Houston County Living Fall 2021

ON THE COVER: Bonnie Wallace, ''A Survivor''”

Local Shopping Map 2021-2022 Hunting Season

Fall Mum Secrets Matters of a Grave Nature

By Jan White

Music Mecca in the Making

By Chris Edwards

Issue 1 Fall 2021

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The way small town living should be.

From the Editor

FALL 2021

Home has been many places for me, Wyoming included, where the panoramic views are as plentiful as the pronghorn antelope.

This year alone, my family and I have been to Colorado and Florida, and we’ll be spending this Christmas in Tennessee. I have a lust for traveling. I want to see as much of this earth as I can before I’m called to my forever home.

In the meantime, the last place I’ll call home is Houston County. There’s something about the whippoorwill singing, as the sunset creates a halo over the pine trees, that leads me to believe that this is heaven on earth.

Say what you want about growing up in a small town, but this one, nestled in between the Neches and the Trinity Rivers, is home, sweet home. What’s not to love? The people are kind and familiar, there’s tacos and barbecue around every corner and my two little boys are safe in the hands of our school district. Nearly 18 months after the statewide shut down and Houston County is thriving more than I have seen in decades. New businesses are opening their doors, established businesses are revamping their store fronts and the population is growing overnight.

I’ve thought about Houston County Living magazine non-stop for nearly six months and here I am on the tail end, watching it all fall together. My objective is to really zero in on Houston County and what it has to offer longtime residents, as well as people consid-

ering planting their roots here. Our writers really dug deep to pull in some new content, and I learned something myself: Did you know that we have a Bible Garden at the First United Methodist Church? Because I did not, and I’ve lived here off and on for 31 years.

I’ve sought to bring you a breath of fresh air in the form of a publication, and I hope you’ll enjoy your time f lipping through the pages as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you.

My wanderlust may take me all over the world, in due time, but I’ll always be looking forward to that big ‘ol bump in the road when I hit that Houston County line. In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy clicks her red heels together and says, “There’s no place like home.” We’re all familiar with the movie scene and probably even more familiar with the feeling that comes along with it. There really is no place like being home in Houston County. No matter how far I travel, I’ll always put money on Los Ranchos having the best margaritas and argue that the sun doesn’t set prettier than it does when it sets over the Ritz Theatre sign with a backdrop of the downtown square.

Ashley Bankhead-Keenan

Letters to the Editor

Send letters to marketing@hccourier.com . Be sure to include your full name, city, state and phone number.

Houston County Living reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length.

Houston County Living is a part of the PCPC Family, a group of publications representing everything the pineywoods region of East Texas has to offer.

EASTTEXASNEWS.COM Houston County Living is published by the Houston County Courier and Polk County Publishing Co. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative.

4 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

HCL STAFF

Table of Contents

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Local

EDITOR

Ashley Bankhead-Keenan marketing@hccourier.com

PUBLISHER Kelli Barnes kelli@polkcountypublishing.com

ART DIRECTOR Emily Kubisch-Sabrsula

ADVERTISING SALES Elizabeth Guzman

WRITERS Alton Porter Chris Edwards

PHOTOGRAPHERS Alton Porter

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR....................................... PAGE 4 MEET THE STAFF................................................................ PAGE 6

government

BROADBAND IN EAST TEXAS.................................... PAGE 8

Local

eats

SCRUMPTIOUS FRIED PIES........................................ PAGE 12 CHILI FOR VETERANS................................................... PAGE 14 STESTI BREWING.............................................................. PAGE 16

music Local shopping Local

MUSIC MECCA............................................................. PAGE 17

EDITOR’S NOTE.................................................................. PAGE 19 EDITOR’S COLD WEATHER PICKS................. PAGE 20-21 HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE............................... PAGE 22-23 SHOPPING MAP............................................................ PAGE 24-25

Local

history

MATTERS OF GRAVE NATURE................................ PAGE 26

Outdoors

Jessica Rosalie

THROUGH A DEER’S EYES.......................................... PAGE 27 2021-2022 HUNTING SEASON.................................. PAGE 28 THEIR FIRST HUNTING TRIP.................................. PAGE 28

CONTRIBUTING STAFF

ANIMAL RESCUE.............................................................. PAGE 30

Carly Foster Jan White Mac Burns

Feature

story

A SURVIVOR’S TALE....................................................... PAGE 33

East Texas Tales

PINEYWOODS OUTLAW..................................................PAGE 37 Polk County Publishing Co. Alvin Holley, Owner 100 E Calhoun St. | P.O. Box 1726 Livingston, TX 77351 | (936) 327-4357

FALL MUM TIPS................................................................. PAGE 33 EVENT CALENDAR........................................................... PAGE 34 RELOCATION INFORMATION................................... PAGE 35 ADVERTISER INDEX....................................................... PAGE 40 HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING | 5

Meet the Staff

Ashley Bankhead-Keenan,

a magazine editor by trade and is seasoned in marketing/ advertising strategy. She likes to plan vacations before she has unpacked from the last and has an extensive collection of plants and chickens.

Eli zabeth Guzman,

a bilingual advertising representative, who is also the accountant, and front office manager; a versatile multitasker, to say the least. She’s allergic to cats but is the designated cat mom for CC (the office cat). She enjoys shopping for clothes and makeup and lives on iced coffee.

Emi l y Kubisch-Sabrsula, has too many letters in her name so they go

by Kubs. While usually behind a computer designing, as soon as she’s off work, it’s suspected they run off into the pineywoods to look for flowers, only to return when her spouse has turned the kitchen into a gourmet restaurant.

6 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

Chris Edwards,

writer/musician/ storyteller/ historian, lives deep in the pineywoods with his cats, typewriter and guitars. Although he says he is “beyond fortunate” to have had his work showcased in a variety of markets and publications, he recently had to own up to some harsh truths and began using Rogaine.

Jan White,

one of her favorite sayings is, “Grow where you’re planted.”

A relatively recent transplant to Crockett, Jan entertains herself by using friends and neighbors as “guinea pigs” for her food creations and trying to live up to her nickname, “the plant whisperer.”

She also wrote a book – but then, who hasn’t?

CC, or Couri er Cat does the least amount of work in the office and is that coworker who is ALWAYS hungry.

Sometimes she will sneak out and nocall-no-show for days on end. She enjoys long naps and love from customers.

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HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING | 7

Local

government

Ashby, Nichols honored for broadband work

BY CHRIS EDWARDS

A pair of state representatives were recently honored for their role in championing the improvement of broadband internet services, statewide.

Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) and State Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) were among 22 recipients of honors from The Digital Texas Coalition for their work. They were feted in Austin in late July by the coalition.

Along with the two lawmakers and other legislators, two of the award recipients were legislative staffers for Ashby and Nichols. Judd Messer, who works for Ashby’s office, was also awarded, along with Tina O’Jibway, a representative of Nichols.

The Digital Texas Coalition issued the honors to the two state legislators. “These leaders played a pivotal role in the fast-tracking, development and passage of House Bill 5,” said Ellen Ray, who serves as the executive director of the Still Water Foundation and is president of the board of Texas Rural Funders.

“Texas will now have the capacity and support to develop and deploy a plan to improve broadband access and adoption,” she added.

HB 5, which Ashby and Nichols authored, passed the House unanimously in April with a 146-0 vote, and then passed the Senate. The item was named an emergency item by Gov. Greg Abbott going into the 87th Legislative Session. Abbott was also

PHOTO COURTESY OF DIGITAL TEXAS COALITION Rep. Trent Ashby addresses members of the Digital Texas Coalition and his fellow award recipients during an awards ceremony in Austin on July 28. named as a recipient of an award on Monday. Abbott called broadband access “an essential tool for all Texans,” and cited the needs within business, education and healthcare for high-speed internet access.

Nichols referred to the bill’s passage as necessary to support and build infrastructure. “This bill exemplifies Texas’ commitment to developing critical 21st century infrastructure and expanding broadband access,” he said.

In a Digital Texas Coalition news release, Ashby said he is grateful for the recognition. “We’re making a significant investment in the future of Texas through improving access and adoption of broadband in our state’s rural communities to underserved areas in our urban centers, too,” he said.

Texas Rural Funders, which is a member organization of the Digital Texas Coalition, will host in-person and virtual events across the state in the coming months to discuss the development and impact of the state’s new broadband office and the coming plan for rural communities, according to the news release.

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6

Full Line of Seeds, Vegetables & Cover Crop, Deer Corn, Deer Feeders, Blinds & Most Other Hunting Necessities, Competitive Feed, Bales & Semi Loads of Coastal & Alfalfa Hay, Liquid Feed, Live Bait, Oil & Lube, Hand Tools, Pops Peanuts, Bullard TX Honey & Much More!

HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING | 11

Story by Ashley Bankhead-Keenan

Scrumptious

Fried Pies While driving through town or attending one of the numerous festivals around the county, you’ll see a bright orange food truck with the word “Scrumptious” painted on the side and a line of folks waiting. My recommendation would be to stop by because if you don’t, you’ll miss out on the best fried pies you’ve ever had. It’s no wonder this mother daughter duo chose to name their traveling business “Scrumptious Fried Pies & Pastries.

I’ve tried nearly every flavor of both, sweet and savory… except for the Bacon Pecan (although my mother swears that a scoop of ice cream on top makes this the perfect summer dessert) and I’ve just never been a fan of coconut.

It almost doesn’t matter what filling you choose because the flaky crust itself makes you want to dance. My personal favorite is the Cajun Voodoo, it’s a tad spicy but if that’s your thing then this shrimp, sausage and crawfish stuffed pastry is a must try.

Daughter, Tiffany Qualls and mother, Jo Denman, 12 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

began their journey in 2017 at “Christmas on the Square” after a dream that Jo had one night. With a tent and a couple of fryers, these ladies sold out within a few hours and so began the development of their now, regionally known, food truck. Tiffany says, “From that day on our thought process was, ‘if you build it, they will come’. We had no idea how we would make this happen, all we had was our faith and a verse dear to our hearts: Proverbs 29:18, ‘Where there is no vision the people perish but he better keepeth the law happy is he.’”

Some people believe that fried pies are an Oklahoma staple, but this dynamic duo added a Texas twist and have become known all over East Texas as #PiePimps. Tiffany and Jo agree that their food truck adventure is only just getting started. They’re adding new items to the menu all the time and if the food is not enough to keep you coming back, their smiling faces and infectious energy sure will.

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800-859-1245 13

Story by Ashley Bankhead-Keenan Photos by Alton Porter

CHILI

FOR

VETERANS

The first modern-day chili cook-off was held in October of 1952 at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. It began as a brainchild for an author named Joe E. Cooper to advertise his new book, “With or Without Beans” and the contest was a success with 55 contestants competing for the first prize. Mr. Cooper died before his book became a best seller, but he certainly started a tradition that would live on forever.

The most successful chili cook-off in Texas is known today at the Terlinqua Chili Cook-Off in Terlingua. I say successful, but it didn’t start out that way. A writer for Holiday Magazine, H. Allen Smith, challenged folks with a piece entitled, “Nobody Knows More About Chili Than I Do”. With such an arrogant title, of course attention was drawn to his article and Wick Fowler, now known for his “Two Alarm Chili” kit, decided to test this presumptuous claim. These two men were the only competitors. Interestingly enough, this cook-off ended in a tie when, out of three judges, one voted for Smith, one voted for Fowler and the third spit out his first bite of chili and 14 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

went into gastric distress. Today, there’s over 200 teams that fight for the First Place prize in Terlingua.

During the Summer of 2019, Toni Browning (former Managing Editor of the HC Courier) and I discovered that we both had a hankering to pit

people against one another with their chili-cooking skills, so started

the Courier Cook-Off. Toni is a United States Army Veteran herself so we knew instantly that our proceeds would be donated to local veteran organizations.

The first weekend of November 2019, in observance of Veteran’s Day, we hosted our first cook-off at the Davy Crockett Park and had ten teams present to cook chili and desserts. We learned a hard lesson that year: DON’T HAVE A CHILI COOK-OFF ON THE OPENING WEEKEND OF DEER SEASON! The turnout was good but with only $300 in actual profits to donate, we knew that we needed to make changes if we wanted to make a difference.

Fast forward one year and the 2nd Annual Courier Cook-Off commenced

on the last Saturday in October, Halloween day. Adjustments were made and we added barbecue categories and changed the location to the American Legion Post #134. We had 15 teams sign up to compete and we were able to raise and donate $1,050 to the American Legion.

Milton Ladnier, a friend from before my time at the Courier and now the Veteran’s Service Officer and the Commander of Post #134, has really proven to be a huge asset to this event. I called on him the afternoon before the cook-off in 2019 to see if he wanted to be a chili judge and without hesitation, he said yes. He’s been thoroughly involved since that moment and without him, there would be no more Courier Cook-Off. He has been able to involve majority of the Legion members, added a gun raffle and helped us to promote the competition at American Legion halls all over Texas.

Thanks to Joe E. Cooper, H. Allen Smith and Wick Fowler, the legendary chili cooking enthusiasts, our 3rd Annual Courier Cook-Off is approaching,

All proceeds go to the American Legion Post #134 and planning is well underway. New additions this year include: Fall Fest games and activities hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary, a Cornhole Tournament and vendor booth space is available for the first time. We’ve eliminated the “traditional red” category and will only have one category, “homestyle” for chili to be entered. The most significant change, to me, will be that my dear friend, Toni Browning, my

co-leader, is now halfway around the world in Italy, living her best life in retirement. Originally, she had planned to be able to attend but due to unforeseen circumstances, she no longer can. I’m devastated that she won’t see how far the cook-off has come but I know that she is rooting for me, the teams, the judges, and the veterans involved.

If you’re looking for a great event, benefitting great and selfless men and women, with activities to keep the entire family entertained and still have time to go trick-or-treating on the square, this is the event for you. Whether you like your chili with deer meat or ground beef, beans or no beans, hot or mild, there will be one that you like and if you don’t, you can wash it down with a cold beer. Vendors are signing up, cooking teams are perfecting their recipes and judges are securing their spots on the panel. I have no doubt in my mind that the 3rd Annual Courier Cook-Off will be the best one yet. See y’all there!

SATURDAY OCTOBER 30TH

9:30 am till 3 pm

AMERICAN LEGION POST #134 1000 Brazos St., Crockett, TX

FREE ADMISSION TO PUBLIC Peoples Choice Bands $10

REGISTER YOUR COOK-OFF TEAM NOW!

Indoor, electric spaces available (Limited)

VENDOR SPACE AVAILABLE GUN RAFFLE

CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT

$30/team

CASH PRIZE

FALL FEST - BOUNCE HOUSE COSTUME CONTEST - TRICK OR TREATING

VETERANS EAT FREE PICK UP ENTRY FORMS AT 102 S 7TH ST CROCKETT TX FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO REGISTER, RENT BOOTH SPACE OR VOLUNTEER PLEASE CONTACT

Ashley Bankhead-Keenan at 936-204-6843 or email courierchili@hccourier.com HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING | 15

Story by Alton Porter

Photos by Alton Porter & Chris Edwards

Lovelady-based Stesti Brewing aims to spread happiness translates to ‘God gives happiness.’

“When Dennis went to his brewery class in the Czech Republic, his brewmaster, every morning, would say, ‘Dej Buh Stesti.’

“And he (Dennis) finally asked (the brewmaster), ‘What are you saying every morning? I’m saying, Good morning. And you’re saying, Dej Buh Stesti.’ And he (the brewmaster) said, ‘It’s just a salutation among The owners of the only beer brewery in Czech brewmasters.’

Houston County and the only brewery in a “And so, we thought, ‘Hum, that’s kind of a 50-mile radius of itself in Deep East Texas say a cool thing. I think we’ll bring it back. And we big part of their purpose is to spread happiness. just shortened it to Stesti. Stesti means happiCo-owner Ana Gore of Stesti Brewing ness in Czech. And so, we just shortened it to Company, which opened for business about Stesti Brewing Company. Our corporate name four years ago and is located at 1328 FM 2915, is Lovelady Brewing Company, LLC.” on the outskirts of Lovelady in rural Houston Gore said her husband had traveled to the County, says they’re all about making people Czech Republic with a friend many years ago, happy. and that’s where he fell in love with Czech“Me and my husband started this together style beers and didn’t forget about it and wanted four years ago,” said Gore. Dennis (Gore’s to do it here for a hobby. husband) was fortunate enough to know the “As far as we know, we’re the only brewery former brewmaster of Pilsner Urquell, which that makes authentic Czech-style beers,” Gore was the leading Czech brewery in the Czech said. “And so, that’s kind of a nice thing to be Republic. And he (Dennis Gore) was able to able to say. In the state of Texas, we’re the only do his classes under him (the former Czech Czech-style brewery. And so, we kind of like brewmaster). that, and I think that’s what we try to hold to.”

