Thursday. Offices are located at 104 S. Main, P.O. Box 1559, Lindale, Texas 75771. Periodical rates paid at Lindale

Post Office (USPS No. 314040). Annual subscription rate is $35 for delivery inside Smith County, $40 outside of Smith County and $50

out-of-state. Any erroneous information reflecting upon the

character, standing or reputation of any person, firm or corporation

which may appear in the columns of this newspaper will be corrected

upon its being brought to the attention of the publisher.

Reproduction of any portion of any issue of this newspaper is not

allowed without the permission of The Lindale News & Times. Other Bardwellink publications include: The Gladewater Mirror and White Oak Independent

Continued from Page 1

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HighlightsHighlights

By Dr. M. Ray PerrymanTHE ECONOMISTBad news abounds these days,

yet we’ve also seen some amaz-ing acts of courage, kindness, and generosity.

Fi rms are dealing with worker safety, social distanc-ing require-ments, supply chain issues, and myr iad o t h e r c h a l -lenges. Some

industries are facing enormous pressure from increased demand, such as grocery stores, delivery services, pharmacies, and of course health care. Others are struggling to survive closures, travel bans, and dramatic revenue declines.

In the midst of the sudden and unprecedented chaos, many have stepped up, doing what they can to help their employees, customers, suppliers, and the world at large.

InspirationI couldn’t begin to recognize all of them, but here are a few Texas examples of the kinds of things going on.

The heroic actions of the health care system have been genuinely remarkable. We are all profoundly grateful to health care providers and everyone else needed to keep those facilities running under most trying conditions.

Cities are stepping in with pack-ages to provide assistance, ranging from loans to small businesses to relief for those facing eviction or utility bills they cannot pay. City services are still being provid-ed, even as the virus spreads and revenue challenges worsen. Law enforcement and firefighters con-tinue to protect us, now risking their lives in yet another way. Dedicated educators are creatively reaching out to help today’s students and tomorrow’s workforce.

Many companies have donated

millions of dollars to relief efforts. This assistance has been crucial to supporting both response to the pandemic and Texans hard hit by the fallout.

Large grocery chains have deliv-ered truckloads of products to food banks across the Texas. Others are providing thousands of meals per week to frontline workers. Craft stores have donated fabric for masks. Restaurants are donating food. Logistics firms and airlines are helping things get to where they are needed.

Manufacturing facilities have shifted from normal duties to mak-ing face shields and protective equipment. Distillers and chemical companies have produced hand sanitizer. Facilities that once made workwear or luxury purses are now sewing masks.

University teams have tackled pressing problems ranging from designs for low-cost ventilator pro-

totypes to 3-D printed mask designs. Researchers in labs across the state are helping in efforts to better under-stand COVID-19 and find treatments and vaccinations.

Businesses have also worked to support other companies, such as financial services firms ordering meals from local restaurants and having them delivered to frontline workers. Some are reimbursing employees for purchases from lo-cal restaurants, helping both their workers and the eateries. Economic development organizations are also supporting local firms around the state. Niche products have seen greatly enhanced demand if they meet a COVID-19 need, and com-panies are stepping up production accordingly.

These responses and the countless others both help to maintain our economy now and facilitate a strong recovery later. Additionally, they are truly an inspiration. Be safe!!

Governor, president spotlight actions in pandemic, economic downturn

AUSTIN — Texas, along with the rest of the nation and the world, continued to battle the COVID-19 pandemic last week as cases and deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus increased.

Gov. Greg Abbott on May 7 met with President Trump in the White House. The president praised Abbott’s leadership in handling the

months-long medical emergency and in managing the resulting slowdown of the economy in the Lone Star State.

Abbott said Texas has one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates in the country, noting that half of the state’s 254 counties have no cases or five or fewer cases of the virus. He said we have the knowledge and resources to contain COVID-19, adding that “It’s the people of Texas who have done a great job of slowing the spread” by washing their hands, wearing masks and prac-

ticing social distancing.“Because of that, we are now seeing more and more businesses that

are opening up gradually to make sure we don’t expand the spread, but we’re doing so in a way that we’ll make sure Texas will once again reclaim its position as being the number one economy in the United States,” the governor said.

TEA: Graduation guidanceThe Texas Education Agency on May 5 announced graduation

guidance for the class of 2020. Under the guidelines, ceremonies may take place as early as May 15 as the state continues the reopening of services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While school buildings remain closed to normal in-classroom in-struction for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year, the TEA, in coordination with the governor’s Strike Force to Open Texas, is providing four different pathways for schools to celebrate their graduating seniors:

— Virtual ceremonies that take place entirely online with the use of videoconference or other technologies;

— Hybrid ceremonies consisting of a compilation of videos of students being recognized in person as they celebrate graduation in small groups;

— Vehicle ceremonies, in which students and their families wait in their cars while other graduates are recognized one at time with their families alongside them; and

— Outdoor in-person ceremonies, which are currently permitted for certain counties.

Are you tired of feeling caged? Tired of people being angry? Tired of people ignoring science and choosing a political agenda (left or right) over commonsense and facts?

Me too! We have a lot in com-mon no doubt.

I want to laugh. I want to ride with my hubby on our aging motorcycle and feel the sun on my shoulders. I want to go to a concert, movie or play that is not happening on the TV in my den. I want to jump in a pool and dunk my COVID-19 stripped hair that hasn’t yet been a part of the eligi-ble 25 percenters at the hairstylist.

I am now used to not having professional looking nails and a well kept appearance. I have taken to T-shirts, jeans and ball caps as my daily office attire. There really is a lot to like about that. Not very professional but oh, so comfy.

King the plus-sized 80 lb. Collie needs to see a groom-er. His new look reminds me of Einstein’s wild hair. I wish King had Einstein’s brains…or a brain. Whenever that King Kong of a dog sees a cat he has one thought…chase and bark. He hasn’t caught one yet and probably never will, but he is a one-note feller. If he can see a cat he barks until he doesn’t see the cat anymore.

Do you know how patient and nefarious cats are? Especially when they see King in the den window watching them…and barking…That weird barking can last longer than his master’s patience. King’s vocal cords were clipped by a previous owner and he sounds like a dog a quarter of his size which is odd to say the least. It does seem to entertain the cats who are taunting him.

That barking is not conducive

to relaxing while feeling trapped. Maybe my brain needs a jump-start too. I am not chasing cats, at least not yet, but I do find myself chasing worries or idle thoughts.

The worries are probably simi-lar to yours. I worry about my 92-year old mother or my frontline Nurse Practitioner Hospitalist daughter-in-heart catching the dreaded ‘Corona’. I worry about business. I worry about all the unfinished tasks that never get completed. Nothing new there. Your worries are probably much like mine.

So let’s focus on the sunny side of life. Whaddaya say?

Here are a few of my recom-mendations:

1. Just be nice to everyone. You don’t have to agree with people to be nice to them. It will make Jesus happy, the other people happy, and I promise you might find that you feel happier too.

2. Please wear a mask when you are out in public places. It may save my Momma’s life, or my daughter-in-heart’s, or even your own. A lot of folks like hav-ing you around. Let’s keep them happy too. Be smart, wash those hands and continue to practice social distancing.

3. A little bit of ice cream goes a long way in improving one’s outlook. Scientifically proven by the Bardwell Institute of Thinkology.

4. Puppy dogs, no matter their size, make you smile. You make them so happy that can’t help but put a smile on your face.

5. Good coffee in the morning is one of the great pleasures of life. Enjoy a cup outside if the weather permits and be still, even if just for five minutes, watch the

birds and you might just come across the Bluebird of Happiness.

6. Get in your car, crank up the radio, roll down the windows and ride baby, ride. Remember when you were a teenager and just go-ing for a ride with your friends with the music playing made you happy? If you are lucky enough to have satellite radio you can recap-ture your youth by dialing your decade from the ‘50s to the ‘90s. Personally my favorite station is Classic Vinyl. Yep, I’m THAT girl. By the way, balance your bass. Making the local business windows rattle does not mean your music is good. It means it is too loud and that when you get to be my age you will be deafer than a door nail.

7. Those folks in your house that you can touch, well, give them a hug and hold hands when you can. I miss hugs and hand-shakes, so I have to go to that tall, dark and handsome guy I live with for my only daily hugs. Hugging the people you love most is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and theirs.

8. Realize that you can only fix what you can. Then fix what you can. It is amazing what a little forward momentum can do for the psyche.

9. Get lost in a good book or movie. Great writing and acting can take us to other places and times. Sometimes we need out of THIS time and place.

10. Don’t get overwhelmed or lost in loneliness. There are a ton of good folks just waiting to let you know they care. I know that is so because of the good people in my life just like you.

Found that Bluebird yet? It’s flying right there beside you.

