The Flo News Online

A new post just to do away with the old dateline.

2010-02-04T10:37:00.002-06:00

I just posted this to update the old dateline and to see how the thing worked now. I am considering starting a blog again, or a newspaper column-blog.

36 Hours in Edinburgh - New York Times

2007-07-27T09:34:00.000-06:00

36 Hours in Edinburgh - New York Times

2007-03-08T16:27:00.000-06:00

Flo Water Elections

In a signed column the writer is allowed to give opinions, but I don’t want to tell you how to vote in the upcoming water board election, just to vote. It is the American Way to have two or more candidates running and for the voter to have a choice. Democracy makes us stronger, not weaker. The Flo Community Water Supply Corporation belongs to you, the member and you are the one to decide who should run it.

All of the candidates are our neighbors and members of Flo Community Water Supply Corp. Each of them wants the best water at the lowest cost to their fellow members. There is an interview in today’s Buffalo Press with the eight candidates who are still running. They were each given the same form to fill out, and their answers were unedited, although the right to edit was there, but they were all polite.

They differ on some issues and are remarkably similar on others. It is your job as a member and voter to read and listen and find out what those issues are and to cast your vote accordingly.

You can read the stories from previous meetings of Flo Water, by permission of The Buffalo Press at; theflonewsonline.blogspot.com

Please don’t pay any attention to the rumors and myths that seem to accompany any election. No candidate has said that they want to raise rates, or do an assessment, but some in each group have admitted that it may become a necessity if there is another well failure. While some attendees at meetings and letter writers have made what may be hasty or unfounded remarks, this writer has not heard that from any candidate.

Please hold our friend and neighbor, Mr. Claude Moore in your thoughts and prayers as he is in the Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler struggling with pneumonia. Mr. Claude is a Flo institution on his motorized mule riding down to the church at the Flo Crossroads to visit with the pastor there, Brother Ken Stone. Reports on Monday morning said that he was doing some better. We will all be hoping for a full and quick recovery.

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2007-03-08T16:21:00.000-06:00

2007-03-08T16:18:00.000-06:00

Two Candidates show up for Lone Star meeting

By Mac Shadix

Forty-five people showed up to hear two of the candidates for Flo Community Water Supply Corporation answer questions on Tuesday night February 27. At the Lone Star Community Center. The group included several past directors, current employees and family members of Board President Gary Bell. Bells wife Pat said that Bell did not attend because it would have made a quorum which is not allowed under the Texas Open Meetings Act.

Presumably Directors Ann Boykin and Richard Moran were absent for the same reason. Candidates Ron Carmichael, and Richard Blanchard were absent because they were ill, Candidate and moderator Hollis Bradshaw told the group. Candidate Ken Jones was traveling, and the other two candidates possibly did not want to attend a forum with one of the opposition candidates as moderator where they had no previous notice of the rules, or program.

Both Nancy Spivey and Bradshaw spoke about their qualifications and their hopes for Flo CWSC. Both these candidates, and Blanchard and Carmichael are opposing the candidates of the group calling itself The Flo Water Reform Committee.

Several questioned the mailer that the Reform Committee had sent out, with Mrs. Bell saying that she thought that they were trying to make it seem that they represented the Corporation and were telling people how to vote.

Flo WSC member Stan Stevens who had earlier in the meeting been critical of some of the letters in the newspapers about the issues seemed to disagree, asking the group.

“Did you’all get the same one I got?”

“Who gave them permission to form this Committee? Bell also asked.

“They didn’t need permission.” Bradshaw told her.

Interviews and photos of all the candidates for the Flo Water Corporation Board are in this weeks Buffalo Press.

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2007-03-01T07:15:00.000-06:00

Billy Copeland Auctions a Texas Star
At the Lone Star Community Center

2007-03-01T07:06:00.000-06:00

Isn't it good?

Isn’t it good that in America people can differ on issues without acting like they do in Iraq and other foreign places? As Flo folk differ in the upcoming water board election I hope that they remember that we all have a lot more in common with each other than we have differences.

