17 minute read
Cross Timbers Family Services and Stephenville "Go Purple" for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Photos provided by Cross Timbers Family Services National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is observed annually in October. Cross Timbers Family Services is proud to support survivors and speak out against domestic violence in our community. In order to bring awareness to the “Go Purple to End Domestic Violence” campaign and show support for victims of domestic violence, our staff decorated the courthouse with purple ribbons and signs.
On the morning of October 1, the staff of Cross Timbers Family Services decorated the courthouse it will remain decorated for the entire month of October to remind Stephenville that now is time to take a stand against domestic violence.
DoublingIn
on Feeding Dublin
By Meg Arlen Photos by Cross B Photography and Provided by The Love Basket
Most people say Dublin was named for the capital of Ireland. Others think it might have been named for the warning-cry of danger in the 1800s, “Double-in.” However, in 2020, Dublin stood for “doubling-in” or giving a double amount to help neighbors. In December 1999, Erath County reached a record low of 2.1% unemployment. By May of 2020, that number rocketed to a record high of 8.8% and the “Helpers” in Dublin answered the call.
What did Jesus do? He was always feeding people. The Love Basket in Dublin is doing just that.
THE LOVE BASKET
In 2005, when Katrina devastated Louisiana, the government planned to relocate five families to Dublin. The adult Sunday school class at Patrick Street Church of Christ decided to collect basic kitchen supplies for those five families. Two members of that class, Ray and Barbara Sissom, along with Charles and Pam Crabtree discovered plans can change.
“Just about the time we had all the flour, beans, paper towels, sugar, etc. collected, we found out that the government changed its mind and those families were going somewhere else,” Barbara Sissom shared their disappointment. “Our class had to decide what to do with all of the supplies we had collected. Lannie Lee, Dublin’s police chief at the time, suggested starting a food pantry for folks in Dublin. Four of us took that on. Pam suggested the name, and we posted signs all around the community.” The Love Basket began on October 7, 2005, at its original location, and then moved to the current location in October 2007. “The first week we were open, we had two or three people come,” Barbara said. “The numbers steadily grew until we were serving 25 or 30 families every time we were open.”
“After the church decided it couldn’t host the pantry, we moved to the Quik-Lok Storage buildings where owner Pam Crabtree donates the space and the utilities
to the Love Basket,” Barbara explained. “It became an independently operated food pantry in 2007and a 501 3c in 2010. Love Basket space quickly grew from a single room plus a couple of storage buildings to five rooms and storage space.”
Board President Ray Sissom and his wife Barbara are the driving force and the heart and soul of this pantry.
“Sometime after moving to our current location, we grew so big that we increased what we were giving out and added an evening session for those who couldn't come during the day. Since our inception, we have grown from just a few families to as many as 115 on any given Friday. Our current average is about 90 families each time we’re open. Due to COVID, we had to be flexible and switch to a drive-through pantry.
Bill and Iris Kerley have benefited from the Love Basket’s blessings in two ways. “In hard times, we’ve received the blessing of food for our table and we’ve been so blessed to volunteer,” Iris added. “Volunteering gives especially good feelings. Jesus said, ‘I was hungry and you fed me.’”
Bill attended Dublin High School. “I’ve known some of these people all of our lives,” he said. They’re our neighbors. Other volunteers include Robert and Shelia Helton, Esther and Jesus Daniel, plus many others, but Ray and Barbara are the hardest working people I’ve ever met. They started this with their own money.”
The Love Basket, located at 207 E. Elm Street in the Quik-Lok Storage Buildings, is open the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month from 8-11 am and again from 5-7 pm. Any Erath County resident struggling to put food on the table qualifies. The Love Basket receives funding from individual contributions and various grants—Erath County United Way giving the largest and most consistent grants. Dublin’s Love Basket currently offers hope to about 200 families, twice a month.
“We will be in operation until the Lord tells us otherwise,” Barbara added.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FOOD PANTRY AND COMMUNITY TABLE
About twenty years ago, members of the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) opened their hearts and their doors to offer food for those difficult times. Annette Cleveland and other members began with member donations.
