Parker County LifeStyle Magazine - Spring 2022

SPRING 2022

Cody Sal y ers

Prior to coming to Peaster, Cody spent the previous six years as the head baseball coach at Abilene Cooper High School. During that time, he led the Cougars to the playoffs every season but one, including two trips to the quarter finals.

CULTIVATING SE E DS The couple, professional cutting horse competitors, set faith and family as priorities, which is the foundation for their cutting horse and buffalo training business.

STARS & STRIDES STABLES We believe that some of the benefits of equine assisted therapy are immeasurable. We have seen riders do things such as take their first steps, speak for the first time, and accomplish things that they never dreamed possible.

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CONTENTS 10 18

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10 F IG HTI NG FOR EQUALIT Y Texas cowgirls find new ways to overcome an 85-year struggle.

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STAYI NG CON N ECTE D WITH GOD

TAKI NG A LOOK AT BAR N DOM I N I U M S Barndos are nothing new. In rural Texas it was common for farmers to convert the upper level of a barn into a living space. The actual term “barndominium” first came about in the 1980s. Barndos have since come a long way.

A WE E KE N D AWAY F ROM TH E CASTLE Weekend Sponsors for the Texas Pythian Home get to spend one weekend a month with their child and a full week in the summer. Often times what happens is the child becomes family and the weekend and summer times just aren’t enough for everyone who looks forward to this time together.

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CB D AM E R ICAN S HAMAN CBD American Shaman is the largest CBD franchise group in the nation. What first drew Angie to CBD oil remedies was her own pain following knee replacement surgery. She wants to help others feel better through the same way she rid herself of pain.

God reminded me of the importance of maintaining my spiritual health with diligent care.

If I let my faith practices fall to the wayside, I could find myself looking at an equally neglected spiritual walk.

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FOOTBALL MAG IC 2021 "I thank God every day that He blessed me with the opportunity to be the head football coach at Brock," Billy Mathis explained. “This community has so many special qualities that help make this school and town amazing.”

HARTI N TR E E S E RVICE Spring is truly the most important time for your trees to be able to mature in a healthy manner. Stop hesitating on getting your trees trimmed and let us help your land become a beautiful landscape.

ABOUT THE COVER Cover photo is of Cody Salyers the Peaster ISD Baseball Coach. To read more about Cody, his family and the Peaster baseball program turn to page 68.

Cover photo is of Bob Tallman, the voice of professional rodeo. To read more about the acclaimed announcer, turn to page 36.

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FTWORTHLIGHTING.COM • 682-294-0080

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SOF TBALL TOU R NAM E NT S E N DS AUSOM E KI DS TO SU M M E R CAM P Last year our tournament was a “homerun” to say the least. We had 36 teams and 7 special needs or AUsome people taking on teams.

From 9 AM to 11 PM, the parking lots were full.

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E LE VATI NG YOU R CE LE B R ATION As you celebrate with loved ones, it is important to keep the focus on the reason for celebrating Easter. There are several ways to celebrate while still keeping the focus on Jesus Christ and his resurrection. There are several fun activities that everyone will enjoy.

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WHAT YOU N E E D TO KNOW ABOUT TH E R ECE NT R IS E I N DOG B ITE S TO KE E P YOU R KI DS SAF E It may come as a surprise that the pandemic has an impact on our dogs and as a result they are exhibiting uncharacteristic behaviors in response to their altered world.

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TE AM LU KE HOPE FOR M I N DS

CONTENTS

Team Luke Hope For Minds is a nonprofit that is dedicated to enriching the lives of children with a brain injury and giving hope to their families through support and education.

Team Luke has helped families in 35 states, including many in the Metroplex.

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CODY SALYE RS : PE ASTE R IS D BAS E BALL COACH

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TR AVE L TE X AS : WACO

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Prior to coming to Peaster, Cody spent the previous six years as the head baseball coach at Abilene Cooper High School. During that time, he led the Cougars to the playoffs every season but one, including two trips to the quarter finals.

A decade ago you might have only thought of Waco, Texas as a “pass through” town, but today a dozen associations are made when you hear of this city.

ADVANCE CAM P Chad Wallen invented Advance Camp, a camp for young men in the 6th through 12th grade. The camp has the mission of helping fatherless young men learn practical skills that an involved dad would have taught him.

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The couple, professional cutting horse competitors, set faith and family as priorities, which is the foundation for their cutting horse and buffalo training business.

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PUBLISHER

H

appy Spring, Parker County!

With spring comes a new season of growth and hopefully some new opportunities for you. As the temperatures warm we’ll all enjoy the green grass we’ve come to miss, and all of the wonderful spring flowers that fill the fields and line our roads. There are plenty of reasons to get outside and enjoy the pleasant weather before things really heat up. We hope you enjoy this time of year as much as we do, and make sure you don’t forget to plan a great Easter egg hunt for the little ones.

In this edition you’ll read about Peaster’s baseball coach Cody Salyers and how he’s making a difference with the team. You’ll also read about professional cutting horse competitors, the Chartiers, and how faith and family are the foundation of their cutting horse and buffalo training business. Stars and Strides Stables here in Weatherford provides “Equine Assisted Therapy,” helping children and adults with disabilities.

We want to thank our advertisers for making this publication possible and free to the community! Help us express our gratitude by shopping local and visiting their establishments to pick up your complimentary copy.

This publication is about you! Please feel free to email us photos of your events to add to our Hometown Happenings or let us know if you have any stories you would like to read in the next issue. We would love to hear from you!

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

Until the next edition, wishing you many blessings -

Justin and Hayley Six

Kyle and Halsey Clark

"He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.” - Matthew 28:6

PARKER COUNTY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE PCLIFESTYLE #parkercountylifestyle

www.ParkerCountyLifestyle.com

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RedFin Publishing

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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CONTRIBUTORS

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Hartin Tree Service

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Parker County LifeStyle© is published semi-annually by RedFin Publishing.

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

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Fi ghting for Equality Texas Cowgirls Find New Ways to Overcome 85-year Struggle Hall-of-Fame roper Lari Dee Guy of Abilene, noticed the advertised purse for women’s roping at an upcoming PRCA rodeo was just 17 percent of what the other events would pay. ”We were in a huff,” admitted Hope Thompson, another world champion cowgirl raised in Atlanta, Texas. ”It was like, let’s just raise the money ourselves!”

By Julie Mankin Photos by RC Photography

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arly-day rodeos evolved on the heels of wild-west shows as a mix of entertainment and competition. Since event producers and elite ropers were both out to make money, the only way cowboys could force producers to offer bigger purses was to walk out – over and over – for decades. It was an infamous 1936 strike by rodeo contestants in Boston that finally boosted payoffs for good and led to the organization of rodeo as a professional sport.

Fast-forward to December 2021, when Hall-ofFame roper Lari Dee Guy of Abilene, noticed the advertised purse for women’s roping at an upcoming PRCA rodeo was just 17 percent of what the other events would pay.

“We were in a huff,” admitted Hope Thompson, another world champion cowgirl raised in Atlanta, Texas. “It was like, let’s just raise the money ourselves!”

And they did what’s never been done in professional rodeo.

Novel but nothing new Few people realize that, back in ’36 when the cowboys walked out on Colonel W.T. Johnson at Boston

Garden, his crowd favorites were actually Hall-of-Fame cowgirls like Tad Lucas and Alice Greenough.

“He liked having lady bronc riders and trick riders in his show and they were definitely favored at a Johnson rodeo,” recalled Tad Lucas’ daughter Mitzi Lucas Riley, according to Gail Hughbanks Woerner in The Cowboys’ Turtle Association: The Birth of Professional Rodeo.

In order to compete, the world’s best cowgirls had to pay membership dues like the men to join the newfound Cowboys’ Turtle Association (named for how slow they were to stick their necks out). However, the girls were labeled “honorary” members and not given a vote like the men.

Then, as soon as they demanded their mount money from a Cleveland producer, not only were they not given it, but the Turtles wouldn’t help them get it. According to Turtles leader and Hall-of-Fame cowboy Everett Bowman, cowgirls would just “have to stand on their own feet and sit in their own saddles” (Woerner 2011).

So, in 1948, they did. Disgruntled with the way

”It was like, let’s just raise the money ourselves!” And they did what’s never been done in professional rodeo.

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they were being treated in the male-dominated sport; they formed their own Girls’ Rodeo Association (GRA).

Meanwhile, at Turtle rodeos (now PRCA rodeos), committees were given the option of choosing which girls’ event they would include. Most opted for barrel racing.

The GRA became today’s Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), and its barrel racing became a standard event at PRCA rodeos. When the PRCA hosted the first National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Dallas in 1959, it didn’t include the barrel racing championships. Those were held elsewhere – for the next eight years.

In 1967, a committeeman in Oklahoma City agreed to include the WPRA barrel racing with the NFR, for just $1,000 prize money. Finally in 1998 – literally another 20 years later – women’s barrel racing paid the same amount as the men’s events at the NFR in Las Vegas.

“From the very beginning, women have stuck their necks out for equality with varying degrees of success,” according to the website of the WPRA. “Those women’s refusal to take ‘no’ for an answer serves to inspire future generations to recognize and harness the potential of women in rodeo.”

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According to Turtles leader and Hall-of-Fame cowboy Everett Bowman, cowgirls would just ”have to stand on their own feet and sit in their own saddles.”

Cowgirl movement Remarkably in just the past couple of years, the WPRA has seen breakaway – featured for more than 40 years in up to 20 other rodeo associations – included at PRCA rodeos. The past two NFRs, however, have not included the breakaway championships, which have been held elsewhere for a purse of $200,000. Standard events at the NFR, held in Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center, each boast a purse of $1.2 million.

Last season marked the second year that the PRCA’s Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in Waco, also in December, included women’s breakaway. That’s the rodeo that would offer the girls a purse of $3,000, compared to $17,500 in other events. When administrators had divvied up dol-

Last season marked the second year that the PRCA’s Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in Waco, also in December, included women’s breakaway.

lars from national rodeo sponsors as added money in each event, they’d left breakaway out.

Instead of staging a strike like her forebears, Guy immediately circulated a group text message about the deficit to the other Texas breakaway ropers. They rolled their sleeves up. Each of their personal sponsors got on board.

And 17-time world champion JJ Hampton of Stephenville started sharing Facebook posts, hoping business owners might need some end-of-year write-offs.

Bill Fick, who owns Bill Fick Ford in Huntsville, doubled what Hampton asked for, while owners of horse farms, horse trading websites and even horse feed and apparel stepped right up. Elite Texas cowgirls like Weatherford’s Martha Angelone and Dublin’s Kelsie Domer joined Hampton, Guy, and Thompson in the effort to raise enough to also cover the 6% by-laws dictated be given to the sanctioning association.

“They were texting me, asking how much they’d need for their purse to be equal, and I told them,” said longtime PRCA rodeo secretary Mikey Duggan. “And then it just starts pouring in. It blew my mind. Five gals did all this within 24 hours.”

For Cinch Jeans’ Director of Marketing Jessica Wahlert, the choice to add the money was simply about doing what’s right.

“We’re excited that breakaway ropers are seeing new opportunities, but the opportunities are with contingencies right now,” Wahlert said. “We want be a part of making sure the athletes who are competing now are able to rope for the same big money provided in the other events.”

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One cowgirl got animal feed giant Purina to donate a ton of feed that she raffled, while the practice device Nothin’ But Neck, which supports Guy’s “Rope Like A Girl” movement, made a considerable donation. Another cowgirl enticed her home-state dealership, Croft Country Chevrolet in Alva, Oklahoma, to add to the cause.

“I don’t like asking people for money, but at the end of the day, if somebody doesn’t step up and be a leader and help us get this done, nobody will,” said Hampton.

“It’s amazing how many people were behind us. We came up with this money our own, from people who believe in the future of women in rodeo. We shouldn’t have to do it—we’ve got jobs and horses to train and calves to rope.”

At the end of just one day, the cowgirls had accidentally raised more than the amount needed for equity – they received around $23,000.

”And then it just starts pouring in.

It blew my mind. Five gals did all this within 24 hours.”

