$89,000 in Funding Allocated to 16 East Texas Jurisdictions in Solid Waste Reduction Efforts

Top: Debbie Bryan, Judge AJ Mason, Laura Hill, Sandra Kooker, Dr. Robert Haberle, Officer Brady Gould Bottom: Brookshire Grocery Company representatives Rachel Gee, Chris Jennings, and Mark Lawrence, and Officer Rachel Duraso with ETCOG's Director of Public Safety, Stephanie Heffner At its 109th Semi-Annual Board of Directors Meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2026, the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) presented eight regional awards recognizing individuals and organizations whose work strengthens communities across ETCOG’s 14-county region. “In East Texas, the people who contribute the most are often the ones who don’t ask to be noticed…first responders who run toward danger, volunteers who keep showing up, and leaders who build cooperation across city and county lines. During our regional awards ceremony, it was our honor to confer eight awards this year in recognition of the extraordinary dedication and leadership of those making a real difference in the lives of the people they serve,” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. With approximately 100 special guests, elected officials, legislative representatives, and staff in attendance, ETCOG’s board chairman, Whitehouse Mayor James Wansley, led the meeting held at the Whitehouse City Center. Awardees and a summary of their achievements are as follows: REGIONAL FIRST RESPONDER OF THE YEAR (Two Recipients) This award recognizes first responders who have rendered extraordinary service, putting their lives on the line for our safety while performing their duties as peace officers, firemen, EMS and dispatchers, DPS officers, and troopers. Officer Brady Gould, Whitehouse Police Department On the morning of January 29, 2026, Officer Gould responded to a residential structure fire in Whitehouse and arrived to find the home already engulfed. Neighbors reported an elderly woman was still inside. After encountering heavy smoke at one entry point, Officer Gould moved to another door, entered the home, and crawled beneath smoke that had dropped close to the floor, without protective equipment, to locate the resident. He guided her through the smoke-filled home and safely out. Fire officials later indicated the woman likely would have lost consciousness within minutes if help had not arrived. ETCOG recognized Officer Gould for decisive, selfless action under life-threatening conditions. Officer Rachel Duraso, Longview Police Department On September 1, 2025 (Labor Day), while off duty with her family at Hugh Camp Memorial Park in Liberty City, Officer Duraso heard gunshots and recognized an immediate threat nearby. Without her issued police equipment, she moved her children to safety and ran toward the danger, confronting and disarming an armed suspect. She then provided first aid to victims and assisted until additional responders arrived. She later supported the investigation, which resulted in an arrest and capital murder charges. ETCOG honored Officer Duraso for extraordinary courage and calm leadership in a high-risk situation. She was later recognized with the Medal of Valor by the Longview Police Department, along with congressional recognition from the office of U.S. Congressman Nathaniel Moran. REGIONAL CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD (Two Recipients) This award is designed to honor an East Texas citizen who has contributed to the well-being of the East Texas Region. Debbie Bryan, Smith County Volunteer Retirement did not slow Debbie Bryan’s commitment to public service. It redirected it. After retiring from the University of Texas System, Bryan became actively involved with the Smith County Office of Emergency Management, volunteering her own time and resources to strengthen preparedness across the region. She has participated in more than 75 emergency preparedness events, connecting directly with more than 4,000 residents to help families prepare for emergencies and access critical resources. She also helped coordinate training opportunities through Texas Ready, expanding access to state-recognized preparedness training, and prioritized outreach to vulnerable and underserved residents, including seniors, individuals with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged households. Sandra Kooker, Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center Volunteer For Sandra Kooker, community service looks like long miles and early mornings because in East Texas, animal welfare is increasingly a regional challenge. Since 2021, Kooker has volunteered with the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center (LACAC), an open-admission facility serving animals across Gregg County and surrounding communities. As shelters elsewhere have reduced intake or closed, LACAC’s role has become even more essential and more strained. Kooker meets that need as a primary volunteer driver for LACAC’s transport van, making thousands-of-miles round-trip journeys to partner organizations such as North Shore Animal League America (New York) and The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue (Tennessee). In 2025 alone, she completed dozens of transports. With trips that carried up to 30 animals, she helped facilitate the rescue and rehoming of hundreds of dogs and cats, while also creating space for LACAC to continue serving the region. REGIONAL CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD The Regional Corporate Citizen of the Year award honors a corporate partner in East Texas who has contributed to the well-being of the Region. Brookshire Grocery Company (Tyler, Texas) In East Texas, corporate citizenship is measured by what a company does when communities need stability and essentials, especially under pressure. ETCOG recognized Brookshire Grocery Company for consistent, practical investment in the well-being of the region’s cities, nonprofits, schools, and families. During natural disasters, severe weather, or economic hardships, Brookshire’s is known for stepping forward decisively. The company keeps stores open, when possible, reopens quickly, and supports relief efforts with food, supplies, and logistical assistance in coordination with local leaders and organizations. ETCOG also highlighted the company’s long-term impact through local employment, economic stability, and sustained community engagement, often delivered quietly and without fanfare, but felt across the communities it serves. REGIONAL COMMITTEE SERVICE AWARD The Regional Committee Service Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a sustained, dedicated commitment to ETCOG efforts and activities. Laura Hill, City of Longview (ETCOG Solid Waste Advisory Committee) The work of regional cooperation happens where plans become action, inside the committees that bring local leaders and technical experts together to solve shared problems. ETCOG honored Laura Hill for sustained, high-impact service supporting regional collaboration. With more than 30 years in public service, Hill brings steady leadership and deep experience to ETCOG’s work. Since 2022, she has served as Chair of the Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee, helping guide the Regional Solid Waste Management Plan with a focus that extends beyond disposal to source reduction, reuse and recycling, and long-term planning. Under her leadership, the committee has helped evaluate projects, review proposals, and shape funding recommendations to advance regional goals such as reducing waste headed to disposal, curbing illegal dumping, keeping household hazardous waste properly managed, and strengthening long-term environmental quality. Hill has also supported broader regional priorities, including America250 coordination efforts and assisting with the Point-in-Time count, strengthening efforts to understand and support unhoused populations across multiple counties. REGIONAL SHINING STAR AWARD* The Regional Shining Star Award is designed to recognize people who have provided exceptional support or invaluable partnership to the East Texas Council of Governments. *This is not a standard ETCOG award given annually, but at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Dr. Robert Haberle, Workforce Solutions East Texas Board Some leaders do not just serve a program. They shape its impact over decades. ETCOG presented the Regional Shining Star Award, reserved for rare, above-and-beyond service, to Dr. Robert Haberle for long-term leadership supporting ETCOG and Workforce Solutions East Texas. Since joining the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board in 2011, Haberle has helped guide a workforce system operating at a significant scale, with a budget of just over $60 million, providing no-cost services to employers and job seekers. In the past year alone, Workforce Solutions East Texas supported more than 81,000 businesses and job seekers, provided nearly $1 million in job training scholarships, helped thousands of unemployment claimants return to work, and subsidized child care for more than 9,000 families, alongside investments in childcare quality and support for small child care providers. Dr. Robert Haberle was appointed to the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board by the region’s Chief Elected Officials, through Cherokee County Judge Chris Davis, and has held multiple leadership roles, including Workforce Centers Committee Chair, Vice Chairman, and Board Chairman. He served six years as Chairman (October 2016 to September 2022), helping strengthen collaboration with the CEO Board, and he continues to lead key subcommittee work supporting new workforce centers in Longview and Tyler. He also represents East Texas statewide and nationally as Vice Chair of the Texas Association of Workforce Boards and as the region’s representative to the National Association of Workforce Boards. His public service also includes serving as Mayor of Jacksonville (2005–2011) and representing Jacksonville on the ETCOG Board of Directors. REGIONAL STATESMANSHIP AWARD The Regional Statesmanship Award recognizes a local, state, or federal official who has demonstrated valuable, dedicated service to regional cooperation. Camp County Judge AJ Mason Regional progress depends on leaders who build trust and keep cooperation moving, even when much of that work happens behind the scenes. ETCOG honored Camp County Judge AJ Mason with the Regional Statesmanship Award for dedicated service supporting regional cooperation and for leadership grounded in fairness, transparency, and respect. Nomination comments described Judge Mason as a leader who listens closely, engages directly, and ensures community members are heard, approaching decisions with an even-handed commitment to the common good. ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland also recognized Judge Mason’s behind-the-scenes service as an ETCOG Board officer and Executive Committee member, noting his willingness to serve across subcommittees and contribute detailed program knowledge where it matters most. Judge Mason is also respected among his peers, including service as Chief Elected Officials–Rural Transportation Planning Organization (CEO-RTPO) Vice Chairman over multiple consecutive terms, an additional example of a servant-minded approach that earns trust across the region.

