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E V E R Y T H I N G ' S

JUNE 30, 2015

Taylor High ACDEC 4th in Nation

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Meet FBC’s Pastor Kevin Ueckert

Last August, members of the Taylor Academic Decathlon team set a goal to win the 2015 state championship. They came close the past two years, so this year their mission was to bring home the state trophy. They set-up a rigorous study schedule, and began preparing themselves for their toughest competition. By the end of the school year the team from Taylor, Texas not only claimed the state championship trophy, they were ranked 4th in the National Medium School Competition. Their teacher, Vicki Rowe, was Texas Coach of the Year. When the final results were in, the local scholars earned a total of 94 individual medals, 3 team Gold Medals, and over $23,000 in scholarship money. “What an impressive accomplishment,” said Andrew Maddox, principal at Taylor High School. “These students worked extremely hard and pushed each other. Their work ethic, commitment and dedication is reflected in an extremely impressive national finish. They represented the school and community well.” “After the regional qualifiers, we found out we were going to state,” said team member Sarah Bohac. “Mrs. Rowe turned to me and said, ‘I think this will be the year.’ That stuck with me and inspired me to push myself even further so I could be part of that.” “The scholars commit to a plethora of hours of practice which start in May when we get the curriculum for the following competitive year, “Rowe said. “And it continues until we are finished competing as a team the following May.” The scholars agreed their rigorous study routine played a key role in their success, including meeting at Rowe’s house every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for three hour study sessions. “It See Taylor, page 15

TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2015 Page 5

THE FOURTH, FIREWORKS! Page 7

First Baptist Church of Georgetown welcomed a new Lead Pastor June 8. Kevin Euckert, formerly of Abilene, took over as Pastor after an exhaustive 16-month search by the church. Just two weeks in, Kevin says his wife told him, “I think Georgetown will be my favorite place to ever live.” Pastor Ueckert was at Texas Southside Baptist Church for the past 15 years. He said it had really become home, he had deep roots there and actually had no cause or desire to leave. But a series of emails and apparent coincidences led him to Georgetown and, like all people of faith, he is certain the choice was divinely inspired. Universally, the Baptist Church does not have a hierarchy that transfers pastors or leaders. Change is effected by the churches and pastors themselves. Ueckert says, “I experienced a lot of positive things and many changes in my church in Abilene.

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We were as strong as we’d ever been, but I started to feel like the Lord was communicating with me to think about what else might be out there.” One of Ueckert’s passions is missions. During a recent trip to East Asia, he began to feel like it might be time to follow a different plan. “My wife and I had grown comfortable, but we prayed about it for a few weeks. We didn’t get any answers so we thought that was the end of it.” But, he said, the coincidences had already taken hold and tugging persisted until he received an e-mail from the First Baptist search committee. One committee member contacted the brother of her college roommate to see if he had any recommendations from the seminary where he worked. That brother happened to be in a Facebook photo with Ueckert on his East Asia mission trip, and, when brother said he only had one

viable, perfect candidate, it turns out Ueckert was her pastor when she was in college. Ueckert says he still wasn’t convinced, but he wanted to work with FBC to make sure he could eliminate it as a possibility and not let it distract him from his work in Abilene. He and his wife went again to prayer and decided to send a resume. “We had been happy for 15 years and had no reason to leave, so I wanted to vet it completely and make sure it wasn’t just a test to see if I was willing to leave.” As it happened, Ueckert says God continued to confirm that Georgetown was where He wanted him to be. He visited in March and preached to the church. Following a Q&A, the church voted overwhelmingly (98.6%) to offer him the position. The Ueckert family arrived in town June 7, and he was at work See Pastor, page 9

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WilCo Offices Closed Friday, July 3

The Commissioners Court will not meet on Tuesday, July 7, 2015. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Tuesday, July 14, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

WilCo: Regarding Same Sex Marriage

June 26 - The Williamson County Attorney’s Office will thoroughly review the written opinion issued by the U. S. Supreme Court regarding same-sex marriage before deciding the appropriate course of action to recommend to County officials. The Williamson County Clerk’s Office will conduct normal business in regard to marriage licenses not affected by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling today. The County Clerk’s Office will wait for the County Attorney’s Office to complete its review of the Court’s written opinion before deciding the appropriate course of action in regard to issuing marriage licenses for samesex couples.

Splash Pad Opens July 2

A new neighborhood splash pad opens at San Jose Park on Thursday, July 2. The Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department will hold a grand opening for the new splash pad at 10 a.m. on July 2 at San Jose Park, 1707 San Jose Street. The park is near the intersection of Maple and 15th streets. The 1,656 square-foot splash pad at the park has 15 spray features, including a spray archway called a Super Soaker, a shower tunnel that sprays water in an archway from the ground, a T-shaped pole that spins and sprays called

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The Jarrell Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Maranatha Care Home Health June 12. Maranatha Care, owned and operated by Genna Ransburg, offers affordable home health care services to Jarrell and surrounding communities. a Storm Spinner, popcorn jets that shoot water from the ground, and a post that sprays water in a bell shape. A motion sensor activates the spray features to run for several minutes before turning off automatically. The play area has a shade awning on one side. The splash pad will use recirculated water that is filtered, chlorinated, and stored in a tank below the surface. Parks staff will check chlorine levels daily. The splash pad was built by Progressive Commercial Aquatics at a cost of $300,000. The new splash pad was added to San Jose Park in a second phase of recent renovations. Last year the park was improved with the addition of new playground equipment, a parking area, and restrooms. The splash pad will operate each year from April 1 through September 30. Daily hours during that sea-

son are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Taylor Transitions to Recovery Center The Mobile Registration Intake Center (MRIC) in Williamson County is transitioning into a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), Thursday, June 25, to provide one-stop service for those affected by the storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred from May 4 to June 19. The DRC will be closed July 3, 4 and 5 for the Independence Day holiday.

