LOOKING BACK: Final four months of 2007 marked by council chaos, city resignations

By Denton Ramsey, Managing Editor

The final four months of 2007 in Marlin, spanning from September through December, were marked by council chaos, the rise and fall of the Bulldogs football team, arrests, resignations, and police busts.

In addition, the never-ending controversy over issues such as Planned Parenthood and Billy Terrell's RTLC piping plant also dominated Marlin's headlines through the final months of 2007.

Below are local story clips that highlighted the news through last year's final four months in Marlin.

September: New York Says Thank You converges on Groesbeck

Hundreds of volunteers will converge on Groesbeck for four days, Sept. 6-9, to rebuild the home of firefighter James Vincent. The Vincent home was destroyed after a tornado hit the town on Dec. 29, 2006.

The volunteers, many firefighters and emergency response personnel come from all over the country, and surrounding counties also contribute in the building process.

The New York Says Thanks You organization allows New York firefighters to travel to a community the weekend before the Sept. 11 Anniversary each and every year.

September: Federal Court upholds 'one state under God' in Texas Pledge

It's now officially acceptable to use the phrase, "one state under God," when reciting the Texas Pledge of Allegiance.

Last week, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott prevailed in federal court regarding this matter, where a North Texas couple was trying to prevent schoolchildren from reciting the Texas Pledge of Allegiance.

David Wallace Croft and his wife, Shannon, were seeking a preliminary injunction because the Texas Legislature recently added the words, "one state under God," to the Texas Pledge.

However, a federal district judge ruled against the couple on Aug. 28, with Solicitor General Ted Cruz arguing on the state's behalf.

"With [the Aug. 28] ruling, a federal judge denied the plaintiffs' attempt to prevent Texas schoolchildren from pledging their allegiance to 'one state under God' - just as they pledge to 'one nation under God,'" Abbot said. "The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly held patriotic acknowledgements of the Almighty such as these are completely consistent with the U.S. Constitution.

"Texans can rest assured that we will continue vigorously defending their children's [rights] to recite the state Pledge of Allegiance each morning."

September: After sluggish start, Bulldogs explode in second half

The Marlin Bulldogs are officially back on track.

Marlin's 2A varsity football team made a quick trip to Baylor's Floyd Casey Stadium on Thursday night to face-off with the 3A Connally Cadets, picking up their first win of the season with an impressive 27-26 come-from-behind victory.

"We did what it took tonight," Bulldogs head coach Jerry Malone said. "The guys overcame some adversity and it really came down to the wire right there at the end of the ball game. But the kids hung in there the whole time and that was the difference in the ball game. We made some big plays on defense when we had to the last quarter there and, of course, we moved the ball pretty good in the fourth quarter."

After a sloppy opening half, the Bulldogs exploded when it mattered most - battling back from a halftime deficit to knock off the Cadets in a one-point thriller.

"The kids played well tonight, and I'll tell you right now - we took what they gave us and didn't get greedy," Bulldogs offensive coordinator Kevin Morton said. "And the kids played well and got after them and we kept the ball and kept it away from them on their offense, and the kids made the blocks and we made the runs and we took the four, five, eight yards at a pop - hit them deep once or twice, just to keep them honest, but the kids played well and they played their hearts off."

September: The Yellow Rose catches the Marlin blues...

The Falls County Sheriff's Office, with the help of the District Attorney's Office, officially shutdown The Yellow Rose, located at 138 Live Oak, on Sept. 4.

According to the Sheriff's Office, one individual was arrested and charged with "keeping a gambling place and engaging in organized criminal activity," which is a felony.

According to Sheriff Ben Kirk, "over 60 electronic gambling machines commonly referred to as 'eight-liners' were seized along with over $20,000 in U.S. currency and other gambling paraphernalia."

The seizure was the result of lengthy undercover investigation by the Sheriff's Office. Other establishments are also being looked into.

September: Heated evaluations conclude with council support

Lace up the gloves and ring the bell.

With the television media out in full force, round one of this match-up between council members and city employees began with a heated question-and-answer session with City Manager Randy Holly.

Concerned citizens gathered together at City Chambers on Tuesday, Sept. 11, packing the room to near capacity to both voice their concerns and to show their support for city staff under fire.

Three grueling hours later, it was time to move onto city worker number two, Finance Director Tim O'Neil - and so on, and so on - until the council's final evaluation ended with Pam Kelly, who is currently working with Marlin's economic development, giving her opinion on why the city is in such bad shape.

One thing is certain: Tuesday night's marathon town hall meeting allowed council members and the public to address some of the many heated issues that have plagued the City of Marlin for decades.

Seven hours later, the city of Marlin still had their staff intact.

Through all the shouts and chaos of controversy, the council members came together unified as one and voted unanimously, 7-0, to keep City Manager Randy Holly on board.

Although on a six-month probation period, at which time the council will reevaluate the city manager's progress, Holly can now breathe a sigh of relief after getting full backing from a council that appeared to be prepared to let him go.

September: Marlin youth football team kicks off new season

Marlin's defending champion youth football team has officially kicked off the 2007 season.

So far, the varsity squad owns a 1-1 record while the junior varsity team remains undefeated at 2-0 after recently picking up an impressive 18-12 victory over the 5A Temple Tigers.

Volunteer coaches for the varsity team include Aundre Maxwell, Daniel Coleman, Melvin Brooks and Kevin White; volunteer JV coaches include Darrell Manigo, Vin Hartsfield, Kelly Czajkoski, Heath Johnson, Gerald Satterwhite and Marcus Davis.

Supports include the following: Weed & Seed, Marlin Wal-Mart, H-E-B, Dairy Queen, Whup's Boomerang BBQ, Sonic, Jerry Malone and the Bulldog coaching staff, band booster, MHS cheerleaders and booster parents.

September: School Board recognizes Brown as 2007 Bus Driver of the Year

Marlin's Amos Brown is the 2007 Bus Driver of the Year for Texas.

The Marlin Independent School District Board of Trustees held it's regular monthly meeting last Tuesday at the middle school cafeteria.

And shortly after beginning the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Marlin Elementary students, the board recognized Brown for his statewide honor.

Brown, who has worked for the school district for 26 years, has never been in an accident and is a model employee, according to a note from his supervisor.

The annual award is an honor given to only one school district employee in statewide voting.

September: City Secretary Scott terminated in 4-2 council decision

Marlin's City Council voted 4-2 last Tuesday to terminate City Secretary Rachel Scott.

After once again meeting in City Chambers, beginning at 5:30 p.m. and concluding sometime around midnight, the council's ultimate decision was to terminate Scott in a very close vote.

During the council's regular scheduled meeting, held on Sept. 11, council members voted unanimously to keep City Manager Randy Holly on board before postponing a decision on Scott.

Due in a large part to a budget meeting in which four council members failed to arrive in City Hall, the city secretary was soon under fire because of an attesting time error.

The four council members that did not show up to the aforementioned budget meeting cried foul play during the Sept. 11 employee evaluation meeting - claiming the budget meeting was illegal due to the posting error.

And the council wanted someone to pay for the mistake.

Last Tuesday, that someone became Scott after council members approved her termination in a tight vote, 4-2.

September: Bulldogs wake up in second half, destroy Cougars 34-0

With Marlin holding onto a slim 7-0 lead over Leon at halftime on Friday night, fans and coaches had every reason to be concerned.

Turns out, there was nothing to worry about.

