From the Pages of The Frankston Citizen
The Year 2011 in Review in the Frankston Area
January
The newly formed and tax-funded Economic Development Board of Coffee City unveiled its plans to become a “venue city” by hosting events to brings visitors to the peninsula city. The board leased Kilo Park for $2,500 a month and listed a half dozen events designed to increase tourism and, the board hoped, investment in the city.
Henderson County Precinct 4 Constable Rick Stewart was “no-billed” by an Anderson County grand jury for a shooting that occurred in November of 2008 on Reed Street in Frankston and killed one of two persons being chased by police in a suspected burglary south of Frankston.
The Frankston School Board selected the Dallas architectural firm of Claycomb Associates to build any additions to Frankston schools that might pass in a bond issue expected later in 2011.
LaPoynor High School varsity basketball coach Dean Nuckolls recorded the 100th win of his coaching career as his Flyers opened the district with a 54-34 win over Big Sandy.
The Frankston School Board hired Arrow Educational Services to launch a search for a new superintendent to replace Austin Thacker who announced in December that he would retire after nine years at the helm of the Frankston Independent School District.
Frankston's school property taxes were the lowest in all of East Texas that is served by the Region VII Education Service Center at $1.04 per $100 of valuation with the local homestead option. Only the Cayuga school district could match the tax rate of Frankston.
February
A Long Range Planning Committee met for the first time to study the facility needs of the Frankston Independent School District with an eye towards recommending a school bond issue later in the year.
Lee Farris, a registered nurse at East Texas Medical Center, was appointed to the City Council of Coffee City to replace Gage Guinn, who resigned after moving to the Frankston area.
Frankston High School Maiden basketball coach Christi Coker was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame at East Texas Baptist University. The coach was surprised by a celebration sponsored by her players.
Seniors Jabralon and Jamal Allen, twin brothers from Frankston, signed a letter of intent for a scholarship to play football at Stephen F. University in the fall. Also signing was Adam Pessink to Tyler Junior College.
The Frankston Maidens won the district basketball championship with a perfect 12-0 district record.
Kevin Smith of Claycomb Associates told the Long Range Planning Committee that improvements discussed to the Frankston Independent School District might cost something like $15.7 million.
Russ Gideon, regional president of Austin Bank in Frankston, was selected as chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee for the Frankston school district.
The Frankston High School robotic team placed high in area competition at Tyler and will be going to the state meet on April 9 at San Angelo State University.
March
Johnny Burks, owner of Burks Hardware, was honored for his 50th year in hardware, an award also given to his father J. Louie Burks.
The Frankston Indian alumni football team trounced the alumni team from Bullard High School by a score of 30 to 0 in Bullard.
The Frankston School Board postponed any school bond election from the May ballot to the November voting date.
The City of Poynor asked to buy the land back that it had sold to Henderson County for a new county annex building to be built. When the city saw that the county still had not appropriated money to build the annex this year, the city presented the county a check for $17,500 for the land, appraised at $31,000, said Mayor Dannie Smith.
The City of Coffee City came up with a franchisee G-Man to be the sole provider of the city's trash collection at $13 a month cost to residents.
The Property Owners Association of Brierwood Bay Subdivision said it was considering asking to be voluntarily annexed into the City of Coffee City.
April
After 39 years at Austin Bank in Frankston, Location President Mike Dennis announced that he will retire.
Keith Murphy, principal at Van High School, was named new superintendent of the Frankston Independent School District.
The City of Coffee City grew as its council decided to annex the two Hwy. 155 bridges north and south of the town.
LaPoynor High's Jamie Manis signs for a scholarship to play basketball for Tyler Junior College.
The City of Frankston struggled to avoid fines by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality by leasing a paddle wheel for the new $1 million waste water treatment plant to replace one that had broken and by moving to replace a storage tank on the north side of town.
The Frankston Independent School District was projecting something like a $300,000 budget decline in state funding for the coming school year as the Texas Legislature fights to balance its budget.
On May 19, the Brierwood Bay Property Owners Association will vote on whether to be voluntarily annexed into the City of Coffee City.
The 2010 census shows that Frankston area cities grew 6 percent in the last decade.
Early results of the final Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) Tests showed results that had Asst. Supt. Nicci Cook beaming.
May
Rumors that the former Magical Kingdom Child Care building in Coffee City might become a strip club drew protests from residents in the Brierwood Bay Subdivision and City of Coffee City.
The community of Neches held its 19th Annual Neches Heritage Festival on May 7.
The Rev. David Wilkerson of “The Knife and the Switchblade” fame was killed the Hwy. 175 bridge east of Frankston after being in collision with an 18-wheeler truck. The accident also delayed electrical workers to repair a pole at the Frankston Health Care Center, and residents of the center were evacuated overnight to the Family Life Center of United Methodist Church.
Pam Drost and Darlene Jordan, two candidates backed by the Concerned Citizens of Coffee City, were elected to the City Council of Coffee City. Jordan unseated incumbent Mike Aubuchon by 101 votes to 33 votes.
Re-elected to the Frankston School Board was Mark Bostick with 137 votes to 78 votes for challenger Bryson Bean.
Re-elected to the Frankston City Council was Darryl Dollarhide over two challengers.
Rancher Ryan Reynolds was elected to the LaPoynor School Board over Fredrick Hambrick by a vote of 67 to 30.
