Polk County Since 1904
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April’s meeting of the The board adopted the Livingston ISD Board of findings under the Texas Trustees opened with a Economic Development Act public hearing on the ap- on the application of Um- plication of Umbriel Solar, briel Solar. They accepted LLC for an appraised the waiver of the job cre- value limitation on quali- ation requirement requested fied property. Mali Hanley by Umbriel Solar and ap- with Moak Casey sum- proved an appraised value marized the agreement for limitation on the qualified the 150-megawatt solar property for school district field. Umbriel is asking for maintenance and operations a property value of $20 mil- (M&O) taxes. Downed power lines and telephone poles became a common sight when traveling through neighborhoods in lion or lower. The first year Lucas Janda with Live Onalaska. Photo by Brian Besch | PCE of operation could result in a Oak Public Finance pre- total of $1.6 million in addi- sented information on re- tional funds for the district. financing bonds at a lower Associates with the proj- interest rate. Janda indicated ect said the solar field would rates are so low that he an- ONE YEAR LATER be located in the Soda ticipates a 10% savings, a area. Construction is sched- possible savings of $250,000 uled to begin mid-2022 to $270,000 to the district and cover 2,200 acres. They and the payoff of bonds Resilient Onalaska recovering, rebuilding estimate 150-175 jobs could two years early. The board be available during con- approved an action item to struction. Once the facility enter an agreement to obtain By Brian Besch damaged, with about 200 in the next little bit, we’ll fi- We wanted to get every- is complete, there will be a legal services from Orrick, [email protected] completely destroyed in the nally start working on some thing, because those are the sole full-time job, all that is Herrington & Sutcliffe, 140-mph wind. of the roads that got torn up things that people need to necessary for a field this size. LLP and adopted an order Reminiscent of a year Much of the focus re- by the storm. live every day. By the time The company will pay more for bond refunding. ago, Friday’s weather alerts mained on Onalaska, where “I think prioritizing, it they got to that point, the in state taxes than the sav- Superintendent Dr. Brent of a possible tornado had the most damage and started with getting infra- cool weather had set in, ings realized in abatements. those in Polk County tak- people in need were con- structure such as utilities mainly winter, and that’s not Without the agreement in See LISD ➩ Page 5A ing cover. It has now been centrated. and electricity back up and conducive to building roads. just over a year since the “We’re still going through going. The local Onalaska “Now we’re coming out of deadly tornado that struck some stuff,” said Ronnie Water and Gas and Polk winter and starting to get to Onalaska, Bold Springs and Vincent, Precinct 2 county County Freshwater District, warm weather. Now it will Seven Oaks. commissioner. “We got SHECO (Sam Houston be to the point to where we Three died and many more signed off with the TCEQ Electric Co-Operative), can actually start working were injured — four criti- (Texas Commission on En- Eastex Telephone, as well on the road infrastructure. cally — on that April 22 eve- vironmental Quality) on a as some of our cable com- ning. Over 300 homes were debris pickup and, hopefully, panies did an awesome job. See TORNADO ➩ Page 5A County approves 2nd Amendment support declaration By Jason Chlapek The Highlander was seized by Hughes during a recent Polk County commis- sting operation. sioners declared that they “The Highlander is an support the second amend- asset forfeiture,” Murphy ment Tuesday morning. said. “That’s where the state Commissioners approved a and federal governments measure declaring the county decide that the vehicles are to be a second amendment being used for illegal activ- sanctuary county. Polk ity, they’ll seize the vehicles. County Judge Sydney Mur- Since Constable Hughes phy talked briefly about the participated in apprehend- declaration. ing the culprit, they gave “The declaration is a him the vehicle. We’re just reiteration that we support trying to keep everything the second amendment,” that is a forfeiture separate Photo by Jason Chlapek I PCE she said. “Since there’s been from the county because Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) has blue a lot of rhetoric and talk the whole idea is to not cost shoes and sandals on the steps of the Polk County about gun control, we’re just the taxpayers anymore than Courthouse in honor of Child Abuse Awareness Month. LEADING THE PACK reiterating our support for necessary. If we start paying Onalaska senior William Boyce (front) will compete in the second amendment.” insurance on the vehicle the Class 3A state track and field meet on Thursday, MayCommissioners also then it costs the taxpayers.” are not to exceed $1,820. be replaced,” Murphy said. 6, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. Boyce qualifiedapproved a seized 2015 Commissioners also ap- “Right now, they don’t Commissioners Court for the state meet in three events — the 800, 1,600 andToyota Highlander to proved a pair of body camer- have the dash cam because it meets again at 10 a.m. 3,200-meter runs — all of which he won at the Region III-3Abe awarded to Precinct 1 as for the Polk County Sher- broke, so we’re going to put Tuesday, May 11, at the meet last weekend in Waco. Photo by Larry Lamb I PCE Constable Scott Hughes. iff ’s Office. These cameras a body cam there until it can Polk County Courthouse. Couple saves neighbor, dog from devastating house fire Special to the Enterprise She knew that her neigh- ment her address to get them der that corner of the house. bor, a senior female with near the area until she could She did not answer the On April 11, at approxi- a small dog, did not know get her neighbor’s address. door and was asking what mately 8:30 p.m., the owners there was a fire outside her Since the fire was in the back she wanted. Lorie began yell- of Big H Self Storage, Pat house. They feared she would of her house, none of the ing, “Your house is on fire!” and Lorie Hohman, were not make it out alive without neighbors were aware. and “I need your address for outside planting a tree, to their help. When they arrived, Pat ran the fire department.” replace the last of the trees The only way to her house to the side of the house for a When she did not open damaged from the freeze and was to drive around to her water hose to try putting the the door and she could not noticed that across the lake side of the lake. They quickly fire out, while Lorie knocked see her neighbor anymore, Lorie ran to the back of the their neighbor’s grass was on got in their car and raced loudly on the front door. Her house, where the flames were fire. It had spread to the edge over while calling 911 to re- neighbor, Deanna Hess, was getting more intense and Courtesy photo of her house, which was built port the fire. in the living room where the Pat and Lorie Hohman saved a neighbor and her dog on low stilts. Lorie gave the fire depart- fire was now, which was un- See COUPLE ➩ Page 5A from a house fire earlier this month. VOLUME 140 • ISSUE 34 THU 4/29 FRI 4/30 SAT 5/1 SUN 5/2 MON 5/3 TUE 5/4 INSIDE To subscribe (936) 327-4357 OISD School News ............... 2B MEMBER or visit etypeservices.com/ Calendar ...........................3-4B 2021 Polk County EnterpriseID474/ Classifieds ....................... 5-6B 83/65 76/61 79/64 81/67 88/70 88/67 Life Tributes ......................... 3A PM storms Showers Few showers Scattered storms Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Opinion ............................... 4A TEXAS PRESS Winds S 10 mph Winds N 8 mph Winds ESE 5 mph Winds S 10 mph Winds S 12 mph Winds S 11 mph Chance of rain 61%. Chance of rain 36%. Chance of rain 31%. Chance of rain 46%. Chance of rain 24%. Chance of rain 24%. Records/Notices ................. 4B ASSOCIATION USPS 437-340 Humidity 87% Humidity 83%. Humidity 88%. Humidity 93%. Humidity 92% Humidity 90% Sports ................................. 1B easttexasnews.com CMYK 2A | POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE | Thursday, April 29, 2021 AC Connections salutes local welding artisan Dominy By Debra Jenke didn’t need my notes. And, ously called to public service niche welding procedures, AC Connections they were both pretty politi- and saving lives.