Best of times, worst of times ...
Wildcat football success, Troup police scandal highlight 2006

The events of 2006 are almost to an end, although the impact of many will be remembered for years to come.

The top two stories of the year at first glance are apparent contrasts in triumph and disaster, although a closer look reveals a bit of each in both.

The Wildcat playoff bid certainly was a triumph for Coach Randy McFarlin and his team, as well as a cause for celebration and renewed community spirit for the citizens of Whitehouse. Before there was triumph, however, there were less-than stellar seasons followed by “building years” under McFarlin’s guidance.

If not for the disappointments of the past, the championships of the present – and future – would not be so sweet.

Disaster certainly seems appropriate to describe the events leading to the prosecution of a city’s police chief and the dismantling of the police department. It’s hard to imagine circumstances that would shake the faith of the community more than those.

And yet, a mere five months after making headlines for internal corruption, the revamped Troup Police Department rebounded with an impressive drug sweep, the first step in an operation dubbed CUT for Clean Up Troup.

If there is a silver lining to be found here, it’s the re-dedication to duty and honor embodied by the current police chief and officers.

There are other stories worth noting from 2006, more than can be recounted here. What follows is a month-bymonth summary of some of the more memorable moments:

JANUARY

-- Troup ISD trustees vote to extend Superintendent Marvin Beaty’s contract.

-- Brent Conaway begins first year as president of the Whitehouse Chamber of Commerce.

-- Troup loses a most-valuable citizen with the death of Edward “Lucky” Vascocu, 83.

-- The citizens of Whitehouse also mourn the passing of Nancy Terry, 64.

FEBRUARY

-- Retired Troup coach Andy Griffin is inducted into the Hall of Honor at Texas A&M at Corpus Christi.

-- John Whitsell is selected as Troup’s Citizen of the Year at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet. Other honors were bestowed, including firefighter of the year, teacher of the year and policeman of the year.

MARCH

-- The Wildcat boys basketball team is eliminated from the playoffs, leaving head coach Wally Dawkins one victory away from his 500th career win.

--- The arrests of Of ficer Samuel Mark Turner and Chief Chester Kennedy, following an investigation by the Smith County Sheriff’s Department, surprise Troup city officials and public. Turner is charged with delivery of marijuana and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, while Kennedy is also charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Ultimately, Kennedy and Turner are fired and the city chooses to replace its entire police department, beginning with the appointment of veteran officer Pat Hendrix as the new chief.

-- Troup Ag Mechanics team takes first at Houston Livestock Show.

-- Lady Cat soccer achieves fourth consecutive year with undefeated district record.

-- Department of Public Safety Trooper Steven Stone of Whitehouse is shot multiple times during a traffic stop.

-- Troup boys bow out of the basketball playoff race.

-- Nina Pierce becomes Whitehouse High School’s first all-state choir member.

-- Whitehouse City Council strikes water when test well reveals second promising location.

-- Troup’s Jonathan Beene Jr. is killed in an automobile accident.

-- Six Lady Cat basketball players earn all-district status.

-- Whitehouse girls and boys soccer teams fall short in playoffs.

APRIL

-- WHS UIL team wins district.

-- Water problems surface in negotiations to renew contract with the City of Tyler and speculation about the purchase of Walnut Grover Water Supply.

-- Deadly wreck on Highway 110 takes life of Whitehouse resident Jonathan Remedies, 21.

-- Delois and Robert Pettigrew are chosen Mr. and Mrs. YesterYear.

-- Whitehouse city council authorizes the sale of $2.8 million in bonds to fund drilling for a second water well.

MAY

-- Troup police department re-opens with new personnel and new look.

-- Tigers win first-ever district baseball championship

-- Lady Cats and Lady Tigers bow out of softball playoffs

-- WHS concert and symphonic bands earn sweepstakes 13th year in a row; WHS varsity mixed choir and non-varsity treble choirs win sweepstakes – first time both won in same year; WJHS treble varsity choir wins sweepstakes 4th year in a row.

-- WJHS students sweep Texas History Essay Contest, sponsored by Daughters of the Republic of Texas

-- Whitehouse’s Jessica Wente defends state tennis title but falls short

-- Troup school board approves more comprehensive “extra duty pay” stipend to give administration bargaining clout, increased daily rate compensation for substitutes and other staff.

-- Magen Ellis earns Miss Houston USA title.

-- Tony Black promoted from assistant vp to principal at WHS following Christopher Moran’s resignation.

-- WHS academic awards banquet nets $581,000 in scholarships.

-- New council members sworn in for both communities.

-- Tigers baseball team loses to Hemphill in regional playoffs.

-- Lady Cats earn all-district softball honors.

-- WJHS students honored by Duke University’s Talent Identification Program for standardized test scores.

