A VOLUME 126 • NO. 10 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2020 1 SECTION • 14 PAGES • $1 Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1894 Thank a Veteran and a Serviceman Every Day TEXAS Hand-cut Steaks. *~ENDS* The Freshest Ingredients. ~~ 115 South Madison St. • On the square • Madisonville 936-348-3927 texaslegends.net Beloved MCISD teacher passes By Campbell Atkins Aide at the high are with her family . I know Gilbert, Talara Johnson and istrator and have gone on to campbell.atkins@ school . she is in a better place and I LaQuitta Lister . be very successful . If everyone madisonvillemeteor.com “A good lady know she will be able to look Smith got to know some of had a mother like Vernice, the and a tragic, tre- down at both the children she her children through coaching school business would be a lot Longtime Madisonville mendous loss to worked with at the school as and as an administrator while easier than it is .” High School educator and be- the district and well as her own children and they went through the district . Taylor’s position as In loved mentor Vernice Taylor the children she VERNICE be proud of the job she has “(Taylor’s children) were School Suspension Aide meant passed away Feb . 19 at the age worked with,” TAYLOR done .” such easy kids to work with in she watched over the children of 69 . said Superin- Taylor is survived by her school because they had such who had been asked to leave Taylor was in her twentieth tendent Keith Smith, who husband, Earnest Taylor, and great parents,” said Smith . class as a punishment . year working for MCISD as an knew Taylor nearly 30 years . their children Earnest Tay- “They were always supportive In School Suspension (ISS) “Our thoughts and prayers lor II, Chris Taylor, Sharee of me as a coach and admin- SEE TAYLOR PAGE 10 Election results on Meteor website Staff Reports The Madisonville Meteor went to press before polls closed Tues- day, but the staff of the newspaper will put up results from the county primaries on www madisonville. - meteor com. as soon as they are available . According to Elections Admin- istrator Janet Boone, Madison County saw 1,128 early voters and 132 Mail ballots returned for a total of 1,260 as of Monday after- noon . All local races will be decided by Tuesday primary vote, as all candidates filed as Republicans . Les Neeley, Bobby Adams, Billy Reeves and Jon Stubblefield shared the stage in the most visi- ble race, the four-way contest for county sheriff . If no candidate re- ceived more than 50% of the vote, the top vote-getters will face off in a May 26 run-off . There are no local races on the Democratic ballots this year . Other county officials with oppo- sition all filed in the Republican CAMPBELL ATKINS primary; incumbent tax asses- The Madisonville Police Department seized nearly seven pounds of MDMA, 60 bottles of Promethazine, a firearm, $3,000 in cash sor-collector Karen Lane, facing and less than two ounces of marijuana during a traffic stop near the 144-mile marker on I-45 North in Madisonville early Saturday. a primary challenge from Shanah Grisham; and incumbent Precinct 1 county commissioner Ricky Driskell, facing fellow Republican BUSTED Matt Post . If Tuesday’s vote results in a Madisonville police nab suspects traveling I-45 with load of narcotics run-off, those who voted in the Democratic primary will not be By Campbell Atkins stop on Interstate 45 north- ounces of marijuana . “This is a pretty massive allowed to vote, per state law . campbell.atkins@ bound early Saturday, recov- The suspects include hit right here,” said MPD madisonvillemeteor.com ering nearly seven pounds of 28-year-old Jonathan Chief Herbert Gilbert . “The MDMA, commonly known Gomez, 27-year-old Arthur understanding is that this is The Madisonville Police as ecstasy, 60 bottles of Pro- Martinez, both of Dallas, and not stuff that was going to Department arrested three methazine, a firearm, $3,000 27-year-old Clarence Mal- individuals following a traffic in cash and less than two lard of Humble . SEE BUSTED PAGE 10 Area to get boost in broadband by 2023 By Roy R. Reynolds for Mid-South, said the rollout Program, created to provide publisher@madisonville should take about three years more high-speed digital access meteor.com and give access to 100 mega- to rural areas . The ReConnect bits per second (Mbps) . Program launched in Decem- Madison County and sur- “The timeline is approxi- ber 2018 with up to $600 mil- rounding counties will re- mately 3 years for our electric lion in loans and grants, then ceive a substantial increase in distribution system to be con- expanded on Dec . 19 to offer rural broadband speed under nected with fiber optic cable, another $200 million . a three-year plan by Mid- Stapleton said via e-mail . “As The program came under South Electric Co-op, which with most construction proj- fire on Feb . 