Candidate Profiles: Cumby City Council Election
Early voting begins Tuesday, Oct. 13, for the General Election. In addition to containing national, county and state races, the ballot for voters who live in Cumby will contain the Cumby City Council and City of Cumby sales and use tax reauthorization elections as well.
Voters who reside within the city limits of Cumby will be asked to choose one of two choices for Alderman Place 1 and Alderman Place 2 on Cumby City Council as well as to reauthorize local sale and use tax of 1/4th of 1 percent to provide revenue for street maintenance and repairs.
A special election was originally scheduled in the spring to fill the two empty seats. However, due to COVID-19 the election had to be canceled. This summer, an election for both seats and mayoral election was called for Nov. 3. At the end of filing, the same candidates had filed for Alderman Place 1 and Place 2, and Doug Simmerman drew no challengers for mayor. The sale and use tax was also added to the ballot.
Early voting by personal appearance in the Cumby elections will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Oct. 13 and continuing through Oct. 30 in the Game Room at The ROC, First Baptist Church’s Recreational Outreach Center, 115 Putman St., in Sulphur Springs. Extended voting hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25; and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, and Thursday, Oct. 29. On Election Day, Nov. 3, voting will be conducted at the 12 county voting centers, including Cumby Municipal Building, 100 East Main St.
Applications for ballots by mail for those who qualify must be not just postmarked but received no later than the close of business on Oct. 23. Applications for ballots by mail should be mailed to Hopkins County Clerk Tracy Smith, 128 Jefferson St., Suite C, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. Ballots by mail may be returned by mail or, for this election only, dropped off at the voting location. Other voting information, including sample ballots are available on the Hopkins County website (http://www.hopkinscountytx.org/) under the Voter Information menu
Cumby voters will be asked to choose one of the the two candidates for Place 1, Sheryl Lackey or Wayne Mobley; one of the two candidates for Place 2, Amber Hardy and Audri Mayo; and whether they are for or against Proposition A for the street maintenance tax. Doug Simmerman’s name also appears on the ballot, although he is unchallenged in his bid for reelection as city mayor.
To help voters learn a little more about the four council candidates who are challenged for the seat they seek, KSST asked each to complete a candidate profile provide information about themselves and their candidacy, including their reasons for seeking a seat on Cumby City Council. Candidates responses are shared here, in ballot order by Place, in their own words.
Place 1 Alderman
Candidate 1
Name and office sought:
Sheryl Lackey, Cumby City Council Alderman Place 1
Family information:
Married for 27 years and we have 4 children, one grandchild and another on the way.
Occupation:
Stay at home house-wife and small business owner.
Education, training, etc.:
Before getting married I worked for a Law-firm in Dallas as a receptionist/secretary as well as started training with a paralegal.
Why are you seeking this office?
I am seeking a place on the Cumby City Council as 3 of our 4 children have grown into adulthood and started pursuing their own interests with their lives and families. I got a chance to be more involved with the community in which I live and have grown to love. I have a passion for serving and helping, and serving as council member would be a great way to give back to our community.
What do you feel are the top areas of concern, need or challenges in the office you are seeking, and your plan to address them?
As everyone is aware the City of Cumby’s finances have been in a disarray for many years. Without operating with the proper checks and balances some of our former leaders were spending money inadvisably and imprudently. Slowly but surely it is getting better, however, I feel there is much room for improvement with transparency and “Day to Day” operations, better checks and balances in every department; especially with the findings of the Forensic Audit. I feel the budget needs to be readdressed and restructured by taking line items out or drastically reduced. I will urge the Mayor and Council to give up our pay which currently at the end of the year it is costing the citizens $6,300. The current council has a budget of $2,500 for training, I believe this could be significantly reduce to $1,000 by utilizing the Texas Municipal League’s resources with past webinars starting at $65, in which the city secretary as well as the council members would benefit.
We have infrastructure issues that desperately need to be addressed. We have water tanks, pumps and well issues along with roads that are in much need of repair, improper maintenance and lack of foresight has helped create these problems. I believe as a council we need to aggressively pursue grants that will not only allow us to upgrade and maintain our current systems, but, also put us in a position to handle future growth of our city.