ETCOG will honor regional citizens and organizations who exemplify excellence in performance and innovation and contribute to the quality of life within the communities that comprise our 14-county region. The awards listed below will be conferred at ETCOG’s 109th Semi-Annual Board of Directors Meeting on Thursday, March 19th, at The Whitehouse City Center in Whitehouse, Texas, from 11:45 am to 2:00 pm. Award criteria and recipient information are as follows:  REGIONAL FIRST RESPONDER OF THE YEAR AWARDS Officer Brady Gould, Whitehouse Police Department Officer Rachel Durasco, Longview Police Department Two recipients have been selected to receive the Regional First Responder of the Year award. This award recognizes first responders who have rendered extraordinary service, putting their lives on the line for our safety while performing their duties as peace officers, firemen, EMS and dispatchers, DPS officers, and troopers. REGIONAL CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS Debbie Bryan, Smith County Volunteer Sandra Kooker, Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center Volunteer Two recipients have been selected to receive the Regional Citizen of the Year award. This award is designed to honor an East Texas citizen who has contributed to the well-being of the East Texas Region. REGIONAL CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD Brookshire Grocery Company – Tyler, Texas The Regional Corporate Citizen of the Year award honors a corporate partner in East Texas who has contributed to the well-being of the Region. REGIONAL COMMITTEE SERVICE AWARD Laura Hill, City of Longview, ETCOG Solid Waste Advisory Committee The Regional Committee Service Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a sustained, dedicated commitment to ETCOG efforts and activities. REGIONAL SHINING STAR AWARD* Dr. Robert Haberle, Workforce Solutions East Texas Board The Regional Shining Star Award is to recognize people who have provided exceptional support or invaluable partnership to the East Texas Council of Governments. *This is not a standard ETCOG award given annually, but at the discretion of the Board of Directors. REGIONAL STATESMANSHIP AWARD Judge AJ Mason, Camp County The Regional Statesmanship Award recognizes a local, state, or federal official who has demonstrated valuable, dedicated service to regional cooperation. “We are excited to host our regional awards ceremony, where we will recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions of individuals, elected officials, and organizations that have made a positive impact on our region,” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “This year’s ceremony will feature eight awards—more than we’ve ever presented—highlighting the extraordinary dedication and leadership of those who are making a real difference in the lives of the people they serve. We look forward to gathering the ETCOG Board to honor these outstanding members of our community and to showcase their achievements.” Details of the award recipient's contributions and photos will be sent following the meeting.