That high, dry wind pulled about four inches of water out of my pond in three days. Did you notice that after pretty good rains that night and in the morning it was blowing dust by afternoon. Then we had and old fashioned dust storm that must have been like it was back in the depression years. Can you remember ever seeing such a dust storm here in Leon County?

Flo Firefighters Ron and Margo Carmichael answered the alarm and helped extinguish a car fire on FM 831 down about Buffalo Creek.

About forty five people attended the Auction at the Lone Star Community Center and Auctioneer Billy Copeland had them rolling in the aisles. It looked like it was worth the cost of whatever you bought just to listen to him work the crowd.

Flo WSC now has a slot in the door for those who need to drop in a ballot, or a payment after hours.

2007-03-01T07:02:00.000-06:00

Flo Water Candidate Withdraws

By Mac Shadix

One candidate on the ballot for the Flo Community Water Corp. Board of Directors no longer wishes to run. Wayne Bennett gave the following statement to the Buffalo Press this weekend; “I Wayne Bennett remove my name for nomination to the Board of Directors for Flo Community Water Supply Corporation.”

Bennett’s name will still appear on the Ballots because they are already printed and should have been mailed on Feb. 26.

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2007-03-01T06:59:00.000-06:00

Flo Boil Water Notice Rescinded

The boil water notice for those areas west of Highway 75 that were experiencing low or no water pressure has been lifted following water tests, according to Flo Water General Manager Jim Martin. As several directors were preparing to help Martin search for the source of the leak, Director Richard Moran found it while walking the eight inch line that runs down the power line right of way.

2007-03-01T06:52:00.000-06:00

2007-03-01T06:48:00.000-06:00

Flo Water Reform Committee Meets

By Mac Shadix

The Flo Water Reform Committee met on Monday night, February 19^th to introduce their consolidated slate of candidates to the committee and to the public. Ninety people attended the meeting in the Buffalo Civic Center to meet the four candidates. Each candidate spoke briefly about their qualifications and about their hopes for Flo Community Water Supply System.

The Reform Committee was formed in January as a result of concerned citizens meeting to discuss recent problems with Flo Water Supply Corporation including; bankruptcy, brown water in a part of the system, multiple line breaks and boil water notices, strained relations with neighboring water systems and concerns about the way meetings were managed and the denial of invoices and records to members and directors and other issues.

The candidates chosen are opposing two of the three appointed current directors who are up for election. Director Richard Moran who has been butting heads with the current administration by seeking change is a member of the Reform Committee. The other three Reform Committee candidates are; Jimmy Davis, Ken Jones and Bob Boettcher. These candidates have agreed to seek new officers for Flo Water, to replace President Gary Bell, Vice President Bobby Pittman who is not seeking reelection, and Secretary-Treasurer Ann Boykin if the Reform Committee achieves a majority on the new Board.

See the Buffalo Press interviews and photos of all the candidates in today’s paper.

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2007-02-22T22:36:00.000-06:00

This tree fell just as I was driving by on Sat. Morning.

2007-02-22T22:33:00.000-06:00

2007-02-22T22:30:00.000-06:00

It wasn’t hard for me to decide what I thought was the most exciting thing to happen around the Flo Crossroads this week. On Saturday morning during those high winds as I was rounding the first curve on FM 831 just about a mile south of the crossroads traveling North, right behind Don Lathrop’s grandson, Dustin Baker, a big pine tree over on Ken Woodard’s place blew down across the fence and fell between Dustin’s pickup and my car. The tree only reached the edge of the road, but with it falling right in front of me, and right behind Dustin it was enough to make me emergency brake, and get off the road on the other side.

Typical of Flo, Dustin turned around to see what had happened and then roared off to Ken and to offer to fix his fence before the cows could get out. Typical of Flo, Dustin didn’t expect any payment for his neighborliness, and also typical of Flo, Ken insisted on paying him.

Flo WSC General Manager Jim Martin called to ask everyone to check their pipes for leaks following the cold snap. My gauge showed about 12 degrees early. Apparently the cold caused problems with the pumps, and Jim has been working day and night for the last three days trying to get everything back in order. If there are any weekender places you watch, check on them, and try to hold down use until the pipes are fixed by the owners.

