Kaufman County Life Magazine

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Q

World

READER’S CHOICE 2016

2016 Reader’s Choice Winners The Terrell Tribune presents

the winners of the Reader’s Choice – Terrell’s Best Awards.

Winter 2016/Vol. 6 Issue 4 www.kaufmancountylife.com

Homes From the $170s to $300s

www.HeartlandTexas.com | 972-860-3133

From the Publisher

Life

a slice of

Let the holidays inspire you.

This time of year is always special as we gear up for the holidays and spend time with family and friends. Hopefully, the holidays will afford you some well deserved time off and relaxation. We are excited to bring you this winter edition of Kaufman County Life featuring The Terrell Tribune’s Reader’s Choice Award Winners and there are many of them.

The full list of the 2016 Reader’s Choice — Terrell’s Best Winners can be seen on Page 34.

The cover story: “Get Ready World” for the age of Robotics, highlights the Terrell High School robotics program.

Terrell has already competed in a couple of VEX robotics competitions this year and have their sites set on competing in the first robotics competition next year.

We reflect this season on all the men and women who serve this country to keep us safe.

This month commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that ushered the United States into World War II on Dec. 7, 1941. The story, “The Greatest Generation,” features two American World War II heroes that live in the region. James Crouch of Terrell and Marion Peel of Grand Saline reflect back and tell their story. Their story reminds us all of what our country went through during that period of war and

the many American soldiers who fought and died for our freedom.

The holiday season is full of optimism and the story of Elda Castillo, a 2016 graduate of Terrell High School will inspire you. Elda beat the odds by completing a welding program in high school and her good work led to a job at Nucor Building Systems. Nucor is also providing Elda a partial college scholarship for her to attend Trinity Valley Community

College in 2017. We are inspired

by Elda and the many young women and men who will follow to make this program a success.

Don’t miss Cook’s Corner starting on page 37 featuring Rick Avery and his Smokin Wheelz food truck in Kaufman.

You will not have any trouble finding it... just look for a giant white food truck and let the smell of smoked barbeque and ribs lead the way. Ask for their signature sandwich, “The Fat Boy,” chopped beef sandwich with Earl Campbell link sausage inside — you won’t regret it! Go to Smokin Wheelz Services Facebook page that includes posts of the location of the food truck on any given day.

I wish you all a happy holiday season and best wishes for the New Year.

— Bob Janss, Publisher

Kaufman County Life magazine is a publication of The Terrell Tribune

www.kaufmancountylife.com

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Table of Contents Volume 6 Issue 4 | Winter 2016

Get Ready

Publisher & Editor Bob Janss

Managing Editor Gary E. Lindsley

Contributing Writers Travis Detherage Gary E. Lindsley Phil Major

Photography Patrick Brown Travis Detherage Gary E. Lindsley Phil Major

Creative Editor & Layout Erika Dorsey

Ad Design Patrick Brown

Advertising Sales Patty Barringer Bob Janss Brandi Thomas

Contact

Cook’s Corner Rick Avery and Smokin Wheelz Services can be found around Kaufman serving BBQ, Tuesday through Saturday.

publisher@terrelltribune.com 150 Ninth Street, Terrell, TX 75160 972-563-6476

37.

Kaufman County Life assumes no responsibility for the content of articles or advertisements, in that the views expressed therein may not reflect the views of the publisher, employees or contributors. This publication and all of its contents are copyrighted.

Terrell ISD robotics teacher Marcus Edwards and some of his students.

Cover photo by Patrick Brown 4

KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

6.

13.

The Greatest Generation

Hidden History

The United States recognized the 75th anniversary of its entrance to WW II after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, as well as the sacrifices of those who fought, on Dec. 7.

The Spellman Museum of Forney History is open and it is a gem that includes interactive displays.

World Marcus Edwards’ high-energy robotics program ignites his students’ passions.

8.

15.

35.

Sparked by Welding

The Future of Fitness

Elda Castillo’s skills in welding landed her a job at Nucor Building Systems after graduating from Terrell ISD.

Carmon Parkman is taking physical fitness to the next level at her new gym north of Terrell.

Take a look at some of the unique shopping experiences offered in the area.

Q

18.

READER’S CHOICE 2016

21.

The Terrell Tribune presents the winners of the Reader’s Choice – Terrell’s Best Awards. www.kaufmancountylife.com

5

The

Greatest

Generation

World War II veteran James Crouch holds a copy of The Stars and Stripes issue announcing the end of war in Europe.

Story and photos by

Gary E. Lindsley

The United States on Dec. 7 recognized the 75th anniversary of its entrance to WW II after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, as well as the sacrifices of those who fought.

R

etired NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw referred to them as “The Greatest Generation.” They grew up before, during and after the Depression years and went on to fight in both European and Pacific theaters of World War II. Their efforts overseas and at home led to increased prosperity after the war.

The United States on Dec. 7 recognized the 75th anniversary of its entrance to WW II after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, as well as the sacrifices of those who fought.

Two veterans, James Crouch of Terrell, and Marvin Peel of Grand Saline, fought in WW II — Crouch in Germany as a soldier in the U.S. Army and Peel in Japan as a marine in the

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KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

U.S. Marine Corps.

Both saw more than they wanted; yet they returned home safely. Most people dread going through loved ones’ belongings after they die. Crouch certainly did not look forward to it after his mother, Trudy Vernon Crouch, died on June 1, 1983.

But when he did, he was surprised at what he found his mother had saved for more than 38 years — a copy of The Stars and Stripes military newspaper announcing the end of war in Europe.

The 70th anniversary of VEDay on May 8, 1945, marked the end of World War II. And to Crouch, it seems almost as if it were yesterday.

The Tuesday, May 8, 1945, issue was the first Southern

Germany Edition of The Stars and Stripes ever printed, Crouch said, and it brings back memories.