Workforce Solutions East Texas is sharing updates about our Longview and Tyler centers to make it easier for job seekers and employers to access the services they need. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services has closed its Alpine Road location and relocated within the Longview Workforce Center. VR staff are co-located with our Workforce Solutions team, providing seamless access to information about how VR can help individuals with disabilities prepare for, find, or maintain employment. Customers can enter through the same main entrance as everyone else while still meeting with counselors privately. Co-locating VR staff at Workforce Solutions offices strengthens our commitment to providing comprehensive support for all job seekers, including those with disabilities. These services complement our core offerings, helping individuals reach their employment goals while connecting employers with qualified candidates. Workforce Solutions - Longview / Vocational Rehabilitation Office: 1905 W Loop 281, STE 40 Longview, TX 75604 VR Phone: (903) 230-9958 In Tyler, our team is preparing to relocate in mid-April. The current Tyler Workforce Center at 4100 Troup Highway will close to the public beginning at 5 p.m. on March 20. The center will reopen in mid-April at its new location in the Midtown Centre at 1421 S. Beckham Avenue, with hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. During the move, staff will serve customers virtually at 1-844-ETWORKS. Workforce Solutions East Texas provides no-cost employment and recruitment services to job seekers and employers throughout the region. Services for job seekers include: Job listings and referrals Resume assistance Veterans services Career planning and workshops GED guidance Occupational training information Internet, copier, fax, and phone access Community and child care resources Access to VR and other partner services  Employers can access: On-site recruiting, interviewing, and hiring Job fairs and internet-based job postings Assistance with customized skill training Wage and labor market information Support during employee layoffs See all Workforce Solutions East Texas locations at www.easttexasworkforce.org/locations .

ETCOG will host a free, three‑day Sexual Assault and Family Violence Investigator Course (SAFVIC) on April 22–24, 2026, at the ETCOG offices located at 3800 Stone Road in Kilgore. The course will run daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is open at no cost to all licensed East Texas peace officers. Course topics include: History and statistics related to sexual assault and family violence Dynamics of abuse Applicable laws Investigative techniques Effective courtroom performance Drug‑facilitated sexual assault Stalking Community response and coordination Victim support resources SAFVIC, taught by ETCOG’s Special Projects Director, David Scott, Ph.D., is designed to better equip officers with the training and tools necessary to respond effectively to sexual assault and family violence cases. Participants will receive 24 hours of TCOLE credit (Course #3264) upon completion. Officers who have their TCOLE Intermediate Certificate will be eligible to receive the Sexual Assault/Family Violence Investigator Certificate from TCOLE upon completion of this course. The training may also be taken in lieu of Special Investigative Topics (TCOLE #3232) and the Trauma‑Informed Approach to Sexual Assault Investigations Courses (TCOLE #470 & #4070). The SAFVIC program is a statewide initiative aimed at strengthening law‑enforcement response and ensuring victims receive trauma‑informed, professional assistance. Officers interested in attending can learn more at www.safvic.org or contact training@safvic.org or (800) 848‑2088. For questions, contact David Scott at David.Scott@etcog.org .