Tonja, and Steve Post were visitors in Flo over the weekend along with their sons James and Cody. They were helping grandpa, Leon Moore over at the Bar Running M.

The Lone Star Community Center is holding an auction sale on February 24^th at six pm. Viewing of the items will start at five. If you need more information, or want to donate an item you can call 903-322; 4355, 3529, or 903-536-2710.

I received good news this week. My son Luke, who has been a visitor to Flo since he was born, announced that he had proposed to his girlfriend, Amanda McCoy of Timpson. Amanda said yes, and they are expecting to set a date in the middle of June after his older sister, Tasca returns from Scotland where she and her husband and young daughter, Mary Bo live in Edinburgh.

Well, the weather here in Flo has been typical of Texas. Very changeable. If you don’t like it, just wait a minute and it will change. The robins are back in force. The numbers and varieties of birds that live here or pass through Flo is one of the many wonderful features of life here.

2007-02-22T22:25:00.000-06:00

L-R Nancy Spivey, Richard Moran, Hollis Bradshaw, Bobby Pittman and Ann Boykin at special meeting in the Flo Water Offices

2007-02-22T22:23:00.000-06:00

Flo WSC holds special meeting

By Mac Shadix

Following an open records request by a Buffalo Press reporter on Monday morning February 12, the Flo Community Water Supply System held a called meeting on Monday afternoon at five thirty p.m. to adjust their time frames for mailing and receiving documents in relation to the upcoming water board election.

The Buffalo Press reporter had requested a copy of the Procedures for Conducting an Annual Stockholders Meeting. Maverick Flo WSC Director, Richard Moran had placed a request on the agenda of the last meeting of the WSC to; “Discuss and take action on clarifying the procedure used to receive, process and secure the proxy ballots.” No such document had been forthcoming in response to the agenda item but a written policy is called for in the Corporation Bylaws, and hence the Public Records request.

All members of the Board were present at the meeting except for President Gary Bell. Vice President Bobby Pittman presided over the brief meeting. The procedure was amended and no further business was conducted.

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2007-02-14T09:08:00.000-06:00

FLO Annual Stockholders procedures discovered

By Mac Shadix
An open records request to the Flo Community Water Supply Corp. on Monday, February 12^th yielded a printed policy for conducting an Annual Stockholders meeting as required in the Bylaws. For some reason this policy was not mentioned in response to Director Richard Moran’s agenda item at the Thursday February 8^th meeting which read; Discuss and take action on clarifying the procedure used to receive, process and secure the proxy ballots. We will report on the contents of the Procedures Policy in upcoming posts. Moran was trying to find out how the election would be held and his inquiries showed that the privacy of member ballots would not be upheld. That has now been changed to where you can seal your ballots in an envelope and mark it... do not open until election.

2007-02-14T09:06:00.000-06:00

2007-02-14T09:00:00.000-06:00

Yvonne Woodard Addresses the Leon
County Historical Society at LSCC

2007-02-14T08:56:00.000-06:00

The Reddest Redbirds in the World

Flo has to be the home of the reddest redbirds in the world. The Cardinals are always the first to capture my attention with their exuberant red a promise against the sear brown of winter. The Blue Jays are here and the Robins. Early spring is such a wonderful time of year.

Pat Vann of Leona, previously of Houston addressed the Leon County Historical Association at the Lone Star Community Center on Fri. about techniques of genealogical research. Vann has published several books on the topic and has a new one ready for the printers, she said. Among others, Ken and Yvonne Woodard spoke to the group. Ken talked to them about the days when Flo School was in a rock building and said that “The day it burned I am not ashamed to say, I cried.”

Flo’s James Coker is a member of the Beef and Forage Committee of Leon County and he invited me to attend one of their meetings. Coker is this years forage champion for the quality of the hay he presented at contest. The

Beef and Forage committee is planning three events for Leon County this spring, including a discussion of the feral hog program. We will keep you informed of when those events are going to take place.

