COUNTY LIFE
Restoring cemetery markers is more than just business for Pearson
By DANI BLACKBURN
[email protected]
Mark Pearson of Pearson’s Services has spent the last weeks improving headstones at the Nocona Cemetery in what he calls a labor of love.
Pearson was contacted by local citizen Robert Terry, who has worked the last 11 years to create a database for the Nocona Cemetery.
He also has spent countless hours searching for the names of unmarked graves and recently, new headstones were put in the place of those names he discovered. Identifying 144 headstones that were in the most need of cleaning and repair was the next step.
Terry had concerns the distance would be too far for Pearson, but he reached out in hopes of bringing the service to the community. The Hemphill native was willing to stop in Nocona and take a look on his way through to another job.
“As long as it is cost effective it isn’t’ a problem. I was actually going to Oklahoma to consult on another cemetery, so I stopped on my way through and he showed me the list for the project,” recalled Pearson.
After Pearson visited and agreed to do the job, Terry approached the Nocona City Council to ask for funding from the cemetery bequeath fund and it was approved.
“When Terry contacted me, I was winding down since I had done so many for the year. I had been gone all the time and wanted to rest and had even booked at rip to Washington to see monuments, but I feel fate brought me here if you will,” said Pearson.
After doing 10,000 graves this year, the Nocona project of 144 was on the smaller scale for the company, so Pearson got to work with only one employee, Allen Mills.
Read the full story in the weekend News.
(Center) Lynetta Slaton, lieutenant/support services with the Bowie Police Department was honored with a party Tuesday celebrating her 50th year working with the City of Bowie. She received a Bowie knife plaque in a surprise reception. Her son, Bo Slaton, and mom, LaVelle Boudreaux are pictured. Slaton is the longest serving city employee. (Courtesy photo)
Rainfall continues to push local lake levels upward.
As of May 17 Lake Nocona was 85.8% full at 825.51 mean sea level. It is full at 827.5 msl. One month ago it was at 67.3 msl.
Lake Amon G. Carter continues to be more than 100% full at 921.59%. It is full at 920 msl. One month ago it was 91.4% full at 918.85 ms.
Early voting begins May 20 and run through May 24 in the 30th Senatorial District runoff election for both the Democratic and Republican Party Primaries.
In the March primaries due to the large number of candidates no one received the necessary majority. The seat became vacant when Sen. Drew Springer (R-Muenster) decided not to seek re-election.
On the Democratic ticket, voters will choose between Michael Braxton and Dale Frey. On the Republican ticket Brent Hagenbuch and Jace Yarbrough battle it out. The winner in each party will face off in the November general election.
Early voting for the runoff runs May 20-24 from 7 a.m. to 7 p..m. at the Montague County Courthouse Annex Community Room. This is the only location for early voting.
On election voting polls will be located in the courthoue annex, Bowie Senior Citizens Center, Nocona City Hall and Saint Jo Civic Center. They will be open 7 a.m.. to 7 p.m.
Those who voted in the March primary can only cast ballots in that party primary, voters cannot switch parties. Those who did not vote in the primary can vote in either party primary.
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