A Rare Medium Well Done Thursday January 22 2015 Volume 129 50¢ Number 45 Established in 1886 • Naples' Oldest Business Institution P.O. Box 39, 110 Main Street, Naples, TX 75568-0039 • Phone 903-897-2281 • Fax 903-897-2095 • e-mail themonitor@valornet.com • Hometown Newspaper of Susan Riddle of Saluda, North Carolina • Penalties for delinquent accounts County property taxes due by January 31 Property taxes are due by January 31 or they become delinquent on February 1 each year. There is a postponement of the delinquency date to February 2 this year due to January 31 falling on the week end according to Summer Golden, Chief Appraiser for the Morris County Appraisal District. “Under the Texas Property Tax Code, taxes not paid before this date each year become delinquent and begin to accrue penalty and interest,” she said. A 6-percent penalty and a 1percent interest charge will be added to taxes that are considered delinquent. Taxes that are outstanding will continue to increase at the combined rate of 2-percent per month until July 1. After July 1, the interest will accrue to 1-percent per month plus attorney fees. Failure to receive notice of taxes owed is not an excuse because under the Texas Property Tax Code, the taxes are owed on the property whether or not a tax bill is received. If a property owner does not receive one, it is the taxpayer’s responsibility to contact the appraisal district or tax entity. There are several ways in which the taxpayer can help save on the property taxes. While it is too late to help with the 2014 taxes now due, there are ways to save money on the 2015 taxes. Mrs. Golden said the appraisal district offers a pamphlet to taxpayers which explains how property tax system in Texas works and possible ways for tax savings. One example is the homestead exemption. A homeowner can qualify for the exemption by owning the house on January 1 and using it as the primary residence January 27 is chosen for event Wesley ground-breaking set Members of the Wesley Fellowship board recently met to finalize plans for building a new home for the Wesley Ministry, and a ground breaking ceremony has now been set for Tuesday, January 27, 2015. The Wesley Fellowship, created in 2003 has been actively serving Northeast Texas Community College students, faculty, and staff. The group meets for food and fellowship each Tuesday and until recently provided a free lunch prepared and served by local United Methodist Churches, along with other churches throughout our community. Currently, the ministry serves an average of 60 students each week. Meeting space has always been a challenge for Wesley as NTCC’s student body and student organizations have seen considerable growth over the past few years. Occasionally, meetings must be relocated due to competition for meeting space. Aaron Dudley, Wesley director, has overseen continued growth during his tenure. In 2006, the board received an opportunity to purchase land adjacent to the college property and soon after began raisingfunds necessary to build a permanent home for Wesley. After years of prayers, It was a time for reminiscing last week when former Naples resident Hayden G. Lee sent us the following piece of nostalgia. "Some of these things I can really remember," he said. "And it should stir lots of memories for others." The author is unkown. ====•==== A little house with three bedrooms, one bathroom and one car on the street. A mower that you had to push to make the grass look neat. In the kitchen on the wall we only had one phone, And no need for recording things, someone was always home. We only had a living room where we would congregate, unless it was at mealtime in the kitchen where we ate. We had no need for family rooms or extra rooms to dine. When meeting as a family those two rooms would work out fine. We only had one TV set and channels maybe two, But always there was one of them with something worth the view. For snacks we had potato chips that tasted like a chip. And if you wanted flavor there was Lipton’s onion dip. Store-bought snacks were rare because my mother liked to cook and nothing can compare to snacks in Betty Crocker’s book. Week ends were for family trips or staying home to play. We all did things together — even go to church to pray. When we did our week end trips depending on the weather, no one stayed at home because we liked to be together. Sometimes we would separate to do things on our own, but we knew where the others were without our own cell phone. Then there were the movies with your favorite movie star, and nothing can compare to watching movies in your car. Then there were the picnics at the peak of summer season, pack a lunch and find some trees and never need a reason. Get a baseball game together with all the friends you know, have real action playing ball — and no game video. Remember when the doctor used to be the family friend, and didn’t need insurance or a lawyer to defend? The way that he took care of you or what he had to do, at that time. For more information on taxes due, call the Morris County Appraisal District at 903•645•5601. because he took an oath and strived to do the best for you. Remember going to the store and shopping casually, and when you went to pay for it you used your own money? Nothing that you had to swipe or punch in some amount, and remember when the cashier person had to really count? The milkman used to go from door to door, And it was just a few cents more than going to the