Texas Department of Transportation press release. The application deadline is March 31,2023

AUSTIN – The Don’t Mess With Texas® Scholarship Contest is now accepting applications for the 2023 school year.

Any Texas high school senior currently attending public, private or home school, and planning to attend an accredited Texas college or university in the fall 2023 semester is eligible to apply. Judges will select winners based on the students’ proven results in leading projects or efforts focused on educating communities about the importance of keeping our state clean and litter-free.

Presented in partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful, the Don’t Mess With Texas Scholarship Contest will award a total of $9,000 in scholarships in May 2023. The 2023 scholarship contest awards are sponsored by iHeart Media and Ozarka.

“It’s imperative that future generations understand they are empowered to create long-term solutions that can transform their environment and communities into ones that are litter-free,” said Martha Martin, section director of services, projects and campaigns.

Don’t Mess With Texas has been educating Texans about litter prevention since 1986. The program includes a grassroots partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful, annual “Trash-Off” community outreach events and the Adopt-a-Highway volunteer program.

To apply for the Don’t Mess With Texas Scholarship contest, visit Online dontmesswithtexas.org. Applications must be received via online submission by 5 pm (CST) March 31, 2023.

For media inquiries, contact TxDOT Media Relations at MediaRelations@txdot.gov or 512-463-8700.

Don’t Mess With Texas^® is a registered trademark of the Texas Department of Transportation.

By Mary Jane Farmer, from info provided by Van Alstyne Police and the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Website. Names of suspects are not posted until or unless indicted by the Grand Jury.

About 8:20 p.m. Sunday (May 14), police were on a routine traffic stop on southbound US Highway 75, when notified about an apparent altercation between two people moving northward in heavy traffic on the same highway. The officer, as reported by Van Alstyne Police Corporal Sharalyn Criswell, was able to locate and get the vehicle stopped. Inside it, Criswell said, were spouses, with the wife driving and the husband in the front passenger seat. Also occupying the vehicle were three children, ages 3, 8, and 9 years.

The officer determined that the husband’s actions, inside the car, “intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, by act or omission, placed (the) 3 children younger than age 15 years in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment.”  His spouse had bodily injury.

The officer jailed the suspect, a Sherman man, on one count of Class A Misdemeanor Assault Causing Bodily Injury and three counts of 2^nd-degree Felony Child Endangerment.

At the Grayson County Jail, a magistrate set bail on the four charges at a total of $16,500, which the suspect was posted on Tuesday for his release.

Shelly New and Jeffery Brooks, of The Bodarks

Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer

The Bodarks set up — twice — for their following at Wales Manor Saturday night (Aug. 18, 2018), the first time on the outdoor stage, as per normal at this amphitheater-style venue in New Hope/McKinney. The second time was just in the nick of time, as thunder and lightning kicked through the area. The rain stayed away until they had all the equipment inside, but then kicked in big time.

The crowd stayed, taking their lawn chairs inside, after some of them helped transfer the band’s sound equipment from out yonder to in here. And the hootenanny began.  Jeff, Shelly, Bob, and Daniel —guitar and banjo, fiddle, doghouse bass, and mandolin respectively — carried the crowd, mixed with super fans and newcomers to The Bodarks — through two hours of pickin’ and singin’ as only The Bodarks can bring it.

The band put together a free raffle for ticket-holders, and gave away a free T-shirt and CD.

Inside the Wales Manor building

And as usual, the kids had a great time. First, outside, while The Bodarks set up, the waterguns came out, were loaded and reloaded and loaded again. Inside, several of them played the fruit-shaped maracas the band always leaves out for such shenanigans.

This week, Saturday night, brings the Kevin Deal Band to Wales Manor, 4488 County Road 408, New Hope/McKinney. Downbeat at 7:15 pm.

For more photos, click here:

Feel free to download any photos, no charge.