“Then when we showed up at the rodeo, they told us we can’t rope for more than the other contestants,” Thompson said. “We thought, ‘Well, y’all were sure going to let us rope for less.’”

Hustlin’ Duggan used the extra donations to buy a trophy saddle and arena banners promoting the last-minute sponsors, while $2,500 still sits in a bank account awaiting the 2022 event. Last season, lady ropers in the Pacific northwest and Montana also raised extra funds to offset missing national sponsor money at their PRCA circuit finals. But none were able to raise as much as did the Texans. Those ladies’ unprecedented effort caught the entire rodeo off-guard, and the Waco committee has expressed a desire to divvy things up differently next time.

“These girls made it clear they’re here to take care of business,” Duggan said. “They generally do their work in the arena. But they turned that hustle toward having equal money.”

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”These girls made it clear they’re here to take care of business.”

Being paid equally at PRCA rodeos has been on Guy and Hampton’s agenda for a few years. Guy hopes that their raising some $20,000 on a Sunday will show PRCA leadership, and the sport as a whole, what can be done.

“If we could raise that much in one day, what if it happened for 364 more days?” she asked. “And that was just a few of us. If everyone got on board, how much more money could we put into our National Finals? Would they really be able to keep us out of the Thomas & Mack with that kind of sponsor support and added money?”

The potential payoff for sponsors is great. Businesses are approaching female ropers to wrap their tour buses, while internet and TV coverage of their events has soared.

A CBS broadcast last fall of the Women’s Rodeo World Championships, produced by the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA), drew a staggering 2.3 million viewers.

Thompson said it’s not fame they’re after. It’s equal money in Las Vegas – a $1.2 million NFR purse that will grow the event and increase the fan base. Hampton’s well-known zeal for winning has already breathed new life into pro rodeo, while audience polls cite breakaway as a fan favorite.

Thompson said it’s not fame they’re after. It’s equal money in Las Vegas a $1.2 million NFR purse that will grow the event and increase the fan base.

It seems the lure of the world’s best cowgirls is just as strong as it was in ’36. Today, “sitting in their own saddles” means cowgirls have sponsors rallying around them – especially female entrepreneurs in male-dominated industries who have also grown tired of hearing “no.”

“When the event is this popular and it’s so exciting to be involved, you can’t help but want to help them,” admitted Duggan. “They’re a good bunch of ladies.”

For more details or to join the movement, you can email thejjhampton@yahoo.com or larideeguy@aol.com.

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TEXAS PYTHIAN HOME:

A Weekend Away from the Castle WEEKEND SPONSORS FOR THE TEXAS PYTHIAN HOME GET TO SPEND ONE WEEKEND A MONTH WITH THEIR CHILD AND A FULL WEEK IN THE SUMMER. OFTEN TIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS THE CHILD BECOMES FAMILY AND THE WEEKEND AND SUMMER TIMES JUST AREN’T ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE WHO LOOKS FORWARD TO THIS TIME TOGETHER.

By Lindsay L Allen Photos Provided by The Pythian Home

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t’s a unique opportunity; somewhere between mentorship and adoption - but being a weekend sponsor at the Texas Pythian Home is just that - a way to make an impact on a child that is more than the average volunteer opportunity.

The Texas Pythian Home in Weatherford, Texas provides a safe, stable environment for children to grow physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually to become responsible, independent adults. The home, which is actually a castle, was originally a home for orphans and widows in the early 1900s

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and is now a residential home for children ages 3 to 14 years old whose guardians are unable to care for them.

Weekend Sponsors for the Texas Pythian Home get to spend one weekend a month with their child and a full week in the summer. Often times what happens is the child becomes family and the weekend and summer times just aren’t enough for everyone who looks forward to this time together.

"The Weekend Sponsor program is another way to ensure that our children know what a safe and stable environment looks like,” Kristin Stansell, marketing coordinator at the Texas Pythian Home, said, “When our kids leave the home, we want them to know how to function in the world and a big part of that revolves around a family. The program also allows the children to have time away from the Pythian Home and the other kids at the home. They get one-on-one time with their own sponsor family and do not have to share them with their siblings or other Pythian Home children.”

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“The Weekend Sponsor program is another way to ensure that our children know what a safe and stable environment looks like.”

Michelle Crall remembers seeing an online advertisement for the castle and after clicking and learning more, she was ready to be involved. “It came at the perfect time. My husband and I were considering becoming foster parents or adopting and in February 2019, we became Weekend Sponsors,” she shared, “It’s been wonderful watching our sponsor child grow and mature and she is the same age as our two oldest children and everyone gets along and acts just like brother and sisters.”

“The sponsorship started in the mid 1980s as a way to give the kids more to do and time away from the Pythian Home, in addition to another look at a functional family and another family to call “theirs.” It is also a way for our husband and wife teams that take care of the children full time to have a weekend off,” Kristin shared.

Wendy Akers became a sponsor three years ago and said after driving by the castle on the way to swim practice for her twin boys, she took a tour and felt compelled to be involved. “It’s easy to give your money, but to give your time takes a lot more. We wanted to give back, but now that we have gotten to know our child it is a true honor to know him and experience the joy he brings to our family,” Wendy said.

“It’s been wonderful watching our sponsor child grow and mature and she is the same age as our two oldest children and everyone gets along and acts just like brother and sisters.”

She went on to say, “Our sponsor child is the same age as our twin boys and he has truly become part of our family. In fact, our oldest daughter used to tutor at the castle and spent a lot of one-on-one sessions with him too.”

The staff at the Texas Pythian Home is thoughtful about how they pair a sponsor kid with a family. They look for similar interests and listen to both the child and the sponsor families to ensure a great match. “We hope that they all have a great experience and gain a new family member. We have sponsor families that still have relationships with their children who are now adults,” Stansell said.

“To watch all our kids form bonds and interact just like brother and sister is so special,” Michelle said, “When she visits, she blends right in with our family and pitches in with the dishes, cracks jokes and every year we celebrate her birthday in the same way we do our other four children; the birthday kid gets to pick breakfast and dinner and every single year she picks the same thing!”

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The Akers family looks forward to the weekend with their sponsor child and will arrange their calendar to celebrate family birthdays or fun activities so that their sponsor child can be there for the fun. “He is such an easy kid and plugs in well with our family. Getting to know him and watch him grow and form bonds with us has been the best part,” Wendy continued, The staff at the Texas Pythian Home is thoughtful about how they pair a sponsor kid with a family. They look for similar interests and listen to both the child and the sponsor families to ensure a great match.

Michelle echoed that saying, “Knowing these children have a place where they belong and are comfortable is so important. They all have different backgrounds, but we get to be the constant in their life and our sponsor child knows she can come to us with anything. Every child deserves to feel wanted, needed, and loved; there are a million reasons to be a Weekend Sponsor and I can’t think of one reason to not be. The castle runs off the love and generosity of the community and it has been an honor to be part of it all.”

The staff at the Texas Pythian Home is thoughtful about how they pair a sponsor kid with a family. They look for similar interests and listen to both the child and the sponsor families to ensure a great match.

For those unable to be a weekend sponsor, the opportunities to support and help a great cause still exist.

The public has the opportunity to be a birthday sponsor and buy presents for a child at the home, serve as a tutor once a week or throw parties for the children. For those interested in learning more about the Weekend Sponsor program or other opportunities, contact kstansell@pythianhome.org. PCLS

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Believe

Boldly Staying

Connected with God

B Y E R I C A W I L L I S | B E L I E V E B O L D LY. C O M

God reminded me of the importance of maintaining my spiritual health with diligent care. If I let my faith practices fall to the wayside, I could find myself looking at an equally neglected spiritual walk.

E

arly morning runs on the trails of Parker County are my jam. I take time to pray and process as I run, God often speaking to me through my surroundings, natural and otherwise. I see friends walking, taking a break from the indoor pressures of computer screens and phone calls.

I see families having fun, traveling park to park on bikes and skateboards and roller skates. We all come to experience fresh air and friendship. Our trail system is the best!

Be still my heart!

I was all smiles and celebration on the inside, relishing living in a community that cares about the little things.

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Being the trail lover I am, I rejoiced when as I saw the trail come to life with an intentional landscaping-blooming crepe myrtles, waving ornamental grasses, and other fabulous plants to line the Parker County path and bring beauty to our community. Be still my heart! I was all smiles and celebration on the inside, relishing living in a community that cares about the little things.

Typically, the city maintains the trail and be removing fallen branches from the path, trimming the low-hanging vines, and cleaning the occasional teen spray paint remnants from the night before. But this morning my attention was caught by an unkempt tree.

And then another. I noticed every plant was overgrown, branches shooting every which way and grasses remaining untrimmed from past seasons. What was once beautiful was now neglected and forgotten, another causality of too much to maintain with not enough time to maintain it.

It’s not praying for salvation and waiting for the “glory days” of heaven. Salvation was purposed for the here-and-now as well as heaven.

Now listen-- I’m not one to judge. Don’t dare look at my backyard landscaping and mistakenly think I have the perfect green thumb! But I couldn’t help but see the connection between the overgrown trail and my own spiritual walk. As I ran the rest of the path, God reminded me of the importance of maintaining my spiritual health with diligent care. If I let my faith practices fall to the wayside, I could find myself looking at an equally neglected spiritual walk. The physical path and my spiritual path both require intentional care and time. Both will eventually lose the beauty of their original design if not properly cared for.

Colossians 1:23 says, “But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.”

Did you catch that? We must CONTINUE. It’s not one and done. It’s not praying for salvation and waiting for the “glory days” of heaven. Salvation was purposed for the here-and-now as well as heaven. It is in the promise of the Holy Spirit living in us that we find power and peace every day! We must persist through hardship and cultivate the groundwork of the gospel daily. We stay strong in our relationship with God by making space for Him to challenge and celebrate us.

Think of it this way: We would never buy a car and refuse to change the oil. We would never purchase a home and never clean it. We would never get married and not talk to our spouse each day. Yet our salvation is our most valuable possession and many of us fail to care for it as such! Our salvation may be secure, but what if our relationship with God is overgrown and neglected? It’s time to take inventory of our own faith and take intentional steps to maintain our passion, hope and connection with God.

Yet our salvation is our most valuable possession and many of us fail to care for it as such!

First, pray and read your Bible daily. Not only when you feel like it or when it is convenient, but every single day.

Second, invite accountability from a wise friend or pastor. They are there to encourage you to keep going when you want to quit!

Third, humbly ask God to keep bringing new spiritual gifts and experiences with Him. When we see God’s power in action it is hard to find it boring.

It may feel you don’t have the time, but I know we can do this if we ask God to help us. That’s why He is there, to make us strong when we are weak. I can’t wait to see how great your heart looks this coming spring, when we (and the trail) begin to bloom new and fresh again! PCLS

- Erica Willis

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FOOTBALL MAGIC 2021

By Peggy Purser Freeman Pictures by Tommy Hays Photography

“THERE’S AN ATMOSPHERE I N T H I S C O M M U N I T Y, A B O N D I N G THAT HAPPENS HERE.” “Magic!” Billy Mathis looked back over his first year as head coach at Brock High School and defined the 2021 Eagles’ Football Season with pride. Some labeled it “almost perfect,” others called it a “heartbreaker.” But when the season’s first loss comes in the Texas State Football finals, there is no defeat. Reviewing the year’s journey of these exceptional young men under this gifted coach, the word “blessed” comes to mind.

"I thank God every day that He blessed me with the opportunity to be the head football coach at Brock," Billy Mathis explained. “This community has so many special qualities that help make this school and town amazing. The community members are the most supportive and driven people I have ever been around. If there's a need, they will find a way to take care of it.”

“We finished the season 15-1,” Coach Mathis proudly gave the stats for the 2020 – 2021 Eagles year. “We were the highest-scoring offense in 3A, scoring 782 points. We averaged over fifty-one points per game, the defense gave up less than thirteen points per game.

We were the 4-3A District Champs, COACH MATHIS GREW Region 1 Champion, and a 3A state finalist. Our seventh, eighth, freshUP IN ALEDO PLAYING man, JV, and varsity teams all won FOOTBALL AND their district championships. From seventh grade to the varsity, we had BASEBALL, AND THEN a combined record of 51-5.

