Erath County Living Spring 2019

SPRIN G 2019

Just call her a “Jane of all trades”….Carli Pounds relates her philosophy on life, horses and entrepreneurial success.

FIFTY YEARS IN THE EIGHTSECOND ZONE Built on its history by the rodeo community, the ride continues into a new generation.

IT ALL STARTED WITH A VISION The preservation of Stephenville’s Historic District and the prestigious honor that came with it.

Hometown Li v ing At Its Best

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Hometown Living At Its Best

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Contents

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32

54

Built on its history by the rodeo community, the ride continues into a new generation. Don’t miss it. Erath County became the place to hang your spurs and grow families and a world championship rodeo followed.

Just call her a “Jane of all trades.” Carli Pounds relates her philosophy on life, horses and work and what experiences have made her a success at the old age of 28.

A small non-profit located just outside Dublin, Kids Across Culture, is fueled by compassion and desire to help provide access to some of the more than 844 million people around the world who don’t have reliable and consistent access to clean water.

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FIFTY YEARS IN THE EIGHT-SECOND ZONE

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THE ROAD TO SUCCESS IS PAVED WITH CINNAMON ROLLS The creation of a special cinnamon roll (and the passion of a kid baker) launched a four-entrepreneur enterprise in downtown Dublin.

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REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR LIFE: SPARK SOME JOY

BY DECLUTTERING Clutter. Everyone deals with it. Inspired by a friend who has barely any clutter contaminating her home, learn how one ECL writer rids her home of un-“Joyful” belongings, and gives us a few tips we can use to “spark” your own purge!

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Erath County Living

BASKETS FULL OF HAPPINESS

IT ALL STARTED WITH A VISION How one woman’s desire to connect with her community inspired a chain of events that will stand the test of time.

The preservation of Stephenville’s Historic District and the prestigious honor that came of it.

46

PEACOCK’S RESTAURANT: 45 YEARS STRONG In an era of chain restaurants and fast food, when you enter Peacock’s, you know you’ve stepped into one of Stephenville’s best eating establishments. Recently celebrating its 45th anniversary, Peacock’s restaurant possesses a rare distinction of being family-owned the entire time!

KIDS ACROSS CULTURE

WHAT SEPARATION? Seriously, folks...here's the TRUTH about the Wall of Separation between Church and State.

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KEEPING IT REAL WITH PAIGE MURRAY Juggling being a wife, new mom and balancing a career, Paige Murray is a woman who wears many hats…..not just the one saying she is Ty Murray’s wife!

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Contents

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108

The stately Holt House stands out on Church Street. As a new generation of school children walk past, the imaginative ones may fantasize about the history of the home.

“I’m bored. There isn’t anything to do….” A frequent phrase heard from children over summer vacation. Break the cycle and show your kids all the different options that can expand their horizons within the Cross Timbers area.

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Today the Thames family is growing future leaders in Erath County 4-H.

Well, here in a place where cattle can be observed dotting the landscape, someone finally had to ask the question, “Can I make biofuel out of all those cow patties?” Associate Professor Dr. Eun Sung Kan, of TSU and Texas A&M, believed it was possible and is working with local students to find a way.

HOLT HOUSE: A DREAM COME TRUE

FIVE GENERATIONS FIND THE 4H SECRET

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SUN, SUMMER AND OUTSIDE

COW PATTY POWER!

3 FINANCIAL TOOLS YOU SHOULD BE USING Welcome to 2019. How’s your money situation looking? If it’s anything like the stats show, you might want to pay attention.

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About the Cover

WHITE HORSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

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Vanessa Halford joked that when she retired from public education, she would start her own private school with individualized instruction.

Following her retirement in December 2015, a chance meeting brought that plan into action, creating White Horse Christian Academy.

Carli Pounds tells us her philosophy on life, horses and business. Read her entire story on page 32.

SPRIN G 2019

Just call her a “Jane of all trades”….Carli Pounds relates her philosophy on life, horses and entrepreneurial success.

FIFTY YEARS IN THE EIGHTSECOND ZONE

Built on its history by the rodeo community, the ride continues into a new generation.

IT ALL STARTED WITH A VISION

The preservation of Stephenville’s Historic District and the prestigious honor that came with it.

Hometown Li v ing At Its Best

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS 30 Sundown on the

Square

72 Night of Broadway 81 Choices Annual Banquet

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Erath County Living

92 Life in Dublin 105 Happy Birthday,

Dr. Seuss!

113 Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2019

114 Cross Timbers Fine

Arts Council Happenings

119 Holly Jolly Festival

45 HOMETOWN GRADUATES 64 HOMETOWN HAPPINESS

136 BUNDLES OF JOY

Never leave your health to chance.

We hope you never need us. But if you do, you can count on Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville to be here for you and your loved ones with advanced care across a wide range of services.

Breast Care ■ Diabetes Care ■ Emergency Care ■ Heart & Vascular Services ■ Imaging Outpatient Surgery ■ Women & Infants Care ■ Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine

1-877-THR-WELL | TexasHealth.org/Stephenville

Doctors on the medical staffs practice independently and are not employees or agents of Texas Health hospitals or Texas Health Resources. © 2019

From the Publisher

PUBLISHER

Red Fin Publishing Justin & Hayley Six

Kyle & Halsey Clark

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Hayley Six

CREATIVE | DESIGN

GreenFox Marketing

ONTENT COORDINATOR Jennifer Cabbage C

Jennifer.RedFin@Gmail.com

O

ur lives are busy! We can speak from experience that at the end of a day, we can be left on empty. The demands to do all things and be excellent at all things is a constant battle to be won. Although we encourage you to “seize the

day,” “be EXTRAordinary,” “slay,” and the list of cliché phrases goes on and on, in a “carpe diem” world, we embolden you to also “stop and smell the roses.”

Take the time to build margin in your lives, time to catch up with friends, make dinner with family, or learn something new. We ask you to sit and read a magazine, preferably this one, and be inspired by someone who is doing something great for others. Make time to do something for someone else. Pray. Breathe. Love. Repeat.

We tell you with every issue how much the people of Bell County inspire us. We pray that with their stories you are given joy, hope, encouragement, and rest—from the momentary busyness that is calling to you even at the very moment you finally sit down.

The Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo turns 50 years old this year! Being such a huge part of Erath County’s history, read about the founders of the rodeo and the work they have done to make it evolve to what it is today, the heart and soul they have poured into this event making it the BEST rodeo around!

Also in this issue, you will meet a family with FIVE generations of 4-H members who say they owe their 4-H raising to the people they are today. Both livestock and servant leaders are being raised from our local 4-H programs, making a huge impact for our community.

We want to thank our advertisers for making Erath County Living possible and free to the community! Without your support, we would not be able to do what we do. Help us express our gratitude by shopping local and visiting their establishments to pick up your complimentary copy.

As always, this publication is about you! Please feel free to email us photos of your

events to add to our Hometown Happenings, or any stories you would like to read in the next issue. We would love to hear from you! Contact us via email or Facebook to let us know about your neighbors who are going above and beyond to make Erath County a great place to live and work.

Jordan Murdock Jordan.RedFin@Gmail.com SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR Amy Wilkins

PROOF READER

Jennifer Cabbage

PHOTOGRAPHERS Brazos Rose Photography Brooke Mendenhall Photography

Dudley Barker Photography Kim Leatherwood Photography

Taylor’d Photos

COVER PHOTO by Brazos Rose Photography

SALES Amy Wilkins Bruce Racioppa Justin Six

CONTRIBUTING

WRITERS

Peggy Purser Freeman Chad Hailey Janette Halliday Martha Helton Connie Lewis Leonard

Allegra Schroeder Brandynn Stanford Michael Tummillo

Karen Wright

CONTRIBUTORS

Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council Dublin Chamber of Commerce

Stephenville Chamber of Commerce

We give thanks to God for our many blessings and look forward to a great year to come!

Until the next edition, wishing you many blessings-

Justin and Hayley Six

Kyle and Halsey Clark

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Erath County Living© is published semi-annually by Red Fin Publishing.

www.ErathCountyLiving.com P.O. Box 1239 | Weatherford, TX 76086 (817) 301-3828

Erath County Living Magazine | Red Fin Publishing

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Erath County Living

All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written authorization from the publisher.

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein.

Advertising is subject to omission, errors, and other changes without notice.

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Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo

FIFTY YEARS IN THE

EIGHT-SECOND ZONE

By Peggy Purser Freeman Photos Provided by Dudley Barker Photography and Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo

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Erath County Living

BUILT ON ITS HISTORY BY THE RODEO COMMUNITY, THE RIDE CONTINUES INTO A NEW GENERATION. DON’T MISS IT. ERATH COUNTY BECAME THE PLACE TO HANG YOUR SPURS AND GROW FAMILIES AND A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO FOLLOWED.

T

hey ride into the Cowboy Capital of the World from across the nation. They strap on their chaps, secure their spurs, and enter the arena where time stands still. They grab a mount and hang on as the moments of their life flash by on a wild, eight-second journey.

Some say the first rodeo galloped into history in 1869 when a couple of ranchers met in Colorado, hankering to prove their cowhands' abilities at riding and roping.

Others wager the first recorded rodeo happened in Arizona. Texans swear it officially started in Pecos, Texas, in 1883. Soon, rodeos kicked up dust across the country and the “cowhand” quickly became the “cowboy” proving his skills as the fastest, toughest, and most fearless.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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In 1937, the rodeo became a social gathering when showman Everett Colborn purchased a rodeo company and came to Texas. Three years later, Erath County opened its first rodeo in Dublin’s city park. In September of that year, Colborn's “World Championship Rodeo” hosted a 20th Century Fox crew filming the newsreel titled “Rodeo Goes to Town.” By 1942, Everett Colborn and his partners merged their rodeo with movie star Gene Autry’s rodeo. They were performing at that time in Madison Square Garden with the rodeo in Dublin. Erath County became the place to hang your spurs and grow families and a world championship rodeo followed.

The first true national cowboys organization emerged in 1936, when a group of cowboys and cowgirls forced one of the biggest rodeo producers, Col. W.T. Johnson, to listen to their demands. Johnson gave in, under duress, giving better prize money and judges who understood rodeo. The Cowboys Turtle Association was born.

The name was chosen because they had been slow to act, however had finally stuck their necks out for their cause. In 1945, the Turtles became the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA)—a sanctioning body to govern rodeo rules.

Whit Keeney was one of the Turtles—professional cowboys who toured on a train from Madison Square Garden down to its last stop—Dublin, Texas. His niece, Wanda Jetton, was one of the twenty to thirty teenagers who spent their afternoons riding at the Audie Murphy Arena in Stephenville.

“I really looked up like my Uncle Keeney,” Jetton said.

“My parents got together with others and started the Trail Blazers. We drilled on horseback, toured to nearby towns, and performed in grand entries. We wore red ties, blue jeans, and a hat. Makes me smile just to think of it. Leaders like George and Beulah Brown (both in the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame), Junior McNeil, and Jean and Toby Stone and more.”

Recently, Marla Bush, with information from Linda Boucher, compiled a narrative of little-known facts associated with the Audie Murphy Arena and secured a Texas Historical Marker. Marla explained, “In 1962, Ray Woods brought the Arena to Stephenville. Its namesake— Audie Murphy - served during World War II and earned 28 medals, including a Medal of Honor, three citations from France and one from Belgium. After his career starring in movies, Murphy worked as a salesman in the Dallas area and made friends with Ray Woods. Woods constructed a rodeo arena on his property near Euless and named it after his new friend. Woods eventually moved the Audie Murphy Arena to Stephenville, where the facility attracted cowboys and spectators to regular rodeo performances where Murphy made frequent appearances.”

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Erath County Living

formed to build an arena with stands where amateur Bush said about the Texas Historical Marker, rodeos could be held.

“Stephenville has the honor of being home to an arena The Trail Blazers grew up and took up the reigns named for the most decorated soldier of World War II. for the next generation. Cindra’s husband, Chick Elms, Even though it no longer exists, the site is recognized was one of those involved in the Livestock Association. because of the generations of championship cowboys and “Chick and others worked mowing, doing repairs, cowgirls it spawned.” cleaning restrooms—whatever needed to be done.”

Cindra Lewallen Elms shared her memories of The Hampton family is the Trail Blazers. “It was another multiple-generations a family-oriented culture IN 1969 THE GATES OPENED ON THE rodeo family that participated and hosted camp-outs, trail FIRST RODEO COWBOYS ASSOCIATION in the Trail Blazers. Johnny rides, and barn dances. There Wayne Hampton and his were too many to name who (RCA) SANCTIONED RODEO HELD IN father worked to build the donated their time to secure THE ERATH COUNTY LIVESTOCK new facility, where Johnny the rodeo way of life for the Wayne’s son Row and young people of that time.”

ASSOCIATION ARENA. daughter J.J. Hampton made In the mid-1960s, when their mark in rodeo history. the land was sold and the Grandson Marty Yates continues the rodeo tradition.

Audie Murphy Arena dismantled, the Trail Blazers, “It took everyone,” Barbara Hampton said. Barbara their parents, local ranchers, businessmen, and the Erath married into the rodeo, but quickly became one of those County Livestock Association (ECLA) recognized the parents who helped to create family events. “Everyone importance of the rodeo performances for the ranching worked moving dirt, building, and welding. The first community. This group supported by people like G.K. event was the Tarleton Rodeo. The welders were still Lewallen, Alex and Beverly Fambro, Bill and Margaret there working when the participants arrived.”