Golf Ball Drop

Hope Alliance is hiring a golf-ball-dropping helicopter to raise money to help local victims of violence. Numbered golf balls will be dropped over a hole on Cimarron Golf course and the one that goes into the hole first (or closest) will win

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Girls’ Football Academy

LADIES, Join Southwestern University football coach Joe Austin to increase your knowledge and enjoyment of football in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Learn what your husband thinks he knows! Reserve a seat for $25 at the Palace Theater. July 30th at 7pm. The academy will cover a variety of topics, including a question and answer session with the coach. Admission includes cash bar, snacks, koozie, Academy t-shirt and a certificate of completion. AustinFootballAcademy.com

The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Advocate, administration, staff or contributing writers. The views expressed in all letters to the editor and signed opinion articles are those of their authors. All letters to the editor must include a name, address and phone number for verification. Anonymous and unverified letters to the editor will not be printed. The Advocate reserves the right to edit letters for length and journalistic style, and has a recommended length of 300 words.

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THE ADVOCATE  JUNE 30, 2015

PUBLIC SAFETY / JUSTICE

2015 Williamson County Employees of the Year

The Williamson County

Commissioners Court recognized four employees with the 2015 Employee of the Year Awards for Leadership. Each employee received $500, a plaque, and a traveling trophy for their department to display for the year. Wanda Ivicic, Chief Victim Assistance Counselor, County Attorney’s Office – Wanda was selected for Professional Leadership. This award is presented to an employee for exhibiting highly professional and committed leadership to Williamson County. Wanda was described as a professional who is passionate about victim services and someone who has dedicated her life to serving the Williamson County community far beyond her role. In addition to her service to the County, she has served on several outside committees to further serve those in need, as well as volunteering with the Georgetown Police Department crisis intervention. Wanda recently supervised the reorganization of the Protective Orders and Hot Checks Divisions to better serve the victims of family violence and theft. To en-

Left to right: County Judge Dan Gattis, Pct. 1 Commissioner Lisa Birkman, Doug Denne, Wanda Ivicic, Jeannette Liu, Dan Ketchum (standing in for Kevin Krienke who is on vacation), Pct. 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long, Pct. 4 Commissioner Ron Morrison. ed for Project Leadership, for a special project that is responsive to the needs of Williamson County citizens and employees. Doug created a comprehensive database that can be used by the MOT via their mobile phone to easily search for available resources. This allows them to communicate clearly with families and first responders regarding appropriate level of care and treatment options; saving valuable time and effort for all parties. They also now have the ability to email information/referrals.

sure a successful transition, she learned the business and accounting practices inherent in working with large collections, which is outside of expectations for her position. All of this while successfully fulfilling her regular duties. Through her efforts and leadership, all members of the newly formed team were crosstrained and able to meet the demands of both areas without additional staff. Doug Denne, Senior Mental Health Specialist, Mobilel Outreach Team (MOT) – Doug was select-

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In addition, Doug created a database that can be used specifically for crisis negotiations (barricaded subjects, hostage situations, etc.), that is filled with tips and tactics that may be difficult to remember on a chaotic scene. His supervisor commented, “There are many employees who can spot a problem; there are few who take the initiative to solve it – Doug is that employee and more.” Jeannette Liu, Digital Evidence Manager, County Attorney’s Office – Jeannette was selected for her Creative Leadership, which is defined as conservative, responsible and efficient, while providing creative ideas and cost-saving solutions. In 2014, a new state law was passed requiring a copy of every piece of evi-

dence be provided to each defendant through their attorney upon request prior to any plea bargain or trial. The County Attorney’s Office quickly went from processing 9600 pieces of evidence and 2200 requests for copies a year in 2012, to processing 35,000 pieces of evidence and 8300 requests for copies in 2014. Jeanette took it upon herself to help create a system that could handle the increased volume of work using preexisting staff and resources. She analyzed current business processes and staffing, resulting in cross-training for Evidence staff, procedure manuals, and fostering ownership and teamwork for completing daily tasks. She located free software that required fewer key strokes, implemented short-

cut keys, and created faster methods for sending and receiving email for Evidence staff. The evidence logging backlog has been reduced from 6-8 weeks, down to 10 days; all while encouraging a team concept that had not previously existed. She also worked with ITS to develop a subpoena website so law enforcement can quickly identify when they are required to be in court. Kevin Krienke, Commander, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) – Kevin was awarded the Wellness Leadership award for modeling a healthy lifestyle for employees. He is described as being a positive influence and encourages others to continually push themselves to new limits. He routinely competes in obstacle races, rides his bike and runs in competition races. In 2014, Kevin decided to reach beyond the tactical medic team to improve employee fitness. He formed the Williamson County EMS Fitness Group. This is a voluntary peer support group that encourages each other during weekly workouts and quarterly fitness assessments. The group has grown to include local businesses that want to support improving first responder wellness. Since inception, the group has collectively lost weight and drastically improved individual fitness levels. Kevin’s ongoing efforts are not only leading wellness initiatives, but fostering community involvement.

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San Gabriel Women’s Club Donates Across Georgetown The San Gabriel Women’s

GARW Committee Chair Amanda Eisner, Morgan Oliver, Caylee Kidwell, and mom Julie Kidwell.

GARW 2015 Scholarships Four exceptional young women from Georgetown received a $1000 Audrey McDonald scholarship for continuing education at the June 17 Georgetown Area Republican Women (GARW) luncheon. Sarah Tobin received the award for East View High School (will attend Texas Tech), and Georgetown High School awardees were Abbie Johnson (will attend Texas A&M), Caylee Kidwell and Morgan Oliver. Each year GARW provides two to four scholarships to deserving young women from local high schools. The organization

sponsors several fund-raisers throughout the year to benefit these scholarships. Ms. Kidwell and Ms. Oliver attended the luncheon and discussed their educational goals. Ms. Kidwell plans to study business administration at Northwestern State University, and Ms. Oliver will attend Texas A&M to study Health and Human Performance. The application process begins in the Fall and is open to young women who will be graduating seniors in Florence, Jarrell and Georgetown. Each scholarship hopeful must complete a questionnaire, an essay,

and an interview with the scholarship committee. Winning criteria include commitment to service, personal philosophy, and educational plans. Namesake Audrey McDonald has been a founder and ardent supporter of many Georgetown civic organizations. She is a past director of the GARW as well as Kiwanis of Sun City, and the Williamson County Republicans. She has represented her party and her state at five Presidential conventions and continues to participate in political and community projects.

