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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 00002 Gainesville, Texas The ECRWSS Weekly News of Cooke County © 2021 The Weekly News of Cooke County Volume 18, Number 14 Cooke County, Texas September 1, 2021 Cooke County’s LARGEST and MOST READ Newspaper! County Commissioners King Approve $30 Million Budget Around By Delania Raney day, August 23 regular meeting. crease from last years’ budget. He this is how it had to be. Th e Weekly News “Th is budget will raise more rev- added the property tax increase Th e commissioners also ap- enue from property taxes last year added to the budget is $581,174. proved the treasurer’s monthly Town GAINESVILLE – Cooke Coun- by the amount of $1,134,388,” Th e vote was four to one with report. ty Commissioners approved the County Judge Steve Starnes said. Commissioner Klement voting Th e commissioners approved 2022 budget during the Mon- He noted this is a nine percent in- against the budget in a roll call preservation and restoration of by Grice King vote. archive funds and plans for pres- Th e commissioners took no ac- ervation for the 1848 to 1920 tion on the 2021 Cooke County which will be sourced to an Over the years, Gainesville tax rate for maintenance and op- outside company, district clerk has many authors ranging erations and the 2021 tax rate Marci Gilbert said. She said the from historic tales, cemetery for interest and sinking. Starnes project will take 12 to 24 months adventures, military memoirs, noted a new court date will be set to complete. She also said the law enforcement glories, come- to adopt the tax rate. documents would be sealed and dic Texas sayings and recently a Commissioners also discussed encapsulated. children’s book. Local resident a pay raise for non-elected offi - “We would realistically never Denny Hook recently com- cials. have to go back in and touch pleted his children’s story “Th e “It’s not that I don’t want to these records because they would Grouch on the Couch.” Th is give everybody [a 7 percent pay be available online but if some- raise],” Precinct 4 Commissioner one wanted to see the actual re- Leon Klement said. “We are go- cord, they could,” she said. ing to put pressure on all the lo- County clerk Pam Harrison cal business people… I surely also presented her work on digi- want everyone to know this raise tization of records for her offi ce comes from federal funds. We and received approval from the got to be stewards of the publics’ commissioners. money. It’s not just about us. It’s She noted in 2021, she com- about everybody. ” Th e funds are pleted a fi ve year plan. “All my derived through the American offi cial public records are on Rescue Plan Act of 2021. line,” she said. Klement also noted the elec- Commissioners also voted to Cooke County Republican Women Award 3 Scholarships - tion for emergency services dis- leave in place Texas Department Cooke County Republican Women are pleased to announce the trict No. 1 is set for November of Motor Vehicles fees. And to latest round of benefi ciaries of the club’s Pat Peale Memorial Schol- rather than May. “Since we had approve Silver County Choice arship program. The three NCTC scholarship recipients, Aubrey so many discussions about that… Retiree Medical program renew- fun story was illustrated by Dolezalik, Shelrinia Hayden and Alyssa Huchton, were invited I want everyone to know it’s go- al via the Texas Association of Denny’s grandson, Ian Hook to the August 5 club meeting to be recognized and introduced to ing to be in November and not Counties. Adams so he was very excited club members. President Kerri Kingsbery presented award cer- in May because sometimes these Th e commissioners approved a to announce the completion of tifi cates to two of the Pat Peale Memorial Scholarship recipients, things fall through the cracks.” secondary exit on the north side the project. Denny and Ian are Alyssa Huchton (left) and Shelrinia Hayden. The third recipient, County Judge Steve Starnes said to the library. having a book signing event for Aubrey Dolezalik, was unable to attend. (Courtesy Photo) the Texas Secretary of State noted (Continued on Page 7) “Th e Grouch on the Couch” on September 18 at the Stan- ford House from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. His book is currently on sale on Amazon, Target and GISD Votes to Set Tax Rate of Barnes and Noble. My youngest daughter Keeley has read the book, twice, and really likes it. Great job Denny and Ian! A fun ac- $1.062 Per $100 Valuation complishment for all. Here