Erath County Living - Fall 2016

FALL 2016

LIFE AT THE

Cowgirl Dreams

Singer/Songwriter Rehme Sutton uses stories of perseverance to inspire listeners.

Sharing the Miracle Two minutes can be a lifetime. For Andrea Wood and her children, those two minutes changed everything.

TOP Ted Nuce and some of his outstanding competitors were some of the greatest bull riders to ever grab a rope.

Hometown Li v ing At Its Best

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contents

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Life at the Top

Ted Nuce and some of his outstanding competitors were some of the greatest bull riders to ever grab a rope.

20

Cowgirl Dreams

Singer/Songwriter Rehme Sutton uses stories of perseverance to inspire listeners.

30

Riding the Gentle Giants of Texas

Riding a longhorn may sound like something from a Texas tall tale, but for Cody Garcia, it’s as real as it gets.

42

68 Years Served with Waffle Fries

Stepping into Jake and Dorothy’s Cafe is stepping back to the ‘50s and ‘60s.

54

Girl Scouts of Erath County

Girl Scouts was founded over 100 years ago to help girls discover their strengths, passions, and talents.

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Dwelling Place Ministries

Dwelling Place Ministries CWJC will continue impacting lives as they seek to minister and serve the women of Erath County and surrounding communities.

20 76

One Piece at a Time

David Stafford worked daily for almost 10 months putting together the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle.

82

Hunt for the Future: Reloaded

Six years ago, Colby Pack came up with an idea that combined his love of hunting with his conviction for helping others.

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The Oxfords of Erath County

Oxford is a surname familiar to most everyone in Erath County. That name is associated with law and attorneys and men that serve their fellow men in a helpful, honest way.

about t he cover

The cover photo is of retired World Champion bull rider Ted Nuce. To read more about this hall of famer, turn to page 10.

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Erath County Living

CROSS TIMBERS ORTHOPAEDICS

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561 N Graham | Stephenville, TX 76401

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LEAVE TOWN TO GET A HIGH QUALITY STATIONARY MRI ANYMORE.

254-968-8600 Hometown Living At Its Best

5

contents

104

Sharing the Miracle

Two minutes can be a lifetime. For Andrea Wood and her children, those two minutes changed everything.

114

Giving Women the Home Field Advantage

Texas Health Stephenville provides advanced services close to home.

122

History Comes Alive

The ladies of the Major George B. Erath Chapter 2679, Stephenville Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, presented their Historical Drama and Fashions of the 1860s to the public recently.

132

Comfort with Prayers, Doggy Kisses, and Smiles

Heart whispers turn into heart-loving action when a girl and her dog walk in their divinely appointed ventures.

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inisesvueery

Hometown Happenings

A glimpse inside a few of the exciting events recently held in Erath County.

62

Hometown Graduates

Please join us in congratulating Erath County’s 2016 graduates with prayers and well wishes for their future endeavors.

80

Hometown Bundles of Joy

Welcoming Erath County’s newest residents.

90

Hometown Happiness

Congratulations to Erath County’s newlyweds.

142

Scenes of Erath County

Take a look at a few more of the reasons why we think Erath County is a great place to live.

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Erath County Living

Hometown Living At Its Best

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From the Publisher

PUBLISHER

Red Fin Publishing

Justin & Hayley Six Kyle & Halsey Clark

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Brittny Sanchez

CREATIVE | DESIGN

enVision Creative Services

OFFICE MANAGER

Hayley Six

Hayley.RedFin@gmail.com

The summer is in full swing, and so is the Texas heat! Whether you plan to take a vacation with family, or just hang out in the comfort of your home, we pray that everyone stays safe and enjoys this time together before school starts back up.

CONTENT DIRECTOR

Brittny Sanchez

Brittny.RedFin@gmail.com CONTENT COORDINATOR Noel Betush

Noel.RedFin@gmail.com

In this edition, you will read about the historic Jake and Dorothy’s Café that has been serving the people of Stephenville for 68 years. You will also read about the miracle of 4-year-old Aiden Wood and Colby Pack’s conviction for helping others.

We announced your new www.ErathCountyLiving.com website in the previous edition, and are overwhelmed by the response!

It seems people from all over love to read about what makes Erath County so special. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook: Erath County Living Magazine!

Erath County Living is a bi-annual publication dedicated to the people, places, and things that make Erath County such a wonderful place to live. Whether you just moved in to the area or never left, we hope you are able to discover something new that affirms your love for the wonderful place you call home.

Amanda Coers

Amanda Davies Photography Cross B Photography

Down Home Digital

Dudley Barker Photography Kimmie’s Photography

Landi Whitefield Photography

Leah-k Photography Plan-it ink

Riley Studio Southern Grace Photography

Twisted Roots Weddings

We give thanks to God for a new year and great things to come.

Until the next edition, Wishing you many blessings,

Justin.RedFin@gmail.com (817) 301-3828 Kyle.RedFin@gmail.com (817) 304-1044 “Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.”

Psalm 68:19

Erath County Living Magazine Red Fin Publishing

www.ErathCountyLiving.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS Amanda Akins Photos

Help us to thank our advertisers for their contribution for your local magazine by shopping local! Their involvement allows this publication to come free of charge to you. Go by any advertisers’ location to pick up your complimentary copy. Thank you and we look forward to many more issues of Erath County Living!

Jus t i n an d Hayley S ix K y l e an d Hal s ey Clark

SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR Halsey Clark

PROOF READER Hayley Six

COVER PHOTO

Ted Nuce Photo by Cross B Photography

SALES

Brenda LaComb

Brittny Sanchez Eric Twigg

Justin Six

Kim Rhodenbaugh Kyle Clark

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Amanda Coers Connie Lewis Leonard

Jessa McClure

Joyce Whitis

Martha Helton Peggy Purser Freeman

T.C. McKeown

CONTRIBUTORS

Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council Dublin Chamber of Commerce / EDC

Stephenville Chamber of Commerce

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

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

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Erath County Living

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

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Erath County Living

LIFE AT THE

TOP

BY JOYC E WHITI S

PHOTO S BY C R O S S B PHOTOGRAPHY

Ted Nuce and some of his outstanding competitors were some of the greatest bull riders to ever grab a rope.

F

inding the secluded ranch and beautiful rambling home of Ted and Stephanie Nuce must be kin to going on safari. I’ve never been on a safari, but still the feeling must be about the same, traveling on unfamiliar trails through dense undergrowth and beautiful towering trees that must have stood there for centuries.

The address for the Nuce home along with directions had been posted for me, but let me confess - I am really bad about following directions! In this case, I was distracted from reaching the Nuce ranch because of the birth of spring evident in every tree and bush along the paved road. I could hardly breathe for looking at the landscape. So after a few minutes of aimlessly staring out the window at all the beauty along the road, I resorted to a call from my cell phone to get more instructions. Eventually Stephanie said, “Just park there and Ted will come get you!”

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After a warm welcome, coffee and a generous slice of chocolate sourdough cake that Stephanie had cooked up, I sat down at the table with Ted, Stephanie and their active little boys, Westyn and Wyatt. The wall in front of me was decorated with Ted’s back numbers from his successful qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo.

There are 14 numbers fastened high on the ten foot wall, an impressive testament to the 14 times in a row that Ted Nuce qualified for the National Finals Rodeo; reminders of the years he wowed fans as he rode raging bull after bull, stuffing winning dollars in his jeans and waving his hat to the cheering fans standing in the bleachers. That in itself is enough to show greatness in a chosen profession, but there is even more to Ted’s remarkable story and how he remained at the top of the game for so long when the top challengers were his best friends.

The ’80s and ’90s might well be considered the years that the greatest bull riders ever to grab a rope competed for Number One in the World. Such outstanding competitors as Jim Sharp, Tuff Hedeman, Lane Frost, Cody Lambert, Gilbert Carrillo, Adam Carrillo and Ty Murray were all capable of capturing the Number One spot. Ted was number 1 in 1985 and 2nd ’86, ’87, and ’91.

In 1987 he rode “Takin’ Care of Business” to score 80 points. That horned bull is usually remembered as the bull that killed Lane Frost as he lay in the muddy arena in Cheyenne. Lane had made a successful ride but fell when getting off and had trouble getting up in the muddy arena.

The bull rammed one lethal horn into Lane’s side. It was July 30, 1989 at Cheyenne’s Frontier Days.

Consider the competition in bull riding in the ’80s.

Ted was No. 1 in ’85; Tuff was No. 2 and Lane was No. 3.

Ted was 2nd in ’86, ’87, ’88 and ’91. Tuff won in ’86, Lane was 3rd and Jim Sharp was 4th. In ’87 it was Lane in first 12

Erath County Living

with Ted 2nd, Tuff 3rd and Jim 5th. In ’88 Jim won 1st, by riding all 10 bulls with Ted 2nd and Tuff 3rd. Several times a buck off was the deciding difference between lst and 2nd.

Interesting fact here is that of these NFR champions, none of them lived in Erath County in the ’80s, but soon Ty Murray, Jim Sharp, Gilbert Carrillo, Adam Carrillo, Tuff Hedeman and Ted Nuce were all calling this area their home. As one old hometown cowboy noted, “They just keep on a’ comin’.

“I was always relaxed when I rode bulls,” Ted admitted. “From the time that I started riding a pony at 5 years of age, I had good balance. Then I thought it would be fun to ride steers, and that was even better than riding a pony. I tried team roping and won my second place at a Junior Rodeo in Manteca, California near where I lived.

I made it to the high school finals in team roping before I ever started riding bulls.

“I loved bull riding more than anything ... more than life itself.”

– Ted Nuce

Ted Nuce at the NFR in 1992.

Photo courtesy of Dudley Barker Photography / dudleydoright.com Hometown Living At Its Best

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“I started riding bulls and for me, that was that.

I loved bull riding more than anything ... more than life itself. When I was 14, I met Larry Mahan. He was watching when I rode my bull, and afterwards he said to me, ‘If you keep improving you can be World Champion.’

Well, you can imagine that when a champion like Larry Mahan tells you that, you take it to heart.”

Ted looked thoughtful for a moment and then turned to me, “The difference between winning and losing is between your two ears.” The boys, Westyn and Wyatt, cowboy hats sitting thoughtfully on their young heads, looked at their dad with adoring smiles. They smiled recognizing the fact that they had heard this before and that they believed it was evident.

“When you hit the gravel, get back up and tell yourself, ‘You are the best!’ When times get tough…get tougher!”

In 1991 professional bull riders decided to take a new direction. They believed that the most popular event in

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Erath County Living

rodeo could profit as a stand-alone sport, and one evening 20 bull riders met in a rented motel room and agreed to put up $1000 each to form the Professional Bull Riders, known ever after as the PBR. Ted Nuce was one of the original 20 and has watched the PBR gain in popularity. That this organization, which began with limited funds pitched in the pot from those that believed in the sport, would ever be sold with such a tremendous profit is testimony to the great faith these 20 cowboys had in their sport. In a few years, all of the original 20 had retired, but the popularity of what they formed goes on unchecked.

In 2007 Ted and his wife, Stephanie, left Oakdale, California and came to Stephenville to build their home.

“Oakdale claimed to be the ‘Cowboy Capital of the World,’ Ted laughed. “So we left one Cowboy Capital and moved to another! I used to turn steers for Walt Woodard in California and he moved here. Besides, I knew so many other cowboys from competition days that have relocated

boys enjoy everything about their ranch - the horses, the chickens, ducks, dogs and whatever else they might bring home. Their manners are exceptional, with “yes, ma am” and “no, ma am” and handshakes and “happy to meet you.” The family worships God at the Cowboy Church of Erath County, and Jesus is a very large part of their everyday lives.

Life for the Nuces is very good with a beautiful place to live and a happy family.

“Remember to always think positive,” Ted advises.

“Decide what you want to do and then get busy doing it.”

“To make a great ride, jump off, and hear the screams of 17,000 fans is a feeling that is hard to explain.”

– Ted Nuce

here. My wife is a Texan so this is the logical place to live.

“Riding bulls was my life. I loved it. I had to be the best. I guess my absolute high point was in 1988 when Lane (Frost), Tuff (Hedeman) and I each won a gold medal in Calgary at the Olympics. I have a great picture of the three of us standing on the pedestal raising our hats to the cheering fans.

“To make a great ride, jump off, and hear the screams of 17,000 fans is a feeling that is hard to explain. I loved it so much. My rodeo career was a wonderful dream. I am so lucky to have experienced it. Still, there came a time when the thing to do was to stop. When you get that feeling, it’s best to climb down and walk away.

“In 1996 that time came for me. I made a good ride and got off thinking that I had made it, but the judge said no, so I just retired at that second. I was done and I walked away from it. There are no regrets.”