“And then, after brewing with him and learnTelling the story of how Stesti was brought ing how to brew in the Czech style—because it into being, Gore said, “It was an adventure and is a very unique style—they were able to share hobby that we developed into a business in this ideas on brews, and actually brewed one of our building—as you see is cinder blocks. I have flagship beers: the Pivo Pils,” Gore said. Pivo in pictures of him (Dennis) and his son, brick by Czech translates to beer in English, and Pils is a brick, building this building. And the idea was type of beer: pilsner. it was going to be a barn for our farm animals.

“So, one of our flagship beers is Pivo Pils,” “And, after it was built, and Dennis was really said Gore. “And the other one is Bohemian Lawanting to brew some beer as a hobby, one day ger. Bohemia is a region in the Czech Repubunder the tree, we just decided—flipped a coin, lic. And so, those two recipes—his (Dennis’) I think, basically, and it went from a barn to a brewmaster allowed him to bring back here (to brewery. And so, it’s an adventure. It’s been an America) and brew. So, these are very authentic adventure.” recipes from the Czech Republic.”

Asked how she would describe Stesti, Gore Gore explained, “There are German beers. said, “I would say it’s a very unique micro-craft Everybody asks about German beers. Czech brewery. We’re not trying to be the next Karbeers are a little bit lighter and crisper. And bach (Brewing Company). We’re not trying to that’s what appealed to us, especially Dennis. be the next Budweiser. We’re just trying to brew Dennis is the one who started this business. a good beer.”

He likes that lighter, crisper beer, which is what “The brewery is set up—it’s called a 30-barrel we hopefully will continue to brew here—that system. “So, each tank that you see can hold Czech-style beer.

30 barrels of beer, which equals 900 gallons,” The Gores celebrated Stesti’s fourth annivershe said. “Now, we have nine of those. So, we sary with friends and guests Dec. 21, 2019. They have nine 30-barrel fermenters, and then, one established the company in December 2015 10-barrel. And the 10-barrel is what we do our and started producing beer in January 2016. experiments and our seasonals in. It’s a smaller Asked how Stesti Brewery Company got tank. its official name, Gore explained, “It started “The other side (of the facility) is what we with Dej Buh Stesti. And that is Czech. And it

16 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

call the brewhouse. That’s where all the cooking gets done—all the malts and hops and everything gets cooked. That takes pretty much all day. And then, it gets moved into the fermenter, where it will sit anywhere from 21 to 28 days fermenting before it’s readied for packaging.

“There are different malts, and we use very high-quality European hops and malts. That’s very important in getting the flavors that you want out of your beers.”

Explaining how they started the business and brewery after making the decision to do it, Gore said, “Dennis did his research on all of the equipment (needed). And we decided to have the brewery in this particular building. We liked it because it is 200 yards away from home and he could walk to work.

“We were restricted on the size tanks we could put in here. And so, that was a lot of engineering (that was required), in that he had to find a company out of Wisconsin—they were the only ones that would custom-build him these fermenters because your average fermenter is too tall to fit into this barn.

“And so, we had to have custom-size fermenters made just for Stesti, so that they would fit in our barn. And so, it took a lot of planning.

So, it was about a year or a year and half of planning before we even opened up—and then, piping all the things.

“And Dennis (a medical doctor) is a DIY— do it yourself—guy. And so, he took his time and put this brewery together himself on his days off of work from his real job (as a surgery teaching professor at the University of Texas-Medical Branch at Galveston). So, when he’s not doing that (teaching surgery), this is what he’s doing—making beer.

Gore said she’s the other side of the business.

In addition to being a co-owner of Stesti, she’s the brewery’s business and marketing manager.

“And so, I worked on marketing our beers to get them into the grocery stores, get them into the restaurants and the bars.” In addition, she said she manages Stesti’s sales force, delivery team, advertising—everything (on the business side).”

Asked what it took to get the brewery started, she said, “I guess we got into this not knowing how much it was going to take because this is more than a full-time job for the both of us.

Lucky, we found some good team members to join our company. Like I say, it’s been an adventure in that we’ve had to learn as we go in this business.

“And it’s a very competitive (business). Craft beers, in general—the industry is very competitive. I don’t know if you’ve ever walked into the grocery store and seen all the different types of beers that are available. And so, you need to look at that and go, ‘What is going to make my

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Local

music

Story by Chris Edwards

Photos by Alton Porter

C RO C K E T T A MUSIC MECCA IN THE MAKING

Within the reams of history comprising the Lone Star State’s backpages, music has played a huge role in shaping the Texan identity.

From classic Texas bluesmen like Lightnin’ Hopkins and T-Bone Walker to today’s hot acts like Pat Green and classic rockers in between, there is a draw within Houston County’s seat that keeps them coming back.

Regional bands and artists, as well as national (and international) touring acts, alike, come to share their art with Crockett audiences and keep coming back.

Having a few venues to host live music is one thing, but it is the appreciative audiences that are the most important elements in drawing musicians to come and play.

Ann Walker, the executive director of the Piney Woods Fine Arts Association describes that factor thusly.

“Arts and entertainment is so important to a community that we will continue to produce a season each year,” Walker said.

Walker said that there are difficulties in this day and age with producing shows, primarily with booking artists due to the cost of traveling, and unfortunately, she said, those costs have to be passed on to concertgoers, but the audiences still come out to have a great time and get their ears nourished. Case in point: a late August show by actor/singer-songwriter Kevin Costner and his band Modern West, that the PWFAA put on at the Crockett Civic Center, drew a sold-out crowd. Attendees came in from as far away as Pennsylvania.

Thirty-one years it has been since the PWFAA set about its mission to give the

people of Houston County and beyond a great performing arts series right here among its namesake pines.

In that time, musical trends come and go, bands come and go, and venues do the same. Recently, there has been an upswing in the number of new or recent venues for artists to ply their trade in Crockett.

The Loft, a space downtown, opened in the summer and provides a catered meal at most shows.

That venue, which is BYOB, hosts top-notch artists like Darrin Morris and Casi Joy, and plans on providing patrons with many more unforgettable nights.

Dozens of artists’ promo photos line the walls of Davy Crockett Grill, located at the crossroads of US 287 and Camp Street Café in downtown Crockett. The venLoop 304, serves up cold beer, tasty ue consistently draws top-notch performers of folk, comfort food and singer-songwrit- blues, country and old-time roots music. ers like regional favorite Joe Cuellar and Crockett has proved a fertile stomping ground for those with a song in their soul Derrick McLendon.

Walker sees the num- just getting their feet off that ground to superstars such as the late Kenny Rogers. ber of new-ish venues In her time with the PWFAA, Walkin the town as a promer said it is impossible to pinpoint just ising sign for things to one performance for that singular, great come. “We are thrilled that other music venues experience, but one of Rogers’s final shows, are opening up in our in 2017, was a PWFAA production at the area. Hopefully that Civic Center. brings more people to Rogers filmed a television special in Crockett to visit, and in Crockett and his mother was a resident. turn, shows visitors that “Having Kenny Rogers, a somewhat Crockett is a great place hometown boy, here for his final concert to live,” she said. tour to other country legends like Merle Live music has also Haggard and Charley Pride…each of been a welcome addition to restaurants them are a special experience,” Walker said. in town. On certain nights of the week, Walker noted that visiting artists to typically Fridays and/or Saturdays, patrons the City of Crockett can leave town with of establishments such as El Jimador and a coonskin cap, a stomach full of great, Mimsy’s Craft Barbecue can listen to happenin’ sounds while enjoying great food home-cookin’ and “the memory of the nicest people they will meet on their tours,” and drink. aspects of comfort they won’t receive in With a welcoming and friendly population of potential audience members, other towns.

HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING | 17

Larry Bruce Gardens

As seen on Texas Country Reporter, Texas Bucket List and Texas Monthly.

Guest Houses

Restaurant

RESTAURANT HOURS Sunday Buffet Friday 11:00 am -2:00 pm at 12:00 pm Saturday 11:00 am -2:00 pm (please arrive by 1:30)

Back Road Excursion Jeep Rental This 5 to 7 hour tour offers Jeep rental, picnic lunch and includes lots of back road time, very little pavement. You drive, you navigate. Historic Enon Cemetery, The Anderson Crossing Wooden Bridge with no rails! Neches Bluff Overlook, Mission Tejas with exceptional hiking trails, clean restrooms and gift shop. Gorgeous Ratcliff Lake is you last stop with hiking, swimming and fishing on your way back to Larry Bruce Gardens.

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP 10:45 AM

Larrybrucegardens.com • 936-655-4025 3198 C.R. 4600 Kennard, TX • Larry Bruce Gardens 18 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

Local

shopping

HCL FALL 2021

Love Local

I’ve always been a firm believer in spending my dollars locally, if I can. I was a small business owner for three years, so I know first-hand the importance of shopping small. I knew, without a doubt, that this section of Houston County Living would showcase the many family owned and operated brick and mortars that keep Houston County unique.

