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Thursday, August 16, 2007	De Leon Free Press — De Leon, Texas 76444	Volume 117, No. 7

2007 P&M Festival Photo Album

Over two hundred pictures

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Front Page Headlines

By Laura Kestner, Editor

The DeLeon City Council met in regular session, Thursday, August 9 -- with all members present -- and amended two ordinances. There were no citizen’s presentations.

The first ordinance amended, Ordinance #002-02, was the ordinance dealing with (among other nuisances) the height of grass and weeds. >>Full Story<<

By Jerry Morgan, Reporter

A lengthy agenda was on the table at the County Commissioners Court as they began their regular semi-monthly meeting on Monday, August 12.

The Court has been working on the County's annual budget since their last regular meeting and talk about the budget dominated the pre-meeting chatter. Reinvestment zones and tax abatements dominated the meeting discussion, however, as many topics, big and small, were considered. >>Full Story<<

Issues of personnel and the 2007-08 district budget headed the agenda of the DeLeon ISD Board of Trustees as they met in a lengthy session on August 13, 2007. The meeting began with a presentation by DeLeon High School Principal, Jimmie Cearley who provided an overview of the district’s new “Project Success” program. >>Full Report<<

Rep. Mike Conaway (TX-11) announced recently that the DeLeon Fire Department will be given $168,675 from the 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. >>Full Story<<

SLICING THE FIRST MELON. Peach and Melon Festival Committee chairman Warren Mitcham joins Peach and Melon Festival Queen Latisha Abbey as the first ceremonial melon was sliced Saturday. Two truckloads of chilled watermelons were sliced and handed out to a hot, eager crowd shortly after 5 p.m.

MISS DELEON 2007. Kendra Howard was named Miss DeLeon, late Saturday night at the Festival Stage and was immediately crowned by Mayor Danny Owen.

SEED SPITTERS. These nine people were the best of the bunch Saturday, August 11, during the Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest sponsored by the Free Press. In the 10 and under division, front row, from the left, Rhegan Howard, 10, of DeLeon, took 1st place with a spit of 23’ 1”; 2nd, Bryce Howard, 10, McKinney, 21’ 10”; 3rd, Jacob Cabaniss, 8, DeLeon, 20’ 10”. In the 11 to 20 age group, Nikki Tidwell, 16, of Kennedale, took 1st place with a spit of 31’ 11”; 2nd, Michael Garza, 17, Fort Worth, 30’ 3”; 3rd, and Chelsea West, 11, DeLeon, 26’ 3”. In the 21 and over division, Jason Schayot (current world record holder), 32, of Georgetown, took 1st place with a spit of 46’ 1”; 2nd, Lance Broussard, 42, Early, 44’ 1” and 3rd, Rhonda Howard, DeLeon, 43’ 4”.

BEFORE THE START. Hundreds of Melon Patch Tour participants mill about the parking lot on Ball Park Loop early last Saturday as they await the 8:00 a. m. tour start.