Where is Flo?
By Mac Shadix
Used with permission of the Buffalo Press
Flo is now online, or at least The Flo News is online. You can see the photographs in color, check an older column, or show a friend or neighbor who does not have a subscription a column or story that takes your fancy. There is information on how to subscribe for those who are not now getting the paper. The address online is;
Theflonewsonline.blogspot.com
The heart of Flo must be the crossroads whose sign is in the column head above. That is the intersection of FM 831 and FM1511 and that is the reason for the unique address for The Flo News.
The Flo News at FM 831 &,
Post Office Box 1511
Someone asked why I was including all of precinct 2 in my definition of Flo and I had to think about it. There are good people from Flo and who love Flo scattered about the globe now. Mark Taylor who wrote “Reflections From the Flo Crossroads”, and “Hideout in the Flo Canebrake” lives in
Jake Stephens who was in those short films made in Flo that still are shown on the Houston PBS station from time to time goes to school in Oakwood where he is a basketball standout, and that makes Oakwood a part of Flo. Tom Nolan, who writes a column in this paper and lives only about four miles from the crossroads goes to
Every year when we hold the Halloween festival, the Flo Turkey Shoot, and the Christmas Party, we want and welcome the involvement of our friends and neighbors from wherever they may live.
Even the Flo Community Water Supply Corporation was over on Highway 79 for many years before coming back to its new home on FM1511 just a hop, skip and a jump from the crossroads.
Sonny Lathrop and Vernon Pate were at the scene at Randy Pate’s pasture on the
Doctor Douglas Moore, Superintendent of Oakwood schools had a birthday on Friday. He joked about his age and said that he didn’t feel a day over 100.
Flo Water General Manager Jim Martin called and I went over to the Highway 75 well as a crew from Smith Pump Co. in Waco was pulling the lining from that well. They intend to lower a camera into the well this week, Martin said, to inspect it and see if they can come up with a way to staunch the infusion of red, iron bearing water that is swamping the filtration system that has been installed at that well.
My Grandfather said……….
This country was a paradise during the early days of settlement here according to descriptions that J.L. (Jack)
There was game of all kinds that was plentiful and pretty easy to kill or trap. Deer and turkey and duck were abundant, as were passenger pigeons. In the early years there were buffalo on the plains just to the west. There were alligator and beaver in the ponds and creeks and gator drags across the land where they moved from one to another. Most of the houses were built close to springs where water was safe and abundant. There wasn’t any underbrush in this country and you could see a cow as far away as the lay of the land allowed. This was bunch grass country, blue stem, and some of the hard surface glades were in carpet grass. The bunch grass would stay green through the winter and the cattle could do pretty well on it. Horses didn’t have to be fed grain to do pretty well. A man could just drive a wagon through the woods without having to cut a road.
Flo Water Reform Committee Organized
by Mac Shadix
Used by permission of the Buffalo Press
A group of concerned member-citizens of Flo Community Water Supply Corporation met Monday evening January 22 to organize a committee dedicated to reforming Flo WSC. Naming themselves the Flo Water Reform Committee the group of thirty-five concerned members asked for candidates to step forward to run for the four seats up for election this spring. These four seats will constitute a majority of the board. Potential candidates were asked to put their names to a form stating that they would vote for a new administration for Flo Water, basically meaning to replace President Gary Bell and Secretary-Treasurer Ann Boykin with newly elected members although
Ten persons offered their names and the group formed a nominating committee of the whole to select a viable consolidated slate that could work together to reform the Flo Water System that has been so troubled recently. Current director Richard Moran was chosen to run for the position that he now holds, and Ken Jones, Robert Boettcher and Jimmy Davis were chosen to seek the other three positions. Wallace Jones was picked as a backup candidate in case one of the four has to drop out.
A plan was made for collecting funds to run ads for the consolidated slate and members were urged to write letters to the editor in support of the consolidated slate. At least one more meeting is planned before the election.
Complaints voiced against St. Paul, Shiloh, Timesville Water Supply Corporation.
The meeting of a Water Supply Corporation was abruptly gaveled to a close Monday night in the community house at
Numerous complaints were made against the absent directors to Murff while County Commissioner David Ferguson listened from the audience.
