July 5, 2008

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Announcements

Leonard student named to honors list

Sylvia Gaulden of Leonard was named to the Special Academic Merit List at Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant for the Spring 2008 semester. To be named to the Special Academic Merit List, a student must have taken between seven and eleven hours and earned a 4.0 grade point average.

Scholarship winner

On Wednesday afternoon, April 9, Fannin County Sheriff Kenneth Moore presented Heather Denise White with a $500 scholarship on behalf of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas.

Sheriff Moore explained Sheriff’s Association of Texas Academic Scholarship requires the student to be the son, daughter or grandchild of a sheriff, former sheriff, sheriff’s office employee, or a peace officer serving the State of Texas and pursuing a degree.

Students must be under the age of 25 and maintaining a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 enrolled in a college or university.

To learn more about the scholarship, visit the Sheriff’s Association of Texas website (http://www.txsheriffs.org/scholarship/youth.htm).

The particular scholarship awarded Wednesday not only went to a student that meets all the requirements, but also went to a young lady that plans on spending a career in law enforcement after graduating from college.

Heather is a junior at Southeastern Oklahoma State University where she is a criminal justice major.She is a graduate of Dodd City High School and the daughter of Wendell and Kim Bockman.Mr. Bockman is a Detective Sgt. with the Bonham Police Department.

Jennifer Bates to wed Jason Mendez in May

Tammie and Johnny Bates of Leonard announce the engagement of their daughter Jennifer Leen’e Bates, to Jason Glenn Mendez, son of Shirley and Charlie Mendez of Bailey.

An outdoor western setting is the theme for the wedding set for May 3rd, 2008 at 5 p.m. at the home of Sheria and Curtis Young at 18087 South Hwy 78 Leonard. All friends and relatives are invited.

The bride-elect is a 2003 graduate of Leonard High School, is currently attending Collin County Community College and is employed by Northeast Texas Distributors.

The prospective bridegroom is a 1997 graduate of Wolfe City High School and is currently employed by Grayson County Department of Transportation.

Former LHS Graduate in Denton Community Theatre Production

Traci Treadway Burt, an English teacher at Denton Ryan High School and former Leonard High School graduate, has been cast in the Denton Community Theatre’s upcoming production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Traci is the granddaughter of Jerline Ownby of Leonard.

The play is adapted from the sole novel of Harper Lee. It’s a drama about the coming of age of Jean Louise French – simply called “Scout” – and her brother, Jem, and their good friend, Dill. The three children try to make sense of the deadly strain of racism alive in their hometown. They also learn from their father, Atticus, that justice for all is at times a nasty business.

Traci will play the role of Jean Louise. The piece will be directed by Texas Women’s University theatre professor Patrick Byname. Performances will be May 9-11 and May 16-18 at the campus theatre on 214 W. Hickory Street in downtown Denton

Amy Marie Bearden, formerly of Leonard, will graduate May 10, 2008 from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She will continue her education at the University of Arkansas for an additional year to complete her Master’s, also in Elementary Education. Amy is the granddaughter of Ernie and Gerry Bearden of Leonard.

Howell, Kinkade to Wed March 1

Sergeant Robert Howell and Dominique Kinkade, both graduates of Leonard High School Class of 2002, will be united in a long awaited marriage on March 1, 2008 at 3 p.m. at the Bicentennial Park in Albuquerque, NM with Rev. Marjorie Loiselle officiating.

Family members to attend the ceremony are the bride’s parents, Nancy and Travis Kinkade of Leonard and grandparents Odile and Dick Saye. The groom’s family members to attend are his parents, Tracy and Clifford Howell, also of Leonard. Many other family members and friends will also be attending.

Robert and Dominique will be honored with a reception following the ceremony at Garduno’s Mexican Cantina, hosted by the bride and groom themselves. They will also treat their out of town guests with a trip to the top of the Sandia Mountains.

The couple is now making their home in Albuquerque, NM, where Robert is a member of the United States Marine Corp. and will not be deployed again anytime soon!

Chris Driscoll weds Laura Olsen

Jan. 31, 2008 - Laura Elizabeth Olsen of College Station, Tex., and Christopher Dallas Driscoll of Quantico, Va., were united in marriage Dec. 22, 2008, at Independence Baptist Church in Independence, Tex. Minister Bill Ledbetter of Fairview Baptist Church in Durant, Okla., officiated at the double-ring ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Chuck and Wanda Olsen of Washington, Tex. She graduated from Brenham High School in 2003 and will graduate this spring from Texas A&M University.