OPINION/EDITORIALOPINION/EDITORIALLet that bluebird of happiness fly…

TJC DrumBeat wins top honors

Center: Celeste GibsonFlint: Andrew LentFort Worth: Jaylynn GrayGrand Prairie: Viviana FazLongview: Austin NewellMesquite: Jordan-Marie GuilloryMineola: Leyton WilliamsSulphur Springs: Ashlen CourtTeneha: Shannon JamesTrinidad: Chris DanielTyler: Stephen Anderson Kathryn Bogle, Rebekah Flanders, Sonya Johnson, Cecilia

Kohl, McKenna Mirsky, Gerardo Morales, Michael Murphy, Robert Naylor, Emily Niebuhr, Adam Palacios, Lucas Shepherd, Zhaekyra White

Van: Brandon WhatleyPreviously submitted entries (Division 4):Overall ExcellenceSecond place, radio program - Gerardo Morales and Michael Murphy Third place, TV program - Gerardo Morales, The Drumbeat StaffThird place, Website - The DrumBeat StaffNarrative ReportingSecond place, headline writing - Robert Naylor and Celeste GibsonSecond place, sports game story - Sydni Cunningham Third place, critical review - Michael Bald Honorable mention, editorial - Robert Naylor and Cecilia KohlHonorable mention, feature story - McKenna Mirsky Honorable mention, breaking news - Robert NaylorElectronic ReportingFirst place, sportscast video - Shannon JamesFirst place, in-depth multimedia story - Kathryn BogleSecond place, documentary - Adam Palacios, Gerardo Morales, DrumBeat StaffSecond place, sportscast video - Robert NaylorSecond place, feature news reporting (video) - Gerardo MoralesSecond place, feature news reporting (audio) - Gerardo MoralesSecond place, in-depth multimedia story - Zhaekyra WhiteThird place, feature news reporting (audio) - Chris DanielThird place, general news audio story - Trey MartinThird place, general news multimedia story - Gerardo MoralesThird place, in-depth multimedia story - Adam PalaciosThird place, sportscast audio - Zhaekyra WhiteHonorable mention, general news video story - Gerardo MoralesHonorable mention, multimedia slideshow - Serin ShowersHonorable mention, feature news reporting (audio) - Austin NewellHonorable mention, feature news reporting (video) - Serin ShowersVisual ReportingFirst place, illustration - Cecilia KohlSecond place, illustration - Ashlen CourtThird place, general news photo - Viviana FazHonorable mention, photo illustration - Jaylynn GrayHonorable mention, photo story - Celeste Gibson Honorable mention, breaking news photo - Robert NaylorHonorable mention, editorial cartoon - Leyton WilliamsHonorable mention, environmental portrait, vaping - Cecilia KohlProductionFirst place, advertising/PSA/promo (video) - Isaac Belota, Sonya Johnson, Viviana

Faz, Jordan-Marie GuilloryFirst place, op/editorial page/spread design (newspaper) - Cecilia Kohl and Robert

NaylorFirst place, program production (audio) - Jordan-Marie GuilloryFirst place, program production (video) - Adam Palacios, Gerardo Morales,

DrumBeat StaffFirst place, sports page/spread design (newspaper) - Zhaekyra WhiteSecond place, cover design (newspaper)- Cecilia Kohl, Robert Naylor, Kathryn BogleSecond place, program production (audio) - Austin Newell and Chris DanielSecond place, sports page/spread design (newspaper) - Zhaekyra WhiteSecond place, program production (video) - Rebecca FlandersThird place, program production (audio) - Brandon Whatley and Stephen AndersonThird place, use of data - Robert NaylorHonorable mention, sports page/spread design (newspaper) - Zhaekyra WhiteHonorable mention, advertising, PSA/promo (audio) - Austin NewellHonorable mention, program production (video) - Andrew Lent, Lucas Shepherd Honorable mention, use of data - Robert Naylor

I don’t know if y’all know it or not, but I have a motorcycle. Actually, I have three motorcy-cles, but the one I want to tell you about, is the one my wife Janet got me for Christmas a while back.

It’s a Harley. I’ve always want-ed a Harley and was too cheap to get one myself, so she got it for me. I love it. I named her Dixie. What? Don’t y’all name your stuff ?

Anywho, like I said, I love Dixie. When I’m home, and the weather cooperates, Janet and I take off on her. We usually don’t go off on long trips, but we ride her when we can.

There are a lot of Harley riders out there who think that if you don’t ride a Harley, then you aren’t a real biker. Then, there are some bikers who think that if you ride a Harley, you’re ridin’ a piece of junk.

Well, I think all motorcycles are cool. I don’t care what kind they are. Don’t get me wrong, Harley’s are my favorite, but just because they’re my favorite, doesn’t mean they’re every-body’s.

Out of all of my motorcycle friends, there are only a few who ride Harleys, and some of their

bikes are a lot prettier than mine. Now, the reason I’m tellin’ y’all this, is because of what happened to me the other day.

I put on some suitable ridin’ clothes (a T-shirt, blue jeans, and boots), and climbed on ol’ Dixie, and headed off for a ride. Janet had left a note that she had gone to the beauty parlor and would be back later, so I fi gured I’d get a little ridin’ in.

I was ridin’ along, when Dixie started coughing’, indicating’ that she was about out of gas. I reached down, switched to the reserve tank, and made my way to the gas station.

I pulled in, killed the motor, stuck my credit card into the machine, and started pumping’ gas. Just as I fi nished gassin’ up, I heard a humming’ noise behind me.

Up drove a guy about my age on a beautiful foreign made bike.

He pulled up to the pump next to mine, and climbed off his bike. He pulled off his helmet, looked at me and my bike, then turned back to the gas pump.

“That sure is a pretty bike,” I said.

“Yeah, it is, isn’t it,” he said, soundin’ sort of snobbish. “It’s the newest off the line. It’s got everything you can get on this model. Plus,” he added, “It’s quiet,” he said as he looked at Dixie. “Is that a Harley?” he asked, sayin’ the word Harley, like he was hawkin’ up an oyster.

“Yep, she sure is,” I said proudly.

“Huh,” he said. “I don’t see what the big deal is about Har-leys.”

Well, now I hadn’t put down his bike and he was about to get me riled talkin’ about Dixie like

that, when I noticed a car pullin’ up slowly beside this boy’s bike.

I looked and it was Janet. She was headed home and saw me at the gas station and pulled in. What happened next couldn’t have happened any better than if we had planned it.

She drove slowly by the other bike, and the man looked up at her, and smiled. I don’t blame him. She had just gotten out of the beauty parlor and she was lookin’ pretty shiny. That means good.

She smiled back at the man and continued drivin’ slowly until she came to my bike.

“Hi there!” she said in a sexy voice. “Is that a Harley?”

“Yes ma’am,” I smiled.“I just love Harley’s,” she said.“You do,” I said, continuin’

with the charade.“Yeah. There’s just something

about a Harley.”“Really?” I said.“Yeah, but I’ve never gotten to

ride one.” “You haven’t?” I said. “Well,

we just ought to do somethin’ about that. Why don’t you give me your number and I’ll give you a call sometime and take you for a ride.”

“I’ve got a better idea,” she

said. “I don’t live too far from here, so why don’t you just fol-low me home right now.”

“I don’t know,” I said.“Please,” she smiled. “You

won’t be sorry.”“Well, OK then,” I grinned.As Janet pulled past me, I

turned and looked at the other dude. Man, I wish I had a pic-ture of his face. His mouth was hangin’ open so big, his chin was about to hit his belt buckle. Then he looked at me.

I smiled at him. “It must be the Harley,” I said.

Let’s assume, for the sake of today’s essay, that each human being is born with a certain amount of brain power. Some have a lot, others not so much.

Unfortunately, there are those who will never attain a high IQ, yet will lead productive lives.

On the other hand, there are those who are blessed with high IQs who don’t utilize their gifts and leave a great deal of broken ground in their wake.

Most of us fi t comfortably in the middle, knowing enough to keep our hands off a hot stove while at the same time making enough mistakes to fully qualify as a human being.

There is, however, another type of person that makes my head hurt -- all the time: the willfully ignorant.

One of my oldest and dearest friends, who mentored me in this journalism dodge back in the day, was more succinct.

“I can’t stand to deal with stupid people,’’ he said to me once after slamming down the phone receiver, having just dealt with another irate reader.

(Aside: Irate readers are a topic for another day, but suffi ce it to say that if you stay in this biz long enough, you’ll hear some dandy complaints.)

Anyway, my buddy summarized it pretty well. His defi nition of willfully ignorant was shortened to “stupid.’’

That’s a harsh word for sure. But while willfully ignorant

may be a bit more polite, the fact remains both terms describe the same type person.

Bigots and racists, as vile and reprehensible as they are, belong to this lack-of-intelligence group. In this case, stupidity is combined with hatred. Unfortunately, we can’t escape these lowlifes. But are they willfully ignorant?

