March 10, 2011 - In just three hours, residents and businesses raised $1500 for COTA in honor of Madeline Burke Saturday night with a chili supper - courtesy of Sonic - and silent auction items.

Sonic served a new item on their menu, Frito Chili Cheese Pie and all the proceeds went to the COTA fund for Madeline. Edward Jones-Carlisle Mott and The Leonard Graphic donated cases of drinks for the event and many local cooks baked up brownies or cookies to sale.

March 3, 2011 - Sonic and COTA Community Coordinator Ava Barlow will host a fundraiser for "COTA in honor of Madeline Burke" on Saturday, March 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the high school commons area. Sonic will serve a new item on their menu - Frito Chili Cheese Pies for a $5 or more donation. LHS BETA Club members will sell cold canned drinks and brownies and cookies will be sold for a donation.

March 3, 2011 - The Fannin County Family Crisis Center had a very successful "You Hold the Key" fundraiser last Saturday. The organization is working on renovating their new building in downtown Bonham for move in, and the dinner and auction was held in part to take care of some of the improvements - estimated at over $100,000.

March 3, 2011 - The John and Ann Elizabeth May Hickman home was built in Leonard and was originally built on what is now the northeast corner of Houston and Elm Streets. It was a two story, four-bedroom house with a kitchen, living room and dining area. The steps leading upstairs were in the only downstairs bedroom. There was a back porch and a wrap-around porch on the front of the house. The original home might have had bathing rooms, but indoor toilets were still a thing of the future. On a rafter in the attic, the house was signed by the builder and dated September 1, 1900. This house, like so many of the other homes written about, had plank walls throughout.

March 3, 2011 - The Leonard Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the Business, Citizen and Educator of the Year awards, which are presented each year at the annual chamber banquet. Nomination forms are available at KD Johnson, The Leonard Graphic, The Leonard Pharmacy and all school campuses (for Educator of the Year), or below. Completed forms should be returned to KD Johnson, The Leonard Pharmacy or any school campus by the March 11 deadline. The winners will be announced during the banquet.

Feb. 24, 2011 - The Texas state-wide Warrant Round up is fast approaching. The City of Leonard - in league with over 150 other law enforcement agencies across the State of Texas - will be working together to track down and arrest those individuals who currently have outstanding warrants. Efforts to gain compliance with the law will not end with the warrant roundup. Leonard Police will actively continue to serve warrants and make arrests even after the Warrant Round Up. In addition all warrants have been reported to the State of Texas and you will be unable to renew or obtain your Driver's License until all citations are paid in full. If you have received a citation - DO NOT IGNORE IT. The consequences could be very embarrassing for you and your family.

Feb. 24, 2011 - In doing research for the next Homes of History series, the current owner of the spotlighted property produced a Fannin County abstract showing the history of the home and property - dating back to the days when the property was bought by the City of Leonard's namesake Solomon Langdon Leonard.

Feb. 17, 2011 - As noted in the city council story from this issue, the Council named next week Severe Weather Awarness Week, in conjunction with the State of Texas. Pamphlets are available at City Hall for those interested in severe weather awareness and preparedness.

Feb. 17, 2011 - A Leonard native with a heart for children was recently awarded a state-wide honor for her investigative efforts with the Collin County Criminal District Attorney's Crimes Against Children Division. Marletta Scribner - who has deep roots in Leonard, starting with her birth at Dr. Davis' office - was awarded the C.L. "Chuck" Dennis Memorial Award - otherwise known as the Investigator of the Year Award - by the Texas District and County Attorney's Association (TDCAA) recently. The award is presented to one investigator out of 750 at the TDCAA Investigator School, held in February each year. Scribner will enjoy her 30th anniversary with Collin County this year in July.

Feb. 17, 2011 - Representatives of law enforcement agencies and courts from more than 120 jurisdictions across Texas recently announced combined efforts to host the fourth annual Great Texas Warrant Roundup beginning Saturday, March 5.

The roundup is designed to target thousands of defendants with traffic, parking, city ordinance, penal code and higher charge warrants from participating jurisdictions. It is believed to be the largest joint operation of its kind with arrests expected to continue for several days.