The bridegroom is the son of Scott and Margaret Driscoll of Melissa, Tex. He graduated from Leonard High School in 2002 and Texas A&M University in 2006. He is employed by the United States Marine Corps, Second Lieutenant.

Attendants for the bride were Katie Poyer of College Station, Tex., Matron of Honor; Heather Olsen of Grand Prairie, Tex., and Hollie Driscoll of College Station, Tex., were bridesmaids. Flower Girl was Rheagan Olsen of Washington, Tex. Best Man for the groom was Regan Treadway of Leonard, Tex. Groomsmen were Jared Henderson of Leonard, Tex. and Jared Ledbetter of Ada, Okla. Ushers were Joseph and Steven Olsen, both of Washington, Tex. Wedding songs were presented by Tacy and Fred Brumwell of Brenham, Tex., and organist Diane Driscoll of Richardson, Tex.

A reception was held in the fellowship hall following the ceremony, with the bride’s parents as hosts. Members of the house party included Big Daddy’s Barbecue, caterers; Alice Olsen, guest registry; Hannah Murrie, chocolate fountain; Jeanette and Kyndra Olsen, bridal cake; DeAnna Olsen and Tacy Brumwell, groom's cake, assisted by Mary Ann DeWares. The bridegroom’s parents were hosts to a rehearsal dinner on Dec. 21 at Design II.

Grandparent of the bride is Juanita Olsen of Washington, Tex. Grandparents of the bridegroom are Diane and Charlie Driscoll of Richardson, Tex. and Esther Windows of Amarillo, Tex. Great-grandmother of the bridegroom is Veda Hale of Fairfax, Okla. Lace and tulle glistening sequined and beaded lace enhanced the delicate strapless gown. Horizontal tulle and lace waist banding is accentuated by a row of pearls with a court train. The gown was by Bellisisima-Brigitte. The bridesmaids wore cranberry strapless empire with flare iridescent taffeta tea-length gowns.

The groom wore his Marine Corps officer’s uniform. Groomsmen wore Perry Ellis Republic tuxedos with wine vests and Windsor ties.

The couple will be at home in Pensacola, Fla., after a wedding trip to the Riviera Maya.

Jessica Stapleton, Justin Rushing announce engagement

Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Stapleton of Trenton would like to announce the engagement of their daughter Jessica Stapleton to Justin Rushing.

The bridegroom proposed in Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway on December 13.

The couple visited Texas Motor Speedway on December 13 to take a ride in the pace cars. While waiting in Victory Lane Justin proposed.

Jessica is the granddaughter of Patsy Shew of Trenton, the lateEugene Cox and Tom & Liz Stapleton of Nobility. She is a senior at Texas A&M Commerce and will graduate December 08 with a Bachelors of Photography. Jessica is a 2003 graduate of Trenton High School and a 2006 graduate of Collin County Community College with an Associate of Arts Degree.

Justin is the son of Mike and Donna Rushing of Leonard and the grandson of John Rushing of Leonard and Otta Lee Langford of Alba and the late Vergie & Jesse Mahan. He is the Great Grandson of Otis & Ethel Taylor of Emory. Justin is a 2000 graduate of Leonard High School, a 2002 graduate of Grayson County College with a Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) Degree and 2005 Graduate of Texas A&M Commerce with a Bachelor in Indutsrial Technology. Justin is employed at Frisco ISD.

The couple plan to wed in 2009.

Shaina Landry to wed Bobby Moats in Sept.

Dec. 6, 2007 - Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Landry of Groves, Texas and Ms. Taura DeDiego of Dallas would like to announce the engagement of their daughter, Shaina Landry to Robert Loy Moats (Bobby).

Bobby is the son of Steve and Leslee Moats of Liberty Hill.He is a senior finance major at Texas A&M University and will graduate in May 2008.Bobby is a member of the Brothers Under Christ fraternity.He is a 2004 graduate of Liberty Hill High School.

Shaina is also a senior at Texas A&M University and will graduate in May with a degree in Animal Science.She is a member of the Chi Omega sorority.She is a 2004 graduate of Little Cypress Mauriceville High school.