I say yes. When you hate a fellow human being because of their race, gender or whatever, this is a learned behavior.

They weren’t born as haters or racists. They developed these traits along the way, probably infl uenced by other haters in their midst. Even though they are fully aware of how wrong their biases are, they continue on this willfully ignorant path.

But this is the extreme. No clear thinking individual could success-

fully argue against these points.Let’s ratchet it down a bit and look at others who are willfully

ignorant but not as dangerous as haters and bigots.Tobacco usage? Absolutely. Most people have been told from an

early, early age that smoking, dipping or chewing tobacco is horrible for one’s health and, yes, stupid.

Yet willfully ignorant people continue to light up, dip and chew knowing full well heart disease, cancer and strokes are most defi nitely in their future.

Ah, but what about vaping? Not as harmful as tobacco, you say?Only the willfully ignorant believe this. It’s still a nicotine-based

delivery system and it was only a few months ago that serious vapers were dropping like fl ies. But the large number of deaths didn’t deter those hooked on that deadly mist.

In our current climate are those who insist on not taking COVID-19 precautions willfully ignorant?

Yes, again, because it’s not as if there have been just a few cases of people getting sick – and dying – from this pandemic.

How about those who insist on texting and driving at the same time? Willfully ignorant? I’d say so, considering there’s been plenty of data to support the warnings from law enforcement agencies that distracted driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

It’s ironic that a smart phone can make some people really dumb.

Lindale News & Times, Thursday, May 14, 2020,

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LETTERS TO THE EDITORLETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Rusty MitchumRusty Mitchum

Life & TimesLife & Times

Riding a Harley can make you a big wheel

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2518 South Main Lindale • 903-882-3361“Lindale’s Country Store since 1963”

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Willful ignorance or just plain stupidity?

Lessons learned duringpandemic for Texas educators

Dear Editor,Texas has learned a lot about itself — and

its education system — through the corona-virus crisis.

We’ve learned how critical education is to parents’ work schedules, to civic engagement, to children’s security and wellbeing, and to sports and culture. Texas’ schools and uni-versities have proven to be foundational to economic and community life — our society will not feel truly reopened until students return to school.

In the meantime, educators and adminis-trators have scrambled to ensure students can learn without being in school. Many districts have been creative in connecting students with high-speed internet connections and hardware. Teachers have worked to provide remote instruction and structure. Kitchen staff and other workers have provided food and other needs for out-of-school students. And parents have stepped in to support day-to-day teaching, fi lling a critical gap at a critical time.

In all of these ways, Texas has responded to the coronavirus with determination. Now, Texans everywhere — from the Governor’s Mansion to family dinner tables — are begin-ning to chart a course to the future. We must learn from the pandemic’s lessons and work to address the weaknesses it has exposed.

Our schools are a good place to start.First, the coronavirus has revealed stark

gaps in how thousands of children in urban and rural settings access help, resources, dependable meals, safe places, consistent schedules, counseling, and special education attention. Our state should redouble its eff orts to address these gaps, and the pandemic should be viewed as our opportunity to do so — not an excuse to ignore them.

Secondly, access to broadband internet — connections strong enough to support video classes from home — has often determined whether students could continue learning through the pandemic. Millions of Texans live in houses without high-speed internet connections, meaning those households that do not have access to, or cannot aff ord, the infrastructure students need right now to learn online.

Third, there is no longer any doubt about the powerful impact of teachers. Sadly, they are in a baptism by fi re, as the pandemic fundamentally alters their roles and respon-sibilities. Thousands of teachers have stepped up to the challenge, working to reach their students. It’s important that Texas build on eff orts to ensure our teachers are as eff ective as possible with additional tools.

Fourth, in restarting the education system, Texas must think about how to best use the school calendar and consider adding school days next year to help students make up for

lost time and learning. I encourage Texas of-fi cials to build in more school days next year – 180 days probably will not be enough for most students, particularly as experts predict the coronavirus’ return next fall.

Finally, this crisis has reaffirmed the importance of understanding how students are doing through assessments that evaluate learning. This year, for the fi rst time in over a generation, students will not be given a state-administered test measuring what they learned during the school year. Texans already knew that achievement gaps were wide — but this year, it’s impossible to know how wide, where students are, or where improvements are needed. When schools fi nally reopen their doors, I urge Texas offi cials to administer diagnostic tests to determine learning loss and which students need further instruction and help catching up.

We cannot let this crisis undermine prog-ress and learning – the stakes are too high. Steps taken over the coming months have the potential to propel our next generation forward; doing nothing will cause too many students to fall behind.

Texans must seize this moment to support our schools, hold ourselves accountable, and do what’s right for the future of Texas.

---Margaret Spellings

former Secretary of Educationfor President George W. Bush

Brady EnvironmentalServices

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Hwy 69 & Cooper In front of Brookshire’s

FlemingFarm & Ranch Supply

Home & GardenSupplies/Garden Needs

2518 S. Main • 903-882-3361Mon-Fri 8 am – 5:30 pm, Sat 8 am-NoonServing The Community For Over 50 Yrs

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Broker - CRS ABR SRESPressley Real Estate1430 Tanglewood Dr(903) 881-5151 • Cell: [email protected]

, Lindale News & Times, Thursday, May 14, 2020

ASSEMBLY OF GODLindale Assembly of God Church

307 Eagle Spirit Dr, Lindale, TX 75771903-882-6179

Paul & Susan Ransberger

BAPTISTAntioch Baptist Church

793 CR 313W Tyler TX 75706903-597-6131

Pastor Stephen NippBethel Baptist Church

FM 16 West, Lindale, TX 75771903-882-8275

Bible Baptist Church16173 CR 431, Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-1454Carmel Baptist Church10969 CR 481, Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-3852James Cheatham

Central Baptist Church13745 FM 16 East, Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-3179Byron Howard

Damascus Baptist Church17052 CR 4105 Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-3392Ryan Surratt

Dover Baptist Church21166 FM Road 1995, Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-5106Duck Creek Baptist Church

Lindale, TX 75771903-882-9558

East Foothills MissionaryBaptist Church

810 E South St, Lindale, TX 75771903-574-2672Gary Dinger

Fairview Baptist ChurchVan Highway, Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-9500First Baptist Church

Hwy 69 (in Swan) Lindale, TX 75771903-882-6432

First Baptist Church of Lindale110E Hubbard St. Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-3396Tom Buck

Foundation Baptist Church715 S Main St. Lindale 75771

903-881-9490Garden Valley Baptist Church

17816 CR 442, Lindale, TX 75771903-882-7671

Greater Hopewell Baptist Church10480 CR 492 • Tyler, TX 75706

903-882-4726

Hopewell Baptist Church11804 CR 494, Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-5381Hopewell Valley Baptist, Church No 1

CR 429 • Van, TX903-882-5136

Mt. Sylvan Baptist Church13073 Hwy 110 N • Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-3890Bruce Rudd

New Harmony Baptist Church10251 FM 727, Tyler, TX 75704

903-593-5811Red Springs Baptist Church

Red Springs, TX903-858-2365

St Mary Baptist Church12050 CR 452,

Lindale, TX 75771903-882-8066

Thompson Hill Baptist Church14657 CR

Lindale, TX 75771903-882-0849

Walnut Springs Baptist Church211 Walnut Springs,Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-7858Wood Trails Baptist Church

11804 CR 494,Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-5381

CATHOLICHoly Family Catholic Church

16314 FM 849,Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-4079Fr.Matthew Stehling, Pastor

St. Joseph the WorkerTridentine Latin Mass

5075 FM 14Tyler, 75712

903-593- 5055Rev. Joseph Valentine, FSSP

Community Christian Fellowship15704 Hwy 110 N Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-8501David Hickey

Crossroads Community Church20465 US Highway 69 North

Lindale TX 75771-4206903-881-9844

Tim LetschBethesda Church

2401 S Main StLindale, TX 75771

903-882-7597Steven & Camilla Charles

Friendship CME Church20428 CR 482

Lindale, TX 75771903-882-7269

Garden Valley Bible Church17117 FM 1253

Lindale, TX 75771903-882-9665

Grace Community Church15567 Wood Springs Rd

Lindale, TX 75771903-882-3323

Hide-A-Way Lake Community Church

1115 Lake Cross RdLindale, TX 75771

903-882-6966Life of Glory Church

14623 CR 463Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-7997Ed & Becky Colville

Life Source Community Church2808 S. Main, Lindale

Pastor John OffuttLone Star Cowboy Church

23425 FM 1995, Lindale TX 75771615-480-0289Jayc Harold

River’s Edge Church18492 Hwy 69 North,

Lindale, TX 75771903-882-0555 • Phil Brown

Trinity Fellowship ChurchShady Lane Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-3885 • Ben Steen