Club presented checks to eight local non-profits June 19 after another successful “Fat Tuesday” fundraiser by the organization. President Nancy Snead, on behalf of the group, contributed a total of $6500 to the Williamson County Child Advocacy Center, Backpack Buddies, Hope Alliance, the BiG capital campaign, Faith in Action, The Nest, Meals on Wheels (WBCO), and Georgetown Swims (Parks & Rec). For the past eight years, after a day of serious

bridge, games, food and raffles, the Club members have met to discuss and decide how they will dole out their proceeds. This year, in addition to the agency donations, they also provided a $1000 scholarship to Georgetown and East View High Schools. This years winners were Riley Seah and Amanda Nash. Members cook all the food on the day, create prize baskets, sell tickets and most participate in the big day of games. Snead says, “We started out with

luncheons and style shows but our games day has been so successful, it’s now our single big fundraising day and we’re very pleased to be able to support so many good causes here in Georgetown.”

Front row: Women’s Club President Nancy Snead, WCCAC Exec Dir Monica Benoit-Beatty, Brookwood in Georgetown Rusty and Becky Caplen & Jennie Hollander • Middle: Georgetown Swims Jean Houck, Meals on Wheels Director Marla Miller. Top: Hope Alliance Nancy Bowman, The Nest Coordinator Bebe Johnson

Must be Shark Week Aidan (9) and Trevor Suggs (6) of Avery Ranch pulled in their first fish (with a little help from mom, Cassie) and were astonished to find a 5-foot bull shark on the end of the line! Vacationing off the coast of Sargent in the Gulf of Mexico, a fisherman nearby saw some action on one of his poles and waved the boys over. The expert angler happened to have been tagging sharks for 20 years and shared some details with the boys about their catch, including its reputation for being one of the most dangerous animals on the planet. Mom Cassie said “It was a wonderful teachable moment; so amazing to see such an animal—and its teeth— up close.” Mom added, since they threw the shark back after their photo op, they were definitely done swimming for the day!

THE ADVOCATE  JUNE 30, 2015

GEORGETOWN

Landy Warren to Run for Commissioner

Round Rock banker and businessman, Landy Warren today announced his campaign for Williamson County Commissioner, Precinct 1. Warren currently represents the County on the Lone Star Regional Water Authority, where he serves as President of the Board. Precinct 1 is an “open seat.” The incumbent Commissioner, Lisa Birkman, has announced she will retire from the Court at the end of this term. Warren will be a candidate in the Republican Primary to be held in March, 2016. “I am eager to apply the values of free enterprise, honesty, fiscal responsibility and transparency that have served me well in the private sector.” said Warren. “Our County is growing at a rapid pace,” said Warren. “We have one chance

to do this right or we will be paying a high price for decades to come. I am dedicated to make sure we get it right.” Warren was the first Chairman of Momentum, the economic development partnership between the Round Rock Chamber and the City of Round Rock, which has produced billions of dollars in economic impact to the area. Warren is dedicated to helping others. As President of the Board, he recruited businesses to support the Partners in Education Advisory Council. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Round Rock Area Serving Center, which operates a local food pantry, and Chairman of the Board of the St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center. Warren is a Past Chair of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce and was President of the Rotary Club of Round Rock. The Chamber of Commerce named Warren “Citizen of the Year” in 2008. Landy and his wife, Lori, have been married 27 years, and they attend St. Richards Episcopal Church in Round Rock. They have two children, Emily and Landy II.

Legislative Wrap-up with Rep. Farney Dr. Marsha Farney, Texas House District 20 says, “It was a very good session and we did a lot of good. I’m very pleased to have been put on different committees, especially as a sophomore. I was able to participate in a lot of things that are critical for the State.” Farney had 49 bills go to the Governor’s desk, 19 of which, she was the primary author or sponsor, and six were for local economic development. First in her mind was the most talked about bill; HB 2053 Colton’s Law, which simply put, will save lives. It is specifically designed to empower Child Protective Services and law enforcement to communicate directly so they can share all the data that goes into the Child Safety Check Alert List. It passed the house 144-0, had no opposition in the Senate, and the governor himself signed it. Farney says, “It was in honor of Colton and on behalf of all the kids in the system who are subject to investigations.” CPS received $3 million in funding to train workers and make sure they are prepared to help children. HB 2794 is a very timely bill dealing with Identity

Abuse. Many are aware of identity theft, but a grandparent in Sun City approached Dr. Farney because her granddaughter, Faith Pennington was not given access to her own birth certificate. Faith turned 19 and had never been “on the grid” due to her lack of any identifcation. She had no vaccinations, had never seen a doctor, never attended public school; couldn’t get a job or bank account, or apply to college, and the list went on. House Bill 2794 provides misdemeanor penalties for the willful denial of a person’s rights as an American and as a Texan, even from a wellintentioned parent. Rep. Farney considered the situation, did some research, and found more than 3000 documented cases of identity denial across the country. Dr. Farney built upon her previous work with Personal Financial Literacy courses. HB 3987 allows schools to build relationships with local financial institutions where kids can start savings and college savings. They will learn about interest while they are earning it.” Rep. Farney was proud to support the $209.4 bil-

lion budget, which is well beneath the spending cap, our spending increased less than 2% and our Rainy Day Fund has $11 billion—a testament to Texas’ fiscal responsibility. Incidentally, Forbes magazine recently listed Texas as the #1 state in the country to live. An increase of $840 million for Border Security addressed a top citizen concern. More money was necessary due to a lack of federal response for the state, so Texas can hire 50 Troopers this year. Rep Farney’s passion for education is well known. She was pleased this session saw $1.5 billion added to education programs. Among the beneficiaries are the teacher retirement health care plan, and voluntary Pre-K programs for four-year-olds who are homeless, in foster care, a child of an active duty military member, are not native English speakers, or they are eligible for free/reduced lunches. There will also be a mathematics training academy for K-3 teachers to make sure their foundations in math are solid. Legislators ended diversions of money for transportation projects, which will enable full funding of planned projects and

completion of those in progress. Senate Bill 1 provides Tax Relief by way of an increased Homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000 beginning this year. This will return $1.24 billion to taxpayers, a November amendment to the Constitution that voters will decide. House Bill 32 reduced the rate of franchise taxes 25%, which is a substantial benefit to business owners who are creating jobs and stiumulating the economy. On a simpler note, thanks to Gene Jantzen and proud legislators, the Cowboy Hat is now the official State head-wear of Texas. Rep. Farney says, “It was fun to celebrate our history and when I researched it, it is true around the world and in history and film that the cowboy hat is a very iconic emblem of Texas.” Rep Farney remains accessible to all citizens and wants everyone to know that she is accountable, and considers the residents of District 20 her partners. “I appreciate the support of my communities, I respect them and it means a lot that they know we always try to listen to their concerns.” MarshaFarney.com