GRADUATED IN 1996.

“Four of those losses came to 4A and 5A sub-varsity teams.”

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Even though it’s Coach Mathis’ first year at Brock, this is not his first ride down the road to the High School state finals. He knows Texas football and, more importantly, he knows how to grow boys into men. The Brock community, and Coach Mathis in particular, produce champions on and off the field—young people who bring their best and take home a winning attitude, not just a trophy.

Coach Mathis grew up in Aledo playing football and baseball, and then graduated in 1996. His coaching career began in Aledo, and then he was hired to be the Offensive Coordinator in Godley and then back in Aledo when that team won three state championships. In 2017 Coach Mathis was the Head Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Weatherford High School and took the football team to the playoffs three consecutive years.

Then in March of 2021, Coach Mathis was hired to be the Head Football Coach at Brock.

"I THANK GOD EVERY DAY THAT HE BLESSED ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT B R O C K , " B I L LY M AT H I S E X P L A I N E D .

“THIS COMMUNITY HAS SO MANY SPECIAL QUALITIES THAT HELP MAKE THIS SCHOOL AND TOWN AMAZING.”

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“‘From the youth sports programs to varsity sports programs, championships are the standard in Brock,” Coach Mathis said. “This community expects their kids to be coached hard and there are no excuses for not bringing your best every day. They want and expect the absolute best for their children.” Perhaps this is the reason so many championships are won in this town.

“From the moment we arrived, all of the players bought into our new system.” Coach Mathis praised the leadership of his varsity players, especially the seventeen seniors. “We brought in a new offense and a new defense that they had never seen. They trusted us, learned fast, and supported each other. We put guys in different positions with different responsibilities, and these amazing guys made magic happen. What propelled us to take off and do so well was the selflessness of this team. Not only were they a great team, but they were buddies. They cared for each other. They held each other accountable. They worked hard for each other and are very selfless. Each one wanted to see the others succeed. Not one selfish individual on this team.”

The best moment in the 2021 season for this team is different for each person.” For senior Kutter Wilson, that moment was “the day we beat Jim Ned High School in the third round of the playoffs. We came together and played our most complete and dominating game." The Eagles running back, Kutter Wilson was named Co-District Most Valuable Player (MVP). He also helped take the school to state on the track and golf teams.

“WE WERE THE HIGHEST-SCORING OFFENSE IN 3A, SCORING 782 POINTS. WE AVERAGED OVER FIFTY-ONE POINTS PER GAME, THE DEFENSE GAVE UP LESS THAN THIRTEEN POINTS PER GAME.”

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Coach Mathis calls Kutter the heart and soul of the skill guys. He rushed for almost 3,000 yards. Hardnosed and lightning fast. Not only was he a great running back, but he was also an excellent blocker. He loved blocking and took pride in it.

For Nathan Jones that special time came early in the year. "This season was so amazing the way everyone came together and bonded so fast. “All the success on and off the field will be a lasting memory for all of us."

Along with Kutter Wilson, Nathan was All-District 4-3A Co-MVP. He is heading to the University of Minnesota. Coach Mathis said, “Nathan played tight end, but could do anything. At 6’6’’ and 240 pounds he can block extremely well or switch into the passing game with ease.

Nathan was the Inspirational leader for this team, motivating and pushing the others to be their best.”

Cade Harris' favorite moment happened in overtime during the state semifinals. "The Skunk play at Mount

THE BEST MOMENT IN THE 2021 SEASON FOR THIS TEAM IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH PERSON.

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“FROM ELEMENTARY ON UP TO THE HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS, THE COMMUNITY HERE F O S T E R S A FA M I LY S P I R I T. ” Vernon was such an amazing play that won the game."

Cade was named First Team, All-District Center and in academics he ranks number one in the senior class at mid-term. “The leader of our line, Cade calls the line the Hoggs.” Coach Mathis said. “Cade made the protection calls and got everyone lined up to defend and block.”

Outstanding on the team and in the locker room. Eli Potts received the District Special Teams MVP award and was part of the 2021 State Track team. He will be attending the University of Tulsa.

Also named District 4-3A Defensive MVP, Kadyn Mathews excelled as a leader on the team and in school.

Big Country Preps, an online high school community, defined Kadyn. “With the flick of a switch, Brock’s Kadyn Mathews can go from polite to flat-out scary.” Others called him a “beast.” He was also a member of the 2021 State Track team and will play football at Harding University in Arkansas.

“This senior class is one of the best senior classes I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach. They went above and beyond each day. Their hard work, competitiveness, and the relentless passion they displayed led us to State. They were perfect examples of what a senior class should be.”

With four offensive starters returning next year and six defensive starters coming back, Coach Mathis and his coaching staff join the other teams at Brock looking toward a great future in 2022.

“From elementary on up to the high school teams, the community here fosters a family spirit.” Billy Mathis and his wife value family. Coach Mathis explains, “I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart for twenty years this May. We have three boys, Slade who is in eighth grade, Brant in fifth grade, and Steel Jack, who is five years old. These high school students play football with my five-year-old and wrestle with all the coaches' younger kids. They love on them and are good role models. There’s an atmosphere in this community, a bonding that happens here.”

With exceptional kids, a supportive community, and coaches who grow teenagers into caring adults, Brock is truly blessed! PCLS

“THIS SENIOR CLASS IS ONE OF THE BEST SENIOR CLASSES I’VE EVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COACH. THEY W E N T A B O V E A N D B E Y O N D E A C H D A Y. ”

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HARTIN

TREE SERVICE PROVIDED BY HARTIN TREE SERVICE

Spring is truly the most important time for your trees to be able to mature in a healthy manner.

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e have survived our winter storms and are heading into the spring season. Spring is truly the most important time for your trees to be able to mature in a healthy manner.

Spring season brings multiple mother nature traits that affect the growth of all plant life, such as rain and sunlight without the overbearing heat that Texas summers bring. Pre-spring trimming for mistletoe removal, deadwood, and sucker growth removal is imperative for younger trees to mature faster. Once spring season arrives trimming is still efficient and recommended especially in trees with deadwood. Our crews are professionally trained and educated on proper pruning procedures.

Stop hesitating on getting your trees trimmed and let us help your land become a beautiful landscape.

We at Hartin Tree Service, would like to thank all the local support we have gained in parker county over the last 5 years. We are truly proud to be a member and local residents of Parker county. Five short years ago. we

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were a 4-employee company. We now employ almost 30 employees and that is predominantly from all the local support from residents and businesses in parker county alone. We truly believe in our work and the connections we make with each customer. Thank you, Parker county, for helping us become the company we are today.

Hartin Tree Service is owned and operated by Ricky Howell Jr. and Sam Hartin; both practicing band consulting arborist in the DFW area for a total of 40 plus years.

We Offer professional consultations with free estimates, followed by expert pruning and trimming practices.

Pre-spring trimming for mistletoe removal, deadwood, and sucker growth removal is imperative for younger trees to mature faster.

We offer professional consultations with free estimates.

We also offer Tree removals; hazardous and non-hazardous. No job is too small or too big. We offer stump grinding, brush removal. and land clearing services.

We are honored to be your local tree experts and look forward to growing healthy, fun, encouraging relationships with all of our customers; past, present, and future.

Give us a call anytime for any of your tree needs.

Our phone number is 817-901-5428. Also feel free to visit our Facebook page @HartintreeserviceRicky.

PCLS

We at Hartin Tree Service, would like to thank all the local support we have gained in Parker County over the last 5 years.

817-901-5428

Blessings From Our Family To Yours

Expert Pruning and Hazardous Tree Removal

PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATIONS INSURED AND BONDED

FREE ESTIMATES

817-901-5428

Ricky Howell ARBO RIST

rickywhowell1016@gmail.com

www.Hartin-TreeService.com

H O M E TOWN LI V I N G AT I TS BEST 33 TRIMMING • STUMP GRINDING • FULL REMOVALS • LOT/LAND CLEARING • BRUSH CLEANING

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

WEATHERFORD CHEER

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he Weatherford High School Competition Cheer Team competed this season at the UIL State Spirit Championships on January 13. They competed in the CoEd Division and after making it to the State finals, earned the honor of 4th place overall! The following week they competed two days at the NCA High School Nationals where they brought home medals for a 2nd place finish in the Nations CoEd division. From Nationals they also earned Top Team awards for Vocal Excellence and Sideline Spirit. At NCA, WHS also earned the coveted 'Go Be Great' Award from the National Cheerleaders Association for their outstanding contributions to their school, district, and community.

Photos provided by Weatherford High School

AT 2 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS 709 N. FM 1187 - Exit 420 Aledo, TX 76008

808 Ft Worth Hwy Ste. 108 Weatherford, TX 76086

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TAKING A LOOK AT BARNDOMINIUMS BARNDOS ARE NOTHING NEW. IN RURAL TEXAS IT WAS COMMON FOR FARMERS TO CONVERT THE UPPER LEVEL OF A BARN INTO A LIVING SPACE. THE ACTUAL TERM “BARNDOMINIUM” FIRST CAME ABOUT IN THE 1980S. BARNDOS HAVE SINCE COME A LONG WAY.

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BY MARTHA HELTON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JAG METAL S

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barndominium, or a barndo, is a mix between a barn and a modern family house. The buildings are often constructed using steel framing and corrugated metal siding and roofing. They are found often on large lots of land in the country.

Not always used for agriculture, barndos are now commonly used as living/working spaces.

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Barndos are nothing new. In rural Texas it was common for farmers to convert the upper level of a barn into a living space. The actual term “barndominium” first came about in the 1980s when realtor Karl Nilsen coined the term. The barndo then referred to a community that was focused on equestrian activities in Connecticut.

LET US LOOK AT THE PROS AND CONS OF BARNDOMINIUMS:

Barndos have since come a long way. “When it all hit the craze, maybe 15 to 20 years ago, people would build a metal shop; and when you pulled up to it it just looked like a metal shop or a box. But you would go inside, and it looked like a house,” Dustin O’Bannon, territory manager of the south division with JAG Metals (which sells components for any steel building), said. Now people are adding porches, windows, and rock or brick wainscoting.

They are commonly used for living/office environments.

But like traditional stick homes they have modern features like vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and sliding barn doors. The barndo really became popular when in 2016 an episode of HGTV’s show Fixer Upper, Chip and Joanna Gaines renovated a barn into a home.

• Durability. It’s structurally more integral as opposed to a wood house. It’s stronger, resistant to rotting or termites. There is little chance of any home outlasting a steel barndo. Also, when spray foam insulation is used between the exterior and interior walls, it makes that building airtight, bug tight, wind tight, said O’Bannon.

THE BARNDO REALLY BECAME POPULAR WHEN IN 2016 AN EPISODE OF HGTV’S SHOW FIXER UPPER, CHIP AND JOANNA GAINES RENOVATED A BARN INTO A HOME.

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PROS

• Low maintenance. There is no need to re-paint the outside as there can be a 40-year warranty on the panels, protecting against fading, chalking or peeling. A regular home you have to re-caulk and repaint every seven years or so.

• Cheaper cost. According to data from HomeAdvisor, a barndominium costs, on average, $30-$40 per square foot to build. This figure assumes that the barndominium is basic (nothing custom) just a shell with exterior walls as a metal building. A wood house costs $100 to $200 per square foot. Lumber prices are rising so steel building kits are becoming more attractive.

• Lower insurance costs and associated taxes. The overall value is often not as high as conventional homes.

BARNDO KITS MAKE THE BUILDING PROCESS MOVE QUICKLY. FOR A BARNDOMINIUM, EXPECT A FOUR-TO-SIX-MONTH TIME FRAME TO FINISH IT.

• Faster construction. Barndo kits make the building process move quickly. A lot of the components are made off-site and pre-drilled so the contractor can put up the frame of the home much faster, spending the majority of time working on the interior. For a barndominium, expect a four-to-six-month time frame to finish it. Traditional wood-framed homes can take nine to twelve months until completion.

