Montgomery County News, February 17, 2021

WEDNESDAY VOLUME XXVI NUMBER 7 Section 1 8 pages

February 17, 2021 Home of the ‘Lone Star Flag’ and

Alan Mann

Montgomery County’s Only Locally Owned Newspaper

Established 1995

Montgomery County News

Montgomery, Texas 77356

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PBOX Magnolia, TX 77353

M C C F ’s Texas Rebel John Brown Receives Gifts Of Weekly Military Service Award The Vine Gas Prices (February 15, 2021) - Texas gas prices have risen 3.5 cents per gallon in the past week, a v e r a g i n g $ 2 . 1 9 / g t o d a y, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 13,114 stations in Texas. Gas prices in Texas are 10.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 9.7 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Texas is priced at $1.69/g today while the most expensive is $2.59/g, a difference of 90.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state today is $1.69/g while the highest is $2.59/g, a difference of 90.0 cents per gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has risen 2.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.50/g today. The national average is up 11.0 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 5.3 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices: Midland Odessa- $2.34/g, up 5.2 cents per gallon from last week's $2.29/g.

San Antonio- $2.09/g, up 3.5 cents per gallon from last week's $2.06/g.

Austin- $2.12/g, up 0.6 cents per gallon from last week's $2.12/g.

"It's not surprising that gasoline prices continue to follow oil prices higher, as the national average now stands at its highest level since January 2020 as Pay with GasBuddy data shows U.S. gasoline demand rose over two percent last week," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "The rise in gas prices continues to be driven by improving demand in the United States, and has nothing to do with who sits in the White House, but rather how many motorists are filing their tanks on a daily basis, and from that data, it's no guess, but prices will continue to trend higher. This situation will last as long as OPEC continues to restrain their oil production, creating the situation we're in where demand is recovering faster than demand. The situation won't get better, just wait until spring, it's likely the national average will rise another 10 to as much as 50 cents per gallon if oil production doesn't respond to the continued recovery in demand."

GasBuddy is the authoritative voice for gas prices and the only source for station-level data spanning nearly two decades. Unlike AAA's once daily survey covering credit card transactions at 100,000 stations and the Lundberg Survey, updated once every two weeks based on 7,000 gas stations, GasBuddy's survey updates 288 times every day from the most diverse list of sources covering nearly 150,000 stations nationwide, the most comprehensive and up-to-date in the country. GasBuddy data is a c c e s s i b l e a t http://FuelInsights.GasBuddy.c om.

SOURCE GasBuddy

Under The Stars Is May 13

Rebel John Brown of Gatesville, Texas, U.S. Air Force veteran, was recently honored by the Texas Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy for his military service in the Vietnam Conflict and the E u r o p e / N AT O Command.

During his military service, he served at Holloman AFB in Alamagordo, New Mexico as a member of the 1914 Comm Sq AFCS where he was recognized as the Outstanding Airman of the Month. He was also stationed at

Reese AFB, Lubbock, in the 2053 Comm Sq AFCS and at the San Vito dei Normananni Air Station in Italy. During his military service, Rebel Brown received the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal and the National Defense Medal.

He was honorably discharged in December 1974 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Rebel Brown is a descendant of generations of military veterans and whose ancestors can be traced back to the 1750’s when John Brown came to

Virginia from England and served three terms in various units attached to the James Slaughter’s Vi r g i n i a R e g i m e n t f o l l o w i n g t h e Revolutionary War. John Brown’s grandson, John Marshall Brown, was a Captain for the Confederacy, Company I, 15th Battalion, Texas i n f a n t r y. R o b e r t L e e Brown, Rebel John Brown’s father, served in World War II in the U.S. Army, European Theatre, 786th Tank Battalion.

Rebel John Brown honors his ancestors by membership in the Sons of

Confederate Veterans and the Sons of the Republic of Texas.