Parham. Bill Oxford, plus Ken Doris—Senor and Junior

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Erath County Living

In 1969 the gates opened on the first Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA) sanctioned rodeo held in the Erath County Livestock Association Arena. For decades volunteers hosted amateur and RCA events. In 1975, the RCA evolved into the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) By 2009 the upkeep at the outdoor fairgrounds grew to overload, so the rodeo was moved to Lone Star Arena.

From the foundation of the ECLA, the Cowboy Capital Pro Rodeo Association (CCPRA) was formed in 2013.

“Since its inception, the Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo has grown by leaps, jumps, and bucks.” said Casey Hammons, a CCPRA board member said.

“An amazing lineup of sponsors supports the rodeo and thousands of dedicated rodeo fans pack Lone Star Arena to witness the best rodeo athletes in the world compete.

Nearly 600 professional rodeo athletes journey to the Cowboy Capital every September for over $100,000 in cash, buckles, spurs, and trophy rifles.”

Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo offers the cowboy his last chance of the season to raise his rank in the PRCA national standings. For four years the Cowboy Capital of the World Pro Rodeo received a nomination as one of the PRCA’s Top 5 Medium-Size Rodeo of the Year. The cowgirls of the WPRA Texas circuit voted Stephenville as having the ‘Best Dirt’ seven times since the Justin Best Footing Award began in the mid-1990s.

COWBOY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD PRCA RODEO OFFERS THE COWBOY HIS LAST CHANCE OF THE SEASON TO RAISE HIS RANK IN THE PRCA NATIONAL STANDINGS. Each September the Rodeo Heritage Week invites everyone to ride into the Cowboy Capital’s rodeo history.

Enjoy the rodeo parade, mutton busting, dummy roping, western art exhibit, 5K, live music, county team roping, rodeo queen contest, fashion show, the PRCA Rodeo, and a few more events any day of the week.

“Since the CCPRA’s takeover of the rodeo from the ECLA, a lot of awesome changes have been made for the fans, sponsors, and the cowboys.” Casey Hammons added, “But as awesome as the rodeo is in 2019, it couldn’t be what it is without the dedicated supporters from the past.”

The Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo built on its history by the rodeo community continues the ride into a new generation. Don’t miss it.

For the schedule and advance tickets sales locations visit: www.cowboycapitalprcarodeo.com ECL

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Erath County Living

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS IS PAVED WITH

Cinnamon Rolls

By Karen Wright

Photos by Brooke Mendenhall Photography and Provided by Dublin Chamber of Commerce

The creation of a special cinnamon roll (and the passion of a kid baker) launched a four-entrepreneur enterprise in downtown Dublin.

I

t wasn’t just a cinnamon roll.Gooey and luscious, of course, but more than that, it was destined to become the signature taste treat of a tiny home-based bakery, Nikki’s Neat Eats, named for a 16-yearold kid who just couldn’t stay out of the kitchen.

Nikki’s mom, Crystal DeHay, realized when Lauren Nicole was nine that her daughter was passionate about baking, especially cupcakes and fondant cakes, so a “cottage industry” was born in their home. Crystal knew the little bakery would need to expand into other food products, so she experimented with a very large batch of cinnamon rolls – so many that she had to share with

friends and neighbors.

The response was so huge and positive that cinnamon rolls became her destiny – and occupied her time every weekend.

Comments on Facebook attracted attention and the cinnamon roll business took on a life of its own.

Crystal worked two other jobs but devoted weekends to trying to keep up with the demand for her gooey treats.

The state-licensed home bakery quickly outgrew its single oven and limited counter space. Crystal, Lauren and sister, Jasmine, were peddling as fast as they could to keep up with the continuous orders, which were being driven by word of mouth and social media.

“It was obvious when Lauren was nine years old that I couldn’t keep her out of the kitchen. That’s how a cottage industry became Nikki’s Neat Eats.”

Then opportunity came knocking last fall. The Dublin Economic Development Corporation and entrepreneur Mark Ellis were searching for ways to help new businesses get started through a cooperative space-sharing concept.

When they met Crystal and tasted her cinnamon rolls, they agreed that a downtown coffee shop was the perfect anchor tenant, along with other new businesses who would “launch” their businesses with a safety net.

When Mark first sampled the cinnamon rolls, he admits to sitting in his pickup in front of the store eating a cold cinnamon roll with no drink and no napkins and would have battled anyone who tried to take it away from him. “It was everything I had heard and more! What a treat.”

They invited Crystal to talk to them about her goals and ambitions. The timing seemed right to get those dreams on paper and turn them into a bank-worthy business plan. If she were able to secure her own

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Erath County Living

financing for the bakery, she would be offered six months of free rent, sharing space with a small, carefully selected group of other start-ups. They would share expenses and determine on their own how they wanted to operate their businesses within the framework of what was known as The Launch Pad. At the end of six months, each tenant would evaluate if they wished to remain at the location and, if so, they would negotiate a rent agreement with Mark. If they felt they were ready to move on, the DEDC would help them locate suitable space.

Crystal began working on her business plan with the help of Amy Wright of Tarleton’s Small Business Development Center, which shares local office space with the DEDC’s Karen Wright (no relation). Because of Crystal’s ability to quickly grasp the business plan process after having operated a successful cottage bakery, she was able to grind out realistic numbers and make three-year projections which came together into a game plan.

Armed with that business plan, she secured the loan at a local bank. Then she began the grueling but exciting process of mentally converting the empty space of a 100-year-old rock building into a coffee shop. With pencil and tape measure in hand, she designed efficient space within state and local guidelines. She sketched her layout, the cooking necessities and display areas, the required triple sink and separate mop sink, the stove vent, and the necessary cabinets and storage, where she took advantage of her father, Bob Becker, well-known in the area for his artistry with cabinetmaking.

Then she discovered the challenges and occasional frustrations of coordinating her skilled labor (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, vent and AC/heat technicians, painters, etc.) around their tight schedules and in the proper order. In between, she shopped for equipment and supplies.

But three months after walking into the doors of the DEDC as a cottage industry, Nikki’s Neat Eats was officially an LLC and ready for its grand opening.

The girls expanded their menu to include casseroles in individual and family size, specialty breads including snickerdoodle and honey wheat, various cookies and cupcakes, cheesecakes and pies, and even Keto-friendly fare.

“We weren’t nervous as we went through the loan process because it all felt very right,” Crystal said. “We started contacting people in our social circles to get the word out that we would be opening a downtown coffee shop.”

Obviously, few projects are without some rough spots.

“It seemed like every part of the process was taking longer than we expected and we just kept waiting on the state’s licensing department to say we could officially operate as a food establishment. Lauren wanted me to call the post office every day to be sure the letter from the state hadn’t been lost in the mail.”

Finally, the paperwork arrived, and the final city inspection was done so the trio could turn on the ovens, flip the door sign to open and go to work. Fortunately, Lauren, like her mom, is an early riser so getting the coffee perking and the ovens going by 6:45 a.m. wasn’t a problem. Jasmine, on the other hand, is quick to point out that she is NOT a morning person which means she takes the later shift. She was also straight forward when the project began that she was not interested in baking – she was there to run the cash register. That changed when she discovered her own creativity which has helped expand the menu. Today, both daughters are officially on the payroll, clocking in each day and earning the company points for creating jobs.

The mother-and-daughters trio have a simple but ambitious goal of becoming the premier bakery for the area, creating affordable sweet treats and savory lunches including sandwiches, wraps, soups and casseroles with side salads and biscuits. Mini pies and cheese cakes are growing in popularity, as are the cookies, macarons and caramel Rice Krispy balls. Experimentation has also led to development of a cinnamon roll with Nutella and cream cheese for which descriptions are not adequate.

Out of respect for their very vocal health-conscious customers, many of the products including casseroles are labeled as keto.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Meanwhile, three other women began working on their own business plans, to qualify to be part of the Launch Pad. What came together is a diverse group of women and products under the same roof, sharing expenses.

It is not likely that the four women, now part of the Iron Star Mercantile, would have met unless all of them had been risk takers, which they are. Each had been eager to build their own business but had not ventured out to do it on their own.

Julia Broussard had already been through the SBDC process when she created the Dublin Soap Company two years ago. An Arlington transplant, she had developed her business plan to compete in the 2017 Entrepreneurs of Erath competition, in which she received an honorable mention. She had already developed a line of natural soaps which she creates and packages in her home garage for sale at the twice-a-month flea market and a couple of area stores. She produces goat soaps and Aloe Vera products made with flowers, vegetables, tree barks and seeds, while creating fresh scents and clever designs such as western boots and tiny babies in pink and blue.

She had long considered the idea of a storefront but had misgivings about the time commitment and the financial investment of doing it alone. The DEDC’s Launch Pad gave her a safety net.

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Erath County Living

Dani McAfee had been selling her laser-engraved tin ceiling tiles in various vendor markets around the area.

She focused on what she knew – western life. She was a newcomer to Texas, a California native who worked more with her horses than on her crafts. She came to the DEDC and SBDC to start on a business plan after reading about the proposed Launch Pad in the local newspaper. Her products, which can be custom designed, were a perfect fit with the diverse products offered at the Launch Pad. Molly Gibson, like Dani, had been marketing her beautiful G7 Ranch wood creations through vendor opportunities in the area. Using aged “slabs” of mesquite and pecan trees from her property on Highway 6 East, she created highly polished table tops, lazy susan turntables and coasters, some enhanced by veins of ground turquoise or mother of pearl. She had already created demand for her products but didn’t have a storefront operation from which to market them. She heard about The Launch Pad at church from Dani’s mom, Odessa Haynes, who regularly minds the store when Dani is busy.

The women created a loose contract and started making plans to share Mark Ellis’s building at 117 East Blackjack, a building known as the Iron Star Mercantile.

Mark is a Stephenville native who returned home after a management career which took him from executive positions in Georgia, Ohio and the Carolinas.

Bored with retirement, he got interested in Dublin real estate. He bought a rundown building in a good location, and then another, and finally a string of buildings on East and West Blackjack and on North Patrick. While it was never his goal, each of those buildings now houses a woman-owned business. When he was approached by the economic development group to offer his building without rent for a six-month period, he opted in as a means of supporting the start-up businesses.

With any new business, targeted marketing is essential. The Texas Department of Agriculture’s Go Texan program provided much of the marketing support which the women needed, since all four of them were creating eligible “made in Texas” products and the Dublin EDC was already an associate member.

The Go Texan program is highly visible in the Iron Star Mercantile where all four tenants are members. Crystal has lined up a fellow Go Texan member, Longhorn Coffee Company in San Angelo, to supply five flavors of Texasroasted coffee beans, and the Iron Star Mercantile sells another Go Texan favorite, Fredericksburg-based Fischer & Wieser products including jellies, jams, condiments and sauces. A variety of Dublin Bottling Works’ popular sodas are also available – another Go Texan member!

Today, the aroma of fresh baked treats permeates the Iron Star Mercantile and spills out onto the sidewalk, tantalizing passersby to enter the store. They browse the artisan work of the entrepreneurs and grab a cup of coffee and a goody. Frequently, people remark that they have heard about the cinnamon rolls.

What a humble beginning to launch a concept that has allowed four entrepreneurs to start their businesses with a safety net. It is a concept which the Economic Development Corporation and Small Business Development Center will likely try again. For more information about the Launch Pad, contact the Dublin EDC at 254 445-1919 or dublintxedc@gmail.com. ECL

What came together (for the Iron Star Mercantile) is a diverse group of women and products under the same roof, sharing expenses.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Revolutionize Your Life: S pa r k So m e Joy

by D e c l u t t e r i n g

By Martha Helton

I

just had a secret fantasy fulfilled. While having our roof repaired, we had one of those huge dumpsters set in our driveway as a receptacle for roof debris.

The big magical question we asked our contractor: “Can we throw away some of our stuff?” He invited us “to have at it.” I gleefully raced through the house gathering heavy junk--an old vacuum, old crutches that we “might” use again someday, boxes of books that would bring less than $10 at Half Price books (it costs more in gas to get there!), old scraps of lumber, etc.

I heaved and shoved over the top. Items fell blissfully out of sight and mind. My next-door neighbor got inspired so I let her “have at it” as well. Wow! Talk about relief! According to www. homeadvisor.com, the average price for fulfilling a dumpster rental dream is $395. Yes, a little pricey but perhaps you can have a block party where everyone flings their large garbage items together, making the dumpster rental more affordable. Lol. Clutter. Everyone deals with it. The thing that bugs me about living with clutter is that I’m so busy

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reshuffling my clutter around or hunting down something that it prevents me from accomplishing more noble causes outside of my home. I’m inspired by a couple who barely have any tchotchkes cluttering any surface in their house. The few items they do display have personal significance. Talk about easy breezy clean up! The husband retired last year and they have filled their lives with ministry opportunities and are about to embark on a grand adventure, hiking the Appalachian Trail for six months. They are free to invest themselves outside their home because they aren’t stuck at home, endlessly dusting and shuffling all their tchotchkes.

In the hit Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, Kondo shares a unique way of looking at decluttering. The KonMari Method™ (named for Marie Kondo) is a state of mind – and a way of life – that encourages cherishing the things that spark joy in one's life. She instructs you to place your belongings in your hands, one at a time, and ask if it sparks joy. If it does, keep it. If the item does not spark joy, get rid of it.

Belongings are acknowledged for their service – and thanked before being let go--should they no longer spark joy. According to Kondo, possessions are stripped of their dignity when they go unused at home. Then when you have only your most joy-giving belongings picked out, put every item in a place that is visible, accessible and easy to grab. And in so doing, there will be more space for you to do the things you love surrounded by the possessions you adore.