Stephanie and Ted homeschool their two boys and have a room in their house set up as a classroom. The Hometown Living At Its Best

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Erath County Living

Cowgirl

Drea ms

By Jessa McClure Photos by Leah-k photography

O

n a sprawling ranch in the small town of Burke, South Dakota, singer/songwriter, Rehme Sutton spent her childhood riding horses, roping cattle, and participating in the rodeo circuit. Everything centered around the cowboy culture, even the songs she sang for special music at her country Baptist church.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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But it wasn’t until she received a guitar as a gift her sophomore year in college that she truly found her voice, both as a songwriter and a storyteller.

“Once I was able to play my guitar decent enough to accompany myself, I played it for the college rodeos,” Sutton said. “A friend and I would play at church services at the [local] college rodeos.”

But despite early success with her music, Sutton wasn’t sure how her music would play into her future. She earned a doctorate of pharmacy from the University of Wyoming, and moved back home to look for a job and figure out what she wanted to do next.

Soon after returning home, a close friend told Sutton she was moving to Erath County, and Sutton agreed to help her move in the spring of 2011.

So, the two young women loaded up a Uhaul and drove down to Texas, where they would both find new career opportunities.

“I want to be able to inspire other people when they hear my music.”

Rehme performing at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth for their ladies night called Boots & Bling.

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Erath County Living

“I met [two guys] who had a recording studio in town.

They asked me to play with them at a barbecue, and when it was over they told me I should record,” Sutton said. “I had always wanted a way for people to hear my music, but I hadn’t written a lot at that point.”

So, in the summer of 2011, Sutton packed up her horses, left the family ranch, and headed to Texas for a new life as a recording artist and a pharmacist for Tanglewood Pharmacy in Stephenville.

“I originally wanted to do a five-song EP, but in the process of being in the studio and being in that atmosphere, I was writing a lot,” Sutton said. “I ended up with 13 songs.”

Creating the album from start to finish took seven months, as Sutton continued to work as a pharmacist to fund her music. There were many days where the singer would work a full day caring for the facility’s patients, including those in hospice care, and then spend hours writing and recording music after her shift was over.

Both career paths meant a lot to Sutton, and she put her heart and soul into each one.

As Sutton began the process of putting her thoughts down on paper and crafting the songs that would become her debut album, she knew there was one person she wanted to pay tribute to—her brother Billie.

The two shared a close bond, and even shared a house while they both attended college. While they both enjoyed competing in the rodeo circuit, Billie was somewhat of a rodeo prodigy.

“He was a bronc rider, and had competed all over the country,” Sutton said. “He was in the circuit finals in Minot, ND when his horse flipped in the chute and completely shattered his twelfth vertebrae.”

In an instant, Billie’s future was put into question.

He was paralyzed, and had to learn how to do everything

again during his rehabilitation.

“He was supposed to take over the ranch and do great things in the rodeo circuit,” Sutton said.

But despite the heartbreak of losing the future he had planned his whole life, Billie didn’t give up hope.

“He left [the hospital] on December 21, we went home for Christmas, and then in January he went back to [college] to finish his last semester of his finance degree.”

He went on to coach at the university and then moved home to South Dakota to take on a new challenge— running for senator.

“He ran for state senate when he was 26, and won,” Sutton said. “He just finished his seventh year, and helped pass a bill that will raise teachers’ salaries by $8,500 a year. He’s just a really incredible guy, and I wanted to write a song about him.”

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Erath County Living

But despite her desire to write a fitting tribute to the brother she so admired, Sutton found it difficult to put his story and her love for him into words.

“When I was first recording I was doing a lot of covers, but [the producer] said, we really need to have your own songs,” Sutton said. “I went home that night, and I had this tune in my head. I started writing, and within an hour I had the beginnings of ‘Billie’s Song.’”

She finished the song in a little under an hour and a half, which for Sutton felt like a miracle. The words fell into place on the page, with haunting lyrics like “That horse he loved flipped upside down. When he woke up he was wheelchair bound.” But even though the song is filled with pain and loss, it ends on a hopeful note with “This cowboy’s dream will come true.”

Sutton said this inspirational message is what she hopes listeners will take from her music, whether they hear it recorded or live.

“I want people who hear my songs to get something out of it,” Sutton said. “It’s a great feeling when somebody listens to my music and says it gives them goosebumps or it felt good to hear.”

“My goal would be for everyone everywhere to hear my music and be inspired.”

The young songwriter said she loves creating narratives that others can relate to. Although she wouldn’t mind becoming a touring artist who performs at venues across the country, she is content for the moment to be creating music and encouraging others through her inspirational tracks.

“After Billie got hurt, I watched him go through his day. For him, just getting out of bed was work. So, now, when I’m feeling bad or feeling sorry for myself, I listen to ‘Billie’s Song’ and I think how thankful I am,” she said. “I want to be able to inspire other people when they hear my music.”

Sutton lives by a saying that her mother repeated to her when she was growing up—“It’s a great life if you don’t weaken.”

The singer hopes that those who hear her music will have the strength to keep going and persevere through whatever obstacles are in their way.

“My goal would be for everyone everywhere to hear my music and be inspired,” she said.

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Erath County Living

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STEAK SEASONING AS BIG AS TEXAS

R i d i ng

Gentle Giants the

of

Texas

By Amanda Coers Photos by Amanda Coers and provided by the Garcia Family

Riding a longhorn may sound like something from a Texas tall tale, but for Cody Garcia, it’s as real as it gets.

I

f you follow a winding country road up the lazy hills just outside of Hico, you’ll find a young man who rides longhorns. It sounds like something from a Texas tall tale, but it’s as real as it gets. Cody Garcia, age 16, saddle breaks and rides these iconic Texas legends. And though it certainly turns heads, he’s about as humble as can be, praising the good nature of his longhorns and giving a little side grin. He’s not larger than life; he’s just a good kid who works really hard. When he’s not working with his longhorns, he’s finishing up high school where he is a National Honor Society student and thinking of attending OSU or TCU, majoring in an agricultural field. Cody is also considering a military career with thoughts of becoming a pilot.

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Cody is a third generation rancher, living and working with his family on the Rafter M Ranch, a 250plus acre spread in Erath county that Cody’s grandfather established in the mid ’60s. His parents, Rick and Cori Garcia, moved to the ranch in 2009 to help Cori’s parents, D.L. & Mary McCoy, tend the livestock, work the ranch, and carry on a family tradition of raising beef cattle. The Rafter M Ranch added Registered Texas Longhorns to its herd seven years ago as a way to offset the damaging effects from the longstanding drought that had taken its toll on pastures and pocket books.

Longhorns are able to survive in drought conditions better than most beef breeds.

Cody grew up visiting and working his grandparents’ ranch frequently and like any young cowboy, he attended the stock shows and participated in FFA, traveling with

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Erath County Living

and getting to know the familiar faces on the show circuit.

Cody began his show and FFA career his freshman year in high school. Cody has qualified for state FFA competition four times and national FFA twice, including winning the Reserve National Champion title with his home site team in 2015. On the TLBT (Texas Longhorn Breeders of Tomorrow) show circuit, Cody has won numerous Grand Champion and Reserve Champion titles with his prized longhorns as well as 2nd place in the Hall of Fame last year and is in the top 3 so far this year. The longhorn show circuit, which is organized by the TLBAA office in Fort Worth, starts in September of every year and ends in June the following year. It’s a full time family affair.

While on the show circuit Cody began talking with a family friend, Janice Heinze, who happened to saddle break and ride longhorns. “I just happened to have a steer

A toddling Cody with his mother Cori enjoying the outdoors and family livestock.

Cody is a third generation rancher, living and working with his family on the Rafter M Ranch, a 250-plus acre spread in Erath county that Cody’s grandfather established in the mid ’60s. that had a great disposition, and Janice agreed to come over and work with us,” Cody explains. In May 2015 Cody began working with his Registered Texas Longhorn, named Real McCoy, or known to the family as simply McCoy, so named for Cody’s grandfather, D.L. McCoy. McCoy was younger than most longhorns to start the saddle breaking process, but his exceptionally sturdy body and willing temperament allowed him to adapt to the new training easily. Now at around 1,250 pounds of Texas Longhorn muscle, McCoy is surprisingly nonchalant and laid back. “It’s not just his build,” Cody says, “He’s always been a bit broader, but what convinced me to go ahead with saddle breaking him was his attitude. He didn’t really mind, he just went with the flow and was real calm all the time.”

That might sound like another tall tale, but it’s as true as the sunset. McCoy lazily saunters up when called, looking for chin rubs and a nice pat on the haunches.

When Cody clips the reins to his nose ring and hops on him bare back, McCoy seems perfectly at ease and will

happily - and certainly with his own slow and steady gate - mosey around the yard. When asked if McCoy ever speeds up, Cody laughs, “He’s run one time. Most of the time I have to work to get him going. But we were warming up in Glen Rose getting used to carrying a bigger flag for opening ceremonies and they have a pretty big open space there and he took off a bit.” Though it wasn’t a new rush of spirit that got McCoy moving, it turns out he thought he was headed back to his comfy stall. Disappointed, he resumed his normal leisurely gate.

Watching Cody ride McCoy and the easy and steady rhythm they’ve developed is like a scene from slower and less complicated days. The two are a great team, with an obvious friendship. “The bond that they have is great to see,” says Cody’s mom, Cori. “Cody has had McCoy since he’s been weaned, so they have a really great relationship, they truly trust each other.”

Cody with his grandfather D.L. McCoy.

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Cody (center) with his parents Rick and Cori Garcia.

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Erath County Living

About the only thing that gets McCoy ruffled is when the new kid on the block, Rough Ryder, comes around looking to steal a few chin rubs and kisses. “Jealous,” Cody’s mom Cori laughs when McCoy tries to block Ryder from the spotlight.

And there’s definitely a bit of fame that comes from such an unusual steed. Cody has been asked to carry the flag during the opening ceremonies at stock shows from Texas to Oklahoma, and for the Grand Entry for the Texas Steak Cook-off in Hico, The World Show in Fort Worth, as well as the Old Settler’s Parade in Hico. With all eyes on them, Cody admits it takes some getting used to. “It’s a weird feeling. I’m not the kind of person who likes to be in the spotlight. At first it’s nerve-wracking, but once you get over that, it fun to be out there and it’s an honor to be asked to present the flag.”

His mom and dad are proud to see their son succeeding with their longhorns. “It’s neat to watch him growing up, doing his own thing with a passion for something he loves. I don’t worry much at all watching him train and ride longhorns, I would trust riding a longhorn before a horse any day. I grew up with horses, and remember the many spills I took,” she laughs. “Cody

Cody’s Registered Texas Longhorn, Real McCoy, who was named for Cody’s grandfather, D.L. McCoy.

“Cody is a young man of faith and is truly grateful for what God has blessed our family with…”

- Cori Garcia is a young man of faith and is truly grateful for what God has blessed our family with. Proud doesn’t even begin to describe how we feel.”

This summer Cody will be mentoring younger showman on halter-training and showing their longhorns, and he’ll be continuing to work with his own herd with three steers and five heifers, the newest born on April 27th. The new calves, Cody’s halter training and saddle breaking services, and prize money will help him pay for college, continuing in his grandfather D.L.’s footsteps of working to build his own life.

D.L. started as a ranch hand in his teens, he attended and graduated from the TCU Ranch Management program and then went in to real estate, eventually leading him to purchase and build his own ranch. The very one where Cody now works to build his own future alongside his family and the gentle giants that he loves.

Rafter M Ranch is located at 12439 CR 209, Hico, TX 76457. To find out more about this registered Texas Longhorn ranch, or the halter and saddle breaking services they offer, you can reach them at 479-381-8331.

Cody carrying the US Flag during one of the many opening ceremonies he has had the privilege of participating in.

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Erath County Living

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254-965-3155

www.fraseragency.com

CO M M U N I T Y S P OT L I G H T

Julie Crouch

Photo by Kimmie’s Photography

M

any of you know Julie Crouch as the Executive Director at the Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council.

Her infectious smile and friendly and outgoing personality light up any room she walks into. With deep roots in Erath County and a passion for helping others, we couldn’t think of a better person to kick off our Community Spotlight section.

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Erath County Living

What are the 5 words that best describe you?

People have often described me as responsible, caring, resourceful, fun and outgoing.

What is your greatest strength?

Networking – I love to connect people. True networking is based on the question, “How can I help?” rather than, “What’s in it for me?”

What is your greatest weakness?

I cannot say NO. I tend to get spread too thin with the many things I want to do.

Where were you born and raised?

Although I was born in Hammond, Louisiana, I was raised in Stephenville from the age of two.

My family has lived in Erath County for four generations.

Who is the one person who has influenced you most thus far in your life?

Connie Birdsong had the greatest influence on my life. She and Tom were friends with my grandparents, so I knew her from a very young age. She was such a strong woman, who was passionate about her causes.

What do you like best about your job?

I love to see the children’s smiles while attending CTFAC’s art camp. There is so much laughter and excitement during this special week.

What is your favorite meal?

Definitely my favorite meal would be the traditional dinner at Joe T. Garcia’s.

When I lived out of state, I would fly in to DFW and that would be my first stop.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I would hope to find myself in five years happy, healthy, and surrounded by the people I love. I want to be able to continue doing the things I love to do for as long as I can.