The Lone Star Community Center is holding an auction on February 24. If you need more information or want to donate an item call 903-322-3529, 903-322-4355 or 903-536-2710. The concession will open at 5 p.m. and the auction start at 6 p.m.

Something occurred this week that I never thought I would live to see. While partaking of the great fish at the Flo Café on Friday night I was served complimentary wine, and homemade chocolate covered cherries. I had my choice of white, or red wine and ever being correct, I chose the white to go with my fish. An added treat was that the fish plate arrived with a shrimp cocktail that was delicious. Margo says that she will open the Flo Café on Saturdays now, soon.

Don’t forget that the Flo News is online now, along with the stories of the Flo Community Water System.

theflonewsonline.blogspot.com

You can also mail your comments or news to;

The Flo News at FM 831 &,

Post Office Box 1511

Buffalo, TX 75831.

Standing room only at Flo WSC

2007-02-14T08:15:00.000-06:00

Vice President Bobby Pittman
Wants an apology

2007-02-14T08:05:00.000-06:00

Large Crowd Attends Meeting of Flo Water Supply Corp.

By Mac Shadix

Proclaiming himself a ‘lame duck’ because he is not seeking reelection, the Vice President of Flo Community Water Supply Corporation, Bobby Pittman presided over the Feb. 8 meeting of the Flo WSC in his own unique style. One of the largest crowds in Flo WSC history was present, estimated at between ninety and one hundred and twenty persons, to witness Pittman tell Director Hollis Bradshaw “Now you sit down and wait” when Bradshaw made a suggestion. Pittman also called the judge in the bankruptcy case, “about half senile.” He also called on Buffalo Press Photojournalist Mac Shadix to apologize to the board for having written that the system which governed the water corp. problems last summer was a “failed experiment in contract management.”

The meeting began with Pittman opening the floor to member’s comments and questions. “Only ask questions and make comments about today’s agenda items.” Pittman directed the audience.

First to ask a question was Member John Dearing. “Wait a minute, I have a question. …..I would like to know what happened to all the money that came in for these thirteen years?” Dearing said as Pittman canvassed the room for those who would like to speak.

Pittman described previous law suits against Flo WSC in a long reply to Dearing. He said in part; that the Board told the driller of a previous disappointing well to, “Move on down the road.” But Pittman added that, “He had a legitimate contract with us and he filed a lawsuit.”

“I am not a candidate for reelection so I can say what I think. Whoever takes over running this board, they got a tough time finding the money for making the repairs that are going to have to be made over the next year or two.” Pittman said.

The arbitration judge in Austin, “…was probably in his ninety’s and about half senile and he wound up ruling that we owed Palestine Water a million dollars.” Pittman continued.

The Flo WSC Vice President continued to talk for several minutes when a voice from the audience called out, “three minute rule.”

“I have all day if I want to talk.” Pittman replied. “Man asked a question and I want him to understand.”

The next questioner was Mike Foucheux. “I would like to know what steps are being taken to improve our water situation?” he asked.

General Manager Jim Martin was directed by Pittman to answer the question and Martin told the audience that the Flo well was supplying most of the system, that the Highway 75 well was offline and that there were ongoing efforts to flush the lines.

Next, a voice from the room said, “I take exception”

“What was your name? Pittman asks.

“Doris Pittman, not your wife.” Doris Pittman replies.

“You are sure right about that.” Vice President Bobby Pittman answered.

“I take exception to some of the facts that you are handing out about decisions that the board made on the lawsuit. I think the lawsuit should have been settled. I don’t think you should have spent $100,000 a year on attorney’s fees and …put us into bankruptcy.” Doris Pittman said.

“I appreciate your comments. Next” Bobby Pittman said.

“My name is Ken Brashears, and I notice reading the paper that you all say that we were not bankrupt, that we filed Ch. 11. I would like you to explain to me what the difference between Ch. 11 and bankruptcy is?” said the next member to address the meeting.

