"I'm worried about my kids, my grandkids, and my mom," said Tina Esquivel.

NEVADA, Texas — Tina Esquivel is feeling a lot of things as she walks through her charred living room. There isn't much left after the Tuesday fire. What hasn't been claimed by fire, is drenched, caked with ash or ruined by smoke.

"I'm worried about my kids, my grandkids, and my mom," said Esquivel.

The Esquivels have lived in their Nevada, Texas home for 12 years. The family of 10 has made many memories in the home, and they were excited to get together for Christmas.

"We were all going to get together here. This has put a big damper on everything," said Esquivel.

She said the house can be rebuilt, and said she's mostly thankful to have her family alive and well. She shared the home with seven other adults, including her three children, her mother, and two grandchildren -- ages 7 and 3 months.

Esquivel was most concerned for her elderly mother, who is on oxygen and disabled. She was in the home at the time of the fire and was rescued by a neighbor named Matt Reising.

Reising is a complete stranger, and a former Marine who sprung into action.

"I just pulled in, parked, I was on 9-1-1 and I heard voices. At that point, I went in," said Reising.

Thanks to Reising, no one was hurt.

Esquivel's daughter, who is expecting, was also in the home at the time of the fire. She is OK.

There is never a good time to lose most everything, but there are worse times -- being that it's just days before Christmas. The gifts under the tree for the grandkids are ruined. This family of 10 is now split up -- staying with friends and other family.

"Strike the holidays, just being together now... that's what we're worried about, just getting back together," said Esquivel.

She told WFAA that getting the home fixed up will take at least six months. Thankfully, they do have insurance.

It's unclear what started the fire, but Esquivel said it is likely electrical.

It is in these times, in these holidays, we are reminded of what is important, and especially who.

"I always fix everything, and this is one thing I don't know how to fix," said Esquivel.

A funding site has been created to help the family with unexpected expenses related to the fire. Click here if you would like to donate.

For the next few weeks, candidates and municipalities will work to shape the election landscape this May.

Filing opened Wednesday, Jan. 18, and closes at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17.

Farmersville voters will head to the polls for both municipal, school district and Collin College elections May 6.

Farmersville ISD has three places on the board of trustees up for election: Place 6 held by Brian Brazil, Place 7 held by Jason McTee and Place 5 formerly held by Tommy Monk who resigned in Sept. 2022.

Incumbent Jason McTee submitted his application Jan. 18 for his reelection bid.

James ‘Jim’ Hemby submitted his application Jan. 20 for Place 5 on the FISD board.

Trustee candidate applications are available on the district’s website or at the administration office, 501-A, Highway 78N.

Terms expiring on Farmersville City Council are Place 1, held by Craig Overstreet and Place 3, held by Ted Wagner.

Candidate packets are available in the Farmersville City Secretary’s office at 205 S. Main for anyone who intends to seek election to a council seat.

In addition, three members serving on the Collin College Board of Trustees are up for election. The three positions on the ballot are Place 1, Place 2 and Place 3.

Frank Moses currently holds Place 1, a position he has held since 2017. Jay Saad, the current board vice president, has been in his post since 2019. Stacey Donald holds Place 3 and has also been in the position since 2017.

Trustees are elected to six-year terms with an election held in odd years. Interested candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, a Texas resident for at least one contiguous year and a Collin County resident for at least six contiguous months.

Board packets can be picked up by emailing elections@collin.edu.

The last day to register to vote for the May election is April 6. Early voting by personal appearance will begin April 24 and end May 2 and Election Day is May 6.

The first day to apply for a ballot by mail using Application for a Ballot by Mail (ABBM) was Sunday, January 1. The last day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (received, not postmarked) is April 25.

Times and locations for early voting have yet to be determined but residents can cast their ballot at any location in the county in which they are registered to vote.

The Times will include brief stories about each candidate as information is received.

Area entities participating in spring elections aside from Farmersville include Parker, Lucas, Wylie and Lovejoy ISD.

If you want to read more stories like this, subscribe and support your local newspaper at https://publisher.etype.services/Farmersville-Times

By Joe Reavis

Staff Writer

news@farmersvilletimes.com

The chamber of commerce brochures would lead people to believe that everyone in North Texas is enjoying an affluent life, but if that were the case there would be no need for organizations such as Community Lifeline Center of McKinney.