The Bulldogs woke up in the second half of play, cruising to a 34-0 shutout victory over the Cougars to begin district play on a high note.

"The kids came out and they really got after it in the second half and made a couple of adjustments," Bulldogs offensive coordinator Kevin Morton said. "The kids played well, the coaches got after them and you've got to have kids that stand up and know when you should win."

Marlin improves to 2-2 overall with the win, while moving to 1-0 in district play.

"The offensive coaches came out with a formation that we thought we could use in the second half against them and we did some things a lot better," Bulldogs head coach Jerry Malone said. "The kids just did their best and took care of business."

September: Chilton's Gamble resigns after weekend arrests

Chilton's Lucky Gamble is resigning.

Gamble, who coached the Pirates offensive and defensive lines, stepped down last Wednesday after two weekend arrests.

The first occurred on Sept. 21, when Gamble was arrested by Falls County police on a charge of aggravated assault causing bodily harm after an incident with his wife.

According to local reports, Gamble's wife felt that some of the media blew the story out of proportion and she was quoted as saying she would stand by her husband.

After being released on $2,500 bond, Gamble was arrested again on Saturday night, Sept. 22, when Marlin police detained the Chilton assistant coach on charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawfully carrying a weapon.

Gamble was released from the Falls County Jail on Tuesday, Sept. 25 and met with Chilton Superintendent Benny Bobo late Wednesday afternoon.

Shortly after meeting with Bobo, Gamble informed Pirates Athletic Director and Head Coach Robert Little about his decision.

Little will take over coaching responsibilities for the offensive and defensive line, as the Pirates opened up District 25-1A play on Friday night in Iola.

September: Council approves new budget, employee raises

Marlin's City Council approved the 2008 budget last Thursday evening after meeting in City Chambers for a lengthy workshop to discuss budget items.

Shortly after the new budget was accepted, the council also considered and approved employee raises - increasing hourly pay for city workers by $1.

Other items on the agenda were tabled for later discussion, due in a large part to the council requesting more information on a given subject prior to approval.

According to council member Paula Kluck, one of the key agenda items tabled during the Sept. 27 meeting regards retirement plans with military time - an issue she feels the council needs to research further before coming to a decision.

Council members also approved Pam Kelly to stay on board, working with the city on economic development. Kelly will be evaluated in six months.

September: ATV accident claims life of local rancher

Local rancher Wilbur Fannin was found dead on his property after an accident involving his four-wheeler.

The Falls County Sheriff's Office received a phone call on Monday evening, Sept. 24, in regards to a missing local rancher.

"At approximately 8:45 p.m., Wilbur Fannin was located by family members and Sheriff's Deputies on his property near the Stranger community, approximately 11 miles east of Marlin," a press release from Sheriff Ben Kirk's office stated.

An initial investigation suggests that Fannin, who was approximately 73 years old, was spraying weeds when his four-wheeler overturned on an uneven grade.

October: Local pets receive God's blessing

St. John's Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church held their annual 'Blessing of the Animals' on Saturday, Oct. 6 at the St. John's Garden of Hope.

Dr. Holly Mitchell, along with Rev. Judy Filer, blessed each and every animal brought to them on Saturday morning.

Though the day began overcast and rainy, the skies cleared in time for the annual event as kids showed up dressed like their pets.

From cats to dogs to rabbits, many local Marlin pets received God's blessing on Saturday morning, as the annual event was again a success.

October: Bulldogs, Miller coast to shutout victory over Elks

This one wasn't even close.

Marlin coasted to a 43-0 victory on Friday night, Oct. 5 in Elkhart, improving their overall record to 3-2 while remaining undefeated in district at 2-0.

And two games into district play, the Bulldogs are dominating on both sides of the field.

On Friday night in Elkhart, it was the Travis Miller show - as Marlin's star back gave college scouts a sneak-peak at why he'll be donning an Oklahoma State uniform next season in the Big 12.

Miller scored three touchdowns on the night - entering the end zone the first two times on long rushing touchdowns prior to chasing daylight on a 71-yard kickoff return.

October: Marlin PD executes search warrant, pair arrested

The Marlin Police Department executed a search warrant at 204 George Street in Marlin on Friday, Oct. 5, seizing narcotics and arresting the individuals suspected of selling the drugs from their residence.

According to reports from the Marlin Police Department, a five-man team - consisting of four members from the Marlin PD along with Pete Zuniga of the Falls County District Attorney's Office led by Sergeant Investigator Michael Baker - made entry into the house on Oct. 5.

"Officers found approximately 30 grams of crack cocaine and a quantity of marijuana," a Marlin PD release stated. "Bradley Davis III and Rhonda Freeman were arrested."

Shortly after officers entered the home, a pursuit took place as Davis drove his vehicle through the neighborhood of Marlin in an attempt to evade arrest - he was taken into custody soon after his failed attempt, according to published reports.

October: Marlin PeeWee football teams pick up blowout victories

The Marlin PeeWee football teams are on a roll.

Marlin's JV team (5-0) defeated Rogers on Saturday, Oct. 6 in a 24-0 shutout victory.

Five games into the season, coach Heath Johnson's secondary has yet to be scored on as the offense is averaging 20 points a game.

According to coaches, the players have been very enthusiastic and have been as dedicated as the coaching staff.

Marlin's PeeWee Varsity team, meanwhile, defeated Salado 40-6 on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Once again, the Bulldogs secondary played an excellent game - keeping their opponent out of the end zone until the fourth quarter.

According to coaches, the offense played tremendously, and quarterback Bennie Huitt Jr. led the team in the Bulldogs blowout victory.

October: Nucor names Senator Kip Averitt 'Man of Steel'

Nucor Steel-Texas presented its "Man of Steel" Award to Senator Kip Averitt on Oct. 9 for his support of the state's manufacturers and their families.

Senator Averitt has demonstrated throughout his career that he is a strong advocate for the state's manufacturers and their employees. More than 3 million American manufacturing jobs have been lost since 1998. Almost 158,000 of those jobs belonged to Texas' workers, and the sector continues to struggle with many challenges. The support of Senator Averitt and other leaders in the Legislature is essential to reverse this trend.

October: Chamber Board meets to discuss Waco Transit project

The Marlin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met for their regular monthly meeting on Monday, Oct. 8, discussing issues such as the local bus project with Waco Transit and 'Business After Hours.'

Shortly after the meeting was called to order by President Ted Greenhill, Director Willis Reese introduced Julie Talbert from the Heart of Texas Workforce Development Board and Assistant General Manager Allen Hunter from Waco Transit.

According to Talbert and Hunter, the '6 to Success' Project will provide transportation from Marlin for those who cannot afford it on their own to go to school or work.

With the latest project in the works, buses will be provided by Waco Transit and they are currently looking to place two stops in Marlin for now, with another stop in Riesel and possibly another in Hallsburg, according to Talbert and Hunter.

Bus passes can be purchased for $5 for a daylong pass and $70 for a monthly pass and possible locations for purchasing the passes will be H-E-B and the Water Department.

October: Bulldogs feast on Indians in 70-19 rout, remain undefeated in district

Now is a good time to be a Marlin Bulldog.

The Bulldogs feasted on the district-rival Indians under Friday night's lights in Marlin, coasting to a 70-19 victory over Riesel.

Prior to the start of Friday's match-up with the Indians, the Bulldogs players were in a calm and relaxed state of mind - joking with one another and laughing throughout pre-game drills - a coach's worst nightmare.