“Well, Ch. 11 in court is recognized as reorganization……If we had gone into bankruptcy we would have said that we owed them a million dollars and walked off from it. As it is we negotiated it down to a half a million dollars, and a payment plan to pay it out.” Pittman told Brashears.

A member in the audience said. “But that cost us $600,000 in lawyer’s fees.”

“Stand up and tell your name and ask your question right.” Pittman told her.

“Well, my name is Vonda Nicholson and I don’t have a question, I have a comment.” She said.

“Well, we are taking questions right now.” Pittman responded.

“Ok, I can make it a question. How much money in the last five years have you paid out in lawyers fees to settle a million dollar lawsuit down to $500,000?” Nicholson asked.

“I don’t know.” Pittman admitted.

“Approximately $600,000.” Nicholson interjected.

The Water Board then moved on to the agenda and approved the minutes of the last meeting and the January Financial, Expense and New member requests without incident.

There was a discussion of item seven which was to discuss and take action on request of a copy of the operating accounts and check and deposit register be provided at each meeting with both Bradshaw and Pittman explaining that it wasn’t needed at the meeting and then General Manager Jim Martin told the group that he planned to include it in Directors packets available to them before meetings so they could have time to study it if need arose.

Item eight was a discussion on procedures used to receive process and secure ballots in the upcoming election. Pittman had Office Manager Delores Bynum describe a process where she opened the ballots and then put them in a locked box.

Vonda Nicholson asked, “Are they sealed or unsealed at that time. Are they in the sealed envelope that we return back to you at that time or are they open?”

The answer was that they were opened.

At that point Director Hollis Bradshaw asked. “Can we let Ann (Boykin) respond to that because she is the Chairman of the Credentials Committee?”

“No. I want Delores to tell how it has been done in the past and then Ann can respond to anything that she wants to. Now you sit down and wait.” Pittman told Bradshaw.

Director Richard Moran pointed out that the Bylaws require that the credentials committee be appointed by the board after the board was told that President Gary Bell had appointed Director Bradshaw, Jim Martin, and Ann Boykin to the committee.

Pittman then called for nominations for the committee and Moran nominated Boykin. Terry Bradshaw volunteered and then Director Bradshaw told Pittman that she was his wife and they sought another volunteer. Mrs. Bradshaw seemed offended that she was not put on the committee. Member John Dearing was then selected to make up the third member of the committee along with Jim Martin and Ann Boykin. They did not address the issue of whether Jim Martin is a member of the Corp. as called for in the Bylaws, Article VI, Section 3.

Vice President Pittman then turned his attention to the press, with which he seemed unhappy.

“Now, before I turn it over to Jim to make his systems report, Mr. Shadix, I feel like you owe the Flo Water and the board an apology. Last month in the paper you came out with an article that said that we had a failed attempt at a contract manager and I am here to dispute that and say that the man did an excellent job, did exactly what we hired him to do. At the time we hired him, you couldn’t hire a licensed man anywhere in the State of Texas to work for Flo Water. Vice President of Flo WSC Pittman said.

Rising to his feet, Shadix, Photojournalist for the Buffalo Press, replied; “I fail to find this on the agenda, Mr. Vice President.”

“Well, I just put it on the agenda. I make the agenda.” Pittman said.

“That is what you do about every meeting isn’t it?” Shadix responded.

“Yeah, if I want to.” Pittman said.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Shadix added.

“You keep a ringing the Enquirer up.” Pittman concluded.

After that exchange, Pittman turned the meeting over to General Manager Jim Martin for the Systems report. Moran said that there had been a payment drop established at Robinsons Ace Hardware in Buffalo to make check or money order payments. Anything left there after noon on the twelfth of each month will be considered late.

Martin reported that they had locked out 21 meters for non payment. There was over $13,000 due the cash strapped utility from non paying members.

He also reported that there was a Flo Water web site up, flocommunitywater.org where notices and information would be posted for the use of members.

Questions were then taken from the floor for some time with more people asking question and contributing opinions.

