CITATION BY PUBLICATION FC 102.010 BY ORDER OF SUBSTITUTED SERVICE THE STATE OF TEXAS CAUSE No. 2025-053 TO: Stephen Whittemore, Respondent and All Whom it May Concern, GREETING: NOTICE TO RESPONDENT: “You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney does not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 AM on the Monday next following the expiration of 20 days after the date you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you.” The petition of The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Petitioner, was filed in the County Court at Law Court of Panola County, Texas on the 18th day of February 2025 against Stephen Whittemore, Respondent in cause no. 2025-053 and entitled ‘In the Interest of April Whittemore, Raylynn Green and Kolter Ritter, children. The suit requests Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship as is more fully shown by Petition on file in this suit. The date and place of birth of the child/children who is/are the subject of the suit is/are: April Whittemore | DOB: January 22, 2026 “The court has authority in this suit to render an order in the child’s (children’s) interest that will be binding on you, including the termination of the Parent-child Relationship, the determination of paternity, and the appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to the child’s (children’s) adoption.” ISSUED and given under my hand and seal of said Court at Carthage, Texas this the 21st day of November 2025. Attorney for Petitioner or Petitioner: Clerk of the Court: Michael King, Attorney Lindsey Smith, District Clerk 303 E 11th Street Panola County, Texas Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455 469-642-8186 By: Lora Brown, Deputy