Member allegations included; meeting were not held regularly, meetings were not posted, the Texas open records law was routinely ignored, elections were not held, that the same seat was put up each time that there was an election and that the officers did not face the voters, that water was cut off to punish questioners, that local workers were not paid, and a litany of other complaints.
A director, Horace Sapp said that they would not let him attend the meetings when they did hold them in a private home in the area.
Relerford has faced similar charges before. In 2001 a suit was filed against him in the District Court of the 87th Judicial District of Freestone County alleging in part that Releford and Gary Gardner, pastor of the Rocky Mount Baptist Church, “Have for some time held and controlled the monies, records, and checkbook of the church and have denied requests and refused to account for those monies.” Two and one half years later the same court issued the following order in the case.
“Order of the Court. Based on the agreement of the parties as evidenced by the signature of Counsel below the Court hereby ORDERS that all checking account (sic) held in what whatever name on behalf of Rocky Mount Baptist Church and the Rocky Mountain Cemetery by Oakwood State Bank be hereby tendered and delivered to Plaintiff’s …………………acting in behalf of Rocky Mount Baptist Church.”
“THE COURT FURTHER ORDERS that all other relief sought after and requested is hereby denied.”
A group of citizen-members of the WSC including Mack Botard of Oakwood presented their complaints to Leon County Attorney Jim Witt several months ago. Witt, told the Buffalo Press on Friday that the investigation into the management of the WSC was ongoing, but that he expected results to be forthcoming in the near future.
A lawsuit is expected to be filed on Tuesday January 30, 2007 in the Leon County Courthouse against the President Glen Releford, Secretary-Treasurer Anne Birmingham, and Vice President Margaurite Johnson of the St. Paul, Shiloh Timesville Water Supply Corporation alleging in part; fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, theft and conspiracy to commit theft and violations of the open records and open meetings laws according to attorney David Murff who represents member-plaintiffs of the WSC. The suit follows a long period of allegedly irregular practices in denial of public records and requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act where there has been no clear public accounting of receipts or expenditures for the WSC.
The Flo News January 23, 2007
Reprinted by permission of The Buffalo Press
The icicles and the frozen rain gauge tell the story of this week at Flo. The whole week was grey, overcast, wet and cold until Sunday which was clear, warm and blue and beautiful. One day like that can make you forget a week of bad weather, like a month of wet weather can make you forget a year of drought.
My little pond is full and it is pretty slow to refill after a drought so I hope that everyone else has the water they need going into the year. The
Flo resident James Lennox has recently had gall bladder surgery and says that he is recovering fairly well from that, although he had been ill from it before the surgery a couple of weeks ago. James says that the surgery helped a lot, but now his hip is keeping him pretty much house bound since he has not returned to driving yet.
Richard Blanchard of the Flo VFD says that they need your support. Their monthly meeting is on the second Monday of each month at the
A person… I wouldn’t call him a fan, had to be asked to leave the Oakwood-Neches girls basketball game after he was profane, rude and threatening toward the Oakwood coach. This was in the presence of the players and other students. This fellow didn’t appear to be intoxicated. He didn’t have a child on the team. I guess he just forgot that these games are supposed to be about teaching character and teamwork to kids. He was banned from Oakwood games for the rest of the year.
My grandfather said…is a new feature that we are introducing in the Flo News this week. The idea is for local citizens to write, or call and tell me stories about the early days of settlement in the Flo area and
Let me hear your stories and I will try to get them in the column as time and space allow.
-30-
The Flo News Janurary 16, 2007
Reprinted by Permission of The Buffalo Press
After we needed rain here at Flo for the last eighteen months so badly, we have been blessed with a lot of rainfall the last couple of months. My pond that was down nearly four feet in August is now just about at the spillway. I wonder when we can indulge in human nature and start complaining about all the rain?
Some of the big old Cedar trees at
Marlin and June Cantrell and Patrick and Garrett Smith were working on the damage because they couldn’t help with the cleanup planned for Saturday. The Saturday cleanup was cancelled because of the weather but June Cantrell says that they will get back at it the first Saturday that the weather is clear.
June said that there was only minor damage to the tombstones because the large tree sections fell between the markers and a bench caught one limb. One maybe two headstones damaged at worst, she added.