If you were not working in your current job, what job would you have?

If I were not working at my current job, I would love to be a food critic for Yelp or destination columnist for Expedia.

What’s your favorite thing to do in your spare time?

I really enjoy my unstructured time.

Whether driving back roads taking photos of wildflowers or spending time with family and friends, I like relaxing away from the office.

Name three things on your bucket list.

There are so many things on my bucket list! I would love to drive PCH from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Also would love to visit our national parks - Mt. Rushmore, Niagara Falls and Yosemite for starters.

I really would like to see more of America. Perhaps I need to buy a travel trailer and hit the road?

I would hope to find myself in five years happy, healthy, and surrounded by the people I love. I want to be able to continue doing the things I love to do for as long as I can.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17.

I love this passage because we all have the abilit y to make each other stronger.

If you could change something about the world, what would it be?

I would love to see more opportunities for women in other countries. It makes me sad to know there are young girls who do not have access to education and equality.

Do you have any fears? If so, name one.

I am so afraid of spiders. I can hardly look at a photo of one! HA! Please don’t tell anybody.

What are you most grateful for?

I am so grateful for my friends and family. It is wonderful to be back home surrounded by their support. There really is no place like home.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

I achieved First Class rank in Girl Scouts while in high school; I graduated from Tarleton State University; I followed my dream and

moved to California in my twenties; completed a marathon; worked with some very influential figures throughout my career; have helped with local; national and international projects which were meaningful in so many ways.

But truly, I cannot think of one big accomplishment.

There have been many small accomplishments that have made me into the person I am today. I would like to think I have not yet accomplished all I would like to do.

What do you most value in a friendship?

I value loyalty, honesty and accountability in my friends.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17. I love this passage because we all have the ability to make each other stronger.

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Hometown Living At Its Best

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J ake & Dorothy’s 68

YEARS

S E RV E D IES R F E L F F A W

By Peggy Purser Freeman | Photos by Plan-it ink

S T E PPI N G I NTO JA KE A N D DOROT H Y’S C A FE IS S TE PPI N G BAC K TO TH E ‘50 S A N D ‘60 S.

S

tepping into Jake and Dorothy’s Cafe at 406 E Washington Street is stepping back in time to the ’50s and ’60s. Complete with checkered floors, the original counter, stools and, best of all, fresh not frozen food, the cafe continues to feed Stephenville as it has for 68 years. When I heard about Jake and Dorothy’s famous waffle fries and Tuesday Dollar Burger Night, I had to try them for myself. I’m a child of the Happy Days era, and you can’t fool me with fake. My daughter and I met for her birthday celebration. I ordered the burger and waffle fries. She chose the chicken-fried steak. This is truly Texas at its best. After we ate, I introduced myself and asked to speak to the owner, Kerry Roach. Kerry’s history is Jake and Dorothy’s history. Kerry shared her memories.

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Erath County Living

WITH

Hometown Living At Its Best

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Jake and Dorothy Roach

Jake Roach with daughter Kerry.

Kerry Roach 44

Erath County Living

“I started washing dishes and rolling out pie dough when I was seven-years-old. Mostly, I followed my daddy around as much as I could.” Kerry’s stories of her daddy reflect the young girl’s hero worship. After serving his country for four-and-a-half years in World War II, Jake Roach moved to Stephenville. He worked as a cashier at Mel’s Diner. A waitress at Mel’s, Dorothy, caught his eye.

They married in1946.

“My daddy told me about getting this building.” Kerry talked of her parents with a smile. “It was only the front portion of the cafe back then. They rented at first. The counter and booths were up front, with a small kitchen at the back on the right and their one room apartment on the left.”

Today, just as Jake and Dorothy did back in the day, Kerry and her staff grind and prepare the beef fresh each morning. Their waffle fries are handmade each day with a special cutter that her father invented.

“I have a potato cutter made just like his,” Kerry explained. “I saw him make them so many times. One was out of the screen doorframes. Everything’s homemade from scratch, even the salad dressing. Daddy said as long as there’s an Idaho potato, there will never be an instant potato served at Jake and Dorothy’s. I watched him prepare to tenderize steak for the chicken-fried recipe and grind fresh hamburger meat every day.”

Jake and Dorothy had another winning recipe - they backed the community sports programs, including Tarleton. Jake especially enjoys the Little League teams and sponsored them for many years, until the sponsor rules were changed.

As I talked with Kerry, her eyes darted around the room, making sure people were being waited on and their food was reaching the table in a timely manner.

She called out to a couple at a table nearby, “What did you order? My goodness! Did they have to milk the cow and gather the eggs?” Quickly, she was on her feet addressing the wait staff.

“Kerry, do you remember me?” the lady asked.

“When we were going to high school and college, you would crawl into the booth and talk to all us. I’m Michelle Jones, used to be Welch. In the ’50s and ’60s, this was the hangout place. My brother loved to come here and tease the waitress, Booger Red. They would get the bottles of French dressing and squeeze it all over.

She would really get on to them, but they loved her.”

When Kerry speaks of the people they serve, it’s as if the cafe is part of her family.

Kerry smiled. “I always wanted to go with daddy on the weekends because this place was hopping. So many good memories.”

Michelle added, “We have friends who come to Stephenville and won’t go home until they come to Jake and Dorothy’s.”

“Football times were special. We fed all the teams.

Art Briles and Gordon Woods both brought their state championship team to eat after their away games.”

For those who don’t know, Art Briles coached 4A Stephenville High School in 1988, playing in the same area as Gordon Wood’s state powerhouse Brownwood High School. After a 4–5–1 season in 1989, Briles’ Stephenville squads made the playoffs in 1990 and many times since. Briles’ record at Stephenville was 135 wins, 29 losses, and 2 ties.

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“That was a time I remember most.” Kerry continued.

“Back in the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and even into the ’90s, the schools stopped in and celebrated…not so much anymore since the UIL has made rules about how much you can pay for their meals. We still get some FFA and big groups going to Tarleton. We always give them a good deal, but not as many schools call us.”

When Kerry speaks of the people they serve, it’s as if the cafe is part of her family.

“So many Tarleton graduation celebrations are held here. One Saturday we had the third generation of people who not only went to Tarleton, but have been Jake and Dorothy customers—the granddaughter, mother, and grandmother. A lot of people got married here.”

Tuesday night is One Dollar Burger night. This is the same burger Kerry and her staff serve every day. Single moms love it. College kids appreciate a hamburger and a glass of water for only a $1.08.

Kerry Roach (seated) with the Jake and Dorothy’s Café staff

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Erath County Living

“We have customers in their 90s and some come almost every day, sometimes twice, Kerry said. “This one older customer tells me when he turns 100 he will dance me around the dining room.”

The biggest change for running the cafe has been finding a workforce. Kerry explained, “This has been a huge change for the past twenty years. I can’t find a cook that knows how to cook. They know how to throw frozen food in a vat or on the grill, but they don’t know how to make things. And if it can be done from scratch that’s the way we do it. You can bet my cooks can cook. One of my cooks, Nicholas, has been with me the longest. He’s seen all the changes with me.”

Kerry Roach became the owner in 1977. “In 2004, we updated the floors and walls. The last time, when the floor was prepared for a change, there were seven layers of flooring. One thing that hasn’t changed is the original counter and the original eight stools made by my cousin.

I plan to update the window shades and create an outdoor smoking station with coffee because we went nonsmoking after 67-and-a-half years, something I should have done a long time ago. It made some people really mad, but a lot of people happy.”

Jake and Dorothy’s is proud to have its own bakeshop.

Since 1998, the Washington Street Bakery has made homemade pies for its customers. Trying to top past anniversary celebrations has become a problem for Kerry.

To celebrate its 60th anniversary, the cafe served chickenfried steak for $3.60 and buttermilk pie for 60 cents. The line was out the door.

“During our 65th anniversary, we served hot steak sandwiches for $.65. We sold 767 hot steak sandwiches that evening. For our 50th, we used our 1951 menu prices from that time. The highest price was the filet mignon for a $1.55. We fed over 900 people that day.”

Plans for the 68th anniversary on June 10th, 11th and 12th are underway. Making plans with her family is what she loves and Jake and Dorothy’s Cafe is family, not only to Kerry, but to all of Stephenville.

“We hope people will drop in.” Kerry smiles. “We’re open 5:30 in the morning until 12 midnight, Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday the cafe is open until 2:00 AM.”

Jake and Dorothy’s is proud to have its own bakeshop. Since 1998, the Washington Street Bakery has made homemade pies for its customers.

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COWBOY CORNER with

Marty Yates

Marty Yates was born with rodeo in his blood, carrying on an Erath County family tradition that started with the Hampton family many years ago dating back to his great great great Grandfather. He started rodeoing at the age of 5, starting in in junior rodeo and working his way up to the pros. With a great family support system, Marty has accomplished many goals at an early age. He has made two trips to the NFR since 2014, winning 4 rounds in his first two years. Some of his biggest wins to date are: DNCFR champion, Texas circuit Champion, Cheyenne Frontier Days, and West of the Pecos. He is quick to thank his family for all his success. Keep watching this cowboy as he has a great future in rodeo in front him!

Photos provided

by Marty Yates

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F U N FAC T S A B O U T M A R T Y

1 . My greatest achievement is making my

9 . The one thing I could not go a day without

1st NFT. It gave me confidence and pride in

would be my phone.

accomplishing my lifelong goal.

1 0 . My favorite subject in school was history.

2 . The craziest thing I have ever done is riding in a small plane over the mountains in a storm.

3 . If I won the lottery, the first big thing I would buy would be a large ranch.

4 . I am afraid of heights.

5 . My perfect day would be winning the world title in calf roping.

6 . If I could live in any history period it would be the 1800s.

7 . My biggest pet peeve is being lied to.

8 . My favorite thing about my career is getting to travel to a lot of different places.

1 1 . My favorite family tradition is Christmas at Meme’s.

1 2 . Cookie dough is my favorite flavor of ice cream.

1 3 . A lion is the animal that best represents me because he is grumpy if you mess with him.

1 4 . If I could have one superpower it would be flying so that I could get everywhere faster.

1 5 . 3 things from my bucket list are winning a world title, going to Hawaii and owning a large ranch.

COWGIRL CORNER with

JJ Hampton

Naturally competitive, JJ Hampton began at the tender age of 4 by coercing her father to enter her in a rodeo in nearby Granbury, Texas.

Blessed with many God-given talents and passionate about competition and self-improvement, JJ has used those blessings to ultimately compile a tremendous resume of accomplishments. From 1994 to date, JJ has garnered 17 Professional Women’s Rodeo Association World Champion Titles and has been inducted into the Cowboy Capital Walk of Fame, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Striving for excellence in every aspect of her life, she is also an accomplished realtor with expertise in the sale of all types of properties in Erath and surrounding counties. She has received recognition for her efforts, as most recently named 2015 Top Producer in Erath County by SAOR and also being named “Best Real Estate Agent in Erath County” for 2016.

Photos provided

by JJ Hampton

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F U N FAC T S A B O U T J J

1 . My greatest achievement is being Kason’s Mom. It has

8 . My favorite subject in school was math.

taught me a love and pride that I had never known.

9 . In 10 years, I still see myself selling real estate and

2 . If I could have one superpower, it would be to fly so that I could get places faster and get more done in a day.

3 . If I could travel anywhere, I would go to Paris, France so I could see the Eiffel Tower.

4 . One skill I would love to learn would be the art of remembering people’s names!

5 . If I could live in any history period, it would be 1860 with Annie Oakley.

6 . My biggest pet peeve is being told NO or that I can’t.

7 . My favorite thing about my career is meeting great people and dealing with challenges.

rodeoing!

1 0 . My favorite family tradition is going on summer vacation with Ricky and Kason.

1 1 . My favorite flavor of ice cream is vanilla.

1 2 . A bumble bee would be the animal that best represents me because they are always blowing and going!

1 3 . I am most definitely a morning person.

1 4 . 3 things from my bucket list would be going to Hawaii, Paris, France and Alaska.

1 5 . God put something inside of me that I just don’t quit or back down. I never give up and never stop trying. It motivates me to succeed.

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Erath County Living

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M A DE

BY HAND,

Blessed

by God!

front row (L to R) Ashley Odom, Mia Mccray, Emily Sword middle row (L to R) Jade Hamilton, Makayla Diaz back row (L to R) Volunteers Arielle Sword, Lacey Cook 54

Erath County Living

Girl Scouts of

ER ATH COUNTY

By Connie Lewis Leonard Photos by Riley Studio

Today we celebrate the organization that collectively helps individual girls make a difference in the world.

O

n my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law. Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts over 100 years ago to help girls discover their strengths, passions and talents. The organization now consists of 2.7 million members. In Stephenville, a total of 87 girls participate in Girl Scouts in different age-related troops: Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors.

Today we celebrate the organization that collectively helps individual girls make a difference in the world.