• Adaptable design. Because steel buildings are structurally sound, you don’t need load bearing walls inside.

You can knock out walls without worrying about encountering a load bearing wall. You can maximize the space by having a wide-open floor plan.

• Eco-friendly design. Steel buildings are more eco-friendly than wood structures. A barndominium kit as a lower carbon footprint and reduces material waste and can offer long-term energy savings--specially when using the spray foam in the walls, energy costs go way down. Tim Thomas, a barndo owner in Texas said that his electric bill “…is 30 percent to 50 percent less than a conventional house, and I think that’s a conservative estimate.

• Fire-resistant design. Metal building structures are fire resistant, with steel having a melting point of 2,500 degrees fahrenheit.

• Short commute times. When you combine your living and workspace, there will be no commute times and more time for you. Save on gas, lessen stress on you and your vehicles by driving less.

• No limit for customization. Depending on the tastes and vision of the owner, there is no limit on what can be done on the interior. There can be workspaces, gyms, swimming pools, entire equestrian riding arenas and airplanes, with enough room to part a class A motorhome.

CONS • Corrosion. Metal will not rot but there’s always the risk of corrosion that can happen in a humid climate.

• Permitting. Permitting steel buildings can change drastically from one location to another. Certain areas can require barn homes to be made entirely from wood. Others restrict the type of floor plan you choose. Some neighborhoods that have small deed restrictions, said O’Bannon, may require 75% metal and 25% masonry or rock.

• Exterior limitations. The exterior of Barndos may not appeal to everyone. With that in mind, contractors are now offering more exterior options.

• Financing. Financing can be tricky to obtain, although more lenders are starting to fill the void with loan products designed for steel buildings.

• Selling. You may love your living quarters and the metal building kit plan that you chose for your home. But the trend is still picking up steam. Some people love the metal building process and the final look of these buildings, but there are still people who prefer a traditional home. Simply put, there is a smaller pool of buyers to choose from.

TIM THOMAS, A BARNDO OWNER IN TEXAS SAID THAT HIS ELECTRIC BILL “...IS 30 PERCENT TO 50 PERCENT LESS THAN A CONVENTIONAL HOUSE, AND I THINK THAT’S A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE.

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DEPENDING ON THE TASTES AND VISION OF THE OWNER, THERE IS NO LIMIT ON WHAT CAN BE DONE ON THE INTERIOR.

CONCLUSION After looking at the pros and cons of barndominions, it looks like there are way more pros than cons. There’s something to be said about waking up in the countryside, away from the big city, being able to breathe fresh air without having your neighbor living on top of you like life in suburbia. PCLS

SOURCES: Barndominiumlife.com metalbuildinghomes.org/barndominium/ gensteel.com/resources/expert-insights/barndominiums-in-texas/

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Proudly Serving Parker County for 23 Years

Gough Wealth Management is not a Broker/Dealer. Securities offered through Raymon James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc.

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Brent A. Gough FINANCIAL ADVISOR

817.631.0816 313 FM 1187 N O R T H A L E D O, T X 76008

Proudly Serving Parker County!

Ryan McDonald, Agent 682-333-0242 McDonaldSF.com

Our Family Serving Your Family Since 1908

Full Service Funeral Home Cremation Services Pre-Need Plans

130 Houston Ave | Weatherford, TX | 817.596.4811 | www.whitesfuneral.com H O M E TOWN LI V I N G AT I TS BEST

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CBD American

SHAMAN

By Rick Mauch Photos by Back Roads Photography

WHAT FIRST DREW ANGIE TO CBD OIL REMEDIES WAS HER OWN PAIN FOLLOWING KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY. SHE WANTS TO HELP OTHERS FEEL BETTER THROUGH THE SAME WAY SHE RID HERSELF OF PAIN.

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ike any business person, Angie Brown wants to be successful. More than that, however, she wants to help others feel better through the same way she rid herself of pain.

The more she does that, the greater a success she considers herself and her business, CBD American Shaman.

Judging from results so far, Angie is on to something.

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CBD oil is a popular wellness supplement known to offer various health benefits.

Her first store opened in Aledo in July of 2020, and she and her daughter, Amira Williams, celebrated the opening of their second store in Weatherford on Jan. 10.

CBD American Shaman is the largest CBD franchise group in the nation.

"We are of a belief that it isn’t just our product that keeps customers coming in, it’s us. We carry products that are produced by ourselves or other vetted reputable companies," she said.

What first drew Angie to CBD oil remedies was her own pain following knee replacement surgery in which her tibia was accidentally broken during the process.

"This made recovery long, hard, and painful.

My daughter had suggested that I use CBD, and it genuinely helped," Angie recalled.

Then, her father came in need of her full-time care after the love of his life, his wife of 11 years,

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succumbed to cancer. However, through her battle, CBD therapy was once again reinforced, Angie said.

"She had been given only six weeks to live at the time of her diagnosis. She made the decision not to continue with chemotherapy and instead pursued natural remedies, CBD being one of those," Angie said. "She was with us for almost two more years before losing the battle."

AFTER YEARS OF TRYING A PLETHORA OF MEDS, CBD OIL HAS COME TO THE RESCUE.

Angie's personal battle with pain has been going on for over two decades with a variety of ailments, she said. This includes now having a degenerative disc order in her lower back. After years of trying a plethora of meds, CBD oil has come to the rescue, she said.

CBD IS AN ACRONYM FOR CANNABIDIOL, WHICH IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING COMPOUND EXTRACTED FROM HEMP PLANTS.

"Through the years I was on a pain management regimen. At one point I was on Opioids, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, sleep aids, steroid shots, and even narcolepsy medicine so I could stay awake enough to work," she said. "Every few years I would stop taking pain meds, and I would spend a year or so just dealing with pain before I'd have to go back on the meds.

"Now, thanks to CBD, I take one muscle relaxant and two to four Advil per day. Do I still have pain?

Yes, but it is no longer unbearable. I do not have to poison my body with opioids or walk around like a zombie anymore."

CBD is an acronym for cannabidiol, which is

a naturally occurring compound extracted from hemp plants. CBD is the most abundant cannabinoid found in hemp and is the second most well-known cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. CBD oil is made by first being extracted from hemp plants. After the CBD is isolated from the plant material, it is tested to determine the purity and potency. The CBD is then added to carrier oils and other ingredients to create CBD oils and CBD products.

CBD oil is a popular wellness supplement known to offer various health benefits, including but not limited to relieving minor discomfort and supporting a positive mental state and overall health. CBD products can offer overall relief from every day stress, relief from minor discomforts, and support an improved mental state.

CBD can also support joint health, cardiovascular health, improve rest, boost energy, support immune system health, promote clearer skin and overall health.

If someone experiences any adverse side effects, it’s advised that they discontinue using CBD, Angie stressed.

"People love our shops and they love our products and have come to depend on us. Since we made the decision to be a franchisee with a well-known

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WE CARRY A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A WIDE VARIETY OF CLIENTELE.

reputable company, it has instilled a trust," Angie said.

“When my mom called me to ask if I wanted to open a CBD store with her, after a moment of disbelief I responded of course!” Amira exclaimed. “I had been trying to get her to use cannabis for years. My mom is truly my best friend and I was thrilled when she asked me to be her business partner. We already knew we made a great team because we’ve been raising my nephews together for the past decade.”

Angie said about 98% of their business is walk-in.

"We do have a few customers that will order directly from us online. Those have almost always been referrals or people that came into our store while visiting from out of town," she said. "We even have a few customers that call us directly to send their packages instead of using the internet. The personal relationship that we have with our customers is very important. We are CBD consultants, not just proprietors and a retail business."

Angie also noted that CBD American Shaman is a founding member of the hemp roundtable.

“We recognize the need for self-governance in the U.S. hemp industry due to the lack of oversight by FDA. Our products are hemp authority certified,” she said.

She said their most popular products are water soluble CBD/CBG/CBN, topical cream, sleep gummies, dog tinctures and treats, HHC and delta eight.

"We carry a wide variety of products to meet the needs of a wide variety of clientele. We have an entire line of products that are THC free as many people are not allowed to have THC due their job requirements," she said. "The products with .3 THC are the most popular as the health benefits are greater from the full entourage of the hemp plant.

Listening to our clients’ testimonials about how our products are improving their lives is incredible. This is a humbling industry to be a part of.

"We carry a full line of facial and body products as well as smokable and edible hemp products. We also carry Kratom, which has a great health benefit for people with chronic pain."

The newest product line is the Zenmaster HHC products, she continued. HHC (hexa hydro cannabidiol), is one of the naturally occurring Cannabinoids found in industrial hemp. It is considered a hydrogen version of tetrahydrocannabinols, found in seeds and pollen, which makes HHC legal due to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill.

"HHC has a very strong binding affinity for CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the body as it attaches to both receptors at the same time, it is a powerful cannabinoid," she said.

"HHC customers have said the products provide soothing, calming, euphoric, psychoactive experience without the hangover, when taken. HHC doesn’t typically have a crash down effect leaving the user tired a couple of hours after use. Some customers boast of a boost in confidence now due to the HHC they take."

And business continues to grow, Angie said. She noted that every day they are seeing new customers at both locations.

"What’s interesting is where the recommendations are coming from, it’s not just people being referred by their friends. I am seeing people that have been referred by their physicians, dentist, and even their eye doctors," she said. "The benefits are overwhelming, and every day people from all walks of life are starting to see it."

Angie's family offers great support in the business.

Along with Amira being her partner, Angie is the mother of two grown sons with a landscaping business and a

grandmother of three boys. Son-in-law Justin (Amira's husband), a Marine Corps veteran, is also an important part of the team as he and Amira also own and operate an American Red Cross first aid/CPR and BLS training center out of the Aledo store.

“Listening to our clients’ testimonials about how our products are improving their lives is incredible. This is a humbling industry to be a part of,” Amira said. “We are not just a CBD store, but a place of wellness for people to find healing and comfort. Our clients have become more like family.

“I am so grateful for the success at our Aledo location, and I cannot wait to see the growth in Weatherford. We really want to make a wellness impact in Parker County.”

And, of course, Angie’s late father, Ernie May, better known as Grandpaernie, was their biggest cheerleader as they launched their successful business. No doubt he'd be proud to see the second store is already thriving.

"We lost my dear father at the bright age of 88 in March. He was cheering us to the end as we were planning the opening of the Weatherford store," she said.

"We are proud to bring health and wellness to our community." PCLS

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S o f t ba l l To u r n a m e n t

Sends AUsome Kids to Summer Camp Provided by Erica Howell

Last year our tournament was a “homerun” to say the least. We had 36 teams and 7 special needs or AUsome people taking on teams. From 9 AM to 11 PM, the parking lots were full.

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e are blessed to say that The AUsome Allen Foundation will be hosting another benefit softball tournament on April 30th and May 1st. The proceeds are used to send special needs of all ages to summer camp. We show the special needs community the love and support they deserve.

It lets the parents and these AUsome people know that they are not alone, and we support them! Last year our tournament was a “homerun” to say the least. We had 36 teams and 7 special needs or AUsome people taking on

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teams. From 9 AM to 11 PM, the parking lots were full.

Teams brought their friends and family to cheer them on and the stands were packed.

There were tons of activities. Yard games, bounce houses, a dunking booth, the BOHO SnoCo stand and vendors. There was also face painting, henna tattoos, and raffle and silent auction tables. Meals on wheels allowed us to set up a car show in their parking lot. Jason

Pullman with 99.5 the Wolf was the MC for the event.

People laughing and smiling is one of the main reasons we love this event. If you haven’t seen a game, you are missing out on the true meaning behind our foundation.

As Allen says it, “Tag, you are it.” I encourage you to come out to see and feel the love. It takes a lot of work to get the teams lined up so that don’t interfere with the other leagues and the players can participate in this tournament as well. Once these teams are ready, we get the special needs and or their parents that have reached out and want to play, added on the rosters. With our tournament, if we have a team playing for the ability of cerebral palsy and an AUsome person wanting to play with that ability calls to play, or vice versa, my husband Ricky will put them on that team. It really is special because most of these teams come out with customized jerseys and uniforms to show support for an ability they support or someone they love!