A couple of guys from Windstream came by the house this week to report that they had repaired my phone line. They said that Windstream was moving to get broadband internet access out here but that they still didn’t know when it would be. Everyone interested should let Windstream know that the residents of the Flo Area want to be online with broadband.
Margo Carmichael says that the Flo Café where she serves delicious catfish and all the trimmings each Friday will be closed until the first Friday in February. There is almost no business that time of the year she said and so she and the Flo Café are taking a little break. When she reopens she is encouraging everyone to come by and get up a game of forty-two on Friday evening.
All this wet weather must be really challenging for the folks who work to keep our roads passable.
You can submit items for The Flo News by sending a card or letter to;
The Flo News at FM 831 &,
Post Office Box 1511
Items will be used depending on space available and at our discretion of course.
The Flo News
The Flo News Jan. 7, 2007
Reprinted by permission of the Buffalo Press
Welcome to the Flo News in the
This column will define Flo as widely as possible. From the crossroads of F.M. 831 and F.M. 1511 as a starting point, currents from Oakwood, North Creek, Hopewell, Corinth, Midway, Keechi, Nineveh, Timesville, Saint Paul, Sand Flats, The Star Route and other locations will be included as they are available. In other words, Precinct 2 in
You can submit items for The Flo News by sending a card or letter to;
The Flo News at FM 831 &,
Post Office Box 1511
Items will be used depending on space available and at our discretion of course.
While The Flo News is intended to be far more about the community than about the author, and I am more interested in hearing and reporting your opinions than telling you mine, it is only fair that you know a little about me. Although I have been a full time resident of Flo only since June, 2005, my roots go way back in Flo and in
It is my firm hope that the warm and inclusive spirit of community as evidenced by the Flo Christmas Party sponsored by the Barnett Family and the history and friendship as evidenced at Evan Moore’s birthday party will be continued in this column. These events among others held recently here at Flo’s Lone Star Community Center were genuine expressions of community spirit that is rarely evidenced in modern
Eight year old Lee Sadler of Fort Worth who was visiting his grandfather, Leon Moore and wife Margie, along with his twelve year old sister, Riley, and mom and dad, Amy and Curtis Sadler went fishing in a Flo pond last week and Lee proved to be a great fisherman, hauling in five catfish that seemed almost as big as he was, and threatened to drag him in. To make matters even better, it was all witnessed by his sister, and parents. Riley says that she is a deer hunter, not a fisherperson.
Four year old Jude Caldwell and his six year old sister Jepia, from Teague are visiting Flo this week and staying with their grandmother, Debra Sue Richardson. Jepia is looking forward to school reopening on next Thursday.
After a lad from Oakwood (who I promised not to name) slid off FM831 at my gate, several passersby stopped to offer assistance. Among them was Gary Bell, local rancher and president of the Flo Water Supply Corp. and game warden Dwight Meyers. The young man was taken to the hospital by his father and I haven’t heard of any serious injuries to him but he sure ripped a post oak out of the ground, roots and all and damaged the truck he was driving and the fertilizer spreader he was pulling for Dudley Brewer’s ranch back toward Highway 75.
The most recent meeting of the Flo Water Supply Corporation at the Lone Star Community Center was something that every member should have witnessed. They meet in regular meetings the first Thursday of each month and there is no admission fee for citizens who wish to attend. There is always free coffee, and Norma Moore had baked a pineapple cake for the meeting. I didn’t try it, because of the calories, but it sure looked delicious.
and the bad news is.....
Reprinted by permission of The Buffalo Press, Tuesday Jan. 9 2007
FloWSC General Manager Jim Martin had the unpleasant duty to report to the board that the recently installed treatment facilitity at the Highway 75 well was failing to do the job and that the well is currently sequestered and the system is being supplied from the Flo well.
“There is too much iron for the filter.” Martin said.
The pilot study by Water Equipment and Treatment Services Inc. reported in August of 2006 that the iron in the well was at 7.82 mg/l and stated that treatment would bring it to 0.045 mg/l but a November 2006 analysis requested by Martin where he collected the samples now shows a total iron of 28.0 mg/lin the raw water with a finish rate of 0.28 mg/l and a finish rate of Manganese, n of 0.18.mg/l.