Rebel Brown graduated from Gatesville High School in 1966, attended Texas A&M University and was a member for the Air Force Corp of Cadets and the Fighting Texas A&M band. Following his military service, he attended McLennan Community College and was employed by the Copperas Cove ISD as an Education Specialist in

See Rebel, page 2

First Tee – Greater Houston Launches Inaugural Leadership Series

Index Community................2, 3, 8 Commentary............................4

In partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore in Devotional..........................5 The Woodlands Legals.............................6, 7 Teens kick off a fiveBusiness Directory.............8

week leadership series THE WOODLANDS, Texas ? First Tee — Greater Houston, a youth

d e v e l o p m e n t organization that helps kids and teens build their strength of character

through golf, has launched a first-of-its-

See Charity, page 3

The Woodlands, Texas – Just imagine – a cool evening on an open patio under the stars, catching up with friends, making new friends, and enjoying a gourmet five course dinner perfectly paired with specially selected wines – all while following the current guidelines to keep each other safe! The board of Montgomery County Community Foundation is pleased to announce that this is what the organization’s annual Gifts of the Vine Under the Stars Wine Dinner and Live Auction will look like this year.

Event sponsors include an anonymous Vintner Underwriter, Kean Miller as the Winery Sponsor and First Financial Bank as a S o m m e l i e r S p o n s o r.

Scheduled to be held on T h u r s d a y, M a y 1 3 t h beginning at 6:00 pm, the event will be held outside at Madera Estates in Conroe. Amerigo’s Grille, known for their excellent food, will be catering the dinner, beginning with passed hors d’oeuvres and ending with a signature chocolate dessert to die for.

Gourmet gluten-free and vegetarian menus are available as well. The event is limited to 170 people and will be moved into the Madera Estates beautiful indoor ballroom should there be inclement weather.

Gifts of the Vine Under the Stars Co-Chairs, Wynn Dee Baker and Debbie Buckalew Campbell, along with their committee have been keeping an eye on the progression of COVID 19 vaccinations and numbers in Montgomery County to ensure a safe event much needed by the community.

Sponsorships, tables of 4 to 10 guests and individual tickets are a v a i l a b l e a t mccfoundation.org/events.

For more information, contact Julie Martineau at 281.363.8158 or by e m a i l a t jmartineau@mccfoundati on.org.

Montgomery County Community Foundation unites donors’ passions with the future by creating legacies that improve the quality of life of Montgomery County residents through scholarships and grants in support of non-profits that tackle a wide spectrum of community needs and interests.

Established in 1983 by Reverend Don Gebert and G e o rg e M i t c h e l l , t h e Community Foundation has awarded over $2.2 million to Montgomery County residents over more than 30 years, through more than 149

See MCCF, page 8

www.montgomerycountynews.net

Page 2, Montgomery County News, Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Suggestions for Mindful Eating:

Butternut Squash

Food for Thought Diana Anderson

DianaCAnderson@ gmail.com

Butternut squash is a type of winter squash with pale orange skin and a bright orange interior. Both the skin and the flesh are hard and firm, and it’s shaped almost like an e l o n g a t e d p e a r. L i k e pumpkins and zucchini, butternut s quas h is a m e m b e r o f t h e cucurbitaceae family.

Squash is among the oldest known crops, dating back 10,000 years to Mexico and Central America. The name squash comes from the Native American word askutasquash, which means uncooked or eaten

raw.

The taste of butternut squash is fairly mild, somewhat sweet, and a little bit nutty. Its flavor may remind you of a cross between a sweet potato and a carrot or turnip.

Nutritional Profile A serving of butternut squash is 1 cup. With nothing added, it has: * 63 calories * 0 grams of fat * 16 grams of carbohydrates * 2.8 grams of dietary fiber * 3 grams of sugar * 1.4 grams of protein * 6 milligrams of sodium What Butternut Squash Can Do for You It’s a great hydrator. One serving of butternut squash is roughly 87% water, which can help

keep you hydrated.

It’s good for your immunity . Like other orange-colored fruits and vegetables, butternut squash is full of betacarotene and alphac a r o t e n e . Yo u r b o d y converts them to vitamin A, which is important for your immune system.