The anxiety of waiting to see them happy and when you do, the tears just fall as hearts fill with happiness.

Not only are these AUsome people actually getting to play in a real tournament for them, but every single person there shows them love and support in so many ways. These AUsome people will get their turn to hit and when they do, we get on the loudspeaker and let the audience know that an AUsome person is taking the field and they pile around and cheer them on. We get loud! (If this is what your AUsome person wants). There is not a single dry eye. The anxiety of waiting to see them happy

People of all abilities deserve and feel nothing but love! and when you do, the tears just fall as hearts fill with happiness. They hit and run the bases. Or someone hits and they field the ball. The teams will overthrow the ball and chase these AUsome people making them feel as part of the team! These moments are what it’s all about. We encourage everyone to come out to experience it. It is an AUsome 2 day event! People of all abilities deserve and feel nothing but love! These tournaments have helped our son get out of his shell more, helped him realize that just because it might take him an extra swing, that he is still capable of doing whatever he desires.

I can promise you that we WILL accommodate for any age and ability. There is no obstacle that will keep an

If you haven’t seen a game, you are missing out on the true meaning behind our foundation.

AUsome person from playing with us in their tournament! It’s their day to feel like a celebrity.

I want to give a huge thank you to the 36 teams that played. Our goal for this year is 40 teams! Our tournament and foundation wouldn’t be possible without the love and support of this amazing community. A special thank you to the following: Berkey Plumbing, Cymberhorse Construction, Hartin Tree Service, Antebellum Ale House, Northside Remedy, Chicken Express, HTEA0, Taco Casa of Weatherford, and BOHO SnoCo. The volunteers are the real MVPs and help in every way!

We always need help. If you or someone you know wants to volunteer, please find us on FB, we would love to have you. Thank you to my AUsome family and my husband.

They help me run this thing. It’s been a family foundation and we keep growing and make it happen together and we are sending AUsome people to camp!! It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a community to help each other! Thank you all! We hope to see you all out on April 30th and May 1st.

If you or someone you know has an AUsome person who would like to play in our tournament, please reach out and we can make it happen. If you are looking to volunteer and have fun, we are the foundation!! PCLS

It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a community to help each other!

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Elevate Y O U R

Celebration

By Lindsay L Allen

As you celebrate with loved ones, it is important to keep the focus on the reason for celebrating Easter. There are several ways to celebrate while still keeping the focus on Jesus Christ and his resurrection. There are several fun activities that everyone will enjoy.

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aster is a holiday rich with meaning, family, and fun. As you celebrate with loved ones, it is important to keep the focus on the reason for the season; the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

There are a number of ways to ensure your family doesn’t lose focus in the chaos of the season and easy ways to elevate the fun associated with it all.

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One way to re-center your home and reflect on the season is through resurrection eggs.

RESURRECTION ROLLS RECIPE

Celebrate with Meaning It’s easy to get lost in the time off of work (Good Friday), the Easter ham, stuffing eggs and finding the perfect church outfit that we lose sight of the whole reason why Easter exists.

One way to re-center your home and reflect on the season is through resurrection eggs. Simply gather a dozen plastic eggs and fill them with the following elements and open the eggs in this order to help tell the story: cotton ball dipped in perfume, coins, purple cloth, thorns from a flower stem, piece of leather shoelace, a small cross toy or charm, a nail, dice, toothpick, gauze, rock and the last egg will be empty. As you open the eggs, each element will relate to differing parts of the story from the New Testament (i.e. Mary washed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume=egg #1, Judas was paid to betray Jesus=egg #2, etc.). If you need help with your eggs and the story, search “resurrection eggs” on the Internet. After you have opened each egg in order and told the story, pass them to the person on the right and have them open the eggs and retell the story.

Another easy and simple idea is to find a free download online that beautifully says, “He is not here for he has risen.” Print one out and display it in a photo frame in your home as part of the décor for the season!

Resurrection rolls are delicious, but also provide great symbolism for all ages. The marshmallow inside the rolls disappears, leaving an empty space, to represent the empty tomb and Jesus rising from the dead.

As you make the rolls, you can explain the meaning behind the marshmallow and how it relates to the story of Jesus being placed in a tomb and three days later the tomb was empty! To make these rolls you will need a few simple ingredients and an appetite!

While going to church on Easter Sunday is popular, consider a Good Friday service as well. Additionally, some churches will host a Seder meal on Easter weekend to walk through the meaning, history, and purpose of the Jewish Passover meal. This experience is one you won’t regret.

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These resurrection desserts are great for Easter recipes or for a food craft to illustrate the Easter story for kids!

PREP TIME 10 minutes

COOK TIME 15 minutes

TOTAL TIME 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 package refrigerated crescent dough 1 bag of large marshmallows ½ cup of butter, melted ¾ cup of white sugar 2 Tablespoons cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a muffin tin pan and set aside. Melt butter in a small bowl. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar in a separate small bowl. Unroll the crescent dough and separate into the triangles (along the dough perforations). Explain that the dough represents the tomb that they put Jesus into after his crucifixion. Next, hold up a white marshmallow and explain that it represents Jesus. Roll the marshmallow in butter and then in the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Explain that it represents the oils and spices that was rubbed on Jesus after his death before they placed him in the tomb. Place the marshmallow onto a dough triangle near the larger end. Wrap each side of the dough up and over the marshmallow and explain that the dough represents the tomb where they buried Jesus. Roll the dough in your hands until all of the marshmallow is covered and sealed. Dip the rolled dough in butter and then dip in the cinnamon/ sugar mixture and place in the greased muffin tin.

Repeat until all of the dough has been used. Bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool then cut the “tomb” (rolls) down the middle. Before cutting, ask if the kids remember what happened on the third day (or why we celebrate Easter). Remind them that when they went to the tomb where Jesus was buried, the tomb was empty because Jesus rose.

Cut through the roll and show the kids how the “tomb” is now empty.

There are many ways to stuff your eggs and various ways to make it fun for all ages.

spring chicken.” Younger kids will have a great time hunting empty eggs in the week following the holiday, so don’t put those eggs away too soon - they are sure to provide free entertainment as you hide them over and over again for your small children.

Don’t forget to take a family photo as you all gather in your Sunday best.

EASTER EGG IDEAS

THEMED FOOD

An Easter lunch is not complete without an egg hunt!

There are many ways to stuff your eggs and various ways to make it fun for all ages.

Start your Easter Sunday with a fun breakfast.

You can divide your pancake into different portions and dye the batter with spring colors to create a rainbow stack of pancakes!

If you have an adult crowd, perhaps the eggs are stuffed with lottery tickets and cash. Another way to have fun is to put battery-operated tea candles inside eggs and host a glow in the dark egg hunt.

Using canned cinnamon rolls, lay a roll on your baking sheet and slightly undo the outer layer to create two “peaks” to represent bunny ears.

You can also have fun by putting various scrabble board game pieces into eggs and at the end of the hunt, the person who can spell a word with the highest score, using the scrabble letters from the eggs they found, is the winner!

For your teenagers, the eggs could be stuffed with “vouchers,” good for a night at the movies, a stop at their favorite fast food or a pass on making their bed or taking out the trash. Maybe your teen would prefer to have the eggs filled with lip gloss and hair ties or Legos and guitar picks. Think about their interests and see how you can incorporate that into the egg hunt!

Younger kids are just as happy to hunt the eggs as they are to find out what is in them, there are lots of ways to make egg hunting unique.

Consider purchasing a puzzle and putting the various pieces in the eggs and at the conclusion of the hunt, the kids have to put together the puzzle. To turn your hunt into an egg-cersise event, have a command in each egg, for example, “hop seven times like a bunny” or “run like a

Younger kids are just as happy to hunt the eggs as they are to find out what is in them, there are lots of ways to make egg hunting unique.

Create festive fruit kabobs by using bunny and chick shaped cookie cutters to slice your watermelon, cantaloupe, and pineapple pieces.

An Easter egg fruit pizza is a simple and delicious way to add some fun to your dinner table. Start by rolling out sugar cookie dough into the shape of an egg, add cream cheese icing and then decorate your “egg” with sliced and chopped fruit.

Don’t be afraid to take your smores to the next level by using colorful Peep marshmallows to create a colorful and fun dessert.

Easter is a wonderful time to enjoy (usually) great weather, time with loved ones, a special church service and a great meal. Don’t forget to take a family photo as you all gather in your Sunday best and enjoy the day and the celebration that it is! Happy Easter!

PCLS

FIRST IN TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY Proudly Serving Parker, Hood, Erath, Tarrant and Wise Counties As a firefighter you are the first in to protect your family, as are we, when it comes to your roof repair. First In Roofing is one of the Top-Rated Roofing Companies in Parker and Wise County.

CALL NOW! 817-694-0087 www.firstinroofing.net Doug & Lea Ann Hall Owners

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Doug & Tyler Hall

COMPOSITION • METAL • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS

PEASTER CHEER

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lthough they didn’t bring home a trophy, the Peaster Cheer team did something no one else in Peaster Cheer history has done. The cheer team competed in many competitions this year leading up to this one. They brought home several 2nd place trophies and a 4th place trophy before heading to state. Then they made it from the prelims to the State Finals Qualifying Round for the first time ever. This is only their second year competing and they made the TOP 20 list for 3A- D1 schools across the state of Texas!!! That’s HUGE!!!

Photos provided by Peaster Cheer

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Vet Spotlight

What You Need to Know About the Recent Rise in Dog Bites to Keep Your Kids Safe Provided by Riverstone Vet Group Photography provided by Back Roads Photography

It may come as a surprise that the pandemic has an impact on our dogs and as a result they are exhibiting uncharacteristic behaviors in response to their altered world.

It’s no surprise that households across the U.S. have been under increased stress since the start of the pandemic, with families working and learning from home, quarantines keeping people secluded, and anxiety about exposure to the virus. However, what might come as a surprise is the impact of the pandemic on our dogs, who are exhibiting uncharacteristic behaviors in response to their altered world. Medical professionals are sounding the alarm on a dramatic increase in children ex-

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periencing dog bites — a trend that is unfortunately not subsiding as pandemic restrictions ease and families get back to a new normal.

Approximately 82 million U.S. children have been restricted to home to some degree as a result of the pandemic, and 77 million of them have dogs who are feeling the increased anxiety of their owners.

The increase in dog bites — which is currently three times the average rate — is primarily attributed to: • Increased exposure between kids and dogs as a result of more time at home

• More playtime between kids and dogs as a result of no playdates • Increased stress in dogs as they feel the impact of heightened household stress • Decreased supervision of children around dogs as parents juggle work and childcare responsibilities from home Following are safety tips to help dog owners navigate these unusual times and ensure their children don’t become part of the alarming statistics.

Approximately 82 million U.S. children have been restricted to home to some degree as a result of the pandemic, and 77 million of them have dogs who are feeling the increased anxiety of their owners.

Teach Young Children Proper Behavior Around Dogs As a parent who is also a dog owner, your child must understand what can prompt a dog to bite, even when they have no such history and have a seemingly calm demeanor. When provoked enough, any dog is capable of biting.

When interacting with dogs, teach your children to: • Avoid disturbing a dog that is sleeping or eating • Never run from a dog, as this kicks in their predatory instincts • Approach their dog slowly and avoid startling them by approaching from behind • Always keep their face and head away from their dog’s face • Never reach through a fence to pet an unfamiliar dog • Never approach an unfamiliar dog without asking for permission from the owner • Recognize dog behavior, both verbal and non-verbal, such as growling, ears pinned back, wide eyes, and hackles raised Of course, you want your children to play with your dog — but have them do so with caution during these stressful times. It’s entirely normal for your dog to playfully bite during playtime, called “mouthing,” but it’s also essential to know when they’re going too far. The ASPCA offers insight regarding playful mouthing versus biting during play.

Be a Responsible Dog Owner As a dog owner, there are several steps that you should take to ensure your dog keeps their typical calm demeanor around children. However, you should always be prepared that they might lash out and bite under stressful circumstances.