Because it is such a unique way of decluttering, I’ll share five tips for using the KonMari Method of organizing (taken from www.livible.com/blog/ultimatekonmari-guide):

1 . Ti dy All at O n ce

Instead of cleaning one room a day, devote an entire day (or weekend) to tidying up. If you only tidy one room at a time over an extended period of time, it will wind up

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getting messy again in a matter of a few weeks or months.

This might sound a bit daunting. Not all of us have the time or the will to tackle our homes all in one go.

Fret not! The lovely Marie Kondo counsels doing what you can if you can’t do it all in one day.

2. Visualize th e Desti nati o n

Before you throw things out, visualize what you want your ideal lifestyle to be. Having concrete goals such as “I want to live like a Goddess, surrounded by beauty and harmony” is much better than “I want to live in a clean house”. Or like my retired friends, their ideal lifestyle might be, “We want to streamline things comfortably and efficiently, so that we are free to invest in life-enriching endeavors.”

KonMari teaches that by thinking in such concrete terms, you can more accurately visualize the home and lifestyle you wish to have.

5. Ti dy i n O rder

Kondo has come up with the ideal order in which you should tidy up: • Clothes • Books • Papers • Kimono (miscellaneous stuff) • Sentimental You can then separate everything out from each category into sub-categories which will make the process even easier. For example, the category “Clothes” could be sub-divided seasonally. Creating your own subcategories makes it easier to visualize what you have, what you need, and what does or doesn’t bring you joy.

3. Determine if the Item "Sparks Joy”

Marie Kondo’s lessons show that in focusing on what does not make you happy, you’re only inviting unhappiness into your life. If you look around your home and dwell on those items you can’t stand, you’re just generating more negativity.

Instead, teaches Kondo, you should focus on what you love. By highlighting the items that bring you joy, the unenjoyed falls to the wayside. At the same time, by focusing your energy so positively on such joyful items, you are creating more happiness in your life. Sounds pretty great, right?

When assessing whether an item brings joy or not, there’s no need to bring any “rational thinking” into the mix at this stage. You need to feel the item. Use your emotions and feelings to make a determination as to whether or not you’re going to keep something.

If you find it hard to get rid of some items as the KonMari method instructs you, you aren’t alone!

Although the method is a great guide to help you declutter, you don’t have to follow it to the letter. You can always store things, in your home or in a nearby storage facility, that you think might bring joy in the future. For instance, if your toddler doesn’t need his crib anymore, you may need the crib if you plan to have more kids in your future so storing it makes sense.

For more detailed information about the KonMari Method, you can watch the Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, or you can order her book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and her follow-up book Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up. The follow-up book is an illustrated guide with stepby-step folding illustrations for everything from shirts to socks, plus drawings of perfectly organized drawers and closets. Also included is advice on frequently asked questions. Don’t want to buy any books? Check out Marie Kondo or KonMari on www.youtube.com.

Go forth and spark some decluttering joy! ECL

4 . Ti dy by Catego ry, Not Lo cati o n

Most people store items that fall into the same “category” in various locations. For example, you probably have clothes in your closet, under your bed and in your dresser. So instead of tackling a closet or a dresser, tackle your clothes first.

Locate every single piece of clothing you have and lay it out on your living room floor. Then, individually handle each clothing item to determine to keep or not to keep. Kondo has specific ways to fold clothes and store them in your home for neatness and accessibility. Check out Kondo’s book, Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up to see illustrations of her techniques.

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Stephenville

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Erath County Living

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SUNDOWN ON THE SQUARE Photos Provided by Fisher Rinderknecht at Flight Reach Productions and Metta Collier

Stephenville celebrated another fantastic Sundown on the Square Festival on October 12, 2018. Headliner Asleep at the Wheel was accompanied by CB Sutton and the Outcast Band for phenomenal entertainment in Stephenville. Ms. Janice Horak was recognized as Mistress of Ceremonies, and special thanks to all of the committee members who worked so hard to make this year’s festival a success!

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Hometown Living At Its Best

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By Janette Halliday Photos by Brazos Rose Photography

O

n any given day, you can find Carli Pounds tackling a large to-do list. The Jane-of-all-trades has a varied background that all points to the success she enjoys now. She has experience as a professional cook, a vet technician and dental assistant. But, these days, you will find her happiest right in her own backyard taking care of all things red roan- horses and baskets.

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Hometown Living At Its Best

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RE D ROAN ROPE BASKE TS

Carli can’t stand for something that could be repurposed to be thrown away. As a child, growing up between Dublin and Stephenville, she would dig though trash and find old bottles. She was obsessed with the idea of flipping houses, before it was a trend. She maintains the lifestyle of buying someone else’s trash to become her treasure. She learned from her grandmother who survived the depression with the mantra, “waste not, want not.”

The repurposing lifestyle is now a business for Carli, born from her husband’s castaways. She says her team roping husband is the biggest diva when it comes to the ropes he uses in the arena. When he doesn’t like the feel of a rope, he gets rid of it. “If he doesn’t like a rope, he gives it to me.”

She started storing those unwanted ropes and before long, his castaways and those of others began to take up valuable real estate. “He said ‘get rid of them’,” so she had to do something because she refused to put them in the trash.

Red Roan Rope Baskets was born from being stranded at her house. Carli vividly recalls how it came to be. She and Tyler had not been married long and she suffered a blown motor in her truck. Carli’s husband is an oilfield worker, gone more often than he is home. She couldn’t afford to fix her truck, which meant that she

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didn’t have transportation to get a job in town. So, being house bound, she tried her hand something she had seen before—crafting rope baskets. Her first project was a bowl she made and gave as a present, remarking that it was the ugliest thing she had ever seen. But, the fascination and popularity grew with more baskets she completed and soon people were ordering, mostly from word of mouth or pictures she would post on social media.

She now has a room dedicated to this craft. The ropes are color coordinated but she has to make sure she has enough of each color to start an order, adding that people are usually set on their desired color scheme when they order one of her creations.

Carli is a self-proclaimed crafter but also admits her attention is easily diverted. “This is the first thing I have stuck with,” she said laughing, because she really didn’t take the idea seriously as a business until she made hamper, complete with a lid. She is glad she can stay at home doing her baskets because it allows her to take care of all her responsibilities at home while her husband is working out of town. “You have to be more disciplined when you work for yourself,” said Pounds.

She doesn’t keep an inventory because every order is custom and she has plenty of orders waiting. She has done mirrors and picture frames but said that hampers and bowls seem to be the most popular. “If it’s round, I can wrap it,” she said.

FOR THE LOVE OF A RED ROAN PONY

Carli’s obsession for horses started as a young girl.

Even growing up in a ranch scenario didn’t make her a horsewoman.

Carli took a leap of faith on her obsession. She sold her first horse, a Paint and turned around and spent $350 for a red roan mare out of five starving mares belonging to a neighbor. She bought the “least skinny” mare of the bunch and brought her home to rehabilitate her. Fast forward, the roan mare flourished under Carli’s care.

She is self-taught horseman and at the tender age of 21, she was learning to rope and everything there was about caring for performance horses. She will tell you that every horse she has is one that she has made. “I have never been handed a finished horse…I have never been handed a perfect situation,” said Carli.

She firmly believes that it was part of God’s plan for her marriage to her husband Tyler because when they met, he had a red roan with a star and a snip. She calls their herd the Brady bunch of red roan horses and they are known for their good horses. “Color is just the cherry on top,” said Carli. Tyler shares the love of good horses and they work hand in hand to make their horses stand above the rest. Their partnership in business and in marriage revolves around the love of good horses and they work hand in hand to make their horses stand above the rest. Carli knows part of that success comes from Tyler’s support, knowledge and understanding of both her and their horses.

Her love for quality, old school, well-bred running horses is sustained by the horse she calls her comeback kid. Peptosheerekittykitty, a.k.a. “Monkey,” her 13-year old prized possession and comeback kid. Monkey had a T-post go through his chest wall and come out beside his withers, causing life threatening injuries with a low possibility of survival, much less ever being sound enough to compete. But survive he did and has proven to be a fighter and competitor. During this year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Monkey brought home AQHA points in as heeling horse in team roping.

“I like good minded horses. A horse can do several things. It’s super nice to see them winning at more than one thing,” said Pounds, adding it’s her goal to breed well bred ranch horses.

She credits a great majority of her learning to living in the Cross Timbers area. “This is the place to be to learn.

Be a sponge and if you want to better yourself, this is the place to do it. If you listen you will grow,” said Pounds.

T H E BIG GE ST INF LU E NC E

Carli said there is one person that has been there for one hundred percent of her life-her 80-year old grandmother, Pat Crutcher, and refers to her as her best friend. Carli started living with her grandmother at 13.

She said her grandmother never caudled her and taught her to work for what she has because no one is entitled.

She rattled off several sage pieces of advice from her grandmother.

She always told me, “Be so strong, kind hearted and respectful but don’t be taken advantage of.” Carli said as a child, when she would do something good, her grandmother would say, “God will put a star in your crown for doing that.”

Her grandmother still tends to her ranch outside of Dublin, taking care of her cows and remains super independent. Carli says “She’s almost always right, but she let’s me make my mistakes because she knows that’s the only way I will learn. She’s tough as nails and so smart in business. I hope I’m half the sassy lady she is when I am her age.”

Carli’s grandmother is proud of her successes, knowing they haven’t come easily and is happy she can do something from home, although admits, she worries about her daily being hurt while working with her horses.

She was also the one who bought her the first piece of raw material—a hamper, for Carli to start her basket business.

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I T’ S A GOOD LIF E

Carli is proud of what she accomplished and works to make her life a happy one stating that, “We live in a never satisfied life. But I am happy.” She credits her husband Tyler for being a large part of her success, as he supports all her endeavors.

“He is extremely supportive and amazing,” said Carli of her husband who shares her love for the horses and her business. She knows that the people in her life have shaped her experiences and learning and she is taking all those lessons and incorporating them into her dreams and relationships.

For more information on Carli’s baskets and red roan horses, follow her on Facebook and Instagram under Red Roan Baskets. ECL

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Hometown Living At Its Best

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How one woman’s desire to connect with her community inspired a chain of events that will stand the test of time. The preservation of Stephenville’s Historic District and the prestigious honor that came of it.

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It All Started with a

Vision

By Allegra Schroeder Photos provided by Stephenville Chamber of Commerce

W

hen one thinks of Nationally Recognized Historic Districts, cities like Charleston, South Carolina and New Orleans, Louisiana come to mind for most people. Even thinking a little more locally, most folks think of Granbury and their town square. However, Stephenville, Texas has recently received an honor worthy of mention that places it amongst the elite of the nation as far as Historic districts.

Stephenville’s downtown historic district was recently awarded a place on the National Register of Historic Places. It began with one woman, and in three years’ time, had the support of an entire community.

The National Register of Historic Places is a federal program administered by the Texas Historic Commission in conjunction with the National Park Service. It is the

Nation’s official list of structures, sites, buildings, objects and districts deemed worthy of preservation for being significant to American history, architecture, culture and archaeology. Anytime an honor like this is bestowed on an area it comes with great benefit for both the town and for property owners.

The benefits of listing a property or district on the National Registry include prestigious recognition to significant properties, encouragement of the preservation of nearby and surrounding historic properties, information about the historic properties for local and statewide planning purposes, the promotion of tourism and economic development, and federal tax credits for property owners to rehabilitate and restore their historic buildings.

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It all started when Michelle Dunkerley retired from years of working as a high technology, in-house attorney.

Making her home outside of Stephenville, she began looking for a way to connect with the community. She purchased the First National Bank building, built by acclaimed architect J. Riley Gordon, on the square and began an extensive renovation. She fell in love with the building, namely the boxcar offices on the second floor.

For her it was about the story, the history of who all and what all businesses had spent time in that building. She didn’t stop there, she went on to restore the original Dawson’s saloon, now home to Greer’s.

When Ms. Dunkerley had success getting her buildings on the National Register, the First National Bank building being the first building in Erath County in thirty years to be listed on the National Register, then Mayor of Stephenville, Kenny Weldon saw the benefit of restoring the whole downtown district, and the first step was to be getting the entire downtown district placed on the National Register. It was to be a huge undertaking and was initially met with resistance as property owners and city administration feared it would be expensive and would place restrictions on the property owners.

Making her home outside of Stephenville, she began looking for a way to connect with the community.

Because of the initial resistance, Mayor Weldon recruited the help of Tarleton State University professor T. Lindsay Baker and his students enrolled in the Historic Preservation Graduate Program. For two years, students catalogued historic properties in Stephenville to help raise awareness as to the historic significance of the area. That is when the turnaround occurred. The initial resistance became unanimous support and a movement ensued. The work the students put in was vital and all the information they catalogued was fantastic support for the eventual application for the National Register.

Enter Mary Saltarelli, widely known in preservation circles and very knowledgeable in her field. Mary wrote the application for the National Registry, and once the application was submitted it received unanimous approval through the Texas Historic Commission. That was the first step, the next step was the National Register application process. In April 2018 the Stephenville Historic District was granted the honor of a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

With the prestigious honor in place, and the tax credits now available for property owners, the Stephenville Economic Development Association (SEDA) is whole heartedly behind the push and offering façade grants for the buildings in the historic district, which will help property and business owners with

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What was once met with resistance has now turned into a ‘Let’s get these buildings fixed up’ attitude.

sprucing up the exterior of their buildings. With all the new research, information and the Historic Designation there is now a firm foundation for future renovation of historic properties in Stephenville. What once was met with resistance has now turned into a “Let’s get these buildings fixed up” attitude. With a push like that, all the tax credits available, and the tourism the town square can and will bring, it will only be a matter of time before Stephenville earns the reputation that many famous bigger historic districts enjoy.