store. There was a time when mailed letters came right to your door, without a lot of junk mail ads sent out by every store. The mailman knew each house by name and knew where it was sent; there were not loads of mail addressed to “present occupant.” There was a time when just one glance was all that it would take, and you would know the kind of car, the model and the make. They didn’t look like turtles trying to squeeze out every mile; they were streamlined, white walls, fins and really had some style. One time the music that you played whenever you would jive, was from a vinyl, big-holed record called a forty-five. The record player had a post to keep them all in line and then the records would drop down and play one at a time. Oh sure, we had our problems then, just like we do today and always we were striving, trying for a better way. Oh, the simple life we lived still seems like so much fun, how can you explain a game, just kick the can and run? And why would boys put baseball cards between bicycle spokes and for a nickel, red machines had little bottled Cokes? This life seemed so much easier and slower in some ways. I love the new technology but I sure do miss those days. So time moves on and so do we and nothing stays the same, but I sure love to reminisce and walk down memory lane. fund-raisers, and donations, a ground breaking ceremony has now been planned. The Rev. Mike Fraley of Naples, Wesley Board President said, “We have been working toward this ground-breaking for many years and we are grateful to God and all of our donors that this day is in sight.” Fund-raising activities will continue. Dan McCain and Mike offer meetings, worship, counseling, training sessions, and more. Living quarters are in the current plan that will provide an opportunity for a consistent presence and over-sight of the facilities. Wesley students and their board invite you to prayerfully consider making a donation toward this project and/or volunteering to assist in the construction. Currently, more than $150,000 has been raised. Fundraising efforts are continuing to complete the building fund and ongoing operational costs. Please send your tax-deductible gifts to Wesley and mail to First United Methodist Church, 203 Scurry St., Daingerfield, Texas 75638. A call for volunteers to perform the work of building the facility is underway. Volunteers with experience in construction, electrical, plumbing, painting, dirt work, HVAC, brick laying, flooring, landscaping, concrete finishing, and/or those willing to clean as the work progresses are needed. A volunteer labor force will result in considerable savings for the construction budget. Please call Laura at 903-8975596 or contact by email at daingerfieldfumc@yahoo.com to volunteer. The Wesley Fellowship Center will become a center for NTCC students, faculty, staff, surrounding churches, and the community to use for gatherings. CONNIE CHARTIER Naples Chamber elects officers New officers have been named for the Naples Chamber of Commerce and Connie Chartier has assumed the duties of president for the organization. Other officers include vice president Kathleen West, secretary Brenda Parker and treasurer VirGinia Fleming. Members of the organization met recently and made plans for events during the upcoming months. A "Get Out of the House" time is planned for February 19 and March 19. "This is for the 50+ crowd who are tired of the weather and just need a change," said Chartier. "Join us at the Community Center on Daingerfield Street for coffee and games." The annual childrens' Easter Egg Hunt is planned for April 4. "Chartier said a time to treat Mom to an afternoon out and a picnic lunch, along with a Chamber Banquet will be hosted at the Civic Center on W. L. Dodson Boulevard West May 2. Also planned is a Firemen's Appreciation Dinner at the fire station on August 8. "We have several other events planned but are waiting for further information before dates and times can be announced," said the president. "We are looking forward to a fun year with many events planned for the community. As usual, success depends on involvement. Membership is open to all businesses and individuals in the area. The Chamber meets at noon the second Tuesday of each month at Nett's Restaurant." Area Deaths Fanny Lou Hultsman Carter Lyles Annie Lee Mack Henry T. Royal Page 5 Offering a welcome Pewitt High School's jazz band was out in the cold early Wednesday morning of last week to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Walmart store that opened that day in Naples. Because of the 29° weather at 7 a.m., the store made room inside for the band to entertain the crowd. photo by Mike Dodson Making it official Employees and friends participated in a ceremonial ribbon cutting event early Wednesday morning of last week to officially open the new Walmart Neighborhood Market in Naples. A large crowd braved the 29° temperature for the ribbon cutting that was hosted at 7:30 that morning. Snipping the ribbon was store manager John Hardaway, center. Helping hold the ribbon were Betty Hardaway, left, Naples Chamber of Commerce president Connie Chartier, right of center, and Heather Price, right. Also attending the event were, left to right, Janelle Gage, Tori Hawkins, Misty Martin, Esther Evans, James Gonzales, Robby Hindsman, Bishop Charlie Young, Karen Orr, Lan Buford, Angie Horsley, Naples Police Chief Jim Grisham, Linda Brown, Tabitha Cooper and Naples Mayor Danny Joe Mills. photo by Mike Dodson