It was printed in Altdorf, near Nurnberg, on presses, which had printed Der Sturmer.

Der Sturmer was referred to

by The Stars and Stripes’ editor as Julius Streicher’s organ of horror and hate — a weekly Nazi newspaper that was anti-Semitic.

Crouch has had the VE-Day issue of The Stars and Stripes VE-Day newspaper mounted on a wall in his home since finding it in his mom’s belongings.

Even today, looking at the paper, Crouch gets choked up with emotion because of the soldiers who did not return and the families who never saw

Kaufman County Life | Feature Volume 6 Issue 4 | Winter 2016

them again. “I want the people to realize the price people paid, including the families,” he said. “I sympathize deeply with the guys who did not get to come home.”

Crouch, who was born in College Mound and raised in Cobb Switch, was just a country boy from the cotton patch when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944. He was a currier, running dispatches from headquarters to the front lines of the war.

“We were dispatched mostly at night,” Crouch said. “We had to worry about landmines, blown bridges, snipers and our American sentries that were trigger happy.”

In January and February 1945, he had to drive at night — without lights — through deep snow, which sometimes was knee deep.

During his 18 months overseas, he drove a 1942 jeep, and one of the scariest things for him was going through the mountains, at night, on solid sheets of ice without lights.

“After seeing the infantry guys on the front lines, that motivated me to get through,” Crouch said. “My heroes were the combat infantry guys.”

Crouch considers himself lucky that he basically went through the war unscathed.

He knew the morning of May

Marvin Peel holds a box of medals that were bestowed upon him after serving in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

The lights were on at headquarters and there was a lot of hooting and hollering.

He was given a batch of The Stars and Stripes to deliver to units in Berchtesgaden. Before taking off, though, he took one of the papers and put it in an envelope to mail it home to his mother. Though he was not particularly history oriented, he is glad today he did it.

“I am thankful it registered with me to send a paper home,” Crouch said. “It keeps the memories alive of all the guys who did not come back and the pain of their families. The families paid a bigger price than the soldiers.”

Peel was just 18 when he

“I want the people to realize the price people paid, including the families. I sympathize deeply with the guys who did not get to come home.”

— James Crouch 8, 1945, something was different when he and his fellow couriers were roused from their sleep in the wee hours of the morning.

joined the U.S. Marine Corps, signing up in Tyler. Then it was off to San Diego for two months of boot camp.

When he was given two weeks vacation, he returned home. “When I got home, my girlfriend wanted to get married,” he said. “I was not ready to be married, but she said she would not wait around. So we got married.”

Then it was off, once again, to San Diego before going to Camp Pendleton to qualify on the M-1 rifle. He qualified expert.

“They wanted me to be a sniper,” Peel said. “That did not set too well with me. I wasn’t into killing people. I turned it down.”

He returned to San Diego before shipping out on a troop ship with the 1st Marine Division. They were headed to Okinawa.

When they left the ship on an Amtrac, Peel believed they were going to the bottom of the Pacific as it rolled off the ship.

There were about 20 people aboard.

“When we hit the beach, the ramp of the Amtrac would not lower,” he said. Artillery was hitting near them as they made See GENERATION, Continued on pg. 14 www.kaufmancountylife.com

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Get Ready

World The Terrell High School robotics team is evolving into a premiere program.

An inside look at the robots competing against each while students use remote controls to navigate their robot.

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KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

Story by

Travis Detherage Photos by Patrick Brown

Kaufman County Life | Feature Volume 6 Issue 4 | Winter 2016

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he Terrell High School robotics program is looking to take over the world. Competitively that is.

Under the coaching of Terrell High School’s Marcus Edwards, the mechatronics/robotics program has high expectations to eventually be the best robotics program in the world.

complete a task. VEX robotics competitions are played on a 12-foot by 12 foot square field.

Two teams, one “red” and one “blue” composed of two teams compete in each match which consists of a fifteen-second autonomous period followed by two minutes of driverscontrolled play.

“I want us to go to worlds and I want us to be competitive at worlds. I want people to see our program and look what we’re doing because — Marcus Edwards we’re changing lives.”

“I want us to go to worlds and I want us to be competitive at worlds. I want people to see our program and look what we’re doing because we’re changing lives,” Edwards said.

This is Edwards’ first year at Terrell ISD after coming over from the Rockwall Independent School District and he has 10 years of experience teaching in science, robotics, engineering and applied engineering.

“We’ve been accelerating,” Edwards said of the robotics program at Terrell High School. “We have conviction that we believe that we’re going to be a world class robotics team. When you have that believe and you come in every day with that believe then you’re going to excel because you’re focused and your driven.”

Terrell High School will be competing in the VEX robotics competition. Under VEX robotics, teams build and program a robot to

The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opponent alliance by gaining points according to game elements.

Terrell High School’s first VEX competition was on Dec. 3 in Flower Mound and they will try to have another one in late

December before hosting a competition on Jan. 14 in Terrell.

“When it comes to the VEX, I would put our kids up against anybody in the world,” Edwards said.

The robotics program is looking to compete in the First Robotics Competition where the robots will be up to 225 pounds and will have industrial grade motors and processors on them.

“The students are working on robots that are 20–25 pounds for VEX robotics so we want to work on more robust systems,” Edwards said. “To get into the more robust systems we have a knowledge base now to work on more complex systems.”

With the CTE building, Terrell also has several opportunities to compete in simulated competitions.

“That’s a big difference,” Edwards said. “We’ve never had the ability to be able to simulate events.”

Inside the CTE building at

Terrell students gather around the robot field to compete against each other. www.kaufmancountylife.com

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Kaufman County Life | Feature Volume 6 Issue 4 | Winter 2016

Binjimin White makes improvements to his robot during Terrell High School’s robotics class.