As place-kicker Oscar Pena successfully drilled a 40-yard field goal, the sun began to settle on the horizon while players jogged to the locker room to prepare for battle.

Shortly thereafter, the Bulldogs returned to the gridiron - parading down the sideline to the applause of the hometown crowd in eager anticipation for the annual showdown between Marlin and Riesel.

On the night, the Bulldogs racked up 436 yards of offense, picking up 315 yards on the ground game while garnering 121 yards in the air attack.

Marlin's Travis Miller once again led the offensive charge with four touchdowns and a two-point conversion, ending the evening with 250 total yards of offense.

With the victory, Marlin improves to 4-2 overall while remaining undefeated in district play at 3-0.

October: Council holds productive meeting, approves consent agenda

Marlin's council members are finally doing their job.

After spending the past few months in turmoil, the Marlin City Council met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 9 - pushing aside their differences and finally moving forward on many of the issues that have plagued the community.

Shortly after an inspiring prayer by Buck Rogers, the council heard from concerned citizens on topics such as cleaning up the city and keeping Public Works Director Bill Maines on board.

Council members received a retirement letter from Maines in their council packets on Oct. 9, though many citizens in town felt he was forced out and therefore provided a petition on his behalf.

October: School board hears from concerned citizens, approves resolutions

Marlin's school board members felt a bit of heat during their last meeting.

The Marlin Independent School District Board of Trustees was thrown into the middle of controversy, although not on their own accord, when they held their regular scheduled meeting on Oct. 16 at the middle school cafeteria.

Shortly after the meeting began, concerned citizens and parents spoke to the board on topics such as Planned Parenthood, an individual allegedly brandishing a gun at the elementary school and an alleged incident involving the MHS football program.

There was no further discussion and no decisions were made regarding any of the issues brought to light during the 'public comment' session on the agenda, due primarily to the fact that none of the aforementioned items were listed on the Oct. 16 agenda.

In addition, the school board is not responsible for making any final decisions regarding Planned Parenthood opening their doors in Marlin, and the alleged gun incident is an issue being handled by the Marlin Police Department.

October: Bulldogs bite Bison, breeze to 41-0 blowout victory

This one was over by halftime.

The Marlin offense sparked on Friday night, Oct. 19 in Buffalo, as the Bulldogs took a bite out of the Bison - holding onto a commanding 34-0 lead at the break.

Charles Hitchens and Antonio Moore scored three touchdowns a piece for the Bulldogs en route to a 41-0 blowout victory over the Bison.

In the Bulldogs battle at Buffalo, the Marlin secondary once again played a phenomenal game - securing the team's third district shutout of the season.

Defensively, Marlin held Buffalo to a total of 108 yards of offense and only five first downs - picking up three fumbles and an interception as the Bulldogs controlled all aspects of the game from start to finish.

October: Tigers pick up fourth straight district shutout, move to 5-2 overall

The Bremond Tigers continue to shine in 1A football.

After starting the season with a dismal 0-2 record, the Tigers have now rattled off five straight victories - all of which have been shutouts.

On Friday night, Oct. 19 in Axtell, Bremond continued that streak.

In a game the Tigers controlled from the get-go, Bremond pounded the pigskin into the end zone early and often - coasting to a 35-0 victory on the road.

Bremond's secondary has played to perfection since the Tigers dropped their opening pair of match-ups - keeping opponents at bay in five consecutive shutouts dating back to a non-district victory over Thorndale on Sept. 14.

Since that time, the Tigers offense has learned to click while the defense remains unscathed - leading Bremond to a 5-2 overall record and maintaining a perfect mark in District 25-1A at 4-0.

October: Local band prepares for debut CD release

Believe it or not, Marlin has a local band.

RAZR 13, an all-original rock band based out of the small community of Marlin, includes guitarist Mike Crockett, son of Dr. Scott Crockett (who writes all the lyrics), bassist Ryan Cook, from Katy, and drummer Chris Thomas, from Marlin.

The group recently brought on new lead singer Carrie Stacy, from Las Vegas. Stacy was a backup dancer for the legendary Prince for many years prior to joining the band.

RAZR 13's debut album is slated for release in early 2008 with major label distribution. The album is being recorded at Walrus Studios in Austin.

The band's entertainment lawyer is New York City's Adam Kaplan, who also represents musicians such as Britney Spears and The Backstreet Boys.

For more information and upcoming tour dates, visit the band online via MySpace at www.myspace.com/razr13. RAZR 13 asks everyone to support local live music.

October: Bulldogs battle back, fall to Lions in 28-20 overtime thriller

Someone had to lose this one.

Unfortunately, that someone was the Marlin Bulldogs.

Marlin dropped a 28-20 overtime thriller to Teague on Friday night, Oct. 26 for homecoming, as the battle of the undefeated in district ended in a Bulldogs heartbreaker.

The Bulldogs had their chances, though - but they failed to capitalize on missed opportunities late in the game after battling back from a 14-0 deficit.

On a night in which their opponent garnered 367 total yards of offense (with Marlin managing 185 total yards of offense), the Bulldogs were fortunate to keep themselves in the fight.

Both teams relied heavily on the run, with Teague's backs racking up 345 yards on 64 carries and Marlin's backs picking up 165 yards on 30 carries.

However, two of Teague's three touchdowns on the night came in the air as Lions quarterback Quentin Coleman hit his receivers with ease on 2-for-3 passing and 22 yards.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, failed to capitalize when they needed to the most - in OT.

October: Arthur Douglas passes away

Arthur Evans Douglas, native of Dover, Delaware and a major contributor to Marlin community involvement, passed away on Monday, Oct. 22.

Douglas was born on April 20, 1934, to the parentage of Charles H. Douglas and Margaret Loper Douglas. He attended elementary and jr. high at the Booker T. Washington School in Dover, Del. prior to attending Howard High School in Wilmington, Del. where he graduated.

Douglas was baptized at the Marlin Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorage of Rev. A. B. Henson.

Arthur's community involvement was quite visible. Often, Douglas accepted speaking engagements at various events - particularly those affiliated with Black History and the history of Falls County. Douglas was an active member of the Juneteenth Club, Hopeful Masonic Lodge #78 in Marlin, Treasurer of Falconer Stamps Community Center, and B.T.W. Alumni and Ex-Students Association. He also served as Election Judge for Precinct II.

October: MDA Lock-up helps make mission possible

The Heart of Texas MDA held its bi-annual Lock-up in Marlin last Thursday to benefit "Jerry's Kids." The theme for this year's MDA Lock-up was Mission Possible as the Association moves ever closer to completing its mission of finding treatments and cures for the 43 types of muscular dystrophy.

This year 16 dedicated jailbirds raised $4,714 to benefit hundreds of clients served by MDA in Central Texas. The event was held at the Cactus Mexican Restaurant, who very generously donated their location and a fabulous meal for jailbirds. MDA would also like to extend a special thank you to Judge Lynda Lawless and all the volunteers who helped out at the event.

October: Bremond wins sixth straight, blows out Dawson to stay perfect in district

The Bremond Tigers can't be beat.

At least, so far they can't be.

On Friday, Oct. 26, the Tigers pushed their win-streak to six straight victories with a 48-0 shutout victory over Dawson.

Not only that, but since beginning district play the Tigers have completely controlled their opponents in five straight shutouts.