PRESBYTERIANBethesda Community Church

FM2710 • Lindale, TX 75771903-882-3861 • Dr. Everitt Nix

UNITED PENTECOSTALPentecostals of Lindale18475 FM 1804 Lindale, TX 75771

713-254-3598

CHURCH OF CHRISTChurch of Christ – Lindale

211 W. Hubbard,Lindale, TX 75771903-882-6455

Church of Christ – South Main2425 S Main St, Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-8933Church of Christ – Swan County

Road 471, Lindale, TX 75771903-882-8009

EPISCOPALSt Luke’s Episcopal Church

16292 FM 849, Lindale, TX 75771903-882-8118Rev. John Carr

LUTHERANFirst Century Christian Fellowship

10119 Gina Rd., Lindale, TX 75771Dr. Lawrence Zillmer

METHODISTFirst United Methodist

Church of Lindale402 W Hubbard St • Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-8506Michael Peschke

Harris Chapel SouthernMethodist Church17069 CR 452 Lindale TX

903.253.3175John Roach, Pastor

Mt Sylvan United Methodist ChurchMt. Sylvan • 903-882-5479Swan-Wood Springs

United Methodist ChurchHwy 69, Swan Lindale, TX 75771

903-882-6382

NON DENOMINATIONALClearview Church

13933 Hwy 110 N Lindale, TX 75771903-882-8949

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Please call or come by the Lindale News & Timesif you would like to advertise your business on this page.

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OBITUARYOBITUARYJerry Lynn Troyer

J e r r y L y n n Troyer, age 60 of Lindale, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at his home in Lindale. He was

born January 4, 1960 in Goshen, Indi-ana. Jerry has lived in Lindale for the last 36 years where he was the owner and operator of Troyer Paint Company. Jerry enjoyed blues music and spend-ing time with his family. He is preceded in death by his father, Howard Troyer.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Cindy Troyer of Lindale, Texas; mother, Sar-ah Andersen of Creston, B.C. Canada; sons, Justin S. Troyer and wife, Petrina of Tyler, Texas, and Jeff ery C. Troyer

and his girlfriend, Joanna Giff ord of Tyler, Texas; brothers, Larry M. Troyer of Tyler, Texas, and Stanley E. Troyer of Arkansas; and numerous other lov-ing family members and friends.

Steve WestbrookGraveside services for Steve West-

brook, 79, of Lindale were held Sun-day, May 9 at Chumley Cemetery in San Augustine, Texas with Ira Lynn offi ciating.

Mr. Westbrook passed away on Wednesday, May 6.

He was a longtime resident of the San Augustine area before moving to Lindale several years ago.

Survivors include a niece and nephew, Evelyn and Mike Coyne of Lindale.

Offi cials with Brookshire Grocery Co. have announced the extension of the company’s discount programs for se-nior citizens and critical and emergency service providers, through June 2, 2020.

The discount will be available in all four banners it operates – Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, Spring Market and FRESH by Brookshire’s.

“BGC is committed to making a diff er-ence in the communities we serve,” said Brad Brookshire, Chairman and CEO for Brookshire Grocery Co. “We are grateful to be able to continue to give back to those who are serving on the front lines as well as those who are at high risk.”

Senior Citizen DiscountBGC is extending the temporary 5

percent daily discount for senior citizens. The discount is available upon request to

customers age 60 or older with valid ID. BGC is also still strongly encouraging that the fi rst two hours of operations be reserved as a dedicated time for senior citizens and critical and emergency ser-vice providers. The company is asking for the community’s help in honoring this practice and in moving any senior guests to the front of the check-out line throughout the day.

Critical and Emergency Service Pro-viders Discount

The company is off ering a 5 percent daily discount on store brand products for critical and emergency service providers, through June 2, 2020. This discount is available for all emergency fi rst responders (EMS, fi re department and law enforcement offi cers), hospital personnel, and active-duty military

(including National Guard and Military Reserve). To receive the discount at checkout, critical and emergency ser-vice providers must present active fi rst responder, hospital or military identifi -cation or name badge.

The store brand discount applies to Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods and Spring Market branded products, along with Goldenbrook, Pure Harmony, Top Care, Simply Done, Paws, Tippy Toes, Full Circle, CharKing, Wide Awake Coff ee Co., Over the Top, That’s Smart and Culinary Tours. Some exclusions apply and may not be combined with other discount off ers.

BGC has waived fees for all customers on curbside orders, where available, as another way to help those who are de-pending on the company for this service.

Brookshire’s extends daily discountfor seniors, emergency service providers


Ad sizes for tab display ads: 1/8 page (2 1/2” x 2 1/2”) - $45 ~ 1/4 page (5” x 5”) - $100

1/2 page (10” x 5”) - $160 ~ Full page BW - (10” x 10”) - $300 Full page Color - (10” x 10”) - $400

Full page Back Cover - (10” x 10”) - $500 or

Inclusion on the signature ad with only name ofpurchaser and name of senior being honored - $25

Honor a Senior 2020in the May 28 Edition

of the Lindale News & Times Deadline for information, photos and

payment is Monday, May 18Publishing and copy deadline extended a week!

Please send finished ads or digital photo(s) and short message withthis form to [email protected] by May 18.

Payment must be included with form or done by phone with a credit card. Contact Susan Duncan at 903-882-8880 for more information or to pay by phone.

Purchaser’s Name: __________________________________________ Honored Senior’s Name ______________________________________ Size of ad _____________________ Cost of ad ___________________

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Send payment to: Lindale News & Times PO Box 1559 Lindale 75771 or call 903-882-8880

Send digital information by Monday, May 18 to: [email protected]

Friday, May 1, 2020Officers Wedgeworth, Fortunas, and Barton responded to a

suspicious circumstance at I-20 E MM 556, settled at scene. Det. Dworaczyk, Sgt. Flores, and Offi cers Barton, Fortunas, and Wedge-worth responded to an unlawful carry of weapon at 200 block E Hub-bard St, report taken. Sgt. Flores and Offi cer Houghton responded to a suspicious person at 300 block S Main St, settled at scene. Offi cers Gillham and Houghton responded to a public service at 100 block N Industrial St, settled at scene. Captain Chambers, and Offi cers Gillham and Houghton responded to an agency assist at 14000 block FM 849, primary agency took command of scene. Captain Chambers and Offi cer Houghton responded to a welfare concern at 3500 block S Main St, settled at scene. Det. Dworaczyk responded to an agency assist at 400 block Baker St, primary agency took command of scene. Captain Chambers, and Offi cers Gillham and Houghton responded to a suspicious circumstance at 15400 block Lindsey, settled at scene. Offi cers Houghton and Gillham responded to a suspicious person at 1600 block S Main St, settled at scene.

Saturday, May 2, 2020Offi cers Leevey and Capps responded to a business alarm at 100

block E South St, false alarm. Sgt. Wilson and Offi cer Leevey respond-ed to an accident at 3200 block S Main St, report taken. Sgt. Wilson, and Offi cers Capps and Leevey responded to a suspicious person at 400 block York Dr, settled at scene. Offi cers Capps and Leevey re-sponded to an agency assist at 16800 block FM 16 W, primary agency took command of scene. Offi cers Ramsey and Trombley responded to a public service at 14900 block Tucker St, settled at scene. Sgt. Wilson, and Offi cers Trombley and Ramsey responded to a suspicious vehicle at 21200 block Hwy 69 N, settled at scene. Offi cer Ramsey responded to a disturbance at 500 block Pierce St, settled at scene. Offi cers Trombley and Ramsey responded to a 911 hang up at 1500 block Pearl St, settled at scene. Sgt. Wilson and Offi cer Trombley responded to a suspicious circumstance at 1500 block S Main St, settled at scene. Offi cers Trombley and Ramsey responded to a noise complaint at 1500 block Pearl St, settled at scene.

Sunday, May 3, 2020Offi cers Leevey and Capps responded to a suspicious vehicle at

13300 block I-20 W, settled at scene. Offi cers Leevey and Capps re-sponded to a possession of controlled substance at 12500 block Hwy 69 N, arrest made and report taken. Offi cer Leevey responded to a public service at 400 block Wendy St, settled at scene. Sgt. Wilson and Offi cer Capps responded to a disturbance at 100 block Waters St, settled at scene. Offi cers Leevey and Capps responded to a 911

hang up at 600 block Fruitdale St, settled at scene. Offi cers Trombley and Ramsey responded to a suspicious circumstance at 200 block Heritage Ct, settled at scene. Sgt. Wilson, and Offi cers Trombley and Ramsey responded to a disturbance at 1500 block Sugar Hill, settled at scene. Sgt. Wilson, and Offi cers Trombley and Ramsey responded to an agency assist at 13600 block Country Glen, primary agency took command of scene. Offi cer Ramsey responded to a suspicious person at 500 block S Main St, unfounded. Offi cers Trombley and Ramsey responded to a disturbance at 300 block S Boyd St, settled at scene.