There is still much work to be done. There are still buildings needing love and restoration. Most notably right now, the historic Long Hotel, built by famed architect Wyatt Hedrick in 1938. Hedrick is known for many buildings, locally the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, the Will Rogers Coliseum and the Fort Worth Post Office. The Long Hotel was once an example of a true Art Deco Hotel and is now just a shell, but the right investor with the right vision could bring it back to life in what will soon be a bustling and lovingly renovated downtown Stephenville Historic District. There are also the beginnings of a push to restore the old Crowe Opera House. Big things are in store for Stephenville and it all started with one woman’s vision and attempt to connect with her community. ECL

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254-445-3422 221 S. Patrick St. Dublin, Texas 76446

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Hometown

Graduates Photos courtesy of Kim Leatherwood Photography, Brooke Mendenhall Photography and Brazos Rose Photography

Jade PePau Stephenville High School, May 2019 Photo by Kim Leatherwood Photography

Jace Willis Tarleton State University, May 2019 Photo by Brazos Rose Photography

Sandra Flores Tarleton State University, December 15, 2018 Photo by Brooke Mendenhall Photography

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Peacock’s Restaurant 45 Years Strong!

By Brandynn Stanford Photos by Taylor’d Photos and provided by the Peacock family

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In an era of chain restaurants and fast food, when you enter Peacock’s, you know you’ve stepped into one of Stephenville’s best eating establishments.

Recently celebrating its 45th anniversary, Peacock’s restaurant possesses a rare distinction of being familyowned the entire time!

C

onstantly cracking, we go through boxes and boxes of eggs,” says Michael Beach, part owner of Peacock’s Restaurants in Stephenville. That means millions of eggs have been cracked during their long history. Originally The Pitt Grill, Peacock’s opened in 1973 as a twenty-four hour eatery to offer “Dee-Licious foods anytime!” A ribeye dinner was $3.25, a cheeseburger cost seventy cents. The cash register only went up to $5.99 and required pushing three clunky buttons in succession—five, then ninety, then nine—to ring up that amount.

The diner quickly became a fixture of Stephenville life and its popularity hasn’t wavered, with Peacock’s recently celebrating its 45th anniversary. Such longevity is rare, as is the distinction of being family-owned the entire time.

Steve and Linda Peacock bought the restaurant from Linda’s parents, Louis and Wanda Weible. Soon, the Peacock’s daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Michael Beach, will be carrying the baton.

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A specific familiarity greets one upon entering, harkening back to childhood and family road trips. You hear the clink of thick, diner-style dishes, hash browns sizzling on a seasoned grill, and murmuring voices immersed in conversation. A waitress sashays past with meals deftly balanced across her palms-up forearms.

In an era of chain restaurants and fast food, you know you’ve stepped into one of Stephenville’s best eating establishments.

The staff takes great care to serve good food with fresh ingredients and time-tested recipes. Ingredients such as taco meat for Spanish Omelets and Taco Salads are made in-house. The long-time owners recount patrons saying, “we’ve got the best burger, or the best pancakes. They know they’ll get big portions for reasonable prices. We’ve had the same waffle forever, cooked with a made-fromscratch batter. There’s a rhythm of flipping, grilling, cracking eggs, and assembling plates. Everyone gets in the zone. It’s like a machine, almost a dance. You gotta be careful when you walk through the cook area!”

Keeping the restaurant “old-fashioned” has been very much on purpose. Michael notes, “Even kids like the throwback, where we wait on you at the table, hang a ticket, you can see your cooks out in the open. You feel at home and when you sit at the bar; you’re ‘front row to

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the show’. Peacock’s is a comfortable place to hang out any time of day to get any kind of food you want.” One regular is a sports nutritionist who says, “This is the best place for a keto diet, because you can get the eggs, meats, spinach, and fresh fruit one needs.”

Steve, who is showing Michael the ropes as his fatherin-law did for him, chimes in, “I want to do things the best way, but also consistently. Surprise is not something rural folks prefer. They’re not looking for the newest fad, they’re looking for comfort and familiarity. People like consistency. They don’t like to be confused.”

Peacock’s story began when the Weibles were running a barbecue joint in Killeen. Louis was an oilfield draftsman much of his career, becoming a restaurateur later in life. He met Don Peacock, one of their suppliers and a successful entrepreneur, who presented the idea of a joint venture—a motel and restaurant on the lot next to Bruner’s, which had gone in the year before.

The Weibles came to Stephenville to scope out the town. That’s where their daughter, Linda, first met Don’s brother, Steve, at the pool hall he and Don owned called The Corner Pocket. Linda adds with a smile that she was sixteen and wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship.

Within a year they were working together at the restaurant. In 1975, Steve and Linda were married.

“Surprise is not something rural folks prefer. They’re not looking for the newest fad, they’re looking for comfort and familiarity. People like consistency.”

Alfred and Adele Peacock (1933)

Steve’s Erath County roots go back nearly 150 years.

Steve’s grandfather ran the Busy Bee Cafe in Dublin, and his parents ran the Shamrock Cafe, before they relocated to Stephenville in 1942. Such history helped Steve feel comfortable in the food business. He and Linda bought out Don in 1978. They took over from Linda’s parents in 1985, changing the restaurant’s name to Peacock’s.

The Peacocks have long shared a deep commitment to their town. They’ve watched the community grow and have seen many changes. Tarleton has been instrumental in the growth of Peacock’s Restaurant. Tarleton students often dine at the counter and tell how their grandparents spent time at Peacock’s during their own college days.

Steve and Linda’s children, Stephanie and Bryan, grew up surrounded by family and were involved in various school and community activities. Steve and Linda were active in organizations such as Beta Sigma Phi, Stephenville Optimist Club, Texan Club Advisory Board, and Girl Scouts.

Despite the nature of a 24/7 establishment, “There is a freedom to it that I’ve enjoyed,” says Steve. “I rarely had to miss our kids’ activities and school events.” The Peacock’s have learned to follow the wise advice of Linda’s dad: Take advantage of your personal time and make the best of the time off when it’s there.

Michael and Stephanie grew up together in Stephenville but ran in different circles. Fifteen years after high school, they were both living in Boston, unbeknownst to each other. A mutual friend pointed out the connection and Michael gave Stephanie a call. “I wasn’t sure she’d remember me since we’d maybe spoken fifteen words to each other growing up.”

Louis and Wanda Weible (1944)

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But Stephanie recollects, “Of course I did—he used to date my best friend!” They remained up north after marrying, but a baby on the way caused them to think deeply about where they would raise their family. They chose Stephenville so their children, Grant and Reagan, could experience family nearby, as Stephanie and Michael had. Michael’s dad is a Regents Professor who has spent nearly forty years at Tarleton. His mom is a retired lifelong educator who has worked throughout Erath County.

The Peacocks speak of their employees with appreciation and thankfulness. “Having a good staff is essential,” says Steve. “Judy Bissonnette worked for us as a kid, went away to start her family, then returned and has been our general manager for over twenty-five years.

She’s a big part of our success. Linn Whiteley has been a waitress with us nearly thirty years.”

Several menu items originated from staff input.

Kibbles & Bits, an open-faced omelet created by one of their cooks, is a customer favorite. Another cook suggested a Philly Steak Omelet which quickly became a best-seller. Management avidly supports and appreciates staff suggestions for new ideas and menu items.

Peacock’s has always nurtured connections with patrons. “We are aware of our customers and their routines,” says Michael. One pairing is Will, who arrives daily at a certain time followed by Ray a little later, which led the staff to coin the phrase, “Where there’s a Will there’s a Ray!” “One day we came to work and Will wasn’t here. The staff is concerned when one of the two are not in their seats at their usual time.” They were about to call the cavalry when Will walked in just a little bit late.

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Tarleton students often dine at the counter and tell how their grandparents spent time at Peacock’s during their own college days.

Louis Weible passed away last year after a short illness. Stephanie is grateful that her grandpa knew the restaurant he started would stay in the family. “He practiced the advice he gave to us all, ‘Make time for family’,” Stephanie recollects. “Grandpa was a special person to our family and to the community. His absence is a serious void for us all.”

With the mantle passing again, Steve remembers his father-in-law joking that the secret of his succession plan was to ‘find a stupid son-in-law’. Steve delights in the irony of following the same advice over the next few years.

Michael adds, “I have lots of pancakes to flip and eggs to crack before we take over the reins. Peacock’s has always been part of my family growing up and I still remember when my granddad used to come here. It’s a very special place to us. I’m not planning to change a thing. People may know about Peacock’s, but they may not be familiar with the forty-five years of hard work, quality food, and family-friendly customer service that has made it what it is today.”

The nostalgia and ambience for which Peacock’s is known is set to include new decades and generations, as well as a few million more eggs. Visit their two locations: 1615 S Loop 377, open 24 hours, and 1700 Lingleville Highway, open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.eatatpeacocks.com ECL

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Kids Across

Culture

By Brandynn Stanford Photos provided by Kids Across Culture

A small non-profit located just outside Dublin, Kids Across Culture, is fueled by compassion and desire to help provide access to some of the more than 844 million people around the world who don’t have reliable and consistent access to clean water. he phrase “access to clean water” is almost a buzzword these days, used by various fundraising groups. We might think the problem is overstated but WHO/UNICEF confirms that 844 million people around the world can’t trust their water supply, or don’t have reliable access to water in the first place.

That’s the combined population of the USA and Canada, twice over.

T

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Onedrop.org reminds us that sixty children die every hour from diarrheal disease caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation. And that women in Asia and Africa walk, daily, the equivalent of fifty-five football fields to collect water for their families. Often this water is dirty and full of contaminants which cause digestive illnesses and poor health.

In this internet age, our understanding of the realities of life in other countries has expanded greatly.

Compassion creates a desire to help and is one reason so many organizations have been working purposefully to alleviate the suffering of our global neighbors.

A small non-profit nestled just outside of Dublin is among them. Kids Across Cultures has worked steadily for eighteen years to improve lives. “We’re created to love and be loved, yet many of the world’s children are abandoned, enslaved, and forgotten. KAC expresses love through relevant service and enduring relationship. Love has the power to change the way others see themselves and their world,” says Director Craig Scoville.

KAC ’s work is holistic - not stopping in for a couple of weeks and then leaving, but focusing on remaining involved in communities with an eye toward longterm improvement. Through this lens of longevity, they have pursued multiple avenues of helping. They’ve built medical clinics, organized health screenings, provided

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educational opportunities and scholarships and have brought food relief to areas suffering from drought. A large part of the work focuses on clean water since this basic necessity must be in place for lasting health to take hold. Providing food and medicine is only partly effective if a community still gets sick from their water or if they cannot access enough water to grow crops.

Where KAC works, most water issues are improved with ceramic water filters. Water is plentiful but contaminated. The filters are made locally which keeps delivery costs low. Their small pore size allows water to drip through while catches sediment particles. A coating of antimicrobial silver provides additional protection by killing bacteria and harmful microbes. The filters are easy to clean and maintain and allow families to purify the water they bring into their homes. KAC’s process includes teaching why clean water is important, caring for the filters, and implementing good hygiene practices.

Follow up trips are made to ensure people are getting healthy. Many of the team members are native to the area and so understand first-hand the need and the culture. One team member, as a child, benefitted from KAC’s commitment to getting him the necessary surgery to repair his broken back after he fell from a tree. Now grown, he is a full-time paid staff member who brings hope to other villages near his hometown.

Since 2016, KAC has provided over 7,000 water filters to families and schools, helping a population almost the size of Erath County. The work that began two decades ago has recently expanded to villages in Myanmar and Cambodia. KAC has also assisted in the mountainous Tarahumara region of Mexico and will be returning there this summer.

KAC tackles stateside needs as well, such as helping with a summer program in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas and providing assistance to students affected

by Hurricane Harvey. “We don’t want to help change circumstances; we want to help change lives,” adds Craig.

“We want children to believe that change is possible. To be thought of and believed in instills courage. We want to relate in a way that provides hope, so today’s generation of children will risk living in ways that impact others for good.”

We’re created to love and be loved, yet many of the world’s children are abandoned, enslaved, and forgotten.

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Mike and Linda McDowell of Hico began supporting KAC several years ago. “You hear about groups who dig wells in places that need water, but what about people who have water but it’s just not clean or healthy? The water filters are effective on so many levels. I love that KAC builds long-term relationships with the people they’re serving and are teaching them to help others in their communities - like a stone thrown in the water creating a ripple effect.”

Linda, who became a board member for KAC, also owns Flacas Fitness & Brews in Hico. She created the 5K/10K run to bring people together to experience Hico while raising funds for KAC and Helping Hands of Hico. “I really felt God tugging on my heart to get my community involved in this outreach,” says Linda, and she has numerous Hico businesses on board as sponsors and volunteers. The 3rd annual run will take place on April 27th and is chip-timed and complete with medals for all age categories, raffles, plus free breakfast tacos and beer.

Another way KAC helps support local communities is through three fundraising events: the Flacas Clean H2O 5K & 10K Run, held in Hico every fourth Saturday in April; the Tour de Agua cycling event, held in Dublin every second Saturday in June; and Choctoberfest, a month-long celebration in Hico.

Now in its eighth year, the Tour de Agua brings hundreds of cyclists to Dublin from all over Texas, and even Oklahoma, to traverse the scenic countryside.