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World famous Girl Scout Cookies earnings may be used by troops for donations to a local charity, an adventure, store-related credits, a free week of camp, or travel experiences for trips across the globe. No girls are ever turned away due to lack of resources. Scholarships are available for uniforms and books for every girl who submits a Financial Assistance request.

The girls meet at the Mistletoe Hut for activities, events, programs and computer lab. Stephenville Evening Lions Club donated archery equipment, so the girls can compete in state archery competitions.

Lacey Cook, a Troop Leader to Juniors said, “Being a part of Girl Scouts has impacted the person I am today.

Without Girl Scouts I wouldn’t have been able to have the confidence to graduate college, the courage to experience new things, and the character to want to make a positive impact in my community.

“Our unit has helped with several events, including the annual Make-a-Gift event during the holidays where the girls make and wrap gifts for their friends and family.

Also, there is the annual He and Me dance in February for girls and an important male figure in their life. On Earth Day, a Cadette girl, Myla Childers, partnered with Tarleton Horticulture Center and Crissa Nugen to host an event about the monarch butterfly as her Silver Award project.”

(L to R) Jade Hamilton, Emily Sword, Ashley Odom, Makayla Diaz

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Erath County Living

Senior troop lead the Daisy troop meetings to receive their Senior Journey Award, Sisterhood. Their goal was to help the Daisies earn all their petals badges before our awards banquet. Back row (L to R) Rayla Chacon, Taryn Gibbs, Shelby Marshall, Felicity Chacon, and Kassle Pack. Front row (L to R) Chesleigh Elliott, Amelia Finney, and Cadence Pack.

Courtney McGuire and Victoria Saucedo teaching to girls from Troop 4166.

(L to R) Avery Misenhimer, Shelby Sult, Kelsey Scott, Brittney Culhane, Elizabeth Afeman

“Girl Scouts will push you to be a better person in public, but especially in private because what you do in private reflects your true character.”

– Avery Misenhimer Kelly Sult, another troop leader, said, “I became a leader with my older daughter’s troop back in 2001. The greatest long-term impact Scouting has had on me is service to the girls and their parents, service to other troops and leaders, and service to our community. We have a passion to make the world a better place and to grow these girls as future leaders!”

Each spring, Erath County Girl Scout Banquet honors and celebrates the girls’ achievements from the past year.

They are recognized for earning high awards, such as Bronze Award for Juniors, Silver Award for Cadettes, and Gold Award for Senior/Ambassadors (previously called the Golden Eaglet) and various other awards. They are also recognized for their service to the community and their achievements in product sales. Adult Volunteers are honored and recognized for making the program successful.

At the Awards banquet on May 6th, girls were recognized in all three categories: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Three girls earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, and another girl is currently completing her project. Those who completed their projects and submitted their final paperwork to council by March 15th will be celebrated in Austin on June 11th with a special 100-year anniversary ceremony and luncheon. Less than 5% of Girl Scouts nationwide achieve the level of Gold Award, and no girl has achieved this status in Stephenville since 2007.

The Gold Award girls planned and emceed the Awards Banquet “Follow in Our Footsteps” to show younger girls the importance of staying in scouting. They spoke about perseverance, entrepreneurship, and innovation at the Women of Distinction banquet, which honors five women and a business that have made an impact in their community, to celebrate the power of women who can change the world.

Brittney Culhane said, “Girl scouting has taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to. It has enabled me to make friendships that will last a lifetime, no matter where we go. I feel I have made the world a better place by being aware of things that need to be done and then taking action to do them.”

(L to R) Brittney Culhane, Shelby Sult, Avery Misenhimer, Kelsey Scott Hometown Living At Its Best

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For her Gold Award project, Brittney organized a five-hour educational seminar in conjunction with Pets Are Worth Saving’s (PAWS) adoption fair at the grand opening of Pet Supplies Plus to educate the community about their pets. The seminar included a presentation with statistics Brittney gathered from the Erath County Humane Society and local veterinary hospital. The Greens Creek Veterinary Hospital team micro chipped 46 pets, raising almost $700 for the Erath County Humane Society, distributing over 100 informational brochures to attendees.

Avery Misenhimer said, “Girl Scouts will push you to be a better person in public, but especially in private because what you do in private reflects your true character. At times, it can be hard to fulfill all of the high standards this organization expects of you, things like honesty, fairness, strength, and responsibility, but in the end, it doesn’t matter if you slipped up, all that matters is that you realize your mistake and fix it for the next time.”

Girl Scouts of central Texas - Erath County

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Erath County Living

For Avery’s Gold Award project, she created an educational video over the importance of organ and tissue donation. “I have always been passionate about anatomy and physiology, so I definitely wanted to incorporate that in my Gold Award. Another thing that impacted me was my Aunt Paige, who was only fifteen, who passed away from an ATV accident that crushed her skull. She was on life support for about three days and when it was time to make a decision, my family decided to donate her organs.

She ultimately saved eight people and gave someone sight.

Girl Scouts is all about helping people, and in my opinion, giving someone life is the best gift of all, so I decided to show people that donation isn’t something to shy away from but embrace.”

Shelby Sult said, “Girl Scouts has taught me how to be a confident leader as well as how to build strong teams. It has taught me all of the values that are dear to me today, such as trustworthiness, honesty, integrity, kindness and courage. Through Girl Scouts I have had many

THE WORLD BE A BETTER PLACE IF WE ALL FOLLOWED GIRL SCOUT LAW:

Volunteer Heather Anderson, Amber pack, Sydney Bollum, and Hannah McCray from 4178.

I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

(L to R) Gayle Land, Avery Misenhimer, Shelby Sult, Brittney Culhane, Elizabeth Afeman, Kelsey Scott, Kelly Sult

experiences in serving the community, and it has instilled a passion within me for giving back.”

For her Gold Award project, Shelby created an art and photography exhibit at the local Cross Timbers Fine Arts Center in Stephenville that brings awareness to the harmful effects the stress and pressure put on high school students. “Along with the pieces of art, I included a description in the form of an interview conducted with the pictured student, an explanation behind the piece, or statistics regarding the subject of the piece (gathered online from national surveys or from my school-wide survey).

“For students, their understanding of the universality of this problem and knowing that their hardships are being broadcast to the public has helped them feel less alone in the struggle. Parents and teachers realized they need to be more mindful of the stress their teenager/ student is experiencing. I additionally taught three free art workshops to SHS students which were based on teaching easy and relaxing techniques for art for beginner-level students.”

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254.965.2040 • Mark Blackburn, PT • Derek Haney, PT • Max Kirby, PT • Brandi Womack, PT • Jeffrey Bierman, PT • Troy Kimbrough, PTA StephenvilleSportsRehab.com 2269 NW Loop, Stephenville, Texas

New Location 2900 W. Washington St. #75 Stephenville TX 76401 in the Bosque River Center

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Erath County Living

OF STEPHENVILLE

254-968-3333

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404 East South Loop • Stephenville, TX •

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Specializing in the sales and service of Positive Displacement Reciprocating Piston/Plunger Pumps.

254.965.2555

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1786 CR 490 | STEPHENVILLE, TX 76401 Hometown Living At Its Best

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Hometown

Graduates

Josue Olvera SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Southern Grace Photography

JW Weiss HHS Class of 2016

Photo by Leah k photography

Karah Pack SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Kimmie’s Photography

Araceli Garcia DHS Class of 2016

Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Clint Mayo WHS Class of 2016

Photo by Cross B Photography

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Erath County Living

Kaleigh Conger SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Kimmie’s Photography

Madeline Carrizales LHS Class of 2016

Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Jarrod Lee SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Cross B Photography

Cameron Wisener SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Cross B Photography

Brittney Culhane SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Cross B Photography

Ana Macias SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Landrey Jackson HHS Class of 2016

Photo by Cross B Photography

Conner Moore DHS Class of 2016

Photo by Cross B Photography

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Taylor Lowe HHS Class of 2016

Photo by Kimmie’s Photography

Karen Martinez SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Southern Grace Photography

TJ Graham

SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Hanna Hayes SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Leah k photography

Malachi Taylor SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Kimmie’s Photography

Tomas Daniel SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Desteny Rodriguez SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Narda Fragoza HHS Class of 2016

Photo by Kimmie’s Photography

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Erath County Living

Isaac Lingle SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Cross B Photography

Katie Pierce SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Cross B Photography

A’dayr Shewmaker SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Cross B Photography

Sarah Pruetz Homeshool - Class of 2016 Photo by Cross B Photography

Kiley Winslow SHS Class of 2016

Photo by Cross B Photography

Sterling Bolling SHS Class of 2016

Colbe Stoker LHS Class of 2016

Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Austin Wells HHS Class of 2016

Photo by Kimmie’s Photography

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ANIMAL HEALTH & MEDICAL CENTER

254.965.2931 2682 S. State Hwy. 108 Stephenville, TX. 76401

www.animalhealthmedicalcenter.com Texas Hill Country Furniture & Mercantile 254-646-3376

H

Natty Flat Smokehouse & Gift Shop 254-646-3844

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Erath County Living

•

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Dwelling Place MINISTRIES

BY CONNIE LEWIS LEONA R D PHOTOS BY R ILEY STUDIO A ND PROV IDED BY CWJC

Dwelling Place Ministries CWJC will continue impacting lives as they seek to minister and serve the women of Erath County and surrounding communities.

Twelve years ago, Deneen Tiemann looked around and saw the great needs of women and children due to the area economy and lack of resources. She felt led to begin the process of establishing Erath County’s very own Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC), in Dublin, TX. 68

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CWJC is a ministry of the Woman’s Missionary Union, and is a ministry that changes lives and ministers to the whole person. “We recognize that every person has strengths, and we seek to draw from those strengths as we minister to the women who grace our doors develop more independence.” Based on Jeremiah 29:11, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’” declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,’” every woman deserves to know Christ’s love and help to make a future for herself.

CWJC exists to minister to women in need with a hand up, not a hand out. This is done by providing a vast array of life and job skills training, Bible study, and a missions context in which women help women. Dwelling Place CWJC offers: healthy, positive relationships, a move from dependency, spiritual encouragement, life and job skills training, and a “sister” to walk alongside.

The Mission Statement of Dwelling Place Ministries

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CWJC is “to Serve, Educate, and Empower Women for Life. We believe that meeting the needs of women ‘where they live’ both literally and figuratively will provide them with a greater sense of place and belonging and in turn give them what it takes to ‘Really Live.’ He is our Dwelling Place!”

Participants must be a minimum of 18 years old.

Some are young women with small children. Some may be reentering the work force after their children begin school. Others may be displaced by divorce, death of a spouse, or family violence. Some may have worked before, but many never have, and find their lives in a state of financial and emotional distress from lack of resources.

The classes offered through Dwelling Place Ministries CWJC are: Money Management, Computer Skills, Job Skills, Communication/Boundaries, Personal Development, Women’s Group, Home Management, Family Development, Sewing, cooking, arts and crafts.

The key element that helps participants apply what they learn is the environment of trust and unconditional love.

Over the past nine years, 152 women walked through the doors of Dwelling Place CWJC in some capacity. The full program runs from September to May, in keeping with a standard school calendar, aiding those who have children. About 40 percent of the women complete the entire program and get a diploma. This number is much less than the total number of women served. Tiemann explained, “As a strength based program, each woman who comes through our doors has their needs assessed based on what they hope to achieve. Some may only want to learn computer skills; others need help with resumes and work wear clothes to help them secure a better job.

We even have women who come to our facility to do community service hours while attending classes. Some women begin classes, drop out, and then come back later when they are truly ready to address the life changes that will keep them on a path to future success. Change is hard, even when it is for the better.”

Classes are held two semesters: September through December and January through May. The classes are held each Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Sue Owen, Community Liaison and Volunteer Coordinator, said, “We have found that the key element that helps participants apply what they learn is the environment of trust and unconditional love, which we are better able to establish if they are in classes for a longer term, rather than one semester only.”

In addition to the classes, every participant is involved in regular Bible study each Tuesday and Wednesday prior to class. Each woman is provided a mentor to encourage and support her during the course of the program.

The “Will Do Good” Thrift Market provides work-study opportunities for the participants as well as financial support for the ministry itself.

Meals are provided each class day by local churches.

Tiemann said, “We have a precious volunteer, Ms. Ann McDonald, 80+ years young, who coordinates these meals. Her work is a blessing to the participants each day.”

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Women who come to Dwelling Place Ministries are directed to community resources available to them. This includes housing, transportation, clothing, food, and financial assistance. “We have resources available to those who need help leaving unhealthy living situations, such as family violence or substance abuse. We also have a work wear closet which helps to provide work place attire for the ladies who are preparing for interviews or entering the work force for the first time,” Tiemann said.

Dwelling Place Ministries has two staff involved with the day-to-day operations of CWJC. They also have three employees who serve in positions related to the retail “Will Do Good” thrift market and building maintenance.

