Three people missing from Leonard area home; Fannin County officers suspect foul play
BONHAM — Fannin County Sheriff’s Office began searching Wednesday into the disappearance of three people from a home in the Leonard area, in the southern part of the county.
Sheriff Donnie Foster, in a prepared statement issued Thursday, did not list the location or the possible victims’ names or ages. Chief Deputy James Woods said they have not located victims in or around the home, and cannot confirm for whom they are searching without identification or more information. Foster did say that they were told foul play “might be involved.”
The statement said that the Sheriff’s Office was made aware of the situation Wednesday. Several investigators went to the home, which independent sources said is about two miles south of the State Highway 78 intersection with U.S. Highway 69. They tried, unsuccessfully, to get in touch with the residents. Because they had been told about the possibility of foul play, the investigators went inside the house to check the welfare of the three people.
Inside, they did find evidence of foul play.
Several investigators remained at the residence overnight, in hopes that the suspected victims might return, Foster said. They did not, and as of Thursday afternoon, they have not been located. Woods said the search and investigation are continuing using everyone available to find the missing people, and that includes the Texas Rangers and other agencies.
Denison Development Aliance approve contract for marketing
The Denison Development Alliance and Grayson County are formalizing plans to continue joint marketing efforts of North Texas Regional Airport-Perrin Field.
At the Denison Development Alliance board meeting on Thursday, the board approved a contract with the county that “engages DDA as the program manager for the delivery of marketing and development services for NTRA,” states the contract.
“There’s nothing in this agreement that we haven’t already been doing,” said DDA President Tony Kaai. The Grayson County Commissioners Court is expected to consider the contract in the next few weeks. Both DDA and the county will contribute $33,000 to the effort.
Previously a joint marketing committee made up of representatives from Denison, the county and Sherman worked to fund a jump start of marketing efforts for the airport.
Frank Gadek, vice president of the Sherman Economic Development Corp., said that was a three-year commitment. “We fulfilled our commitment … to help get the airport jump started,” he said.
Gadek said while Sherman isn’t contributing money to that marketing effort, it is promoting NTRA in its materials and plans to participate in any future projects. “We completely support the airport,” he said.
Kaai said the airport also remains a priority for Denison. “I wanted to formalize what we continue to do,” he said.
The Denison Development Alliance board also approved a contract with Bill Retz to continue his role as the point-person in that marketing effort. The contract agrees to pay him $1,000 monthly out of the marketing funds for his efforts.
Finally, the board approved a memorandum of understanding with Grayson County College regarding the Industrial Internship program. The program will provide 10 Denison High School seniors full scholarships to GCC’s one-year industrial maintenance program. Half of the $4,000 will be paid by Denison Development Alliance and half by participating industries. Each student will also be given an internship at one of the participating industries.
Students learn of local career opportunities
“When am I ever going to use this?”
It’s a question teachers say they hear often and one Tiffany Cordell, a math teacher at Denison High School, said she couldn’t answer well until recently.
Cordell was one of several teachers who participated in a special program last summer that gave DHS teachers hands-on experience in local industries. The program is several years old, but was revived this year by the Workforce Solutions Texoma, the Denison Development Alliance, Denison Independent School District and partnering industries.
On Thursday, the partners took further that goal of helping students understand the application of their school work and exposing them to new career opportunities. Approximately 80 of Cordell’s students visited Champion Cooler, where they got to see what a manufacturing career can be.
“We’re trying to show the community that manufacturing is a good way of life,” said Brian Aspell, vice president of manufacturing for Champion Cooler.
Aspell said he got his start on the shop floor and worked his way up. “It’s provided a good life for me and my family,” he said.
Cordell said for many students there’s a gap in their understanding of what career opportunities are available to them. Many students, she said, say doctor or lawyer when asked what they want to do because that’s what they’re familiar with. A number of students on Thursday’s tours weren’t even aware of the opportunities in the plant set right behind the school they attend every day.
Aspell said jobs range from hands-on manufacturing and technicians to professional engineers and accountants. He said manufacturing jobs also give employees a chance to sample jobs and get work experience. “If someone wants to become an engineer, this is a great place to start,” Aspell said.
Denison Development Alliance President Tony Kaai said part of the reason for these efforts is that local manufacturers are reporting that even in a time of relatively high unemployment, industries are having trouble finding reliable workers with industrial skills. The solution the involved parties came up with is growing their own.
And if current trends hold, the demand for manufacturing jobs may grow. According to a 2011 report from the Boston Consulting Group, a global management consulting firm, some companies are slowly beginning to bring jobs back to the United States.
A part of the effort is also the Industry Internship program that is new this year. This year, 10 DHS seniors will receive a full scholarship to Grayson County College’s one-year, industrial maintenance program — an area of high demand locally. The students will also get a paid internship with one of the partnering industries.