Month: December 2013

TxDOT projects add shoulders, passing lanes across county

HENDERSON COUNTY – The Texas Department of Transportation has completed or will complete nearly $13 million in construction work in Henderson County by this summer, and there is much more in the offing as the calendar flips to 2014.

The marquee project is the $6.4 million passing-lane project on SH 19 south of Athens. Contractor APAC-Texas, Inc., of Dallas broke ground on the project in November and is scheduled to have the project completed by fall of 2014.

“As fast as we’re growing across East Texas, we’re outgrowing our highway infrastructure,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “SH 19, a two-lane highway with limited passing opportunities, is a good example of that. Fifty years ago, even 25 years ago, that was adequate. Moving forward, it won’t be.”

The project calls for adding passing lanes in various locations between the Coon Creek Bridge and just north of the Anderson County Line.

A second project, which picks up at the southern end of the current project will finish installing passing lanes on the Henderson County portion of SH 19 and proceed south in to Anderson County. That project, estimated at $11 million, is scheduled to let to contract in July and begin in the fall.

Construction crews in 2013 also added shoulders to US 175 in the LaRue area, on FM 773 near Murchison, and on SH 274 between FM 3225 in Tool and SH 31 in Trinidad.

“These projects are relatively small in scope, but are big on benefit,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “Adding just a few feet of pavement between the main lane and the ditch line can mean the difference between a fatal crash and a near-miss. We have a lot of similarly narrow roadways across the Tyler District, and we’re addressing them with similar projects.”

Krantz added the widening project set for Henderson County in 2014 will add shoulders to FM 317 between FM 607 and FM 315 south of Chandler. The The estimated $4.2 million project is scheduled to let in February 2014.

TxDOT contract crews in 2013 also repaired and resurfaced the Athens Square and SH 31 between Brownsboro and Murchison.

Later this summer, TxDOT’s District Wide Seal Coat program is scheduled to seal the following Henderson County roadways:

  • US 175 – Between FM 804 east of Athens and FM 315 in Poynor
  • US 175 – Between Loop 7 in Athens and UPRR overpass west of FM 1616
  • FM 59 – Between SH 19 in Athens and FM 753
  • Loop 7 – Between FM 59 overpass and SH 31 West in Athens

Obituary: Wanda Engledow

Wanda Engledow
Wanda Engledow

Funeral services for Wanda Engledow, 75, of Athens, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Athens with Pastor Perry Smith officiating.

Mrs.Engledow passed away on Dec. 18, 2013 in Tyler.

Wanda Janice McPearson Engledow was born Nov. 25, 1938, in Marthaville, Louisiana to Charles Willie McPhearson Sr. and Gladys Ilene Middleton McPhearson. She was a Baptist and a loving homemaker who enjoyed cooking and quilting. She loved spending time with her family especially her grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all she knew and loved.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Charles McPhearson Jr.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Johnny Engledow of Athens; one daughter, Julia Vulpo of Tyler; five sisters, Jean Boyles of Bigelow, Arkansas, Vera Rothlisberger of Showlow, Arizona, Elaine Gibbs of Malvern, Arkansas, Pamela Moore of Campti, Louisiana, Donna McPhearson of Natchitoches, Louisiana; one brother, Eugene McPhearson of Abitta Springs, Louisiana; five grandchildren, Jonathan Hicks, Sara Parker, Joseph Hicks, Donald Vulpo, Dominic Vulpo and four great grandchildren, Keely Parker, Alezandra Garner, Jaxon Hicks and Jexon Hicks.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013 from noon – 2 p.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Family in Athens.

You may write condolences or light a memorial candle at: www.hannigansmith.com.

Bulletin Board – Dec. 19

FOR SALE

— HUNTING GEAR — Hunting gear like new Wolverine boots size 12, Guide Series jacket 3xl, and Cabellas coveralls 2xl $200 for all. Call 903-340-4921.

HOUSE FOR RENT

— Cute, country house for rent near Lake Athens. Home is 2400 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath. On 8 acres. 2 car garage, screened in porch, large bedrooms and lots of closets. $1,200 per month. Call 903-681-0390.

SERVICES

– COMPUTERS – Affordable Computer Services … In home PC set up, WiFi setup and configuration, software installs, virus removal, hardware installation/repair. We also work on other small devices. Pickup and delivery available. Call for pricing or contact me through Facebook. Philip Mathison, 903-802-4106, Facebook.com/tricountypcs.

Sarah Maples DAR adds new member

Pictured are Priscilla Berry, Helen Preston and Claire Stout.
Pictured are Priscilla Berry, Helen Preston and Claire Stout.

By Nina Hendricks

Members of the Sarah Maples Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) are honored to have as their newest member Claire Stout. She is a history buff and has been working for several years to get her ancestor into the Sarah Maples Chapter. She was sworn in by Chaplain Priscilla Berry and Regent Helen Preston.

Claire was born in the West Texas town of Monohans, but moved to El Paso when she was 5 years old and it was here as a young woman she met and married her husband Glen Stout who was in the military at the time. After moving to her husband’s hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Claire finished her education at Kirkwood Community College.

Glen and Claire have four children, Tim, Todd, Ted, and Elizabeth, they are also the proud grandparents of two girls and four boys. All the Stout children beat her back to Texas but she made it as soon as she could. Continue reading “Sarah Maples DAR adds new member”

Around the Town: From parades to concerts, a fun weekend

snowmanBy Loretta Humble/Around the Town

Well, despite the really cold weather, the Malakoff Christmas Parade was just great. I can’t tell you for sure who won, but you probably already know, or will find out elsewhere (check here for winners). I’m sorry, but I couldn’t wait around to see. It wasn’t us, and I went home the first minute I could. I was freezing to death from riding in a rocking chair on Cedar Lake Home Health and Hospice’s float with Frosty the Snowman dressed as Elvis. (We were rocking with the Rocking Christmas theme.)

Frosty joined us last year, and was a real hit, and he was again this year as Elvis, but we did have a couple of small hitches. Pat Hustead came up with this Frosty Elvis idea. We ordered him an Elvis cape and made him some big fuzzy sideburns to hang out from under his hat. Problem is, we didn’t really consider the size of his (sewed on) hat and how it fit on his head. So when we got the sideburns and Frosty together, we found they couldn’t reach from the hat to where they needed to hang, so they ended up just stuck on, looking more like dog ears than sideburns. Then there was the matter of his zipper. It thoroughly and hopelessly broke right as it was time to jump on the float and head out. But a couple of determined ladies and some Velcro figured out how to save the day. Our Frosty Elvis is a real trooper, and after that everything was cool. A little too cool. Last year he nearly had a heat stroke. This year, our snowman nearly got frostbite. Continue reading “Around the Town: From parades to concerts, a fun weekend”