Terrell High School, the robotics program has its own designated facility and because of that Edwards and his students can work on a wide variety of things.

“We have the ability to go beyond just building the robots.

We can run full tests on robots,” Edwards said. “We have the resources to be world class.

When I set up the initial funding structure and what we needed it’s being proven right now because the students are able to prototype and run multiple prototypes on their robots.”

Edwards wants to add more equipment to the mechatronics 10

KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

lab. “Our lab is at about 20 percent of what I want the lab to be. We’ll shift a few things around for more efficiency and we’ll add additional things like industrial grade equipment,” Edwards said.

Edwards says he sees the CTE building expanding.

“If it’s expanding on the building or if it’s a new complex or academy. I know ultimately what I want but that would take a lot to get there but I know what it looks like,” Edwards said.

Inside the CTE facility, the robotics program is also in the works of introducing modular learning that will have students working on hydraulics and elector pneumatics.

The robotics program will be adding new equipment thanks to a $5,000 grant from Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative Charitable Foundation that will be used to help support the new robotics and automation program at TISD. “It’s a really big help,” Edwards said on the $5,000 donation. “We’re working on grants to boost our program beyond where it already is. If we continue to focus and continue to be progressive, we’re going to have the ultimate premier program. We will and we have the right people working for us to do that.”

Edwards is getting elementary students involved in the VEX IQ system and he brought a lot of VEX IQ equipment from his house for the students to work on. The donation will allow him to receive new VEX IQ equipment for elementary students to work.

With the donation, Edwards will also replace the middle

school robots from steel to aluminum that will make the robots run faster. The middle school will also receive new equipment to have the same equipment that the high school has.

Edwards is also looking to receive more donations as the days go on.

“It takes those additional funds to grow a program. I’m not scared to write grants or pick up the phone and talk to people because people want to help kids. Then when we can turn around and show the result, that’s even better,” Edwards said.

Edwards is looking to have practicum courses for the mechatronics program to teach students the most advanced studies of mechatronics.

“If I have kids for the practicum classes, they’re going to be developing some really, really unique things and it’s not just for competitive robots,” Edwards said.

Edwards teaches two high school classes and one middle school class. The high school has 10 teams and the middle school has four teams.

Edwards also works with middle school and high school students with their robots every day after school until about 4:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. “Because that’s what it takes,” Edwards said.

During a typical school day, students from other classes stand outside the mechatronics facility and look through the window because they are so interested in what the mechatronics program is doing.

“They want to see how they can get involved. We’re not going to turn kids away and next year we’re looking to add

Top: Omar Pardo looks on as a fellow student repairs his robot.

Middle: Tommie Price makes mechanical changes to his robot.

Bottom: Jesse Valdelamar, left, and Kiara Villa, right, make changes to their robot.

another section so that we can accommodate the numbers that want to come in here,” Edwards said.

Edwards loves the fact that his students are able to adapt to their surroundings and are able to work on their own without needing help. “They do everything on their own. On a typical day, I’m bouncing around and helping them make decisions but ultimately they’re in here cutting, grinding and they’re being resourceful which is something I push them to do,” Edwards said.

Edwards wants his seniors to shift a focus that’s directed toward the field of engineering so it can potentially be something they can have a career in after high school.

Edwards is working on accreditation with Trinity Valley Community College so the students can earn duelcredit for the mechatronics program. With that, the students would be able to graduate high school with a two-year degree.

“I want them to be able to utilize the process of hard skills and soft skills towards anything they do,” Edwards said. “Ultimately, having them feeling successful is my No. 1 goal. I have students who have never been successful and when they come to this program then they become successful.” www.kaufmancountylife.com

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KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

Hidden History Story and photos by

Phil Major

Forney has been polishing a gem, and now it is ready to shine.

T

he Spellman Museum of Forney History has a sparkling new home with interactive displays that feature the community’s story from its earliest beginnings.

It opened with plenty of fanfare on Nov. 12 and is ready to greet the public, showcasing the area’s past. The museum is housed in two buildings in the historic downtown area, at 200 S. Bois d’Arc St. The Forney Historic Preservation League purchased the corner building, which once housed Forney Mercantile, and the adjacent building.

According to metal doorplates, the mercantile building came into being in 1895 and the Wideman building in 1900.

The mercantile was one of the first brick buildings in town.

The museum effort was made possible largely from the generosity of its namesake, Mick Spellman, who left a sizable part of his estate to the league, as well as many artifacts, in addition to artwork from his sister, Coreen, a noted Texas watercolorist and lithographer. Spellman was a Forney native who died in 2006 at age 93.

Plans are to display some of Coreen’s work in the museum’s multipurpose room. Work on the two buildings has been

The Spellman Museum is housed in one of Forney’s first brick business structures.

ongoing for several years, from restoring them as much as possible to their historic look, to adding all the modern conveniences, to bringing in a museum consultant that helped design and build the displays.

“We’re very happy with the final result,” said museum director Kendall Milton.

She thinks residents will be pleasantly surprised at having such a wonderful place to visit.

The museum’s primary focus is a 100-year span of Forney history, from its beginnings in the 1870s with the advent of the railroad.

Museum-goers will first be greeted with a diorama of an Indian teepee, a nod to the original inhabitants of the area.

From there, displays include a mural of the native blackland prairie that settlers to the area found.

Many of the displays are interactive, for example, visitors are asked to identify the animals depicted in the mural.

Or children can build their own

log cabin at the display on early settlers’ dwellings.

Displays include a blacksmith shop, saloon, dry goods store and an agricultural diorama that features three of the areas important early crops, bois d’arc wood, hay and cotton.

A cowboy in the saloon display is among the motionactivated displays as he speaks to patrons.