Julia Broussard is just one who has helped to sustain that ministry. “My food bank volunteering is most important to me. Hunger is something that changes you as a person. Your outlook and understanding of the world are shaped by your food supply. Enough food allows you to focus on other priorities. Not enough, it’s all you think about. It is my honor to help feed people.”
Staff member Leta Sage works as the one-person-person, serving each Dublin family that calls. “It started years ago by the Administrative Council of the local congregation and was initially managed by Annette Cleveland. Mike and Mary Haley as well as Julia Broussard served as managers at various times through the years. Food is distributed on a calendar month basis.
“It's always good to call 254-445-2157 before you come to make sure someone is available,” Leta suggested. “Each client may come to the church office, 630 Highland Avenue, for a box of food, the estimated value of $50, once per calendar month. The only requirement is proof of Dublin residency and a photo ID. Current pantry hours are 9-1 Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9-12 Tuesday. Participation varies from month to month and holds steady throughout the year.”
The pantry is funded by donations from the congregation and Brookshire Brothers grocery store. Also, the Post Office, Boy Scouts, Dublin Public Schools, TOPS, and Highland Avenue Congregational Methodist Church food drives benefit the FUMC pantry, and Tarrant County Food Bank gives and members donations.
Stephenville Area Elks Lodge 2834 Beacon Grant gives generous funding over the last four years, contributing money to the food pantry as well as the monthly Community Table ministry that feeds a hot meal to more than 300 Dublin residents every month. The Community Table ministry is Mike and Mary Haley and DJ Klutts. The greatest needs for any pantry ministry are volunteers and funding.
Julia said it best, “Jesus was always feeding people. We are His hands and feet.”
ESCAPE TO THE Great Outdoors
By Heather Rothrock
Are you looking for a reason to camp? Need some justification to escape to the great outdoors? We've got you covered! Camping, with the appeal of disconnecting from the chaos of daily life and reconnecting with nature, is a popular activity that people have enjoyed for generations.
There's nothing like the great outdoors to ease your soul! Camping, with the appeal of disconnecting from the chaos of daily life and reconnecting with nature, is a popular activity that people have enjoyed for generations. In 1908, Thomas Hiram Holding, considered by many to be the founder of modern recreational camping, used his childhood experiences as part of a 300-person wagon train that crossed over 1200 miles of prairies as the basis for his book "The Camper's Handbook." The mid-1850s had campers focused on survival rather than recreation; however, this time's activities led to camping as a recreational activity.
Are you looking for a reason to camp? Need some justification to escape to the great outdoors? We've got you covered!
1. Disconnect - go where cellphone service is limited and delete social media apps from your phone. Many campgrounds don't have wifi or even cell service!
Emails and texts get zero attention, so you can truly disconnect from the humdrum of daily life!
2. Get closer to nature - submerge yourself in it! Being outside can fight depression, lower blood pressure, and boost mental health. Many of us spend our days at work, under fluorescent lights or in front of computer screens - spending time outdoors gives our minds and bodies a much-needed reset.
3. Cost - camping is as inexpensive or expensive as you want it to be! You can go big and camp in a massive fifth-wheel, or you can rough it in a two-person tent.
Camping gear is relatively inexpensive, and the cost to stay at a state park is minimal. State and national parks offer discounts or free admission for various reasons - this is something worth looking into!
4. You can stay close to home if you want. Do some research and find those local trails you've never hiked or the waterfall that you've never seen. Explore your area and see it all from a new and natural perspective.
5. It's good for your soul and your heart! Camping involves exercise - hike, bike, swim, kayak, go tubing... take advantage of nature's gym! Breathe deeply, keep looking up and all around and soak it all in as you unwind.
One of the many reasons camping appeals to people is that there are so many ways to do it!
1. Tent camping is the most basic and straightforward form of camping, and it merely involves finding the right campsite and setting up your tent!
2. Backpacking is a fantastic way to explore the outdoors and get away from everything. Also known as backcountry camping, this activity is rugged and, at times, extreme, so having quality gear and knowing what you're doing is a must. This form of camping isn't for everyone! You will want to have lightweight and durable equipment that will withstand the elements.