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Has Leadership Changed Since 1776? Q&A with Ben Daniel

As we approach Independence Day, and the starting line of the 2016 political season (or are we already mid-race?), the Advocate sat down with Ben Daniel, a Georgetown resident and expert in Professional

e m o H

Development. He shared thoughts on leadership and the freedom we have (and should exercise) to choose our leaders. Daniel is a pastor and a business owner with a love of ministry, politics and commerce, so he has a holistic

approach to success and management. What do you believe makes a good leader? Leadership can be an empirical thing. Simply put, it’s the nature of the person who puts good before evil. There is such hate and

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evil in the world, it’s important to remember that so we can reject the idea that all motivational people are actually leaders. Pol Pot motivated people to do things, but he didn’t accomplish anything good. The core of leadership is not always accomplishment or the sphere of influence; it’s about the good that a person brought about. How do you define ethics? Everyone has a different definition of it. For me, it’s the principles that I live by. A good leader has to lead himself first. The Bible says God’s kingdom is inside of us, so when we allow His kingdom and all its goodness to rule us as individuals, that precedes negative influences, emotions and actions. It follows, then, that we do not respond and react with emotion; we are led from within. That’s leadership. How do you know when you have found a good leader? A true leader leads us to a place where good overcomes evil; or wants to. In business, or ministry or politics, we can look at history and see countless examples of people who accomplished things out of selfish endeavors. We need to ask ourselves if our authority figures are raising up the whole group, or demonstrating some kind of self-serving character.

Any objective that suppresses Group A to raise up Group B is not leadership. So I always ask myself, “Is this leader going to take the city/ state/country to a place where we are better?” How do you recognize or look for a leader? I ask questions that reveal to me what I need to see. If leader is humble, it reveals a lot about them. When leaders are candid about failures they’ve faced—all of us hide our failures, but I likely don’t have anything in common with their successes—we’re all the same in that we’ve all messed up and failed. What about local leaders? I usually ask about their family or coworkers to learn about their lives. It’s not so much about policy or what we agree with, I want to know what kind of person the person is. I ask them how they resolve conflict. It helps to understand the person’s values and priorities. Do our founding principles still apply? The Constitution was supposed to be adaptable based on change and progress, but the core is still written in stone. For a human to feel and experience

this world, these rights have to be appreciated, otherwise we are merely enslaving the spirit. Natural rights come from God, and He doesn’t change His mind. He doesn’t give a word and relent. Just think about the Declaration of Independence. If our government becomes heavy handed, not only do you have a right but a responsibility to do something. If I became a protester, I could be labeled a fanatic or demonized somehow when, in fact, that is my job. The bottom line can be summed up in the Lincoln time line. He failed so many times but it was how he responded that sets the example. That’s the leader I want. Ben is the founder of “Leaderquip,” a firm dedicated to the development and equipping of leaders in ministry, business and politics to bring the influence of biblical principles to their respected arenas.

THE ADVOCATE  JUNE 30, 2015

COMMUNITY

Parades, Food, Rides, Fireworks & Elvis! —Sertoma July 4th expects up to 5,000 attendees to visit the park throughout the day. That number of course will grow, likely by a factor of ten as day turns to dusk and tens of thousands— from every parking lot, hilltop, tall building and rise from the San Gabriel River to Sun City—all focus on the Fabulous Fireworks Finale provided by Gary Kovar Miss Georgetown 2014 Kalina Stokes and her court before last year’s parade. of G.W. Pyro in booths, entertainers, a Jarrell. he Sertoma Club of “hometown” parade of Sertoma is more than Georgetown is hosting the bikes and wagons, anjust a one-day-a-year party 32nd Annual 4th of July tique autos, contests and planner. The chapter was festivities at San Gabriel plenty of food. All of the chartered in Georgetown Park on Saturday. The day events are free and the club in 1979, and dedicated to will include dozens of

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the “service of mankind” (sertoma.org). Their main philanthropy is speech and hearing wellness and they raise money annually to support speech programs at both Georgetown high schools, as well as donating technical devices in service to the students. Their passion and commitment results in hearing aids for people in need, and in one case they raised money to pay the costs for a cochlear implant for a four year old patient who makes her mommy happy every time she calls her name. These seemingly unrelated facts about Sertoma connect very nicely in the form of one person; Roy Holliday, and how he came to be in the club. Roy moved here from Houston in 1979, one of the first things he did was apply to be a member of the local Sertoma chapter. As he was leaving the interview, he “noticed some fellas in a pickup truck putting up flags everywhere.” He realized how lucky he was to be in a place with so many community-minded people who cared about giving back and he loves anything that shows patriotism. He was surprised and pleased to find out that the men in the truck were Sertoma

folks who were putting up flags at businesses around town was one of their scholarship revenue generators…he had definitely found his niche. At that time, Georgetown had no official celebration or fireworks and Roy was amazed, having grown up in a small West-Texas town where Independence Day had been a week-long celebration. Worse, now there was only one day off to enjoy it and he and his family drove around all of Georgetown to find fireworks only to be disappointed. He took a look at San Gabriel Park and realized that we had this big, beautiful park and no one was using it. He went to the Sertoma club in 1982 with a plan, handed them three legal sheets full of ideas and on July 4, 1983 they had their first celebration. It was small, but everyone agreed it was a success and wanted to work even harder for the next one. Some told him to be happy if the town would support and attend for ten years. He decided he wanted 25, so celebrating the 30th is a big milestone for Roy and the club. The 2015 Entertainment Chair is JJ Parker who says, “Anyone in town is welcome to volunteer and