Monday, May 4, 2020Offi cers Capps and Leevey responded to a public service at 100

block E Centennial Blvd, settled at scene. Offi cers Leevey and Capps responded to a welfare concern at 100 block E Centennial Blvd, settled at scene. Captain Chambers, and Offi cers Leevey and Capps responded to an agency assist at I-20 E MM 549, primary agency took command of scene. Offi cers Leevey and Capps responded to an accident at 2700 block S Main St, report taken. Offi cers Capps and Leevey responded to a suspicious circumstance at I-20 W MM 552, unfounded. Offi cer Leevey responded to a public service at the Police Department, settled at scene. Sgt. Wilson, and Offi cer Leevey and Capps responded to a suspicious circumstance at 900 block S Main St, settled at scene. Sgt. Wilson and Offi cer Leevey responded to an accident at 1400 block S Main St, report taken. Sgt. Wilson, and Offi cers Leevey and Capps responded to an agency assist at I-20 W MM 554, primary agency took command of scene. Sgt. Wilson and Offi cer Trombley responded to a suspicious circumstance at 500 block Choice Cir, unfounded. Offi cers Ramsey and Trombley responded to a suspicious person at 2400 block S Main St, settled at scene.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020Offi cers Capps and Leevey responded to a suspicious circumstance

at 3200 block S Main St, unfounded. Offi cer Leevey responded to a theft at 100 block E Centennial Blvd, report taken. Offi cer Capps

responded to an animal complaint at 3200 block S Main St, settled at scene. Offi cer Leevey responded to an animal complaint at 400 block Marchman St, unfounded. Sgt. Wilson, and Offi cers Leevey and Capps responded to an agency assist at 14000 block FM 849, primary agency took command of scene. Sgt. Wilson responded to an accident at 3200 block S Main St, report taken. Sgt. Wilson and Offi cer Ramsey responded to an animal complaint at I-20 W MM 554, settled at scene. Offi cers Ramsey and Trombley responded to a suspicious circumstance at 300 block Cooper St, unfounded.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020Captain Chambers, and Offi cers Barton and Fortunas responded to

a disturbance at 100 block Margaret St, report taken. Offi cer Wedge-worth responded to a found property at the Police Department, report taken. Offi cer Wedgeworth responded to an animal complaint at 3200 S Main St, settled at scene. Captain Chambers and Offi cer Wedgeworth responded to a suspicious circumstance at 500 block S Main St, settled at scene. Offi cer Houghton responded to a public service at 17000 block I-20 W, settled at scene. Sgt. Flores, and Offi cers Gillham and Houghton responded to a 911 abuse at 200 block Clara St, settled at scene. Sgt. Flores responded to a business alarm at 13800 block Hwy 69 N, false alarm. Offi cers Gillham and Houghton responded to a welfare concern at 100 block E Centennial Blvd, settled at scene. Sgt. Flores, and Offi cers Gillham and Houghton responded to an agency assist at 100 block Hudson, primary agency took command of scene. Offi cers Gillham and Houghton responded to a public service at 100 block Miranda Lambert Way, settled at scene. Offi cers Houghton and Gillham responded to a possession of drug paraphernalia at 400 block N Main St, report taken. Offi cers Gillham and Houghton responded to a welfare concern at I-20 W MM 552, unfounded.

Thursday, May 7, 2020Offi cer Wedgeworth responded to an animal complaint at 13400

block FM 16 W, settled at scene. Sgt. Flores, and Offi cers Gillham, Houghton, Fortunas, and Barton responded to a public service at 300 block E South St, settled at scene. Sgt. Flores, and Offi cers Fortunas, Barton, Wedgeworth, Gillham, and Houghton responded to a welfare concern at 500 block Molly Ln, settled at scene. Offi cers Houghton and Gillham responded to a business alarm at 1400 block S Main St, false alarm. Sgt. Flores, and Offi cers Gillham and Houghton re-sponded to a possession of drug paraphernalia at 600 block E South St, report taken. Offi cers Gillham and Houghton responded to a noise complaint at 1200 block Brad Cir, settled at scene. Offi cer Houghton responded to a suspicious vehicle at 700 block S Main St, settled at scene. Offi cer Gillham responded to a suspicious vehicle at 200 block Cannery Row, settled at scene.

Smith County man returned to familyFollowing the issuance of a

Silver Alert for a Flint-area man last week, Smith County Sheriff ’s Offi ce spokesman Larry Christian said the man has been located and returned to his family.

Richard Marcum, 75, of Flint was located in Waxahachie by a resident of that city who informed local law enforcement. The Smith

County Sheriff ’s Offi ce then no-tifi ed Marcum’s family who took him home.

On Saturday, May 9, Marcum drove away from his residence around 4 p.m. He was diagnosed with dementia in 2012.

He told his wife he was headed to Albuquerque, N.M., where he is originally from, to visit family.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has organized a special task force led by Texas A&M AgriLife experts concerning the emergence of the “murder hornet,’’ a giant invasive insect which has been sighted several times in northwestern Washington state and Canada this past year, publicity offi cials announced.

The task force is spearheading an initiative to protect Texas residents if the “murder hornet,’’ or Asian giant hornet, arrives.

The hornet, Vespa mandarinia, preys on bees and can decimate local honey bee populations. Honey bees are essential for most fruit and vegetable crop production.

Because crops rely on honey bees and other insects for pollination, in its absence, crop yields would greatly suff er. What’s more, the Asian giant hornets are fi ercely protective of their nests.

They deploy painful stings that can cause fatal allergic reactions in people already sensitive to bee stings.

“Although this pest has not been spotted in Texas, the hornet poses a threat to both agriculture and public health,” said Patrick J. Stover, Ph.D., vice chancellor of Texas A&M AgriLife, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of Texas A&M AgriL-ife Research. “Because of this, we are bringing to bear the diverse expertise and knowledge base that exists within Texas A&M AgriLife to collaborate with federal partners and extension agents across the country to protect our state and the global food supply.”

The task force brings together experts from Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the Texas A&M Department of Entomology and the Center for Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense — a Department of Homeland Security Center for Excellence with representation from various parts of The Texas A&M University System.

Courses of action plannedHow the pests ended up in North America is not yet clear. Washing-

ton state investigations are focusing on the possibility that container ship or airplane transport may have inadvertently transported a fer-tilized female hornet.

“Part of our response is preparing our state entry points for cargo transportation,” said Greg Pompelli, Ph.D., director of the Center for Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense. “We are developing training for Customs and Border Protection staff to be able to detect the Asian giant hornet. We are also increasing surveillance of incoming containers and evaluating opportunities for specialized detection, such as possibly using scent-trained dogs to fi nd these hornets hidden in cargo or luggage.”

The task force is planning several avenues of action. The team will provide science-based educational materials on the

hornet for citizens and beekeepers. In addition, to guard against the hornet entering Texas, the task force will work on detection eff orts for border and port-of-entry points. The team will also assist with mitigation eff orts to protect Texas honey bee populations. Finally, the task force will prepare statewide identifi cation eff orts if necessary.

Asian giant hornets are the world’s largest hornets and are native to many areas, from Japan and South Korea to India and Pakistan.

Up to 2 inches long, the insect is about a half-inch larger than the “cicada killer” wasp common in Texas.

For more information, see Asian Giant Hornet FAQ, a publication of Texas A&M AgriLife.

Experts work to safeguardTexas from possible

“murder hornet’’

EDITOR’S NOTE: Even though Lindale High School is now closed for the year, staff members from the award-win-ning Eagle Eye student newspa-per continue their coverage of the LISD.

---By Zach Jones

Eagle Eye Staff WriterBond construction is continuing

during the coronavirus outbreak as the halls of the high school are empty. Recently, demolition on the main hallway and cafeteria has begun as construction crews are working hard to upgrade the high school campus.

“One positive in all this mess is that construction is really pro-gressing well,” Deputy Superin-tendent Jamie Holder said. “The demolition of the main hallway and cafeteria has begun six weeks early which really frees up our timeline.”

With construction workers marked as “essential,” the empti-ness provided by the coronavirus has allowed construction crews to work more effi ciently and has ensured they will meet the August 2020 deadline.

“The added classroom space and cafeteria space is what I’m most excited about for next year,” Principal Jeremy Chilek said.

“We’ve had several teachers the past few years sharing classrooms and have run out of room.”

The auxiliary gym is 85 percent complete, and the indoor facility is almost complete except for the turf. The new entryway at the high school is about 75 percent

complete as the construction continues.

“The indoor facility is honestly what most interests me,” junior Kelsey Schwartz said. “The band will begin practicing there next year, and it will be a massive change compared to the parking lot we have been marching on.”

This week they will begin work on the cafeteria connection, cafeteria expansion and restroom

relocation. Crews are also work-ing on a new front entrance that is currently in progress.