Of course, you want your children to play with your dog — but have them do so with caution during these stressful times.

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To avoid the harmful effects of dog bites, make sure your dog is: • Up-to-date with vaccinations, especially rabies, in the event they are provoked to bite • In good health and routinely seeing your veterinarian for wellness exams • Properly trained to respond to basic commands that could help avoid a dangerous situation • Socialized adequately so they don’t act aggressively around unfamiliar people or in strange places • Receiving adequate quiet time to help alleviate stress and anxiety • Always on a leash when outside or in public • Getting enough exercise to release energy and allow calm behavior at home, especially for young dogs and puppies

As a dog owner, there are several steps that you should take to ensure your dog keeps their typical calm demeanor around children.

While the above tips will help, the golden rule is to always supervise children around dogs. Regardless of your dog’s protective nature with your children or their sweet personality, any dog is capable of biting if poked and prodded enough. Remember that biting is an instinctive behavior for them when they feel threatened or fearful.

Families with both children and dogs have experienced unique challenges due to the pandemic. As the virus subsides and we get back to a somewhat normal life, your dog will revert to their loving, calm demeanor. They absorb the environment around them, so as your stress and anxiety are slowly alleviated, theirs will be as well.

Dogs are creatures of habit and thrive on a predictable schedule. Making sure they have their needs met will also relieve stress and anxiety in your dog. If you know your dog is showing signs of stress, remove them from the situation before they react aggressively. Our children’s safety is the number one priority.

If you have any further questions about how to prevent dog bites in your home, please feel free to give us a call. And if your dog has bitten your child and broken the skin, it’s important that you give us a call, as we will want to give you advice on preventing a recurrence and also ensure that your child sees their healthcare provider to get on an antibiotic. PCLS

As the virus subsides and we get back to a somewhat normal life, your dog will revert to their loving, calm demeanor.

GROTE VETERINARY CLINIC 819 Santa Fe Dr., Weatherford, TX 76086 Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:30pm Saturday 8:00am - 2:00pm

RIVERSTONE VETERINARY HOSPITAL 1421 FM 1189 Ste 4, Brock, TX 76087 Monday - Thursday 7:30am - 5:30pm Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm

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SERVICES: PHONES ANSWERED 24/7 Wellness Routine and Advanced Surgeries

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TEAM LUKE HOPE FOR MINDS IS A NONPROFIT THAT IS DEDICATED TO ENRICHING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN WITH A BRAIN INJURY AND GIVING HOPE TO THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH SUPPORT AND EDUCATION.

By Rick Mauch Photos provided by Tim Siegel

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ives end, but legacies go on forever.

Two days will forever be etched in the mind of Tim Siegel. First the day in late July of 2015 when he received a phone call informing him that his son, Luke, was involved in a golf cart accident that resulted in severe brain damage.

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“My goal is to keep my son’s legacy alive as we help others,” Tim said. “He was such a fighter. We were told he’d never again move his limbs or open his eyes.

“Until I take my last breath, I will help families all over this country.”

Luke did both of those things. In fact, Tim recalled a special moment a couple years after Luke’s accident that involved their favorite football team, the New Orleans Saints.

“I asked him to move his tongue if he thought the Saints would win. He moved his tongue,” Tim said, excited by the memory. “It was a wonderful sign that Luke was in there.

“The brain does heal, with a combination of therapy and love. Doctors were shocked at the things he could do.”

Tim, who was the head tennis coach at Texas Tech University for 23 years, had just resigned on July 8, 2015.

Ironically, it was to spend more time with his wife Jenny and their four children, daughter Alex (now 30 with three children), Kate (now 18 and a freshman at Tech), Ellie (now 16 and a junior in high school), and, of course, Luke, who was 9 at the time.

Less than three weeks later came the dreadful call about Luke’s accident. It was also the start of Tim’s mission to salvage a life for Luke and others who experienced similar trauma.

“I feel like I lost him twice,” Tim said, holding back a tear.

And, most recently, in August of last year, when Luke, who had fought hard to battle back from the injury, succumbed to COVID-19.

“I feel like I lost him twice,” Tim said, holding back a tear. But Luke, who was 15 at his passing, is gone physically, his,legacy lives on through the work of his father and the organization Team Luke Hope For Minds. The nonprofit, for which Tim is the executive director, is based out of Lubbock and is dedicated to enriching the lives of children with a brain injury and giving hope to their families through support and education.

Team Luke has helped families in 35 states, including many in the Metroplex. In fact, Luke spent four months in treatment at Cook Children’s Medical Center following his injury, after having spent 44 days at University Medical Center in Lubbock.

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“The brain does heal, with a combination of therapy and love. Doctors were shocked at the things he could do.”

He created Team Luke, with the unique logo of a backwards 3 where the letter “e” would normally be in Luke’s name. Luke was an athlete before the injury, particularly baseball, and wore the number 3.

“He wanted to be the best second baseman in the world,” Tim said.

March 3 has been designated Team Luke Hope For Minds Awareness Day in Lubbock. March is also National Brain Awareness Month.

“Luke was nonverbal but he communicated so much with his eyes and by responding to us by moving his tongue,” recalled Yasemin Flores, Luke’s physical therapist at Cook. “Luke holds a special place in so many peoples’ hearts because he worked so hard.

“The amount of people they (Team Luke Hope For Minds) have been able to help is amazing. They help families acquire medical equipment and treatments that insurance companies may not cover despite it being a necessity.”

Team Luke was formed in January of 2018. Then, Tim, through Facebook, joined forces with Ronda Johnson and Hope For Minds, which had already been in place for several years.

“She reached out to me and it was an instant connection,” he said.

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Along with reaching out to about 70% of the country, Team Luke Hope For Minds has granted over $508,000 to families.

Along with reaching out to about 70% of the country, Team Luke Hope For Minds has granted over $508,000 to families. So much is involved in care after leaving the hospital, Tim said, and, like most medical, it’s never cheap.

Jenny is a registered nurse. Still, once out of the hospital, the challenge of home care is nonetheless great for everyone, Tim said.

“There’s no A to Z what to do next when you leave the hospital. That’s a tough thing for parents, whether you have a medical background or not,” he said.

“Many people do not understand the amount of money that these families need because insurance does not cover everything. These families usually need to purchase a van with wheelchair accessibility so that they can easily and safely load their child,” Flores said.

“Certain insurance companies will only pay for new wheelchairs every five years, because that is the time that is deemed appropriate for growth/wear and tear. Many times these children grow or have physical changes that would require a new chair, but insurance will not pay for it. There are so many things that can be discussed, such as caps on the allotted amount of therapy visits for a year, leaving parents to pay cash for certain visits.

“This is where Team Luke Hope for Minds can offer assistance to families to help acquire these necessities.”

Tim spends countless hours simply speaking about Team Luke. He goes to schools, public events, and especially to families.

“I speak to parents. I’ve been there, I understand exactly how they feel,” he said.

It’s all part of the seven inspirations from Luke, Tim said.

1. FIND A PASSION. 2. DON’T EVER QUIT. 3. LEAN ON FRIENDS AND FAMILY. 4. MAKE GOOD CHOICES. 5. FAITH. 6. FIND FORGIVENESS. 7. LET SOMEONE’S LEGACY LIVE ON.

“It’s my life now.

It’s all about Luke’s legacy.”

Awareness is another large part of the Team Luke Hope For Minds mission.

On their website (https://www.teamlukehopeforminds.org/), is a statistic from the Center for Head Injury Services stating that approximately one in 500 school-age children each year receive a head injury severe enough to be hospitalized. These occur in a plethora of ways, Tim noted, with non-fatal drownings being the most common.

And, of course, golf cart accidents are more common than one might think, he added.

“It only takes a minute - what am I saying - it only takes a second for something bad to happen,” he said.

“It’s also about prevention.”

Awareness is another large part of the Team Luke Hope For Minds mission. As a way to spread awareness they hold an annual Connections Conference in Austin, where they also have a second Texas office. Speakers are flown in, as are families, for educational opportunities.

“I think that’s the most important day of the year for most of these parents,” Tim said. “They have each other and medical experts to speak to and learn from.”

Funding for Team Luke’s efforts comes largely from private donations, corporations, and they hold fundraisers. The 11th Annual Team Luke Hope For Minds Golf Tournament is scheduled for April 25 at Austin’s Onion Creek Golf Club (it was formerly just the Hope For Minds tournament).

They also have some pretty big names helping with their fundraising, Tim said. Former Texas Tech and current Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes wears a Luke’s Hope bracelet.

Former Texas Tech and current Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury is donating $5,000 for every Cardinals win, which is being matched.

Also, with Tim being a former professional tennis player himself, he has strong connections in that world.

Greats such as Andy Roddick, among others, are onboard with support.

And, of course, Luke’s family is involved, led by Tim. His mom and sisters help on events such as the annual 5K run, and Kate gets her sorority involved as well, Tim said.

Tim has written one book about Luke’s journey to battle back, entitled “It’s In God’s Hands.” He’s working on another with the possible title “I Lost Him Twice.”

“It’s my life now. It’s all about Luke’s legacy,” Tim said. “He was my buddy, my hero. He was on this planet to put one foot in front of the other to fight.” PCLS

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Cody Sal y ers Peaster ISD

Baseball Coach

By Connie Lewis Leonard Photography by Joveyln Roden Photography

Prior to coming to Peaster, Cody spent the previous six years as the head baseball coach at Abilene Cooper High School. During that time, he led the Cougars to the playoffs every season but one, including two trips to the quarter finals.

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aseball is the all-American sport. From t-ball, father-pitch, Little League, high school and college, little boys dream of playing in the pros. Families cheer on the players, hoping their unrealized aspirations might be fulfilled through their children. With natural talent, ambition, and hard work, some little boys actually hit pay dirt.

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Cody played four years of professional baseball in the Independent Frontier League for the River City Rascals and Springfield Capitals.

Cody graduated from Abilene High School as a multisport athlete. He then played center field at Abilene Christian University (ACU), where he was named All-Conference Player, Conference Player of the Week and he earned the Britt Paty Batting Award. He was also part of the conference championship team that went on to make a NCAA regional appearance.

During his summers in college, Cody was invited to play with the Hays Larks in the prestigious Kansas Jayhawk League.

Cody played four years of professional baseball in the Independent Frontier League for the River City Rascals and Springfield Capitals. During this time, he was coached by MLB All-Star Jack Clark and MLB World Series Champion Dick Schofield. Often times, you could find Hall of Famers such as Ozzie Smith and Whitey Herzog in the dugout sharing knowledge.

“I met my wife Ashley on a blind date while I was back home in Abilene only a few weeks before I was heading to Florida for minor league baseball. We went out on a few dates before I left, and we stayed in contact. Ashley was in Nursing School at ACU at the time.

“Our first son, Rylan-age 14, was an answer to prayer after a couple of years of fertility issues. Rylan will be playing high school baseball as a freshman this year. He is recovering from a broken leg in high school football, and he will also participate in track this spring.

Cody Salyers is a sweet success story.

Cody Salyers is a sweet, success story. “I started playing high school football at Abilene High School as a ninth grader standing at a massive 4’11 and weighing 86 lbs. I finally started growing as a ninth grader, when I grew nine inches is about ten months. I graduated high school at 5’9 155 pounds. I graduated from college at 5’9 160. My entire athletic career, I always had to prove my worth because I was not as big as most other people. I believe if someone is willing to work, they can accomplish big things.”

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“Our second son, Hudson-age 12, keeps us on our toes. He is also active in football, basketball, baseball, and he is definitely the life of the party. Then there is the ‘Little Princess,’ our five-year-old daughter, Holdyn. Every man needs a little girl in their life, and she is the perfect caboose for our family.”

Prior to coming to Peaster, Cody spent the previous six years as the head baseball coach at Abilene Cooper High School. During that time, he led the Cougars to the playoffs every season but one, including two trips to the quarter finals.

He also brings six years of experience as an associate MLB scout with the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres organizations.

Before his time at Abilene Cooper, Cody was the head baseball coach at Greenville High School from 2009-2015, and the varsity assistant at The Colony High School from 20062008.