With this in mind, I arranged for my “window shopping” day to line up with the Downtown Pop-Up Market that was hosted by the Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce on the Saturday following Kevin Costner’s performance at the Civic Center. The morning started off with a heavy overcast and some dark clouds but fortunately, about the time the crowd showed up, so did the sunshine. I started my morning off with an Iced Caramel Macchiato from Crockett Grind and Vintage Finds and headed out to find one-of-a-kind gifts to feature in HCL. I made my way to the pop-up tents at the City Hall Park, looked around and then headed out on foot to visit the shops and boutiques that line the square. To say that the event was a success, would be an understatement.

Downtown was booming and buzzing with patrons from near and far. The sidewalks were lined with bake sales benefiting civic groups and team sports, people were recapping their date night with Kevin Costner & the Modern West, and there wasn’t a door that I walked in that didn’t have multiple customers. While this did make my mission a little bit harder, I was thrilled to see these small businesses thriving with commerce. While I tried to be discreet and not bother the business owners, I did let most of them in on what I was doing and of course, they had suggestions. They are the professionals, so I accepted their input and found some great options for your holiday shopping.

I, myself, while “window shopping” ended up buying fried pies, a new wicker laundry hamper, jalapeno ranch and jalapeno/cranberry cream cheese dip, a wrist keychain and three new plants. Oops! It’s easy to do when you’re grazing through items tailored just for me. You see, when you shop local, every single product that you’re looking at is purchased by the owner to meet our individual market. We are their friends and neighbors; therefore, they have a vested interest in knowing how to serve us. These unique treasures attract new neighbors, visitors, and guests.

There’s a map of all the locally owned retailers in Houston County that you’ll find in the pages to come but I will forewarn, the shopping that did this past weekend was only in Crockett. I headed into this thinking that I would be overwhelmed with items for women and that items for men would be more difficult to locate, not the case at all. Somehow or another, I ended up with more suggestions for the men in our life than the women but we all know who the hardest to shop for is so I suppose things played out the way they should.

For every $100 you spend at a locally owned business, $68 stays in the community. What happens when you spend that same $100 at a national retailer? Only $43 is returned into the local economy. So, while the big box stores are unveiling their doorbuster deals for the holidays, avoid the frenzied crowds with the retail giants and help a family-owned business by referring to these great finds when you turn the page.

Ashley Bankhead-Keenan HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING | 19

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4 2

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EDITOR’S CHOICE

Cold Weather Picks

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10

9

11 13

14

15

Easy Pickens

1002B LP 304 East Crockett

12

16

17 Davy Crockett Drug 107 S 4th St, Crockett, TX

Heart’s Desire Boutique Bella Gifts from the Heart 518 E Houston Ave, Crockett 3

406 E Houston Ave, Crockett

Houston County Living | 21

1

Bella Gifts from the Heart 406 E Houston Ave, Crockett

Circle T Feed 620 4th St. Crockett

2021

Holiday

Classy PacRats

2205 HWY 7 E, Crockett

2

Grace’s Consigment

GIFT GUIDE

512 E Houston Ave., Crockett

Hippie Junktion

3

105 S 4th St., Crockett

HOUSTON COUNTY

Rustic Market

2306 N 4th St., Crockett

The Estate Place

204 E Goliad Ave., Crockett

6

22 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

for

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7 8

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10

13 12 11

17

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15 18

16

Sweet Southern Britches in Grapeland

Again & Again Resale Rustic Market

287

The Pink Dot in Grapeland

Downtown Crockett 334

287

LAMAR AVE.

21

Bella Gifts from the Heart E. HOUSTON AVE.

Heart’s Desire Boutique FarmLife

N. 6TH STREET

N. 4TH STREET

Junkin’ For Joy

N. 5TH STREET

C&C Antique & Resale Emporium

N. 3RD STREET

N. 2ND STREET

229

2022

Grace's Consignment

Hippie Junktion MLA & Sons Whitley’s Resale

The Estate Palace

E. GOLIAD AVE. The Mercantile Antiques

W. GOLIAD AVE.

Husky Trading Post

P LOO ROC IN C T KET

Crockett Trade Days

TH E

21

W. AUSTIN ST.

Vielka’s Clothing & Boutique

S. 4TH STREET

24 | Houston County Living

Kittie’s 2110 Kloset in Lovelady

304

Hometown Market in Lovelady

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2022

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E S

21

Kennard, Texas

Easy Pickens Resale

Classy Antiques & Homemade Goods PacRats

All locally owned & operated!

Clothing & Specialty

Antique & Resale Again & Again Resale

Hippie Junktion

203 N 4th St., Crockett

105 S 4th St., Crockett

Rustic Market

MLA & Son

2306 N 4th St., Crockett

103 S 4th St. #A, Crockett

C&C Antiques & Resale Emporium

Whitley’s Resale

107 N 4th St., Crockett

Hearts Desire Boutique

Sweet Southern Britches

The Mercantile Antiques

Bella Gifts From the Heart

Husky Trading Post

FarmLife

Classy PacRats

The Estate Place

Junkin’ for Joy

508 E Houston Ave., Crockett

Easy Pickens Resale

1002 B Loop 304, Crockett 2205 HWY 7 E, Crockett

204 E Goliad Ave., Crockett 507 E Goliad Ave., Crockett

406 E Houston Ave., Crockett

1025B S 4th St., Crockett

112 E Goliad Ave., Crockett

518 E Houston Ave., Crockett 105 N 4th St., Crockett

Vielka’s Clothing & Boutique

809 S 4th St., Crockett

Crockett Trade Days

764 State HWY 21 W, Crockett

225 E Plum St., Grapeland

The Pink Dot

311 N Market St., Grapeland

Hometown Market

190 S Commerce, Lovelady

Kittie's Kloset

131 S. West Commerce Ste. B, Lovelady

Grace’s Consigment

512 E Houston Ave., Crockett

EASTTEXASNEWS.COM

/HOUSTONCOUNTYCOURIER

Houston County Living | 25

Local

history

Story and Photos by Jan White

Matters of a "Grave" Nature Exploring a Local Historic Cemetery Old cemeteries have always been of interest to me. Although movies and the media tend to portray graveyards as eerie or mysterious, I’ve always found them to be peaceful, filled with stories of the countless individuals laid to rest there. Every headstone is an anecdote – about brave men who fought and died in wars, about beloved husbands, wives, and mothers, about brothers and sisters, and young lives tragically cut short. They are a snippet of history. A brief but revealing insight into the past.

I’d driven by the Glenwood Cemetery on Pease Avenue many times on my way into downtown Crockett. A quick glance easily revealed its age.

Bleached marble and granite headstones tilted from sitting too long on shifting soil. Rusted fences surround family plots. The graveyard obviously contained centuries of history. But the locked gates kept me from exploring the area.

It wasn’t until after last year’s winter storm that I finally got a chance to see what was behind that wrought-iron fence.

The brutal weather had taken its toll on Glenwood Cemetery, and the North and South Sectors were littered with fallen branches and uprooted trees. I obtained permission for our Piney Woods Lions Club to do some cleanup in the cemetery. In addition to helping remove the debris, I finally got my chance to see some of the headstones up close.

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Our work took place in what is known as the South Sector of Glenwood.

I was in awe by how much history was contained in one site. The Texas Historical Survey Committee marker named Glenwood “Crockett’s Oldest Burial Ground.” The plaque states that Glenwood Cemetery “…opened soon after Houston County was created and founded in 1837. Burials include early Texas heroes and statesmen; a friend visited by David Crockett on way to the Alamo, a grandnephew of U.S. President Monroe, and City’s first elected mayor.” Expectations were high that I would find many gravestones that dated back centuries. I wasn’t disappointed.

Dating back to the cemetery’s inception, it was evident that many of the gravestones had suffered over the years. Etched names and dates had eroded to the point that they were unreadable. Algae and lichen had taken over many of the gravestones. Some memorials had been knocked over by vandals; others had fallen due to decay. Still, there was a quiet beauty that shone through. I was struck by the thought that the headstones were as distinctive as the individuals they represented. The artwork and material with which they were created gave you a glimpse into the customs and tastes of bygone eras. Carefully chosen engravings expressed the sentiments of the families – flowers, lambs, and doves symbolized a brief life. Clasped hands reached past death. And the inscriptions revealed touching stories of love, heartbreak, bravery, depth of loss, and praise for lives well lived. Some plots contained generation after generation of families; others were singular, isolated, perhaps a commentary on the individual’s life on earth. It felt like looking into the soul of the families whose loved ones were memorialized there. As I left the cemetery that day, I had the sense that it would be hard to walk away and not feel like I had experienced something personal and sacred.