“Crews have been working each day, as construction is con-sidered to be ‘essential’ by our county,” Chilek said. “We are projecting that all areas of con-struction for our high school will be complete by the beginning of August, and we are on schedule for that time frame.”


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LISD announces hiring of associate curriculum directorOffi cials with the Lindale Independent

School District have announced the hiring of Mrs. Macie Thompson as the new asso-ciate curriculum director of Lindale ISD.

Thompson has served as the assistant principal at Lindale High School for the past three years. She started as a high school government and economics teacher before

transitioning into an assistant principal for Weatherford ISD prior to Lindale.

“We are very excited about Mrs. Thomp-son joining our Curriculum Leadership team,” said Lindale ISD Superintendent, Stan Surratt. “She has had great success as an administrator the past three years on the high school campus and we expect that

she will continue to have great success in her new role. Mrs. Thompson is going to be an excellent leader in our district for many years.”

Thompson earned a Bachelor of Political Science degree from Texas A&M University and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University.

“It has been an honor and privilege to work with the students, teachers and ad-ministrators at Lindale High School for the past three years,” said Thompson. “I am excited for the opportunity to serve more of the community through my new role and continue the tradition of excellence in Lindale ISD.”

LHS construction upgrades continue

Construction, funded by a recent voter-approved bond package, continues at Lindale High School. (Photo courtesy of LHS Eagle Eye)

LeTourneau University Summer Camps that were scheduled for June 2020 have been can-celled due to an abundance of caution regarding the current coronavirus pandemic, publicity offi cials announced.

Refunds of all the registration fees will be completed during the month of May, being credited back to the credit cards used to register for camps.

School offi cials are asking for patience during

this time as it may take a while to process these refunds.

“We want to say thank you to all the parents and grandparents for trusting LeTourneau with your kids!” said Kaylee Salser, administrator of summer camps. “We care for their safety and want to make sure we are able to provide a safe environment for every child to attend camps. We look forward to celebrating BIG with your amazing kids in 2021 Summer Camps.”

For questions, call 903-233-3093 or send an email to [email protected].

Most other events on campus for June, and some for July, have also been canceled. Sports camps will be decided later, as July nears.

LETU off ers undergraduate and graduate de-gree programs across a wide range of disciplines online and at LETU’s 196-acre residential cam-pus in Longview. For additional information, visit www.letu.edu.

LeTourneau summer camps cancelled

A restructuring of the undergraduate criminal justice program to include new, high-demand degree concentrations and courses has been announced by offi cials with the University of Texas at Tyler.

Beginning in fall 2020, the Bachelor of Science program in criminal justice will off er concen-trations in forensic science, juvenile justice and homeland security, in addition to a new variety of lower-division courses in corrections, the courts, criminal law and policing.

The restructure also is designed to allow stu-dents to transfer courses seamlessly from junior colleges and universities to begin upper-division coursework at UT Tyler.

“While we recognize that many of our students enter careers in law enforcement, we are seeing

an increase in students seeking to enter careers in forensic science, corrections, the courts, juvenile justice, victim services and other areas of criminal justice,’’ said Dr. Jennifer Klein, associate profes-sor of criminal justice. “We are restructuring our program to serve those interests and career goals and to account for the ever-changing policies associated with our discipline.’’

Criminal justice majors will be able to select up to two of the three new concentrations, or take courses from all three through the generalist concentration.

“We believe this gives students more fl exibility and say in their own academic success,’’ Klein said. “Furthermore, these concentrations allow students to choose what topics are going to help them the most in their future careers.’’

The forensic science concentration is a good fi t for students pursuing a career in law enforcement or crime scene processing, or for those who wish to enroll in a post-baccalaureate degree program in forensic science, forensic chemistry or other related areas.

The juvenile justice concentration is a strong choice for students seeking careers in family violence victim services, social work, juvenile corrections or law.

The homeland security concentration provides solid preparation for a career in law enforcement or for a post-baccalaureate degree program in terrorism studies or homeland security.

For more information about the UT Tyler criminal justice program, visit: uttyler.edu/social-sciences/criminaljustice/undergraduate/

UT Tyler revamps criminal justice program

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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Joshua Hol-land of Lindale was recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, publicity offi cials announced.

Holland was initiated at Louisiana Tech University.

Holland is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership.

Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a diff erent kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fi elds of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”

Since its founding, more than 1.5 million members have been initiated into Phi Kappa Phi. Some of the or-ganization’s notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist

John Grisham and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley. Each year, Phi Kappa Phi awards nearly $1 million to outstanding students and members through graduate and dissertation fellowships, under-graduate study abroad grants, funding for post-baccalaureate development, and grants for local, national and inter-national literacy initiatives. For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, visit www.phikappaphi.org.

Lindale’s AutumnBurris earns degree from

South Plains College

LEVELLAND – Autumn Burris of Lindale has graduated with an associ-ate’s degree in agriculture from South Plains College after completing her work for the spring semester, college offi cials announced.

She was one of more than 1,300 students who received their academic degree or certifi cate on May 8.

South Plains College is a comprehen-sive, two-year community college that serves the greater South Plains area of Texas with educational programs that span the arts and sciences, technical education, continuing education and workforce development.

Serving a 13-county area that com-prises the southern portion of the Texas High Plains, the college’s main campus is located in Levelland.

SPC also off ers educational programs at two locations in Lubbock -- the SPC Lubbock Center and the SPC Reese Center -- as well as an extension center in Plainview.

Lindale student Hollandinitiated in Phi Kappa Phi

LONGVIEW -- LeTourneau University electrical engi-neering dual-enrolled graduate student James Allen Morri-son of Tatum won fi rst place in the student paper competition recently at the 2020 IEEE Region 5 annual Business Meeting and Student Activities Conference in Oklahoma City, school offi cials announced.

The conference was held April 3-4.Morrison took the top prize against three students from the

University of Arkansas and Oklahoma Christian University in the fi nal round. Morrison presented his research virtually using Zoom, due to the coronavirus pandemic canceling his travel plans.

The IEEE Region 5 Student Paper Competition is a three-stage event where undergraduate students from universities in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado submit their research papers to be reviewed on the local, area and regional levels.

Titled “Determining non-Newtonian Fluid Medium Characteristics using RF Techniques” Morrison’s paper will be reviewed for possible publication in the monthly IEEE “Potentials’’ magazine, a publication for 140,000 graduate and undergraduate students and young engineering professionals to address global issues, technology, trends, and career development.

“My research details methods for measuring the interac-tions that electromagnetic waves have with fl uids that change their state with mechanical disturbances,” Morrison said.

The results of his research are useful in defi ning compli-cated materials in electromagnetic full wave simulation and possibly micro-mechanical applications. These methods provide the ability to measure unconventional materials from an electromagnetic standpoint.

Morrison is a 4+1 Master of Engineering student who began the paper for a class and extended it to a year-long undergraduate research eff ort, overseen by assistant profes-sor of electrical engineering Dr. Hoo Kim.

“Starting from my sophomore year, having one-on-one review access to accomplished researcher and professor Dr. Hoo Kim made a signifi cant impact on my research,” Morrison said. “Infusing our common faith into our work-

place through constructive communication and frequent meetings to pray for guidance is a unique and highly valued opportunity off ered by LeTourneau University. This project certainly has consisted of doors being opened by God and me walking through them by faith.”

LETU Dean of the School of Engineering and Engi-neering Technology Dr. Steve Starrett lauded Morrison’s achievement.

“There are brilliant competitors at the IEEE student com-petitions, so that makes winning extra special recognition of the innovation and creativity exhibited,” Starrett said.

Morrison is a member of the LEGRange Senior Design Team designed to create a GPS constellation on the univer-sity’s Longview campus to provide over-the-air testing and evaluation of adversarial signals for use in national defense. The three-year project is funded by Sandia National Labs. Faculty sponsor is LETU engineering professor Dr. Nathan Green.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is an association of professionals dedicated to the advancement of technology in electrical and computer engineering. It has over 350,000 members from over 160 countries, including more than 90,000 student members, making it the largest professional association in the world.

LeTourneau University is home to a vibrant IEEE student chapter, which hosts regular seminars presented by profes-sionals in the fi eld, and occasionally even senior students. LeTourneau University’s student chapter is also active in regional and national events and competitions and is a member of IEEE region 5.

LeTourneau University is the Christian polytechnic uni-versity in the nation where educators engage students to nurture Christian virtue, develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fi elds, integrate faith and work, and serve the local and global community. LETU off ers under-graduate and graduate degree programs across a wide range of disciplines online and at LETU’s 196-acre residential campus in Longview, Texas, located 120 miles east of Dallas and 60 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. For additional information, visit www.letu.edu.