CLC provides temporary assistance for individuals and families to whom life as thrown a curve, whether that be loss of a job, illness, home fire, or domestic crisis.

“There will always be a need,” executive director Christine Hockin-Boyd said. “We don’t live in a perfect world.”

The organization works with clients to help them regain self-sufficiency by providing emergency assistance for housing, utilities, medical expenses and food.

CLC was founded almost 25 years ago as McKinney United Way Service Center, but within a year it was determined by organizers that the organization’s scope should be bigger and its service area was expanded to include North Collin County.

Communities served by CLC are Altoga, Anna, Blue Ridge, Celina, Copeville, Farmersville, Josephine, Lavon, Lowery Crossing, Melissa, Nevada, New Hope, Princeton, Prosper, Westminster and Weston.

Last year, the organization helped more than 300 people per month, most of whom needed assistance for one month, short-term, to overcome an immediate crisis.

“We are short-term crisis only,” administrative assistant Fran Barclay said. “Our goal is that they get back on their feet by next month.”

She explained that the unemployed seeking help are only temporarily out of work through factors beyond their control. Persons who are disgruntled and quit a job, or were fired for cause are generally not eligible for assistance.

First point of contact with CLC, through word-of-mouth, the Internet or by telephone, is information specialist Sue Benson who conducts a initial interview to determine if circumstances qualify a person for assistance with CLC, or if another organization would better fit their needs.

“They may need help that we can’t provide,” Benson says. “I try really hard to find them help in our area.”

Through familiarity, Benson can match a prospective client with another agency if needed, maybe one located closer to the client, and will provide a list of contacts with those agencies. For clients that meet CLC guidelines, the information specialists starts the application process for review by a case manager.

In addition, Benson schedules food pantry appointments and helps manage menus to be filled.

The food pantry is a multi-faceted operation from which more than 42,000 pounds of food was dispensed last year and is the heart of CLC in many respects. Orders are generated by computer from a stock of healthy foods and filled according to family size and choices.

“We are the only client-choice food pantry in the area,” Hockin-Boyd said.

She explains that when clients have the opportunity to specify foods, or to eliminate choices they do not like, less of an order will go to waste.

The shelves are restocked through donations, grant funds and weekly shipments from North Texas Food Bank. The CLC executive directors pointed out food pantry items turn over at a high rate due to demand and never are in danger of reaching expiration dates.

An extra provided by the organization is hygiene items that include deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, body lotion, feminine products and toilet tissue. Those items fill gaps that are not available through other governmental and volunteer assistance programs.

Because grant funds help stock the pantry shelves, items purchased through grants must be tracked when distributed to ensure they meet specific guidelines of a funding source. Separate storage cabinets house stock associated with different grants.

Staff accountant Rachael Weant spends her days tracking grant proceeds and distributions, preparing grant applications, logging donations and creating financial reports so that income and donations from a variety of sources makes sense.

CLC can provide clients with financial assistance to pay utility bills, rent, or even repair bills if it is determined that will help an individual or family get back on their feet. Financial assistance is limited to one time per year, although the organization is conducting a limited pilot program through which additional financial is being provided a few clients.

To help clients manage their finances and households, CLC offers a Lifesteps Training program of classes to teach how to manage money and credit through budgeting, reducing expenses, shopping smarter and stretching household dollars.

Hockin-Boyd describes the work of the organization as a wonderful place to get to know the community through the generous support given by donors, volunteers, businesses and public entities.

“I believe this place strengthens our community,” she declared.

Even though CLC was founded by a group of ministers who decided to band together to help the needed, the organization is run independently. The organization, though, maintains close ties with its Covenant Congregations, area churches who assist with CLC work and finances.

The CLC mission after almost 25 years is: “To guide individuals and families back to self sufficiency.”

NEVADA (CBSNewsTexas.com) - The start of the school year typically focuses on students or teachers, but the Community ISD is celebrating Community High School Principal Charles Ryan.

He's been patrolling the halls the high school for the last four years. This year, the Nevada high school is celebrating Ryan, who was named the Regional Outstanding High School Principal of the Year by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals. What's more is now Ryan is eligible to compete for State High School Principal of the Year.

While recognition is nice, Ryan does want to make it clear that his ultimate prize is helping every student he comes in contact with to create a successful path for themselves.

