As folks in Freestone County so lovingly call those of us who cannot trace our ancestry to this county, I am a “Move-in”.
So, although my family has lived in Streetman for 30 plus years, I have worked for the City of Streetman since 2009, I have been the Streetman City Clerk since 2010, I have been a member of Streetman Volunteer Fire Department since 2008, for which I have held a state certification of Emergency Medical Responder since 2010, I have helped organize the (metropolis of) City of Streetman 4th of July Lawnmower Parade for more years than I can count, & I was even the Secretary/Treasurer of the Freestone County Firefighters Association from 2012 – 2016, yet I am still considered an outsider by some.
That being said, Streetman has been my home for a long time. It has been where my wonderful husband Matthew and I have raised our children. It is where we have attempted to help our city for a very long time, in any way we could.
Now, although there has been much division in the City of Streetman and surrounding areas as of late, the recent water crisis has shown that people can overcome their differences (at least for a little while) for the good of their fellow man.
I believe that everyone who stepped in to help worked together wonderfully.
Those who were here and helping during the crisis (and those who offered to help & those who were praying for us all) showed the fruit of their heart, caring for the community, or in some cases caring for their neighboring community. And I for one appreciate each and every person who showed up to help or offered to help and those who were praying very much!
The list below are the people who I would like to recognize for their much-appreciated efforts to assist the City of Streetman in resolving the recent water emergency:
Cory Grant, Streetman water works, along with Bo & Calvin of B&B Water, hunted for the water leak(s) until 2am Thursday night 06-26-25; then Cory, Calvin & Randall (also from B&B Water) started again around 6am Friday 06-27-25 until they found them & could fix them.
Retired Streetman System Manager Larry Long – helped to look for the line leak on Thursday night, and provided guidance, and helped check on the facilities.
Southern Oaks VFD – member & past Streetman water operator Curtis Risher – helped look for leaks Thursday night.
Streetman VFD – Brian and Jacie McNett, helped Thursday evening to look for the leak.
Streetman citizen, Isaac Marfell, helped walk water lines Friday to look for leaks.
System Manager Gregg Rodriguez helped coordinate with the water repair crews via phone from out-of-town on vacation.
City of Teague water crew, including John Clifton, helped fix the broken water line on Friday, 06-27-25.
Mayor Johnny Robinson helped coordinate with the emergency management personnel via phone from out-of-state while on his & his wonderful wife, Cindy’s 1st vacation in all the time I’ve known them, at least since 2008!
Streetman Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Davis was called in to oversee the management of the crisis,
along with Freestone County Emergency Management Coordinator Leonard Smith & Jim Hollister the County Liaison Officer for Freestone County from Texas Division of Emergency Management, as well as Chance Martin, County Liaison Officer Navarro County from Texas Division of Emergency Management. They coordinated getting drinking water, non-potable water, food for workers, and other resources from local, county(ies) and state contacts.
Streetman citizen & former Mayor Judy Wardle who assisted with phone calls at the city office on Friday 06-27-25.
Mayor Pro-Tem Barbara Polk was on hand to provide support & assistance with required official duties.
Streetman VFD Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Marfell provided assistance with non-potable & drinking water distribution at the Streetman Fire Department.
SVFD Robert Cockerell provided assistance with non-potable & drinking water distribution at the Streetman Fire Department, along with retrieval and delivery of parts and pipe to the water repair crew(s).
Citizen Wade Cockerell assisted with retrieval and delivery of water repair parts and pipe from Waco to Streetman.
Local citizen and water customer, Joe Jordal & his crew of teenagers, Shaine Jordal, Owynn Jordal, Ivy Pope, & Emerald Sharp, were a great help to those water customers who could not come to the fire station to pick up drinking water, as they delivered cases of drinking water to those who were either elderly or disabled, as well as distribution at SVFD.
Southern Oaks VFD Fire Chief Van Wagnon showed his support for the City of Streetman & Streetman VFD by assisting with water distribution.
Southern Oaks VFD Andy Jones assisted with water distribution.
Teague VFD Fire Chief Bryan Tier brought the Teague VFD tanker over to fill the four 250-gallon totes with non-potable water for folks to come get to use to flush toilets & such during the emergency.
The four 250-gallon totes were brought in by Freestone County Commissioner Lloyd Lane.
Teague VFD Timothy Hollingshed helped out at the fire station distributing water.
Southern Oaks VFD Jason Andrews helped search for waterline leak Thursday night and also brought several cases of water on Friday for distribution.
Wortham PD Corporal Ashleigh Daniel donated her time as police presence for potential crowd control.
Fairfield EMS crew, Kevin Markham and coworker, staged in Streetman for a while, in case of heat-related emergencies.
Dana & Clyde Ridge & Deanna Emmons brought a pallet of drinking water & helped with distribution.
The Old Gin – donated sandwiches for the workers for lunch.
Judge Linda Grant – donated Whataburger burgers & “all the fixings” for the workers for supper.
Also appreciated were offers to help received from the following:
Waylon Gierisch (& his crew) from the city of Wortham water department, for offering to help to find and fix water lines.
Jeff Turner, postmaster and citizen of Streetman, who offered to help pass out drinking water to folks.
Streetman water customer Todd Clendening offered to do whatever he could to help.
There may be other helpers & offers to help, and I apologize if I missed anyone in this list.
All help & offers to help & all those praying for our city were and are VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!
Now, for those who have recently said:
“Nobody runs this city but one person, the council doesn’t run the city, the mayor doesn’t run the city, only the city clerk runs the city”. . .
First of all, I would say to them, as you can see from the above list, “It takes a community of people willing to set aside their differences for the good of all.”
Secondly, it is part of the job description of the city clerk / secretary to take the directions of the mayor and the city council and run the city on a day-to-day basis. In a small city like Streetman, Texas, I have always been relied upon to be a liaison between employees, contract workers, citizens, customers, etc., and the Mayor and Board of Commissioners. The training that I have received over the last 16 & 1/2 years, learning on the job, and reading the law, along with guidance from attorneys, auditors, required training and other resources, I feel like I have done the job to the best of my ability.
During the recent crisis with the main water line break, the job I have done for the City, along with the training I have received through working for the fire department for the last 17 & 1/2 years, including training with the National Incident Management System, seemed to be of tremendous benefit to the city. It is my hope that my skills with coordinating with local, county, and state resources has been a blessing to the city that I have called home for over 30 years.
And finally, for the citizens of Streetman & the surrounding areas, from this “Move-In”:
“The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6: 24-26
As Moses was told to speak these words over the children of Israel so that the Lord would bless them, These are the words I pray over the city of Streetman every single day, as a blessing over this city and its people.
Let each person decide for themselves what they will believe about whether or not I have been a benefit for my little City of Streetman and the surrounding areas.
Matthew 6:20, “You will recognize them by their fruit.”
Sincerely & Respectfully,
Heather Marfell
Streetman City Clerk
& Streetman VFD Secretary/Treasurer