I t ’s e x c e l l e n t f o r your eyes. Butternut squash has lutein and zeaxanthin, often found in yellow fruits and vegetables as well as eggs.

Along with beta-carotene and vitamin A, these protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays.

Keep in mind that your body needs a bit of healthy fat to best absorb these eyebenefitting nutrients, so consider eating butternut squash with a little drizzle

of olive oil.

It’s a good source of fiber. Foods high in dietary fiber can help keep your weight in balance and lower your cancer risk.

Research shows that butternut squash can help reduce your risk of c o l o r e c t a l c a n c e r, i n particular.

Its fiber helps with blood sugar. Butternut squash contains a type of fiber that’s not digestible.

If you have diabetes, it can help keep your blood sugar from rising after eating.

Butternut squash also has a low glycemic index, which means that its carbs are digested more slowly. This also helps keep blood sugar from rising.

How to Peel Butternut Squash Butternut squash is known for its thick, tough skin. Peeling it can be quite an arm workout, but there are a few ways to make it easier: 1. Cut a thin slice off the bottom and top so the butternut squash will stand flat on a cutting board.

Then use a knife or peeler to slice the skin off from the top to the bottom. Always cut away from your body.

2. If the skin is too tough to manage, pierce the squash a few times with a fork and put it in the microwave for a minute or two. This will soften the skin and make it easier to peel.

3. Cut it in half and bake the squash with the skin on.

It will easily peel away after it’s done cooking.

How to Cook Butternut Squash After it’s peeled, it’s time to prep the butternut squash. Cut it in half the long way and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. You can throw them away or spread them out on a cookie sheet and roast them in the oven -- just like you might do with pumpkin seeds.

There are so many delicious ways to eat butternut squash. Here are four to get you started.

Boil it: Cut the squash into cubes and boil them until soft.

Roast it: Cube the squash, spread the cubes on a baking tray, drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Then roast in the oven until cooked through.

Mash it: Do either of the above. Then mash the squash with a fork or masher.

Soup it up: One of the best ways to enjoy Butternut squash is to make

a delicious soup. Puree cooked squash with a little broth or cream and add seasonings of your choice.

The recipe this week uses coconut milk which is nondairy. It does not give it a coconut flavor but allows the comforting flavors of the nutmeg and cinnamon to come through.

B U T T E R N U T SQUASH SOUP * PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES COOK TIME: 30 MINUTES * TOTAL TIME: 50 MINUTES * Y I E L D : 6 8 SERVINGS DESCRIPTION My all-time favorite Butternut Squash Soup recipe! It’s super-easy to make, naturally gluten-free and vegan, and SO incredibly cozy and delicious. Stovetop and Crock-Pot versions are included.

INGREDIENTS * 2 cups vegetable stock * 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced * 1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped * 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and roughly chopped * 1 m e d i u m (about 3–4 lbs.) butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced * 1 white onion, peeled and roughly chopped * 1 sprig fresh sage * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 1/4 teaspoon freshlyground black pepper * 1/8 teaspoon cayenne * pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg * 1/2 cup canned (unsweetened) coconut milk * optional garnishes: extra coconut milk, smoked paprika, or see more ideas above INSTRUCTIONS SLOW COOKER INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Add vegetable stock, garlic, carrot, apple, butternut squash, sage, o n i o n , s a l t , p e p p e r, cayenne, cinnamon and nutmeg to a small (4-quart) slow cooker or large (6quart) slow cooker. Toss to combine.

2. Cook for 6-8 hours on low, or 3-4 hours on high, or until the squash is completely tender and mashes easily with a fork.

Remove and discard the sage. Stir in the coconut milk.

County Senior Center.

The Rebel Joan Of Arc chapter of the United from page 1 D a u g h t e r s o f t h e Confederacy submitted Rebel John Brown’s name Autism and Resource and to receive this honor for his volunteered at the Coryell

Rebel

3. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. (Or you can transfer the soup in two batches into a traditional blender and puree until smooth, being extremely careful not to fill the blender too full of a hot liquid.) Taste, and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.

