News

The Federal Aviation Agency will convey to Quentin V. Koecher, of Pittsburg, the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award at the Rural Heritage Museum in Pittsburg. 
The “Master Pilot” award is the FAA’s highest award issued to pilots. It is awarded to certificated pilots who have been recommended by three certificated pilots who attest to the nominee’s demonstrated professionalism, skilled aviation expertise, and safe operations for at least 50 years as active pilots.
Darrell Hughes, the FAA Safety Team program manager in the North East Texas Region, has verified that Koecher meets all the requirements for the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. 
“Mr. Koecher will be the most senior recipient of the award in the North East Texas Region of the FAA,” said Hughes. Koecher is 97 years old.
 

See Feb. 9 edition for complete story.

From Staff Reports

Several Pittsburg Junior High School choir students earned awards at a recent UIL Music Region 4 Solo and Ensemble competition. 
Most of these students gave up recess and stayed after school to practice all throughout January, according to choir teacher Kristine Koder.
These five students earned a “1 – Outstanding” rating: Halayna Bednar, Jakayla Miller, Brooke Ramsey, La’Tyia Rockwell and Sunshine Scott. These three students earned a “2 – Excellent” rating: Karyme Delgado, Triston Jones and Jonathan Merryman.
“I am so proud of these students’ commitment and dedication. It is a blessing and privilege to work with these and all the students at PISD every day,” said Koder.
 

By Ellis Knox
reporter@campcounty.now

GAZETTE PHOTO/BY ELLIS KNOX
Members of the Pittsburg-Camp County Chamber of Commerce, friends and employees gather around as Mayor Shawn Kennington (far left) and Chamber President Jackson Boyd (far right) hold the ribbon as Paul and Carla Bradshaw cut the ribbon as the new owners of the Pittsburg Pizza Inn.
 

GAZETTE PHOTO/ELLIS KNOX 
A 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Vickiesha Pearl Williams, was involved in a rollover accident on Jan. 25 on State Highway 11. According to a Department of Public Safety report, Williams was traveling eastbound on SH 11 at an unsafe speed, came upon a curve and lost control of her car, and went airborne after striking a culvert. The vehicle came to rest in the roadway upside down. After being extracted, Williams was transported to East Texas Medical Center-Tyler by life-flight helicopter, where at press time, remains in the intensive care unit.

By CORY SMITH | news@campcountynow.com

Several residents of Camp County voiced their concern to Mount Pleasant’s City Council members about the city of Mount Pleasant’s plan to annex land in Camp County at a public hearing that was held Nov. 1 at Mount Pleasant City Hall. The public hearing was the second and final public hearing on the issue and the Mount Pleasant City Council will take a vote to approve, not approve, or take no action on the item on Nov. 29.

To continue reading this article, purchase the print edition of The Pittsburg Gazette or go to our online e-edition at: http://www.etypeservices.com/Pittsburg%20GazetteID315/default.aspx

By Cory Smith | news@campcountynow

Community members met Jan. 26 to explore the possibility of forming a committee to start up an education foundation and alumni network to benefit Pittsburg Independent  School District students and staff through grants that would be awarded by the organizations.

Several area foundations and alumni networks exist including Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD, Paul Pewitt ISD, Texarkana ISD, Gilmer ISD and others. The foundation and alumni network would operate independently of the school district, and have a vision of enhancing education in Pittsburg ISD. 

Under a board of directors who serve without compensation, the foundation would foster creative and innovative approaches to education through private grants and involvement. 

Members of the foundation’s board of directors would represent a cross section of the community served by PISD, and would be dedicated to the success of students and educators. 

By Ellis Knox | reporter@campcounty.now

During last week’s monthly meeting, Pittsburg ISD Deputy Superintendent Beth Ann Dunavant asked the school board to authorize the district to develop a plan to designate it as a “District of Innovation.”
Dunavant explained to the board about the District of Innovation, why it should be explored and to approve her request.

She told the board the District of Innovation concept was passed into law by the Texas Legislature as House Bill 1842, which created Texas Education Code Chapter 12A. The law allows traditional independent schools districts to access most of the flexibilities available to Texas’ open enrollment charter schools. To adopt these rules a school must adopt an innovation plan, as set forth in Chapter 12A and follow guidelines set forth by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

By Cory Smith | news@campcountynow.com

In a called meeting on Jan. 23, the Pittsburg City Council voted to award bids for administrative services and engineering services to Traylor and Associates and Hayes Engineering respectively for grant work relating to the submission of a Texas Community Block Grant Program. 

If the city is able to attain the grant, it will be used for a water infrastructure improvement project near Moore Park. 

The council also voted to table a proposed contract with American Ramp Company for the design of a skate park.

The council also approved the resolution to authorize the submission of the grant for the water infrastructure improvement project. The grant is for $275,000 and the city must match of $41,250 that covers grant administration and engineering fees.