Local News
Fannin County Commissioners Court proclaims April 2025 is Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Fannin County
By Allen Rich
Apr 11, 2025
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Fannin County, Texas -- All five members of Fannin County Commissioners Court were present for a regular meeting held Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

The meeting opened with an invocation by Keri Lucas, pastor at McKenzie United Methodist Church in Honey Grove, and pledges were led by Major James Manis (Ret.).

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Fannin County Judge Newt Cunningham recognized Honey Grove Police Chief Leigh Dixon and Savoy Mayor Roger Cada in attendance.

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Commissioners court approved payment of bills totaling $109,932.24.

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With one minor correction, commissioners court approved minutes from regular meetings on April 16, 2024 and May 14, 2024.

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Report of monies received by County Clerk’s Office for March 2025; All courts combined $20,490.06, Land Records: $36,812.25.

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Report of monies received by District Clerk’s Office for March 2025; $19,494.55.

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Report of monies received by Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 for March 2025; $15,170.50.

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Report of monies received by Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 for March 2025; $11,252.00.

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Report of monies received by Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 for March 2025; $7,948.00.

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Commissioners court approved Auditor Monthly Reports for February 2025.

Fannin County Auditor Alicia Whipple reported $375,300.20 in revenue and $964,427.13 in expenses, resulting in a monthly difference of -$589,126.93

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Discussion, consideration and action items:

Commissioners court approved a Proclamation stating that April 2025 is Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Fannin County.

The Fannin County Family Crisis Center serves victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and in April the organization brings awareness to sexual assault survivors.
 
Sexual violence is an issue that affects people of every age, gender, and background.
 
According to the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault:

70% of sexual assaults are committed by a perpetrator known or related to the victim

2 in 5 women in Texas have been sexually assaulted

1 in 5 men in Texas has been sexually assaulted

6.3 million Texans have experienced some form of sexual assault in their lifetime

Over 90% of sexual assault survivors do not report to law enforcement

"These numbers are staggering but behind every number is a real person, a survivor, a story," explained Amanda McDonald, Executive Director, Fannin County Family Crisis Center in a written statement. "We often associate sexual assault with strangers or far-away stories, but the truth is, this issue touches every community including ours here in Fannin County. That’s why the work of the Fannin County Family Crisis Center is so vital. Every day, we provide confidential advocacy, crisis intervention, safety planning, counseling referrals, and support to survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones. We believe that no one should walk this path alone, and we are committed to standing beside them every step of the way.
 
"We’re also proud to share that we are actively working to bring a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program to Fannin County. This initiative will ensure that survivors have access to compassionate, trauma-informed medical care and forensic exams right here at home, without having to travel long distances during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Bringing this program to our county is not just about services, it’s about dignity, healing, and justice.
 
"This month, as we proclaim April Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Fannin County, we honor survivors and commit to being a community that listens, believes, and supports. We also recognize that awareness is just the beginning. Together, we must continue to educate, advocate, and work toward a future free from sexual violence.

"On behalf of the Fannin County Family Crisis Center, thank you for your support and for standing with us in this important work."

Members of Fannin County Commissioners Court stands with employees and supporters of Fannin County Family Crisis Center. photo by Lisa Loiselle

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By a 3-1 vote, commissioners court approved paying Fite & Associates $974.00 for a survey of 5 acres on Silo Road and refunding BEDCO $5,820.00 for Environmental Survey performed on 5 acres at Silo Road, with money to come from the Justice Center fund. The county was in the process of selling these five acres to BEDCO when it was discovered the land was encumbered by a lien.

Pct. 2 Commissioner A.J. Self, Pct. 4 Commissioner Doug Kopf and Judge Cunningham voted in favor of the agenda item, Pct. 1 Commissioner Troy Waggoner abstained and Pct. 3 Commissioner Kurt Fogelberg cast the opposing vote.

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Commissioners court approved a Child Welfare Services agreement between Fannin County and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services regarding maintaining the Fannin County Child Welfare Board.