4. Serve warm, topped with your desired garnishes.

STOVETOP INSTRU CTIONS: 1. Add vegetable stock, garlic*, carrot, apple, butternut squash, sage, o n i o n * , s a l t , p e p p e r, cayenne, cinnamon and nutmeg a large stockpot.

To s s t o c o m b i n e . A shortcut on the Butternut Squash to avoid cutting into such a hard vegetable is just to bake it whole on a cookie sheet for 40 minutes at 325 degrees. It’s oh so much easier to cut in half lengthwise. I just remove the seeds and scoop out the flesh into a bowl. I put it into the soup mixture at the end of the cooking time just so the flavors can meld a bit before adding the coconut milk in step 3.

2. Cook on mediumhigh until the mixture reaches a simmer. Then cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the vegetables are all tender and mash easily with a fork.

3. Remove and discard the sage. Stir in the coconut milk.

4. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. (Or you can transfer the soup in two batches into a traditional blender and puree until smooth, being extremely careful not to fill the blender too full of a hot liquid.) Taste, and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.

5. Serve warm, topped with your desired garnishes.

NOTES *For extra flavor, I recommend sautéing the garlic and onion before adding the remaining ingredients. Just heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.

Then add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 additional minutes until fragrant, stirring occasionally. Then add the remaining ingredients and continue on with the recipe. military service and proven Confederate ancestry. This prestigious recognition serves as an example of the United Daughters of the Confederacy objective: to honor veterans of all wars.

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Montgomery County News, Wednesday, February 17, 2021, Page 3

Comments According to Doc

Have the Machines Already Taken Over?

Walden Happenings

By Doc Fennessy The opinions expressed in this editorial do not necessarily reflect those of MCN.

Well folks, let’s take a break away from the tiring and repetitious phony democrat politics.

Enough is enough!

Hopefully, after the next couple of weeks we may look into some more interesting humanistic topics.

Over the past century every field of science has progressed beyond the human imagination. Phil Knight comments on science and has gone and accumulated developments into the point where we can actually imagine robots etc., etc., etc., could probably take over? It boggles the mind to think that some scientist actually envisioned that machines could possibly t a k e o v e r a l l l i f e ’s requirements and endeavors. WOW!!!

Phil Knight really makes you think about it.

The following article, “Have The Machines Already Taken Over?’’, was written by Phil Knight and appeared in the Sunday Family H u m o u r r e v i e w ’s February 4th, 2021 edition. All of the text words are Phil Knights unabridged words throughout.

Phil Knight is an environmental activist in Bozeman, Montana. He is a board member of the Gallatin-Yellowstone Wilderness Alliance.

Author Phil Knight begins his article by saying that, “According to Ron Milo and his colleagues at Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, in 2020 the mass of artificial, human made objects on Earth is likely greater than the mass of all living things. The humanmade world – steel, concrete, ships, buildings,

Charity

from page 1

kind leadership series this week with support from PGA TOUR Superstore in The Woodlands.

The First Tee Leadership Series in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore is an interactive fiveweek series designed to provide teens the opportunity to discover their personal values and e m e rg i n g l e a d e r s h i p strengths. Through the series, teens also begin to explore potential career fields based on those findings and frame out multi-year goals to guide them as they navigate future career opportunities.

“The First Tee provides unmatched characterbuilding skills for youth that can help to empower them to discover their strengths both on and off the golf course,” said The F i r s t Te e – G r e a t e r Houston Executive Director Brian Ladet.

Throughout the series, which is offered both virtually and in-person, the teens will also meet and hear from PGA TOUR Superstore associates and First Tee alumni from across the country who will share personal accounts of their career paths and experiences.