Cumby operates with a “Strong Mayor” form of Government. Listening to members of the community there is a huge division within our small town. Many have voiced their concerns to council members with many issues up to and including city personnel and feel their voices are not being heard. I want to have an Ordinance written to change to a “Weak Mayor” form of Government so that the council will have more say when it comes to personnel matters. I will press to have committees that would involve citizens so that they can let their voices be heard. As the “Governing Body” the Council works for the Citizens and we need to start rebuilding the trust and prove that their voices do matter.
What do you feel is most important for the public to know about you and your candidacy?
It will take time for the City and community to facilitate changes that need to be done, however, I believe with teamwork and community input we can achieve these goals so that our town can thrive and prosper once again. I love this town just like a family and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities of uniting, rebuilding and restoring Cumby. I humbly ask for your vote during the November 3, 2020 election.
Candidate 2
Name and office sought:
Wayne Mobley
Alderman Pl. 1 city council
Family information:
single
Occupation, brief job description:
55 yrs in flooring ind.
Certified in all fields including Building
Education, training, special skills, experience:
H.S. — Certified in floors covering building
Why are you seeking this office:
Was asked To by Friends
What do you feel are the top areas of concern, need or challenges in the office you are seeking, and your plan to address them?
Streets — Street Lights — clean up old houses
What do you feel is most important for the public to know about you and your candidacy?
Brutally honest — Tell The Truth no mater what, speak my mind
Alderman Place 2
Candidate 1
Name and office sought:
Amber Hardy
Cumby City Council- Alderman place 2
Family information:
I am married and have 2 daughters.
Occupation, brief job description:
I am a substitute teacher at Cumby Elementary. I cover classrooms when teachers are out.
I work with grades pre-k through 6th
Education, training, special skills, experience:
I have a high school diploma. I have coached youth sports teams for 3 years.
Why are you seeking this office?
Because I want to be a part of the positive change that I wish to see in our community.
What do you feel are the top areas of concern, need or challenges in the office you are seeking, and your plan to address them?
My first and foremost concern is the division I have seen in our small town. My husband and I moved here 6 years ago, because we felt Cumby was a small, tight knit, family like town. We thought it the perfect place to raise our growing family. Since being here unfortunately, I have learned that our sweet town is torn, one against the other. United we stand and divided we fall. If everyone could come together as one, for the sake of our future, our town could flourish in so many aspects. I hope to see unity, and I will be honest and open minded to everyone and their ideas. I will hear their concerns with an unbiased opinion. I will listen. And I will speak for the ones who aren’t being heard.
There are obvious issues with our infrastructure. Water, streets, schools, and funding. I hope to help bring ideas to the table that could potentially create a solution for some of these issues.
What do you feel is most important for the public to know about you and your candidacy?
I am honest. And that’s all I ever will be. There’s no place, and no use for secrets.
I am completely invested in the youth of our community. I am a substitute teacher at our elementary school. I am a Tball and Softball coach for CYSA. I am also a youth soccer coach for Commerce Parks and Rec. I dedicate every single day to working with children. They are the future of our town.
I have been active at city council meetings for the past 2 years. I have been in the front row asking questions and voicing concerns. And I’ve done so politely and respectfully. I feel now is the time to do more than sit on the sidelines. I can not allow myself to question the problems we face, and not be willing to play an active role in finding solutions.
Candidate 2
Name and office sought:
Audri Mayo, City of Cumby, Alderman Place 2
Family information:
Married to Allen Mayo for almost 30 years. Two children who live in Round Rock, Texas with four grandchildren, 2 step-children, 7 step-grandchildren, 5 great step-grandchildren.
Occupation, brief job description:
Self-employed insurance underwriter with the same company for over 10 years. Provide insurance companies with pertinent information necessary to make claim decisions.
Education, training, special skills, experience:
Degree in Psychology from Texas A&M Commerce with some work toward my master’s degree. I have worked 30+ years in management for several different companies earning multiple certifications related to the insurance industry. My management career has involved inventory control, data processing, and most areas of accounting. Additional time spent working toward RN which compliments my insurance underwriter skills.
Why are you seeking this office?
The years of management in several industries make me uniquely qualified to assist in identifying and resolving current and future issues related to city government.
What do you feel are the top areas of concern, need or challenges in the office you are seeking, and your plan to address them?
I think the city has come a long way in the last year toward making the city officials reputation whole again but I believe even more transparency is necessary to reassure the citizens that their tax dollar is being handled appropriately.