Other displays feature transportation and a dry goods store.

One pays tribute to the community’s early business leaders and boosters, and historic homes are noted. And of course schools play a prominent role in the museum, much as they have for the community.

Schools will also be a primary focus for the museum as it will welcome school groups and youth organizations for tours.

“We’re excited to start bringing them here,” Milton said.

A scout group was already scheduled well in advance to come in November.

Once the museum is up and www.kaufmancountylife.com

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Kaufman County Life | Feature Volume 6 Issue 4 | Winter 2016

running, the FHPL has many more plans to help residents explore their history, with online access to genealogy materials and historic photos.

The league also hopes to have historic newspapers that are on microfilm digitized for easier access. They plan to host traveling exhibits, welcome speakers on topics of interest and host art shows. And the multipurpose room is designed to feature rotating displays from the museum’s collection.

And of course the museum welcomes continued donations of historic artifacts as well as financial support.

Once the community sees the museum in operation, Milton believes more residents will be willing to donate family heirlooms to the collection.

They welcome anything with ties to Forney, from farm implements and tools to furniture and school memorabilia.

Prior to the opening of the Spellman, there was a small

The first diorama to greet museum-goers is a Native American dwelling representing the area’s earliest inhabitants.

display of historic items housed in a room in city hall. But the city eventually needed the space and the FHPL purchased the two buildings for a permanent home in 2008 and 2009.

In addition to the displays, the museum will also house a gift shop that will include historic publications, historical toys and post cards featuring historic photos. Milton, who

has a master’s degree in public history, joined the museum at the end of 2013. She previously worked with the Texas Heritage Museum at Hill College in Hillsboro and liked the opportunity to get in on a project from its beginning.

The museum will be open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is free.

up the marine’s M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle. It weighed 13 pounds, 6 ounces. He carried 13 magazines of ammo in his belt. “I loved that thing, but it was heavy,” Peel said.

His quarters on the island?

“You dug a hole [to sleep],” Peel said. “We did not have a cot or nothing. “When you are young, you don’t think much about that,” he said. “We were dodging bullets. I shot a lot of bullets.

“One of my best friends, he must have been asleep,” Peel said. “He got shot and he got killed. I did not want to see

what shape he was in because he was a close friend.”

It took five months to secure the island. When the Japanese surrendered in August 1945, Peel was still in Okinawa.

Crouch and Peel are two of a dwindling number of WW II veterans from the Greatest Generation who are living history of what our country went through.

“I would not want to go through it again,” Peel said.

“When you are young, you aren’t scared. You do your duty. “They wanted me to re-enlist,” he said.

“I just wanted to go home.”

GENERATION, Continued from pg. 7 their way to shore. “Our objective was to secure the airfield,” Peel said. “We did not meet much resistance.”

They traveled seven miles to the airport. There were 250 marines in his company when he left for Okinawa. “When we came home, there were 70 of us left,” Peel said, choking up.

“We drew quite a bit of fire, especially at night,” he said. “I was pretty scared.” The enemy would scream and holler before they would attack.

One of the men in his company went down and Peel picked 14

KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

Sparked by

Welding

Elda Castillo sits next to a cooking grill she made along with her co-workers at Nucor Building Systems. (courtesy)

Story and photos by

Travis Detherage

Welding has changed Elda Castillo’s life.

E

lda Castillo, who is a 2016 Terrell High School graduate and a product of the Terrell High School welding program, said if welding hadn’t have been present in her life, she would be working at a fast food restaurant.

Because of welding, Castillo is employed at Nucor Building Systems in Terrell, which is an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of customengineered building systems.

Castillo has been working at Nucor since September and

is nearly six and a half months removed from walking the stage for graduation.

Castillo has operated in the field of welding ever since she was a sophomore at Terrell High School. It all started when Castillo was in agriculture class during her freshman year when Mr. Wallace approached her to see if she would be interested in welding.

“At the end of the year, he took us out to the shop and showed us a little bit about welding and he saw that I

“I like it [at Nucor] because I do different things, have different experiences and I get to meet different people. It’s a really good — Elda Castillo work place.”

had a talent in welding and I decided to try it out and see if it worked out for me or if I like it or not,” Castillo said. “From there on, I had some interest in it and I stayed with it and I had the opportunity to come here [Nucor] and I took it.”

Welding ended up working out for Castillo and she said that Wallace was a big impact when it came to jumpstarting Castillo’s interest in welding.

“He taught me a lot of things that I didn’t know. He showed me different things and he was always there for me,” Castillo said.

After Castillo graduated from high school, she lost interest in becoming a welder, but that all changed when Nucor expressed interest.

“What I did at school was kind of boring and I was doing www.kaufmancountylife.com

15

Top: Elda Castillo cuts through the steel ribbon at a TISD welding ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Bottom Left: Elda Castillo gets done cutting through the steel ribbon at a TISD welding ribbon cutting ceremony. Bottom Right: Elda Castillo stands near her workshop at Nucor Building Systems.

the same thing every day,” she said. “So I thought to myself that I don’t want to do welding if it’s just going to be a basic thing. Then I tried out at Nucor and it’s pretty fun.

“I like it here because I do different things, have different experiences and I get to meet different people,” Castillo said.

“It’s a really good work place.”

Castillo attended a job fair at Trinity Valley Community College and it was there that she started to become interested in working at Nucor. “I went there and I talked to different people; then I found Nucor and they where like, ‘A ren’t you Elda? We’ve seen about you and we’ve heard about you.

We would like for you to come 16

KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

see us and apply,’” she said. “I thought that was cool and I gave it a lot of thought. I wasn’t for sure if I wanted to go to welding or not, but I’m glad I took that opportunity.”

Nucor has not only employed Castillo, but they will also pay for half of Castillo’s college tuition at Trinity Valley Community College after she works six months for the company.