"As a parent, you have a completely different lens than a teacher. I tell our students all the time, 'You're closer to being an adult than a child,'" he told CBS News Texas' Keith Russell. "One of the things we focus on is guidance. So as kids get older, you're not so much telling them what to do—you're guiding them."

When Russell Ryan what his biggest challenge is for him or any principal right now, he said

"Kids hear me say all the time, 'What's 10-year you going to look like? What are you going to be doing in 10 years?' Most teenagers are like, 'I don't know what I'm going to be doing tomorrow,'" Ryan shared. "So, we really try to have those conversations of okay, you're going to snap your fingers and 10 years is going to be over. So, what's the plan and how are you getting there? I think that's the biggest thing."

Community ISD is one of the fastest growing districts in North Texas and people like Ryan, are a big reason why. For those who are unfamiliar with Community ISD, it's been around since 1947. Now, it's made up of three elementary schools, one middle school and community high school. It serves the towns of Copeville, Josephine, Lavon and Nevada.

Keith Russell

Keith Russell is our morning news anchor and was a sports anchor/reporter for CBS11 starting in 2015.

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You should know you're not allowed to water between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., but many water districts have now implemented more stringent water restrictions in light of the excessive heat and drought.

Most of North Texas water is provided by both the North Texas Municipal Water District and the Tarrant Regional Water District -- though some cities, such as Dallas, provide their own water from their own reservoirs and lakes.

All cities being served by the NTMWD implemented Stage 2 water restrictions Aug. 19 and all cities served by the TRWD are moving to Stage 1 on Aug. 29. Listed below are a complete list of cities served by each district and the restrictions in place in those districts. Further down the page are several cities whose restrictions go beyond those recommended by either the NTMWD or TRWD -- so be sure to check there also for the latest restrictions.

Wondering where you get your water? See the lists below.

North Texas Municipal Water District Cities (website)

If you live in one of the cities below, your water usage will be subject to at least the minimum restrictions imposed by the NTMWD -- though they may be more severe depending on your local city's requirements. The NTMWD moved to Stage 2 on Aug. 19.

The NTMWD serves the following member cities: Allen, Farmersville, Forney, Frisco, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano, Princeton, Richardson, Rockwall, Royse City and Wylie. Additionally, the NTMWD lists the following towns as customers: Bonham, Caddo Basin SUD, Cash SUD, College Mound WSC, Copeville SUD, Crandall (Kaufman Four-One), East Fork SUD, Fairview, Fate, Forney Lake WSC, Gastonia-Scurry SUD, Greater Texoma Utility Authority (GTUA), Josephine, Kaufman, Kaufman Four-One, Lavon W.S.C., Little Elm, Lucas, Melissa, Milligan WSC, Mount Zion WSC, Murphy, Nevada WSC, North Collin WSC, Parker, Prosper, Rose, Hill SUD, Rowlett, Sachse, Seis Lagos UD, Sunnyvale, Terrell and Wylie Northeast SUD.

NTMWD Restrictions On Aug. 19, the NTMWD mandated that member cities restrict outdoor watering to no more than two days per week. Which days may be mandated by local city government, so consult the list at the bottom of the page for city-specific information.

Tarrant Regional Water District Cities (website)

If you live in one of the cities below, your water usage will be subject to at least the minimum restrictions imposed by the TRWD -- though they may be more severe depending on your local city's requirements. Those being served by the TRWD will to go to Stage 1 on Aug. 29 when the reservoirs are expected to drop to 75 percent. The TRWD supplies water to Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield and the Trinity River Authority, though both Fort Worth and the Trinity River Authority wholesale water to dozens of other North Texas cities.

Fort Worth wholesales water to the following cities: Aledo, Bethesda, Benbrook, Burleson, Crowley, Dalworthington Gardens, Edgecliff Village, Everman, Forest Hill, Grand Prairie, Haltom City, Haslet, Hurst, Keller, Kennedale, Lake Worth, Northlake, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Roanoke, Saginaw, Sansom Park Village, Southlake, Watauga, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, Westlake, White Settlement, DFW Airport and Trophy Club. The Trinity River Authority wholesales water to the following cities: Bedford, Colleyville, Euless, Grapevine, North Richland Hills, Ennis, Avalon, Ferris, Italy, Maypearl, Midlothian, Palmer, Red Oak, Ellis County Water, Nash-Forreston, Venus and Rockett Special Utility District. Additionally, Weatherford, Benbrook, Hudson Oaks, Kemp, Mabank, Malakoff, Star Harbor, Trinidad, Exelon, Payne Springs, Seven Points, Tool, Cal Pine/Freestone, Corsicana and Fairfield all receive water from the TRWD.