help out and remember to keep a few dollars in your pocket for roaming Sertoma members. We are happy to take contributions for those spectacular fireworks!” July 4th is always going to be a hot day, so volunteer reinforcements are welcome. But Parker does remind us that it’s just one park, and a lot of people, so spectators should be patient when trying to get home. “Even though the population grows tremendously for a day, Georgetown still has a small town feel and we can be courteous.” The schedule of events can be found on Facebook at Georgetown Sertoma Club. Visitors can look forward to music all day, rides, plenty of food, maybe even a dance off on the gazebo stage for the kids. The entertainment finale will be worth waiting for; Georgetown favorites Roland Waits and his band, the Georgetown Pipe and Drums, and finally Mike Elliott as Elvis Presley to usher in the fireworks. Fireworks will be lit on the softball field—something to keep in mind when choosing your viewing spot and how much noise you enjoy!

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COMMUNITY

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The auction will include themed gift baskets—spa, entertainment, food—and the big prize, autographed Packers memorabilia, and tickets to an NFL game with a travel voucher to get to Green Bay donated by Doug Townsend of Allstate Insurance. Crosby says the money will go toward purchasing goods for the kids in The Locker Program. They provide hygiene items, clothing and school supplies, but since the kids are in charge, they also provide for special moments in teens’ lives. This year The Locker helped students who couldn’t afford the fees for various things, including 51 caps and gowns, 22 senior picture packages, and 62 field day tickets. Tickets are $50 and attendance is limited. RSVP to CrosbyTailgate@gmail.com or donate directly at TheLocker.info.

is hosting the third annual Camp Crosby Tailgate Party to raise money for operations and supplies for the student-run organization. This event is “just for the grownups,” says The Locker founder Karen Crosby, “but it is definitely all about family. We want people to come hang out with our family!” Crosby’s family includes Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby, who will again make an appearance to visit with guests, provide the assist for games and auction winners, and promote the message and mission of The Locker. The Crosbys always wanted to have a camp for kids and board members suggested making a fundraiser for the event. The Crosby kids wanted something casual and fun (just like them), so the Tailgate party was born and guests are encouraged to dress cute or wear their favorite jerseys. Party attractions include a silent auction, live music by local musicians Brett and Brian McMahon, Top: Mason Crosby, auctioneer. Bottom: Founder Karen games, and “The Snow Cone Guy,” famous for his natural and Crosby gets a big hug from her sons, Quinn Barfield and custom flavors. Rees Crosby.

Future Farmers ~ Future Leaders S

everal Texas Future Farmers of America visited Georgetown this week as part of an eight-day, intensive leadership development program. This first phase of a year-long project is designed to expose them to practical applications and conceptual information on making positive community change. Each student will choose a community service and will be in training with executive and legislative leadership to execute the year-long project. Coach Tyler Coch says “It can be compared to a college senior thesis or a younger person’s Eagle Scout project.” Coch, a former Marine, is the program director who completed the ten-year development on their curriculum in 2012. The program is a collaborative effort with the Texas FFA, Ford Motor ComTop: Ford Leadership Coaches Lauren Tyce, Capt pany, and Texas Ford Dealers. (USMC) Bryan Tyce, and Tyler Coch. Bottom: The Coaches’ job is to expose these Mentors State Board of Education Tom Maynard high school seniors to the channels avail- joins Rep Marsha Farney to discuss their trip to the able to them and to make sure they utilize Capitol and pending visit with Judge Dan Gattis. those connections throughout the year; e.g., knowing which city department to call facilitate that process.” The students have already been in FFA for a specific permit. and they have an understanding of the The students were chosen based on a concepts, but now we’re giving them the values-based questionnaire, an interview, tools to execute. “We bring in people from and a day-long competition with business, the outside so it’s not just about farming, industry, agriculture and education repreit’s about leadership on a large scale and sentatives. The scope of the projects uses breaking it down into skill sets to teach an agricultural foundation, but engages stuthese scholars. That’s what makes us indents in a multi-faceted leadership program novative!” As an example, Coch says, their to create sustainable change of any kind. Houston group raised money, designed and “What sets us apart,” Coch says of the built an outdoor learning facility for FFA. Ford Leadership Scholars program, “is that They learned everything from permitting to we expect to see at the end of one year, a plats to budgeting. It’s not easy to navigate, sustainable successful community service but it’s worthwhile at the earliest possible project. We don’t just talk about giving level. By the time these kids get to college back; we want to see it happen. That’s and their first job, they will already know why this week is so important because how to contribute. we expose them to the advocates who can

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Make sure your customers know how to find you! Business Card Ads • $40 per issue 512-746-4545 PASTOR, FROM PAGE 1 first thing June 8. “It feels like a whirlwind but I love this community already. We love our church family and Georgetown is a small community with all the benefits of a town where you can be in the country in two minutes, but still have the feel of a big city without the downsides.” The Ueckerts have three kids; Weston (20), Maelyn (18) and Caden, a rising freshman at Georgetown High School. Pastor Ueckert says people are curious about what the church will be like under his leadership. He explains that, “It’s a lot like a marriage. You can’t

start a relationship expecting to do things like you’ve always done. We will grow together.” One of the Pastor’s personal passions is missions and FBC is rife with them; four just in the next month, so he is very excited to be a part of that tradition. He is also looking forward to the church’s 150th anniversary next year, although he seems delighted to have a capable staff to help with such a profound event. “While we are all getting to know each other, I plan to faithfully bring strong Biblical teaching to the church until we figure out our future together. You can’t go wrong bringing

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people the message of Christ. I hope my experience brings new flavor or enhancement to the experience for Georgetown.” Giving credit to the church staff, “They were without a pastor for 16 months, and I applaud their careful and deliberate process.” FBC considered approximately 130 candidates during the search period, and all are very pleased and proud to have found what they believe is the right man for the job. It seems they were right. Pastor Ueckert decided, at the age of 14, that his understanding of the Bible was leading him to the ministry. Being told by a “very

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wise youth pastor that I needed to become a person who knows and follows Jesus Christ first. Then, if God wants me to be a pastor, I’ll be in the right place at the right time.” He began his pastoral work as a freshman in college and has never looked back. Pastor Ueckert welcomes all to First Baptist to visit the church, the people, and enjoy the excitement of what could be a great building block of faith. “If not us, we just want to help people to find a church home somewhere.” FBC members at 2014 First Serves; a very large community service project during which church members help via dozens of projects around Georgetown.