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Commissioners court voted to approve a Special Exception application to reduce road frontage from 100’ to a minimum of 60’ for lot 6 of The Ranch of Bois d’Arc development off of Highway 82 in Dodd City, Property ID# 99317.

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Commissioners court voted to approve Change in Zoning application for approximately 10 acres; from A&R Agriculture and Ranching District to RE, Rural Estate Single Family District on CR 2955 in Dodd City, Property ID# 142695.

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Commissioners court approved moving $2,140.00 from Contingency to 100-591-4540, R&M Auto for Development Services, for the purchase of 4 new tires for the 2018 Ford F150 truck and insurance claim deductible overage.

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Commissioners court approved the purchase of four new tires for the Development Services Ford F150 truck; $900.00.

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Commissioners court voted to add additional phone/cellular lines for four county offices at a cost not to exceed $600.00, with the money coming from Contingency.

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Commissioners court passed on the next agenda item due to the fact that North Texas Auctioneers is already listed as an approved auctioneer for county auctions. Commissioners discussed the process to sell at auctions.

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Commissioners court approved leasing a recycler/reclaimer from Buy Board for Precinct 3 for $21,736.00 monthly.

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Commissioners court voted to update the Fannin County Law Library and assure public access to the public library.

The county's outdated paper law library was placed in storage during courthouse restoration; now the law library is only accessible from one computer terminal in the DA's office.

"Within a couple of weeks, if this is approved, we can have a website up," Judge Cunningham predicted before the vote, adding that the county law library will be accessible by cell phone and the cost will be negligible.

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Commissioners court held a lengthy discussion regarding additional work at the Justice Center.

Brad Isbell, president of Eikon Consulting Group, was available in court, and Mike Cohen, senior project manager at Crossland Construction, arrived shortly afterwards.

Judge Cunningham urged moving forward to minimize the accrual of extra costs.

A wall was omitted between court side and county side of the Justice Center and the building's roof apparently has serious issues.

Cohen said that the wall, estimated to cost $30,000, would be paid for out of Crossland Construction's contingency fund.

Commissioner Fogelberg asked about a door that would need to be placed in the wall and was told that will be an additional cost.

"We are looking at a roof that is in bad shape," Cunningham told Isbell and Cohen. "We were led to believe it was in good shape."

Minutes from a meeting verified that a representative of Eikon had assured the county that the roof was in good shape. Two independent inspectors have reported serious issues with the roof.

"We counted on your expertise," Cunningham told Isbell.

However, the county can't produce documentation of the condition of the roof when the county purchased the building.

Commissioner Waggoner pointed out that repairs were made with incompatible materials.

"The roof looks terrible," Judge said after examining it personally.

A new roof could cost $1 million.

Cohen suggested bringing in manufacturers' representatives to examine issues with the roof. He is hopeful the roof can be properly repaired with the correct materials.

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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding a decision between grading and asphalt (approx. $215,000.00) or grading and concrete (approx. $576,100.00) for the Justice Center parking lot. The county will need a detailed civil design of the parking lot to get a more accurate cost estimate.

Cunningham said he is not in a rush mode; he would prefer to wait and see what money is available at that stage of the project.

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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding the supplemental and modification section to the current purchasing manual.

Next week the court will likely vote on exceptions on items under $50,000.

Fannin County resident Jason Walker asked why timely communication between county employees continues to be an issue because every week commissioners court expresses frustration with Purchase Orders and vendors.

"It seems we have a lot of problems with purchasing," Walker surmised.

Walker also questioned the authority of Fannin County Fire Marshal Troy Hudson to enforce the fire code until Hudson receives additional training.