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Dominoes at the Flo Cafe

2007-02-06T06:57:00.000-06:00

2007-02-06T06:47:00.000-06:00

2007-02-06T06:45:00.001-06:00

theflonewsonline.blogspot.com

Flo is now online, or at least The Flo News is online. You can see the photographs in color; make comments, view 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

You can also mail your comments or news to;

The Flo News at FM 831 &,

Post Office Box 1511

Buffalo, TX 75831.

The Flo news of the week had to be that Flo Community Water Supply President Gary Bell had suffered a heart attack and was to resign from the Flo WSC. There was good news at the Flo WSC members meeting on Friday night when some of those present reported that he was home, and up and about. Modern medicine is wonderful. Everyone wishes Gary a speedy and full recovery.

Margo Carmichael reopened the Flo Café on Friday night after a brief respite in January. The café, in the old Flo Store building is more of a Flo institution than a business. Besides really good catfish in generous portions with all the fixings, one can find conversation with neighbors and occasional domino or forty-two games. Right now the café is open on Friday nights from five till…..Margo reports that she plans to expand the open days fairly soon. You should see what she has done with the place.

The deadline for entries in the new edition of the Leon County History Book is drawing near, according to Earl Hill Moore. He said that a firm date had not been set, but that it would be soon. I have some entries to finish for it and you should make sure that your family history is presented in these wonderful books.

Chase Lee was one of those in attendance at the Friday night meeting. It is wonderful to see young people from Flo who are able to make their home here as adults. It is all too rare nowadays that they can find the economic opportunities close at home.

Jake Stephens of Flo who plays varsity basketball for the Oakwood Panthers was in civilian clothes on the sidelines at the Tuesday night game against Trinidad. He had suffered a concussion in a recent game and had been sidelined. He said that he thought he would be back in uniform for the next game, or that at least he sure hoped so.

The recent run of cold weather and the latest electric bill was enough to get me to hook up my wood heater which has been missing a couple of stovepipe fittings all winter. With that task done one can only wonder….. Can spring be far away? I guess it is a sign of modern life that I am far more concerned with the working of my computer than with the wood stove.

Carolyn Tomko, Nancy Spivey and I stood out in the cold and chatted about Flo, and Flo WSC after the member meeting Friday night. I wound up with a cold after standing out there without a hat. I hope that the ladies didn’t suffer the same fate.

My grandfather said……….One of the stories that I heard about my grandfather J.L. ‘Jack’ Moore was about his first job at the cotton gin at Oden. Oden was located on the banks of Wheelock Creek just north of the Wheelock cemetery. It had a post office and was on the ‘main road’ that we now call ‘The Star Route’. He had to carry a three bushel basket of lint cotton up a twelve step ladder to dump it in the cotton press to be made into a bale. He later remembered it as a very hard job, hot and dusty.

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2007-02-06T06:39:00.000-06:00

Flo Water Board Supporters Rally

By Mac Shadix
Members of Flo Community Water Supply Corporation held a meeting on Friday night at seven p.m. to rally behind the current board of directors. Flo WSC part time employee Carolyn Tomko opened the meeting in the Lone Star Community Center and soon handed it over to candidates for the board of directors.

Nancy Spivey who was appointed to the board this year and is running for a position in the upcoming election told the group of about 35 persons that she was from Flo and had the interests of the community in heart in wanting to serve. She said that she wanted more order at the board meetings and to unite the community behind the WSC.

“Don’t be fooled into thinking that this can be fixed overnight.” She said.

Hollis Bradshaw told the meeting that he had been an army captain and had retired from the Texas Prison System. He said he moved to Leon County when he met and married his wife Terry. He was appointed to the board after complaining to Flo WSC President Gary Bell about the water service and was then enlisted to serve on the board. Bradshaw told the group that Flo WSC had not gone through bankruptcy as has been reported but a Chapter11 reorganization instead. Southeast Water Supply in Centerville was not upset with Flo WSC, he said, after he explained to them that President Gary Bell had just meant that none of the Flo WSC members had called him to complain about low pressure in the system when major leaks along highway seven were spilling out over a million gallons of water.