The Director, all seven teachers, financial assistant, and meal coordinator are all volunteers, as are all the members of our Board of Directors. Tiemann said, “Even those who are on the small payroll, donate lots of their time, each recognizes that the needs in our community are great, and want to give back.”

Incorporated in 2006 as a 501c3 non-profit, fall 2016 will be the 10-year anniversary. Each CWJC site is an autonomous organization and is required to attain its own operating capital. “At Dwelling Place CWJC we rely on the generous support of area churches and individuals who give monthly and one time gifts to the work of the ministry. We accept gently used goods to keep the ‘Will Do Good’ thrift market open. As a women’s facility, we always need personal care items, toilet paper, and diapers for children. Individuals who shop at the store help support our ministry. We also have many community partners who help support us through our fundraising events,” said Sue Owens.

Some of the fundraisers include a “Change for Change” campaign involving area churches, individuals, and organizations. Past fundraisers have included the CWJC Luau and Trip Give Away, Spring Fling, Garage Sales, Victorian Christmas and Dinner, and Auctions.

They are currently planning a Luke Wade concert for the fall. Ongoing monetary support is always a need, as it keeps the lights on and workers paid.

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There are many opportunities for people to get involved at CWJC beyond financial support. Mentors are assigned a few weeks into the program and are asked to commit for one year. Instructors teach one class per week and are asked to teach September through May. Speakers who would like to share a special talent or skill can contact CWJC to volunteer their services.

All Potential mentors and teachers and guest speakers may inquire by calling 254-445-2228. More information can be found on the website at HYPERLINK “http:// www.cwjcdublin.org” www.cwjcdublin.org or on Facebook. Individuals may stop by anytime to talk with a CWJC staff member and fill out a volunteer contact form.

Mentor and volunteer training is provided throughout the year.

In conclusion, Dwelling Place Ministries CWJC will continue impacting lives as they seek to minister and serve the women of Erath County and surrounding communities. Tiemann reminds us that, “Above all else we need ongoing prayer for the women we serve and willing hearts and hands to join us in serving others.”

Above all else we need ongoing prayer for the women we serve and willing hearts and hands to join us in serving others.”

– Deneen Tiemann

CWJC truly makes a difference in the lives of the women they support and serve. Their testimonials say it all…

“CWJC has been the most fulfilling experience in my life. Having been through the program offered here at dwelling Place ministries in Dublin, has equipped me to make sound decisions in many areas of my life. The studies here are very well rounded and have touched every part of my life.”

“The greatest gift of all is growing closer and closer in my walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

I continue to attend bible studies and find the more I learn the more I want to learn.

The bible study also gives me more and more appreciation for what God has done for us.

The depth of the word is truly astounding.

Dwelling Place Ministries CWJC has become my source for strength in areas such as my relationship with God, parenting, finances and recognizing and setting priorities for my life.”

“I am closer to the Lord and have improved my computer and job skills.”

“I am more confident in who I am and have learned more about managing money. The classes are fun, too!”

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1

PIECE AT A

TIME

BY JOYCE WHITIS PHOTOS BY RILEY STUDIO

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his giant, one-of-a-kind jigsaw puzzle stretched across two enormous wooden tables, blocking entrance to the far side of David Stafford’s shop, making it impossible to look at anything else but what must be the masterpiece of puzzle creativity! The colors of the small pieces, 33,600 of them, is brilliant, creating a happy mood while studying the monkeys, elephants, colorful birds, trees, vines, flowers and other vegetation all put together by finding the places for those thousands of small pieces of cardboard. It looks like what the Garden of Eden must have looked like.

“It took me 289 days to complete this one,” David said, studying the giant puzzle that measures 18 by 5 feet.

How did this man get so wrapped up in searching through thousands of pieces of cardboard that to the average person seem to be just variations of all colors?

“I had mumps when I was 10-years-old,” David said.

“My mother bought a jigsaw puzzle to keep me still for a while. I liked it so much that I put it together, and then took it apart and put it together again several times.

Finally I turned all the pieces upside down so there was no color showing and put it together by just looking at the pieces. From that time on, I was hooked. I just couldn’t stop buying puzzles and putting them together.”

He walked to a closet in part of his office and opened the door. Inside were hundreds of boxes of different sizes. “In those boxes are puzzles that I have put together in the past few years.”

David worked on this puzzle 6 to 8 hours daily for almost 10 months. When asked if it was it worth the $400 he paid for the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle, his smile of satisfaction said it all.

DAVID STAFFORD WORKED DAILY FOR ALMOST 10 MONTHS PUTTING TOGETHER THE WORLD’S LARGEST JIGSAW PUZZLE.

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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

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Zaylee Faye Francis Parents: Phil & Natasha Francis Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Brooklyn Madeleine Briseño Parents: Arthur & Ruth Briseño Photo by Southern Grace Photography

H O M ETOWN W e lco m i n g E r at h C o u nty ’ s

NEWEST RESIDENTS Photos courtesy of Southern Grace Photography, Kimmie’s Photography, Cross B Photography

Addi Lasater Parents: Adam & Am ber Lasater Photo by Kimmie’s Ph otography

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Journee Raye Switzer Parents: Cory & Paige Switzer Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Lilah Morgan McGee Parents: Reid & Lyndsey McGee Photo by Cross B Photography

Blakely Mae Burns Parents: PJ & Brittany Burns Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Knox Weldon Buckingham Parents: Arthur & Julianne Buckingham Photo by Southern Grace Photographyy

Brylie & Braxton Young Parents: Brandon & Kylie Young Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Tenley Pearl Miller Parents: Matt & Cindy Miller Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Alle Lynn Brady Parents: Nick & Megan Brady Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Avery Mya Hill Parents: Donny & Brigit Hill Photo by Southern Grace Photography

Brayden Ballard Parents: Karen & Joe Ballard Photo by Kimmie’s Photography

HUNT FOR THE

Future:

RELOADED

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SIX YEARS AGO, COLBY PACK CAME UP WITH AN IDEA THAT COMBINED HIS LOVE OF HUNTING WITH HIS CONVICTION FOR HELPING OTHERS.

C

BY T.C. MCKEOWN PHOTOS PROVIDED BY HUNT FOR THE FUTURE

olby Pack grew up hunting his whole life, and while he was fortunate enough to get to do so, he knows that not everyone is. There are some children that grow up in homes where a parent is abusive or neglecting. Or maybe some kids suffer from depression or other mental health issues that keep them from connecting with the world around them. Whatever the case may be, there are countless children that never get to experience the joy of holding a fishing rod or setting up a target for target practice or sitting in the silence of a deer blind.

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“I’d love to be philosophical about it,” Pack admits, “But simply put: there’s just something about hunting and fishing that teaches you how to be a good steward of the land.”

But Colby Pack isn’t just a good steward of the land— he’s also a good steward of his fellow man. Six years ago, Pack came up with an idea that combined his love of hunting with his conviction for helping others. He talked with several friends, his wife and his family (most notably his father-in-law, Henry Welge, whose family ranch sits on a couple thousand acres, prime for hunting and fishing) about the possibility of organizing a special hunting trip for kids, who without outside assistance, wouldn’t be able to take part in such an excursion.

The idea was met with enthusiastic support.

That year, back in 2010, Pack got in touch with the Foster’s Home for Children, a nonprofit organization in Stephenville that specializes in caring for troubled children. He told Glenn Newberry, President of the Foster’s Home, that he wanted to orchestrate a specialized hunting trip with some of the kids.

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“Being from Stephenville, I’m familiar with [Foster’s Home for Children], and I’ve always known people who volunteer.”

Among some of those people was a man named Rick Caudle, who had volunteered and worked at the Foster’s Home for many years.

“I’ve known Rick pretty much all my life and knew that he had been involved with the [Foster’s] home for years and years and when I finally started volunteering, I was amazed at how much the kids just touch your life.”

THE ORGANIZATION PLANS TWO TRIPS A YEAR WITH THE KIDS FROM THE FOSTER’S HOME: A HUNTING TRIP IN THE WINTER AND A FISHING TRIP IN THE SUMMER AT LAKE FORK.

Rick Caudle and Colby Pack, along with several other like-minded professionals in the Stephenville area, worked with Glenn Newberry to come up with the logistics of how exactly they would be able to carry out their vision. After a good deal of brain-storming and a lot of support from everyone involved at the Foster’s Home and certain members of the community, the first hunt was green-lit for a weekend in January at the Welge Ranch. … And it turned out to be a huge success!

Now, six years later, the concept has turned into an actual licensed nonprofit organization called Hunt for the Future. Today, the organization plans two trips a year with the kids from the Foster’s Home: a hunting trip in the winter (usually at Welge Ranch) and a fishing trip in the summer at Lake Fork.

“I actually went on one of the trips for the first time this last year and was so impressed with how thorough everything was, and just how close of a bond these kids develop with all the adults involved. It’s just a real special Hometown Living At Its Best

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time,” said Newberry.

“Preparation is a big deal for us before we go hunting and fishing,” Pack stressed. “We obviously work with Child Protective Services when applicable and we have two adults per one kid and once the kids are approved to go, we head out to the gun range for about four hours to practice with them beforehand. But most of all we want the kids and adults to get comfortable with one another.”

Pack says that he and all of the adults involved get to know each child well before they embark on the weekendlong trip, and that they try to make sure the kids are well taken care of.

“We all stay in nice cabins with comfortable beds and we feed them good—steaks, burgers, fajitas. We really try to do it up big for these kids.”

Hunt for the Future relies solely on donated funds and sponsorships. So, in order to raise funds for these excursions, Pack and his friends and family put on a golf tournament every year at Sugar Tree Golf Course in Dennis. This past year, the tournament boasted over 100 golfers and the event was successful in raising enough money to pay for all the expenses needed for both the

“WE JUST HAVE CERTAIN COMPANIES AND KEY PEOPLE THAT KEEP US GOING AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THAT.”

hunting and the fishing trips for the year.

“The more money we get in, the more we can do with the kids,” Pack said. “Our four biggest donors are probably Southwest Ford in Weatherford, Chris Brown Chevrolet in Cleburne, Hard Eight BBQ and Saint-Gobain Abrasives. Saint-Gobain Abrasives is very encouraging of their employees to help and volunteer for nonprofit organizations.”

Pack went on to say that Cabela’s has provided fishing poles for kids in the past, McKinney Bass Club and Lake Fork Marina have provided fishing boats, and numerous other sponsors have chipped in to help ensure that each hunt and fishing trip is an incredible experience for the kids.

“We just have certain companies and key people that 86

Erath County Living

keep us going and we are so thankful for that. I’d like to say it’s all me, but it’s not! It’s dozens of volunteers who go out there with blood, sweat, and tears and make it happen.”

While Pack enjoys the hunting and fishing and bonding with the kids, he says that some of the most special moments from the trip often arise when the day is done. “[At the end of it all] your heart is just full,” Pack said.

“And I know it’s not just me because my phone blows up all that next day with every one that I’ve been with that weekend or that day—whether it be on a hunting trip or out at the golf course for our fundraiser—and they are all talking about how next year ‘let’s do this and let’s do that.’ That just lets me know that this is never going away.

You bring up this topic of conversation to any one of those folks that have donated or helped or been out there with us and they’ll talk forever about it.”

And Pack confirmed that neither he nor anyone else involved with Hunt for the Future is content with leaving the organization where it is.

“We are constantly thinking of ways we can grow and get more of these kids out and doing fun stuff in nature.

We’d really like to do three or four hunts a year and a couple fishing trips a year. It’s fun for us and it’s fun for the kids. As long as we have money to do it, that’s what we want to do.”

Eventually, Pack said that he would love to see Hunt For the Future extend out even beyond Stephenville and Foster’s Home.

“But as much as I’d love to see our organization get more publicity, I’d love to see Foster’s Home for Children get the publicity, too. These kids need that,” Pack said in closing.

If you’d like to help Hunt for the Future grow and continue to provide hunting and fishing excursions for deserving children, please visit www.huntforthefuture. net.

All donations go straight to supplies for the trips.

If you’d like to donate directly to the Foster’s Home for Children, please visit their website at: www. fostershome.org

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By Joyce Whitis Photos by Southern Grace Photography and Provided by the Stephenville Historical House Museum

T

oday William Hall Oxford, local attorney and third generation lawyer, sits at his desk in his office that once was the projection booth for popular movie theater, the Ritz.

When the theater closed in the mid-fifties, the building was used as a retail store, and the owner sold Singer sewing machines and icemakers. Bill’s parents purchased the building to locate King Abstract Company’s business and his father’s law office. Bill’s office is located at 159 South Graham. Bill enjoys a full schedule with areas of practice in corporate law, real estate, probate, estate planning and other fields. He is proud of his third generation family connection with law and enjoys telling the many stories about his illustrious family.

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Mrs. Deliah Ann Oxford Hill was born December 30, 1845 in Hopkins County. Her account of family living, traveling conditions and experiences with the Indians provides a clear picture of what settlers’ lives were like ‘in the good old days.’ William Hall Oxford, known locally as “Bill,” enjoys pulling out a faded letter written by Deliah Ann, written when she was a young girl.