Absolutely amazing - especially considering that five games deep into District 25-1A football, opponents have yet to find a way to score against Bremond's secondary.

With the win, Bremond moves to 5-0 in District 25-1A while improving to 6-2 overall.

All aspects of the game clicked to perfection on Friday night in Bremond, as the Tigers scored four touchdowns on the ground, two in the air and one on a fumble recovery taken 27 yards and to the house.

Overall, Bremond's defense limited Dawson to a mere 67 yards of offense on 33 plays.

The Tigers, meanwhile, garnered an amazing 382 yards on 40 plays, capping an evening of offense with six touchdowns en route to a 48-0 blowout victory.

October: Late flag in waning seconds leads to 19-18 Centerville victory over Marlin

The Marlin Bulldogs didn't deserve to lose Friday night's game against the Centerville Tigers.

Despite playing a mediocre game from start to finish, the Bulldogs still held onto a slim lead at 18-13 with mere seconds remaining in the ball game.

After Marlin's secondary allowed the Tigers a fresh set of downs inside the Bulldogs 25-yard line, the defense stepped up to force a fourth-and-19 attempt with 53 seconds remaining in the game.

Shortly after the Bulldogs defense stood to the challenge, swiping away a fourth-and-long pass attempt, Marlin began to celebrate.

But the officials found a way to give Centerville another shot at the end zone, tossing a late yellow flag against the hometown Bulldogs on an awful pass interference call.

The men-in-stripes' late gift to the Tigers gave Centerville a new set of downs at the Marlin 18-yard line with 44.5 seconds remaining in the fourth and final quarter.

Shortly thereafter, Centerville found daylight on a seven-yard quarterback keeper touchdown to give the visitors a shocking 19-18 lead with 18.1 ticks left on the game clock.

And unfortunately, that was the final nail in the coffin in Friday night's showdown between the Bulldogs and the Tigers.

November: Planned Parenthood opening causes stir

Once again, controversy has invaded the City of Marlin.

With recent headlines of Planned Parenthood opening their doors, many of the local conservative voices have joined together in an effort to kick the organization out of town.

Last week, a group of concerned citizens in Falls County met to discuss different avenues of action as many in the group intend to have the item brought to the table during the Nov. 20 Marlin ISD board meeting.

Shortly after prayer and discussion, the group received a packet with a petition requesting the Marlin ISD school board to place the following item on their agenda: "report on, discussion of, and/or action regarding occupation and usage of a Marlin ISD owned facility by the Planned Parenthood organization."

November: Plant pulls out over protests

Due in a large part to recent protests against RTLC Piping Products, Inc. opening a plant in town, the president of the company has decided to postpone any decisions regarding a move to Marlin.

Billy Terrell, President of RTLC, had intentions of expanding his operations to Marlin and building a facility that would have employed about 100 workers.

Now, those plans are on hold.

In a letter addressed to The Marlin Democrat, Terrell gave his view on the matter and indicated that the company will not move into a territory where adversity runs rampant.

RTLC also hoped to work in conjunction with Marlin ISD, Texas State Technical College and Temple College for training workers for the plant.

However, petitions began circulating in opposition of the plant opening their doors in the south side of town - a problem that many city officials would deem a mistake for a city with a struggling economy such as Marlin.

"Investing millions of dollars into a neighborhood and having to fight with other residents is not good business," Terrell said in his letter.

November: Bulldogs fall short in district, season finale against Panthers

Although the Marlin football season pretty much officially came to a close on Friday night with Centerville's victory over Riesel, the Bulldogs still have a lot to be proud of when looking back at the 2007 season.

Just this past week, in Marlin's district and regular season finale against top-ranked Mart at Waco ISD Stadium, the Bulldogs battled the Panthers until the bitter end in what eventually ended in a 38-30 Mart victory.

One thing is certain: the Bulldogs regained their swagger during last Thursday's fourth quarter comeback effort against the Panthers.

In fact, Marlin came out and played one of their best games of the season last week in Waco against Mart.

In a game where the outcome truly didn't matter in terms of postseason play, the Bulldogs battled back from an early deficit and made things interesting in the final seconds in a phenomenal high school football match-up against the Panthers.

After Thursday's loss to Mart, the Bulldogs postseason dreams were still on the brink as Marlin's fate came down to Friday night's match-up between Centerville and Riesel.

Unfortunately, the Marlin Bulldogs football season ended Friday night.

Centerville wrapped up the regular season at home with a 34-12 must-win victory over the Riesel Indians - with the win, the Tigers slip into the final playoff slot in District 22-2A while bumping the Bulldogs from postseason play.

Prior to this season's early exit, Marlin's football team had made 10 consecutive trips to the playoffs, all under the helm of Bulldogs Head Coach Jerry Malone.

Due to Centerville's season finale win over Riesel, Marlin ends their 2007 campaign with a 4-3 district mark while garnering an overall record of 5-5.

November: Marlin native writes civil war novel, returns home for book signing

Charles Rush has always been interested in Falls County history despite living all over the world.

For the past few years he has focused that interest on the men from our area who fought in the Civil War.

Rush, a retired Air Force colonel born and raised in Marlin (MHS Class 1958), recently had his second Civil War novel released.

He also has compiled, and placed on the Falls County Genealogy Web (GENWEB) site, a listing of over 800 Civil War veterans who lived in Falls County before and after that war.

Colonel Rush's first novel, The Devil's Chessboard, featured local characters in a tale set within Hood's Texas Brigade fighting in Virginia.

His second novel, One Turn Of The Cards, is a well-researched story of men who enlisted in Falls County to fight with Terry's Texas Rangers.

The author will be signing his novels at the Marlin Public Library from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

For more information, visit the author's website at www.charlesrush.com.

November: Chamber Board of Directors meet, send letter in support of RTLC

Lately, the talk of the town has centered on Billy Terrell and RTLC Piping Products, Inc. pulling plans to build a plant in south Marlin.

The Marlin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors held their monthly meeting last Monday, discussing items such as the '6 to Success' bus program and Freedom Fest while deciding to voice a letter of support in regards to Terrell and RTLC.

Shortly after the meeting began, questions arose about the business that Terrell originally planned to open in Marlin - as board directors were informed that the city was working with RTLC and that the issue would be discussed at Tuesday's city council meeting.

After further discussion, the board decided to send a letter to Mayor Norman Erskine, the Marlin City Council and Terrell offering the Chamber's support for RTLC.

Director Denton Lessman attended last Tuesday's council meeting and presented the Chamber's letter on behalf of the board.

November: Citizens, council members discuss RTLC plant expansion

For the most part, the citizens of Marlin agree on one thing: they all want new businesses to come to town.

Where they differ, however, is the location of a proposed new industrial company that originally planned to expand their operations into the south side of Marlin.

RTLC Piping Products, Inc., under the leadership of company President Billy Terrell, were in the works of finalizing a deal to open a plant in Marlin after the city council's recent approval of the plan.

Terrell had high hopes of bringing RTLC to the economically depressed community, with a goal of working with local area schools for company-paid training while employing approximately 100 workers.

For now, those plans are on hold after petitions began circulating in opposition of the plant opening their doors in the south side of the city.

In recent conversations with The Marlin Democrat, Terrell has confirmed that he has no intentions of fighting with residents to bring the business to town and will look elsewhere for a new RTLC plant location.

November: '6 to Success' bus program begins first phase of trips

Marlin's '6 to Success' bus program is up and running, and trips are free of charge through Dec. 1.

