Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 123, No. 104, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 29, 2005 Page: 3 of 18
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POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29,2005 - PAGE 3A
1 Former local Hero for Children
AUSTIN - Bobbye Ruth Man-
I ning Burke of Houston, formerly of
I Livingston, has been selected by
I the State Board of Education as a
12005 Hero for Children. She re-
Iceived the award during a Nov. 18
ceremony at the Texas Capitol.
Burke, a 43-year, retired veteran
I teacher, has volunteered with chil-
dren at the Harris County Depart-
ment of Education’s Academic and
Behavior Center (ABC) West in
southwest Houston since 2000. She
was one of 15 Texas volunteers
I honored by the state board. Recipi-
ents were selected by state school
board members from a multitude of
| applications.
Specifically, Burke was nomi-
I nated by Norma Lopez, secretary at
ABC West. The retiring teacher
initially worked at the school in a
I paid position for two months. Post-
I retirement, Burke asked to stay on
as a volunteer. Currently she volun-
teers there two days a week.
Burke’s name was engraved on a
I plaque permanently displayed in
the Travis Building near the Texas
Capitol. She also received a certifi-
cate, resolution of the proclamation
| and a letter from the governor.
‘Many of our students this gra-
Icious woman mentors and assists
are autistic, lending a special mean-
ing to her volunteerism,” said Jim
Davis, senior director of HCDE
| Special Schools.
ABC West provides specialized
I contract services for districts that
have students with special needs
and behavior problems. Those stu-
dents travel via bus from the home
schools in Alief, Fort Bend, Hous-
ton, Royal, Spring Branch, Spring
and Stafford independent school
I districts.
“Bobbye always finds a way to
I communicate with our students and
says she stays on at ABC West
because of the big steps she sees
students accomplish,” said Princi-
pal Malcolm Greer. “Many stu-
I dents don’t speak or make eye con-
I tact when they come to us. Bobbye
sees subtle changes grow to major
I accomplishments as students pro-
gressively allow her to share their
1 lives.”
Staff often marvels at the 70-
year-old matriarch’s energy and
determination, says Lopez. Some-
times a life skills student may be on
the verge of being disciplined, but
Bobbye is successful in interceding
as a type of silent negotiator, she
added.
“Our kids relish holidays, and
Bobbye makes a point to make
each one special by donating good-
ies to students,” Lopez said. “If a
holiday falls on her day off, she
recreates the holiday when she re-
turns to visit.
“Some of our higher-level stu-
dents learn to read and she has been
instrumental in giving one-on-one
time needed to help that happen.
She also helps them learn how to
make beds, cook and clean.”
“We nominated Burke because of
the unilagging commitment and
unique relationships she has woven
with our special needs students,”
said Greer.
Perhaps the most remarkable
thing that has happened throughout
the former kindergarten teacher's
volunteering with special needs
students is new outlook she has for
disabled individuals. She says she
has changed the way she views
disabled individuals, realizing they
are everyday people with unique
problems which they must cope
with on a daily basis.
"Thankfully, Bobbye Burke sees
our students as a piece of a puzzle
that makes her life complete,”
Greer said.
IP donations add up
LIVINGSTON - Each year the
employees at International Paper
(IP) in Camden participate in the
Empty Stocking Fund for Polk
County. The fund provides Christ-
mas gifts for children that would
not get them any other way and IP
employees said they feel it is a
great opportunity to show support
for the community in which they
work.
In past years, they supported ap-
proximately 35 empty stockings.
This year, they decided to do some-
thing different to make it possible
to support more stockings. Under
the leadership of Plant Manager
Bob Jewell, they combined their
team-building program, known as
‘Going All Out,’ with the fundrais-
ing so that every department team
competed to see who could raise
the most funds.
Employees held raffles, gumbo
dinners, a breakfast, a fish fry and
more to raise money for the fund.
On Dec. 16. the total amount
raised was calculated and through
their hard work and generosity, the
employees learned they had raised
$7,802.31. Through those efforts,
they were able to sponsor 125
stockings, more than triple their
commitment.
In addition to contributing to the
Empty Stocking Fund, employees
also donated $500 to the Polk
County Mission Food Bank.
One injured in accident
LIVINGSTON - One person was
injured Saturday in a one-vehicle
accident on FM 3277, 1.3 miles
west of Livingston.
A 1995 Ford F-150 pickup truck
driven by John Elbert Lucas, 31, of
Livingston was eastbound and en-
tered a left-hand curve. Lucas ap-
plied his brakes, but they did not
work properly and he lost control
of the vehicle, according to Texas
Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin
Burman. The truck skidded off the
road, into a yard and struck a tree.
Lucas was listed as having sus-
tained non-incapacitating injuries,
but refused medical treatment at the
scene, according to the trooper.
The driver was cited for no
driver’s license and failure to main-
tain financial responsibility in con-
nection with the accident, which
occurred at 2:30 a m.
Your Brookshire Brothers Pharmacy
wants you to make an educated
decision regarding Medicare Part D.
What: A representative of Community Care Rx will
be available to educate and enroll anyone
eligible for Medicare Part D
......•••v
When: Thursday, December 29 from
9 aim. to 4 p.m.
******"
Where: Brookshire Brothers Pharmacy
pfC* at Livingston Store Location
.oQ&SS* ; (
If you choose to enroll with
Community Care Rx, please have a list
of your current medications available.
You are undei^po obligation to choose
Community Care Rx.
Your Brookshire Brothers Pharmacy
wants you to make an educated
decision.
’ . • y ' . ^
Community Care Rx has no association with
Brookshire Brothers.
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 123, No. 104, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 29, 2005, newspaper, December 29, 2005; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth820046/m1/3/: accessed June 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.