Dublin Bottling Works has generously donated their craft sodas each year for the Start/Finish Line and every rest stop in between. Post-ride festivities take place beside Old Doc’s Soda Shop and include live music and a free kid’s area with bounce houses, sand pile, and yard games.

Members of the Air Force Cycling Team will be joining the ride this year, and the Cross Timbers Amateur Radio club returns to provide communications support.

The event is also listed as one of Bikin’ Mike’s “Best Bets” - a suggested series of training rides leading up to the Hotter’n Hell 100 in August in Wichita Falls, which draws over 13,000 cyclists annually. The Tour de Agua also kicks off the Tres Amigos Challenge, a partnership with the Blazin’ Saddle 75 in Granbury, and the Paluxy Pedal in Glen Rose.

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KAC’s process includes teaching why clean water is important, caring for the filters, and implementing good hygiene practices.

Choctoberfest sprang from the vision of another longtime supporter, Kevin Wenzel, chocolatier and owner of Wiseman House Chocolates. “There are little children around the world who need love and basic things like water. We’ve partnered with people we know, and have known for twenty years, doing what we all can in our small ways. Not as large behemoth organizations that are hard to stir, but as small companies and groups that can aid where we can, as much as we can. A company, like a tree, must grow, provide, and be beneficial. Wiseman House continues to give in several ways and Choctoberfest is our way of encouraging creative ideas among merchants to think outside the typical retail model.” The month kicks off with a Wine, Beer, & Chocolate tasting, in partnership with Flacas Fitness & Brews. A scavenger hunt then takes people through downtown businesses who have joined forces to provide special chocolate-centered experiences.

Events, specials, and tastings continue throughout the month of “Choctober”.

Kids Across Cultures doesn’t just change circumstances, they change lives, both here and in the far corners of the earth, and will continue their work for years to come. The fun energy of their local events helps open the eyes, hearts, and minds of people - who might not otherwise travel the world - to the opportunities they have to be world changers as well. ECL Learn more at: kidsacrosscultures.org, runsignup.com/ flacascleanrun, rideforthechange.com, choctoberfest.com

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What Seperation?

By Chaplain Michael Tummillo

Seriously, folks...here's the TRUTH about the Wall of Separation between Church and State

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I

’ve been a Workplace Chaplain nearly fifteen years. I’ve served in Texas nursing homes for most of those years and, during that time, I was appointed as the official Workplace Chaplain at the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) at the State capital where I served exactly three years to the day.

Even when I was working a secular job, I served as the “unofficial” Workplace Chaplain and was called upon to pray over Staff lunches and Christmas parties. I was often sought out by coworkers, executives, too, for counsel and prayer. When a coworker suffered an apparent heart attack, I prayed with her until the EMT’s arrived and accompanied her in the ambulance where I began contacting family members I found in her address book.

Sadly, throughout the years, one of the concerns expressed to me most often has been “What about the separation of church and state?” Before I was appointed to the TDA, I was asked to meet with the legal team there. Even those lawyers were concerned about the “church 'n state” law which they thought was within the Constitution. It’s not. They were concerned about being sued until I informed them this was NOT a law and can be found nowhere in any of our nation’s founding documents, including the Constitution. They were surprised.

That phrase was actually used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter he sent to Danbury Baptist Church in Connecticut when they wrote him, concerned about our new nation embracing a State Religion, something they had just fled from overseas. Jefferson wrote in part: "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature would “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church and State."

Don't be scared, be PREPARED! Go ahead and let your light shine, trusting that God, and our nation's TRUE laws, are actually on your side.

With constant misuse and media misappropriation of that phrase, most people, including those within the halls of government, have presumed it to be true. The liberal left has used the phrase as a tool to silence any expression of faith in secular society. As a result, intimidation has gripped the hearts of people of faith from sea to shining sea. Whether it’s a verse of scripture on one's cubicle wall or a cross pinned to a lapel, by and large, most people would rather allow themselves to endure this oppression than to express their faith as allowed by law and risk persecution or termination.

Welcome “Title VII” of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This is a federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion. It generally applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including federal, state, and local government offices. Employers and employees alike can become familiar with this law by going to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website (eeoc.gov).

Speaking as a Christian Workplace Chaplain (there are Chaplains of other faiths, too), I feel God has truly blessed us by way of the established the laws of the land, but Satan has done a masterful job at keeping us from knowing this, thereby holding us in bondage from sharing our faith in Jesus in the place many of us spend up to 70% of our lives: The Marketplace.

Don't be scared, be PREPARED! Go ahead and let your light shine, trusting that God, and our nation's TRUE laws, are actually on your side.

Proverbs 28:1 declares, “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” 2 Timothy 1:7 assures us, “God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.”

So, be bold and unafraid! We can rest at ease knowing it's OK to blend the sacred with the secular. Play by the rules and you'll stay out of trouble, but it's always best not to see your employer as “the enemy” because they are simply unaware and wrongly informed, in most cases. When they are approached in humility, in a Spirit of Cooperation, you may be surprised as what can start happening in your workplace!

Now you know the truth about the “wall of separation between church and state” deception. ECL

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{ a quaint & eclectic boutique }

612 South Loop • Stephenville, TX 76401 • 254-965-7823 M-F 9-6 | Sat 9-5 | Closed Sunday

Family owned and operated for over 50 years.

www.woodsfurniturestephenvilletx.com

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Le at he rw oo d Ph ot os co ur te sy of Kim nd en ha ll Ph ot og ra ph y Ph ot og ra ph y, Br oo ke Me ra ph y an d Br az os Ro se Ph ot og

Grant & Miranda Shelton, December 8, 2018

Jason and Kelly Yeatts, November 10, 2018

Engagement: Stephanie Juarez & Joel Vasquez, Summer 2020

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Engagement: Bailey Vickers & Blaine Bennetch, Nov. 2, 2019

Engagement: Kaylie Zimmerman & Eric Johnson, Nov. 9, 2019

Engagement: Tahler Dobmeier & Richard Urso, Oct 18, 2019

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KEEPING IT REAL with

Paige Murray

BY ALLEGRA SCHROEDER | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PAIGE MURRAY

P

aige Murray is a woman who wears many hats. She is juggling being a wife, a new mom and balancing a career. In a recent interview she discussed how she does it and does it well. Paige is a resident of Erath County and is more than just the wife of Ty Murray, she is absolutely amazing and accomplished in her own right.

She spent her twenties focusing on her career.

Modelling for Wrangler, Montana Silver Smiths, and Bass Pro Shops. She became Miss Sprint Cup, hosted videos for Kruger Farms Hunting Outfitters, travelled with Momo Motorsports, and Falcon Tires. All of these jobs gave her experience in television and radio, and she wanted to do more with that. In 2014, she became a reporter for Ride TV and travelled the country hosting their events. Paige feels really lucky and blessed to have accomplished so many of her dreams and goals during that time period.

Paige married Ty Murray in 2017 and wanted to start a family. Their daughter Oakley was born in 2018. Becoming a mother changed her perspective and shifted her priorities, but not her goals and dreams. She continues to work, taking Oakley with her to all her jobs.

She is very thankful to have the flexibility to pick and choose those jobs now, to balance family time and work.

She understands that not all moms have that choice and is quick to point out she knows some career moms who are knocking it out of the park with motherhood.

She had always wanted to put together a cookbook, and with her baby in her arms, she started putting one together with recipes and pictures she had collected. This

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led to the publication of Southern Fried Skinnyfied, her cookbook of absolutely tantalizing dishes with a kick of healthy. She is also looking forward to filming episodes of her cooking show. She is balancing the motherhood and wife gig with a career and doing it well.

Paige finds cooking, cleaning and helping her husband on the ranch relaxing and cathartic when she starts to get overwhelmed and she credits gratitude and exercise for helping keep her centered. She enjoys hiking on the ranch and time on her Peloton in her free time. She is also very thankful for the support of her in laws.

Gratitude and choosing perspective are important to Paige. She credits her happiness with counting her blessings and being grateful for all the good in her life.

She believes that attitude sets the tone for one’s life and if one chooses to count their blessings they begin to focus on the good and positive. It becomes a mindset and a lifestyle. Paige Murray is keeping it real by balancing marriage, motherhood and a career and doing it with a grateful heart.

Sweet and humble, Paige is one to look to for inspiration.

Her cookbook of delectable and healthy recipes, Southern Fried Skinnyfied, is available on Amazon.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES IN ERATHCOUNTY? Veldhuizen Cheese Shop in Dublin is a fun way to spend an afternoon touring the farm. I love Crawford’s Corner Deli (her carrot cake is to die for), Beans & Franks for the atmosphere & coffee and Big O’s Simply Delicious (the cherry jubilee cookie is amazing) in Stephenville. In Hico, my favorite place for lunch is Two Clay Birds and for breakfast or lunch I love 2nd Street Provisions. They also have great home decor stores in Hico, Silver Spur Winery and Wiseman Chocolate House.

WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU DO BEFORE YOU GO TO BED? Watch a True Crime documentary and kiss my husband, Ty. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP? Whenever Oakley wakes up. She’s five months old.

WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU DO IN THE MORNING? Get Oakley out of her crib, change her diaper, make a cup of coffee and watch HLN Morning Express.

WHAT ARE 3 WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Easy going, friendly, adventurer WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE/GO TO ARTICLE OF CLOTHING OR ACCESSORY? Yoga pants & turquoise jewelry HEELS OR FLATS? Flats

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WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A MOM? The overwhelming love I feel, the joy I feel when she smiles, having a gift that slowly unwraps every day & being there for each a new milestone... first smile, laugh, roll, taste, new facial expression, etc.

HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING A MOM? The sleep deprivation. Also hearing her cry, it makes my whole body feel like it’s on fire.

WHAT ARE YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND HOW ARE YOU USING THEM? I usually have a very calm, joyful personality & stay optimistic so I hope I’m a good confidant for family & friends to help them see the bright side of life. I also strive to be authentic & relatable so I hope people can connect with me and find solace knowing they aren’t alone in life’s happenings.

WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOY? Experiencing adventures with my husband, Seeing my baby smile, spending time with my animals, spending time outdoors, cooking & eating.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? The ability to take jobs I’m passionate about, the unique nature of each job, seeing the finished product on television or in print.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB? The instability of work. One month you can book several jobs and then not book jobs for a few months. Also, I still get nervous on live shoots.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT? It depends on what perspective I look at my life. Being patient, valuing myself and waiting to find the love of my life who values me just as much. Raising my little girl and stepson. Overcoming setbacks. Every job I book feels like an achievement, having my own cooking show, publishing my own cookbook.

WHAT IS SOME ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE OTHER MOMS IF YOU COULD? My advice would be to remember that you will adapt. Life with a newborn is hard and life as you know it will stop for a few weeks. However, things will start falling into place and you will be able to go back to a similar life just with

an awesome little baby along. You will learn how to do all the things you love to do with the baby, it just takes a bit more time and planning. Accept help and be honest about what you need.

Adapt to little sleep. Try to enjoy the moments, even the hard ones, because they are only a baby for so long.

As a stay at home mom I never let myself say “I’m just a stay at home mom.” Know you are doing the best job & being a mom is the hardest job in the world. It’s a 24/7 job with no room for promotion, no pay, no time off!

However, it’s the most important job & most meaningful and in the end all your accolades won’t matter nearly as much as your family & relationships!

Your children are your legacy.

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Lovell

Counseling Services where healing begins

254-968-4020

www.lovellcounseling.com

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Erath County Living

Our focus is to help individuals heal and provide caring, competent and confidential services. A team of therapists provide a multitude of services to clients in need.

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622 E. WASHINGTON STEPHENVILLE, TX 76401

Let us put our 40 years of Real Estate experience to work for you!

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www.Dickerson.Properties

Paula Donaho | REALTOR 254.485.3621 PaulaDonaho@gmail.com

Mention this ad and get 15% off your purchase 28602 US N Hwy 377 Bluff Dale 76433 | (254) 251-6870 | BVA BanaesBoutique | www.banaesboutique.com | Open Wednesday-Saturday, 9am-5 pm

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Night of

BROADWAY ANNUAL STEPHENVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBER AND VOLUNTEER AWARDS BANQUET

Costume Award Winners The Stephenville Chamber of Commerce Banquet is not your typical awards banquet. Each year presents a new theme and Chamber members get in the spirit by donning costumes that fit the theme. This year’s ‘Night on Broadway’ did not disappoint as guests literally went all out dressing up as their favorite Broadway characters and all star casts!

1ST: Cowan Ag, VB Ortho, Beans & Franks Crew—Grease

2ND: Cross Timbers Orthopaedics—The Wizard of Oz

OVERALL BEST ALL-STAR CAST: Baxter Chemical Team—Beauty & the Beast

MOST BEAUTIFUL HAIR: SISD Teachers—Hairspray

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Member & Volunteer Awards

PAST BOARD CHAIR – JOHN BAXTER Photo by David Swearingen with The Flash

PAST AMBASSADOR PRESIDENT – SPENCER SLIGH Photo by David Swearingen with The Flash

BEULAH BROWN AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR SHEILA WILLIAMS

RISING STAR – LAURA HENSON DESIGNS Photo by Stephenville Chamber

Photo by David Swearingen with The Flash

SHINING SPUR – ASSOCIATED WELL SERVICES

BLAZING BOOT – SCHREIBER FOODS

Photo by David Swearingen with The Flash

Photo by David Swearingen with The Flash Hometown Living At Its Best

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HO L T H O U S E A Dream Come True

By Connie Lewis Leonard Photos by Brazos Rose Photography

G

rowing up in Bluff Dale, Glenda Jones Daughrity loved walking past the historic Holt House on Church Street.