“That’s awesome,” Castillo said about Nucor paying for some her college tuition. “I love that.”

Castillo isn’t sure what she wants to study in college. She was told that if she studies welding, it would be a waste of her time.

“Every different welding job,

they take different tests and what they teach at college is the basic things and I kind of don’t want to waste my money with that. So I kind of want to extend my education in different areas,” Castillo said.

Castillo said she wants to study subjects that are in the construction field.

“I’ve been thinking about construction management or try to work my up to Occupational Safety and Health Administration,” Castillo said.

It’s been a little more than a year since Castillo was one of the guest speakers at a TISD welding ribbon cutting ceremony where the welding program at Terrell High School in partnership with Trinity Valley Community College received a $150,000 grant for Terrell programs to help meet the high demand for welders in the area.

A $75,000 grant from Texas Workforce Commission was matched by the Terrell Economic Development Corporation’s $75,000 with help from local industries to help the TISD/ TVCC welding program.

The grant offers TISD students an opportunity to learn more about welding and also further their welding skills, which can be turned into a career after graduating from high school.

“I was very, very, very nervous,” Castillo said about being the guest speaker for the welding ribbon cutting ceremony. “I don’t like speaking in front of people and I was kind of shaky, but now I’m getting used to talking to different people.”

Castillo felt like she was the face of Terrell ISD welding that day. “They made me into an allstar,” Castillo said.

www.kaufmancountylife.com

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Kaufman County Life | Shopping Around Town Volume 6 Issue 4 | Winter 2016

Shopping Around

Te r r e l l CIT Y LIM IT POP 163 47

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POP 3514

Delivering smiles since 1955, The Green House, Inc. transforms any celebration, with fresh flowers and plants for all occasions. They also carry a wide variety of gift and home decor items such as antiques, fragrances by Tyler Candle Co. and Circle E, plus collectibles of all kinds. There is also a registered wedding and event planner to help turn your dream day into an everlasting memory. A staff photographer is available as well as tuxedo rentals.

The Green House, Inc. 201 N. 4th St. | Wills Point, Texas 903-873-3331 | www.thegreenhousewillspoint.com Like us on Facebook! www.kaufmancountylife.com

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Kaufman County Life | Shopping Around Town Volume 6 Issue 4 | Winter 2016

d n u o r g A n i p p Sho

Ke m p CITY LIMIT POP 1199

Your favorite Country Store Located in Southeastern Kaufman County near Cedar Creek Lake. Listen to the Wind Chimes on the porch, then come inside and pick up a sandwich, snack, or sweet treat!

Look around at the variety of goodies we have!

Deli meats & Cheeses ~ Breads ~ Muffins ~ Fried Pies ~ Cookies ~ Pies ~ Baking Supplies & Spices ~ Jars of Jams, Jellies, Pickles & Salsas We also have a variety corner that includes: Christian Literature ~ Leanin’ Tree Greeting Cards ~ Fabric and Sewing Notions ~ Cookbooks ~ Hand-made soaps and Lotions ~ Coloring Books for children & Adults ~ Jigsaw Puzzles

Heritage Market & Bakery 109A State Hwy 274 | Kemp, Texas | 903-498-3366

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KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

Kaufman County Life | Reader’s Choice Volume 6 Issue 4 | Winter 2016

READER’S CHOICE 2016

T

he Terrell Tribune invited readers to participate in the 2016 Readers’ Choice • Terrell’s Best Awards. Readers could cast one vote in each category. Votes were tallied, and here are the WINNERS! Be sure to visit them and tell them you saw it in Kaufman County Life!

READER’s CHOICE 2016

www.kaufmancountylife.com

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Y

ou probably have seen them at the annual Terrell Heritage Jubilee in Ben Gill Park or perhaps the annual Christmas parade along Moore Avenue.

If you have seen them tumblin’ down Moore Avenue, you have seen the skill and precision of the Tumbler’s Gym members on display.

It was 23 years ago that Crissy Stephens-Meador, who is a registered nurse and teacher at Trinity Valley Community College, established Tumbler’s Gym. The facility is located at 124 Business Circle in Terrell.

“I wanted to have a concept where parents could be there [watching their children train],” Meador said.

Some facilities, she said, do not allow family members to be present when the tumblers are training. Meador wants them to be present so they can reinforce what was learned in the gym at home.

“Parents like to be involved,” she said. “I wanted it to be open to families. When I was young, I was in gymnastics and it was closed.”

And it is not just children who go to the gym. There are also adults who want to learn.

Participants range in age from 3 to adults.

Meador teaches gymnastics and cheerleading. Meador estimates she trains between 100 and 150 people a season and believes during her 23 years of running the gym, she has taught at least 800.

Students are from Wills Point, Kaufman, Forney and Terrell.

Besides tumbling during the week, they also must do 100 jumps a day. “It prepares them for cheerleading,” she said. “We look at what schools want for cheerleading.

“We have won national championships,” Meador said.

Her cheerleading teaching style is not what one would call mainstream. “We do cheerleading a bit different,” Meador said.

“We are kind of conservative.” That includes in performance and uniforms.

“We are really like a ministry,” she said.

“We have had people who did not believe in God, and then their parents see them baptized. “It is more than gymnastics,” Meador said. “The kids pray for each others’ families.”

If she has 12 children training, and at least one goes to college on a gymnastics scholarship, she is happy.

Students train one or two days a week for 45 minutes.

“It is recreational and competitive,” she said. “My goal is to find what they are good at.”

Story and photos by

READER’s CHOICE 2016

23 Years of tumbling Gary E. Lindsley

Above ph

otos: T um blers’ Gy demonst ra m member te their sk s ills durin g the Ter rell H eritage Ju bilee.