26, when U S. Sen- announced Friday that it had ects, weather plays a large role ator Ron Wyden (D-Ore ). sent received a $6 18. million grant in how quickly we can make a letter from him and other from the U S. Department of progress . senators to USDA secretary Agriculture for the project . “One of the major motiva- Sonny Perdue, suggesting that The grant will allow the elec- tions of the USDA and Mid- the agency has blocked many tric cooperative to deploy fiber South is to provide the same rural areas of the country from optic cable across its network advantage of high-speed inter- access to the program because of utility poles across Grimes, net to students that live in rural they had previously received Walker, Waller, Brazos, Madi- areas . Rural students often funds from the Federal Com- son, Montgomery, and Waller drive into town to use free in- munications Commission COURTESY PHOTO counties, according to a press ternet at a fast food restaurant to build out satellite-based Madisonville FFA students pose together at FFA Day at the state release from the company . to complete schoolwork .” broadband . capitol building in Austin Feb. 25. Justin Stapleton, division The grant fell under the US- manager of Member Services DA’s Broadband ReConnect SEE BROADBAND PAGE 10 INSIDE THE METEOR Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, D eep Root s. N ew Ideas. Business . 8 Normangee Tractor magician or diviner Churches . .7 . can explain to the Classifieds . 9-10 king the mystery Obituaries . 2-3 (936)396-3101 he has asked about, Opinion . 4 NormangeeTractor.com but there is a God in 333 N.MayStreet The Records . 5 heaven who reveals 936.348.3777 B k Sports . 12-14 www.fubhuntsvilletx.com an mysteries.” OF MAD ISONVILLE “Nobody Beats Normangee Tractor” A DiYision of First Na tional Bank of Hunt sville —Daniel 2:27-28 ii: Mer.o.berFDIC www.madisonvillemeteor.com PAGE 2 THE MADISONVILLE METEOR MARCH 4, 2020 Governor gives update on actions to combat coronavirus AUSTIN — As the Association and state uni- The others returned on a sign and enhanced secu- ing-related healthcare worldwide threat of novel versity systems to provide State Department flight rity features. The driver’s costs must be enforced. coronavirus increased, educational materials and for passengers from the license and ID cards also The U.S District Court state agencies already the latest developments Diamond Princess cruise have visible and discrete for the Eastern District of were working together in research and treatment ship quarantined in Yoko- identifiers on the front. Texas rejected Reynolds’ to ensure the health and methods for the virus. hama, Japan. The individ- The DPS said that pre- argument that selling ac- safety of all Texans, Gov. And, relevant agencies uals will remain isolated at viously issued driver’s li- quired brands included Greg Abbott said Feb. 27. will implement disinfect- medical facilities until they censes are still valid until in the settlement nullified After a briefing from ing measures at places test negative for the virus the expiration date listed its obligation to Texas state and federal health such as driver license and are no longer at risk on the card and, beginning taxpayers, declaring that officials on coronavirus offices and schools and of spreading it. The CDC Oct. 1, travelers will need a “Reynolds remains as lia- (COVID-19), Abbott pro- ensure that high-risk pop- has the latest information valid passport, U.S. mili- ble today as it was when it vided an update on steps Capitol Highlights ulations such as those in on the number of people tary ID or a REAL ID com- entered into the Texas Set- the state is taking. He said Ed Sterling day-care centers, nursing under quarantine who are pliant driver’s license (one tlement in 1998.” the Department of State homes, assisted living as- infected and is updating with the gold star) to travel “I applaud the court Health Services has acti- sociations and health-care its national numbers each on commercial airlines or for holding tobacco com- vated the State Medical of the spread of the virus. facilities are prepared and Monday, Wednesday and enter federal facilities. panies accountable to the Operations Center to serve Abbott said multi-level properly cared for, Abbott Friday. terms of the settlement to as a touchpoint for any re- and multi-agency coordi- said. PAXTON WELCOMES which they agreed. Texas quests from local entities. nation and communica- Meanwhile, the U.S. NEW CARDS BEING RULING taxpayers are owed sub- The center also ensures tion efforts are practiced Centers for Disease Con- ISSUED Texas Attorney General stantial back payments consistent collection, daily to ensure up-to-date trol and Prevention has The Texas Department Ken Paxton on Feb.