JUNE

-- Troup police department reports working 198 cases in first 21 days; Turner pleads guilty to charges.

-- Eddie Ray Keep Whitehouse Beautiful Volunteer of the Year.

-- Tigers, Lady Tigers earn district baseball/softball awards.

-- LaDelle Tuley chosen Woman of the Year by Troup Women’s Civic Organization.

-- Wildcat boys earn all-district baseball honors.

-- Cingular adds site to Troup.

-- Wildcat soccer players earn all-East Texas status.

-- YesterYear celebration arrives; Bryant and Ann Langford serve as grand marshals.

-- Troup’s Tell Ross signs with Lon Morris.

-- Magen Ellis chosen Miss Texas USA.

-- Whitehouse city council accepts Vision 2020, a comprehensive master plan, terminates city engineer’s contract.

--Lady Cat softball players nab all-East Texas honors.

-- Troup’s Nick Harrison, Tell Ross make all-state.

JULY -- Suspects indicted in shooting of Whitehouse DPS trooper; one gets life sentence.

--Conaway unveils new logo, new direction for Chamber.

-- Troup council calls for survey/ site plan before construction.

-- Soldier home from Iraq, Casey Wayne Jones, killed in auto accident.

-- First Ladies earn camp awards.

-- Troup forms pee wee football league.

-- Bryan Baker just misses cut at Texas Open.

-- Troup teen arrested for impersonating officer.

--Whitehouse grads make their mark in sports world.

-- Troup’s Keylon Kincade comes home for fund-raiser.

AUGUST

-- WISD fails to have Recognized campus in TAKS scores; Troup’s elementary and middle schools earn Recognized status.

-- Troup education and community icon Eugene McElroy, 86, passes away.

-- Troup’s Westwood Convalescent Home sold.

-- Whitehouse resident Annette Lilly donates fans to seniors.

-- Troup police officers get ballistic vests.

-- Whitehouse man gets 10 years for assaulting police officer.

-- Carol McKinney wins $250 in Simple Simon’s Pizza sweepstakes.

-- Former Whitehouse tennis ace Jessica Wente makes finals in college tourney.

-- Tigers face new foes after UIL realignment.

-- Troup employees earn bonuses for TAKS success.

-- Troup Moms Club, Chamber spearhead football banners.

-- Troup PD initiates drug sweep, netting 14 arrests.

-- Shelby Hilburn 2007 YesterYear princess.

SEPTEMBER

-- Bill Dodd, charter member of Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department, dies.

-- Officer Shawn Murr y earns commendation for nabbing purse-snatching suspect; further arrests made in drug sweep.

-- P&Z denies request for townhome rezoning, but council sends matter back to Planning & Zoning for more consideration.

-- Troup trustees, council approve budgets.

-- Principal Tony Black performs national anthem at Rangers game.

-- Troup’s Chris Davis sets rushing record.

-- Will Quinn leads Wildcat cross country team.

-- First Baptist quilters donate creations to Higgins PPCD.

-- WISD trustees adopt budget.

-- Cain elementar y commemorates Sept. 11 with Community Helper Week.

-- Courtney McFarlin earns Baylor’s Presidential Scholarship for $32,000.

-- Oakbrook Health Care Center has open house.

-- Man walking across America makes stops in Troup, Whitehouse.

-- WHS theater mounts “Beauty and the Beast.”

-- Bond election called for WISD to build new elementary campus.

OCTOBER

-- Natalie Holcomb, Emily Richardson crowned homecoming queens.

-- Troup High School earns Recognized status after appeal.

-- Whitehouse Women’s Civic League sponsors fall festival, movie in the park.

-- Whitehouse Chamber has annual banquet, plans major reorganization.

-- Troup, Whitehouse bands earn sweepstakes.

-- Teen safe driving program announced.

-- Film company casting East Texas horror film.

NOVEMBER

-- Whitehouse, Jacksonville drama departments join forces for “Romeo and Juliet.”

-- Lady Cats fall in regional round of volleyball playoffs; freshman go undefeated.

-- Whitehouse’s girls cross country wins district; boys finish third.

-- WISD bond issue passes by 34 votes; voters approve Emergency Services District #2.

-- Plans begin to salvage Whitehouse’s senior citizens banquet.

-- Teacher Cathy Dintelman wins trip to Disney World, sponsored by “The View,” for her essay on soap operas.

-- Wally Dawkins reaches 500th win.

-- Stephany Crawford signs letter of intent with Southeastern Oklahoma.

-- Whitehouse eighth-grade football team goes undefeated.

-- Tigers, Wildcats eliminated in playoffs.

DECEMBER

-- Project Joy, Troup Cares collect items for needy.

-- Operation CUT II begins.