T HE MADISONVILLE METEOR YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1894 • THANK A VETERAN AND A SERVICEMAN EVERY DAY www.madisonvillemeteor.com Hand-cut Steaks. The Freshest Ingredients. 4PVUI.BEJTPO4Ut0OUIFTRVBSFt.BEJTPOWJMMF 936-348-3927 texaslegends.net WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27, 2021 VOL. 127, NO. 4 Hailed coach, councilman passes 12 pages • $1 By Campbell Atkins the City of his former coach until the end restored. campbell.atkins@ Madisonville, or of his life. “Once I got appointed and madisonvillemeteor.com perhaps patrons “I truly believe he was a hired, I told him, ‘Coach, I get at Walker’s Cafe, mentor to a lot of the athletes to quarterback for you one MCSO Jerry Harper, former Mad- you will learn that came through the program more time’,” said Gilbert. “He isonville High School Athletic that Harper was while he was there,” said Gil- didn’t make a comment, he just Director, head football coach a beloved staple bert. “Personally, I have always had a little grin on his face.” deputies to and Madisonville City Council- in the commu- JERRY respected him and I know he Harper began teaching and man, passed away in the early nity he called HARPER respected me as a child. He coaching at MCISD in the early hours of Monday morning. He home for five would be the one to load us 1970s and would eventually receive new was 83. decades. up and take us home to Bedias hold the post of maintenance One would be hard-pressed Madisonville Police Depart- (after practices and games).” director for the district. After to speak to anyone familiar ment Chief Herbert Gilbert, Years later, when Gilbert his official retirement, he re- body cams with Harper without receiving who played quarterback at was appointed Madisonville mained in the district in several the same resounding response: MHS under Harper when the P.D. Chief while Harper served capacities until 2008. By Campbell Atkins he was a great man. Whether Mustangs won the 1975 district on City Council, the head campbell.atkins@ you ask personnel at MCISD, title, remained a close friend of coach-quarterback duo was SEE HARPER, PAGE 12 madisonvillemeteor.com The Madison County Commissioner’s Court MCISD approved contingency funds to purchase 10 new body cameras for the Sheriff’s updates Office’s deputies during their bi-weekly meeting Mon- day. The department’s 10 basketball deputies have already been wearing body cameras but will now receive upgraded procedures versions from Safety Vision to enhance their function. By Campbell Atkins “These are essential for campbell.atkins@ what we have to do today madisonvillemeteor.com for modern policing,” said MCSO Chief Deputy Steven Jeter, who spoke to the com- missioners along with Sheriff Madisonville CISD athletic Bobby Adams. “The cameras officials have updated practic- LLosos RRanchosanchos es for attending the school’s that we currently have fail more than they perform the junior varsity and varsity way they are supposed to.” basketball games in order to Adams and Jeter have ensure compliance with Dis- been in their positions aawaitswaits trict 18-4A guidelines. since Jan. 1 after Adams was “We have had growing elected the county’s new CAMPBELL abuse of the online ticket sheriff in a July runoff race. ATKINS system by some students and They stated much of those Amundson former students in the last three weeks have been spent Construction few games, which are causing attempting to repair the cur- makes progress some capacity and guideline rent body cameras, some of on the interior issues according to district which are beyond fixing. and exterior rules,” said MCISD Athletic of the new Director Rusty Nail in a Jan. 20 email. SEE MCSO, PAGE 5 Los Ranchos restaurant on In compliance with district Main Street in rules, Mustang basketball Madisonville players have been allotted two Friday. They or four tickets for each home Broadband are construct- game during the 2020-21 sea- ing a front son as a result of the ongoing patio for the COVID-19 pandemic. These contract new establish- tickets will now be provided ment for out- to each player the day before upgraded side dining. As the home game and allow shown above, the recipients, and only the the interior is recipients, to purchase entry at at library also making the gate. immense prog- “The ticket does not admit, ress. but allows you to purchase By Campbell Atkins admission at the home entry campbell.atkins@ gate to our competition gym,” madisonvillemeteor.com said Nail. “No Madisonville residents or fans will be ad- Working the line mitted with any online ticket, The Madison County as I have cleared that from our Commissioner’s Court ap- home fan access.” proved a three-year contract By Campbell Atkins storm struck East Only fans in possession of from EM3 Networks for in- campbell.atkins@ Texas earlier this month, the rostered players’ two or ternet service at the Madison madisonvillemeteor.com electrical workers