Dr. Mary Ann Adams Had Big Shoes To Fill

Becoming Teague's New Veternarian

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

DR. MARY ANN ADAMS of the Freestone County Veterinary Hospital invites everyone to bring their pets in for all their needs. She has expanded the veterinary hospital in many ways including a Radiology Department to make it a full care facility. Freestone County Veterinary Hospital is located at 238 E. Loop 255 (on the corner of Atwood behind Brookshire Bros.). For information or appointments call 254-739-3141.

Dr. Mary Ann Adams took over the only veterinary service in Teague following the sudden death of Dr. Allan Hicks. Dr. Hicks had been the vet in Teague for 40 years and it is sometimes hard for a new veterinarian to come into a small town and fill the shoes of someone who had taken care of the townspeople's animals for such a long time. Dr. Adams has done just that.

Since taking over the practice in 2010, Dr. Adams has expanded the Freestone County Veterinary Hospital and added a digital Radiology Department. “It is so great not to have to send out for xrays,” said Dr. Adams. “We can do it all right here and see the results immediately.”

They have made taking care of patients and their owners more effective by computerizing all data. “We even send out vaccination reminders now to help pet owners keep up to date,” she said.

Freestone Veterinary Hospital is geared to care for small animals, dogs, cats etc. They can handle trauma care and they do basic surgery such as spaying and neutering. High risk patients are sent to Texas A&M.

Born in California, she spent the early days of her life traveling in the Western United States because her father worked...

Man Drowns After Falling Overboard At Lake Mexia

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A test run of a new boat being considered for purchase on Lake Mexia, Tuesday, February 7th turned tragic as Mexia native and BNSF Railroad Engineer Robert Lee Carroll, 57, apparently fell overboard and lost his life. An autopsy has been ordered in the death of Carroll, which according to investigators is routine is such circumstances to determine if other natural causes such as a heart attack played a role in the accidental drowning...

City Of Teague Receives Rebate Check For $52,583

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

The City of Teague has received a check in the amount of $52,583 for their portion of the state sales tax rebate sent out each month by the State Comptroller's office. The February 2012 rebate check showed a slight decrease of 5.29 percent from the $55,524 check sent to the city at this time last year. For the first two months of 2012, the City of Teague has received checks totaling $82,334, a decrease of slightly over $13,000 ...

Op Grad Steak Dinner, $5000 Drawing Is Saturday, Feb. 25

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Undefeated THS Varsity Basketball Team will play Franklin at Buffalo on Friday, February 24, starting at 8:00 p.m. Be sure to attend!

Don’t miss your chance to win $5,000 and the added pleasure of enjoying a great steak dinner for two while you support the Teague High School graduating class of 2012.

The Teague Operation Graduation Steak Dinner is set for Saturday, February 25, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. in the THS Cafeteria.

Tickets for the dinner are $100 for two adults. The delicious dinner is catered by Te’jun Crawfish and Catering/Joe Bill Reid.

Though everyone who attends this event will enjoy the great steak, the fun, fellowship, one very lucky individual will take $5,000 home as well. There will also be drawings for door prizes, a silent auction for various items and a cake auction. Cash prizes of $500, $250, $150, and $100 will be included in the drawings in addition to the grand prize of $5,000.00. Clint Minchew will be the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Tickets are available to purchase at the Teague High School office or from any senior student at THS.

Anyone wishing to help or donate to this fundraiser is encouraged to call the high school for more information...

At 3W Automotive Sales, People Make The Difference

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - BY MIMI BROWN

3W AUTOMOTIVE SALES is open and doing business in Teague. Owner Brandon Whitaker and General Sales Manager, Travis Beasley (pictured l to r), would like to welcome everyone to come in and shop for a vehicle with no pushy sales people, and no pressure. 3W Automotive Sales is located across from the Dairy Queen on the curve from Hwy, 84 to 4th Avenue. They are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Saturday by appointment only. For more information call 254-739-2549.

“I thought buying Webb Auto Sales would be a good fit for 3W. When you add our sales department, 3-W Service Center, our certified mechanics and tire shop, it makes this a complete dealership," said owner Brandon Whitaker.

He said that Clydell Webb's reputation of treating people right for 20 years helps them. “People are what make the difference and we treat people with respect. That's what makes the difference,” said Brandon.

3W Auto Sales get their inventory in several ways. They purchase vehicles from individuals (even if they don't buy from them), from auctions, and from trade-ins. However, no matter how the vehicle comes in, it always goes to the 3W Service Center for a complete (and I mean complete) and through check-up. “We will not put a vehicle on our lot until our mechanics have gone through it with a fine tooth comb so we can put out the best product possible,” said Whitaker. “If somehow we miss something we will stand behind the sale.”

Travis Beasley is General Sales Manager for 3W Auto Sales. He is from Crockett and has been in automobile sales for over 15 years. He moved to the Teague area and worked for Bossier for 12 years before coming to 3W.

“I love it here!” said Travis. 3W is a close knit family and when you work for them you're family too.” Travis says that this is the first business he has worked for that really cares about customers. “There is no pressure. We let you sell yourself on the car you like the most,” said Beasley. “My job is to make sure you can get what you want at a price you can afford.”

Travis Beasley has been married to his wife Angela, a Speech Pathologist who works for the Corsicana ISD...

Tax Abatement Zone For Downtown Introduced

"From The Desk Of The City Administrator"

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - BY VINCE DIMAGGIO

At the City Council meeting on February 14, I introduced the idea of creating a tax abatement zone for the downtown. The Council approved the idea unanimously, and while we will not be able to fully implement the idea until May, (the Council still needs to adopt guidelines on how the program will work, as required by State law), this represents a major effort to offer economic development incentives to both property owners and business owners in the downtown.

Property tax abatement is a fairly simple concept. When a property is improved internally or externally, the property's fair market value usually increases, which usually means higher property taxes. However, with property tax abatement, the difference between the old tax rate (before the property was improved) and the new tax rate (after the property is improved) can be abated or waived, in whole or in part. This means essentially that despite an increase in overall market value of the property, the property owner would still pay the old tax rate (or the old rate plus a fractional increase). The idea being that this provides the property owner an incentive to: 1) improve the appearance of their building; and 2) offer the premises for lease at a more reasonable rate.

Sales tax abatement is a simple concept as well. The City first establishes guidelines for the business. These guidelines can be anything from what the gross annual receipts are expected to be, or how many Teague residents are employed in the business, or a similar incentive. Then based on the number of those criteria the business owner achieves, a certain percentage of the local sales tax (2%) is returned to the business owner. The City cannot abate any part of the State sales tax, which is 6.25%. The City must also make special "findings" that the business will "stimulate business and commercial activity."

Used in tandem, both property and sales tax abatement represent incentives designed to help both property owner and business owner.

This new "Economic Development Incentive Zone" would extend from 3rd Avenue to 6th Avenue along both sides of Main Street - essentially from the railroad tracks to the old City Hall. Both new and existing businesses and property owners would be able to propose "Tax Abatement Agreements" which would require review by staff and approval by the City Council. Once the concept receives final approval by the City Council, likely in April, interested property owners and businesses can inquire about the program at City Hall.