For more information, contact Meador at 469-595-9302 or visit Tumbler’s Gym Facebook page. www.kaufmancountylife.com

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READER’s CHOICE 2016 24

KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

READER’s CHOICE 2016

More than 15 Shellac Gel co 0 lors available !

Thank you for voting us Terrell’s Best Nail Salon!

1880 W. Moore, Ste. #13, Terrell, TX 972-551-7083 • Walk-ins Welcome

Walk-ins Welcome

www.kaufmancountylife.com

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READER’s CHOICE 2016 26

KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

READER’s CHOICE 2016

www.kaufmancountylife.com

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READER’s CHOICE 2016 28

KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

READER’s CHOICE 2016

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KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

READER’s CHOICE 2016

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Q

READER’s CHOICE 2016

Best Real Estate Agent: Byron Cashion/Hottinger Real Estate, Inc. READER’S CHOICE

If you are considering buying or selling real estate or would like to have additional info about real estate in your area please don’t hesitate to call Hottinger Real Estate, Inc. • 972-524-5683 • www.hretx.com

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2016

Best Photographer: Bella Photography READER’S CHOICE 2016

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Thank you everyone for voting!! Bella Photography specializes in family, newborn, weddings & other special events. Contact Natalie Marical www.facebook.com/bellaphotographygirl • Nataliefieldsmith@yahoo.com

Best Heating & AC Repair: Cliff’s Heating & Air READER’S CHOICE

Thank you for voting us Terrell’s Best. We are family owned and operated, proudly serving Kaufman County since 1987. We’re honest, dependable, and treat all our customers like family. 620 E. Nash, Terrell • 972-563-8634

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2016

Best Credit Union: LoneStar Credit Union READER’S CHOICE 2016

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Whether you need a loan for your first car or help in building financial security, our Members choose us because it’s good business to be good to our Members. Join us today! 800.588.6928 • LoneStarCU.org

Best Dog Grooming Company: Hot Dogs Grooming Salon READER’S CHOICE

Thank you for voting us Terrell’s Best Dog Grooming Salon. We are here for all of your dog grooming needs! • 803 W. Moore Ave., Terrell • 972-757-DOGS (3647) Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm

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2016

Best Dental Hygienist: Jamie Donaldson, RDH

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Thank you for voting Jamie Terrell’s Best Hygienist. Jamie is a vital member of Dr. Kines’ team and makes every effort to provide excellent patient care and education. 401 N. Ann St., Ste. B, Terrell • 972-524-5347

Best Museum: No 1 British Flying Training School READER’S CHOICE 2016

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119 Silent Wings Blvd • First Royal Air Force Flying Training School in the U.S.A. Exhibits the history and importance of the British Commonwealth and American cooperation in war and peace.

KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

READER’S CHOICE 2016

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READER’s CHOICE 2016

Best Men’s Clothing Store: Risingers Country Store READER’S CHOICE

Risingers Country Store has provided customers with a wide variety of upscale merchandise for men, women and children for 45 years. Come in for a visit and fill out a wish list for the upcoming holidays. 210 W. Moore Ave., Terrell • 972-563-3813

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2016

Best Alarm Company: Terrell Alarm Systems, LLC READER’S CHOICE 2016

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We are proud to be your hometown provider of Security Systems. Commercial and Residential systems are available to fit your needs and budget. Contact us at 972-524-6700 • terrellalarm.com. Thank you for voting us, Terrell’s Best!

Best Oil & Lube: Terrell Oil & Lube READER’S CHOICE

Thank you for voting us Terrell’s Best. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you for many years to come. 1006 W. Moore Ave., Terrell • 972-551-3801

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2016

Best Window Tinting: Texas Tint READER’S CHOICE

Thank you customers for your commitment and for voting Texas-Tint year after year! TEXAS TINT & Audio • 1008 W. Moore Ave., Terrell 972-563-TINT • www.texas-tint.com

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2016

Best Furniture: Traylor Furniture 2016

Traylor Furniture has just celebrated it’s 50th year in business in downtown Terrell.

We want to THANK all of our loyal customers for their continued support for all these years. 221 W. Moore Ave., Terrell • 972-563-3453

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READER’S CHOICE

Best Fitness Center: CrossFit Terrell CrossFit Terrell would like to thank all the people that make us Terrell’s best Gym! We will continue to provide the best training possible for anyone wanting to reach their true potential. crossfitterrell.com • 102 Business Cir., Terrell

READER’S CHOICE 2016

Thank You Readers, for Choosing Terrell’s Best!

