TYLER COUNTY – During the regular monthly meeting of the Tyler County Commissioners Court on Monday morning, County Judge Milton Powers asked the court to recess to join him on the courthouse lawn for a Veterans Day presentation.
Judge Powers told all in attendance “we very much support our veterans here in Tyler County,” and read a proclamation honoring the county’s veteran population in time for Veterans Day, which is celebrated Wednesday, Nov. 11.
The county commissioners and Judge Powers were joined by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2033 Post Commander J.W. Kern and member Barry Perkins in installing a wreath in front of the courthouse.
Alamo plaque addressed
During the public comments portion of the court meeting, Kay Timme and Charlene Hyrorchuk, representing the Tyler County Historical Commission, spoke about the county’s initiative, undertaken a year ago, to have a plaque of Col. William Barret Travis’s letter from the Alamo installed somewhere on the courthouse premises.
Travis’s letter, which he penned on Feb. 24, 1836, spelled out the plight of the Texan Army at the Alamo, and is commonly referred to as the “Victory or Death” letter. Travis only had 157 men under his command, and those Texians were greatly outnumbered by Mexicans under the command of Santa Anna. The letter was delivered through Mexican lines by Capt. Albert Martin to Texas President Sam Houston, and the Alamo Letter Society has made it a goal to get a plaque of Travis’s letter installed at all 254 Texas courthouses.
To date, 51 counties have had the plaque installed.
Timme went over the court’s history with the plaque, particularly the acceptance of a $5,000 donation toward it, which was donated by Hyorchuk. She asked the court who she, as chair of the Historical Commission, will work with to make sure the plaque is ordered and to coordinate where it will be installed.
Timme said that in her research, the unveiling of the plaques is typically done with a great deal of fanfare.
Judge Powers said he would be the one to work with Timme and TCHC to work out the particulars of the plaque.
Changes on governing boards approved
In other county business, long-serving Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District board member Charles Zimmerman, who has served as treasurer for the past six years, submitted a letter to the commissioners court stating his intention to not be available for reappointment after the conclusion of his current term.
Zimmerman’s term ends this year, and Judge Powers thanked him for his long years of service to that organization, and for representing the water concerns of Tyler Countians. Zimmerman was present with his wife Betty, at Monday’s meeting.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Joe Blacksher, who joked that approving Zimmerman’s letter was something he did not want to do, called the work of Zimmerman and others on the Conservation District board “vitally important.”
The commissioners accepted the appointment of Tonya Sheffield to replace Zimmerman on the board when his term ends.
For the board of commissioners for Emergency Services District #3, Betty Zimmerman was reappointed by the court to serve, and the appointment of Kassie Bierman was ratified.
The ESD #5 board saw the approval of reappointments for Glen Kenney; Ronald Willmon; Lawrence “LR” Johnson; Herbert Odom and Johnny Page.