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    It is doubtful that anyone knows more about the historic statue of James Butler Bonham that graces the southeast corner of the Fannin County Courthouse square in downtown Bonham, or Allie Tennant, the internationally known Dallas sculptor who created this homage in bronze to a fallen hero of the Alamo, than former Texas State Historian, Light Cummins. Cummins even wrote a biography of Allie Victoria Tennant, a Dallas sculptor who lived from 1892 to 1971.
  • Voices of the past: The history of Bonham as told in the Bonhi Weekly
    Old copies of the Bonhi Weekly dating back to 1918 are brittle and yellowed with age now, but fortunately they were safely stored away by a wise librarian, Glenda Meador, who appreciated the history those crumbling pages represent. Back in 1928, the University of Texas gave its 1,200 incoming freshmen an English exam designed to divide the class into sections based on aptitude. Of the 1,200 first-year students, only 27 received a grade of 90 or above. No one should be surprised to know that Austin High ranked first in Texas with five graduates deserving of an “A.” But would you believe Bonham High School tied Dallas High for second place?
  • Fannin County once stretched to the Panhandle
    On November 28, 1839, upon motion by Daniel Rowlett, the Republic of Texas expanded the western boundary to include land that later became Grayson, Collin, Cooke, Denton, Montague, Wise, Clay, Jack, Wichita, Archer, Young, Wilbarger, Baylor, Throckmorton, Hardeman, Foard, Knox, Haskell, Stonewall, King, Cottle, and Childress counties, as well as parts of Hunt and Collingsworth counties.
  • Celebrating community at the annual Gober BBQ
    (L-R) Robyn Dockery, Regina Wallace and Jaylen Wallace were working hard on the serving line to keep up with the crowd at the annual Gober BBQ on Sunday, June 22, 2025. As you would expect of one of the oldest counties in North Texas, Fannin County has a rich heritage of close-knit agricultural communities with traditional celebrations.
  • New faces at Ft. Inglish
    Ft. Inglish Village welcomes new staff members Don and Jo Cofer. They bring a love of history and many skills to help maintain the various buildings and attractions at Ft. Inglish. There is no charge to visit the Fort, but donations are appreciated.
  • Steaks on Main cook-off and free concert attracts large crowd to Bonham
    Cory Morrow headlined the Fannin Agricultural Association's 3rd Annual Steaks on Main cook-off and free concert in historic downtown Bonham. Some of the region's best grilling teams competed for $5,000 of prize money in the cook-off but the biggest winners may be local FFA organizations and 4-H clubs that benefit from this event's proceeds and carry on the area's proud agricultural tradition.
  • Bountiful blueberries: Walker’s Legacy
    Fannin County is home to several outstanding fruit farms, including peaches and strawberries. The Andy and Debra Walker’s multigenerational blueberry patch is one that fruit enthusiasts won't want to miss. Forty years ago, seven hundred blueberry plants were meticulously planted by Harold and Oleta Walker, a pair of farmers always fighting to be ahead of the next big trend.
  • Beyond production: The hazards of Battery Energy Storage Systems
    As the world embraces cleaner energy and electric vehicles (EVs), the production of renewable energy and its storage is driving a shift towards more sustainable technology. However, behind this transition lies a growing concern. Lithium, a key component in batteries, presents significant environmental and safety hazards that are often overlooked.
  • Heritage and culture highlight celebration in Bonham
    Heritage Day Festival headliner Josh Weathers performs for the crowd Saturday night in historic downtown Bonham, Texas. During the annual Bonham Heritage Day Festival, residents paid homage to the original inhabitants of this region -- the Caddo Nation -- and to the intrepid French trappers who ventured up from New Orleans in the 1700s in search of pelts.
  • Bonham to recognize important role of bois d'arc during Heritage Day May 3
    The public is invited to the planting of a "special" bois d'arc tree on the grounds of the historic Fannin County Courthouse at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2025, during Bonham Heritage Day. The tree was picked out and donated by Texoma’s very own and well-known bois d'arc tree expert, John Baecht, who will have a bois d’arc woodworking station set up on the grounds of the courthouse and will be doing demonstrations the remainder of the day for Heritage Day. What better way to celebrate Bonham / Fannin County’s relationship with bois d’arc than on Bonham Heritage Day.