LeTourneau grad studentwins fi rst place at IEEE event


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Entrance ramp work continues on U.S. 69, I-20Several projects will be undertaken

by crews with the Texas Department of Transportation in Smith County, said spokesperson Kathi White, including work on the I-20/U.S. 69 entrance ramps.

These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues, White said. Drivers should slow down and be careful while traveling through these work zones.

Smith County construction projects updates include:

SH 135 Widening ProjectLimits: From Arp to TroupContractor: Drewery Construction

Co. Inc.Cost: $9 millionAnticipated Completion Date: Fall

2021The contractor is scheduled to perform

pavement widening operations. Expect daily lane closures. The project consists of adding passing lanes, improving drainage structures, and pavement re-

surfacing.FM 346 Bridge

Replacement ProjectLimits: From FM 346 at Prairie Creek,

south of Lake TylerContractor: Stateline Construction, LLCCost: $2 millionAnticipated Completion Date: Spring

2020The contractor is scheduled to install

vegetative seeding, install signage, and perform project cleanup activities. The speed limit is 45 mph. The bridge replacement project is building a wider structure.

I-20 Ramp Improvement Project

Limits: From US 69 to Jim Hogg RoadContractor: Longview Bridge and

Road, Ltd.Cost: $14.8 millionAnticipated Completion Date: Sum-

mer 2021The contractor is scheduled to contin-

ue frontage road and ramp construction.

The new I-20 eastbound frontage road is open to traffi c with daily lane closures between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The existing eastbound entrance ramp from US 69 is closed for removal. US 69 eastbound traffi c will now use the entrance ramp east of Jim Hogg Road. The project consists of ramp improvements and construction of frontage roads.

US 69 Overpass at FM 346Limits: At FM 346Contractor: Longview Bridge & Road,

Ltd.Cost: $16.7 millionAnticipated Completion Date: Fall

2020The contractor is scheduled to con-

tinue bridge construction. The work zone speed limit is 60 mph. The project is building a new bridge to take US 69 over FM 346.

FM 2493 Widening ProjectLimits: From FM 2813 in Gresham

south to FM 346 in FlintContractor: Highway 19 Construction,

LLCCost: $14.5 millionAnticipated Completion Date: Fall

2021The contractor is scheduled to con-

tinue roadway construction. Caution is advised when traveling through the work zone where the speed limit is reduced to 45 mph. The project will widen FM 2493 from two lanes to a four-lane divided roadway with a fl ush median.

CR 1113 & CR 2171 Bridge Replacement Project

Limits: CR 1113 at Butler Creek and CR 2171 at Blackhawk Creek

Contractor: East Texas Bridge, Inc.Cost: $719,000.00Anticipated Completion Date: Spring

2020No work is scheduled for the week.

The project is replacing the existing bridges with new structures.

Azalea Drive & Camellia Street Bridge Replacement

Project

Limits: North Azalea Drive and Ca-mellia Street at West Mud Creek

Contractor: East Texas Bridge, Inc.Cost: $470,000.00Anticipated Completion Date: Spring

2020No work is scheduled for the week.

Both roads are open to traffi c on this bridge replacement project.

FM 2015 Widening ProjectLimits: From I-20 Westbound Front-

age Road, north to CR 313Contractor: Longview Bridge and

Road, Ltd.Cost: $3 millionAnticipated Completion Date: Spring

2020Crews are applying the fi nal pavement

markings and removing erosion control measures. Motorists should expect one-lane, two-way traffi c managed by fl ag-gers and a pilot vehicle. The project in-cludes roadway widening to construct a continuous left turn lane, and improving paving, drainage, striping, and signage.

Sick pets can’t transmit COVID-19, experts sayBy Texas A&M University College

of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences As our knowledge of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and resulting COVID-19

disease evolves, the news and guidelines we must follow are changing as well. The dynamic nature of this situation may be diffi cult for some, who may fi nd keeping up to date with current best practices and pre-cautions to be a time-consuming endeavor.

Dr. Kate Creevy, an associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says that while several news stories have recently detailed pet cats, dogs, and even zoo tigers testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, pet owners should be assured that these are rare and seem to be one-way occurrences.

“We have no evidence that sick pets can transmit coronavirus to otherwise healthy, uninfected owners,” Creevy said.

Creevy said that most viruses prefer to infect one species above oth-ers; under our current understanding, SARS-CoV-2 prefers infecting

humans and is less eff ective at infecting cats or dogs.“The very most important way this virus spreads is from person to

person,” she said.Most dogs and cats that have tested positive for the virus in their

bodies had known contact with infected humans. For some stray cats that have tested positive, it is not possible to determine what contact they may have had with infected people.

And although these animals tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it is not clear whether the virus made them ill.

Given how common cat and dog ownership is and how uncommon detection of SARS-CoV-2 in these animals has been, Creevy says it is highly unlikely that dog or cat transmission of the virus will become a major factor in the pandemic.

“Researchers around the world are paying very close attention to whether or not pets can transmit the virus to humans, and have found no supporting evidence,” Creevy said. “This is an emerging virus, which means that we don’t yet know everything about it. But we will continue to provide updates to the public any time our understanding changes.”

Pet owners should practice good hygiene around their pets and other humans, maintain social distancing, and avoid exercising their animal in crowded areas or busy dog parks. Keep in mind that pets’ fur, like any other surface, may carry the virus if touched by an infected individual.

Creevy recommends that pet owners follow the following precau-tions:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after playing with or petting a dog or cat, especially after contact with pet saliva or feces.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose, or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

• Practice good respiratory hygiene, which means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

• Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, dry cough, or diffi culty breathing, seek medical attention and call your provider in advance so they can be prepared for your arrival. Follow the directions of your physician or local health authority.

• If you are sick, avoid close contact with other members of your household, including your pets. Have another member of the household care for your animals. If you must look after your pet while you are sick, maintain good hygiene practices and cover your face if possible.

The current crisis is stressful for many, but pet owners can mitigate their worries by following the recommended guidelines and practices. As a community, we can beat COVID-19 by staying clean, staying home, and staying well.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Bio-medical Sciences, Texas A&M University.

Wood County Electric Co-Opawards seniors’ scholarships

A panel of three independent judges recently awarded $11,000 in scholarships to East Texas high school seniors as part of Wood

County Electric Cooperative’s “Power My World” scholarship program, said Director of Com-munications Paige Eaton.

Eleven high school students residing within WCEC’s 9-coun-ty service area, which includes Smith County, will each receive a $1,000 scholarship for con-tinuing education. This program is funded by unclaimed capital credit payments returned to the cooperative by the state.

The independent judges were WCEC members: Delene Allen, Mineola, JaneAnne Newton, Winnsboro; and Glenda Schill, Quitman. Each judge was tasked with reviewing the essay submis-sions, accompanying academic records, and lists of civic and community achievements to determine the winners.

Based on their exceptional work and achievements, the 2020 Power My World college scholar-ship recipients are: Colby Bain, Fruitvale High School; Austin Brown, Van High School; Mon-tanna Gambino, Abeka Academy; Jentri Jackson, Quitman High School; J’Cea Melton, Grand Sa-line High School; Hope Reeves, Victory Christian Academy; Amanda Santoy, Winnsboro High School; Savannah Sause-da, Grand Saline High School; Brooke Vaughn, Mount Pleas-ant High School and Zachary Willard, Hawkins High School. Additionally, the winner of a $1,000.00 trade school/technical scholarship is Coleman Johnston, Mount Vernon High School.

“Through this annual process we enjoy learning about the

community service, talents and ambitions of the young men and women that live in our commu-nities,’’ said WCEC CEO/Gen-eral Manager Trey Teaff . “Their dreams and goals are big, but so are their abilities. As a communi-ty we all have a lot to be proud of. We look forward to seeing these students progress in their chosen courses of study and work.”

Wood County Electric Coop-erative, Inc. is a not-for-profi t electric cooperative with the mission of providing mem-ber-customers reliable electric service at a reasonable rate. WCEC serves over 37,200 me-ters in parts of nine counties throughout northeast Texas, including Camp, Franklin, Hop-kins, Rains, Smith, Titus, Up-shur, Van Zandt, and Wood.

2020 Power My World Scholarship judges included, from left, Delene Allen, JaneAnne Newton and Glenda Schill. (Cour-tesy Photo)


Comptroller’s Office reminds taxpayers about extended

franchise tax deadlineTexas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today is reminding taxpayers that

the due date for 2020 franchise tax reports was extended to July 15 to be consistent with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The extended due date applies to all franchise taxpayers. It is au-tomatic, and taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms. The original due date, May 15, was extended last month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide Texas businesses relief.

The Texas franchise tax is a tax imposed on each taxable entity formed or organized in Texas or doing business in Texas. Unlike the sales and use tax, the franchise tax is not collected from the consumers of those taxable entities.