Jim Dwyer was elected as president of the Economic Development Corporation for the City of Frankston.
Cousins Gloria Orozco and Ana Pizano were the top graduates at Frankston High School, while Kyle Forester and Trevor Dobbs were valedictorian and salutatorian at LaPoynor High.
A vote by the Property Owners Association approved the voluntary annexation of Brierwood Bay Subdivision into the City of Coffee City by108 to 73 votes.
The LaPoynor School Board voted to allow transfers into the school district on a split vote of 3-2.
June
Jeff King was named location president of Austin Bank in Frankston.
Monarch Water Supply announced a 55 percent rate increase effective qAug. 1 for customers around Lake Palestine and in Texas.
The Texas Department of Transportation announced that the 10-mile, $30 million project to make Hwy. 155 a four-lane road was complete except for the bridge south of Frankston, and the highway was opened for four lanes all the way from Tyler to Palestine.
The City of Frankston fulfilled a decade-long promise by paving Miller Street on the west side of town.
Anderson and Henderson County were two of 225 Texas counties said to be in "extreme drought conditions," according to the Texas Forestry Service.
The Berryville City Council increased water rates and leveled the rate for those living inside and outside of the city limits.
Dr. B. L. Davis resigned as superintendent of the LaPoynor Independent School District after serving in the post for three years.
The City Council of Coffee City rejected bids on its new community center and decided to try to complete a 4,000 square foot metal one.
July
Sherry Douglas, assistant superintendent and a seven-year employee, was named interim superintendent of the LaPoynor Independent School District.
Jessica Tatum, formerly parade chairman, became the new coordinator of the Frankston Square Fair festival replacing Ali Atwood who had served for six years.
J. A. Griffin and his wife, Elaine, were honored for 50 years in the pulpit of the Frankston Assembly of God Church.
Sweet Dreams Winery south of Frankston announced that it was doubling its size with a 1,200 square foot addition.
The City Council of Coffee City voted to accept the voluntary annexation of Brierwood Bay Subdivision into the city limits, and that increased the population from an estimated 500 residents to 1,700.
The Frankston School Board voted to allow transfer students into the school district.
Appraised property values rose 1.3 percent in 2010 in Anderson County and were down 0.5 percent in Henderson County as East Texas felt the effects of the national recession.
After a redistricting study, Henderson County reduced the number of justice of the peace and constable offices from six down to five and cut and eliminated four voting boxes, including the one in Berryville.
All three school districts in the area did well on the final results of the last TAKS Test with Frankston Elementary and Neches Elementary rated as "exemplary."
Frankston school enrollment on the first day of school fell to 714 students, down from 803 on the first day in 2010. LaPoynor enrollment declined from 484 to 448, and Neches went up from 381 to 398.
September
The Frankston School Board called a $17.3 million school bond election for Nov. 2 at the recommendation of the Long Range Planning Committee.
Lake Palestine reached its lowest level since water first went over the enlarged spillway in 1973 as the elevation of the water fell to 339.84, or 5.16 feet below the spillway level.
Frankston area fire departments fought wild fires all over Anderson and Henderson Counties in early September.
The City Council of Coffee City approved building a 4,000 square foot shell building to use as a community center with the money from a Texas Community Development Block Grant.
The City of Frankston sought an appraisal on the former Austin Clinic that was deeded to the city after the East Texas Medical Center's First Physicians Clinic moved to Hwy. 155.
October
Presley Morris and Cade Wallace were named Little Miss and Little Mister Square Fair for the 36th annual festival and parade in downtown Frankston.
Police Chief George Folmar resigned after six years in the post to become the pastor of Hilltop Baptist Church for the third time.
Ray Harris, a retired resident who ran for the Frankston City Council and lost in May, was appointed to fill the vacancy created when Darryl Dollarhide resigned.
Lt. Darren Goodman of Palestine was named police chief for the City of Frankston.
The Anderson County District Attorney's Office took the 8-liner game machines out of two convenience stores in Frankston.
November
Voters in the Frankston Independent School District authorized the sale of $17.3 million in school bonds by a vote of 393 in favor to 319 against.
After approval by the U.S. Department of Justice, Brierwood Bay Subdivision officially became annexed by the City of Coffee City.
Senior Treston Coleman broke both the single game rushing record and the season rushing record at Frankston High School as the Frankston Indians went into the playoffs as the second seed from District 9-AA.
The Frankston Economic Development Corporation decided to build a sidewalk on the south side of the downtown square to complete the sidewalk system around the park.
Berryville City Council approved purchase of pumps and motors to ensure that water service could be provided to both sides of Lake Palestine by the city.
Instead of replacing a broken paddle wheel at the City of Frankston's new $1 million waste water treatment plant, the Frankston City Council decided to take a look at an aeration process for the plant.
December
The City of Cuney held a dedication event for its new community center built with a $250,000 Texas Community Development Block Grant.
Local governments scramble with changing election dates and terms to comply with Senate Bill 100 passed by the last session of the Texas Legislature as court challenges to redistricting played havoc with filing deadlines and primary dates.
Mike Aubuchon, who lost a bid for re-election to the City Council of Coffee City last May, was appointed to the council to fill the seat vacated by Cindy Craig, who moved to Chandler.