At its February meeting, the East Texas Council of Governments Executive Committee awarded the City of Longview and the City of Winnsboro as this year’s recipients of the Veteran-Friendly Community Designation. The Veteran-Friendly Community Designation program was created in 2025 to recognize communities that actively welcome and support veterans and their families by meeting real needs in everyday life. In its first year, ETCOG designated the City of Tyler/Smith County and the City of Quitman/Wood County as the program’s inaugural Veteran-Friendly Communities. A Veteran-Friendly Community is defined as one that provides ongoing support in areas including employment, housing, transportation, health care, education, and overall quality of life. Communities seeking designation were required to meet established standards, including: Provide proof of community and organizational support. Submit a comprehensive community profile with key information for veterans and their families, including demographics, housing, and healthcare access. Maintain a community development strategy that directly addresses veterans’ needs. Complete an initial and annual self-assessment to identify service gaps and guide improvements. “Recognizing Longview and Winnsboro as Veteran-Friendly Communities reflects the real work these cities are doing for the men and women who served our country,” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “Veterans deserve more than words of thanks. They deserve access to jobs, healthcare, housing, and support systems that help them build strong lives at home. These communities are setting the standard for what that looks like in East Texas.” “Programs like this help communities take a clear look at what they’re doing well and where they can grow,” said ETCOG Special Projects Director David Scott. “It’s about making sure veterans can live, work, and raise families in places that value their service and invest in their future.” With continued interest from communities across the region, ETCOG plans to reopen the application process annually to allow more cities and counties to pursue the Veteran-Friendly Community Designation.

ETCOG is proud to host the Texas Department of Agriculture on March 12th to hold a TxCDBG Regional Outreach Meeting. Join us to hear a TxCDBG grant program overview of requirements, allocation formula, upcoming funding opportunities, and TDA's one-year action plan. Eligible applicants in our region are all non-entitlement communities, which include all of our cities with the exception of Tyler, Marshall, and Longview. When Thursday, March 12, 2026 10:00 AM Where ETCOG Headquarters 3800 Stone Road Kilgore, TX 75662 Please RSVP your attendance!

Nominations are Due by Tuesday, February 10, 2026

ETCOG is sharing Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) updates affecting its policies and manuals, and a webinar offering an overview of new forms in its grant management tool. Policy Issuance 25-01, and revision of the 2025 TxCDBG Implementation Manual Revisions for clarity in Chapter 5 Procurement Procedures and Chapter 8 Force Account Labor. New guidance in Chapter 1, Administration and Reporting, for state public hearing requirements. New guidance in Chapter 2, Financial Management, for changes to the timing of disbursement documentation requirements. New guidance in Chapter 4, Contract Special Conditions for federal requirements. Policy Issuance 25-01 is effective January 1, 2026. Policy Issuance 25-01 can be found on the TDA website. The same revisions have been incorporated into the 2025 Implementation Manual chapters posted to the TDA website, marked in blue text. Updates to TDA-GO & Webinar TDA has prepared several new forms that include grant management tools. TDA has scheduled a webinar to walk through these tools and will provide additional resources as needed: WEBINAR: CDBG Over Coffee: New TDA-GO Financial Management Tools webinar January 22, 2026 Fund Source Calculator This tool calculates the total maximum grant amount and minimum matching funds amount based on actual project costs. The form pulls data entered in TDA-GO as project cost obligations (from Materials and Services Reports) and expenditures (from Payment Requests), as well as the grant agreement funding amounts and match ratio commitment. Written guidance - How to use the Fund Source Calculator - can be found on the TDA website. Disbursement of Funds documentation A new form in TDA-GO collects bank records and cancelled checks to document disbursement of funds throughout the grant agreement period. These records are currently required for during the closeout monitoring process and can be a challenge for some communities to collect and organize. Disbursement records will be required promptly after each grant payment is issued. Written guidance - How to Enter Disbursement Detail - can be found on the TDA website. For existing grants ending on or after March 1, 2026, Grant Recipients should begin uploading documentation for previously approved Payment Requests. TDA will begin holding Payment Requests for grants that have not yet provided this documentation on March 1, 2026 .