Lake Texoma news Archives

TAPS suspends service for 90 days

BJ Kirkpatrick Lake Texoma news 01/07/201607/23/2025

TAPS Public Transit By Allen Rich | January 7, 2016

Sherman — In an effort to reorganize while adjacent Rural Transit Districts provide emergency service coverage, Texoma Area Paratransit System (TAPS) Board of Directors announced that TAPS would suspend service up to, but no more than, 90 days. The suspension of services will occur as soon as possible.

For residents of Fannin and Grayson counties, emergency service coverage will be provided by Ark-Tex Council of Governments, which assists local governments in Bowie, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Morris, Red River and Titus counties in northeast Texas, as well as Miller County in southwest Arkansas.

A resolution passed Wednesday afternoon at a regular meeting of the board of directors instructed TAPS CEO Tim Patton “to facilitate a seamless transition to these emergency services including, but not limited to, transfer of fleet, communications with customers, and other assistance or information as necessary.”

With adjacent Rural Transit Districts utilizing TAPS buses and employees, Patton is hopeful TAPS riders will experience very little change in service.

Board members directed Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials to allocate sufficient funds from the current TAPS grant program to adjacent Rural Transit Districts in order to pay for emergency service coverage.

“This is a very positive step in the eyes of TxDOT and other agencies,” remarked Patton.

“We believe this is a positive move going forward,” echoed Fannin County Judge Spanky Carter, chairman of the TAPS board. “We are all focused on turning this thing around.”

Patton was also directed by the board to prepare, for board approval, a detailed start-up plan for the six county areas, including the urbanized area of Sherman, to be implemented at the end of the 90-day suspension period. The TAPS CEO will also develop appropriate financial and managerial oversight procedures and controls.

At the same time, TAPS personnel have been directed by the resolution to “investigate, find, and deliver by January 11, 2016 all documentation available to support the approximately $930,000 of undocumented reimbursements associated with the findings in the TxDOT Audit Report.”

The $930,000 has already been drawn down, however at the time TAPS employees failed to appropriately substantiate how the funds were used.

TAPS personnel are also expected to prepare a recovery plan which meets all requirements of the Federal Transit Administration and finalize an agreement with the IRS that is acceptable to the Federal Transit Administration.

TAPS will seek to engage consulting services to direct and/or assist these efforts.

A subcommittee consisting of Carter, Grayson County Judge Bill Magers (vice-chair of the TAPS board), and Terrence Steele (secretary/treasurer of the TAPS board) will supervise this effort and make decisions as necessary during the process.

“First, we have to get our house in order,” Carter said, “but we are going to get this turned around.”

First published in North Texas eNews on January 7, 2016, reprinted with permission from publisher.

Lake Texoma Association Bash for Cash

BJ Kirkpatrick Entertainment, Lake Texoma news 10/18/201507/23/2025

Lake Texoma Association is holding their biggest fundraiser of the year at Tanglewood Resort and Conference Center on October 30, 2015. It will be a fun day starting with a golf tournament at the Tanglewood Golf club. This is your chance to win a free truck if you make a hole in one sponsored by Hoyte Dodge RAM Chrysler Jeep. The tournament will be a 4 man scramble with at 10 am shotgun start.

The “Bash” begins at 6:30 with free wine and beer followed by a dinner of Prime rib, mashed potato bar and other tasty treats prepared by the Tanglewood Chefs. DJ Jessica Pruett will keep the entertainment and dancing going during the evening. There will be an awesome live and silent auction.

Since this year the “Bash” has a Halloween theme, be sure to wear a costume and enter the best costume contest. Fun Halloween activities are also scheduled for children with child care provided for $20. The Halloween March and Trick or Treating will start off the evenings activities for the kids followed by Pizza, lemonade and apple slices. Games will begin at 7:30 pm followed by a Movie and popcorn to finish off the evening.

Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Lake Texoma Association. LTA was incorporated in the Stae of Oklahoma on December 13, 1954 with the mission to promote and protect Lake Texoma. The Lake Texoma Association is very much like a chamber of commerce, but with one major difference… the very diverse membership. Not just an organization of businesses and business people, LTA is made up of all types of concerned individuals who want to keep Lake Texoma the superb recreational and business area it is today.

Call the Lake Texoma Association office for tickets & information at 580-564-2334

Camp Dragonfly Oct. 9-11

BJ Kirkpatrick Lake Texoma news 09/05/201507/23/2025

Registration for Camp Dragonfly is now open. Camp Dragonfly is a weekend retreat, led by professional clinicians and trained staff, for children ages 8-12 who have suffered the death of a loved one. All activities at Camp Dragonfly are designed to help children heal and live successfully after loss. During the weekend, campers have the opportunity to participate in art activities, games, nature hikes, discussions, and a campfire with s’mores.

“Some people have the impression that going to grief camp ‘only brings up sad thoughts’,” said Camp Director, Jolene Senek, LBSW, CT, GC-C. “While it may bring up a few tears, attending camp can actually give kids their voice back and help them discover that they are not alone in their grief. Campers learn ways to process feelings and treasure memories. Camp is not about forgetting, it is about healing. It’s amazing that kids can be serious and very focused while working on remembering exercises, and then be ready to play in an instant as activities shift.”

Children grieve differently than adults. Some children have behavioral problems, some struggle with schoolwork, some become argumentative or fearful, some hesitate to be away from a parent, and many don’t like to be alone. Children dealing with grief often feel isolated as well as feeling that no one understands. One of the goals of Camp Dragonfly is to give the campers a chance to be with others who can relate to their feelings of grief and sadness and to help them realize that they are not alone. The campers often report feeling better after attending camp.

“My child very much enjoyed camp,” said a parent whose daughter attended an earlier version of camp. “She has always felt different from other children and camp seemed to make her feel like she belonged. She even wanted to go to summer camp when she thought it was a week-long Camp Dragonfly! The grief counselor I talked to was awesome! She was very honest and straightforward with me. She even asked how I was handling everything.”

Parents participate in a mini-camp designed to not only provide them with resources, but insight as to how children grieve. “Our hope is to equip them as a family unit to cope with their loss in a way that allows them to support each other,” says Senek.

The fall session of Camp Dragonfly is scheduled for October 9-11 at All Saints Camp on Lake Texoma, 418 Stanton Way, in Pottsboro, Texas. If you know a child who might benefit from participating, contact Jolene Senek at (903) 868-9315 or jolene.senek@homehospice.org. You can also download the application and learn more about this camp at http://www.HomeHospice.org/.

The application deadline for the October session is September 11, 2015.

Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke and Fannin Counties is a 501(c)(3) local community-based organization founded in 1982. Our mission is to provide compassionate, quality care, emotional support and education to our patients, their caregivers and the community. We value those we serve as they are our neighbors, our friends and our families.