Someone once said, “We don’t erect tombstones for the dead; we erect them for the living.” I’m thankful for those who memorialized their loved one’s lives in stone and allowed us to experience their beauty and history.

Outdoors

Story by Mac Burns, Wildlife Biologist for Burns Forestry

Through a Deer’s Eyes Any hunter who has watched a deer disappear in a flash of white tail, knows that they sometimes startle with seemingly no warning at all. And for good reason too. Whitetailed deer are adapted for predator detection, and they are much better equipped for it than we are.

A deer’s eye is structured a bit dif differently than a human’s. In

strong light, the deer’s pupil narrows into a horizontal slit.

This focuses light on a cluster of nerve cells in the back of the eye that allow deer to take in their entire horizon. Vertical structures and movement all around them stand out strikingly in this view of the world.

Conversely humans, with our circular pupils, are only able to focus our eyes on one thing at a time.

Additionally in the back of the eye are cells, called rods and cones. Rods are used to detect light intensity and work great at night compared to the cones, which identi-

fy colors. Deer have way more rods, meaning their nighttime vision is enhanced. They also get help from a tissue called the tapetum lucidum. This is the layer in their eye that reflects when a light is shone on it.

That reflection is used in dim light to effectively double light exposure and increase visibility.

That higher density of rods in a deer’s eye, however, comes at the cost of fewer cones. Cones are used by most animals to determine if a piece of fruit is ripe enough to eat yet, but humans use this trait to tell if something seems out of place. For example, a bright red ball would stick out easily in the middle of the woods. But a deer’s relative lack of cones means they can’t view the wide spectrum of colors we can. Deer can access the short- and medium-wavelength colors (blues and greens, respectively), but are not able to distinguish long-wavelength colors (reds and oranges).

This means bright blue jeans probably wouldn’t be optimal hunting attire, but that a blaze orange jacket won’t be tipping off any deer and would actually make you harder to detect.

Interestingly, deer do not

have the ultraviolet light filter in their eyes that we do. Unfortunately, brand new clothes reflect lots of ultraviolet light (including your stylish, new camo pattern) and shine brightly to deer. This is an easy fix though; just wash your new clothes a couple times before you go out hunting in them.

Not only do deer see many things better than us, but they actually see more. A whitetailed deer’s field of vision is much wider than a humans, 310° compared to our 180° of total vision. That means deer can detect movement in front of them, on both sides and even behind them some too. This is because their eyes are situated on the sides of their head, and not together on a flat face, like ours. This constrains their binocular vision to a very narrow arc directly in front of them, meaning they have very poor depth perception everywhere else. They may be able to detect movement easily, but can’t always tell how close danger really is.

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Outdoors

2021-2022 Hunting Season in Houston County

SQUIRREL SEASON General Season

Youth only

Oct 1 - Feb 27 Sept 25 - 26, 2021 May 1 -31, 2022 Daily Bag Limit: 10 • Poss. Limit: 20

QUAIL SEASON Statewide

Oct. 30, 2021 - Feb. 27, 2022 Daily Bag Limit: 15 • Poss. Limit: 45

DUCK SEASON Regular Season

Youth only

Nov 6 - 7, 2021

Nov. 13 - 28, 2021 Dec. 4 - Jan. 30 (Check Outdoor Annual for Bag limits)

WHITE-TAILED DEER Archery only

Oct. 2 - Nov. 5, 2021

Youth only (late)

General Season

Jan. 3 - 16, 2022

Youth only (early)

Muzzleloader

Nov. 6, - Jan. 2, 2021

Jan. 3 - 16, 2022

Oct. 30 - 31, 2021 Bag Limit: 4 deer (no more than 2 bucks, 2 antlerless deer, all seasons combined (Check Outdoor Annual for Antler Restrictions)

tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/ regs/counties/houston

DOVE SEASON Regular Season

Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, 2021 Dec. 17, 2021 - Jan. 14, 2022 (Check Outdoor Annual for Bag limits)

How to prepare youngsters for their first hunting trip A young person’s first hunting trip can be an incredible experience, sparking a lifelong love and appreciation for nature and wildlife. Parents who grew up hunting likely remember their first hunting trip and want to recreate that experience for their own children.

As memorable as a first hunting trip can be, parents of current youngsters might not recall all the pre-trip preparation their own folks did to make that first hunting experience so memorable. Such preparation can ensure today’s youngsters enjoy the same magical experience their parents did when going hunting for the first time.

• Make sure kids are ready. Kids’ maturity levels merit consideration before taking them hunting for the first time. Children may experience a range of emotions on their first hunting trips. Such emotions can include excitement, nervousness, sadness, and/or guilt.

Parents should assess their children’s maturity levels prior to announcing a trip to make sure they’re ready for that emotional roller coaster. Kids mature at their own pace, so assess each child individually, resisting the temptation to assume one child is ready at a given age because an older sibling was ready at the same age. The American Forest Foundation recommends parents first take their youngsters along as hunting apprentices, which allows them to participate in the rituals of the hunt while their parents can gauge how mature they are to handle the hunt itself.

28 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

• Make sure kids can handle their guns. Wide Open Spaces, a website devoted to providing up-to-date information for hunters, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts, notes the importance of kids knowing how to use their guns before they go hunting for the first time. Kids should know how to load and unload, check the chamber and turn the safety on and off. Kids should be confident with their guns, feeling comfortable enough to pull their firearms to their shoulders, get the gun’s sights on the animal and pull the trigger.

• Temper youngsters’ expectations. Hunting is a rewarding hobby, but also one that requires a lot of work. Weather also can be unpleasant during hunting season, and that can quickly spoil youngsters’ impressions of hunting. Temper kids’ expectations in advance of a hunting trip so they know it won’t necessarily be all fun. In addition, let children know many hunting trips end without a kill.

• Focus on the fun factor. The AFF notes that surveys indicate that young hunters are more excited to have fun and enjoy quality outdoor time than they are by the prospect of bagging and taking home a trophy animal. Parents should focus on the fun and the beauty of nature when taking youngsters hunting to ensure kids have as good a time as possible.

Some pre-trip preparation on the part of moms and dads can make youngsters’ first hunting trips successful.

CONT. FROM PAGE 16 beer stand out and make people go to my beer?’”

As far as funding the start of their business, Gore said their main financial source was their savings. “And Dennis thought, ‘What better way to (invest your financial resources). You can put your money in the stock market. You can put your money into a lot of different places. But why not put it in a business and hopefully get your return on it?

Recently, Stesti celebrated the opening of a beer garden in Lovelady. The venue hosted its grand opening in September, and features live music and food trucks, along with the brewery’s offerings of craft beer.

“The county, I think—and I think a lot of people think—is in need of new businesses. Hopefully, this will encourage, entice other businesses to come to the county, with the passing of this bill. We were so appreciative of the support in the county that allowed us to do that because I’ve heard other businesses are talking about coming in and doing things here, which is great. That economic boost is what the county needs.”

“We also do lots of festivals all over our distribution area in Texas. And then, we do samplings and tastings in H-E-Bs and Brookshire Brothers and Krogers, Spec’s, Total Wine. We’re all in the major stores. So, I think the grassroots is the best way to put it. We don’t have a big budget to do billboards and radio and TV, but maybe one day we will.”

Currently, business is steady, Gore said. “I think, right now, craft breweries are seeing a little bit of a steady (trend). There’s not an up.

There’s not a down. I’m not quite sure why that’s happening, except I know there’s a lot of competition. There are a lot of new breweries that are opening up. Every month, it seems like there’s a new brewery. So, there are a lot of choices for people.”

“Evolving and growing” is the best way to describe Stesti’s current status, said Gore, adding, the company’s motto is: “Keep it fun.”

As far as the vision for Stesti is concerned, she said, “We tease about becoming well-known enough to be a successful brewery in the eyes of our other peers. It would be really an accomplishment if our little brewery in Lovelady, Texas, could do that.”

Asked what motivates her and her husband to keep forging ahead with their brewery, Gore first searched for the best words to use. Then said, “Dennis and I both look at it as almost a game in that, if we do this, then we can accomplish this.

“And so, it’s almost a strategy. We like waking up and going, ‘Okay, how can we make a better beer?’ Or, ‘what is going to be our next new beer that people are going to want to drink?’ And so, he and I sit and have coffee talking about different kinds of beers we want to make. What’s

the next seasonal going to be? Who is it going to appeal to? So, is it going to be this audience, or this audience?

“Because you do—You have your millennials.