is some more of what’s By Delania Raney replace the current Gainesville formation on the bond advocacy don’t need to place $70 million happening around town this Th e Weekly News Junior High School building. eff ort. of debt on the taxpayers,” said week. “As a mom I want the best Next up was Martin Phillips Moss. “Th e future of education is ++++++++ GAINESVILLE – Th e Gaines- not only for my child but for who discussed the use of facial remote learning. It is internships ville Independent School District every child who goes through masks to prevent the spread and it is combining grades.” First Refuge Ministries is board of trustees set a 2022 tax the Gainesville ISD system,” of COVID. He said he hopes In his superintendent report, hosting their fi rst Gainesville rate of $1.062 per $100 of prop- she said. “Th e proposed middle Gainesville ISD Superintendent Stewart reported on the convo- Gala on Th ursday, September erty valuation at the Monday, school would provide new op- Dr. Des Stewart would require cation and the fi rst four days of 9th, featuring speaker, author, August 23, 2021 regular meet- portunities for kids to include students to wear masks at school. school. “We’re off and running,” and comedian Bob Smiley. ing. collaborative learning styles in a “I’m asking you please, look af- Stewart said. “One of the big con- Th e event will be at Gainesville Also addressing the board of safe and secure environment…. ter the kids,” Phillips said cerns, of course, for the fi rst day Civic Center, 311 S. Weaver trustees was Morgan Tobias, ex- Th is proposed campus will en- Also speaking to the trustees of school was our traffi c fl ow on St. Gainesville, TX. Doors ecutive director of the Gainesville hance our district and help at- was Kimzy Moss on behalf of our campuses and what not. Our open at 6:00 pm and the event Area Chamber of Commerce. tract new companies to our area Cooke County Conservatives GISD PD as well as administrative will begin at 6:30 pm. Dinner Tobias said she was a member making Gainesville a place where and Cooke County Conservative staff works very, very hard to mini- will be provided. First Refuge of the steering committee which people want to call home.” Watchdogs. mize the level of backlog… We Ministries is establishing a voted to move forward with a She also noted anyone who “Just because a school is made had very long lines especially over Gainesville location that will recommendation for a $70 mil- would like to advocate for the of cinder block does not mean there at Edison and Chalmers.” off ering essential basic services. lion bond for a new building to bond should contact her for in- that we have to replace it… we As for district enrollment, First Refuge Ministries ex- Stewart said the district is con- ists to restore people by serving sidering the possibility of adding the church. Th ey provide free portable buildings. “Especially medical, dental, counseling, County Appraisal District if the growth continues here at and food services. Th ey have GISD.” He said one of his con- locations in Denton, Sanger, cerns is the safety of students and are establishing their third who utilize portable buildings location in Gainesville. which we noted must remain un- (Continued on Page 10) Adopts Reappraisal Plan locked. “Th at is something we are defi - By Delania Raney son discussed the plan. “So, this budget. Smithson said all taxing nitely going to have to look at,” Th e Weekly News year we had new employees that entities have a copy of the budget he said. “Because as I’ve said for came on and also we made some and they have 30 days to approve the last few months, you know, GAINESVILLE – Th e Cooke changes based on areas that were the budget, deny it or to take no from a space standpoint we are County Appraisal District adopt- needing reappraised,” she said. action. almost at our capacity. And that’s ed its 2021 reappraisal plan dur- “Most of the changes are re- “No action is the same as ap- at every campus… So those are ing the August 11, 2021 board approved valuations,” Smithson proval,” he said. “Unless you’ve some things that we are going to meeting. said. “It’s going to be valuations got 51 percent of them that deny continue to look at.” Cooke County Chief Apprais- restating the market, in the east- then they came to us and let us He said he looked at August er Doug Smithson said., “We ad- ern part of the [county] … new know why they denied it.” 2020 enrollment numbers which opted it last year about the same construction that is coming in “But this, mainly last year we were 2,873.