What do you feel is most important for the public to know about you and your candidacy?
I have been a homeowner in Cumby for almost 20 years so the stakes I’m working for are life-long stakes for me. I love this little city but I want to work hard to make it even better than it is. There is so much potential for Cumby to grow its economy yet still maintain the small-town charm.
Oct. 12 Hopkins County COVID-19 Update: 32 New Cases, 119 Active Cases, 2 recoveries
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials reported 32 new cases but only 2 recoveries, increasing the overall active COVID-19 case count for Hopkins County to 119 on Columbus Day, according to the Oct. 12 Hopkins County COVID-19 update.
That’s the most COVID-19 cases reported in one day by HC/SSEM officials since the pandemic, even on Mondays, which since late August have included all case counts reported on the weekend as well. Previously, the highest new COVID-19 case count HC/SSEM officials reported in a single day was 25 cases reported on Sept. 21, when the active case count spiked to 73. The highest active case count reported at any one time since March was 92 on Friday, Sept. 25.
That increases the overall number of COVID-19 cases reported from Oct. 1-12 to 82. That’s more than the 38 new cases reported Sept. 1-12 and 52 new cases reported Aug. 1-12. It’s more than triple the 23 cases reported in June and nearly 8 times as many cases reported in May (11 total). The county’s cumulative case count through April 28 was only 4 cases
Hopkins County’s cumulative case county since March is 444. Of those, 325 Hopkins County residents had recovered as of about 2:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12.
Only 5 patients were in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs on Oct. 12, two less than HC/SSEM reported on Oct. 9 and only about half as many as reported in the Oct. 5 COVID-19 update, HC/SSEM officials reported in the Oct. 12 Hopkins County COVID-19 update.
HC/SSEM reported 144 COVID-19 tests were performed Saturday at the free testing site located at 128-A Jefferson St., in Sulphur Springs. That’s 425 molecular swab tests conducted at the site last week, 736 so far in October and 946 total since the free tests first were offered at that location on Sept. 25.
Testing continues Mondays-Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Jefferson Street building. Symptoms are not required to be tested at the free testing site; anyone, including children may be tested, provided they are accompanied and registered by a parent or guardian. Those planning to test are asked to register online at GoGetTested.com.
Also, there were no new reports from Texas Department of State Health Services on Oct. 12 of death certificate-confirmed COVID-19 deaths assigned to Hopkins County. Unfortunately, it still means that more than 4 percent of all people who have been lab confirmed via molecular test to have COVID-19 have died from the virus.
Texas Health and Human Services reported no changes in patient case counts from Sept. 24 to Sept 28 at Sulphur Springs Nursing homes. While there were no active employee cases on Sept. 28 at any of the four nursing homes in Sulphur Springs, Carriage House Manor continued to have 27 active patient cases on Sept. 28., according to the Oct. 12 HHS nursing facilities report.
There continued to be 1 active COVID-19 case among Wesley House employees on Sept. 28, according to the Oct. 12 HHS assisted living facility report.
There were no active COVID-19 cases at any of the licensed child care centers, school-age programs or before and after school programs in in Hopkins County on Oct. 11, according to the Oct. 12 HHS report.
Wildcats Varsity Football Game At Crandall Friday Is Postponed
With Wildcats Varsity Football players quarantined until October 23, there will be no district opener this Friday night, October 16, in Crandall. Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens calls the Crandall game a postponement and indicates he’s hopeful the game can be made up at a later date.
Wildcats Football at other levels is continuing this week. The 8th Grade Wildcats will play at Texas High Middle School Tuesday at 5 p.m. The Wildcats JV will host Crandall at Prim Stadium 6 p.m. Thursday. The Wildcats Freshmen Team plays at Crandall Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The 7th Grade Wildcats will be playing at The Prim Saturday at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Running Shorthanded, Lady Cats Cross Country Team Finish 4th, Wildcats Place 7th At Eustace Meet
Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats Cross Country Teams had to run shorthanded at a Eustace meet last Thursday. The Lady Cats got 4th place while the Wildcats placed 7th.
Once again the Lady Cats were led by freshman Haylee Shultz who finished 3rd with a time of 13:30.20. The Eustace girls race was on a 2-mile course. Sophomore Mattie Bridges was 11th and sophomore Laney Hurst was 12th. Senior Maurie Flecker was 29th. Sophomore Emily Soto was 43rd. Sophomore Makayla Jimmerson was 47th and sophomore Allison Peckham was 51st.