The letter begins: “At the age of twelve my father, W.C. Oxford (Bill’s great-grandfather), together with my brothers and sisters, nine of us in all, some of which were married, moved to Erath County, ten miles north of Stephenville. This move was made in three Ox wagons and one horse wagon. Our progress was very slow but the weather was fine and we were happy except for the fact that we were liable to run into hostile Indians at any time.

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“We came through Fort Worth in 1857 and the best I can remember there wasn’t anything there except a log house or two. The settlers had built them and used to fort up there against the Indians for days and weeks sometimes.”

Thus Bill Oxford can trace his family in Erath County before the War Between the States and read actual accounts of the bitterly cold winters and other hardships endured pretty much alone in a largely unsettled land with hostile Indians that raided the settlements intent to kill or steal the horses and livestock.

According to an account of early life in Erath County, titled “People-Events and Erath County, Texas” by Arden Jean Schuetz and Wilma Jean Schuetz and Ennis Favors, published in 1971, Claiborne Oxford, cousin of

Bill Oxford was shot in the back by renegade Indians in 1871. “Claiborne looked from his house and saw Indians stealing his horses so he hollowed at his kinfolks and the men took off after the thieves. During the battle, Claiborne was fatally shot by an arrow but rode home to die. He is buried in the old Oxford Cemetery now known as the Acrea Cemetery about 8 miles east of Stephenville.

This is the location for the AddRan College, founded by the Christian Church goers and the forerunner of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

The journal goes on…. “Then came the war (War Between the States) which increased our hardships.

Women had to spin all their thread and yarn, weave cloth for all our clothes, also for sheets, pillowcases, counterpanes and everything we used. We knit our socks and stockings and gloves.”

“My grandfather, Judge W. J. Oxford was born on a farm nine miles northeast of Stephenville on May 11, 1861 and lived there his first 21 years.” Bill said. “His father, Brink Oxford enlisted in the Confederate Army and was away from home fighting the Yankees until the surrender in 1865.

“Brinkley ‘Brink’ Oxford and his father, W.C. Oxford, moved from Fayetteville, Arkansas to Erath County in the 1850s. Brink received a patent from the Governor of Texas to 160 acres of land in 1870. W.J. was one of four sons born to Brink. My Great-Grandfather had limited opportunities for an education, but he was fortunate to be able to attend the old AddRan College (later Texas Christian University in Fort Worth) at Thorp Springs.”

“Despite his lack of formal education, W.J. was an aggressive learner and enjoyed teaching country school for two years before taking up the study of law. He was admitted to the bar at Stephenville October 18, 1886. In 1888 W.J. was elected County Attorney. He served six years as County Attorney then began General Practice before being elected Judge of the 29th District where he was reelected several times.” Bill leaned back with a smile of pleasure as he talked about his ancestors and their achievements.

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“W.J. retired from the bench and then accepted a position for 5 years as chief council for Texas Pacific Coal and Oil Company, headquarters in Thurber,” Bill continued. “It was when he closed a profitable case for them that he was paid $3,000 in silver coin. He stowed the money in the back of his buggy and drove back to Stephenville. The next morning he made plans to build what is known as the ‘Oxford House’ on Graham Street, near today’s Stephenville United States Post Office.”

“I was particularly proud of the 18 months in 19851986, spent restoring the Oxford House built by my grandfather in 1898. My wife Paula operated the Oxford House as a bed and breakfast for 12 years. A few years ago, the property was sold and the beautiful old home relocated to the Stephenville Museum Grounds. Since then the house has undergone extensive renovation and will be open to visitors when the restoration is completed.

“Judge W.J. Oxford was the father of W.J. Jr. who earned his law degree at the University of Texas in 1934 and joined the Justice Department in Washington. He served 30 months in the Pacific Theater in WW II in the Navy as attorney for the men on the ship. After he returned to Stephenville and to law practice, he got a call one day from Governor Alan Shivers. ‘Is this Judge Oxford?’ Shivers asked. ‘No, that was my father who passed away.’ The answer came back from Shivers, ‘Well, you’re Judge Oxford now.’”

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Bill Oxford was born and raised on a farm 2 miles east of Stephenville and spent his time working on the farm, chasing goats on a horse before school and operating an egg farm with 6,000 chickens that laid 4,000 eggs a day, even on Sundays.

“I graduated Stephenville High School in 1965 and Tarleton State University in 1971 with a degree in history,” Bill said. “I worked with my parents who purchased King Abstract Company in 1964, spent 5 years working for title insurance companies in Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston and returned to Stephenville in 1975 to purchase King Abstract Company.”

Bill was accepted to Oklahoma University School of Law in 1976. He received juris doctor degree in 1978

and was admitted to Texas Bar in May of 1979. He has operated a law office as a sole practitioner for 37 years.

Over the years Bill has served as Erath County Democrat Chairman, President of the American Cancer Society of Erath County, Director for Stephenville Bank and Trust for 20 years, Director of Texas Land Title Association of Texas and was elected Erath County Attorney for 5 years.

“Stephenville has always been the center of my world and I am so fortunate to have been able to meet and assist so many good people from our city over my many years in the legal and title insurance business.” Bill said. “I hope to be able to continue my practice as long as I am able to help those who seek my advice.”

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HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

C TFAC Happenings In addition to the beautiful works of art on display at the Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council, they also host many fun events throughout the year where people of all ages can come over and channel their inner artist. Adults enjoy the monthly “Paint the Town� events where they are able to bring their favorite bottle of wine or beverage and paint along with an artist to create their own work of masterpieces to take home at the end of the evening. Children enjoy creating unique paintings and ceramics through various kid friendly CTFAC events, which can also be taken home afterwards.

To find out more about the Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council or to learn more about upcoming events such as these, call 254-965-6190 or visit their website at www.ctfac.com.

Photos courtesy of

C TFAC

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

www.woodsfurniturestephenvilletx.com

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Photo courtesy of Kimmie’s Photography 104

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SHARING

Miracle THE

By Peggy Purser Freeman Photos provided by Andrea Wood

TWO MINUTES CAN BE A LIFETIME. FOR ANDREA WOOD AND HER CHILDREN, TWO MINUTES CHANGED EVERYTHING. For a parent, protecting a child sometimes carries a heavy burden of regret and guilt. The Wood family, having been blessed with a miracle, recently shared their story with our readers.

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“By the time June rolled around, the kids and I were ready to relax. It had rained for four months. The kids had begged to go swimming and finally we had a clear day. Working from home has its benefits, but this day had been a particularly long work session and the kids really wanted to swim. We entered the community pool main gate at 4:19. The time on the next gate showed 4:21. By 4:23 and one second, we had called 911 and my son wasn’t breathing.”

Andrea and Les Wood aren’t your usual parents, trying to remember first aid. They own AJT Safety, LLC. They teach safety. Therefore, when a crisis shattered her world, Andrea responded with clear thinking and quick reaction. Almost a year later, still shaken, the family shared their miracle with the hopes of helping other families.

Superintendent of Bluff Dale ISD Bill Morgan with Aiden Wood

Aiden Wood with his dad 106

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“We walked into the pool area and were stopped immediately by a neighbor,” Andrea explained. “She shouted, ‘Stop! There’s glass everywhere.’ The neighbor’s foot was bleeding. I asked the kids to wait on the other side, away from the glass. They took off around the pool while I got her napkins. My four year old, Aiden, didn’t wait. My nine-year-old, Tristen, saw him about the same time I did.”

Tristen continued his mom’s story, his voice reflecting the pain he had suffered at seeing his little brother floating face down in the water. “My friend said, ‘Is that your brother?’ I rushed over and grabbed him, pulling Aiden to the side.”

Andrea continued, “He was completely unconscious.

I did two chest compressions and then turned him on his side to get him to throw up. After some water came up, I

Erath EMS and Erath Vol. Fire crew that responded to Aiden’s accident including Terry Bishop, Kiela Whitten, Gregg Schrumpf, and Charlie Kolb with Jillian Wood, Aiden Wood, and Tristen Wood three days after the accident.

gave two rescue breaths. Emily Barton and her children were there with us. She called 911. Aiden had only been in the water 30 seconds to a minute. However, a fatality can occur after only 10 seconds.” Because Aiden’s brother and mom acted so quickly to get him out of the water and he was moving a bit of air, the 911 operator asked them to get him into the car and head toward Stephenville. Being in a remote part of Erath County put him in more jeopardy.

They sent the helicopter to meet the car on 377. With traffic stopped by the Erath Volunteer Fire Department, Air Evac 69 and Erath EMS, they quickly moved Aiden and his mom to the helicopter.

“There was nothing at this time that was hopeful.”

Andrea continued, “They started the IV. When they put an oxygen mask on his face, Aiden became combative.

Only 35 pounds, but he was fighting them so much they struggled to treat him. He was completely unaware of himself. At this point, the question hanging over us was how much brain function did he have left. They got us to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth in fifteen minutes. The only thing that calmed him was when I lay beside him. They poured everything they had into helping him. Then I began the phone calls. Les was working in Midland.”

Bluff Dale PreK with Aiden’s Flight paramedic, Brandl Stephenson, and Flight Nurse Steven Nelson (left to right)

When a crisis shattered her world, Andrea responded with clear thinking and quick reaction.

Charlie Kolb (member of Erath EMS) and Aiden Wood Hometown Living At Its Best

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Les Wood had to drive to Fort Worth with all the questions that torment a parent when a child’s in crisis.

Would he live? Would he be okay?

“Of course I was praying,” Les said. “I also knew Andrea could be battling guilt. So I began praying about what I should say to her to help her.”

“We all felt so much guilt,” Andrea added.

Tristen added, “I felt guilty, too. I thought I should have seen him sooner.”

“Me too,” eight-year-old Jillian echoed quietly.

“I didn’t feel guilty,” Aiden suddenly joined in on the conversation. “I was fighting a bad guy on my Halo game.”

Everyone laughed at what Aiden was dreaming Les added, “I realized the only way to heal is to keep finding ways to be grateful.”

“Waiting two days in the hospital, we had time to talk,” Andrea said. “So many people were asking about him and the Air Evac crew was asking if he made it through the night. On Thursday we went to see the crew and dispatchers, and the first thing Aiden said was, ‘I jumped in that water. I can swim and I almost made it to the ladder. As soon as I get home, I will do it again and I’ll make it.”

“With the right people beside you and behind you, with the Lord ahead of you, you can do anything.

We can survive—forgive ourselves.”

– Les Wood

Bluff Dale Community Outreach Initiative members-Amy Anderson, Candace Schuff, Tiffany Freese, Emily Barton, Sara Bryant, Andrea Wood, and Savanna Hankins (left to right) 108

Erath County Living

“With drowning on Tuesday, swimming lessons on Monday became the number one mission. Aiden had to learn to be a stronger swimmer,” Andrea said. “Pat Stewart was his swim teacher. Two weeks later we were hearing about other cases where children drowned, but weren’t resuscitated. It hit us hard. One child was two and one was three. I felt angry, guilty, and confused. Pat showed the same frustration. She believes swimming should be as important as reading and math. Then we all made a decision. I went to the superintendent and asked if we could pay for the children at our school in Bluff Dale –pre-k, kindergarten, and 1st grade – to have swimming lessons. The superintendent was all in. Then our friends, Emily and James Barton, who own Barton Performance Horses, partnered with us to make it happen.

Between the Wood family, Bluff Dale Community Outreach 501 3C, the Hood County YMCA, Pat Stewart, Brazos River Authorities, and Bluff Dale ISD, they established a multi-layered two-week curriculum to cover water safety, too. They taught skills during school such as: don’t jump in to help your friend; give them a noodle and pull them out; don’t go into swift running river water and more—making it a well-rounded program by busing 30

children to swim lessons for two weeks.

“We also offered parents who don’t know what to do a free CPR class, but few came.” Andrea added. “We can show how grateful we are by teaching other kids to save themselves.”

“I learned you’ve got to keep an eye on your little brother,” Tristen said.” And don’t feel guilty when it wasn’t all your fault.”

“I learned…” Jillian spoke up. “Don’t trust Aiden. He doesn’t listen.”

Les smiled. “With the right people beside you and behind you, with the Lord ahead of you, you can do anything. We can survive—forgive ourselves. We’re trying to pay it forward—to keep one parent from going through this. There’s no way to know why Aiden lived.

But we want to help others know what to do for the best outcome. Our business is built on how to plan to avoid the worst. Not just to bring awareness to an issue, but to bring training and action to an issue. Bridge a gap between information and a skill. I could go in and talk to the kids for 30 minutes, hand out pamphlets. But a pamphlet doesn’t make you safe. You must learn the skill. Every school needs to do this.”

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HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

A Night at the Races

The Stephenville Education Foundation hosted their first ever Night at the Races “Hats and Horses� fundraising event on April 28th at The N at Hardway Ranch. This fun Kentucky Derby style event also included dinner and drinks, hat contest and a live auction. Attendees had a great time and also learned about how the SEF supports innovative classroom programs with the goal of enhancing and enabling future educational opportunities and student success in the Stephenville ISD. To find out more about the Stephenville Education, please visit their website at www.edufoundsville.org or look them up on Facebook.