The Heart of Texas Workforce Development Board and Waco Transit are pleased to present the '6 to Success' program, a low-cost public transportation service running between Marlin and the Waco Transit Station.

Upon arrival at the Waco Transit Station, individuals may ride anywhere Waco Transit goes, or even purchase a pass to ride Greyhound. To celebrate the beginning of this new route, bus service between Marlin and Waco will be fare-free through Dec. 1.

For those in need of public transportation for school, work or recreation, '6 to Success' may be the answer - services have already begun and offers six trips a day, six days a week (Monday through Saturday).

November: Planned Parenthood opens, begins seeing patients once a week

The words 'Planned Parenthood' have become quite controversial lately.

With the organization recently opening their doors in Marlin, providing reproductive healthcare in Falls County, controversy has abounded regarding a contract between Marlin Independent School District (ISD) and the Texas Department of State Health.

The aforementioned contract was slated for discussion at the Marlin ISD Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 20, and further details regarding decisions from this meeting will be reported as information is released.

"We are seeing patients one day a week at 209 Green Street in Marlin," Planned Parenthood of Central Texas Associate Director Bill Crowden said in a letter addressed to Marlin ISD board members and The Marlin Democrat Managing Editor Denton Ramsey. "We are sharing space with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The DSHS manager of Community Health Services has approved and is totally supportive of our new clinic in Falls County."

According to the letter, Planned Parenthood of Central Texas, headquartered in Waco, has been providing healthcare in McLennan County for 68 years and has been a grantee of the DSHS since 1971.

November: Board votes 4-2 to keep contract with DSHS

Planned Parenthood will remain in Marlin.

The Marlin Independent School District (ISD) Board of Trustees voted 4-2 in favor of continuing a contract with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on Tuesday night at the middle school cafeteria.

With Tuesday's decision, Planned Parenthood, which leases the building in the aforementioned contract between Texas DSHS and the Marlin ISD, will remain in town.

After hearing from both sides regarding Planned Parenthood's recent opening, with those speaking limited to five minutes, board members were forced to make a decision in front of a capacity crowd.

Shortly after a motion was made to withdraw Marlin ISD from their contract with the Texas DSHS, which was seconded, the board shot down the motion as only two members voted in favor of dropping the lease agreement.

Planned Parenthood's Falls County clinic, which has begun seeing patients on a weekly basis at 209 Green Street in Marlin, offers many low-cost to no-cost services and does not provide abortions.

November: Pair arrested in Blue Bonnet Motors burglary

Sheriff Ben Kirk and Deputies with the Falls County Sheriff's Office arrested Brandon Petry, of Marlin, and Joseph Blackwell, of Marlin, on Nov. 19.

Both men were charged with Burglary of a Building resulting from a weekend burglary of Blue Bonnet Motors on Live Oak Street in Marlin, according to reports from the Falls County Law Enforcement Center.

"The burglary resulted in the theft of U.S. currency and checks taken in the burglary, along with property damage to the safe," Kirk said through a news release. "A cutting torch was used to gain entry into the large safe that is in the business."

According to Kirk, the matter remains under investigation and both men were jailed in the Falls County Jail pending initial arraignment.

November: Mother arrested after baby found dead in motel bathroom

Local authorities arrested Khaliliha Baucom, of Marlin, on Nov. 20 and charged her with Abuse of a Corpse without Legal Authority.

The charge against Baucom comes on the heels of an astonishing discovery in April of the body of a newborn child in the bathroom of the Relax Inn in Marlin.

Allegedly, Baucom gave birth to the child prior to calling 911 to report she was having stomach pains and did not mention to paramedics that she had just given birth.

Shortly thereafter, Baucom was taken to a local hospital in Marlin before being flown by helicopter to a Waco hospital, where doctors determined she had given birth.

Upon the discovery, the Waco doctors' notified Marlin authorities and police returned to the Relax Inn Motel, where they allegedly found the infant's body in the bathroom.

According to published reports, the Falls County Court issued the warrant and Baucom was placed in the Falls County Jail pending initial arraignment.

November: City Manager Randy Holly resigns amid plant pullout

The Marlin city staff continues to face their share of problems.

Unfortunately, those problems have escalated to the pinnacle - resulting in a resignation letter submitted by City Manager Randy Holly on Nov. 28 to Mayor Norman Erskine, effective immediately.

"I do not have the strength to continue fighting for a council that does not want help," Holly said. "The loss of Mr. [Billy] Terrell's project was the last straw."

With Wednesday's latest blow to a city in desperate need of positive thinking, Marlin now has even more shoes to fill.

Currently, the city staff lacks three major positions after recent resignations, including a Public Works Directors, a Building Inspector, and now a City Manager.

According to published reports, Erskine hopes to name an interim city manager by Friday, Nov. 30.

November: O'Neil named Interim City Manager

Tim O'Neil, Finance Director for the City of Marlin, was named Interim City Manager on Friday, Nov. 30, effective immediately.

Mayor Norman Erskine, Chief Executive Officer for the City of Marlin, appointed O'Neil prior to making a formal announcement to city staff on Friday morning.

"We operate kind of like a college, or pro football team," Erskine said. "We made this [decision] as easy and as fast as we could to provide the leadership we need by making this appointment immediately."

Final action will be taken by the City Council on Dec. 11, with a regular meeting slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

"[Former City Manager] Randy [Holly] set the bar real high - real high," O'Neil said. "I relied on him daily to see if what I did was correct and legal. What a loss. I just hope that we can all work together - my door is always open. Let's stick together until we find out what the council wants to do."

November: Alexander, Richardson put tiny Texas town on national ESPN map

Prior to the final week of the regular season in NCAA football, a majority of the nation had never heard of Marlin, Texas.

During a live Big 12 telecast between Missouri and Kansas on Saturday, Nov. 23, ABC analysts Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters, along with the rest of the country, were left to ponder, "Where is Marlin?"

Although an answer was never given, as ABC soon cut to a commercial break, there's no doubt that the media trio of Musburger, Herbstreit and Salters, as well as fans of ESPN's SportsCenter and the weekly 'Pontiac Game Changing Performance,' now know Marlin's pinpoint location.

Meanwhile, the small Central Texas town of 6,000 has been in dire need of positive news in a community flooded with negativity.

On Saturday, Nov. 23, Marlin's prayer was answered - on the gridiron - with a pair of local athletes shining in the national spotlight.

Richardson, a senior cornerback on the Arkansas Razorbacks football team, began his standout pigskin career in 1999 as a high school freshman in Marlin.

The biggest play of his college career came in the regular season finale of his senior year as Arkansas went up against then-No. 1 LSU on Saturday, Nov. 23.

In the third overtime of an 'ESPN Classic,' Richardson capped an amazing Arkansas upset win over LSU when he intercepted a potential game-tying two-point conversion pass attempt to seal the deal on a 50-48 Razorbacks victory.

Richardson's play went on to clinch the 'Pontiac Game Changing Performance' for week 13 in the 2007 NCAA football season, earning a nomination for 'Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year' while beating out three other finalists - including one with former Bulldogs receiver Alexander and his breakout game against Kansas.

Alexander, a sophomore wide receiver on the Missouri Tigers football team, began showing signs of greatness early on in his high school playing career.

On Saturday, Nov. 23 at Arrowhead Stadium, Alexander had a breakout game on the national center stage in Missouri's Big 12 North title-clinching victory over Kansas.