  • Upper Trinity’s Lake Ralph Hall Project restores historic streams
    Water is flowing through five new streams in North Texas this spring, bringing life back to areas impacted for decades by severe erosion and habitat loss. Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) restored the streams as part of environmental mitigation for future Lake Ralph Hall, Texas’s newest major lake under construction near Ladonia.
  • Prehistoric and Caddo artifacts on display at Fannin County Courthouse
    In conjunction with Heritage Day and the Vive le Bois d’Arc celebration on May 3, the Fannin County Museum of History is delighted to have a display of prehistoric and Caddo artifacts in the display case on the 2nd floor of the Fannin County Courthouse.
  • A Bonham legacy at our feet
    You walk into the Credit Union of Texas, Don Toro or Studio 94 on the east side of the Bonham square, into Belle Rae's on the north, into Blessing & Butterflies or The Curiosity Shop on Main south of the Courthouse: do you look down? What do you see when you cross the threshold into these businesses? Do you see Bonham's past?
  • Bonham postcards on display at Fannin County Courthouse
    Bonham resident Kay Sisk has collected postcards of Bonham for many years, finding them at trade shows and estate sales. Some of the postcards were given away free by local businesses, and some were sold. The Fannin County Museum of History asked Kay to display some of her postcards in the display case on the 2nd floor of the courthouse.
  • Mabel Gilbert – Early Fannin County pioneer
    Please join us at the March meeting of the Fannin County Historical Commission on March 18 at 6:00 p.m. to learn about the contributions of Mabel Gilbert, a very early Fannin County pioneer, to Fannin County, Dallas and points west. Deborah Cornelius has written a historical novel about his remarkable life and times. Join us at 6:00 p.m. on March 18 at the Fannin County Historical Commission’s office at 1 Center Street in Bonham to meet Deborah and learn about Mabel Gilbert’s time in Fannin County.
  • 'A Time Before Texas' presentation attracts large crowd to Honey Grove
    A large crowd filled Lyday Hall at Honey Grove Library & Learning Center on Saturday, March 1, 2025, to hear what local archeologist Cody Davis and his cohorts discovered in the area that is now covered by Bois d'Arc Lake.
  • New residents find a new fight: sand and gravel mining in Fannin County
    When Kalin and Tricia moved their young family from the city to rural Fannin County, it was a dream they had worked and saved to make come true -- to escape the noise and chaos of the metroplex for a peaceful existence, surrounded by woodlands, wildlife and serenity. Then they heard bulldozers clearing trees.
  • Smithsonian highlights the experiences and impact of Japanese war brides in new traveling exhibition
    "Japanese War Brides: Across a Wide Divide" begins a national tour December 14 at Irving Archives and Museum in Irving, Texas. These young women left their homes to build lives within the complexities of postwar American society. Their experiences reshaped communities by challenging immigration laws and race relations. The arrival of these brides marked the largest women-only immigration event in U.S. history and, by 1960, had increased the population of Asian Americans in the U.S. by 10%.
  • Give a gift of Fannin County history
    The Fannin County Museum of History has several Fannin County history books for sale that might be just perfect for someone you know. The books are available for purchase at the Museum and are also available on Amazon.
  • Historic Christmas newspaper front pages from Fannin County
    Historic Fannin County newspapers often featured beautiful front pages for their Christmas editions. An exhibit of these newspapers is now on display on the 2nd Floor of the Fannin County Courthouse. Visit the courthouse during this season to view this display and beautiful decorations.
  • Lake Ralph Hall update: Five streams are springing to life
    Upper Trinity's contractors are finishing up construction on five new streams near future Lake Ralph Hall, which will flow into the North Sulphur River. The newly connected tributary streams are naturally beginning to flow with rainwater this fall, bringing life back to areas impacted for decades by severe erosion and loss of habitat. Restoring the tributaries of the river to their natural, curved paths helps mitigate the area's severe erosion and provide previously lost habitat.
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