www.kaufmancountylife.com

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READER’s CHOICE 2016

READER’S CHOICE 2016

Terrell’s Best School – Terrell High School

Terrell’s Best Tire Shop – Discount Tire/Greg Moore

Terrell’s Best High School Teacher – Tony Brown

Terrell’s Best Electrician – Bubba Templeman/Templeman Electric

Terrell’s Best Middle School Teacher – Micah Rice

Terrell’s Best Plumbing Company – Harris Plumbing

Terrell’s Best Elementary School Teacher Long – Jennifer Huggins

Terrell’s Best Landscaping Company – Lawson’s Landscaping

Terrell’s Best Elementary School Teacher JFK – Kristin Hicks

Terrell’s Best Alarm Company – Terrell Alarm Systems

Terrell’s Best Elementary School Teacher Burnett – Yorey Sims

Terrell’s Best Carpet Care Company – Ter-Jan Carpet Service

Terrell’s Best Elementary School Teacher Wood – Lisa McBride

Terrell’s Best Insurance Company – Farmers Insurance with Jeff Graham

Terrell’s Best College/ Private School – Trinity Valley Community College

Terrell’s Best Insurance Agent – Jeff Graham/Farmers Insurance

Terrell’s Best Doctor – Charlie Risinger/Baylor Family Medical Center

Terrell’s Best Heating and AC Repair – Cliff’s Heating and Air

Terrell’s Best Nurse – Judy Candler/Baylor Family Medical Center

Terrell’s Best Convenience Store – Water Mart

Terrell’s Best Receptionist – Shannon Corbett/Osinde Family Dentistry

Terrell’s Best New Car Dealership – Musser Motors

Terrell’s Best Community Volunteer – David Bowden/Adopt A Block

Terrell’s Best Used Car Dealership – Auto Center of Texas

Terrell’s Best Optometrist – Kent Wilson/Premier Vision

Terrell’s Best Car Salesperson – Tim Minter/Musser Motors

Terrell’s Best Chiropractor – Darlene Johnson/Johnson Chiropractic

Terrell’s Best Hearing Specialist Company – Livingston Audiology & Hearing Aid Center

Terrell’s Best Dentist – Dr. Junior Osinde/Osinde Family Dentistry

Terrell’s Best Jewelry Store – Pritchett’s Jewelry

Terrell’s Best Dental Hygienist – Jamie Donaldson/Gwendolyn Kines-McCleod DDS

Terrell’s Best Funeral Home – Max Slayton Funerals and Cremations

Terrell’s Best Orthodontist – Vinay Kumar/Bright Smiles Dental Clinic

Terrell’s Best Funeral Director – Max Slayton/Max Slayton Funerals and Cremations

Terrell’s Best Real Estate Agent – Byron Cashion/Hottinger Real Estate

Terrell’s Best Home Health Care Company – American Home Health Care

Terrell’s Best Firefighter – Todd Wiley

Terrell’s Best Hospice Care Company – Alinea Family Hospice Care

Terrell’s Best Police Officer – Dock Ballard

Terrell’s Best Nursing Home – Windsor Care Center

Terrell’s Best Massage Therapist – Paula Henry/Located in Jerry’s Hair Design

Terrell’s Best Assisted Living/Senior Community Living – Colonial Lodge

Terrell’s Best Minister – Lonnie Harris/Terrell First Assembly

Terrell’s Best Urgent Care – Terrell Urgent Care

Terrell’s Best Church – Terrell First Assembly

Terrell’s Best Window Tinting – Texas Tint

Terrell’s Best Non-Profit – Boxes of Love/Angela Foster

Terrell’s Best Pharmacy – Bass Rutledge

Terrell’s Best Wildlife Center – PrideRock Wildlife Refuge

Terrell’s Best Pharmacist – Fred Bentley/Bass Rutledge

Terrell’s Best Museum – British Flying Training School Museum

Terrell’s Best Furniture – Traylor Furniture

Terrell’s Best Event – Jubilee/Terrell Chamber of Commerce

Terrell’s Best Bank – American National Bank

Terrell’s Best Women’s Boutique – Sierra Gypsy Boutique

Terrell’s Best Personal Banker – Anita Mann/Texas Bank and Trust

Terrell’s Best Men’s Clothing Store – Risingers Country Store

Terrell’s Best Event Center – The Garden Event Center

Terrell’s Best Children’s Boutique – The Ranchers Wife

Terrell’s Best Health Club/Fitness Center – CrossFit Terrell

Terrell’s Best Credit Union – Lone Star Credit Union

Terrell’s Best Gymnastics, Cheer, Dance Company – Tumblers Gym

Terrell’s Best Antique/Specialty Shop – The Front Porch

Terrell’s Best Hotel – Holiday Inn Express

Terrell’s Best Towing Service – Bostick Wrecking Service

Terrell’s Best Martial Arts – Satori Martial Arts

Terrell’s Best Photography – Bella Photography/Natalie Marical

Terrell’s Best Restaurant – Los Hermanos

Terrell’s Best Veterinarian Clinic – Risinger Veterinary Hospital

Terrell’s Best Chinese Food – China Town

Terrell’s Best Dog Grooming Company – Hot Dogs

Terrell’s Best Seafood – Fat Daddy’s

Terrell’s Best Dog Boarding – Terrell Veterinary Center

Terrell’s Best Mexican Food – Los Hermanos

Terrell’s Best Car Wash – Tiger Car Wash

Terrell’s Best Fried Chicken – Pop’s Fried Chicken

Terrell’s Best Hair Salon – Jerry’s Hair Designs

Terrell’s Best Hamburger – Jungle Burger

Terrell’s Best Hair Stylist – Tracy White/Located in Jerry’s Hair Designs

Terrell’s Best Pizza – Rocko’s Pizza

Terrell’s Best Nail Salon – 94 Nails

Terrell’s Best BBQ – Hickory Roots BBQ

Terrell’s Best Nail Technician – Brooke Cushing/Located in Nail Boutique

Terrell’s Best Chicken Fried Steak – Cole Mountain

Terrell’s Best Auto Repair Shop – Triple A Muffler

Terrell’s Best Steak – Terrell Steak and Grill

Terrell’s Best Collision Repair – Master Auto Body

Terrell’s Best Donut – Shipley Do-nuts

Terrell’s Best Oil & Lube Shop – Terrell Oil & Lube

Terrell’s Best Dessert – Blessings on Brin

Terrell Best Day Care – Smart Start

Terrell’s Best Coffee Shop – Bubble Bubble

Terrell’s Best Florist – Flowerfields

Terrell’s Best Kept Secret – Epic Life Church

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KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

The Future of Fitness Story and photo by

Gary E. Lindsley

The Guardian Gym is not your typical fitness facility.

W

hen you walk through the front doors, you are flooded with light — mostly natural light. A lot of facilities have their equipment and workout areas in dark environments in comparison.

The Guardian Gym also has mirrors for those interested in seeing their progress in working out, form in lifting and for striking poses as part of their body building processes.