In Saturday's showdown between the Tigers and Jayhawks, Alexander caught eight passes for 117 yards - including a decisive 16-yard pickup on third-and-long midway through the final quarter of play after Kansas had cut into the Missouri lead at 31-21.

Alexander also rose to the occasion in Missouri's second quarter drive that was capped off by a beautiful third down catch by the Marlin wide receiver in the corner of the end zone - giving the Tigers a comfortable cushion over the Jayhawks.

Although Alexander fell short against former teammate Richardson in the voting for week 13's 'Pontiac Game Changing Performance,' there's no doubt that the Tigers receiver is ecstatic just to be listed as a finalists in the final week of the regular season.

For a town eager to soak up some encouraging news, Marlin football supremacy is about as good as it gets - especially in the Lone Star State.

Although Marlin's football team took an unexpected early exit from postseason play this year, the Bulldogs remain in the spotlight.

For a town racked with pessimism and doubt, a simple sports message has sent a sense of positive reinforcement to a community in serious need of comradery.

And the sports world, once again, has pulled a town together over pigskin passion, community pride and a boundless love of the game.

For now, the City of Marlin has something to smile about, as the Bulldogs football program is on top of the world.

And Marlin, Texas is now on ESPN's national map of talent...

November: PeeWee teams fall short on SuperBowl Saturday

With football still on the hearts and minds of those in Marlin, the city showed up to give their support to the PeeWee teams on Friday, Nov. 17.

Both the junior varsity and varsity PeeWee Bulldogs had a remarkable regular season run, with both teams reaching the SuperBowl after taking home the title in 2006.

The following morning, Saturday, Nov. 18, over 30 vehicles were police-escorted out of the city limits on their road to the SuperBowl.

Unfortunately, the final score favored the opposition as both teams fell short of victory.

The Marlin junior varsity PeeWee Bulldogs lost to Moody, a team they beat twice during the regular season, 7-0 in Saturday's SuperBowl Championship.

The Bulldogs varsity PeeWee team, meanwhile, dropped a 35-6 decision in a SuperBowl match-up that pitted Marlin against Academy.

December: Bremond battles back, dehorns Harper 21-18

What a difference a half makes.

Just ask Bremond, who's Tigers trailed 10-0 after two quarters of play.

Just ask Harper, who's team watched a 10-point margin slip away as Bremond battled back for a victory.

After falling behind early, Bremond Head Coach 'Slugger' Hamrick used a rousing halftime locker room speech to spur his Tigers to a wild come-from-behind victory.

Bremond rallied back in the second half on Friday, Dec. 7 against Harper, using a combination of skill and athleticism to propel the Tigers to a 21-18 win and advancement in postseason play.

December: Bulldogs for life...

From Marlin to Corsicana, these guys have remained Bulldogs.

And through it all, they have remained champions.

After spending four years of high school together, sweating it out on the Marlin gridiron while kicking back during the Central Texas weekends, a number of Marlin High School graduates have continued their football careers at the next level.

Almost like a famous band's garage-recording beginnings, the five-some of Benny Jones, Jeremy Sanders, Jonathan Thomas, Kevin Diles and Melvin Hopkins have sprouted from their roots in Marlin to the pigskin fields in Corsicana.

Since first playing the game on the playgrounds as Bullpups, Marlin's Navarro College five-some have done quite a bit of growing up since relocating in 2005.

Two years later, the former MHS standouts are making noise at Navarro, playing a large part in helping to propel the Dogs to a 9-3 record and a Pilgrim's Pride Bowl berth.

After taking an early 14-0 lead, Navarro soon squandered that lead and found themselves in a dogfight to the finish.

With 10:26 remaining in the bowl game, the Bulldogs were on the short end of the stick as GMC held onto a slim 21-17 lead.

Seventy-one yards later, Navarro was stopped three times in the red zone prior to a blocked 22-yard field goal attempt with 7:22 left in the game.

A forced fumble on the ensuing possession led to a Bulldogs recovery, and on fourth-and-seven, Sanders scrambled for a must-have first-down.

Sitting on the GMC 43-yard line, solid work in the secondary forced Sanders to run the ball - as the Bulldogs quarterback found an open seam along the left sideline and scrambled nine yards for the Navarro first down.

Three plays later, Navarro faced a similar challenge as Sanders sat on fourth-and-eight.

And once again, Sanders used his feet - as well as his quickness - to pick up a Bulldogs first down on a 28-yard gain to the GMC four-yard line.

Shortly thereafter, the Navarro Bulldogs were chasing daylight on a game-clinching touchdown, 24-21.

From the looks of things, the Marlin/Navarro Bulldogs five-some don't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

Come 2008, the nation may very well be seeing more and new MHS faces making it to the spotlights of ESPN, as the Marlin Bulldogs pigskin program remains top-notch.

Sooner or later, recruiters will begin to take notice of Central Texas' 2A powerhouse.

Until then, Marlin pigskin players have no problem remaining under-the-radar... Because it won't be long 'til next season's NCAA MHS alumni underdog goes from zero to hero.

December: Evening blaze destroys Majestic Video

On Tuesday, Dec. 4, Madison's Majestic Video burned to the ground.

Rob Douglas, the Marlin video-store owner, is now waiting on investigators to clear the mess as he awaits word on insurance coverage and preliminary rebuilding costs.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and caring comments for us since the fire at Madison's Majestic Video," Rob Douglas, along with wife Melissa and daughter Madison, said through an official release. "Everyone has been so kind and supportive, is it wonderful."

Douglas, who also ran a cell phone service and tanning salon business at the store's location, will continue with his Cellular One business and will be accepting phone payments Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the EMS.

For those inquiring about new Cellular One service, Douglas may be called on his personal cell phone at 254-422-3268 and he will be happy to come and meet interested parties at their location.

In addition, movies that were rented out at the time of the fire may be returned to Evans Tire Service during regular business hours.

December: Bremond battles past Maud, advances to title game

Bremond's Tigers remain hot as ever, despite the wintry weather that has hit the region.

On Saturday afternoon, Dec. 15, Bremond battled Maud in a semifinals match-up at Homer Boyce Stadium in Nacogdoches.

By the time the final horn sounded at the conclusion of the fourth quarter, the Tigers came out victorious in a 31-20 victory in the 1A Division II semifinals.

With the game on the line, Bremond senior lineman Kie Yezak came to the rescue late in the final quarter of play to seal the deal on a Tigers trip to the 1A title game.

Yezak pounced on a Maud fumble with a little under four minutes remaining in the game, barreling down the field 79 yards for a Bremond touchdown with 3:29 left in the fourth quarter to give the Tigers a 31-20 victory.

With the victory, Bremond now advances to face the Munday Moguls in a championship game tentatively slated for Saturday at Stephenville's Tarleton State University.

Munday picked up a 47-0 victory in their semifinals match-up last weekend to garner a spot in Saturday's 1A title game against Bremond.

Bremond won their first football title as a 1A team in 1981, as the Tigers aim for their second state championship in school history.

December: Xerox offers free holiday greetings to soldiers in Iraq

The Xerox Corporation is doing their part to bring a merry and happy holiday season to America - especially to the brave, loyal and dedicated soldiers currently serving the country in Iraq.

Best of all, the service Xerox offers is free.

In an effort to bring a smile to the faces of those fighting for the country, Americans are invited to visit the website www.LetsSayThanks.com to pick out a thank you card that will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq - and Xerox will pay to have it printed and shipped.