Grandparents of the bride are Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Hogan of Orange, Tex. and Ken and Sylvia Lewis of Groves, Texas. Grandparents of the groom are Dr. and Mrs. Robert L. Harris of San Antonio and Linda Moats of Carrollton and the late Jerry Loy Moats.

The wedding will be September 13, 2008 in Orange.

Ashley Childress, Jerrod Woodruff to wed

Nov. 15, 2007 - Ashley Childress and Jerrod Woodruff both of Plano will wed Dec. 1 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Dallas. FatherPospell will officiate.

Childress is the daughter of Nick & Tina Jans of Plano and Mike Childress of Richardson. She is the granddaughter of Ted & Bonnie Ashford of Houston. She graduated from Plano Senior High School & the University of North Texas with a degree in communications and is employed with BIAP.

Woodruff is the son of Gary & Rachelle Woodruff of Leonard. He is the grandson of Gerald & Peggy McCord of Leonard and Frances Woodruff of Denison & the late Dempsey Woodruff. He graduated from Leonard High School & theUniversityof North Texas with a degree in Mechanical Engineeringand is employed with Piazza Engineering in Dallas.

 

Kimra Lenee Ritchie, Jason Lee Stevens wed September 1

Sept. 20, 2007 - Kimra Lenee Ritchie and Jason Lee Stevens were united in marriage at two o’clock on September 1st at Refuge Missionary Baptist Church in Hudson, North Carolina. Reverend Jerry A. Woodie, pastor of Refuge, officiated the ceremony. Following the ceremony, the parents of the bride hosted a reception at First Baptist Church of Lenoir. It was catered by Sharon and Tracy Carpenter of Happy Valley.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Regan Ritchie of Sawmills, N.C. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Ritchie of Granite Falls, N.C., Mr. and Mrs. HL Grimes of Leonard, Tex., Mr. Marvin E. Brown of Dallas, Tex., and Mr. and Mrs. Les Mayse of Leonard, Tex. A graduate of Kendell Christian Academy, Kimra is pursuing a BS in Elementary Education through Appalachian State University in Hudson. N.C.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jones Stevens, III of Hudson, N.C. He is the grandson of the late Mr. Robert J. Stevens, Jr. and Mrs. Berneta (Sis) Greene Zemp of Lenoir, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Marion Darnell of Pineville, N.C. Jason, a graduate of South Caldwell High School, received an AA in Automotive Body Repair from Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and is pursuing a degree in Accounting and Business. He is employed by MDI in Hickory.

The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents. Her sister, Sarah Ritchie, was chosen as Maid of Honor. Bridesmaids, friends of the bride, were Heather Johnson and Brittany Barlow. Mariah Joy Curtis and Dakota Andrew Rickman, friends of the bride and groom, were, respectively, the flower girl and ring bearer.

The groom’s brother, Robert Jones Stevens IV, served as best man. Groomsmen, both friends of the groom, were James Cobb and Chad Hamby. Matthew Cox and Aaron Stanley, friends of the bride and groom, served as ushers.

The greeter was Katie Taylor, friend of the bride, and vocalists were Kimberly Miller and Nathan Miller, also friends of the bride. Candle-lighters were the ushers and mothers of the bride and groom.

On the evening before the wedding, a rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom’s parents at Red Lobster in Hickory. The newlyweds honeymooned at Lake Tillary in Albermarle, N.C. and reside in Lenoir.

McCarley-Diehm engagement announced

August 16, 2007 - Michelle Claire Diehm, of McKinney and Jacob Ross McCarley of Leonard, have announced their engagement.Michelle is the daughter of Janice Carver and Roger Carver of McKinney, and Paul Diehm, of Omaha, Neb., and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. James G. Robertson Jr., of Enchanted Oaks. She is a 2002 graduate of McKinney High School and a 2006 graduate of Texas Tech School of Nursing.She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.She is employed by UT Southwestern Medical Center as a cardiac intensive care nurse.

Jake is the son of Mickey and Pam McCarley of Leonard, the grandson of Ray and June Evans of Leonard, and the great-grandson of Nedra Branscome, also of Leonard.He is a 2002 graduate of Leonard High School and a 2006 graduate of Texas Tech University.He is employed by Perot Systems as a business analyst.The wedding is set for September 8, 2007, at the First Baptist Church in McKinney.