3. Campground camping is likely the most common type of camping as it gives you the best of both worlds - amenities such as bathrooms and showers while sleeping outdoors. Amenities available vary by location and sometimes even by campsite within a particular park. 4. Car camping is exactly what it sounds like - you camp in, or on, your vehicle. It is easy to bring sufficient supplies, equipment, and food as your vehicle carries it all. Many people like to car camp in an SUV or van (also known as van camping).
5. A rooftop tent sits on the roof rack of your vehicle or over the bed of a pickup truck. It gives you protection from the weather and easily folds up. Often you don't need a formal campground as you can sleep on the built-in mattress of the rooftop tent anywhere you can find level ground.
6. Camper cabins usually don't have kitchens or bathrooms, but they provide desired shelter and beds. You still have to bring your gear, but a tent is unnecessary. Camping in a cabin is a great way to enjoy the outdoors without messing with a tent!
7. An up and coming form of camping is RV camping, which involves using a recreational vehicle that is either driveable or pulled behind a vehicle. Packing light isn't a concern with RV camping as the RV can store quite a bit. If you don't want to "rough it," you may be limited to campgrounds with RV hookups for water, electricity, and utilities. RVs vary immensely in price, but many people rent out their RV to others. Some even deliver the RV to where you want it for an additional charge.
Spending some time getting organized before, during, and after camping, yields excellent results and less stress. Check out these tips -
** If your finances permit it, buy things strictly for camping and have them already cleaned and packed. Some things you might consider having packed and on hand - coffee mugs, utensils, dishrags, towels, soap, paper products, and such. It's a breeze to grab the totes and go!
** Store your camping gear in clear bins so that you're not rummaging through everything looking for a particular thing.
** An old Army trick - keeping a roll of toilet paper in a coffee can keeps it dry!
** Use your bags for your personal items and clothing.
** Roll, don't fold, clothing and towels. Saves space and things are easy to find. In my family, each kid has a bag. You can imagine how many sibling arguments this has spared us!
** If space permits have two coolers - one for food and one for drinks. In the food cooler, put the ice bag or cooler packs on the bottom, then cooling racks on top of them, and the food sits on the cooling racks (an easy way to keep food from getting soaked).
** When loading a car, keep what you need first easily accessible.
The old saying "practice makes perfect" never rang true in my life, but practice does make things better. The more you camp, the better you will get at the logistics and organization of it all.
Our great state is full of cool places to check out, and camp and the Texas Parks and Wildlife website has oodles of information to help you narrow down where to stay. Here are a few places within driving distance of Erath County that are worth checking out...
1. Dinosaur Valley State Park - Just a short drive away,
Dinosaur Valley State Park is a great place to hike, bike, fish, camp, and more! Enthusiasts enjoy seeing the dinosaur tracks! This park features campsites with full hookups, primitive (walk-in) campsites, and two group sites. 2. Mother Neff State Park - Many of the facilities at
Mother Neff State Park, including the park roads, concession building, and lookout tower, were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a public work relief program that operated from 1933-1942. The CCC
Cabin rents out nightly as a lodge, and the park features full hookup campsites and more primitive ones.
3. Meridian State Park - Located on Lake Meridian, this state park is one of the smaller ones, and you can swim, fish, hike, camp, and take in the beautiful landscape.
Kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards are available for rent year-round. This state park offers a choice of primitive or full hookup sites and the use of cabins.
4. Cleburne State Park - All campsites at this facility have water and electricity, and some have sewer hookups.
Screened shelters and a cabin are available for rent as well. Located on Cedar Lake, you can enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, and no-wake boating.
5. Lake Whitney State Park - Largemouth, striped and white bass, along with blue catfish, are among the fish anglers might catch at this state park. You do not need a fishing license to fish from the shore in a state park. Campsites with water only, water and electricity, and full hookups, as well as screened shelters, are available.
6. Colorado Bend State Park - This state park is a family favorite! If you haven't seen the breathtaking 70-foot spring-fed Gorman Falls, then a trip to this park is a necessity! Wear good shoes, and be prepared for a rocky hike. The park features back-to-nature camping - with drive-up sites, walk-in tent sites, or hike-in primitive campsites. No hookups are available.