As an adult, Glenda dreamed of living in a large two-story home. While attending an estate sale, she realized the Holt House was the house of her dreams. She felt God leading to buy it, and she and her husband Glenn were able to purchase the house in 1994.

The stately Holt House stands out on Church Street. As a new generation of school children walk past, the imaginative ones may fantasize about the history of the home.

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foundation had to be redone. The porches had to be completely rebuilt. After removing the original cedar shingles, roof and gutter system, the roof was decked and shingled again. The plumbing had to be replaced, including the removal of the iron drain outside the house.

The renovations necessitated the lowering of the ceiling in the downstairs bathroom. The Daughritys removed the interior doors but kept the original transom windows in the doorways that provide light and cross-ventilation when opened. They also refinished the original wood floors after ripping up the red carpet in the living room, parlor, and hallway.

Glenda said, “We remodeled the bathrooms and utility room. We updated the rest of the house with paint, wallpaper and new flooring in some areas. We have had the house repainted twice, the most recent in 2016 along with some maintenance repairs. The roof was recently replaced again in January. In everything, we have tried to keep the traditional character of the house.�

The stately Holt House stands out on Church Street.

As a new generation of school children walk past, the imaginative ones may fantasize about the history of the home with Southern gentlemen and ladies relaxing in the rockers on the wrap-around porch, drinking sweet tea or mint julip or enjoying the view on the secondstory balcony before retiring in a four-poster bed with a feather mattress.

Dr. Hardy L. Holt, a Civil War surgeon moved to Bluff Dale in 1870, opened the Holt Drug Store, and built the two-story house with double-decker porches using Cyprus siding, which was transported by wagon from Georgia. Shortly after the completion of the home, a Fourth of July firecracker sputtered under the porch and caught the house on fire. The family could only save a rosewood piano and a few heirlooms before the fire destroyed the house.

Construction on the present home began around 1895. Traumatized by the fire, Dr. Holt refused to include a fireplace in the new house. A chimney, visible only outside, once served as ventilation for the wood-burning cook stove. The stately home boasted the first telephone, the first piano, and the first bathtub in Bluff Dale. The tin tub had claw feet, and its cast iron drain ran along the outside of the house, emptying into the flower garden.

Gradually members of the Holt family moved away, leaving the house alone and uncared for. Mrs. Addie Finnell purchased the house and began renovations in the mid 1950’s. Doyle and Jane Graves bought the home in 1962, and continued renovations.

When Glenn and Glenda acquired the house from the Eckerts, it required extensive repairs. First, the

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The stately home boasted the first telephone, the first piano, and the first bathtub in Bluff Dale.

Today the porch provides plenty of seating surrounded by colorful flowers and part of Glenda’s collection of bird houses. Crossing through the original, ornately carved front door, a flower garland adorns the banister leading to the three upstairs bedrooms, bath, and foyer for the balcony. A grandfather clock chimes the time like a sentinel in the hall.

The living room sits to the left of the foyer. In the comfortable space, fluffy throw pillows cover a large overstuffed sofa which faces the television hidden inside the elegant wood armoire with inset flower detailing. Soft light streaming through the lace adorned bay windows beckons guests to relax in the warmth of the room heated by a Deerborn propane heater. Candelabras, rich wood tables, gold-framed pictures, cherubs, birdhouses, flowers and greenery add to the ambiance. Time stands still except for the grandmother clock nestled in a recessed corner of the room.

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“Our home is our castle, and this is our refuge from the world.”

To the right of the foyer rests the parlor, one of Glenda’s favorite rooms. The vivid red walls and soft lamplight envelop guests in a sense of warm hospitality.

Filled with flowers, lace, an armoire similar to the one in the living room, floral trays, comfy chairs, an antique lamp and table, the peaceful space is a perfect place to relax. Glenda said, “Our home is our castle, and this is our refuge from the world.”

The quaint kitchen contains country-style cabinets and an original built-in corner hutch. Sunlight cascading through the lace covered floor-to-ceiling windows and the small window above the sink adds additional light to the subtle night light and rooster lamp. The tin backsplash tiles behind the stove add to the charm of the room. The Daughritys added the large, contrasting wood island to provide more storage and counter space, as well as a seating area. Glenda’s eclectic collections include various canisters, tea pots, china, flowers and antique bottles from Holt Drug Store unearthed through rains and gardening.

The doorway from the kitchen leads to the elegant

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formal dining room. A China cabinet and sideboard table display teapots, cups, crystal and antique Blue Willowware dishes. Soft light and flowers enhance the graceful space. Glenda said she collects things she likes, making her home uniquely hers.

Glenda loves to garden. She grows caladiums, begonias, elephant ears, impatiens, and Jew baskets in her shady yard. When she is finished toiling in the ground, she can sit under the Roman-style domed gazeebo and enjoy the fruits of her labor.

A descendant of Dr. Holt, Judy Frey Koch, wrote letters to the Glenda. She said, “How fortunate your historic home is to have you as owners! With the home improvement projects that you have accomplished, it looks so gracious and revitalized. . . . Please know we are glad you are the owners of the Holt home.”

Glenda said, “I am so happy that we ended up owning this beautiful house.” Their next big project is converting the attic into a walk-in closet. They plan to keep working on their home to preserve part of the history and heritage of Bluff Dale. ECL

24-Hour Crisis Hotline • 24-Hour Vistim Assistance and Crisis Counseling • Safe Shelter for Victims of Violent Crime Counseling by a licensed professional • Advocacy by Specially Trained Professionals Criminal Justice Support & Advocacy • Human Services Information & Referral • Support &Therapeutic Groups Crime Victims Compensation Assistance • Medical Accompaniments • Protective Order Assistance • Saftey Planning

Hotline # 866-934-HELP www.ctfshelp.org

Cross Timbers Family Services needs help in many ways, not only in financial assistance but in community education and volunteer work.

All services free and confidential in English & Spanish

YOUR HELP IS WELCOMED, AND GREATLY NEEDED.

Serving Erath & Surrounding Counties

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HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Erath County Living

CHOICES ANNUAL BANQUET Photos Provided by Choices Clinic and Life Resource Center

Guests enjoyed a night at Cowboy Church of Erath County with delicious food from Hard Eight! Aaron Watson was entertaining and moving while speaking to the importance of life. The event totaled a record high of $104,000 after all expenses and the live auction brought in a record breaking $36,800!

Matt and Mollie Willis expected May 24, 2019 Berlin Elaine and Bo ston Jack Parents: Blake and Bethany November 14, 2018

H OM ETOWN CD & Brandy Barker

10.22.16 WEST. e lco m i n g E r at h C o u nty ’ s

NEWEST RESIDENTS Photos courtesy of Brooke Mendenhall Photography, Brazos Rose Photography, Misti White Photography

Rowdy Morgan Parents: Taylor and Dejonna February 7, 2019 | 8 lbs

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Trenton Audie Parents: Ross and Cesilee November 30, 2018 | 7 lbs, 13 oz

Br ie lla A nn Jo sl in

Westlyn Jade Lynn Parents: Makayla and Aaron October 1, 2018 | 6 lbs, 15 oz

Dustin and Taylor Schuman expected March 17, 2019

Lainey Louise Parents: Tanner and Brittney July 20, 2018

Anissa Rios expected March 27, 2019

Hazelynn Blaze Parents: Monte and Brittany November 17, 2018 | 6 lbs, 10 oz

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BREAKFAST SERVED ALL DAY T WO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU

1615 South Loop (Next to Bruner Chevrolet)

Phone: 968-2900 OPEN 24 HOURS

1700 Lingleville Rd. (Next to Optimist/Jaycee Park)

Phone: 968-4668 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

The Salon is the perfect place to relax and unwind.

1481 W South Loop Suite #11 Stephenville, TX 76401

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Q UA L I T Y • VA R I E T Y • S E R V I C E

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Erath Plumbing Repair & Remodel Residential & Commercial New Construction Sewer Camera

www.erathplumbing.com

John Weber

254-965-3000

Fax: 254-965-3001

Master Plumber # M-17390

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F i ve Gen erat i on s Fi nd t h e

4-H SECRET

BY PEGGY PURSER FREEMAN PHOTOS BY TAYLOR’D PHOTOS AND PROVIDED BY THAMES FAMILY

I

n the 1940s and 1950s, Ruby Dodgen spent many years working with her daughter, JoAnn, and the girls 4-H Club in Hays County, Texas. Ruby had no way of knowing that five generations later her great-greatgranddaughter, Tylee Thames, would be sharing the secret of 4-H. Any of the 360 Erath County 4-H members will tell you the secret—4-H produces leadership that passes from generation to generation. It develops strong family ties and it’s a truckload of fun.

Today the Thames family is growing future leaders in Erath County 4-H.

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JoAnn grew up, married Melvin Thames and raised their son Kenney in the 4-H tradition. Today, their 4-H memories may have faded, but for Tylee the memories are just beginning. She loves to hear “Papaw” (Melvin) chuckle as he tells the story of his son, Kenney, and the winning ribbon.

“Kenney had barely gotten his pig’s winning ribbon in his hand when somehow the pig was able to grab it and scarf it down,” Melvin retells the story often. “Kenney couldn’t do anything about it! There was nothing left but a funny memory.”

As a youth, Kenney Thames showed pigs and chickens, and competed on dairy judging team. As an adult, Kenney served in many Hays County leadership roles. “Through 4-H, I discovered my passion for livestock, and have spent my entire life breeding and raising animals.” In 2010, Kenney received a 4-H Alumni Award. “Working hard on a project in such a well-organized program gives children a chance to find out how to succeed in life as they gain the skills and develop a work ethic. As a young person they feel pride in a job well done.”

Kenney married Susan. Growing up in Kansas, she had

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been a 4-H officer. “I learned parliamentary procedure at monthly meetings and public speaking through giving project talks and demonstrations,” Susan explained. “It increased my poise and confidence through talent shows, style reviews, and showing livestock. Record-keeping taught me to budget and analyze data. These skills prepared me for life in a way that school did not. Our leaders showed by example and inspired us to achieve, giving us vision beyond our family or school circles.”

“The great thing about 4-H is that it opens a child’s eyes to the many fields available to them, from art to livestock, through the many different available projects.”

Through involvement at a state level in Junior Leadership and Roundup, Susan was inspired to look forward into her future. She left home to attend college and then followed her teaching career out-of-state.

“My favorite time in 4-H was when Kenney built and refurbished our barns. They became sort of a social gathering place for our kids and their friends. Now watching Tylee and Weston as they feed or work with their animals, clean pens, and even help with birthing mothers brings back those good memories.”

4-H produces leadership that passes from generation to generation. It develops strong family ties and it’s a truckload of fun.

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4-H helped Jason Thames receive scholarships for college, as well as other college tuition assistance.

“Being involved in 4-H provided an opportunity for my grandfather and my dad to pass down the love of raising livestock to me,” Jason said. “This has led me to live in a rural community where I am able to live out my passion for agriculture by raising livestock and helping my daughter learn to raise show pigs. Today, Jason Thames and his wife, Miranda, are growing the future by spending time with their eight-year-old, Tylee, and fiveyear-old, Weston.

Spending time with family seems to be a precious byproduct of 4-H. Tylee shared her favorite things, “I really like spending time with my dad. I had two pigs, Spots and Stripes. But Spots stopped walking good.”

At an early age, 4-H members pick up the judging process and learn how to express themselves, especially young girls like Tylee. “His back legs looked like he was swimming. But Stripes turned out to be a really good pig.

Which means I might win. The one time I like the most was at the Kerrville show. As soon as I walked Stripes into the arena to show him, they (the judges) picked Stripes to be one of the best three out of fifty right away.

My Dad was there helping me, brushing and spraying my pig and helping me keep Stripes to the front of the pen so he could be seen by the judges. I love walking and washing my humongous pigs,” Tylee added, “And Poppy and Mimi cheered me on.”

Tylee and Dad Jason Thames after the erath county swine show where she won second in her class of heavy weight hamps.

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Mom Miranda Thames and Tylee after her big win in Kerrville. Stripes won 3rd in her class of 50 heavy weight hamps.

Another thing 4-H kids learn is how to talk to people.

Tylee answers questions like a pro. “Food Challenge is one of my favorite things, too,” she continued. “They give you random food, like meat and lettuces, and you have to make something. One time they gave my team strawberries, cream cheese, nuts and tortillas. We put cream cheese on our tortillas to make a face and the nuts were freckles. When you have a team, you have more ideas.”

As a wife and mom, Miranda has learned the value of 4-H. “It provides a way for kids to get involved in their community and see the benefits of how hard work pays off while learning responsibility at an early age. We have made many friends in 4-H that we may not have met otherwise.”

Being part of the Thames family taught Jason the other side of competition and the leadership abilities 4-H gives. “Growing up, of course, we were always proud of doing well in a show, but I felt even more pride and joy when we helped out other kids and families. It was a huge blessing when we were able to help them by providing an animal or showing them how to feed and care for their animal. We were proud of them when they succeeded, and even more so when they helped others. We watched that kindness unfold from person to person.”

Erath County 4-H clubs include two community clubs (Stephenville 4-H & Morgan Mill 4-H), Shooting Sports, Dairy, Lamb & Goat, Horse, and County Council.

Multiple special interest and judging team groups meet on topics such as entomology, livestock judging, consumer decision making, dairy judging, food challenge, duds to dazzle, and quiz bowls.