Carmon Parkman and her partner, Trey Lowery, are the creators of the new gym located at 16240 State Highway 205, next to her other business, Triple A Sand and Stone.

Parkman is billing the gym’s facilities as the ultimate training experience. There will be American ninja warrior training; senior adult classes, aerobics and strength training; personal training and nutritional planning; team building and corporate fitness opportunities; a supplements and clothing store; and tanning.

And there isn’t an enrollment fee. Parkman hopes to offer even more programs.

There are free weights as well as workout stations throughout the gym.

Owning a gym is a new experience for Parkman, who has always been interested in

Carmon Parkman dead lifts weights.

fitness — not only for her for others as well.

A renewed interest in body building, and helping others lead healthier and fit lives, sparked an idea to open a new gymnasium. “I have always been an athlete and interested in powerlifting,” Parkman said.

A Louisiana native, Parkman started competing in powerlifting at Louisiana Tech. Parkman also has an interest in health.

“I have worked with the geriatric population and that motivates me to get out of bed,” she said. Parkman also has worked in sports medicine and aquatic therapy. “It encourages me to help other people, have them be enthusiastic to have healthier lives,” she said.

Lowery, she said, is not only her partner and best of friends, he also is her trainer for powerlifting. Parkman became involved with the sport again in 2015. “He trained me for competition in March and I will be competing in nationals next year,” she said.

Parkman moved to Texas in 1996 and to Terrell about

two years ago. “The area is up and coming,” she said as to why she moved to Terrell and opened Triple A Sand and Stone with the love of her life, Dennis Lynch. “When you are self employed, you are always thinking and planning.”

Parkman and Lowery had an open house and pre-enrollment party at The Guardian Gym on Nov. 19.

The facility is open 24 hours a day with an access code. The supplements and clothing line store are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Besides the workout equipment, The Guardian Gym also has a room for tanning on the second floor. And programs such as yoga, martial arts and cycling also are offered — as well as posing classes.

Last but not least, The Guardian Gym also may be used for birthday parties. And Parkman is trying to make arrangements for youth to use the outside space as well.

For more information about The Guardian Gym, call Parkman at 817-821-8052 or Lowery at 817-675-7965. www.kaufmancountylife.com

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KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

Cook’s

Corner

Rick Avery stands in front of his food truck called Smokin Wheelz Services.

Rick Avery and Smokin Wheelz Services can be found around Kaufman serving BBQ, Tuesday through Saturday.

L

iving in Kaufman, a person might see a giant white truck driving through town or in a parking lot with a sign on it that says, “I ain’t jokin, when you see me smokin’.”

That giant white food truck is owned by Rick Avery and called Smokin Wheelz Services that provides slow smoked BBQ, ribs, stuffed baked potatoes and other food items.

Avery started Smokin Wheelz Services on July 4, 2016.

He spent the last 25 years cooking on the side and is living the dream by selling BBQ from his food truck.

Avery was a mechanic and an ASE certified master technician, but two years ago he said he was laid off from the best job he ever had. “I had a couple of jobs after

that and that didn’t go well and I just decided that it was time to do something new,” Avery said.

Avery already owned the truck he uses now to serve BBQ out of after buying it years ago.

Avery said when the food truck

Story and photos by

Travis Detherage

scene hit in Dallas about seven years ago, he was interested in having his own food truck.

“I decided that I wanted a food truck and this is where I am,” Avery said.

Smokin Wheelz Services

Rick Avery cuts up slices of ribs. www.kaufmancountylife.com

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Kaufman County Life | Cook’s Corner Volume 6 Issue 4 | Winter 2016

operates out of Kaufman from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday.

In the future, Avery is going branch out Smokin Wheelz Services by providing a food truck in Terrell and Ennis.

Smokin Wheelz Services provides sliced beef, chopped beef and pulled pork sandwiches, Earl Campbell link sausages and stuffed baked potatoes.

“Our chopped beef outsells everything. I’m going through four to five briskets a day right now.

— Rick Avery It keeps us busy.”

There is a sandwich called “The Fat Boy” that is a chopped beef sandwich with Earl Campbell link sausages inside of it.

Avery said he has a customer named Kyle that buys food from Smokin Wheelz Services that comes by two to three times a week. Eventually Kyle had an item on the menu named after him.

“He showed up one day and said, ‘I want a big daddy Kyle,’” Avery said. “On our fat boy, it’s a chopped beef [sandwich] with a link, but he wanted sliced beef [sandwich] with a link.

At the time, Smokin Wheelz Services didn’t provide a sandwich with sliced beef and sausage links. Avery and his wife we’re trying to talk him into buying “The Fat Boy” because what he was wanting was going to cost more. But Kyle wanted that sandwich and eventually got it.

“He comes back every week now and buys two a week,” Avery said. “We named it on our menu ‘Big Daddy Kyle’ so we named that sandwich after him.”

Smokin Wheelz Services sells ribs on Friday and Saturday only. They sell rib sandwiches, a half rack of ribs and a full rack of ribs.

Smokin Wheelz Services sells East Texas Links on Friday and Saturday as well.

The $5 lunch special at Smokin Wheelz Services is chopped beef with chips and a drink, pulled pork with chips and a drink and links with chips and a drink.

Avery said the most popular food item is the chopped beef. “Our chopped beef sandwich is number one and the sliced beef is number two then the fat boy is number three,” Avery said.

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KAUFMAN COUNTY LIFE | WINTER 2016

Rick Avery makes a “fat boy sandwich”.

“Our chopped beef outsells everything. I’m going through four to five briskets a day right now. It keeps us busy.”

Smokin Wheelz Services also caters and also has D.J. service as well.

Smokin Wheelz Services has a Facebook page that includes posts of the location of the truck on any given day.

Recipe