Newspapers were using spin language he said, when they reported that the board of directors “supposedly” went into executive session to discuss employee bonuses and came out having adjusted payments to General Manager Jim Martin’s health package and created the delegation to go to Southeast Water.

The other candidate for the Flo WSC board, Richard Blanchard, told the group that he was from Pennsylvania, and had stayed in Texas after marrying a Texas woman. His wife works in Houston he said, and they had children in Houston and Dallas and Leon County was conveniently half way. He tried, he said, to be of service to his community and currently cleaned the Lone Star Community Center as a volunteer. He is also a volunteer with the Flo Fire Department.

Member Mack Jackson addressed the group. He told them that a house divided cannot stand, that he wanted peace and quite in Flo, and that they should “vote em in and leave em alone” to applause from the audience.

“If anyone wants to argue with you about the Flo WSC, just tell them; You might be right.” He said.

Former Flo WSC director Johnny Boykin asked the group to support the current board. James Boykin, another former director was also in the audience.

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2007-02-06T06:26:00.000-06:00

Emergency Meeting of Flo Water Board

By Mac Shadix
An emergency called meeting of Flo WSC was held Friday at ll:30 to discuss and put to rest the rumor that Flo WSC was to furnish water to the new Buffalo High School. All directors were present, except for Gary Bell and Nancy Spivey according to Delores Bynum, Office Manager. The meeting was called and presided over by Vice president Bobby Pittman and he stunned the group by announcing that Flo WSC President Gary Bell had suffered a heart attack and was in the hospital in Bryan and that his resignation had been tendered by phone by his wife. Pittman also told those assembled in the Lone Star Community that he, himself, did not intend to seek reelection to his position on the board.

Buffalo Independent School District Superintendent Jackie Thompson confirmed to the Buffalo Press that there had been no consideration of Flo WSC providing water for the new high school. Water for the school will either come from the City of Buffalo or from the school district’s own well Thompson said.

Pittman said that the resignation had not been accepted at this time and that it may not be accepted until after the upcoming elections to give the new board the chance to appoint the director according to reports from those in attendance.

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Pulling the pipe to inspect the Highway 75 well.

2007-02-05T14:10:00.000-06:00

2007-01-29T17:58:00.000-06:00

2007-01-29T17:55:00.000-06:00

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

Buffalo, TX 75831.

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 Colorado now, but I would certainly consider him and “ole Flo boy”, as I have heard him put it. Leon Moore who lived and worked in the Metroplex for many years certainly held Flo and his Bar Running M Ranch in his heart all those years. I would like to hear the stories of many others who have ranged the world, but kept their Flo connections.

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 North Creek Church, but he is a resident of Flo.

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 Star Route near his house on Saturday at noon when a young woman resident of Flo had to be airlifted to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler with injuries suffered in a four wheeler accident. It turned out that her injuries were not as serious as feared. Her name is being withheld at the request of her family. The Flo VFD siren started up, and then you could see the helicopter circling just down the Star Route. Those four wheelers can be a barrel of fun, and very useful, but they are as dangerous as a rattlesnake folks, and everyone should be careful on them.

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) Moore told his children. He said that he could ride all day with grass brushing his feet in the stirrups. The creek channels were deep and the creeks didn’t flood like they do today. There was plenty of wild food and there were few insects that kept things from growing. There were nuts, and several kinds of grapes including; Fox grapes, Mustang, Muskiedine, and possum grapes, and wild plums. Hickory nuts and Black walnuts were growing wild here and there were Pecans in the river bottom and in some of the creeks. There were Huckleberries, Blackberries, dewberries, Mayberries, Mulberries and early and late persimmons growing wild and something bearing fruit in each season.

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.

2007-01-29T17:50:00.000-06:00

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 Bell and Boykin will continue to be on the board as directors.

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.