TRWD Restrictions On Aug. 29, all TRWD cities are asked to implement two-day-a-week watering restrictions. Those with even-numbered addresses can water on Saturdays and Wednesdays, those with odd-numbered addresses can water on Sundays and Thursdays. Non-residential customers, including apartments, businesses, parks and common areas may only water on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Cities With Water Restrictions Beyond Stage 1 or Beyond

Cities listed below are moving to implement new water restrictions before the dates outlined by the NTMWD and TRWD. If your city is not listed, then there are no restrictions for your city outside of Stage 1, which disallows watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Bedford: Effective Aug. 29, those with even-numbered residential addresses can water on Wednesday and Saturday while those with odd-numbered addresses can water on Thursday and Sunday. Non-residential sites, including apartments, businesses, parks and common areas can water on Tuesday and Friday. There is no watering on Monday.

Dallas: Dallas has not implemented any mandatory restrictions beyond the 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. rule, but is asking residents and commerical customers to only water landscapes no more than twice a week. Under the voluntary effort, customers with even addresses are asked to water only on Sundays and Thursdays while those with odd numbers are asked to water only on Saturdays and Wednesdays. If a drought-management plan is triggered, this watering plan will be come mandatory. Read more here.

Eastland: Effective Sept. 10, odd-numbered addresses may water on Thursdays and Sunday while even-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Churches, institutional, industrial, commercial and government offices may water on Mondays and Fridays. All watering must be done from 7 to 9 a.m. or 7 to 9 p.m. on designated days. No city supplied water may be used to wash sidewalks, driveways, parking lots or other outside hard surfaces. Read more here.

Frisco: Stage 2 water restrictions in place beginning Aug. 19. when outdoor watering will only be allowed on the same day residents receive trash pickup, plus an additional day (find additional day here). Residents can water between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m. No free flow, runoff or watering of hard surfaces like streets and driveways.

Garland: Specific days for irrigation are not mandated, but it is recommended that those with even-numbered addresses water on Sundays and Thursdays and those with odd-numbered addresses water on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Hand water and soaker hoses are still permitted.

Grand Prairie: No watering allowed on Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday. Even-numbered addresses can water on Monday and Thursday while odd-numbered address can water on Tuesday and Friday. All watering must be done between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. unless a soaker hose is being used. No runoff allowed and no washing of vehicles, sidewalks or driveways.

Highland Village: Stage 2 water restrictions in place. No outside watering Monday or Friday. Outside watering allowed on other days between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. only. No runoff allowed.

Irving: Stage 2 water restrictions in place Aug. 11. Even-numbered addresses can water on Tuesday and Saturday, odd-numbered on Wednesday and Sunday. No outside watering on Monday, Thursday or Friday and all watering must be done between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. -- including soaker hoses. Violators face a $2,000 fine.

Kemp: Stage 5 water restrictions. Residents to use water sparingly and are forbidden to water outside.

Plano: City is under Stage 2 water restrictions. Those with odd-numbered addresses can water Tuesday and Friday, even-numbered address an water Monday and Thursday.

Richardson: Stage 2 water restrictions are in place. Odd-numbered addresses can water on Wednesday and Sunday while those with even numbers can water on Tuesday and Saturday. All watering must take place between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. There are several restrictions and customers are asked to prevent runoff and to avoid watering on impervious surfaces (concrete and such). You can still wash your car and spray down buildings, but only with a hand held hose with a shut off vale and only on your assigned watering days.

Southlake: Even-numbered addresses can water Wednesday and Saturday while odd-numbered addresses can water Thursday and Sunday. Non-residential addresses can water Tuesday and Friday. No watering allowed on Monday. All watering must be done between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m.

Weatherford: Effective Aug. 29, Stage 2 restrictions in place and those with even-numbered addresses are allowed to water on Sunday and Thursday, odd-numbered addresses on Saturday and Wednesday. Governmental entities are allowed to water Tuesday and Friday.

Are we missing information on your city? Let us know in the comments below. Additionally, you can come back and search for this article at any time by searching "water restrictions" in the search box at the top of the page.