were four allotted tickets will be eli- County Library, 80 percent tasked with repairing gible to purchase entry. These of which is covered by feder- power lines across the updated methods went into al E-rate funding. As coddled citizens of region in a safe and effect Friday, when the Lady The schools and libraries modernity, we can often timely manner. In an Mustang squads hosted Mexia universal service support find ourselves taking area unaccustomed to at MHS. program, or E-rate, helps the luxury of power for such weather, this duty The Madisonville men’s schools and libraries receive granted. But when this becomes endless and basketball team hosted La more affordable broad- luxury is taken away arduous. Vega at MHS to conclude their band services. After E-rate from us at the drop of a “For me, it is knowing first round of district play funding, Madison County’s hat, our lives as we know we are out there helping Tuesday. They will host China portion will be $1,749 per them come to a raging people get their lights Spring Feb. 2 and Mexia Feb. 9 year, according to Madison halt. back on,” said Lane to conclude their home district County Librarian Veronica While we wait, Duke, who works as a schedule. Grooms. powerless and patiently lineman for Primoris The Lady Mustangs will “High-speed internet is a (or not-so-patiently, in Services Corporation host Robinson at MHS Friday necessity,” said Grooms to many cases), countless (PSC), when asked what and Connally Feb. 5 to wrap the Commissioner’s Court unsung heroes spring gets him through a shift COURTESY PHOTO up their home district slate. Monday. “We have a lot into action when Mother Dalton Turner, an apprentice for Primoris See Sports for updates on Nature does her worst. SEE LINE, PAGE 12 Services Corporation, works a line in both Madisonville basketball SEE LIBRARY, PAGE 12 When a rare snow- November. teams INDEX COUNTYWIDE Normangee Tractor Business ...........................10 BURN BAN Churches ..........................9 Classifieds .......................11 Obituary ............................4 (936)396-3101 Opinion .............................2 LIFTED NormangeeTractor.com Records .............................4 Sports .............................6-7 CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION “Nobody Beats Normangee Tractor” O PINION 2 • Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 • www.madisonvillemeteor.com THE MADISONVILLE METEOR JONATHAN DEELY Publisher [email protected] CAMPBELL ATKINS Sports & Education Reporter [email protected] ALYSSA CLOPTON Inside Sales Representative [email protected] OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays P.O. Box 999 PHOTO BY CAMPBELL ATKINS 205 N. Madison Street Charles Temme’s model train display cases are available for the public to view at the Madison County Museum available for Madisonville, Texas 77864 the public to view at the Madison County Museum through January. 936-348-3505 (phone) 936-348-3338 (fax) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: A history of trains in Madisonville The Madisonville Meteor encourages readers to submit letters to the Charles Temme is a Leon I’ve enjoyed seeing young also shows human actions editor. Priority will be given to those County resident but conducts people’s faces light up with and feelings and is from the letters pertaining to Madison much of his day-to-day busi- recognition. same authors and book series. OTO County issues. All letters are ness in Madisonville. He and At the center front of the Thomas and James were de- published at the discretion of wife Maisie are devoted and Museum, you can see a repli- veloped into a spin-off British the editor. To be published, very active members of First ca of a steam engine, railway children’s television series, letters must adhere to the United Methodist Church cars, and depot from the pe- Thomas & Friends. here. They have grandchil- riod when such stopped here. following criteria: Mr. Temme enjoys more • Letters must be signed by the dren that live here and attend The late Pete Hunter was than just train replicas. He writer and include a telephone school here. If home is good with woodworking tools, number where the writer may indeed where the heart is, that was Temme’s friend, and built has compiled a notebook of be reached for verifi cation of last makes Charles ours. the depot replica displayed Madison County railroad his- authenticity; this information Recently, Temme devot- with this train. tory plus fascinating photos will not be published. Unsigned ed time to Madison County MUSEUM MUSINGS Two other cases round and maps. I’ve noticed that letters will not be considered for Museum, arranging a portion things out. One holds two many folks are interested in publication. The Madisonville of his model train collection LAURA ANN CANNON train replicas “duded out” our area’s train history, so Meteor reserves the right to edit any into four display cases.