These rates severely limit the amount of water that can be produced by that well, and makes it much more expensive, Martin told the board. The filtered waste must be trucked away at a rate of about $200. per load.
Martin presented the board with an open quote from Smith Pump Company, Inc. of
Flo water meeting erupts into heated exchanges
The regular meeting of the Flo Water Supply Corporation devolved into near chaos for a while as irascible, and pugnacious Director Bobby Pittman shouted at, interrupted, and insulted Co-Director Richard Moran and shouted at and argued with members of the corporation present in the audience who were authorized to speak. Director Hollis Bradshaw and President Gary Bell joined in, loudly expressing their displeasure with Moran who was battling for an open forum for members, the correction of the minutes, lawful nomination and election procedures and access to the billing invoices of the Corporation which are open records under
Moran who remained calm and civil was told at one point by Pittman, “I know where you are going to go if you keep running your mouth at me.”
At another point when Moran asked to be allowed to reply to what he called Pittman’s attack on him, Pittman said. “You don’t know what attack is, yet.”
“I don’t understand that threat.” Corporation member Doris Pittman said immediately after the exchange. (No relation to Director Bobby Pittman.)
The dysfunction of the Board highlighted a series of recent debacles; bankruptcy, a failed well and undrinkable water in a large part of the system, extensive boil water notices, multiple failures (water leaks) of a long neglected infrastructure, the resignation of a continuing series of directors, a rupture in relations with an adjoining water board, the failure of a contract management scheme, and now the apparent failure of the expensive treatment system installed to try to bring the Highway 75 well into usefulness.(see accompanying story, and the bad news is……..)
Recently appointed board member Nancy Spivey spoke out firmly to the group and in effect calmly read them the riot act.
“This board is out of control at this moment.” She said.
Earlier she had read them the section of the law about board members speaking on non agenda items, but was ignored during the verbal affray.
After that the meeting calmed down a little. The reading of the minutes was approved unaltered, over Director Moran’s objection.
Agenda item number seven, which sought to amend the minutes of the Nov. 9th meeting which did not reflect the actual requests made by Director Moran failed to draw a second and was passed over.
Item eight, Discuss and take action on nomination forms which had been prepared by directors Bradshaw and Moran passed. Director Pittman objected to the changes
“I don’t see any reason to change.” He said.
Item nine was a related item approving the date and place of the election and the ballot form. The date for the election which will determine control of the board with four places up for election was set for a meeting on Saturday March 24 at the
Director Moran joined Director Pittman in voting against the item because he objected to the ballot separating each office and assigning terms to those offices. He suggested that the four candidates receiving the most votes should be the ones to win office.
Director Hollis Bradshaw moved to table item ten which was to discuss and take action on providing copies of invoices over $500 to the board. After Director Pittman amended the motion to include all members, the motion to table was passed.
Agenda item eleven which provided for discussion and action on appointing a board member to act in the capacity of a Sergeant at Arms was discussed with Director Pittman speaking strongly against the proposal. Pittman was joined in his position by directors Spivey and Moran. Director Bradshaw spoke for the action and then withdrew the item as it became clear that it would not pass.
A discussion to appoint a committee to review the tariffs and corporation by-laws for updating and corrections drew a lively discussion with Corporation member Doris Pittman asking that a member of the corporation be included on the committee. It was pointed out that all the committee could do was propose and that any changes would have to be made by the membership. Director Pittman read a selection that said that any changes would have to be approved by the director of the federal agency to which Flo water is now indebted. Finally the measure was also tabled by a 3-2 vote.
The final item under current business was number thirteen which was to discuss and take action on allowing members to address the board on agenda items during board meetings. After a discussion where a motion to amend by Director Pittman failed to draw a second, Director Bradshaw moved to accept and Director Moran seconded the motion. The motion passed with four votes for and Director Pittman abstaining.
The final section of the meeting, which had begun with such clamor but had become much more businesslike, was the system report by General Manager Jim Martin. Before giving Martin the floor, President Gary Bell praised him for his work and dedication. He described Martin going underwater in thirty degree weather to find a water leak on Interstate 45.
“Jim has the knowledge.”
Director Bradshaw, and member Doris Pittman also spoke in support of Martin. For the story on Martin’s report see the accompanying story in today’s Buffalo Press.
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