"The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas," the sites 'About Us' section states. "By submitting a message through this site you have the opportunity to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women."

December: Chamber Board holds meeting, begins preparation for 2008 banquet

The Marlin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors held a regular meeting on Dec. 10, discussing issues ranging from Billy Terrell to 'Business After Hours.'

Renee Clayton, who was a special guest at the meeting in regards to a report on the '6 to Success' bus program, reported that she has talked to Terrell and informed him about skills training programs that may benefit his business as well as grants.

Board Director Denton Lessman then informed the group that he had recently held "some very encouraging meetings with Billy Terrell, Robert Paul and preachers from south Marlin to see if there is a way to salvage the building of this new business in Marlin."

A meeting was held on Friday, Dec. 14 at the Chamber of Commerce as city and county leaders met with Terrell to discuss the aforementioned issue in greater detail.

December: City approved for significant grant with TWDB

It looks like some great news has finally hit the headlines for the City of Marlin.

Just a few short weeks ago, Interim City Manager Tim O'Neil and Mayor Norman Erskine spoke with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) about the possibility of receiving further funding for the city's water plant.

Shortly after the meeting, the TWDB informed O'Neil that the board has decided to grant Marlin the necessary funds to completely rehabilitate the city's water system.

"We will have some of the best water in the state," O'Neil said.

The city recently signed a contract with Grant Construction to begin work on the new Water Treatment Plant, shortly after unanimous approval from city council members.

Marlin's water woes - an issue that has plagued the city for many years - may now begin to fade away as the city appears to be moving in the right direction.

December: Drug investigation leads to multiple arrests

On Tuesday Dec. 18, the Falls County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) arrested two local individuals involved in illicit drug sales.

Damon Johnson, 23, of Marlin, was charged with three felony counts of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to deliver. He was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

William Stricklin, 59, of Marlin, was charged with one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to deliver. Stricklin was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to Sheriff Ben Kirk, three additional arrests were made on Wednesday, Dec. 19, in an ongoing operation to stop illicit drug sales.

Ellis Travis, 55, of Lott, was charged with two felony counts of manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance (penalty group 1 - cocaine). He was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tray Lamar Bridges, 20, of Marlin, was charged with two felony counts of manufacturing and delivery of controlled substance (penalty group 1 - cocaine).

Kirby Wilson, 30, of Marlin, was charged with one felony count of manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance (penalty group 1 - cocaine).

The arrests, made by Sheriff Kirk and several Field Deputies, are the result of a lengthy undercover investigation into illegal drug dealing in Marlin.

"The investigation [has been] conducted over a six-month period in several Falls County communities, including Marlin, Lott and Rosebud," Kirk stated through a published Dec. 19 news release. "Consequently, additional arrests are planned."

December: City certifies petition for recall of Paula Kluck

The Marlin City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at City Hall, with members quickly breezing through the agenda prior to a lengthy executive session.

Shortly after returning from the closed session, Acting City Secretary Sandra Herring informed council members that a recall petition regarding councilmember Paula Kluck was certified as presented.

"The City of Marlin was in receipt of a Petition titled 'Recall Councilwoman Paula Kluck' on Nov. 16, 2007 at 4:46 p.m. and in accordance with the City of Marlin City Charter Sec. 6.01 through Sec. 6.11 [and] all pages were affixed with an affidavit," Herring stated in a letter addressed to Mayor Norman Erskine and the City Council. "Signatures were collected from Oct. 4 though Nov. 16, in accordance with the City Charter."

According to Herring, the original petition could not be certified due to the fact that 30 percent or more of the voters in Kluck's precinct were needed in order for the city to certify the recall.

The 30 percent mark for the precinct in question would require 180.30 signatures of qualified voters, according to Herring, and on Nov. 21 the acting city secretary was unable to certify the petition.

However, the city received a supplemental petition on Nov. 30, meeting requirements stated in the Marlin City Charter in Sec. 6.04, allowing for a supplemental petition to be filed within 10 days.

"After careful examination of the supplement and verifying with the Falls County Voter Registrar, I found it to be in order with the Marlin City Charter - therefore amending the original petition as follows: adding 29 Qualified Voters [to] bring the Original Petition counts to 192 Qualified Voters, meeting the 30 percent as required by the City Charter," Herring stated. "I, Sandra Herring, Acting City Secretary for the City of Marlin, Certify the Petition presented for the purpose of 'Recall Councilwoman Paula Kluck' to be in accordance with the Marlin City Charter Sec. 6.04 and Sec. 6.07."

Shortly after the petition was verified and presented to the board, Interim City Manager Tim O'Neil informed the council that he had spoken with advisors on how to proceed with the issue at hand.

According to O'Neil, although a February 2008 Recall Election would be the normal course of action, the city has been advised to hold off - due primarily to Kluck's position being up for re-election in May 2008.

O'Neil then told those in attendance that the city plans to delay a special recall election and wait until the normal May election to address Kluck being recalled.

No action was taken on this item as the agenda solely called for the petition to be verified valid and presented to the council.

December: Board approves extended lease with Boys and Girls Club

The Marlin Independent School District (ISD) Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 18 at the middle school cafeteria.

Shortly after the meeting was called to order, there was a moment of silence prior to the Pledge of Allegiance to both the American Flag and the Texas Flag - led by a selected group of students from Christi Yezak's fourth grade class.

A building lease between Marlin ISD and the Boys and Girls Club of Falls County (commencing Jan. 1, 2008 and expiring Dec. 31, 2011) was one of the key items approved by the board at the Dec. 18 meeting.

Superintendent Ray Matthews informed the board that the club had hopes of extending the lease for three years after using a one-year lease when the club first signed the document - with last Tuesday's decision paving the way for future coordination between both Marlin ISD and the Boys and Girls Club.

December: Council finally moves forward with TCEQ ordinance

The Texas Commission of Environment Quality (TCEQ) Cross Connection Backflow Protection ordinance has finally been passed by Marlin's City Council.

Although the state-mandated ordinance was once again postponed at the Dec. 11 council meeting, members held a special session on Tuesday, Dec. 18, to hammer out a first reading approval for the aforementioned ordinance.

During the Dec. 11 meeting, councilmember Willis Reese asked to abstain from voting on the TCEQ ordinance due to a possible conflict of interest.

Councilmember Elizabeth Nelson was the sole individual to make a motion to accept the first reading of the TCEQ ordinance as presented at the Dec. 11 meeting. However, due to the lack of a second, Mayor Erskine continued on - with no action being taken.

Action was finally taken on Dec. 18, when the council held a quick 15-minute meeting to work out the kinks so the necessary approvals could be made prior to 2008.

The ordinance, though a TCEQ requirement enforced through the state, was delayed time and time again before escalating to a must-approve phase on Dec. 18 at City Hall - where members finally approved the first reading, temporarily avoiding a hefty fine for failure to abide by state laws.

December: MES, MMS get UIL praise

Students, teachers, judges, administrators and parents alike that attended Marlin Elementary School's 22-2A UIL Meet in early December are all reaching similar conclusions: the school did a wonderful job in hosting the event.

For MES Principal Lou Ann Wolf and company, this was the first time the school had hosted UIL competition in many years - and they made the most of playing host as students (second grade through fifth grade) from Hallsburg, Leon, Mart, and Riesel joined Marlin in the meet.