7. Mineral Wells State Park - This park, near what was once and popular health resort, features miles of trails, rock climbing, and a lake.
Contact the parks directly or park information at 1-800-792-1112 or check out the Texas Parks and Wildlife website https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/ for more details.
Index of Advertisers
4C's Rodeo and Ranch .............................................Back Cover
Ace Hardware.................................................................................. 32
Ag Texas Farm Credit Services.................................................94
Allied Body & Frame Co. ............................................................94
Apollo Computers Inc. or Stephenville.................................... 9
Apparel by Twisted J............................................................... 18-19
Associated Well Services, Inc.................................................. 102
Baili Nettleship Photography.....................................................54
Barefoot Athletics..........................................................................63
Beans and Franks......................................................................... 102
Bill Oxford, Attorney at Law ......................................................79
Blue Flamingo .................................................................................90
BMY .....................................................................Inside Front Cover
Bradberry’s Best.............................................................................80
CJ’S Spurs-N-Thangs....................................................................68
Cowboy Way Travel..................................................................... 102
Cross B Photography....................................................................44
Cross Timbers Family Services.................................................90
Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council...............................................81
Cross Timbers Orthopaedics........................................................5
Dental Excellence............................................................................41
Dickerson Real Estate...................................................................69
Dowell Water Well ......................................................................... 32
Dublin EDC ..........................................................................................7
Dublin Insurance Agency .......................................................... 103
Dublin ISD ...................................................................................26-27
Easter Heat & Air............................................................................95
Edwards & Stokes ..........................................................................94
Erath Plumbing ...............................................................................80
F & M Bank...................................................................................... 102 First Financial Bank.......................................................................68
First National Bank of Dublin ................................................... 110
Fraser Agency, Inc .........................................................................45
Fraser, Wilson & Bryan, P.C. ...........................................................1
Gifford Electronics ........................................................................95
Home Place ...................................................................................... 32
Jasper’s Café ..................................................................................95
JT’s Deer Processing......................................................................81
Lawrence Hay & Feed .................................................................68
Members Trust ............................................................................... 78
Moms Who Know..............................................................................3
Nurture n’ Nature ..............................................................................3
Peacock’s Restaurant ....................................................................91
Pinspiration Stephenville ......................................................... 103
RedFin Pools.....................................................Inside Back Cover
Scott’s Flowers................................................................................95
Security Storage.............................................................................55
Stephenville Evening Lions Club............................................ 103
Stephenville Family Dentistry ...................................................33
Sue Ann Porter, CPA, PLLC ........................................................112
Swindles Jewelry............................................................................69
Taylor Lynn Photography............................................................62
Texas Health Hospital of Stephenville ......................................2
The Hay & Feed Ranch................................................................ 110
The Purple Goat............................................................................ 103
The Salon........................................................................................... 78
The Wicked Clover ........................................................................94
Upland Bird Extravaganza........................................................ 103
Veldhuizen Cheese Shoppe ...................................................... 40
Woods Furniture .............................................................................91
PLEASE THANK THESE ADVERTISERS FOR MAKING THIS PUBLICATION POSSIBLE!
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BUILDING OUR OWN COMMUNITY
ONE PERSON AT A TIME
COWBOY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD STEPHENVILLE, TX
We are a RV Park focused on building a community within Stephenville, TX where everything you need is never more than a few steps away! We offer a full service campground for nightly or monthly rental, cabin rentals and stall rentals. The campground and cabin rentals include the use of our top of the line facility. We have an outdoor lighted arena with incredible ground for all equine events, outdoor patio and stalls available for our guests as well.
This is all located just 1.4 miles from Lone Star Arena and 3.2 miles from the Tarleton State University. Arena is available for use by tenants or available for lease on an hour by hour basis to the public.
We are continually building and striving to make 4C’s Rodeo Ranch your ultimate full service campground and cabin rental facility. We have big plans for the future and hope that you join our newly founded community!