During his coaching career, Cody served as a camp instructor for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Each season, his team held a fundraising game for a community charity. “One season we donated money to the local police department’s K-9 unit, so they could buy vests for the police dogs and training pads for the handlers. Another season we donated money to the local food bank. In order to make this a fun event for the community and a successful fundraiser, players/coaches for both teams dressed up in their favorite Halloween costumes to play the game. We invited fans to show up in their costumes as well, and cheer for their favorite team. I have been in several interesting costumes coaching third base.”

Cody and Ashley wanted their three children to enjoy the benefits of country living in a small school district like Peaster, where everyone can be involved in something. Cody loves baseball, and he loves helping young people succeed.

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Team chemistry goes a long way in team sports such as baseball.

In addition to athletic classes, Cody teaches Teen Leadership and Health at the junior high. He also works with wide receivers on the Peaster High School football team. Cody said, “Our football program is coming off their very first playoff appearance in school history. Time to make some history in baseball.” Goals for the season are: Have Fun, Get Better, Make the Playoffs, Win District, State Tournament.

Last year’s team graduated eleven seniors, so this will be a year of rebuilding. Caden Duer and Daniel Gomez, All-District players, are returning starters from last year. Riley Stapleton was brought up from JV. Parker McCullough and Trey Jackson are returning players who were injured last season.

Cody is pleased with how hard the players are working. “They are focused and trying hard to absorb everything that we are teaching. And, this is a fun group to be around! I enjoy coming to the field every day, because these kids are excited about what is going on around here. Team chemistry goes a long way in team sports such as baseball. If these kids continue to work hard, and if they enjoy playing for each other, good things are going to happen.

“Experience is what we’re missing. After losing eleven seniors to graduation (including most of the pitchers from last year’s team which included First Team All-State player Joseph Grimes), we are going into a new season with a lot of first-time varsity players. We only have four seniors on our team this year, so our varsity will have several underclassmen that will need to step up and perform.

“Right now, we are focusing on developing pitching throughout the program. Baseball starts with pitching. We are also trying to teach our players about Greyhound Baseball Expectations. On the field, we expect our players to be the best competitors on the field: always hustle, never give up, and we will not play scared. Off of the field: we expect our players to take care of their grades (A’s and B’s) and be leaders in the school, we will stay out of trouble, and we will treat women

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Our goal is to send these young men out into the real world with tools to succeed and memories that will last. with respect. Our goal is to send these young men out into the real world with tools to succeed and memories that will last.”

Cody is the kind of coach that makes a lasting connection with his players. He stays in contact with them, attends weddings, and follows their successes in baseball and careers.

Many former players come back to talk about the good old days and the future. “I have an ex-player right now, Caleb Freeman-Chicago Whitesox, that is making a statement to get the call up to the major leagues. You can bet that when that day comes, I will make every effort to be in the stadium when he suits up for his first big league game. Most conversations with my ex-players end with the words ‘proud of ya man.’ I have been fortunate to have coached a lot of great young men.”

When it’s time to play ball, get ready for an exciting ride with the Peaster Greyhound Baseball team. PCLS

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Waco

By Lindsay L. Allen

In a state filled with beautiful landscapes, people of all backgrounds, festivals to celebrate every occasion and unique sunsets painting every evening skyline, one never has to leave the state of Texas to create memories that last forever. Join us as we explore Texas towns and what makes them so special.

Deep in the Heart of Texas A decade ago you might have only thought of Waco, Texas as a “pass through” town, but today a dozen associations are made when you hear of this city.

O

ver the last few years, the city of Waco has become not just a charming tourist town, but a wildly popular and mildly famous one too.

A decade ago you might have only thought of Waco, Texas as a “pass through” town, but today a dozen associations are made when you hear of this city.

While most of today’s tourist are trying to run into Chip and Joanna Gaines, there are a number of other fun ways to spend your day in this town situated between Dallas and Austin.

ATTRACTIONS The Cameron Park Zoo is adjacent to the Brazos River and sits on 52 acres of lush native vegetation with surrounding waterfalls, a lake, and ponds. More than 1,730 animals reside amongst the natural habitats and close-up encounters at the zoo and represent 300 species!

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The BSR Cable Park & Surf Resort features four extreme water slides, the world’s longest lazy river, championship cable wake boarding and a world class surf pool If you didn’t get your “animal” fix at the zoo, the National Park Service operates the Waco Mammoth National Monument. With a dig shelter, tours about the Ice Age, fossil discovery and information about important paleontological sites in North America, the museum offers a wide variety of ways to learn and experience more about 20,000-pound mammoths that used to roam in present-day Texas.

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum is the official historical center of the Texas Rangers and seeks to educate and preserve the legendary symbol of Texas and the American West. The museum documents the service of the Texas Rangers, past and present, and has over two centuries worth of artifacts on exhibit.

Need a place to cool off and enjoy the Texas heat? The BSR Cable Park & Surf Resort features four extreme water slides, the world’s longest lazy river, championship cable wake boarding and a world class surf pool! Plus, the property has hotel rooms and cabins and cabanas all waiting for you to book your stay!

In 1989 the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company, which was the first building dedicated to the manufacturing of Dr Pepper and built in 1906, became the Dr Pepper Museum and eventually the Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute. The Museum’s mission

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is to educate and entertain the general public through the collection, preservation, interpretation, and exhibition of objects relevant to the history of the soft drink industry, and through that example, the free enterprise economic system.

From making a soda, to tasting sodas, VIP experiences, a liquid lab and more, soda lovers of all ages will enjoy their visit (and the complimentary soda included with admission).

The Texas Sports Hall of Fame & Museum is home of more than 300 Texas legends. The museum opened its doors in 1993 and features over 6,000 pieces of sports memorabilia to honor and preserve the legacies of Texas sports heroes. From high school football to the Southwest conference to the Tom Landy Theater, Earl Campbell Library every sports lover will find something they can connect with as the exhibits highlight all sports, dating back to the inaugural induction class of 1951.

If you are still looking for a way to spend the day in the outdoors, consider a stop at Lake Waco Wetlands.

Of course, no stop in Waco is complete without visiting the Magnolia Silos, made famous by Chip and Joanna.

FAMILY FUN For a relaxing outdoor experience, stop by Cameron Park, one of the largest municipal parks in Texas. The park is covered in trees, situated along two rivers, features cliffs and a National Recreation Trail system. Be it hiking, biking, fishing, disc golf, picnicking or just a stroll along the river, the park is the best spot to visit when in Waco!

If you are still looking for a way to spend the day in the outdoors, consider a stop at Lake Waco Wetlands. The wetlands were created to mitigate the habitat loss when Lake Waco was raised by seven feet in the year 2000 and now offer 3.5 miles of nature trails for hiking, bird watching and photography.

Another popular spot is the Waco Riverwalk, which features almost seven miles of lighted trails along both banks of the Brazos River, stretching from Baylor University to Cameron Park and underneath Suspension Bridge. The historic Suspension Bridge was completed in 1870 and is an icon of downtown Waco. For years, the bridge served as a Chisholm Trail crossing, and at the time of its completion, it was the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi.

The Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat is located on Baylor University’s campus and dates back to the first bear’s arrival in 1917. Representing the spirit of the university, the bear den is home to two black bears and is free to view!

Of course, no stop in Waco is complete without visiting the Magnolia Silos, made famous by Chip and Joanna. From shopping to eating, family fun and special events, the Silos have it all! The lawn of the Magnolia Market offers spacious seating, lawn sized games and special events with food trucks, live music, and artisan markets.

Centrally located and beaming with endless opportunities for fun and memories, the city of Waco is worth adding to your bucket list. PCLS

WHEN IN WACO For a quick, but absolutely divine, bite to eat, add Fuego Tortilla Grill to the itinerary. With fresh ingredients, amazing queso, and 24-hour service your taste buds will be on over drive.

All menu items are worth trying, but consider starting with the I-CheeWa-Wa, The King, Fuego Steak or El Presidente and don’t forget to try the homemade pickles from the salsa bar.

WHERE TO STAY If you are a fan of the popular Fixer Upper show, you can find several homes featured on the show that are available for rent on sites like Vrbo and Airbnb. But don’t think you can book any of these homes at last minute; as you can imagine they are in high demand by tourist.

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CAMP

HELPS YOUTH

ADVANCE INTO ADULTHOOD

By Rick Mauch Photos provided by Advance Camp

Chad Wallen invented Advance Camp, a camp for young men in the 6th through 12th grade. The camp has the mission of helping fatherless young men learn practical skills that an involved dad would have taught him.

A

dvancing to adulthood can be hard, especially if one parent is missing from the journey.

That is why Chad Wallen invented Advance Camp, a camp for young men in the 6th through 12th grade that meets one Saturday a month with the mission of helping fatherless young men learn practical skills that an involved dad would have taught him.

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“We never refer to them as boys or kids. They are young men, because that’s what they are on their way to becoming.”

In addition, dedicated mentors help the young men become established in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

“We never refer to them as boys or kids. They are young men, because that’s what they are on their way to becoming,” Wallen said. “It’s tough when a young man hears others say things like, ‘This weekend I helped my dad change the oil in his car’ or ‘I went fishing with my dad’ and that young man thinks this sucks. I don’t even have a dad around.”

There are Advance Camps in three locations, Granbury, Oregon, and Florida. Wallen and his wife Kelsey started the first camp when they lived in Oregon in 2015. Then, after moving to Granbury in 2018 they launched the first camp here on Jan. 26, 2019, and it is now the national headquarters.

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Offices are provided by First Baptist Church and campers gather at Stonewater Church. From there, they are taken to wherever the trade lessons are being held that week. For example, they recently learned about auto repair at Christian Brothers Automotive, Wallen said.

“We teach onsite so they can see up close and get the best perspective,” he said.

Wallen originally started Advance Camp with another man who was running a single mom’s ministry in Oregon. There were all kinds of services for the moms and daughters at the ministry, but he wondered what could be done to help their sons.

“We thought what can we do to teach these young men something they can take with them as they go through life?” Wallen said. “We want to give them a

Among the trades Advance Camp has focused on are general contracting, automotive repair and maintenance, leather work, blacksmithing and more.

career path as opposed to being subject to someday being incarcerated, doing drugs or something bad like that.”

Among the trades Advance Camp has focused on are general contracting, automotive repair and maintenance, leather work, blacksmithing and more.

“We show them so many things throughout the year.

It’s great to see a young man get passionate about something that he knew nothing about before,” Wallen said.

Wallen referenced a letter he received from a mother about her son falling in love with blacksmithing after a camp. She described him as having gone from no ambition to now being passionate.

There’s a lot of effort and logistics, but that’s the fun part for sure, seeing these young men come in and their lives light up, leaving with an excitement they didn’t have before.

“Moms go from a place of no hope to their sons having a direction,” Wallen said. “We are set up for being a place for prevention.”

Wallen cited statistics that show 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes, 90% of all inmates are men and 75% of those grew up without a dad, and 71% of dropouts and teen pregnancies involves a fatherless youth. Also, in 1950 there were less than 5% of children born out of wedlock compared to that number being 51% in 2017.

Recently, Wallen said an organization reached out that had received a grant to help with suicide prevention training offered that training to all the Advance Camp mentors.

“She reached out and she wants to use their grant money to help us because of our demographics,” he said. “What a blessing.”

Ironically, when the Wallens first moved to Texas the plan was to start a lavender farm and a longhorn ranch. While those plans have yet to see life, Advance Camp is flourishing, he said.

“That must have been his (God’s) plan because all kinds of obstacles have gotten in the way of the farm and ranch, but all kinds of doors have opened for Advance Camp,” he said. “This is my full-time job, but it’s very rare that I feel like I have a job.

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Advance Camp draws participants from all over, including Hood County, Parker County, Somervell County, Johnson County, Tarrant County and more.

ated, or worse, just don’t want to be a part of their son’s life.

“To the point they literally live in the same town and haven’t seen each other in seven or eight years,” Wallen said. “It’s so sad.”

Advance Camp draws participants from all over, including Hood County, Parker County, Somervell County, Johnson County, Tarrant County and more. Some participants even come from as far away as Garland and Greenville.