2007-01-26T20:17:00.000-06:00

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 St. Paul in the rural northeast section of Leon County, and all the directors but one left without comment. Members of the St. Paul, Shiloh, Timesville Water Supply Corporation said that the directors did that whenever they were faced with a majority that seemed to be against them in a meeting. Centerville Attorney, David Murff who had been hired by the members at a previous meeting to represent them spoke to the remaining group and reported to them on attempted negotiations with the President of the WSC, Glen (Peck) Releford of Oakwood. Murff told the group that Relerford had been completely unresponsive to requests for records, and the legal requirements for holding public meetings. The members authorized Murff to proceed with a suit against Relerford and the other officers of the corporation.

Numerous complaints were made against the absent directors to Murff while County Commissioner David Ferguson listened from the audience. Ferguson had been invited to observe by some of the members.

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 87^th 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.

Suit to be filed on St. Paul's Officers

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.

2007-01-25T12:12:00.000-06:00

The whole story of this week at Flo

2007-01-25T11:46:00.000-06:00

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 Leon County farmers and ranchers don’t need another year like 2006.

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 Lone Star Community Center. Donations to the Flo VFD can be made while attending a meeting, or by mailing it to Flo VFD c/o Richard Blanchard 5639 C.R. 382 Buffalo, Tx 75831.

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 Leon County. One of my Grandfathers was J.L. (Jack) Moore who was born in 1853 on the ridge just above Serrisco Creek about a hundred yards south of F.M. 1511. Grandpa Jack passed away a few years before I was born so I never got to hear him tell any stories that he is said to have loved to tell, but my mother, Mary, and uncles Evan, Edell and Alvin and aunt Alice Barnett of Centerville have all told a lot of them and I will start off next week with an account of what Grandpa Jack said that this country was like when he was a boy.

Let me hear your stories and I will try to get them in the column as time and space allow.

-30-

2007-01-25T11:33:00.000-06:00

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 Parker Cemetery were damaged by the recent winds and I heard a chainsaw start up over there on Thursday afternoon. I thought it would be auctioneer and retired Buffalo Ag. Teacher Ed Phillips who is building a fence along the road just past the cemetery turnoff but it was not.

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. County Commissioner David Ferguson has been keeping the roads in good shape but I have noticed this heavy rain pointing out clogged culverts and impaired drainage on some of the roads. I bet our precinct employees will get right on it as soon as it is dry enough though. Ferguson is working to get some of the heaviest traveled roads oil topped. I hardly knew the Star Route when I followed it home from Buffalo the other day.

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

Buffalo, TX 75831.

Items will be used depending on space available and at our discretion of course.

2007-01-25T11:26:00.000-06:00

The Flo News

2007-01-11T08:55:00.000-06:00

The Flo News Jan. 7, 2007

Reprinted by permission of the Buffalo Press

Welcome to the Flo News in the Buffalo Press. This column is going to be a combination of the old with the new. There will be community news, interviews, historical stories, comments and photographs in the new Flo News. The Flo News ran in the Buffalo Press for many years and in this sense this is a revival of something old.

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 Leon County will be the home country for The Flo News.

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

Buffalo, TX 75831.

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 Leon County. All of my grandparents and both my parents were born in Leon County, my mother; Mary (Moore) Shadix was born across the creek from Parker Cemetery to J.L. (Jack) and Eva (Shaw) Moore. My father, Ellis B. Shadix, was born in the Pleasant Ridge community, (between Centerville and Midway) to Clark and Helen (Sherman) Shadix. The property where I live has been in my family since the 1880’s and I have had some form of dwelling on it since my uncle Edell Moore helped me build a small house there in 1975.

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 America.

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.....

2007-01-11T08:30:00.001-06:00

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 Waco in the amount of $6639.42 to pull and lay down pipe from the well, do a downhole TV survey to approximately 700feet, and reinstall and test the equipment in an attempt to restore the well to use.

Flo water meeting erupts into heated exchanges

2007-01-11T08:20:00.000-06:00

Reprinted by permission of the Buffalo Press Jan. 9, 2007

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 Texas law.

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. 9^th 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 Lone Star Community Center and the ballot form was approved. Director Pittman who is elected, will face the voters, as will recently appointed directors Bradshaw, Spivey and Moran.

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.” Bell said. “Give the man a chance.”

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.