The Leadership Series – which was co-created

vehicles, bridges, overpasses, warehouses, plastic junk…weighs more than the mass of all living things, including forests, marine and terrestrial mammals, fish, and insects. And humans. * The same study points out that, for each person on Earth, a q u a n t i t y o f “anthropogenic mass” greater than their body weight is produced each week. That’s right, your weight in human-made crap is produced EVERY WEEK. Just for you. Have we built enough STUFF yet? * Do we have enough things?

We surround ourselves in a sterile, artificial, soulless world of our own making, becoming ever more dependent on our machines and edifices as we destroy the very world around us. We are flies trapped in amber, struggling fruitlessly to free ourselves as the trap solidifies. We will make amazing fossils. * We are also creating smarter and smarter things – cars that drive themselves, hand held computers that do far more than we could ever need them to, appliances and homes wired to the global internet, tiny chips that hold more information than we could read in a hundred years, jet liners that pilot themselves, spacecraft that spy on the cosmos, gene splicers that alter the very stuff of life. * How soon ‘til all this STUFF turns on us?

The Singularity will occur when artificial intelligence escapes the control of humanity and increases until it far exceeds human intelligence. Artificial intelligence may figure out to reproduce itself and completely take over, making copies of itself at warp speed, spreading in a nightmare of selfreplicating von Neumann machines free of human interference. At this point

humans may have lost control of their own destiny. We will have entered the Matrix.

Perhaps the machines have already taken over. When was the last time you looked your phone? 10 minutes ago?

Five? Two? Instead of a singularity, it has been a gradual stealth campaign.

Machines have invaded our minds via screens and headphones and chimes and ringtones. They demand our constant devotion and attention.

Especially now, in the pandemic, when we can rarely meet as flesh and blood humans but must talk to pitiful simulations of our friends and family and colleagues, flattened replicas that chatter through tiny speakers, faces that squint and smile and try to make sense of the mess they are in, try to connect in some way across the void of contact. * We occasionally peel away from our screens to climb into our rolling deathboxes and spew more carbon into the frying atmosphere, an atmosphere rapidly transforming into one giant human artifact, albeit one we do not control but only alter and ruin willy-nilly with little regard for the rapidly approaching hell on Earth we are creating. * Those artifacts we blithely build become ever more necessary yet deadly as the climate becomes more hostile, as society consumes itself cannibal-like, becoming a death spiral of conspiracy theories, hate, tribalism and simmering warfare. * Note how the machines spread division.

Computer screens display social media, which blares conspiracy theories and false news and fear, turning human society into tribes ruled by hatred of others. Divide and conquer. Not only human destiny is at stake. The destiny of life on Earth

between First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore – is being hosted in 27 communities across the country where there is a store and a First Tee c h a p t e r. P G A TO U R Superstore general managers will facilitate the interactive sessions between Feb. 8 and March 15 either virtually or in stores and chapters, with safe and socially distant protocols in place.

Once the participants complete the series, they will be eligible to apply for the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore. The Summit will be held this August at PGA TOUR Superstore Chairman Arthur M. Blank's West Creek Ranch in Montana. Forty teens will be selected for the Summit where they'll take part in interactive workshops and outdoor leadership trainings. The Summit will include First Tee's core competencies of building character, selfconfidence and resilience as a part of the experience, combined with a robust curriculum of leadership and professional development.

“At PGA TOUR Superstore, we are committed to giving back and being a positive influence in our communities,” said Dick Sullivan, President & CEO, PGA TOUR

Superstore. “We truly believe in the purposeful impact sports can have in developing and supporting youth. PGA TOUR Superstore is proud to have supported First Tee for more than a decade, working together to open the door to more kids, especially inviting those who are in underserved communities.”

In September, PGA TOUR Superstore announced a new grant that will help First Tee reach more children across the U.S. and strengthen its curriculum for teenage participants, including the development of this new Leadership Series and Summit.

The Leadership Series and Summit is one of several national opportunities provided by First Te e h e a d q u a r t e r s t o inspire and equip teens on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. These events often become life-changing experiences for participants to expand their horizons, meet new people, learn more about themselves and prepare for their futures.