“Today’s 4-H is more than raising animals,” explains Helen L. Hardy, M.S. County Extension Agent, 4-H & Youth Development of Erath County with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. “Along with meetings and practices, youth can be involved in 4-H through workshops, clinics, and camps at the county, district and state levels. Sewing, food & nutrition, photography, and rabbits are just a few of the many topics covered at programs hosted on the county level. Growth of leadership & citizenship skills can be cultivated for all ages of 4-H youth at district summer camps such as Southeast District 8 County Camp and SURGE. With more interest in the variety of 4-H projects growing, new and exciting programs, clubs, and activities are always in the works.”

For more information please call 979-549-7373 or visit texas.4honline.com to register. Like 4-H on facebook. com/Erath4H, and on Twitter and Instagram. ECL

“The great thing about 4-H is that it opens a child’s eyes to the many fields available to them, from art to livestock, through the many different available projects.”

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WINNING—LIFE IN DUBLIN, THE IRISH CAPITAL OF TEXAS Photos Provided by The Dublin Citizen

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3

Financial Tools

You Should be Using

but Probably Aren’t

Welcome to 2019. How’s your money situation looking?

If it’s anything like the stats show, you might want to pay attention.

W

elcome to 2019. How’s your money situation looking? If it’s anything like the stats show, you might want to pay attention. If you’re not sure of the stats, here’s just a few to grab your attention: • 32% of American households actually maintain a budget • Nearly a third of Americans have $500 or less in emergency savings • There is over $1,000,000,000,000 (that’s a trillion) in credit card debt

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• There is over $1.2 Trillion in auto loans • Student Loan debt is over $1.5 Trillion • 44 million student loan borrowers • 40% of college graduates end up with jobs that don’t require a degree • 20% of students still aren’t working in ‘degree demanding’ jobs 10 years after leaving school • The average retirement savings of a family aged 56-61 is only $163,577 • The median savings of this same age groups is only $17,000

I know some of these statistics are staggering, and if you’re like most Americans you probably find yourself in a few of these categories. Trust me, it wasn’t long ago I was in several of these categories myself.

That is, until I started learning about a few strategies and tools that have helped me to begin transforming my financial life. These tools and strategies, when properly implemented, can quickly change the course of your finances… and have you doing the happy dance heading into your retirement years.

So, if you’re looking to make changes to your financial plan or you just want to see something different, take a look at each of these tools and see how they can work for you:

1

SELF-DIRECTED 401K/SELF DIRECTED IRA

2

HUMAN LIFE VALUE POLICIES

If you haven’t heard of these, they are incredible tools that allow you to have full control of your retirement funds. Whether you’re looking for a way to roll over funds from an old 401k or IRA, or you’re selfemployed and you’re looking for some much-needed tax sheltering, these self-directed accounts give you the ability to choose how your retirement money is invested, where most 401k’s and IRAs give you a small list of mutual funds or index funds to choose from. With a selfdirected 401k/IRA you can choose to loan the money to someone as a business loan, invest in real estate, invest in the market, and so much more.

The flexibility is great, but actually getting to be the one in control of your money is even better. The most beautiful thing is that all those fees are a thing of the past since you are in control of the money and you’re not having to pay a financial planner or institution for managing your money.

These highly specialized life insurance policies are like savings accounts on steroids with sprinkles on top (because sprinkles make everything better, right?). They allow you to capture a portion of

your Human Life Value (which is basically the amount of money you might earn from ages 18-65; for most people the total is between $7-8 Million) and use it like an asset (as collateral).

These policies can earn from 5-7% yearly and the huge benefit is that you are able to borrow from the cash value and use the money you borrow to grow more money. Any money borrowed does not go against the principle, and technically wouldn’t have to be paid back until death (when the policy is paid out to a designated beneficiary).

If that’s not enough, the money inside these policies is tax-free money - so it’s an even better option as a tax shelter than a 401k would be.

3

LINES OF CREDIT (BUSINESS, PERSONAL, HELOC)

These are the most misunderstood tools in the marketplace. There, I said it. When used correctly, these can be some of the most powerful money-making tools in your arsenal.

Did you know that you could use a HELOC to actually pay down the balance on your house even faster? A personal or business LOC could allow you to get into private lending—which could lead to growth of 10-20% or more. There are many ways to optimize the use of these different LOCs. One rule of thumb is that if the LOC is being used in a way that isn’t growing your money, I would reconsider how you are using it.

For example, you get a $50k HELOC and use the money for improvements to your home, most likely, you wouldn’t improve the value of the home by $50k, so that would be mismanaging the money. However, if you took the same $50k and started a private lending contract that guaranteed a 10% return, at the end of a year you’d have made $5,000 in interest!

For more information email chad@centerpoint.partners.

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WHITE HORSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Education Tailored to Meet Your Child’s Needs

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True...”

- REVELATION 19:11

By Connie Lewis Leonard Photos by Kim Leatherwood Photography

V

anessa Halford’s roots run deep in Stephenville. While attending Tarleton State University as part of the rodeo team, she met and married fellow rodeo team member, David Halford. Following graduation, they stayed in Stephenville to raise the next generation of rodeo competitors.

Vanessa joked that when she retired from public education, she would start her own private school with individualized instruction. After she retired in December 2015, providence led her to a “chance” meeting at the Dairy Queen in Post, TX, with Lani Rust, who said she needed help homeschooling her two girls.

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“Many parents would like to homeschool, but they feel they don't have the expertise or knowledge to do so. I was going to help them design their curriculum and lessons.

Most parents wanted me to meet with their students two days a week and then they would do independent practice at home,” Vanessa said.

Word spread and instead of two girls, Vanessa began monitoring thirteen homeschoolers on the floor of the Dance Studio downtown in January 2016. Lani helped with the organization and the business end of establishing WHCA. By March, they moved to a classroom at the Cowboy Church of Erath County. The 2016-2017 school year started in the warehouse behind Cotton Patch. They began building the current facility on CR 177, which was completed in March of 2017, and they moved in during Spring Break. Last year, 2017-18, was their first full year in the new building. In the summer of 2018, they added a two-classroom portable building and are currently in the process of buying one more portable building. They will probably cap the enrollment at 180 students.

Vanessa said, “This school was built out of a love for

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Jesus, students and learning. Jesus lives in our school and it is very obvious because of our growth. Every time we have needed something or we were at a cross roads, the answer has always come to us. It might be a person, an idea, a gift or whatever—but Jesus is taking care of White Horse Christian Academy on a daily basis. Our staff and faculty are dedicated to our kids to help them learn how to help themselves become better people.”

Vanessa feels she has the greatest staff ever. “All of my teachers believe that students are individuals and should be treated as such. Each student has their own gift unique to themselves and it’s our job to find that gift and help them enhance that gift.”

Becky Bray, a retired elementary teacher with over 30 years’ experience, serves as Elementary Specialist.

A certified reading/GT/ESL teacher, she and Vanessa have known each other for over 30 years, went to college together at TSU, taught in Granbury together, got married on the same day, have kids that same age, and their husbands rodeoed together. Vanessa said, “We were meant to go through this life together.”

This is Jody Volf’s first year as Intermediate Specialist at WHCA. She received her degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State and comes from a rodeo family. She has over 14 years of experience, including two years at Chamberlin Elementary with Vanessa. She is very active in the Stephenville Rodeo Community and is on “The Show” board of directors for the Pro Rodeo. Her two boys, Ryder and Reed, rodeo and compete around the area. She is SUPER with the kids.

Tim Jaureguito, High School Specialist, comes from Reno, Nevada. A retired Principal, Football Coach, Counselor and English Teacher from the private school sector, he has over 30 years of experience in education and moved to Stephenville a few years ago when his daughter came to attend Tarleton. His wife Lisa is a retired Special Education Director and is now a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines.

Barbara Shadden, a retired diagnostician from Stephenville with over twenty-five years of experience, serves as Distant Learning Specialist. She, Becky and Vanessa worked together at Granbury for years. Barbara also worked with Vanessa at Chamberlin Elementary in Stephenville.

Jana Wright, Administrative Assistant extraordinaire, runs the place. One of the moms of the first group of students, Jana fell in love with the school and became close friends with Vanessa. She knows the vision for the school and spends most of her days talking with parents, helping the kids, and promoting WHCA.

This school was built out of a love for Jesus, students and learning…It’s wonderful to have Jesus in the building and the Bible as the rule book.

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Elementary Aide Dori Gunn is a Stephenville icon.

She had a home daycare for several years, worked at many different pre-schools throughout Stephenville and provides comic entertainment on a daily basis. The kids love her to death!

Vanessa has known Holly Sieperda since she was a little girl. Holly grew up on horseback and has rodeoed throughout the area. She graduated from Stephenville High School and Tarleton with a degree in Agriculture Communications. As Technology Assistant, Holly helps all “these old retired school teachers” with their computer/technology needs and also teaches computer classes to the students.

Carol McElfresh, a retired special education and behavior specialist from Stephenville, worked with Vanessa for many years at SISD. Carol’s knowledge of behavior and working with high school students makes her the perfect High School Aid/Assistant.

Ginger Ham, Elementary Aide, is a retired elementary teacher who is a great asset to the elementary students with her knowledge of the Bible and her dedication to kids.

Many parents would like to homeschool, but they feel they don't have the expertise or knowledge to do so. I was going to help them design their curriculum and lessons.

The newest teacher is Sherri Caraway, who teaches high school math. She recently moved from Houston where she taught adjunct classes at a junior college and tutored students on the TSI/ACT and SAT. She videos all of her lessons to help students who are unable to attend class. It’s a great way to service the distant students.

Current enrollment stands at about 158. Vanessa said, “Most all of our elementary students K-6 come full time. We highly recommend that the ‘littles’ attend every day. Our Junior High and High School is about 50/50— the students living in our area are more likely to attend full time. Our commuting students will mainly be part time. We have about one third of our population, about 50, on the distant learning program. We have students who commute from Denton, Goldthwaite, San Saba, Deleon, Gordon and Granbury. We have distant students from New Mexico, Corpus Christie, Waco, Amarillo, Menard and San Angelo.”

Many parents choose WHCA because of the traditional, conservative Christian values. Other parents want the flexible scheduling to foster family and travel time. Many students, following the steps of their parents, are champions in their own fields. Most of the students compete in either Region Three or Region Ten Junior High and High School Rodeos. Several have been state champions. Some students participate in 4-H, stock shows and trick riding.

WHCA provides students many service opportunities.

Students work with Tarleton to help set up and break down the Tarleton Equine Assisted Therapy Rodeo. This year, they produced their own special needs rodeo for the Stephenville PRCA rodeo. They also had a Veteran’s Day Luncheon for the Veterans in the area. WHCA has worked with Tarleton Horticulture Department to create an on-campus vegetable garden so students can learn about harvesting plants and vegetables.

Vanessa said, “God has blessed this path from the first day. Every day at 10:00, a local youth pastor leads a devotion. It’s wonderful to have Jesus in the building and the Bible as the rule book.” ECL

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960 N. Graham St. Stephenville, TX 76401 (254) 965-2203

Est. 2017

CJ’S

SPURS - N - THaNGS CONSIGNMENTS

254-431-8737

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF DUBLIN

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. SEUSS! The Stephenville Study Club recently donated Dr. Seuss books to each of the nine public elementary schools in Erath County as well as to the Stephenville Head Start program. A total of 137 books were donated in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2nd in conjunction with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC).

The Dr. Seuss project is one of the Grand Initiatives of the 2018-2020 Administration of the GFWC, which has as one of its international goals to donate 1,000 books to schools in honor of Dr. Seuss birthday. Stephenville Study Club certainly did its part!

Photos Provided by The Stephenville Study Club

2019

UBE Stephenville Evening Lions Club

Upland Bird Extravaganza

Thank You!

Your generosity allows us to sponsor more projects benefitting the youth of our area!

In the end it all comes back to the kids, to helping to get them active in outdoor activities and supporting the leaders of tomorrow!

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26512 US 377 N Bluff Dale, TX 76433 (254) 728-3281 Chad, Chris, Kenneth & Linda Gifford

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• Exceptional Fresh Arrangements • Custom Permanent Botanicals • Unique Home Décor & Framed Artwork • Interior Design Services Open: Mon-Fri 8-5 / Sat 8:30-1 254.965.5979 • www.stephenvillescottsflowers.com 200 W. College • Stephenville, TX 76401

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www.alliedbodyandframe.com Hometown Living At Its Best

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By Janette Halliday

“Just go outside and play!”— my mother’s words still echo in my ear. I wasn’t allowed to sit in the house all day and watch TV. There was too much of the world to explore outside, not including all my outside chores. Television watching was only allowed after your work was done, usually in the evening after dinner, but certainly not while the weather was nice outside. It was considered wasteful and lazy.

That was the philosophy of my generation. The options for “play” were dramatically different from today. We learned to play with what we had. We did not have cell phones or video games. We were expected to use our imagination and resourcefulness, to use what we had around us and be creative.

Climbing trees, building forts, playing catch or tag. Riding horses or bikes, hiking, playing in the creek, fishing or arrowhead hunting. There were the summer

sports of baseball, softball, soccer and of course, swimming.

Where has all of it gone? Why has the imagination and using the great outdoors disappeared?

In a 2017 study conducted by the toy company Melissa and Doug, results showed that 62 percent of parents surveyed desired for their kids to be outdoors. In actuality, the survey found that 18.6 hours were spent on “screen time.” The co-founder of the company, Melissa Berstein, said “Parents need to know how important unstructured play, indoors and outdoors, is and how dangerous technology can be for kids who are too young.”