They like their sours and their tart beers. And then, you have our age. They like the more traditional milder beers. And so, it’s a game that we like to strategize together with.”

In addition to their two flagship beers, Gore said, “we also have four other beers that we can: Dark Lager, Blueberry Lager, a Hefeweizen style of beer and a Kazbek ale.

“Our Blueberry Lager, believe it or not, is our bestselling beer. We brewed it two years ago. We took our Bohemian Lager, added blueberries that I bought at the Nacogdoches Blueberry Festival.

And it became our bestselling beer. And it still is.

For their Hefeweizen beer, Gore said, “For that particular beer, we came up, I think, with a clever name: We combined the words Czech and Texan, and we made Czexan. So, the name of that beer is Czexan Wheat “We like to use things that are readily handy to us. So, we had oranges off our orange tree. And were thinking about ‘What could make this beer different than all the other Hefeweizens out on the shelf. And we had juniper trees and juniper berries. And so, we took those juniper berries, crushed them and flavored our Hefeweizen with Junipers. And it gave it a very unique tartness.

You either love it or you don’t. It is a tart beer.”

Gore explained, “Kazbek is a malt only found in the Czech Republic,” and their Kazbek ale is the last beer that they brewed.

“Dennis and I, both, feel honored that we have the support from the community. They come out to our open houses. And they bring their families, their kids. We have a bouncy house that we got just for the kids. And we have so much fun with them. We put out cornholes and they play games: croquet. They can even go fishing if they want,” she said.

“At first, we weren’t quite sure how the community was going to accept us four or five years ago. We didn’t know what to anticipate from the community when we said we were going to come in with a brewery, knowing that the laws were what they were.”

Gore went on the say, “And so, we’re just thankful that we’ve been allowed to build our business here. We’re hoping to open a beer garden. We’ve been looking at space in Crockett and in Lovelady, Huntsville. We just don’t know where, yet, to do a beer garden, a family beer garden that people can come to.

“We’re a family business. We always put our family first. And our team that we have here—we always tell them: ‘Family comes first.’ But at the same time, we’re really committed to making a successful business and hope that the community will come out and support it. They’re welcome to come out and see what we’re all about.”

When asked about who they want to appeal to, Gore replied, with a laugh: “Enthusiastic craft beer drinkers.”

HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING | 29

Houston County Animal Rescue Before&After Nadi.

Rescued from Grapeland Texas. Nadi is a senior pitbull who had severe demodex mange, riddled with fleas, and was high heartworm positive. She was used for breeding most of her life. She was owner surrendered to be put to down but was adopted out to her forever family through Saving Hope Rescue in Fort Worth.

Missy

Lady.

Rescued from a residence in Lovelady with approximately 15 other dogs. After a year in foster care, she's been adopted and is living a happy life with her forever family.

. Thrown out of a moving truck and trapped in a hog trap for 3 days. She suffered from severe anxiety, malnutrition, and heartworms.

She turned out to be a "foster failure" until she was rescued by her current foster mom, Kristian. She's now happy and healthy.

Tank.

Del i l a h.

Rescued from Crockett Texas. Tied to a fence on Salas Street and shot multiple times with a BB gun. She was there 4 days before police were contacted. She has since been adopted and is living happily with her forever family.

Proof that not all rescues have a happy ending.

Tank was rescued from a residence in Crockett. He lived his life on a 4 foot chain in the dirt, without shelter. When I found Tank, he was struggling to breath because his lymph nodes were swollen to the size of baseballs and closing off his airway. He was also high heartworm positive, and completely blind from an infection in both eyes. Tank spent several days at an animal hospital and samples were sent to A&M University. Tank was diagnosed with

canine lymphoma. Tank was brought to my house on hospice care and lived for 2 months after his rescue.

During those 2 months his eyes cleared, he got to roam free, sleep with family, play, swim, and was loved unconditionally.

"You may not have lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." John Bunyan The above quote is the heart of the reason for why I do what I do. Humans help humans daily, but some people look at animals as if they’re disposable. This has caused a major issue for animal rescuers in Houston County. Between myself, Kristian Cole, and Lori Bowlin, we have rescued and moved over 900 animals out of Houston County, this year alone. Included but not limited to dogs, cats, horses, squirrels, and opossums.

Most of these animals have spent months on end at our houses while being rehabilitated. We have traveled as far as New York City to deliver these animals to rescues and new homes.

The three of us each play very important roles in each rescue. Lori, president of Coalition and

30 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

Prevention of Animal Cruelty, a 501c non-profit organization, funds majority of the expenses for our medical cases. Kristian networks to partner rescues all over the state to find safe havens for the animals. I do the dirty work: pick up, trapping, wrestling and crawling under houses. The three of us work together to make veterinarian visits, fostering and transports happen. At one time or another, we’ve all had anywhere from 10-20 dogs at our own houses, just waiting on a rescue.

In April, Lori and I traveled to Austin Texas and I was able to represent Houston County and testify on behalf of House Bill 873/Senate Bill 474. This bill means that owners must pro-

vide adequate shelter and care for their outdoor, restrained dogs. Most importantly, it strikes the mandatory 24-hour waiting period allowing us to address critical and dangerous situation immediately. We must bring awareness to the issue by starting right here in Houston County. We encounter abandoned, beaten, starving animals daily right here at home and enough is enough.

Help us bring awareness to the problem by telling the stories of these animals to your friends and family. Some photos may be uncomfortable to look at but being uncomfortable is what changes your position.

Carly Foster

Broker,

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HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING | 31

RUSTIC MARKET THE RUSTIC MARKET IN CRO CKE T T

2306 N 4 TH ST. CROCKETT, TX

936 -222 -7 1 55

TUESDAY - FRIDAY 10 AM - 5 PM SATURDAY 10 AM - 3 PM

We’re all about Rustic, offering a huge selection of furniture for your entire home in Farmhouse, Farmhouse Chic or Country Decor. Our store carries a variety of items such as lighting, candles, crosses, tea towels, coffee mugs, seasonal metal art, wreaths, handmade soaps, and so much more!

We do custom orders of furniture, lighting, and signs. Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction. We do Bridal Registries too!

The Rustic Market in Crockett promises a unique shopping experience! Stop by and let us help you find the perfect gift for you or a loved one.

32 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

Through photos and video, I try to document the beauty of who we are, our relationships with those we love, and what we love.

Embracing the chaos and telling your true story.

936-546-3116

Feature

story

A survivor's tale:

Young Bonnie Wallace inspires a community

Story by Chris Edwards Lewis and Susan Campbell are like many young parents who have gone about the business of starting a family and working toward the future, with projects like building a house and developing property. However, like John Lennon famously observed, life is what happens when one is making plans.

Their daughter Bonnie, the oldest of three, a fresh-faced and cheerful girl who is six-going-on-seven, is a testament to the optimism and resiliency seemingly found only in children, and it was through her recent struggle that not only demonstrated to her family what it is that really matters but also helped bring about an entire community’s support.

Earlier this year Bonnie was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a blood cancer. Bonnie’s mother said that the diagnosis of AML typically does not come until it has progressed far, but a fluke during a check-up proved to be a blessing in disguise for the plucky Crockett youngster.

In January, Bonnie was diagnosed with COVID, and hospitalized with pneumonia. When doctors noticed that her platelet counts kept dropping, they surmised that something besides COVID was going on.

Susan said that three days after a bone marrow biopsy, the young family was en route to a camping trip when they received the call.

“They told us she had AML and to turn around and immediately take her to Houston [to Texas Children’s Hospital],” Susan said.

Initially, the feelings that the couple felt included denial and anger, but they understood the situation’s gravity. “It took a very long time to realize that cancer’s not a dirty word and to be okay with it. Well, you’re never fully okay with it, but you learn to put your child’s life in someone else’s hands and trust them,” Susan said.

Within two days, Bonnie endured surgery,

and soon after, began an inpatient chemotherapy regimen. Susan said they were at the hospital with Bonnie for about 30 days initially, and the cycle would repeat itself. Through it all, however, Susan and Lewis say that Bonnie was a trooper. “It steadily gets worse,” Lewis said.

“You see the physical side effects but the internal is about a thousand times worse than the external,” Susan added.

Through her illness, her parents became educated on all things cancer-related, and Susan shared that Bonnie’s condition was attributable to a genetic factor. She said her father and Lewis’s mother both passed away from the same type of leukemia.

“A lot of people don’t find out until [the cancer] is out of their bone marrow and into their bloodstream. We were fortunate enough it was not in her spinal fluid or blood yet,” Susan said.