For more information o n F i r s t Te e , v i s i t www.firsttee.org.

About First Tee of Greater Houston: Originally founded in 1997, First Tee’s mission

Phil Knight is a prolific writer on environmental issues.

may be forfeit. Machines will have no incentive to preserve living things, nor wilderness, nor oceans.

All will be raw material for their growth and their ever-increasing spread.

They will link in one giant brain, an Internet gone berserk.

Total takeover by artificial intelligence may never occur. But we are approaching what you might call the physical singularity – the growth of human systems, spun out of control. No one has the means nor the will to stop what we have set loose – the constant and multiplying conversion of natural life and living systems into human junk. We must have more, always more.

A few words to your Smart Speaker or clicks on your keypad and more stuff arrives on your porch, delivered for a price. A constant flood of merchandise flows through factories, warehouses, into trucks and planes and onto highways and into our cities onto our doorsteps. * We bring it in and add it to the pile.

And much of this Stuff either sits unused – in the billions of storage units

strewn across the landscape or on the RV and boat storage lots – or worse, it gets thrown out.

Landfills overflow with reuseable, recyclable resources and things.

They are entombed until someone gets determined or desperate enough to mine the landfills.

Humans have transformed vast areas of the planet. On landscapes very recently populated by large wild animals like grizzly bears, elk, bison, elephants, giraffes, tigers, rhinos, and hippos, now the masses of migrating creatures are mechanical.

Great seething hordes of metal wheeled dinosaurs jockey for position in a mad race from an age of steel and plastic (which is now). The roar of the lion and the howl of the wolf have been replaced by the shriek of the diesel pickup, the scream of the jacked up Mitsubishi or Mazda, the snarl of the Harley Davidson.

Savanna, forest, prairie, marsh, wetland, delta and meadow have been turned into parking lot, shopping center, business park, r u n w a y, i n t e r s t a t e , subdivision and factory.

Thousands upon

thousands of homes sit empty for much of the year, sealing off the land from use by any animal or plant beyond those tiny ones that can sneak in.

Great cruise liners built to hold thousands of people fester at dockside as the pandemic makes their use extremely uninviting. Office buildings a hundred stories tall are “hollowing out” as the pandemic forces a shift to working online from home.

Parking garages sit empty, monuments to the late great commuter. The only public buildings filling up are hospitals and morgues.

Can we ever have enough? Will our stuff take over? Have we given ourselves over to our creations? Are we evolution gone mad?

Who knows, maybe the singularity will create a benevolent race of machine overlords. If they become so much smarter than us, maybe they will see the wisdom in kindness, the necessity to preserve the abundant and beautiful life of this blue green ball spinning through the vast emptiness. * But I doubt it.

is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.

The Houston chapter is one of many in the First Tee network. First Tee is reaching young people in all 50 states and select international locations on golf courses, in elementary schools and through other youth-serving organizations.

A b o u t P G A TO U R

Superstore PGA TOUR Superstore is operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc., a subsidiary of AMB Sports + Entertainment and is headquartered in metroAtlanta. As the PGA TOUR's exclusive offcourse/off-airport retail partner in North America, PGA TOUR Superstore provides customers with access to the same technology and expertise as card-carrying PGA TOUR pros. All stores are staffed with teaching

professionals and have multiple state-of-the-art swing simulators, practice hitting bays, and large putting greens. There is also an in-house club making and repair facility.

Along with equipment and accessories, PGA TOUR Superstore has an unmatched selection of men's, women's and juniors' apparel and footwear for golf and tennis. For more information, visit www.pgatoursuperstore.c om.

Page 4, Wednesday, February 17, 2021, Montgomery County News

www.montgomerycountynews.net

Texas State Senator

My Five Cents...

Robert Nichols

A monthly column from Sen. Robert Nichols

by Sen. Robert Nichols, Senate District 3

Things are picking up at the Capitol this week.