Franchise taxpayers who need an extension beyond the July 15 date have these options:

* Non-electronic funds transfer (non-EFT) taxpayers who cannot file by July 15 may file an extension request on or before July 15 and must pay 90 percent of the tax due for the current year, or 100 percent of the tax reported as due for the prior year with the extension request. Non-EFT taxpayers who request an extension have until Jan. 15, 2021, to file their report and pay the remainder of the tax due.

* On or before July 15, taxpayers who are mandatory EFT payers may request an extension of time to file to Aug. 15 and must pay 90 percent of the tax due for the current year, or 100 percent of the tax reported as due for the prior year, with the extension request. On or before Aug. 15, EFT taxpayers may request a second extension of time to file their report and must pay the remainder of any tax due with their extension request. The Aug. 15 extension request extends the report due date to Jan. 15, 2021. Any payments made after Aug. 15 will be subject to penalty and interest.

Arrests made in Chapel Hill homicide case

Three men remain in the Smith County Jail on murder charges stemming from the Saturday, May 2, death of Brandon Edwards, 33, of Ben Wheeler who was shot while riding his motorcycle in the New Chapel Hill area, County Sheriff Larry Smith said.

Jeffrey Ryan Griffin, 30 of Hewitt, Joshua Ray Tibbits, 29 of Waco and Jose Antonio Valenzuela, 31, of Longview were arrested this past week. Each of the suspects is under a $2.5 million bond issued by 241st State District Judge Jack Skeen.

Griffin and Tibbets were arrested on Tuesday (May 5) in Waco while Valenzuela was arrested in Cisco on Wednesday (May 6).

Just before 5 p.m. on Saturday (May 2), Smith County sheriff’s investigators were summoned to the 16400 block of FM 850 near New Chapel Hill where they found Edwards dead of gunshot wounds.

Smith said the case was investigated by his office as well as mem-bers of the newly formed Anti-Gang Unit East Texas and information obtained from the investigation led to the execution of a search warrant in Longview on Monday (May 4).

Officers uncovered enough information in Longview to support the three murder warrants and the subsequent arrests of the three suspects.

Smith also cited assistance from the Smith County District Attor-ney’s office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the city of Waco Police Department and the city of Hewitt Police Department.

Following the arrests of Griffin and Tibbits, Valenzuela was ap-prehended on Interstate 20 near Cisco in the company of his family.

“I continue to be amazed at the tenacity, cohesiveness and never quit attitude of all of these law enforcement entities that are working so well together,’’ said Smith. “No one is concerned with who gets the credit, only that justice is served.’’

The sheriff noted the difficulty of the investigation and how team-work played a key role in the eventual arrests.

“This is one of the more complex investigations in which we were able to join local law enforcement with the Texas Anti-Gang Unit since its inception.’’ He said. “The TAG is already paying off big dividends.”

The Texas Anti-Gang Unit East Texas is made up of employees with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Tyler Police Department, Longview Police Department, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Kil-gore Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety CID & Highway Patrol, Bureau of ATF, Drug Enforcement Administration, Smith and Gregg County District Attorney’s Offices and Homeland Security Investigations.

Red Raiders create COVID-19 masksContinued from Page 1

of the population, we decided to start with tie masks that could easily be adjusted to fit anyone. Also, through Scrubs ’n Style, Liz has access to soft, comfortable antimicrobial fabric that gives an extra layer of protection.”

The antimicrobial fabric used in the face masks has a unique technology behind it. According to Kennedy, the additive used to deter bacteria is actually woven into the fibers themselves.

“This means the antimicrobial qualities of the mask will last the lifetime of the mask without washing out,” Kennedy said. “In addition, the fabric incorporates a fluid barrier which means that fluids will literally bead up and roll off.”

And when i t comes t o COVID-19 that may be a signif-icant modification.

She said that the actual pattern has been studied and adapted to not only be a comfortable fit and size, but allow one to breathe and speak easily with the top ties possessing an adjustable toggle to conveniently loosen and adjust for quick removal of the mask.

“The location of the ties are made to function for air pod us-

ers as well,” Kennedy said. “All of our antimicrobial face masks come with a five layer carbon fil-ter as well that can be removed for washing and changed as needed.”

The entrepreneurs plan to pur-sue new ideas and innovations to make the best reusable face mask on the market. Kennedy said that matching scrub caps for nurses will soon be available as well as gowns for dentistry personnel to wear over their scrubs.

These two small town girls from opposite sides of the state have become business partners with a vision and are ready to grow their business which is built on friendship and their Red Raider shared experience.

“We wanted to provide a way for our family and friends to find comfort in safety by wearing a comfortable face mask that fit well and had a sense of style,” the partners’ mymask2go.com site posts.

Despite claims to the contrary by some government officials of a shortage, the Food and Drug Administration is recommending conservation strategies for health-care organizations and personnel. Even the region’s Christus health care system is looking at ways to sterilize and prolong the life of

their medical personnel’s masks. However, of concern to many on the medical front line is that mul-tiple use of masks may degrade their ability to protect the health-care workers from exposure. One way the public can assist with possible medical shortages is to purchase outside the medical market of supplies.

So what should the average person trying to protect their family’s health as well as their own know when out shopping or running errands? Are masks helpful in preventing disease? There is a great deal of conflict-ing information on the feasibility of various PPE. What the public also needs to understand is the difference between bacteria and viral particles.

Scientists have used electron microscopes to measure how big the corona virus is and have found that the smallest particles are 0.06 microns and the largest are 0.14 microns. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh tested different common masks by run-ning a diesel generator and piping exhaust through the masks. They used a particle counter to see how many particles made it through the mask. The particle counter they used measured particles as

small as 0.007 microns. That is over 10 times smaller than the coronavirus particle diameter. They tested a whole range of masks with a cotton handkerchief blocking 28 percent of particles while a surgical mask blocks 80 percent and an N95 mask captures 95 percent of virus particles.

One of the primary reasons given by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy for not recommending wearing masks is to preserve the supply of surgical masks for at risk health-care workers.

Kennedy and Staggs believe that they may be part of the an-swer by supplying individuals. Their antimicrobial masks are also produced with comfort in mind.

“Wearing a face mask in highly populated ares helps slow the spread of COVID-19,” Kennedy said. “That is a proven fact. Our goal is to provide families, busi-nesses, even children, face masks that not only are effective, but look good and are comfortable and easy to wear. Most of all we were driven to protect our own families and now here we are trying to do the same for others.”

To check out the masks online go to www.myMask2go.com.

UT Health East Texas EMS has deployed two teams in as many weeks to assist statewide COVID-19 testing efforts.

The first three-person team was sent to an East Texas facility on May 2 and the second team was deployed to a different East Texas facility on Friday. In both cases, the teams tested everyone in the facility for COVID-19.

UT Health East Texas EMS is part of the state’s Rapid Assessment Quick Response Force, which Texas Gov. Greg Abbott included in the recommendations for nursing homes in his plan to open Texas. Aimed at quantifying the extent of infection immediately, it involves deploying teams to provide rapid response and medical triage at facilities across the state.

“We are happy to help the state in any way possible to stop the spread of this virus,” said John Smith, CEO of UT Health EMS. “We started training for things like this after Ebola with infectious disease response units, and these rapid response units are another way we could put our team’s expertise to use. We have been and will continue to respond to the state’s need for quick action when facilities are at risk of becoming hotspots for the virus.”

UT Health EMS teams deployed as part of state’s Rapid Assessment

Quick Response Force

EMS Rapid Response2 - Paulette Campbell, Sean Tenison, Brandon Walker

EMS Rapid Response1 - Daryl Lunceford, Keith Vintela, Paulette Campbell, Sean Tenison

UT Tyler presents student art exhibitions online

The University of Texas at Tyler has announced online art exhibi-tions featuring the work of students who graduated this spring with Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees.

Traditionally held on campus, the exhibitions were modified for online viewing as a safeguard in response to the coronavirus. The work of four MFA and eight BFA graduates can be viewed at uttyler.edu/meadowsgallery/events

“While we are heavy-hearted about the inability to celebrate our student achievements face to face, we recognize the importance of taking precautionary measures during this time,’’ said Merry Wright, professor and chair of the Department of Art and Art History. “We are pleased to announce our online exhibitions, and we are incredibly proud of the students featured. They have remained steadfast in their commitment to creating and have approached the unfolding events with the highest caliber of professionalism.’’

Artists featured in the MFA exhibitions include: Jessica Sanders of Tyler, John Miranda of Del Rio, Laminda Miller of Gladewater, Nora Schreiber of Tyler, Lidia Alvidrez of Dallas, Katherine Emmel of Overton, Willow Lanchester of Tyler and Maggie Pierce of Tyler, Payton Poole of Tylert and Grace Richardson of Troup.

The Lindale News & Times€¦ · Thursday, May 14, 2020 Vol. 121, No. 20 1 Section, 10 pages 50¢...

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