Bonnie’s parents said that with the luxury of hindsight, they realize now that something was wrong for a while, with the youngster experiencing cycles of being healthy, then sick and with heavy bruises.

“I don’t think I’m an expert on anything, but I am her mom and I know her like the back of my hand,” Susan said.

Susan credited the doctors at Texas Children’s Hospital for putting the family at ease, or as much as could be.

“They treat you like a normal human, and they’ll sit down and talk to you. They’ll find you whatever help you might need,” she said.

Susan added that while undergoing treatments, she and Lewis were able to bond with other parents who were dealing with similar situations and were able to form a sort of support system with one another.

Ultimately, it was Bonnie, herself, who really kept her parents’ hope alive. “Kids are resilient,” her mother mused.

HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING | 33

To ask Bonnie about her current likes and how her days are going, you would never know she was just recently posed with a life-threatening illness. Like many little girls her age, she loves her collection of stuffed animals, which keeps growing. Her favorite is a big, stuffed kitty cat, which she carries with her everywhere she goes, her mother said. She also loves going to the beach, and her

favorite subjects in school are art and PE. “She is always happy. She always smiles,” Susan said.

In all of the harrowing days brought about by Bonnie’s treatment plan and hospitalizations, the support of community proved monumental for the Campbells. Susan’s support from her job (Davy Crockett Grill) to support from Lewis’s family and friends and the support of people like Pastor Audice Leon Wallace of Crockett’s Good Shepherd Fellowship.

“We would have never made it through any of this without all of the support in this little town,” Susan said.

Now that Bonnie is in remission, the visits to clinics are ongoing, with two or three visits per week, and there are some complications, but she is maintaining a positive attitude, and her parents work to give her as normal a life as possible.

As far as advice goes for anyone else faced with a similar situation, both Susan and Lewis agree that it is essential to reach out to others for support. “Ask for help when you need it because if you don’t, you’re going to crash and burn really quick,” Susan said.

The support of family, friends and community members is out there when hard times attempt to overcome someone, and Bonnie and her family are a testament to that strength found in numbers of good people.

To an outsider just learning of Bonnie’s story, the horrendous injustice of someone so young, with such potential in front of them, having to endure such a hardship just seems to embody the word “unfair,” but to watch the youngster marveling at what is around her and enjoying herself gives hope to those of us who are much older.

“She’s amazing,” her mother said, with a smile.

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Fall

living

FALL MUM SECRETS

You’ll find out that I’m an avid plant lover. I have at least twenty indoor plants and the flowerbeds around my home are stocked full of various roses, gardenias, and hydrangeas. Cooler weather means that those gorgeous Spring blooms will soon be sad and depressing to look at it. My husband’s pocket book could tell you, this means one thing: CHRYSANTHEMUMS. Without a doubt, mums are my go-to plant for fall decorating. Their bright, vibrant hues and green foliage draw big interest to any autumn display. My least favorite part? The stunning blooms just seems to fade away long before the season is over and let’s face it, they’re too expensive for only one month of marveling over.

Mums do have a limited cycle of blooms, but I have a few secrets to share with you on how to extend those and keep them looking fantastic: 1. PICKING – When you’re shopping for these beauties, the mums that are already in full bloom are quite enticing, I know. Unless you’re buying for an immediate display, AVOID THESE! You’ll have blooms for only about two weeks following. I recommended hardy mums because they have full foliage, larger blooms and can be overwintered in pots. If you plant directly into your flowerbeds, they may even come back for years.

2. REPOT – This isn’t totally necessary, but I have a few large pots that I keep for repotting my mums. They’re typically root bound by the time you get your hands on them so breaking up the roots, replanting and adding some fresh soil are all ways to help them last longer.

3. WATERING – It is vital to keep your mums watered! The sure way to kill your mums is with inconsistent watering. Check the soil daily and if it’s dry, water. When watering, try to avoid letting the water hit the blooms. I prefer not to water from the top at all. I sit my pots in a container and allow them to pull water from the bottom until they aren’t thirsty anymore.

4. SUN – Mums LOVE sunlight but they only NEED 4-6 hours per day. Keep them shaded and they will last much longer. Full sun and hot temperatures will put your plants into full production mode, shortening the life of their blooms.

5. DEADHEADS – If you already have a green thumb, you know what deadheading is and you know that it is essential. For those of you who don’t know, deadheading is pinching off spent flowers. Once the bloom is dead, just pinch of the bud.

Decorating your front porch with these Fall favorites is a quick and easy way to really get the Autumn vibes rolling out. This short guide is sure to help you protect your investment so they will last until it’s time to bring out the evergreens.

Happy Fall y’all!

Ashley Bankhead-Keenan

C&C

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107 North 4th St. Crockett, Tx

936-222-3332

Don’t Give Your Inheritance To Goodwill Sell It To Us! We Can Handle Your Estate Sale, appraisals, and cleanouts. We Buy Gold, Sterling, LPs, Old Books, Magazines, Antiques, and Collectibles!

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R E A LTO R

508 E Goliad St. in Crockett • 936-438-1388 • karenrealestate.karen@aol.com HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING | 36

East Texas Tales

Story by Chris Edwards

Notorious old-west outlaw had pineywoods roots

Mage on a lonely stretch of road.

The Old West is full of larger-than-life charWhen he found out that soldiers from the acters who were documented, both, in scholarly post-Civil War Reconstruction government histories and lionized (or vilified) in grandiose were searching for him, he found them and ways on the big and little screens, as well as ambushed them at a creek crossing in Trinity popular fiction.

County.

One such figure has never quite translated According to Bowman, it was after this into a warm-and-friendly pop culture version as some others have, and that is the notorious John ambush, with his body count at four, that a Wesley Hardin, a man who is often called Texas’ teenaged John Wesley Hardin headed up the Chisolm Trail. While the cowboying way of life most famous gunfighter. was short-lived for Hardin, his hobby of offing Hardin, who was born to Rev. James (some anyone who crossed him was not. Reportedly, sources state Joseph or John) and Elizabeth he killed seven people on the trail, and three Hardin in 1853, was named for the 18th cenmore in Abilene, Kansas. This was the locale tury theologian and father of Methodism John where Hardin, according to lore, Wesley.

James Hardin, a Methodist “And if you ever saw killed a man for snoring.

Wes Hardin draw, According to the often-told minister himself, likely hoped that his son would follow in you know he can skin story, which has become a large part of the folklore around Hardin, his footsteps. It didn’t take his gun. he was in his hotel room sleeping long for the youngster to get He won’t say how off a drunk when another patron, a taste of violence, however.

Hardin was born in Bonmany tried and died.” in a neighboring room, was snoring too loud. ham, nestled in the TexoJohnny Cash, Hardin attempted to fire a ma region, but the family later migrated down into the “Hardin Wouldn’t Run” warning shot through the wall in an attempt to wake up the snoring pineywoods. The Reverman, but instead, the bullet killed him. end Hardin was a circuit preacher, and once After an encounter with city marshal Wild established in Trinity County, in Sumpter, he Bill Hickok, Hardin hit the trail again, in a established and taught at a school. Young John southbound direction back home. It didn’t take Wesley and his siblings attended the school. long for him to find more trouble in the pineyWhen the Hardins were living at Sumpter woods, where, Bowman wrote, he returned on in Trinity County, a nine-year-old John Wesley Hardin witnessed the killing of Turner Evans in numerous occasions.

A gambling argument in Trinity County, in a property dispute. According to the late region1872, resulted in him being badly wounded, and al historian Bob Bowman, Hardin later wrote when his friends carted him off to Redland to about the incident, after seeing John Rulf slash Evans’s jugular with a Bowie knife: “If you wish recuperate, he was surprised by a pair of lawmen to be successful in life, be temperate and control who further put the hurt on him. Hardin got the upper hand, however, and killed them both. your passions.”

The sheriff of Cherokee County at the time, Passions got the best of Hardin at the age Richard Reagan, was an old friend of Hardin’s, of 15 when a schoolyard scuffle erupted in the and the only man to whom he would surrender. young man stabbing another student, Charles When he knew he could run no further, accordSloter, twice in the chest and back. Hardin ing to Bowman, Hardin gave up his pistol when claimed the reason being that the student had accused him of besmirching a female student in Reagan and four deputies arrived. However, writing on the schoolhouse wall. Hardin denied the deputies believed Hardin was drawing his the allegation and claimed that Sloter wrote the weapon on the sheriff. One of them fired on him, wounding him again, and Reagan and his offensive graffiti. family nursed his old friend back to health.