“Some are here every single camp, even if they’ve done the activity before,” he said. “And we encourage that.”

And no qualified camper ever gets turned away. Also, there is no cost to the mother, except getting her son there. Advance Camp even provides things such as a hunting license and duck stamp, fishing license, and even equipment.

“We don’t want any mom to have a financial burden,” Wallen said.

Oh, and they ask that the young man be dropped off having had breakfast. They will feed them lunch and snacks.

“I always say you will never leave Advance Camp hungry,” Wallen chuckled.

Advance Camp relies on donations, mainly from private donors and churches, but they also have supplemental help coming from such places as Cabela’s, Carey & Sons Marine, HEB and Walmart.

Wallen said three major needs for Advance Camp are financial partners, donated land for a permanent location, and awareness to reach more fatherless and potential mentors.

They will also have local celebrities participate sometimes.

Former pro baseball player Beau Mills took some campers out “There’s a lot of effort and logistics, but that’s the fun part for sure, seeing these young men come in and their lives light up, leaving with an excitement they didn’t have before. They get to use their artistic side, their communications side and more, it’s so wonderful to see.”

Wallen said most campers show up with a preconceived thought that they will stand out because they are fatherless.

Then, upon realizing the rest of the campers are as well, they understand they are part of a kinship.

Wallen recalled a story where one camper was talking about his mother being a single mom, and another said his mother is also a single mom, to which another chimed in, “Dude, we all have single moms.”

Advance Camp defines fatherless as the father not living in the same house. So, in some cases the dads are involved in their lives, but in many cases the dads are deceased, incarcer-

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They will also have local celebrities participate sometimes

on his bass boat, and former NFL quarterback Kevin Kolb was a motivational speaker at an Identity Walk in Walnut Springs.

“These young men come to camp with the thought ‘My dad was, so I’ll become,’” Wallen said. “We break that cycle. We are literally changing a generation.

“The first time I remember my dad telling me he was proud of me I was 39 years old, and I just started Advance Camp here in Texas. I was 19 when I first remember him telling me he loved me.

“One camper told me his dad has never told him he loves him or is proud of him. Now, every camp, I re-affirm how proud I am of him.”

To become an Advance Camp volunteer, a person must pass a national background check, be Ministry Safe certified, sign a year of commitment letter, and read and sign the policy and procedures manual. After doing all this, to be a mentor, just show up, Wallen said.

Wallen said he is considering expanding Advance Camp if an opportunity he’s looking into near Nashville, Tenn. comes through. Ironically, it would also be branching out from a single mom’s ministry, just like the original.

And, if that partnership works out, Wallen said there are already talks about possibly including Las Vegas.

“Lord, if you say go, I’ll go,” Wallen said. “I’m not going to go without you.” PCLS

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CULTIVATING

SEEDS

THE COUPLE, PROFESSIONAL CUTTING HORSE COMPETITORS, SET FAITH AND FAMILY AS PRIORITIES, WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THEIR CUTTINGHORSE AND BUFFALO TRAINING BUSINESS

By Janette Halliday Photos by Jovelyn Roden Photogrpahy

R

andy and Kelle Chartier are believers in cultivating seeds-in their business and daily life Their passion of cutting horses is their livelihood. The couple, professional cutting horse competitors, set faith and family as priorities, which is the foundation for their cutting horse and buffalo training business.

Based just outside of Millsap in Parker County is the Randy Chartier Cutting Horses and Double R Buffalo Boyz facility.

Here is how the foundation began.

What’s In A Name Randy, a.k.a., “Pops,” always wanted to be a cowboy. “It has been no secret ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper. I just wanted to be a cowboy that wore rough-out cowboy boots. I wanted to be John Wayne. Did I know I was going to do cutting? Well, of course not.”

Married for 41 years, Randy and Kelle, are Michigan natives. Randy’s father owned a construction business, along with a small farm and

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riding stable. Intrigued by a cutting horse competition trip, his father decided to purchase the famous American Quarter Horse Association stallion, Dry Doc, which became the cornerstone of their success. “His babies actually cultivated me to be somebody I didn't even know I was being,” commented Randy. “Dry Doc is probably the sole reason that put us on the map-his babies took us there.

Obviously, Dry Doc babies played a large role on developing my ability.”

All Things Are Better in Parker County The Chartiers’ operated their business in Michigan but spent 70-80 days in Texas for National Cutting Horse Association sanctioned competitions. Years of going between states gave way to relocating to Texas to utilize the location for their business.

They chose Parker county - the Cutting Horse Capital of the World, for its proximity to family and the shows in Ft. Worth while providing them the western atmosphere they love.

It’s A Family Affair “We felt like this was going to be a family passion. This was something we could do together. The cutting has been nothing but our passion.” The million-dollar NCHA competitor and judge knows success is not achieved alone, crediting Kelle for helping achieve his first million in NCHA earnings.

The Chartiers have three sons in the equine industry. The oldest son, R.L. is a trainer. He and wife Mica, operate their barn south of Weatherford. The middle son, Cullen, also a trainer, along with his girlfriend Macall Banner, operates his barn in Millsap. The youngest son, Scott, married to Alannah, works as a licensed

THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD HORSES AND REALLY GOOD HORSES AND REALLY, REALLY GOOD HORSES.

equine and livestock insurance agent. R.L. and Cullen serve as turn back riders for their parents during competitions, but they also compete against each other in the arena.

Randy considers himself a happy individual with a fierce competitive side. “I can tell you there's nobody more competitive during their two and a half minutes than I am. I will give it all I have,” adding he never wants his family to think he is too old to be beat in the arena.

“The simplicity and happiness comes from the passion of your work and having the people around you that you need around you. There's no part about this that is easy. The cutting has been nothing but our passion. We evaluated a long time ago-this was going to be a family passion. This was something we could do together,” recalling a comment from Cullen, “Dad, we were made to do this.”

Randy and Kelle are quick to give credit to their help behind the scenes that allow them to excel both in and out of the arena. “Good help would be disrespectful to labeled by four people,” said Randy.

WE TRY TO BRING OUT THEIR STYLE, NOT JUST OUR PARTICULAR WAY.

A Cinderella Story All fairy tales contain elements of truth and a lesson. The Chartiers’ have their own Cinderella story in a mare they trained-Classic is Cool.

“Classic,” a 5-year-old mare, arrived at the Chartier operation with a troubled history and

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THE SEED IS WITHIN YOUR HORSE, AND IT MAY BE A MUSTARD, FLOWER OR SUNFLOWER SEED OR WHATEVER, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO CULTIVATE IT.

reputation for a poor attitude, making her untrainable. She had never been to a show. Her owners, however, saw potential in her and reached out to Randy, determining he would be the one to get Classic into an arena.

“I got a phone call one day, telling me the owner had this mare that had been to several places with no success.

The owner felt there was more to cultivate than this mare was getting credit for. They saw me as the last opportunity,” Randy explained.

Randy’s training methods combine consistency, simplicity, faith, and an understanding of the individual. He knows horses, like kids, will test boundaries.

“These horses are a lot like kids. They have to abide by rules. Every kid's gonna be a little different. We have to allow that to happen as long as they don't break the rules. That's what makes us a little unique. We try to give the horse what it needs, not what we need. We try to bring out their style, not just our particular way.”

They train a smaller number of horses to cultivate each individual’s potential. “That's the whole reason we do this here. It's part of our cultivation. Every horse that we've ever turned out to be more of a horse has had some kind of issue.”

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“The seed is within your horse, and it may be a mustard, flower or sunflower seed or whatever, but you still have to cultivate it.”

With perseverance and confidence, Classic’s performance improved. Competitors and judges alike took notice.

Consistency and determination earned them enough money to advance to the NCHA World Finals during the NCHA’s World Finals held during the futurity last December in Ft. Worth. With an arena full of cheering fans, Classic and Pops’ performance had earned enough money, combined with regular season earnings, to be named the Reserve World Champions.

“I knew this mare had what it takes to be a champion.

There's a difference between good horses and really good horses and really, really good horses. There's not a whole lot of horses that you can say that about.”

Where The Buffalo Roam Typically, the cost and longevity of cattle to train cutting horses presents issues.

A friend suggested substituting buffalo for training and for the past 20 years, Randy done just that.

After relocating to Texas, Randy transitioned from using buffalo personally to training and selling buffalo to other cutters.

His expenses from using cattle had led him to using buffalo, so it would only make sense others could as well. “It was an evolution process. We do the buffalo to replace my cows that were eating me out of house and home. We didn’t know that it could end up being the best thing that ever happened to us. Going forward, Double R Buffalo Boyz, a partnership with friend Rob Foster, was born and is now a household name in the cutting industry.

Randy adheres to working smarter, not harder. “We're getting things done way sooner, because we can do less and get more out of it. I don’t believe that we could have gotten Classic trained if we wouldn't have had buffalo.”

“I would not be without buffalo. I think that's what makes us a little unique. It makes our place into a happy place,” commented Randy. PCLS

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INDEX

OF ADVERTISERS A Bearcat Boutique........................................................................96

Magnolia Realty – Deborah Hulce.............................................42

A&J Solutions................................................................................... 35

NorthSide Baptist........................................................................... 56

AUsome Allen Foundation........................................................... 17

Optimum Healthcare...................................................................... 16

CBD American Shaman................................................................ 35

Parker County LifeStyle......................................................... 87, 96

Champion Fabrication................................................................... 74

Pathway Rehabilitation LLC........................................................ 74

ChiroPlus Clinics.............................................................................. 75

PlainsCapital Bank.............................................................................2

Clearfork Pharmacy.......................................................................96

Presage Solutions...............................................................................1

College Park Rehab and Care Center....................................... 16

Raymond James Wealth Management...................................42

Facial Cosmetic and Wellness Center........................................3

RedFin Pools.....................................................................................94

First Bank Texas............................................................. Back Cover

Riverstone/Grote Vet Clinic............58-61, Inside Back Cover

First In Roofing................................................................................ 56

Springtown Park Rehab and Care Center............................... 16

Fore Consulting..................................................................................7

State Farm – Ryan McDonald.....................................................43

Fort Worth Lighting & Hardware West......................................5

The Daily Grind................................................................................ 75

Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Home.............................................86

Trinity Bible Church......................................................................... .9

Hartin Tree Service...................................................................32-33

Trinity Christian Academy........................................................... 87

Hilltop Park Rehab and Care Center......................................... 16

Weatherford OB/GYN................................................................... 75

JAG Metals.........................................................Inside Front Cover

White’s Funeral Home...................................................................43

Magnolia Realty – Wendy Rape.................................................86

Willow Park Rehab and Care Center........................................ 16

PLEASE THANK THESE ADVERTISERS FOR MAKING THIS PUBLICATION POSSIBLE!

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LOCATED IN SILVER STAR VILLAGE 1130 FM 1189, SUITE 109 | BROCK, TX 76066

MONDAY-FRIDAY 8:00-6:00 SATURDAY 8:00-2:00 Call ahead, order refills online, or on our mobile app and your prescriptions will be waiting for you!

817-609-4992 CLEARFORKRX.COM

every purchase directly benefits the Aledo PTO Designed and produced in Aledo

WE

NEED

YOU! New Designs just Released for Spring Option for free local pickup on all orders Photo by Yoann Siloine

We’re looking for photographers!

TOWN SPIRIT APPAREL, ACCESSORIES AND DECOR

WWW.ABEARCATBOUTIQUE.COM

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PA RKER COUNTY LIF ESTY LE

Please email Hayley.redfin@gmail.com Please email Hayley.redfin@gmail.com or call 817-618-9465 for more information or call 817-618-9465 for more information

817-594-0216

817-599-8085

819 Santa Fe Drive Weatherford, Tx 76086 /GroteVetClinic

1421 FM 1189 Suite 4 Brock, Tx 76087 /RiverstoneVetHospital

Our Services Include Routine & Advanced Surgeries Wellness Emergency Dental Laser Therapy Boarding Grooming Scan this QR Code to visit our website and learn more about how we serve the people and pets of Parker County.