The Wildcats were led by junior Alex Flecker with a time of 18:17.90. Junior Evan Patrick was next in 19th place. Junior Johnathan Scott was 46th, sophomore Hector Hernandez was 47th and senior Corde Mayo was 52nd.
Sulphur Springs Coach Ross Hicks said the Eustace course was out in a field without a building in sight. He said the course also included six hay bales that runners had to jump over. Saturday the Wildcats and Lady Cats will compete at a Commerce meet. It’s the last tune up for the Wildcats before the District Meet on October 26 in Mount Pleasant.
Teen Accused Of Assault By Lawn Mower
A Cumby teen was accused of assault by lawn mower Saturday afternoon, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Richard Greer and Deputy Jason Lavender were dispatched at 2:09 p.m. Oct. 10 to a Cumby address on the Interstate 30 south service road. A 17-year-old’s temper was reported to be out of control to the point his family needed assistance.
Upon arrival, deputies discerned the Cumby teen had assaulted his father using a zero turn lawn mower.
The father claimed when he tried to give his son instruction on how to mow the yard, the teen became irritated and intentionally drove the mower forward, striking his father with the mower, causing injury. The father allegedly had injuries to his arm and leg.
Consequently, the 17-year-old was taken into custody at 4:43 p.m. Oct. 10 for the alleged assault by lawn mower. The teen remained in Hopkins County jail Monday, Oct. 12, on the Class A misdemeanor a charge of family violence assault causing bodily injury charge.
KSST does not publish the names or photos of people charged with misdemeanor crimes in staff-generated reports, only those accused of felony offenses.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Reinvestment Zone Approved For 1 Solar Farm, Extension Given For Another
Hopkins County Commissioners Court on Monday morning approved a reinvestment zone for one solar farm and granted an extension for another. An indigent defense fund program grant application, subdivision variance and utility easements also received approval of the Commissioners Court on Monday.
Solar Farms
Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved a document establishing a reinvestment zone for Hopkins Energy LLC, a solar farm proposed to be constructed in the Dike area. Tax incentives have been requested from Sulphur Springs and Sulphur Bluff ISDs, Hopkins County and the Hospital District.
The propose reinvestment zone spans approximately 2272 acres across 20 parcels of land in Dike.
Establishing the reinvestment zone would allow Hopkins County Hospital District to consider a tax abatement for the business, according to Glenda Bassham, Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation deputy director/assistant director.
If the tax incentives are granted, Hopkins Energy LLC plans to begin construction. The zone will go into affect in December 2021 and remain in effect for 5 years, with an option to renew for an additional 5 years, according to the document approved by the Commissioners Court Monday following a public hearing.
The Commissioners Court also approved a letter agreement with Solemio LLC, a solar farm proposed to be constructed in Arbala community just south of the city the drew quite about it community opposition during a December Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees meeting. SSISD board in January declined to agree to amend the original tax incentive agreement inked for the proposed Arbala solar farm.
The agreement originally approved by the Commissioners Court on Jan. 14, 2019, stipulated that construction on the project was to be completed on Dec. 31, 2020. The Court was asked to agree to extend the period for construction through June 30, 2022. Novel coronavirus 2019 was cited in the amended agreement as a “force Majeure event under the Abatement Agreement” along with “various orders and acts by governments in response” affecting the owner’s ability to complete the property and premises.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker said he had no problem granting an additional 18 months for construction, but asked if there was an actual start date planned for the planned solar farm.
Newsom said it was his understanding that would be December.
Subdivision Variance
Hopkins County Commissioners Court also approved a variance to the subdivision rules for easements located at Private Road 4860 in Precinct 4.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price reported he’d been in contact with Joe Jennings and Oncor. The request is due to a clear water spring on one corner. The water is not a problem, but the state requires a half-acre. The water will continue to be in the ditch but should not be a spray problem. Oncor wants to put the easement on private property, in the ground as opposed to on the road. The request would be not for Oncor or one property but for the subdivision of 10-12 lots.
Indigent Defense Grant Program
County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook asked the Commissioners Court to approve a resolution allowing her to complete and submit an application to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission “to provide improvements in indigent defense services in the county.”