Although Hardin’s schoolyard stabbing In 1874, Hardin had an encounter that was victim lived and he was nearly expelled over the prove a pivotal turning point in his life. He incident, the next person who crossed his path had become involved in raising cattle, and as was not so fortunate. he was wont to do, got drawn into a feud, the About a year later, at a sugar cane mill near Sutton-Taylor Feud. Hardin aligned with Jim Moscow, Hardin got into an altercation with Taylor, an anti-Reconstructionist, and he killed a man named Mage, whom sources state was the opposition leader Jack Helm, who was a Hardin’s uncle’s former slave. According to former State Police captain.

Bowman’s writing on the subject, onlookers While on the run and driving cattle with were able to break up the fight. Whatever it was Taylor, Hardin encountered, and killed, Brown over is lost to the sands of time, but after the County Sheriff Charlie Webb outside of a scuffle and intervention, Hardin shot and killed

saloon.

The Pinkertons captured Hardin, who’d fled to Florida with his wife and child, three years later, and brought him back to Texas where he stood trial. He was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in the state penitentiary in Huntsville.

It was there that Hardin studied law and after serving 15 years, he was released and headed to El Paso where he began practicing law, having been admitted to the bar on March 16, 1894.

During his time in prison, Hardin had made efforts to escape, but he also immersed himself in religious texts and even served as superintendent of the prison Sunday School class.

Hardin tried to stay on a straight and narrow path, but it did not take long for trouble to emerge. One of his clients, a man named Martin Morose, discovered that Hardin was having an affair with his wife.

After Morose discovered what was going on, Hardin hired several men to kill his client. On the hot day of August 19, 1895, John Selman, who was one of the men Hardin had hired, shot and killed him in the Acme Saloon.

Bowman suggests that this was because Selman was never paid for killing Morose. Selman was also killed shortly after taking down the feared Hardin, in a gunfight. Both men are buried in El Paso’s Concordia Cemetery.

Hardin, like most of the legendary figures of the Old West, has only grown larger with the myths surrounding him as the years move forward. He was given to exaggerations, himself, and claimed credit for killings that could not be proven.

His total body count may remain a mystery.

Some newspaper accounts place the number at 27, while Hardin, himself, claimed to have killed 42 men.

Whatever the exact number was, the legend of John Wesley Hardin will continue to entertain, shock, appall, and interest casual students of history and fans of Old West lore, as well as the general public. Songs, books and other tributes have been written about the sharpshooting murderer/gambler/lawyer/cattleman and will likely continue to be created.

HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING | 37

OCTOBER

• Memorial Scholarship Rodeo

FEBRUARY

Crockett Noon Lions Club meets at Hilltop Café at 12:00 PM

• Latexo City Council meeting at 6:30 PM • 76 Peanut Festival rd SEPTEMBER • Grapeland City Council • 3 Annual Courier Cook-Off • Myrtis Dightman Rodeo • Trick-or-Treating on the Square meeting at 7:00 PM • Annual Labor Day Salmon Lake • Houston County Amateur Bluegrass Festival NOVEMBER Radio Club meeting at 7:00 PM • CACC Business Expo & Job Fair at 600 Bradshaw Crockett TX • Lighted Christmas Parade • World Champion Fiddler’s Festival • Christmas in Crockett 2ND THURSDAY • Latexo ISD School Board DECEMBER meeting at 6:00 PM REOCURRING • Christmas on Main St. in Grapeland • Kennard ISD School Board • Christmas in Kennard & Parade meeting at 6:00 PM th

Annual Lovelady Lovefest

APRIL

EVERY TUESDAY

EVERY THURSDAY

• Houston Co. Fair & Livestock Show

Disc Golf in the park at 5:30 PM

MAY

1ST & 3RD MONDAY

Crockett City Council meeting • Crockett Lions Club PCRA Rodeo at 6:00 PM • Sale on the El Camino Trail • Houston Co. Youth Talent Show 1ST & 3RD WEEKEND • Bluegrass Gospel Music Festival Crockett Trade Days on HWY 7W at Salmon Lake Park

JUNE

• Piney Woods Fine Arts Assn.

Summer Concert Series • Missoula Children’s Theatre • Juneteenth Celebration & Parade

JULY

• Annual July 4 Parade on the Square • Annual Boat Parade on Houston County Lake th

AUGUST

• Annual Glenn Cunningham 38 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

3RD MONDAY

• Produce Box Distribution 5-7:00 PM rain or shine at the Civic Center • Grapeland ISD School Board meeting at 6:45 PM • Lovelady ISD School Board meeting at 7:00 PM

3RD THURSDAY

1ST THURSDAY

Crockett Garden Club meets at 9:30 AM at various locations

• Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce hosts Mid-Morning Coffee at 9:30 AM, various locations • Downtown Crockett Association meets 3rd Thursday at 5:30 PM

2ND MONDAY

4TH MONDAY

• Kennard City Council meeting at 7:00 PM • American Legion meeting at 7:00 PM

Pineywoods Lions Club meet at the First Methodist Church of Crockett in the Fellowship Hall at 6:00 PM

2ND TUESDAY

LAST MONDAY

• Lovelady City Council meeting at 5:00 PM

Crockett ISD School Board meeting at 6:00 PM

Thinking of Moving to Houston County?

Use our Relocation Information Guide to find out more about what Houston County has to offer!

CITY OF CROCKETT 936-544-5156 200 N. 5th St., Crockett www.crocketttexas.org Mayor Dr. Ianthia Fisher mayor@crocketttexas.org CITY OF GRAPELAND 936-687-2115 126 S. Oak St., Grapeland www.grapeland.com Mayor Mitchell Woody CITY OF KENNARD 936-655-2248 310 W. Main St., Kennard www.cityof kennard.com Mayor Jesse Stephens CITY OF LOVELADY 936-636-7313 130 N. Commerce St., Lovelady Mayor William Shoemaker CROCKETT CHAMBER 936-544-2359 1100 Edminston Dr., Crockett www.crockettareachamber.org

GRAPELAND CHAMBER www.grapelandareachamber.org

www.houstoncountyelec.com

HOUSTON CO. SHERIFF’S DEPT. 936-544-2862 700 S. 4th St., Crockett Sheriff Randy Hargrove www.co.houston.tx.us

CONSOLIDATED WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION 936-544-2986 401 NE Loop 304, Crockett www.consolidatedwsc.com

CROCKETT POLICE DEPARTMENT 936-544-2021 200 N. 5th St., Crockett Chief Clayton Smith smithclayton@crocketttexas.org

HOUSTON COUNTY SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER 936-544-7507 716 Wells St., Crockett

GRAPELAND POLICE DEPARTMENT 936-687-2115 126 S. Oak St., Grapeland Chief Kody Stephens

HOUSTON COUNTY WORK FORCE SOLUTIONS 936-544-7859 1505 S. 4th St., Crockett www.detwork.com

HOUSTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE 936-544-3986 401 E. Houston Ave., Crockett www.co.houston.tx.us HOUSTON CO. ELECTRIC CO-OP 1-800-657-2445 Outage Hotline: 1-800-970-4232 1701 SE Loop 304, Crockett

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We’re so thankful for the opportunity to present you with a lifestyle magazine that highlights the people, places and things in Houston County. This would not have been possible without the advertisers below. These local business owners trusted the vision and the process that we laid out and decided to be a part of the movement.

For marketing opportunities in the Spring 2022 edition please email Ashley Bankhead-Keenan at marketing@hccourier.com.

At Home in Houston County Badders Law Firm Bartee Construction Bobbie Poole Realty C&C Antiques Charles Arnold Real Estate Circle T Feed Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce Crockett Printing Cutshaw Chevrolet Davy Crockett Drug Doc’s BBQ East Texas Livestock East Texas Tree Service Hargrove-Neel, Inc. Heart Institute of East Texas

Houston County Electric Cooperative Houston County Family Medical Clinic Jessica Rosalie Photography Karen Rice, Realtor Knox Furniture Larry Bruce Gardens Latexo Independent School District LaWanda Pennington, Realtor Lynn Markham, Attorney at Law M&G Inf latables McClain Pest Control Precision Tractor Piney Woods Fine Arts Association Rustic Market Trent Ashby Wiesner Huntsville

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Polk Couty Publishing publishes weekly newspaper in Houston, Polk, San Jacinto, Tyler, and Trinity counties, actively covers over 25 East Texas counties, and reaches the greater pineywoods region through it’s magazine and online publications. To advertise with any of our publications, call (936) 327-4357 to get in touch with one of our advertising representatives.

To advertise directly in the Houston County Courier or Houston County Living Magazine, email marketing@hccourier.com or elizabeth@hccourier.com Mailing Address: PO Box 551, Crockett, TX 75835 40 | HOUSTON COUNTY LIVING

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