JUNE 30, 2015  THE ADVOCATE

JARRELL

Community Food Pantry Sharing Healthcare at the CornFest Jarrell Funds Needed For Food

Jarrell’s Dr. Loyce Graham participated in the Holland Corn Fest parade on June 21. Dr. Graham is working to spread the word in local communities about her Direct Care medical practice and Juice Plus nutritional supplements. For more information, call her at 512-9601770 or visit YourPersonalMD.net

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In January, the Advocate featured the new food pantry in the works for Jarrell. The Outreach Committee at Jarrell United Methodist Church was in the process of trying to qualify as a partner of the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB). The budding Jarrell Community Food Pantry served at least 25 families a month in January, February and March on their own to achieve that goal. The partnership with CAFB allowed the Pantry to serve 67 households with 287 individuals in April, and 64 households of 259 individuals in May. Priscilla King indicates numbers for June are on track to be even higher. The Pantry is operated out of the portable building to the north of the JUMC the group moved into in February. The walls are lined with shelves to hold hundreds of cans of

food they go through on a monthly basis. In May, the group added a commercial refrigerator won at a training session at CAFB. The Pantry is open to the public the 2nd and 4th Sundays from Noon to 2 pm. The partnership with CAFB allows the Outreach Committee to purchase food at a discounted price. For instance, a case of 24 cans of green beans only costs the group $1.00, and a case of 24 cans of corn $1.25. Jarrell residents and the surrounding community have always been helpful and very supportive with food donations, but monetary donations will make a bigger impact on the Jarrell Community Food Pantry due to the purchasing power of the CAFB. Still, food donations are always welcome and appreciated. To raise the funds to fill the coffers for future purchases, the Pantry will be holding a Reverse Drawing and Auction on

Saturday, July 18th at the Jarrell American Legion. The BBQ dinner, catered by Riders BBQ & Hot Sausage, begins at 6 PM. Doors open 5:30 PM. Tickets are $100 each and include a BBQ dinner for two and one ticket for the reverse raffle. Second chance tickets will be available at the door for $25. Child plates at the door for $12 each. Desserts, homemade by members of the JUMC congregation, will be sold separately. In addition to the raffle, attendees will also have an opportunity to support by bidding on any of the live or silent auction items. Only 200 tickets will be sold to attend and for a chance to win: First place $1250 Visa Gift Card, second place $750 Visa Gift Card and third place $250 Visa Gift Card. Contact Brenda Cooper at 512-9175670, or send a message on FB.

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THE ADVOCATE  JUNE 30, 2015

LIFESTYLE

Building Better Brains by Jim Kelley

Brain Buster: Fear is our subject matter. It has the capacity to damage almost every body system. That seems surprising since it is a survival tool. Fear is designed to shift every body system to respond to an existing threat. It actually interferes with thought processing since a fear response may demand an immediate action, not a well considered response. The flood of hormones in the fear response cycle forces the cognitive aspects of the brain to disconnect in order to clear the way for a response to the threat. When you see a rattlesnake about to bite, leaving the threat area is a primary consideration and does not need to be cluttered with extra thought. However, when an individual lives in fear, the continuous state of vigilance can actually threaten the person in its own way. Cholines are produced in several body regions as a response to threat. They in-

crease heart rate and blood pressure as well as obstruct cognitive processes, yielding the commonly observed “deer in the headlights” phenomenon. Long-term exposure has even more incapacitating effects. Your brain is designed to tolerate short-term exposures of these cholines secreted due to immediate threat, however, in our civilized societies we create new fears in our minds and focus on them with the same intensity as a threat to our life. One of the areas that these hormones are generated is located near the bottom and toward the middle of the brain. This puts it next to structures that are crucial for longterm memory storage and retrieval such as the hippocampus. The hippocampus is been observed to shrink and wither away. Long-term exposure can also change the genes of our body to produce the organic chemistry we need to respond to threats as opposed to having a focus for healing and body construction. Every tissue in the body can be damaged by the stress. It affects the heart and cardiovascular system, and effects digestive system, it affects our skin, and it affects our brains. We see an evidence of this in Jesus Christ as he

prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. The gospel writer tells Luke 22:44 And being in an agony [of mind], He prayed [all the] more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground. The medical community tells us of a condition when the body actually has blood in the sweat. It is a condition of severe stress from excruciating fear, depression, or grief that causes the tiny blood vessels of the sweat glands to rupture and color the sweat with the blood of the individual. It is no accident that Luke was the gospel writer was keen to report this matter, being a physician. Brain nutrition: The most horrific area of malnutrition for brain concerns may be the absence of omega-3 fatty acids in our diet. The most important of these fatty acids is Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA. The entire body has areas that need this particular fatty acid but the need is extremely concentrated in the brain. It is the main component of synapses and the vital myelin sheath of the brain. The trans fat that is found throughout our food supply dramatically inhibits the absorption of this nutrient. Pregnant women should be sure to consume sufficient amounts of all fatty

acids especially DHA. The fetal brain may grow as many as 250,000 nerve cells each minute to reach the total of the hundred billion neurons. Research has shown 50 percent of an infant’s calorie intake must be from fat and the best source of his breast milk. The danger from trans fats that a nursing mother has consumed is that it is passed to that nursing infant, obstructing critical DHA. Infants fed normal breast milk compared to formula show that the breast fed child has better visual acuity, higher IQ, and much less frequent brain disorders in later life. Research has found that the American DHAdeprived diet is sufficient to alter the brain’s membrane function and lead to the electrical and chemical malfunctions and neurotransmitter defect. It is also a contributing factor to the effects of autism, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis, and other degenerative disorders. Studies have shown that dramatic increases in the DHA content of an individual’s diet help improve function in all of these conditions. Magnesium: The brain gets a wonderful benefit from magnesium. This is not new information for doctors since it is used