This would help reimburse some of the cost the county spends for criminal defense services.
“This allows us to apply to the program. We do get a little bit back, but it’s not enough” to cover all expenses the county expends in indigent criminal defense services — attorneys for people who cannot afford one,” County Judge Robert Newsom said Monday.
The resolution approved by the Commissioners Court also authorizes the county judge to “apply for, accept, decline, modify, or cancel the grant application” for the program and “all necessary documents to accept the grant.”
Utility Easements
Hopkins County Commissioner Court also approved request from Farmers Electric Cooperative Inc. to construct 2 electrical power distribution facilities. One will cross County Road 4730, north of County Road 4799, and the other will cross County Road 2324, east of County Road 2327.
Meet New Pastor and Family of Central Baptist Church
Gene Mattison and his wife Tammie are from Hopkins County, and were actually school mates in the Como-Pickton CISD. Both went on to college at UT and began careers; Tammie as a CPA and Gene as a lawyer. In 1994, they returned to Hopkins County, became members of Central Baptist Church and started a family. They have raised their three daughters there, with dedications, baptisms and even one daughters’ wedding, all at their church home, Central Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs. And for about 15 years, Gene served as a Sunday School teacher. In time, he let it be known that he would like to be considered as Pastor if an opportunity ever came up. Well, in the Spring of 2020, that opportunity presented itself when Dr. Chris Stevens decided to retire from Central Baptist Church and make a permanent move away from Sulphur Springs. Although the congregation was saddened to see him go, it welcomed Pastor Mattison to the leadership this summer.
According to Gene, “I’m a Lay Pastor. I did not have formal training at a seminar or similar institution. But I had the desire to serve and I felt the call to pastor, so when Dr. Stephens made his retirement announcement, the Lord began to move me in that direction! And I didn’t know if the congregation would welcome a lay pastor or not! But I’m happy to have been accepted, and although I have had some final matters to wrap up from my former occupation, I am not a bi-vocational pastor. I’ve been on board full-time as Pastor since July 2020. Central Baptist is blessed with strong Youth and Children’s programs. We offer Extreme Kids on Wednesdays for the 3 year-olds through-5th graders. And Benji Edwards, our youth pastor, heads up the Youth program on Wednesday evenings”.
Gene continued, “our next events for the public are Pumpkin Patch and Treat Street. On two different dates in October, we invite the families of the community to our church for some wholesome fun. The Pumpkin Patch is Saturday October 17 from 11am-1pm out at the field behind the church. And, thanks to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department who donated the pumpkins this year! Then on October 31, Halloween night, bring the kids to Central Baptist Church for ‘Treat Street’ between 6 and 8pm. It’s a safe way to dress up, have fun and enjoy candy and games. We will also send a bible home with each child, the Word of God. Find Central Baptist Church at 840 Connally Street, across from Kids Kingdom, at the corner of League and Connally”.
DSHS Reports 20th COVID-19 Death For Hopkins County, 3 New COVID-19 Cases Reported For SSISD
Texas Department of State Health Services on Sunday reported a 20th COVID-19 death for Hopkins County on Sunday, and Sulphur Springs ISD on Friday reported 3 new cases in the district.
That’s one additional death of a Hopkins County resident from COVID-19 since July; deaths are assigned based on official cause of death on deaths certificates that are submitted to the state vital statistics office and reported to DSHS.
The 20th death, according to DSHS, occurred on Oct. 8. That’s three COVID-19 deaths, so far, that are reported to have occurred in October; 2 COVID-19 deaths also were reported to have occurred on Oct. 5, according to DSHS.
Those death total, according to DSHS, could grow as death certificates are filed with the state.
According to a Facebook post from a woman affiliated with a local nursing home pleading for people to compassion for those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 and for the community to show respect for others by wearing masks and practicing social distancing, the facility has had a total of 92 cases, including 19 deaths due to COVID-19 since Sept. 4. So far, Texas Health and Human Services has only reported 45 resident cases, including 4 who died as a result of COVID-19, and 16 staff cases at the nursing home through Sept. 25.
Thus, the death count could almost double in the next few weeks if those deaths are added to the county total.
Also, on Friday, Sulphur Springs ISD administrators sent notices to parents, students and staff alerting them that a staff members at middle school and two students at high school are also lab-confirmed to be positive for COVID-19. All three were on campus the previous week, according to the SSISD release.