The theme for the event, 'International Students and the World of Education,' filled the halls of MES with presentations from Mexico, Egypt, Australia, Japan and Canada - giving those in attendance a sense of truly traveling abroad.

Meanwhile, right down the road in the third through fifth grade wing, photos, flags and clothing lined the walls showcasing Kenya, China, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia - while the foyer displayed a Christmas tree filled with glass ornaments from around the globe.

In addition, Marlin students involved in the UIL competition wore special t-shirts, "to set them apart from other contestants and truly instill team spirit," according to UIL Coordinator Kathy Sartor.

"The two day competition was a great chance for Marlin Elementary to extend true Southern hospitality to surrounding schools and include area businesses in the process as well," Sartor said.

Community spirit was prevalent, according to Sartor, as MES did a near-perfect job in hosting the event for the first time in nearly a decade.

"All of the visiting schools commented on the beauty of the school, the hospitality, and the organization of the two-day event," Sartor said. "It was truly a positive time for Marlin Elementary School as well as the city of Marlin."

Marlin Middle School Principal Curtis Hurst also received some compliments regarding local students involved in the annual UIL theater competition.

"As the critic-judge at the 2007 UIL Middle School One-Act Play Contest, I just wanted to let you know how impressed I was by [theater directors] Rebekah Grace, John Mixon, and their students," Texas A&M Professor of Theatre Roger Schultz said in a letter addressed to Hurst. "Their production of Pandora and the Magic Box was delightful."

Schultz was even more impressed with the MMS students' actions off the stage.

"Equally, if not more important, was the overall behavior of the Marlin Middle School students," Schultz said. "At a time when there are many complaints and concerns about 'kids today,' I am pleased to report to you that the students in your theatre program were excellent ambassadors for your school and your community."

Schultz went on to praise the directors and administrators involved in the day-to-day activities of local Marlin youth.

"As a classroom teacher, theatre director and theatre adjudicator/respondent for the last 40 years, I know what makes for good productions and good students - good directors, and you certainly have that," Schultz said. "The performance and the exemplary behavior of your students was the direct result of Rebekah Grace and John Mixon and their commitment to your school and their students. In short, you were represented by 'winners' at this year's UIL One-Act Play Contest."

December: New names placed on ballot for March 4 Primary Election

New names and faces are on board for the upcoming March 4 Primary Election.

Filings for candidates to place their names on the ballot began on Monday, Dec. 3 and will continue through Jan. 2, 2008 at 6 p.m.

Thus far, the list of candidates includes the following individuals: Jody Gilliam - District Attorney; Ben Kirk - Sheriff; Bryant Hinson - County Tax-Assessor-Collector; Terry Nutt - County Tax-Assessor-Collector; Davis Fitz - County Commissioner Precinct 1; Nelson Coker - County Commissioner Precinct 3; Francis Green - Justice of the Peace Precinct 2; Marion Humphrey - Constable Precinct 2; James Taplin - Constable Precinct 2; Jerry Cowin - Constable Precinct 1; H.S Westerman - Constable Precinct 3.

No one has filed yet for Constable Precinct 4.

December: O'Neil enters resignation letter

Tim O'Neil officially submitted his letter of resignation on Wednesday, Dec. 26.

With O'Neil's resignation, the former interim city manager becomes the fifth individual from recent staff to leave his position.

"As of today I am giving notice to the Mayor and City Council that I will not be seeking permanent appointment to the position of City Manager," O'Neil stated in his letter to Mayor Norman Erskine and the Marlin City Council. "A couple of weeks ago it was stated that many months prior I told a City Council member that I wasn't interested in the position, this individual asked me why I now wanted the job."

According to O'Neil, his main reason for sticking around to fill the interim shoes of city manager was due to a concern that the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) could possibly pull Marlin's funding.

An opportunity to return to the private sector as a special projects manager is the key reason for leaving, according to O'Neil, and is also where he's the most comfortable.

"Therefore, I am submitting my resignation as Finance Director and Interim City Manager for the City of Marlin," O'Neil said. "My last day will be Jan. 4, or sooner if the Council wishes."

According to O'Neil, the ongoing battle between city staff and city council played very little, if any, part in his decision.

"I would like to thank the Mayor and Council for the respectful and professional way they have treated me during my short tenure," O'Neil said. "I would also like to acknowledge the effort set forth by the Council during the City Manager employment process; I feel the negotiations would have resulted in a fair contract."

Living in Marlin, a place both Tim and his wife Jane call home, made the decision even harder, according to O'Neil, as he has worked "with very good people who work hard and get very little credit."

O'Neil's final wish to council members and the city was to "carry on" as Marlin aims to begin moving in the right direction.

"I feel as if I am abandoning these fine folks," O'Neil said, "but I know that they are professional and will carry on with their assigned duties."

December: Tigers 12-game win streak snapped in 26-6 setback to Munday's Moguls

Down just 7-6 at halftime, the Bremond Tigers appeared ready for a fight to the finish in the 1A Division II title game against the Munday Moguls on a cool and breezy Saturday afternoon, Dec. 22 in Stephenville.

Munday, undefeated with a 14-0 record entering their chase for the 1A championship, proved how wintry winds, solid secondary and a duo of running backs ultimately results in a title team.

The Moguls' combo backs of Steven Urbanczyk and B.J. Dockins garnered a total of 178 yards rushing while accounting for all four of Munday's touchdowns as the Moguls remained perfect - ending the season with a 15-0 mark.

The second half of play in Saturday's showdown was all Munday, as the Moguls offense racked up 139 yards while their secondary held the Tigers to a mere 19 yards of forward progress.

Overall, the Munday defense limited Bremond to only 81 yards of total offense - with Tigers quarterback LiDarral Bailey leading the charge with 21 yards on the ground and 44 yards passing.

Clock control, along with timely Bremond blunders, helped propel Munday to Saturday's 1A championship - as the Tigers fumbled the pigskin six times en route to their first loss in 13 games, snapping a 12-game winning streak.

Bremond, ending the season 12-3 overall, turned the ball over on downs late in the final quarter of play, eventually leading to Munday's final score of the night after taking over at their own 19-yard line on the ensuing drive.

December: Seniors lead the way as all-district, all-state honors announced

With all-district honors recently being announced at all levels of play, and as the 2007 high school gridiron season shuts its door on another year of pigskin action, local players - from both Marlin and Bremond - made the distinguished list.

First, the 22-2A All-District honorees for the Marlin Bulldogs football team include:

Matthew Phillips, Senior: Defensive Most Valuable Player

Travis Miller, Senior: First Team WR

Antonio Moore, Senior: First Team RB

Fred Shaw, Senior: First Team DL

Quentin Tasby, Senior: First Team OT

Cory Shaw, Senior: First Team DE

Willie Moore, Junior: First Team OLB

Olajuan Hopkins, Senior: First Team DB

Josh Blann, Junior: Second Team C

Vance Richardson, Senior: Second Team DB

Carlos Christian, Senior: Second Team ILB

For the Bremond Tigers, the following individuals made the cut for the 1A All-state high school football team - released last Monday - as voted on by the Associated Press Sports Editors and based upon regular-season performance:

Rickie Williams, Senior: Second Team Defensive Lineman, Honorable Mention Running Back

Michael Martinez, Senior: Second Team Defensive Linebacker

LiDarral Bailey, Junior: Honorable Mention Quarterback

Justin Williams, Sophomore: Honorable Mention Defensive Linebacker

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at editor@marlindemocrat.com