Here are some ideas to awaken the outdoor spirit within your child and show them a world outside of the video screen. You might just open up a whole new world that shows them participation in something other than a screened world.

TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY

Tarleton State University also offers a full summer schedule of camps covering all the team sports but expands the possibilities with camps for choir, cheer and band enthusiasts. There is a kids’ camp, a passport camp and a “growing up green” camp. For high school juniors and seniors, there is also a Neuroscience Brain camp.

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

Open to boys and girls, kindergarten through fifth grade, is an opportunity to enjoy Cub Scout Day Camp and being a scout is not a requirement.

SUMMER CAMPS

When you think of summer vacation, one thing that surely comes to mind is the word CAMP. There is virtually a camp for everything that you can imagine from sports to creative arts.

STEPHENVILLE ISD

The Stephenville ISD sponsors many camps to suit a variety of ages and interests. Each camp has different dates and deadlines for registration. Many camps have fees associated with them, however, some are free.

Children can participate in basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, football and conditioning camps.

Stephenville ISD also offers and art, theater, and film/ story/animation camp for pre-K through second grade.

FOSSIL RIM WILDLIFE CENTER

Here is chance to interact with nature and learn about conservation at the wildlife center in Glen Rose that specializes in captive breeding programs of exotic and endangered species! There are several camp options available that allow interaction and hands-on experiences in everything from exotic animals to bugs and biology.

SKY HIGH SPORTS

Sand volleyball is a sport all in itself. This camp offers three different camps designed for different skills and ages starting in June and running through July.

SPARD

The Stephenville Parks and Recreation Department has a whole gamut of activities to keep your kids occupied during the long summer days. There are sports leagues for softball, baseball, swimming and track and field.

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SPLASHVILLE WATER PARK

Let the swimming begin! The 2019 Pool season opens on Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day. All ages can enjoy the lazy river, swimming lessons, fitness walking and water aerobics from noon to 7 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. Of course, there is the popular water slide and kiddie pools available along with a concession stand and lifeguards on site.

several parts of the trail for kids to enjoy what types of animals might be seen on the trail. The trail offers a good opportunity to view the local area and history while still being inside the city and most importantly, is free for everyone to use.

HIDEAWAY RANCH

Located in nearby Glen Rose, this ranch offers kids a taste of being a cowboy with a one-hour guided trail ride on the property. Riders must be at least ten years old and those under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.

BOSQUE RIVER TRAIL

Stephenville has the Bosque River Trail that is approximately 1.5 miles that is along the north bank of the Bosque River. This trail is open for walking, biking and hiking while enjoying a view of the river and several wooded areas along the trail.

The trail offers users rest stops and mile markers along with lights and benches, trash receptacle and bike storage. Animal tracks have been sandblasted into

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Teaching our children to involve themselves in activities in the physical world that surrounds them is important to their welfare and growth. Investigate these different activities and talk with your children about what might spark their interest to get out that door and see the world. Showing them there are things to do beyond a small screen and interacting with what the world has to offer may just put a different perspective on the amount of time they want to spend inside. ECL

USEFUL WEBSITES FOR FUTHER INFORMATION:

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR AREA CAMPS:

Stephenville Parks and Recreation www.recpro.stephenvilletx.gov

Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council ART Camp- Starting at five years old, kids and experience art activities from FOSSIL RIM WILDLIFE CENTER the Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council for two hours daily www.fossilrim.org for one week.

STEPHENVILLE ISD Erath County 4-H- Sew your way through the summer www.sville.us with a week-long sewing camp. Limited availability and open to kids eight to 18.

TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY SWIM Fiddle Sticks Music- Play to your hearts content with www.tarleton.edu/swimlessons

a camp allowing students to play along with musicians FOOTBALL and there is instrument rental available www.texansfootballcamps.com Happy Toes Dance-Does your child dance every

VOLLEYBALL moment possible? Here is a camp just for dancing and www.tarletonvolleyballcamps.com all age groups, starting at 18 months with a different

focus for each age group.

SOFTBALL www.texannssoftballcamp.com Red Dragon Martial Arts-Do you have a NINJA in

the house? Then consider the Ninja Summer Camp for BASKETBALL children ages three through 12 with family packages www.texanbasketballcamp.com available.

STEPHENVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.stephenvilletexas.org

STUDIES DONE ON CHILDREN WHO PLAY OUTSIDE HAVE FOUND THAT: • • • • • • • • • •

Are healthier physically/mentally Do better in school Have higher self esteem Have good self-discipline Feel more confident and capable Are good problem solvers Are more cooperative with others Are more creative Feel connected to nature Are future conservation leaders

Source: www.lifeisbetteroutside.org

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genuine jewelry women's apparel custom handbags & personal styling www.punchys.com 189 n belknap | stephenville, tx. 76401 | 254.918.1027

DUBLIN ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE 2019 Photos Provided by Danielle Meador Photography and Autumn Williamson Photography

CROSS TIMBERS FINE ARTS COUNCIL Photos Provided by Cross Timbers Fine Art Center

Cross Timbers Fine Art Center has hosted a multitude of activities including a performance from the Ballet Austin School, art classes, a concert hosted by the Piatigorsky Foundation, and the Mary Waters exhibit at the Stephenville Senior Citizens Center. We have also participated Accessible ARTS Clubhouse, Paint the Town, Ragin Cajun, a concert in the park with Johnny Lee and the Urban Cowboy Band and a holiday wreath making class.

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Kim Leatherwood Photography 5967 CR 398, Stephenville, Texas 76401

254-434-1405 | kimmieleatherwood@yahoo.com

We put the “sure” in insurance

Dublin Insurance Agency We offer Auto, Home, Commercial Auto, Business, Farm, and Mobile Home insurance.

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WE ARE YOUR INDEPENDENT AGENT. 119 S. Patrick St, Dublin | Open Monday-Friday 8-5 254-445-3277 | dublininsuranceagency.com 116

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Dave Ramsey ELP

Erath County Living IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR CONTRIBUTORS! FALL 2018

WRITERS

SPRING 2018

17 FA LL 20

PHOTOGRAPHERS FEATURED CONTENT IDEAS

TA R L

EMAIL JENNIFER.REDFIN@GMAIL.COM

-A & M

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l Centennia tion Celebra

Candl es with a Purpose

Little did the Cagles know that the seemingly small choice to carry a candle with a purpose they appreciated would lead them on such a new path full of new relationships and avenues to encourage

the lives of those thousands of miles away.

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g sgivin Thank s: ianne’ ch with Jul ale Tou s shows nne’ That Fem Julia mas of perfect Julie Tho te that e. to crea ving tabl us how Thanksgi inviting

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Death th and Town The Bir as Ghost of a Tex st Town in Gho The Best ion 5. ~ Populat Texas

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STEPHENVILLE

Since 1973, in partnership with our auction donors and auction buyers, WE HAVE RAISED MORE THAN

$1,000,000

to wn

Li v in

st It s Be g At

DUBLIN REALTY

Hometown Li v ing At Its Best

RESIDENTIAL-FARM & RANCH-COMMERCIAL 129 N Patrick Street, Dublin 254-445-3722 | dublin-realty.com

FOR PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS BENEFITTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. Now, we are working on our second million!

COME OUT FOR OUR NEXT AUCTION! May 3rd, 2019 at City Hall (Agave Restaurant)—6 p.m At our auction will be food and entertainment, along with door prizes and online bidding. We will be doing our live auction as well, with great items on which to bid - like trips, guns, sporting events, and more!

A big

Thank you

to our community for continuing to support our

annual Stephenville Optimist Club Auction.

Pat Gilbert, Melanie Eason and Darrell Laxson

For more information on donations or questions, call 210.885.1739 Hometown Living At Its Best

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FIND MENU AND PHOTOS AT RUBYSTEXASBISTRO.COM OR VISIT OUR FB PAGE

Best of Erath County Finalist - Best Steak (Steaks available Fri. & Sat. night)

Best of Erath County Winner Best Margarita

Full Bar and Outdoor Patio Seating

Kids Menu Available | Fresh Homemade Food 2018 Best of Erath County Finalist for : Place To Dine, Service, Bar & Bartender Steakhouse, Fries, Salad, Wings, Margarita

211 W. McNeill, Stephenville | One Block Off the Square | 254-918-5966 Tues. - Thurs. 11 am - 11 pm | Fri. - Sat. 11 am - Midnight | Sunday 11 am - 9 pm Kitchen closes at 10 pm Tues - Sat | 9 pm Sunday

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Erath County Living

STEPHENVILLE CHAMBER HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL The Christmas spirit was shining bright all around downtown Stephenville as families enjoyed caroling, hay rides, dancers, choirs, carriage rides, live nativity, petting zoo, photos with Santa, shopping, food and more at the annual Holly Jolly Christmas Festival hosted by the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce and SPARD. A huge thanks to our many sponsors, performers, vendors and volunteers that helped provide a memorable experience for so many in our community!

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Erath County Living

Seriously, Tarleton researchers finding maximum uses for cow manure.

By Michael Tummillo Photos by Taylor’d Photos

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Erath County Living

My lab selected specific micro-algae which can grow on and consume dairy wastewater.

We produce a biodiesel from the micro-algae grown on dairy wastewater

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Erath County Living

If our program is a success, it will make a significant contribution to water- energy-food at dairy and other animal farms.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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SECURITY

CLIMATE CONTROLLED AVAILABLE CLIMATE CONTROLLED AVAILABLE CONTROLLED ACCESS & SECURITY LIGHTING CONTROLLED ACCESS & SECURITY LIGHTING MINI STORAGE (ASSORMENT OF SIZES AVAILABLE) MINI STORAGE (ASSORMENT OF SIZES AVAILABLE)

STORAGE 1038 Glen Rose Rd. (Hwy 67) Stephenville Visa & Mastercard Accepted - Member of BBB

SECURITY STORAGE www.stephenvillesecuritystorage.com 254.968.6060 1038 Glen Rose Road (Hwy 67) Stephenville

254.968.6060 SECURITY

www.stephenvillesecuritystorage.com

Visa & Mastercard Accepted ~ Member of BBB

STORAGE

1038 Glen Rose Road (Hwy 67) Stephenville

254.968.6060

www.stephenvillesecuritystorage.com Visa & Mastercard Accepted ~ Member of BBB 126

Erath County Living

S

Index of Advertisers Ace Hardware......................................................................................3

Gifford TV Electronics................................................................. 106

Ag Texas Farm Credit Services................................................ 106

Green Canoe Digital Solutions................................................... 63

Allied Body & Frame Co............................................................. 107

Jasper’s Café................................................................................... 106

Apollo Computers Incorporated of Stephenville..................................................Inside Back Cover

Kim Leatherwood Photography................................................116

Associated Well Services, Inc.....................................................116

Lawrence Hay & Feed.................................................................. 104

Banae’s Boutique............................................................................. 71

Lovell Counseling Services..........................................................70

Barefoot Campus Outfitter......................................................... 38

Magpie Creations, Co....................................................................112

Bill Oxford, Attorney at Law....................................................... 85

Members Trust Federal Credit Union......................................70

Blue Flamingo.................................................................................. 62

Nurture n’ Nature............................................................................ .17

BMY......................................................................Inside Front Cover

Overhead Door Company............................................................94

Brazos Rose Photography........................................................... 39

Peacock’s Restaurant....................................................................84

Celebration Event Center.............................................................112

Punchy’s..............................................................................................112

CJ’S Spurs-N-Thangs................................................................... 104

Ranger College.............................................................. Back Cover

Cross Timbers Family Services..................................................80

RedFin Pools..................................................................................... 95

Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council............................................... 52

Ruby’s Texas Bistro.........................................................................118

Cross Timbers Orthopaedics and Imaging .............................5

Scott’s Flowers on the Square................................................. 107

Danny’s Flooring and Interior..................................................... 95

Security Storage.............................................................................126

Dickerson Real Estate.................................................................... 71

Stephenville Family Dentistry.................................................... 28

Dowell Water Well.............................................................................3

Stephenville Funeral Home......................................................... 53

Dublin Chamber of Commerce..................................................44

Stephenville Optimist Club..........................................................117

Dublin Insurance Agency.............................................................116

Sueann Porter, CPA, PLLC..........................................................128

Dublin Realty....................................................................................117

Swindles Jewelry............................................................................. 29

Dudley Barker Photography......................................................107

Tarleton State University..............................................................80

Easter Heat & Air........................................................................... 107

Taylor’d Photos................................................................................ 63

Edwards & Stokes...........................................................................116

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital.....................................7

Erath County Living.......................................................................117

Texstar Ford Lincoln....................................................................... 52

Erath County Paranormal Society............................................ 95

The Hay & Feed Ranch.................................................................. 53

Erath Plumbing................................................................................ 85

The Home Place..................................................................................2

First Baptist Church of Dublin....................................................94

The Salon............................................................................................84

First National Bank of Dublin................................................... 104

Upland Bird Extravaganza......................................................... 106

Fraser Agency, Inc........................................................................... 16

Veldhuizen Cheese........................................................................... 9

Fraser, Wilson & Bryan, P.C..............................................................1

Woods Furniture and Mattress Gallery................................... 62

Laura Henson Designs...................................................................112

PLEASE THANK THESE ADVERTISERS FOR MAKING THIS PUBLICATION POSSIBLE! Hometown Living At Its Best

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Accounting Made Easy!

1710 W South Loop, (254) 968-6112 sueannportercpa.com

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Erath County Living

APOLLO COMPUTERS OF STEPHENVILLE (254) 918-3320 1745-B W. South Loop, Stephenville Apollocomputers.com

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