to slow runaway brain functions and calm an anxious brain. It is quickly processed in the body, so regularly taking dosages at meals is a recognized strategy. It is easy to find your dosing limit in that the bowels will become loose. If that happens simply remove one dose per day. You need magnesium for strong bones and teeth, a healthy immune system, blood sugar regulation, heart function, energy metabolism, nerve and muscle function, and protein synthesis. Magnesium also helps regulate the levels of various other vitamins and minerals in your blood. Food sources of magnesium include dark green leafy vegetables, avocados, dried apricots, bananas, nuts, seeds, beans, peas, whole grains and soy. Meat, milk and hard water also contain some magnesium. Magnesium supplements come in combinations with other substances; i.e., magnesium citramate, magnesium ascorbate, magnesium malate, or magnesium taurate. Avoid magnesium oxide as it is designed to be a laxative.

Chelating: Citramate, malate and ascorbate all are effective for removing heavy metals in the body like aluminum. Taurine is an amino acid that will assist the absorption of magnesium and it provides a calming effect on the central nervous system. Next issue we will continue this discussion with a look at combating the effects of fear through EEG Neurofeedback and the Christian Lifestyle. Jim Kelley is an ordained minister using research and developing EEG technologies to augment an intense form of pastoral care designed to address the complete person. After his first pastorate in 1972, he left traditional pastoral care to search out the causes and solutions for moral mental, spiritual and physical failures so common in the church. He is certified as a practitioner and trainer in the field of neurofeedback and is certified as a quantitative EEG technologist. Contact Jim at The Center For Power-Filled Living at 512-869-0936 or visit ChristNeuro.org.

150 Area Leaders are “Going to Jail” for MDA

Going to jail was never one of my goals in life and fundraising has never been my expertise. I am going to be locked up on July 8 and need some of you to help “bail me out”! I am Roger Thompson, the Police Chief of The City of Jarrell. Having noted that, I am going to be “locked-up” for an important Muscular Dystrophy Association fund raiser in Georgetown. This Lock-Up will raise money from “bail” donations to send local children to the MDA Summer Camp. MDA funds fight horrible muscle diseases. This fundraiser is designed to bring a smile and a fun time to children who fight the disease by sending them to that camp. Some of you kind folks would pay to keep me locked-up for a while, but I have to warn you that I will not suffer too much because the gracious folks at

Wildfire will be donating space and food for the “jail”. I plan to gain more weight before I leave. If you have never eaten at Wildfire before then you need to eat there at least once in your life. It provides a 5 star menu. Thus, it is in your interest to donate to MDA so that I don’t enjoy the food too much. As I warned MDA, I am a terrible fund raiser but they are going to feed me anyway. The folks at Jarrell and Sonterra have had a challenging year, but are of good heart. I hope you can see it in your heart to help. Part of fund raising requires collecting funds. I don’t think police should be taking money from people so I recommend if you are going to donate, consider writing a check made payable to MDA. I am asking the ADVOCATE

group to help audit my “bail collections,” so you know the funds are going to kids through MDA. Help the kids if you can, and may God bless you whether you can help or not. WHO: More than 150 business and civic leaders from throughout the Georgetown area, as well as local goodwill ambassadors for the MDA. WHAT: Local community leaders will turn themselves in and be behind bars as their friends and business associates post “bail” to get them released. It’s all part of a fun and philanthropic effort to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the people it serves in greater Georgetown. WHEN:July 8, 2015, 11am–2pm WHERE: Wildfire, 812 S Austin Ave, Georgetown, TX

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JUNE 30, 2015  THE ADVOCATE

FAITH

The 300 by Butch Horton

What an incredibly humbling opportunity it is to have this avenue of sharing God’s Word with all of you through the writing of this article. I am so very grateful for all of you who have called or texted to mention how this writing has touched you. I don’t know how many times while walking through the local grocery store I’ve had conversations referring to this column. Isn’t it amazing to think that God would use someone like you or I for such a purpose as this? When I consider God’s plan to use the church for the spreading of the gospel and how subject that plan is to the frailty of our human weaknesses, it compels me to do my very best for the Lord. You and I can only imagine the thoughts that went through the mind of the disciples as Jesus called them to come follow Him in Matthew 4:19 (NIV) when he called to them, saying, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and

I will make you fishers of men.” That is exactly how I see the purpose in all that we do at Open Road Biker Church. Everything we do should be a means by which to reach someone with the gospel Jesus Christ. This Holy Spirit led practice of fishing for men has recently come to light in many ways. Within the last week I’ve had contact with people I’ve never met, through the avenues of Facebook, phone calls, text and email. It is clear to me that these are all fish hooks in the water - simple contact points, linked directly to my cell phone, iPad or PC. Can it get any easier to share the love of Jesus with the world? I marvel at the fact that words spoken into a cell phone, typed into a text or email could be the catalyst through which God will bring someone into the Kingdom. My Friends, thank you for reading this article. May the Lord use it for His glory! Butch Horton is the Senior Pastor at Open Road Biker Church, located on the IH-35 access road between Georgetown and Jarrell. Questions or concerns can directed to Butch on his cell phone at 512-966-8817 or by email at notetobutch@gmail. com. MyBikerChurch.com

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THE ADVOCATE  JUNE 30, 2015

Are you, or is someone you love, struggling?

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Improving Impulse-Control, Focus & Attention In November 2012, EEG Biofeedback (Neurofeedback) was endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as a “Level 1 - Best Support” intervention for Attention & Hyperactivity Behaviors. The AAP also recognizes Neurofeedback as effective as medication for ADHD.

Mediating Cognitive Decline & Memory Just as physical exercise benefits the body, Neurofeedback helps keep the mind fit and resilient; improving memory, recall & cognitive dexterity in older individuals, effectively “putting the brakes on” cognitive decline.