Janet Key, Jason Kramer announce plans

August 16, 2007 - Ron and Mary Key of Leonard announce the engagement of their daughter, Janet LeAnn Key to Jason Lee Kramer. He is the son of Henry and Donna Kramer, of Royse City.

Wedding plans are in progress.

Pendry-La Rock wedding Aug. 11

August 9, 2007 - Mr. & Mrs. Timmey LaRock of Greenville would like to announce the engagement of their daughter Amber Leann to Donald Gene Pendry, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Pendry of Tyler, Ms. Teri Pendry and Mr. Paul Renfro of Celeste.

The wedding is going to be at the Lake Fork Lodge in Emory on the eleventh of August, at eight-thirty p.m.

Happy Birthday

Leonard Manor held its August birthday party on Thursday afternoon for seven of its residents. Jackie Bonds played his guitar and sang songs on request while employees of the home passed out cake and red punch to those in attendance. Residents with August birthdays are L to R-Mildred Middlebrook, Iva Watson (sitting), Irene Howard (standing), Jean Collins, Murrial Bonds, Parlee Rodgers, and Wayland Wilkins not pictured. There was a rumor that one of these ladies turned 100 on August 3, but no one was telling their age. Happy Birthday to all of you.

Horton and Songer wed in July 6 ceremony

August 2, 2007 - Senior Airman Justin R. Horton and Amanda Songer, both graduates of Leonard High School, were united in marriage on July 6, 2007 at 10 a.m. on the steps of the courthouse in Ft. Walton Beach, FL with the Justice of the Peace presiding. Family members attending the ceremony were the groom’s mother, Belinda Horton of Leonard and his sisters Jodie Whitehouse of Cabot, Ark. and Julie Chohan with her family Riaz, Elias and Sebastian from Chicago, Ill. The bride’s family members attending were parents Cathy and Larry Songer and sister Morgan of Leonard and grandmother Reita Frazier.

Justin and Amanda were honored with a reception/shower on Saturday, July 21 in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church in Leonard hosted by the bride’s parents.

The couple is making their home in Navarre, Fl., where Justin is a member of the United States Air Force. Justin is scheduled for redeployment to Iraq in January of 2008.

Riddles celebrate golden anniversary

Bill and Nell Riddle of Conroe, Tex., formerly of Leonard, celebrated fifty years of marriage with a reception in their honor June 16, 2007, hosted by their children. The couple was married June 1, 1957 at the Bailey Church of Christ. The Riddles have three sons, Billy of La Fayette, Co., Terry of Denver, Co., and Jason of Oak Ridge, Tex., and four grandsons.

Angela Peak and Robert Mahalik, Jr. wed in June ceremonies

July 26, 2007 - Angela Peak of Leonard and Robert Mahalik, Jr. of Coppell, Tex.became one in a wedding ceremony on June 23, 2007 at The Falls in Coppell. Judge Patty Larson conducted the ceremony.

Angela is the daughter of Donald and Carol Peak of Leonard and Robert is the son of Bob and Ann Mahalik of Carrollton, Tex. Angela graduated from Texas A&M at Commerce and Robert is a graduate of the University of North Texas. She is a special education teacher at Coppell Middle School West and was previously employed at Celeste Junior High. The groom is Operations Manager for the Treasury Services Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

The bride’s maid of honor was Marisa Garcia, daughter of the bride. Best men were Bobby and Michael Mahalik, sons of the groom and ring bearer was Johnny Mahalik, nephew of the groom.

The couple have planned a Caribbean cruise honeymoon and when they return will reside in Coppell.

Lydia Ward, Chad Mercer set Sept. date

July 26, 2007 - Chad Mercer and Lydia Ward will be married at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Bonham on Saturday, September 1, 2007, officiated by the Parish priest, Vicar William Dalton.Mercer is the son of Sherry Mercer of Sherman and Randy Mercer of Ector. He is a 2002 graduate of Ector High School, now serving in the US Army. Miss Ward is the daughter of Lauren Ward DeGarmo of Bonham and granddaughter of Roger and Pat Ward of Ivanhoe. She is a 2006 graduate of Grayson County Community College School of Vocational Nursing and is employed at Texoma Medical Center in Denison. The couple will make their home in El Paso following their wedding.