Published: August 16, 2008 10:33 pm            

Local briefs for 8-17-08

Girl Scout sign-ups set

The Anderson County Girl Scouts will be registering new girls from 5-18 years old, and their mothers, at 7 p.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church, located at 422 S. Magnolia St. in Palestine.

Cost to join in $10 per girl.



Exchange student program available

Foreign high school students are scheduled to arrive soon for academic semester homestay programs, and the sponsoring organization needs a few more local host families.

According to Pacific Intercultural Exchange President John Doty, the students are all between the ages of 15 and 18 years, are English-speaking, have their own spending money, carry accident and health insurance, and are anxious to share their cultural experiences with their new American families.

P.I.E. currently has programs to match almost every family's needs, ranging in length from a semester to a full academic year, where the students attend local high schools.

P.I.E. area representatives match students with host families by finding common interests and lifestyles through an informal in-home meeting. Prospective host families are able to review student applications and select the perfect match.

As there are no "typical" host families, P.I.E. can fit a student into just about any situation, whether it is a single parent, a childless couple, a retired couple or a large family.

Families who host for P.I.E. also are eligible to claim a $50 per month charitable contribution deduction on their itemized tax returns for each month they host a sponsored student.

For the upcoming programs, P.I.E. has students from Germany, the Former Soviet Union, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Hungary, Korea, Mexico, Australia, Yugoslavia, China, and many other countries.

P.I.E. also is participating in two special government-funded programs to bring scholarship students from the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union as well as predominantly Islamic countries such as Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Morocco, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar to the United States.

Anderson County area families interested in learning more about student exchange or arranging for a meeting with a community representative may call P.I.E., toll-free, at 1-866-546-1402. The agency also has travel/study program opportunities available for American high school students.



AARP driver class offered

A two day AARP Driver Safety Program will be held from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 8-9 at First Christian Church located at 113 E. Crawford St.

The refresher course is designed for drivers 50 years of age and older, but is open to anyone. The cost of the course is $10 per person. Attendees may qualify for reductions in automobile insurance premiums for three years upon successful completion of the course.

For more information call 903-723-7155.



TVCC sets budget, tax rate

The Trinity Valley Community College Board of Trustees met in a called meeting July 31 to conduct a budget workshop.

TVCC President Forgey presented the proposed college budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year and provided and explanation for differences in the current year budget and the proposed budget.

Forgey indicated that out of concern for property owners, that the proposed tax rate for Fiscal Year 2008-09 will be the same rate as for FY2007-08.

Public hearings to consider a proposal to adopt the current tax rates of 6.8 cents per $100 for the tax district, excluding Palestine Independent School District, and 4.4 cents for $100 for PISD be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25 and at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8 in the board room of the Orval Pirtle Administration Building on the Athens campus.

The vote to approve the tax rate be placed on the agenda of the regular monthly meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22.



NISD board to talk budget

The Neches Independent School District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Neches High School cafeteria.

The board will hold a discussion on the proposed 2008-09 budget, review the rollback tax rate collection and review the Notice of Public Meeting to discuss the budget and proposed tax rate for 2008-09.

Trustees also will consider setting the price for regular lunch for 2008-09 and, in closed session, will discuss personnel matters.



EISD called meeting set

The Elkhart Independent School District Board of Trustees will hold a called meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in the Elkhart ISD Administration Office.

The board will meet in closed session to discuss personnel matters. Any decision will follow in open session.



WISD to get team training

The Westwood Independent School District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the WISD Administration Office Board Room, located at 4524 W. Oak St. in Palestine.

The board will meet in closed session to discuss personnel matters. Any decision will follow in open session.

Trustees will then receive team building training from a Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) leadership team services consultant.



Pavement repairs continue

TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to continue pavement repair operations this week on FM 2419 southeast of Palestine.

The work, known as mill-and-inlay, consists of a two-part convoy grinding up the old pavement and replacing it with fresh hot mix.

The work is scheduled to last through Thursday.

Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

After completing the work on FM 2419, the crew is scheduled to return to US 79 south of Palestine for the same operation.



Wal-Mart to honor teachers

Wal-Mart Supercenter in Palestine will hold its annual Teacher Appreciation Day from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday.

All area school teachers are invited to attend.



Immunization clinics slated

The Palestine Department of State Health Services will hold two back-to-school immunization clinics.

The clinics will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and on Aug. 26.

Bring your child's complete immunization record, Social Security number and if your child is on Medicaid bring their current Medicaid card. Charges are based on family size and income.

The Department of State Health Services does not refuse any one service due to inability to pay.



NHPS branch to meet Tuesday

The Negro Historical Preservation Society (Palestine Branch) will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

All members are asked to be present.

The group will meet at The Angel of Mercy on Murchinson Street.



Cancer support group to meet

Palestine Resource Center for Independent Living will host a Cancer Support Group meeting at 2 p.m. Aug. 26.

The facilitator of the support group, a breast cancer survivor herself, is Suzie Moss, R.N., with Perfect Choice HOMECARE.

For information, contact PRCIL, 421 Avenue A., Palestine, 903-729-7505, 1-888-326-5166 (toll-free long distance).



Diabetes support group to meet

The Palestine Resource Center for Independent Living will host a Diabetic Support Group meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Join, Jeff Raine, P.T., as he presents information on “The Benefits of Exercise to Control Diabetes.”

Kristi McClellan, Certified Home Health Aide with Perfect Choice Homecare, will offer free blood sugar and blood pressure screenings beginning at 9:30 am.

        

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