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JUNE 30, 2015  THE ADVOCATE

PUBLISHER’S FORUM

You Have Just Entered The Twilight Zone by Mike Payne

A lot is happening in our country. Everything from what Anton Scalia calls “jiggery-pokery” (which is a British term for deceitful or dishonest behavior) by his colleagues on the United States Supreme Court to Black Panther Maurice Heath, aka King Samir Shabazz calling for the killing of all whites— all while the White House glows a sickening iridescence of the colors that loudly proclaim it is no longer the “people’s house.” I suppose we already knew that however, since this President recently reminded someone in attendance at a White House event that they were “in his house.” Honestly, I keep expecting to see Rod Serling sucking on that unfiltered Camel cigarette, because surely this is a plot from an episode of the Twilight Zone. In all seriousness, after this series of enormous setbacks in defiance to the desires of the majority of Americans on the issues of Obamacare and homosexual marriage this week, the question really is, what are we to do? How do we respond to a schizophrenic black man who calls himself King Alakazam, or something to that effect, and stands on a street corner in Charleston, babbling incoherencies about “the white man” like a strung-out street thug? How do we respond to a Commander in Chief who no longer even tries to hide his disdain for the will of the American people? To be preachy, (if it’s not time to be preachy now, it never will be) the Bible in 2 Timothy clearly says:

3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with diverse lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. So, if we find ourselves surprised by these happenings, I guess we’re the ones that should be asking ourselves just why? Either we believe it or we don’t. The more I study the Word of God, the more that is revealed to me, not so much through divine instruction, as simple understanding of the clearly discernible words penned some 2000 years ago, specifically for our reproof and correction. Folks, it’s time we took this book “at its word.” We are living in the time that the Bible speaks of when good will be taken for evil, and evil will be taken for good. What to do? Pray. For what? 2 Chronicles 7 - If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land. It’s time to choose, or as we like to say, “time to fish or cut bait.” Joshua 24:15 says, …choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose and ye dwell, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. It’s not only all we can do, it’s all we should do. God is in control. He will take care of the rest!

OPINION/EDITORIAL Now is Not the Time to Block Defense Funding Congressman John Carter (R-31)

It is time for the White House and Senate Democrats to stop playing politics with our defense budget and fund our Military. Recently, Senate Democrats backed their threats to block appropriations bills, therefore denying funding for the brave men and women who protect our great nation. Senate Minority Leader

Harry Reid is leading this foolish stunt to wrest billions more for their failed social welfare programs and a wasteful bureaucracy. For the security of our nation, I challenge them to reconsider their motivations. Our world is more dangerous, and the threats to our national security have increased with the rise of ISIS, Russia’s attacks on democracy in Eastern Europe, Iran’s continued press towards developing a nuclear weapon, and an increase in China’s cyber attacks. Our nation’s security must be a top priority, yet the minority in the Senate along with President Obama, believe the time is right to alert our adversaries that we are not serious about defense and military strength by not funding our military. In the House, we are fighting to strengthen our national security, and to protect our military. My

colleagues and I recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act and a Defense Appropriations Bill. These measures provide the military with everything they asked of us as they take the fight to our enemies. My colleagues and I fully appreciate how important these measures are to our military and the men and women we send into combat. I commend the Senate for passing their version of NDAA, and I strongly urge President Obama to sign it when it reaches his desk, but without Defense Appropriations, sequestration kicks in, and our military suffers. Sequestration could force the Army to increase troop reductions by an additional 25,000 soldiers next year alone. My colleagues and I in the House want to preserve those jobs. Additionally, without passing the defense appropriations bill, the Army would be forced to cut services from Fort

Hood’s budget, resulting in the closing and/or reduction in dining room facilities, and family and childcare services, in addition to job cuts in the civilian workforce. This would have a devastating impact on the central Texas economy, let alone the lives of our friends and neighbors working at Ft. Hood. Yet Senate Democrats continue to block votes on any spending bills, including the critical Housepassed defense bill. If Senator Reid derails efforts to pass defense appropriations in the Senate, or the White House vetoes final versions of this bill, they will put the security of our nation at risk. Worse yet, they will place the military in a position where it must send our brave warriors into combat without the resources they need to prevail. As a fiscal conservative, I welcome a thoughtful dialogue about reducing federal spending. But targeting

the brave men and women of our military is the wrong approach. If they’re successful, the consequence of the White House and Senate Democrat’s political games is a weakened American position around the globe and reduced national security at home. For the preservation of our way of life and the safety of our children, we cannot allow that to come

to pass. Rep. John Carter represents Texas District 31, which includes Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the free world. He serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, is on the Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and Science and the Defense Subcommittee.

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From left are Andres Delgado, Rowe, Preston Rychetsky, Sarah Bohac, Reggie Caldwell, Dayton Volek, Simon Niemtschk, Justin Paris, Liam Plybon, and Gavin Hadley. (Photo by Tim Crow) felt like a second home,” Preston Rychetsky said about the study sessions. “It didn’t matter if it was sunny or cloudy outside, it was always super comfy at Mrs. Rowe’s.” Dayton Volek said the preparation and skills he learned are valuable tools he will take with him long after high school. “You learn a lot of things like how to study and how to focus and how

to persevere that you don’t learn in regular classes,” Volek said. “We are going to need these skills for the next step whether it’s college or a job.” For Reggie Caldwell, watching every member of the team receive a medal at state competition is what he will remember the most. “Seeing everyone being successful in their own categories was exciting to watch, Caldwell said. “The

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whole team getting medals, that was a really happy moment for me.” Rowe said her favorite was at State competition when the top three teams were announced. “We were holding hands at our table,” Rowe said. “When the silver medal team was announced as John Paul II, there was a collective gasp from around the room. We had won the gold medal not just for ourselves, but for all the other teams who have competed against John Paul II.” Superintendent Jerry Vaughn praised the team’s efforts and complimented them on a job well done. “These students and Mrs. Rowe represented Taylor ISD well,” Vaughn commented. “We thank them and congratulate them on their success. We are very proud of our Taylor High School Academic Decathlon team.” While several members of the team graduated this year, Simon Niemtschk, Dayton Volek and Sarah Bohac will return next year to carry on the tradition. The theme for 2015 - 2016 is India, and they are already preparing themselves for the first round of competition.

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JUNE 30, 2015  THE ADVOCATE