Photos courtesy of

Amanda Akins P hotos

Photos by Zach Weber Photography, Texas Health Stephenville and provided by Katie Taylor

Andrew and Katie Taylor. Photo by Zach Weber Photography

W

hen Stephenville resident Katie Taylor had to choose where to have her first child, her decision was easy. “We live here, and this is our community and family,” said Katie. “We knew that Texas Health Stephenville would take care of us.”

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When Katie found out she was pregnant, she enjoyed celebrating the news with her husband Andrew. “My husband was out of town, so we celebrated over the phone and then we celebrated again when he was home,” she said.

Katie began her prenatal care with Janie McMillion, M.D., obstetrician/gynecologist on the medical staff at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville.

She signed up to receive the hospital’s weekly “Oh Baby” emails to track her baby’s growth and prepare for the birth, and she also toured the hospital’s labor and delivery rooms.

Texas Health Stephenville is dedicated to providing safe, quality maternity and gynecological care to area residents. There are three obstetricians and three family practitioners on the medical staff who deliver babies, and

the hospital features four spacious labor and delivery rooms. Through advanced technology at the hospital, physicians on the medical staff have remote access to fetal monitors allowing them to monitor patients from their home, office or cell phone.

Texas Health Stephenville is the only hospital in the area that provides nitrous oxide as an option for pain control. Nitrous oxide is similar to the “laughing gas” that many dentists offer their patients.

“It’s great for women needing help getting to the point where they can have an epidural or for those women who prefer a natural birth but want just a little help with the pain at the end,” said Rachell Huffman, B.S.N., RNC-OB, director of Nursing, Texas Health Stephenville.

The hospital has been designated as a Baby-Friendly™ Hospital by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, recognized for its comprehensive approach to supporting family bonding and breastfeeding.

“We support bonding in a number of ways, including 116

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placing babies skin-to-skin with their moms after birth and encouraging 24-hour rooming in to help the mom and baby learn each other,” said Huffman. “We maintain this designation to help us provide care based on the most recent evidence.”

In addition, all nurses are trained to assist new moms with breastfeeding. A lactation consultant provides inpatient help as well as having appointments available for moms after they go home.

Texas Health Stephenville provides a Level I Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for babies who need extra support, and the hospital partners with other Texas Health Resources hospitals and Cooks Children’s Hospital for any additional support.

Katie and Andrew’s son Barrett was born at Texas Health Stephenville on February 18, 2016, and weighed 8 pounds. “It was an awesome experience, and we could not have asked for better nurses,” said Katie. “My mom was particularly touched by the care and communication provided by the nurses because she wanted to be sure that her baby was taken care of.”

Katie continues to receive support as a new mom from the hospital. “I still receive the Oh Baby emails, and I get Katie and Andrew’s son Barrett Taylor, who was born at Texas Health Stephenville February 18, 2016.

Photo by Zach Weber Photography

so much out of them,” she said. Katie and her husband are also planning to attend one of the hospital’s upcoming car seat safety checks.

Texas Health Stephenville will soon offer another helpful resource for pregnant and new moms called Texas Health Baby. This app provides information on a baby’s growth, as well as specific information on having a baby at any of Texas Health’s hospitals. From how to register and where to park to classes available and what to pack, the app provides practical information for women expecting a child. After their child is born, women can use the app for breastfeeding advice and growth and development information, and they can also use the app’s helpful feeding log.

“We believe that providing easy access to education and resources will help make for a healthier and happier mom and baby,” said Huffman.

To learn more about Women’s and Infant’s Services at Texas Health Stephenville, visit TexasHealth.org/ Stephenville-Baby.

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WAT E R W E L L D R I L L I N G • S E R V I C E • WAT E R T R E AT M E N T • R E PA I R S

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HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS Christian Classic Cruisers Car Show Bruner Motors, Inc. hosted a Christian Classic Cruisers Car Show on April 23rd, 2016 under the shade of their brand new Bruner canopies. This fun for all event not only included many beautiful classic cars, but also included an appearance

by Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey and his cow dog, Boogie, and live music by the Immediate Blues Band.

Photos courtesy of

Bruner Motors, Inc.

254-968-6110 2900 W. Washington, Suite 23 • Stephenville, TX 76401

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History Alive COME S

By Joy c e W h i t i s P h oto s by A m a n d a D a v i e s P h oto g r a p h y The ladies of the Major George B. Erath Chapter 2679, Stephenville Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, presented their Historical Drama and Fashions of the 1860s to the public recently. The Cowboy Church of Erath County provided the stage for this well-planned afternoon gala. Getting ready meant moving hundreds of comfortable single chairs to a back room while round tables arranged attractively in the sanctuary replaced the usual single-chair arrangement for worship services.

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Within a few hours of this transformation, members of the UDC chapter were joined by husbands, friends and members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans 2nd Texas Frontier Camp #1904 to transform the vast room into “club” atmosphere. Later, dressed in Confederate uniform, the men would act as escorts for the ladies wearing fashions of the 1860s. The afternoon’s parade of models included 46 women and children with 15 SCV (Sons of Confederate Veterans) escorting them across the large seating area and to the flower-decorated stage and out again.

Guests were greeted at the door and then seated at tables with cloth covers and unique decorations suitable to that period in history. These items included old photos, antique hand fans, flower-decorated coffee cups and other unique and age-appropriate items. Other viewing tables held items from the 1860s including antique guns and other weapons and objects of interest.

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Taking the name of the famous surveyor, Indian fighter, legislator, soldier at San Jacinto and Major in the Confederate Army, George B. Erath, this UDC chapter was chartered in 2009 with 24 members and now enjoys the collective works of 42 individuals with other applicants in the works. The UDC is a non-political, non-profit organization with chapters in most of the 50 states both North and South. The Texas Division is one of the most active in the nation with headquarters housed at Judy and Ray Richey’s Texas Civil War Museum in Fort Worth.

The Fashion Show and Historical Drama originated with the Stephenville chapter and was the “brainchild” of Sheran Weible of Dublin. Sheran has served the chapter as Military Awards Officer and has recently been installed as the chapter’s president for 2016-2018. The idea for the show came from the need for a new idea to raise funds for the chapters’ objectives, which are Historical, Benevolent,

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Educational, Memorial and Patriotic. This chapter gives a $500 scholarship each year to a graduating high school senior, boy or girl, who is in good standing in school and is a descendent of one that fought for the Confederacy.

Brent Graves, local businessman, agreed to be Master of Ceremonies at the podium and with current President, Joyce Whitis, at his side, the show began. And what a great show it was! Guests were greeted at the door by chapter members, Judy Wolfe and Alesa Hunt (RegistrarTreasurer) and were free to choose their tables where refreshments of cake and punch were served. Meanwhile, the beautifully styled dresses and the uniformed models were announced from the stage and guided into place

by Vice President, Becky Bussey, who served as stage manager for the show.

The models’ entrances and exits were interspaced with trivia questions from Graves and correct answers from the audience were rewarded with prizes. Several “Historical Intervals” kept everyone eager to see what would come next.

Travis Priddy, local Pastor, portrayed James Edward Hanger, who was the first Confederate Soldier to receive an amputation. Hanger lost part of a leg in an early part of the war and finding the wooden leg that he was supplied with, very uncomfortable, fashioned a prosthetic leg that he whittled from barrel staves, rubber, and metal. It became known as the “Hanger Limb.” That company is still in existence today.

Rene Trosper Jones portrayed Loreta Velazquez, born in Cuba in 1842 and sent to school in New Orleans. At the age of 14 she eloped with an officer in the Texas army and when Texas seceded in 1861, she begged her husband to let her go with him to fight. He refused her plea so she had a uniform made, applied a fake mustache, and managed to disguise herself as a soldier and she fought in the Battle of First Manassas.

These portrayals of true heroes in the War Between the States, introduced at intervals between the parade of 126

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beautiful dresses and attention-getting army uniforms, included Stephanie Womack who carried a wealth of contraband concealed beneath her hoop skirt that went undetected by a Yankee guard. As bottles of medicine, bandages, blankets items of clothing and other goods were removed from beneath her voluminous skirt, the audience got some good laughs thinking about the ingenuity of those women during wartime.

Karley Goin, 2nd Vice President, demonstrated the “language of the fan” that a coy young lady might use in a courting scene with a gentleman. Sheran Weible, who incidentally designed and crafted the large majority of the beautiful dresses worn by the women and children, performed an amazing demonstration as she transformed a “day dress” into a “going out” dress before the eyes of her audience.

One dress in the show was worn by Joy Duncan from Dallas. It was an original made out of a collection of ribbons from the late 1870s.

Other members of the chapter helped behind the scenes in the kitchen, preparing and bringing food to guests and doing cleaning chores. Table decorations were made by Patsy Williams, Betty Leatherwood, and Sheran Weible. Rita Prosper took care of the gift bags for the trivia prizes.

Three photographers from the chapter garnered photos of each model and participant in the event, and a video was later presented to each model in the show.

Chapter photographers, Betty Leatherwood and Amanda Davies, submitted their photos for publication.

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For more information on donations or questions, call 254.485.6740 128

Erath County Living

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HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

Lucky Charms of Dublin

This year’s Dublin St. Patrick’s Celebration was action packed. Sponsored by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, the festivities kicked off with a Summertime Amusements Carnival at the Dublin City Park. Pageants were held for Little Miss, Junior Miss and Miss Dublin at the Old Jr. High Auditorium. The weekend celebrations kicked off Saturday morning, March 12th in Downtown Dublin, and included many family fun activities such as a Parade, Gun Show, Irish Costume Contest, D & D Rockin’ Rods Car Show, Dog Show and other live entertainment.

Saturday afternoon brought a whole different level of entertainment at the Dublin City Park with the Cowboy Capital Roller Derby Girls at the City Park Pavilion and the much anticipated Bulls & Broncs Shootout at the City Park Arena.

To find out more about these and other upcoming events, call the Dublin Chamber at 254-445-3422 or visit their website at www.dublintxchamber.com.

Photos courtesy of

Dublin Citizen

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Heart whispers turn into heart-loving action when a girl and her dog walk in their divinely appointed ventures.

By Martha Helton Photos by Southern Grace Photography and provided by Lyndi Hanna

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The Dublin resident has always been fond of animals and instinctually knew how to work with them. “Horses and dogs are my two big passions. We had dogs growing up but it was always me who kind of took over and trained them--just for fun. I figure out the training as I go along,” shared Lyndi. Lyndi also found encouragement from her mom early on. “My mom always said I have really good skills at training dogs,” said Lyndi.

Involvement in 4H growing up provided an avenue to train her Australian Shepherds in showmanship and agility and prepared her for having a horse. She eagerly bought a horse after moving to Texas—a once unattainable dream in expensive California. Her love of horses led her to earn a degree in equine management and reproduction from Weatherford College.

Post graduation, however, Lyndi entered a period of uncertainty. She turned to her faith in God for

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clarification and direction. “The doors seemed to keep closing when it came to working with horses and I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ I kept trying to see how God was leading.”

At the time she was training her new dog, Annie, in the basics and evaluating what she was capable of. She seemed to enjoy people and had high endurance—good qualities for pet therapy. “She’s not shy,” Lyndi observed.

“But she was really, really hyper and I had to train her to be calm. I would train her at a nursing home. But I had to walk her really fast for 30 minutes to get all her energy out,” Lyndi laughed.

Annie isn’t the only one who enjoys people and has high endurance. “I love to talk to any age. I can have good conversations with anybody. That’s where I knew all these pieces were fitting together…to show me what I should do.”

Lyndi and her therapy dog Annie bring some much needed pet therapy to one of Stephenville’s senior patients.

“We’ve been going to the hospital (Texas Health Harris Stephenville Hospital) since July. It was not until we got into the hospital that we got into more serious places… where people have had people who died and Annie’s there for them, which is awesome. It can be hard and stressful and sad. There are days where I come home and start crying. But people remember that we were there and helped just a little bit.”

“What was one of your more touching visits?” I asked.

“Well,” Lyndi stops and thinks. “It happened to be one of those days I was busy. I have so many things I have to do with her before I step out—put her badge on and my badge on, brush her down, brush her teeth and we go in and after the third visit it dawned on me, I forgot to pray.

I pulled to the side and said, ‘God lead me to where I’m supposed to go. Lead me to whoever I’m supposed to be here for.’

“I pulled to the side and said, 'God lead me to where I’m supposed to go. Lead me to whoever I’m supposed to be here for.'”

Lyndi worked toward getting her license by visiting nursing homes. Annie got licensed and registered as a Pet Partners therapy dog in February last year. (Pet Partners is the leading therapy animal organization in the United States.) “We’re now covered by insurance and we’re now called a pet therapy team rather than just an animal wandering in,” She chuckled.

