Voters will go to the polls today to decide contested races for cities, townships and school boards. Patrons of the Houston School District will decide a $4 million bond issue for improvements.
The issue at Houston does not require an increase in the levy. Instead, it will extend the current levy. It includes construction of a new library for the high school and middle school, joining the two buildings to provide better security, improvements to the cafeteria used by both, installation of air conditioning for Hiett Gymnasium and roof repairs and other maintenance.
“This is common sense,” Houston Superintendent Scott Dill said. “This project is all about things the district needs now, will need in the future and has needed for a long time.
“If the roofs leak, you’ve got to fix them. If the cafeteria is too small, it needs to be bigger. If the library doesn’t hold enough students, it needs to be bigger. If you can’t get students to the second floor of a building by the stairs, you probably need an elevator. Every aspect of this project is based on a common sense approach, and we’ve tried to sell it that way to the community.”
Since the school board announced its intentions to present the bond issue, Dill has spent many nights visiting with groups across the district’s borders. He has met with ranchers, teachers, farmers, political groups and alumni. He said Wednesday –– a meeting with the Red Hat Society at Hillbilly Junction in Willow Springs –– was his last scheduled discussion.
“I have gone anywhere and everywhere they would have me,” Dill said. “I’ve spoken to groups of two and three as well as groups of 70 and 80.”
And the response?
“It has been overwhelming positive,” Dill said. “Most of the negatives I’ve encountered have been based on misinformation. The only way to correct that was to provide factual information.”
Dill said promoting the bond issue and sharing information about the school district has been the most exciting time of his tenure as superintendent. He is looking forward to the opportunity of beginning construction of what he said are much-needed projects at the school.
“If we haven’t presented the right project or presented the proper information, the voters will let us know that next Tuesday,” he said.
Voters will also decide contest races in the county next week. Here they are:
Municipal positions: Two persons are seeking to replace retiring Police Chief Lynn Jones at Cabool. They are: Jerald Sigman and Randy L. Hall. It is a four-year term.
At Licking, Mayor Linda Miller is challenged by Les Thoroughman for a two-year term. Three persons are seeking the Ward I alderman position at Licking. They are: Leland Miller, Danny Wade and Andrew Hoemann. Joyce Cook and Dale Krewson are seeking the Ward II position.
Townships: Three persons are seeking two, two-year slots on the Lynch Township board. They are: John A. Jackson, Sam J. Elliott and Larry Courtois.
Seeking two, two-year terms on the Piney Township board are Don Collins, William W. Schmidt and Don Gaston.
Four filed for two, two-year terms on the Upton Township board: George Sholtz, Earlin Keith Roberts, William Brown and Ernie Mesa.
School boards: Five patrons are seeking two, three-year terms on the Cabool board of education. They are: Shaun E. Watson, Brenda J. Jarrett, Darrell Christeson, Steve Hawkins and Brad Roberts.
Three names are on the ballot for two, three-year school board terms at Plato. They are: Dewayne A. Baker, Darrell Thomas and Brandi Niebruegge Couch.
Two, three-year positions will be filled at Raymondville School. Seeking them are Shalena Purcell, Cody Neugebauer, Cathy Boutilier and Aaron Scantlin.
County board: Four persons are seeking three, four-year terms on the Texas County Health Department board. They are: C.J. Smith, Kirby Holmes, Marie Lasater and Caiti Burks.
The Texas County clerk’s office was open Saturday morning for absentee balloting.
The Texas County clerk’s office will be open from 9 a.m. until noon for absentee balloting.