KWB bids farewell to current treasurer, looks to fall plans

Last Thursday at the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) Wesley Hall, Keep Whitesboro Beautiful (KWB) bid farewell to longtime member Nicole Nichols. Nichols has served the organization for nearly eight  years and is the organization’s current treasurer.

Nichols, owner of Rusty Dusty Designs in downtown Whitesboro (currently located inside Cook’s Main Street Mercantile), has decided that she and her husband want to move closer to family in the Houston area.

“I grew up in a big family,” she said to the members in attendance. “We were all really close. Then, once my parents passed, everyone kind of went their separate ways. Now they’ve all gravitated to the Houston area, so it makes sense for us to be closer to them. I’m really going to miss you all.”

KWB President Michael Ross and Vice President Rhonda Ross presented Nichols with a plaque as a token of thanks for not only her years of service, but for always being a champion of the organization.

“When we first moved to Whitesboro, we spent a lot of time downtown and met some really great folks,” Michael Ross said. “One of those people immediately suggested we join KWB. That lady was Nicole.”

In the business meeting, KWB reported their current budget balance ($10,400.20) and gave updates about their recent Governors Community Achievement Award of $110,000. They have identified three areas of town that could benefit from the funds and have contacted architects in Austin, Texas to discuss which of those locations would be best. They’re awaiting a response from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), who will head the project.

KWB’s downtown Adopt-a-Pot program was a success and the organization is exploring ways to keep it going. The organization provided downtown Whitesboro businesses with a large pot of planted flowers with the agreement that the businesses would care for the plants. For the fall, KWB will replace the flowers with mum plants. 

This will take place during the group’s Fall Sweep on Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m. Volunteers are welcome to join the effort to clean up downtown and decorate for fall in preparation for the upcoming Peanut Festival. Please bring gloves, brooms and other supplies to help in the effort.

The Peanut Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 19. KWB will have a booth where they will sell t-shirts and roasted peanuts and pass out information about the organization.

On Dec. 6, KWB and the Whitesboro Area Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Downtown Christmas Event. KWB has secured two horse-drawn carriages for free rides around downtown, and they have confirmed that Santa will make his annual appearance. This year, the gift give-away will be held at Cook’s Main Stage on Main Street. KWB will also hold a decorating contest among downtown businesses. KWB will create a committee to finalize plans for this event with more details to come.

Lastly, KWB board elections are coming up at the end of the year. Anyone interested in serving on the board should voice their interest in October. In November, candidates will have an opportunity to speak at a meeting and will ultimately be voted upon by members.

KWB is managed by a nine-person board; three people are appointed by the city and six are voted-in at large.

The next KWB meeting is slated for Thursday, Oct. 10 at 8 a.m. at FUMC Wesley Hall. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.