Contact tracing to determine who had been in “close contact” with the infected individuals and quarantine requests were started, according to the school release.
This followed the notification Thursday evening that the Friday varsity football game would be canceled, reportedly due to COVID-19. All other games and Homecoming on Thursday continued as scheduled.
Virtual Annual Auction for NeTexas Childrens Museum
Children’s Museum Silent Auction Goes Virtual
Fundraiser Celebrates One Year at New Location
Sharline Freeman, Executive Director
October 3, 2020 (COMMERCE, TEXAS) – The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum will hostits first virtual event. This event is a Virtual Auction and bidding will begin October 12 at 8:00 AM and end on October 17 at 8:00 PM.
The 2020 Virtual Silent Auction will reflect the changes created by COVID-19. The social gathering of previous Silent Auctions will be
replaced by an online bidding platform. Pictures of each item will replace the hands-on approach of the physical Silent Auction. Friendly, in-person bidding competitors can now bid with a click of a phone, tablet, or computer to update each bid. The Virtual Silent Auction will be sponsored
by Charles Schwab of Greenville.
“Although we will miss seeing our friends and supporters, there are advantages to the online Silent Auction. We hope to reach bidders who might not live close enough to attend the Silent Auction in Commerce. For some this will be a more convenient way to bid. We will have items
displayed at the Children’s Museum for anyone who would like to see them,” said Becky Adams, co-chair of the event.
The Virtual Silent Auction will also celebrate one year for the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at 100 Maple Street. “A year ago we were challenged with moving and opening a new building. Now a year later we are challenged with all the changes caused by COVID-19. It has been a tumultuous year for the Children’s Museum as well as so many others. The Virtual Silent Auction will hopefully provide funds to meet these challenges,” said Beckey Thompson, also co-chair of the event.
Bidders at the auction will find all kinds of items for bidding. Handcrafted, one of a kind items, have been donated by talented local people. Original art work will be available for bidding. Other items will include floral arrangements, furniture, home accents, holiday décor, and jewelry
as well as unique experience packages, and much, much more. Children’s experiences and itemswill also be a highlight. The event will be limited to 100 items.
Raffle tickets are also on sale for $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00. In addition to purchasing these from a member of the Board of Directors, tickets can be purchased online from the museum’s website at netxcm.com. There will be four $250 gift cards given to four different winners. These gifts cards have been donated by Cypress Bank, Inwood Bank, Guaranty Bank and Trust,
and Alliance Bank. The drawing will be at 4:00 PM on October 17.
The museum is currently open to the public Wednesday through Saturday. Private groups can be scheduled Wednesday through Sunday. If scheduling a private group, no other visitors will be permitted to enter the Children’s Museum. Attendance is by reservation only for the morning session from 9:30 to 12:00 or the afternoon session from 1:00 to 4:00. Visitors can reserve their spot online at netxcm.com. Over fifty play areas for young children are open for creative and imaginative play.
The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is beginning its eighteenth year of operation. The Children’s Museum experienced great success during the first 2 1/2 months of 2020 with over 8,000 visitors. Although the current COVID environment definitely halted this growth, the Children’s Museum is looking forward to 2021. For questions, call the Northeast Texas
Children’s Museum at 903-886-6055.
Sharline Freeman, Executive Director
Northeast Texas Children’s Museum
Telephone: (903) 886-6055 or (903) 456-4789
Email: [email protected]
Rains County Book Sale by Friends of the Library is Friday, Saturday Oct, 16, 17
Since COVID-19 began, citizens of Rains County have been staying home more, and have cleaned closets, shelves and garages, producing a huge donation of books for the annual sale by the Friends of the Library! This is the main fund raising event which helps fund the Emory public library’s Summer Reading and E-Books, so it’s important we sell every book this time, to enable us to contribute needed funds. Our goal is to raise $2000 or more! Come to shop and help our Library!
The sale will be held Friday October 16 and Saturday October 17, 2020 at the Emory City Centre, at 735 N. Texas State Highway 19. Friday hours are 9am-6pm and Saturday 9am-2pm. Saturday is also Bargain Day, come fill a bag for $3! You can also join the Friends of the Library non-profit organization when you visit the sale, and receive a free book!