“What happens on an outing?” I asked.

“I might go to a nursing home just to brighten up the day, bring a little bit of cheer. Some of the things Annie does to bring cheer: she’ll snuggle her muzzle into someone who needs a little extra TLC, wiggle her rear in happiness, be goofy if someone needs a laugh, or lay on a staff member’s feet who has had a hard day.”

A different mindset is required for hospital visits.

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“I walk into the next room and I am so glad I prayed.

I can tell I’m gonna be there for a while. I was supposed to be in this room. The lady was pretty sick. Her husband is sitting down in a chair and he turns around and I say hi and he asks me to bring Annie over. She’s not a dog person, but in a few minutes she says, ‘But that dog’s really nice, I want to pet that dog.’

“We’re chatting and all of a sudden the man says, ‘Would you do me a favor and pray for us? I could tell that you’re not only a believer but that you are carrying God’s spirit when you walked in. I could feel the presence of God when you walked in.’” As she shared, Lyndi choked back tears and paused. “I try to do that. I try to do everything Christ-like, yet it’s not always that you hear that from people.”

Comfort and companionship not only come in canine form. “I have two miniature horses that I use in pet therapy as well. Actually, they are a little bit taller than 136

Erath County Living

miniatures - they’re tall enough to see over the edge of the beds to see people. May Lillie is the one that’s trained and has her license. Tillie is still being trained. May Lillie can go into the hospital but its shedding season right now so I’ll take her when the shedding stops. People are sure surprised when they see her!”

Much preparation is required before each visit. “Our rules are the animal has to be washed within 24 hours of visitation if you go to a hospital…nursing homes—not so much. They just need to smell good, be presentable.”

Besides nursing homes and hospitals, Lyndi visits Central Elementary. “That’s the only place I go to where I get to see a lot of progress. When you walk in the room, all of a sudden they want to talk. Kids that are on walkers who don’t want to walk around, I can give them the dog leash and they will walk around the building. That’s what we do…we break the ice a lot in a lot of different places. ” Since pet therapy is relatively unknown in her area,

grandparents are my prayer team. And the directors I put together for the nonprofit organization I’m putting together are going to be as well.”

Currently, Lyndi volunteers her time (although someone underwrites her gas expenses). As she moves into a 501(c)(3) non-profit status, she hopes to have more financial backing, becoming Annie’s Therapeutic Companions. “It’s a great time in my life to do this because I’m not married, I have nothing else going on that I can’t set aside and do this full-time.”

Indeed, heart whispers turn into heart loving action when a girl and her dog walk in their divinely appointed ventures.

To learn more about Lyndi and her non-profit, you can visit her on Facebook (Annies Therapeutic Companions) or online at www.anniestherapeuticcompanions.org.

Lyndi Hanna with her therapy dog Annie helping children at Central Elementary in Stephenville.

Through Lyndi’s visits, the eyes of both animal and human meet and find comfort and healing.

Lyndi is starting her own non-profit animal assisted therapy group for Erath and all surrounding counties. “I have a couple of people I’m training right now who have joined me in my group. Everyone has to go through Pet Partners—the same training that I had. One lady I’m working with has a German shepherd and the other has an Italian mastiff.”

Since Annie loves people, she has a Facebook page (Annie’s Trails—my journey as a registered Pet Partner therapy dog) with updates from her people visits. Lyndi’s family is intricately involved as reporters and cheerleaders. “I call my mom and ask her to put something on my page or tell her this person wants me to pray for them—she’s also my secretary,” Lyndi giggles.

Through Lyndi’s visits, the eyes of both animal and human meet and find comfort and healing…even more so because of Lyndi’s deep-seated desire to connect a comforting God to his creation. “My parents and my Hometown Living At Its Best

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2975 West Washington, Stephenville, TX, 76401 254-968-7000

www.texstarford.com | www.texstarlincoln.com

Do you like what you see in this publication? » ARE YOU INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING YOUR BUSINESS IN OUR MAGAZINE? » ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR SALES TEAM? » ARE YOU INTERESTED IN TAKING PICTURES OR WRITING STORIES? » DO YOU HAVE A STORY IDEA YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

SPRIN G 2016

FAL L 2016 2015 WI NT ER

Contact us today to find out more!

For information on advertising and sales opportunities, please email Justin.RedFin@gmail.com or call 817-301-3828.

For information on photography, writing opportunities, or to share story ideas please email Brittny.RedFin@gmail.com or call 817-598-6823.

138

Erath County Living

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on FACEBOOK today!

Erath Plumbing

CARPET • TILE • HARDWOOD • VINYL PLANK • LAMINATE

254-965-3000 Stephenville, TX

Carpet • Tile • Hardwood • Vinyl Plank • Laminate

Repair & Remodel Residential & Commercial New Construction Sewer Camera www.erathplumbing.com

John Weber

Daniel & Danielle Toof Owners

Fax: 254-965-3001 254.968.8003 Phone: 254-968-8003 1511 W. Lingleville Road

Master Plumber # M-17390

1511 W. Lingleville Road • Stephenville, TX 76401 Fax: 254-968-8013 Stephenville, Texas 76401 www.qualityfloorstx.com • dtoof@hotmail.com

www.qualityfloorstx.com dtoof@hotmail.com

254-965-3800 300 E. South Loop Stephenville, TX. 76401

www.alliedbodyandframe.com Hometown Living At Its Best

139

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

Mother-Daughter High Tea The Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council hosted a Mother-Daughter High Tea on Saturday, May 14th at Sweet Delights by Judy in Dublin. The afternoon tea party included three courses of tea with delicious sandwiches, scones and sweets. Attendees also enjoyed a beautiful doll exhibit featuring Sally Simpson and the Dublin Doll Company.

To find out more about the Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council or to learn more about upcoming events such as these, call 254-965-6190 or visit their website at www.ctfac.com.

Photos courtesy of

C TFAC

Let’s Celebrate!

The Studio’s of Plan-it ink Photography are NOW OPEN in DOWNTOWN STEPHENVILLE!

Dave Dickerson BROKER/OWNER

254.595.0066

DickersonRealEstateOfTexas@gmail.com

Paula Donaho REALTOR

254.485.3621

PaulaDonaho@gmail.com

www.Dickerson.Properties

2016

UBE Stephenville Evening Lions Club

Collegiate Gifts, Awards & Engraving

Upland Bird Extravaganza

You Did it Again!

UBE 2016 Raised Almost

$200,000

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

254-965-6261 Carrie Scott-Pack | Owner tsuflowers@yahoo.com

1913 W. Washington | Stephenville, TX 76401

See You Next April www.EveningLions.org Hometown Living At Its Best

141

HOMETOWN SCENES

“ Kindness is the

language - Mark Twain

which the

deaf can hear blind can see.” and the

Photo courtesy of Cross B Photography

- Mark Twain Photo courtesy of Cross B Photography

Photo courtesy of Kimmie’s Photography

What makes Erath County a great place to live?

Right now it’s the fun soaking up the last of the summertime sun, the anticipation of the kids returning back to school and spending time with family. Take a look at a few more reasons why we love

Photo courtesy of Cross B Photography

Photo courtesy of Kimmie’s Photography

“In this life

we cannot always do

great things.

But we can do

small things with

great love.”

Photo courtesy of Kimmie’s Photography

- Mother Theresa

index of advert isers Access Voice & Data, Inc................................................................74 Ace Hardware.......................................................................................2 Allied Body & Frame Co...............................................................139 Animal Health & Medical Center................................................ 66 Associated Well Services, Inc......................................................118 Back at the Ranch............................................................................. 111 Barefoot Campus Outfitter........................................................... 16 Baxter Chemical................................................................................74 Blue Flamingo................................................................................... 89 BMY.................................................................................... Inside Front Bruner Auto Family......................................................................... 67 Buckhorn Pumps, Inc....................................................................... 61 Cain Pool & Spa...............................................................................129 Chick Elms Grand Entry Western Store.................................128 Clark Tractor & Supply................................................................. 100 Coldwell Banker................................................................................ 67 Cowboy Capital of the World Pro Rodeo Association.............................................. Back Cover Cross B Photography......................................................................118 Cross Timbers Family Services................................................... 78 Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council................................................ 88 Cross Timbers Orthopaedics..........................................................5 Cross Timbers Imaging.....................................................................5 Dickerson Real Estate....................................................................141 Dowell Water Well Services............................................................3 Down Home Digital........................................................................139 Dublin Chamber of Commerce................................................... 49 Dublin Economic Development Center................................... 49 Dudley Barker Photography.......................................................128 Easter Heat & Air.............................................................................129 Erath County Living.......................................................................138 Erath Plumbing................................................................................139 First Baptist Church Stephenville.............................................. 79 Fraser Agency, Inc............................................................................37 Fraser, Wilson & Bryan, P.C..............................................................9 Furniture Mart.................................................................................... 111 Germania Insurance........................................................................ 93 Gifford TV Electronics...................................................................129 Hambone’s Redneck Paradise ....................................................27 Hambone’s Steak Seasoning........................................................27 Hamilton Enterprises.......................................................................27 Hard Eight Catering......................................................................... 19 Hard Eight Marketplace.................................................................. 19 Hard Eight Pit BBQ........................................................................... 19 JJ Hampton Realty..........................................................................101 Julianne’s............................................................................................. 79 Keller Williams Realty DFW Metro SW...................................129 Kimmie’s Photography................................................................... 78

Landi Whitefield Photography...................................................103 Leah-k photography....................................................................... 92 Lelands of Stephenville................................................................... 61 Lone Star Ag Credit.........................................................................75 Lone Star Pool Construction and Outdoor Living .........................................................................1 Members Trust Federal Credit Union....................................... 89 Natty Flat Smokehouse................................................................. 66 Neal Guthrie Companies...............................................................110 Oakwood Assisted Living...............................................................17 Orkin Pest Control...........................................................................101 Peacock’s Restaurant..................................................................... 88 Pennington Premiere Real Estate..............................................119 Plan-it ink............................................................................................141 Quality Floors...................................................................................139 Riley Studio........................................................................................ 48 Scott’s Flowers..................................................................................119 Security Storage............................................................................... 52 Southern Grace Photography..................................................... 26 Star Arms............................................................................................. 41 Stephen’s Health Care.....................................................................75 Stephenville Chamber of Commerce................................................... 28-29, Back Cover Stephenville Family Dentistry...................................................... 18 Stephenville Funeral Home.......................................................... 92 Stephenville Optimist Club..........................................................128 Stephenville Sports Rehab & PT................................................60 SugarTree Golf Club........................................................................40 Sundown on the Square................................................................ 36 Swindle’s Jewelry............................................................................. 121 Tarleton State University............................................................... 93 Texas Bank............................................................................................. 7 Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital...................................................... Inside Back Texas Hill Country Furniture & Mercantile.............................. 66 Texas State Optical........................................................................ 100 Texstar Ford Lincoln.......................................................................138 The Dowell Company................................................................... 2, 3 The Hay & Feed Ranch................................................................... 121 The Home Place...................................................................................3 The N at Hardway Ranch............................................................... 19 The Patterson Agency.................................................................... 93 The Salon.............................................................................................110 University Flowers...........................................................................141 Upland Bird Extravaganza............................................................141 Veldhuizen Cheese.......................................................................... 53 Woods Furniture.............................................................................103 Zen Spa & Salon...............................................................................60

Please thank these advertisers for making this publication possible!

144

Erath County Living

We’re ready, baby!

At Texas Health, we are proud that more families choose us to welcome their babies each year than any other health system in North Texas. So when you’re ready to be a mom, you can rest assured you’ll be in good hands. From caring for natural to high-risk pregnancies to providing breastfeeding support and childbirth education classes, we’re here for you and your little one. Plus, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville has newly renovated, spacious accommodations.

Learn more and schedule your labor and delivery tour today.

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

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital. © 2016

47th Annual

Cowboy Capital of the

World PRCA Rodeo

September 23-25, 2016

Lone Star

Arena

Stephenville, Texas Friday: 7 PM ‘American Hero’ Night

$60,000

Saturday:

Added Money

7 PM ‘It’s Gonna Get Western’ Night

Tickets Available At:

Sunday:

Capital Hatters, Chick Elms Grand Entry, The Hay & Feed Ranch, Saddle Rags, Stephenville Chamber, Twisted J

Rodeo Heritage Week Festivities: Downtown Parade and Kickoff Celebration McCoy’s Mutton Bustin’ Competition Miss Cowboy Capital Rodeo Pageant Fashion Show with PRCA Contestants Jeff Sewalt Iron Man Invitational Western Art Exhibit at Clark Field Airport Cowboy Gathering with Don Edwards Dancin’ in the Dirt Live Music Concert with Jake Hooker & The Outsiders

2 PM Featuring ‘Future Stars of ProRodeo’ Produced by Pete CARR Pro Rodeo Title Sponsor

Gold buckle Sponsors

Stephenville Chamber of Commerce | 254.965.5313 | www.cowboycapitalprcarodeo.com