Senate Finance has begun hearing testimony about the budget and Senate Redistricting is continuing to hear testimony from across the state about the redistricting process. We have a few weeks before the bill filing deadline on March 12, but we are certainly busy.

Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Senate Finance Committee hearings begin This month the Senate

Finance committee began meeting to discuss the budget for the next biennium. Though this work is long and takes several weeks, it is one of the most important processes we engage in as a legislative body. The fifteen-member committee hears from every state agency about their budget requests and priorities. The committee has the opportunity to ask questions of the agency and the Legislative Budget Board, or LBB. LBB puts together detailed

Weather for the Lake Conroe area Wednesday Freezing rain before 9am, then rain showers.

High near 38. North wind around 10 mph.

Chance of precipitation is 90%. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night A chance of snow and sleet, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 27. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected.

Thursday A slight chance of snow and sleet before noon.

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected.

Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 42.

Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 29.

Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.

Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Sunday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.

Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Monday A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.

Montgomery County News Phone (936) 449-6397 Fax (936)597-6395 E-mail: news@montgomerycountynews.net web; http://www.montgomerycountynews.net Publisher: M. Ryan West Editor: Monte West Account Executive: Camilla Blum, M. Ryan West Photography: Monte West, Wade Stultz, Bobby Strader, Lance Bridges R e p o r t e r s / C o n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r s : D o c Fennessey, Carol Fennessey, Gail Box, Margie Barlow, Kim West, Sharon Faison, Dortha Ruthstrom, Megan West Stultz, Narcissa Martin Boulware, Gary Curran, Students and Staff of MISD, and friends of Montgomery County News. ©Copyrights, Montgomery County News, Montgomery, Texas 2017-2018 Montgomery County News is a weekly, locally owned and operated newspaper and is published by Montgomery County News at 14375 Liberty St. PO Box 1, Montgomery, TX 77356.

Telephone number 936-449-6397, Fax 936-597-6395.

MCN welcomes any comments or suggestions, submitted in writing to the paper. Any editorials or opinions used in this publication are those of the writers and in no way reflect the views and opinions of the Montgomery County News.

MCN is currently circulating 6,220 copies throughout the Montgomery County area by retail, subscriptions and occasional random distribution. Subscription rates are $40 per year in county and $45 outside Montgomery County. Bulk Rate Permit is held by the Postmaster at Montgomery, TX 77356, Montgomery County News is an official publication of the County of Montgomery, Texas.

MCN expects honest advertising standards from its patrons, and does not in any way take responsibility for false or misleading advertisements. MCN reserves to right to refuse advertisement.

All contents of Montgomery County News are reserved, and we prohibit reproduction of the items without permission.

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Mail, Fax or E-mail: Montgomery County News, 14375 Liberty St, P.O. Box 1, Montgomery, Texas 77356-0001, Fax 936-597-6395, E-mail: news@montgomerycountynews.net Web page: http://www.montgomerycountynews.net

information about state agencies and their budgets to give members a complete picture of the state's financial situation. The budget is organized into eleven articles. Each article pertains to a different s u b j e c t m a t t e r, l i k e Business and Economic Development, Education, and Public Safety. Our responsibility is to find greater efficiencies in our state budget, ensuring we get the most out of every state dollar.

2. TDHCA Emergency Rental Assistance fund to start accepting applications Feb. 15 The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs has launched the Texas Rent Relief program.

This is a statewide rent and utility assistance program for qualifying households.

The program can help renters with up to 11 months of past due, current, and up to 3 months of expected rent costs, utility and home energy expenses, and up to 3 months of additional assistance if funds are still available. The state received $1.3 billion from the federal government in the latest COVID-19 relief

bill for this program.

TDHCA will begin accepting applications for the program on February 15. To qualify, households must be at or below 80% of the area median income as well as meet other qualifications found online. TDHCA will prioritize applications for households at or below 50% of area median income level where one or more members are currently unemployed and have been for at least 90 days.

Landlords are encouraged to apply on behalf of tenants, who must co-sign the application. Please go o n l i n e t o TexasRentRelief.com for more information. To apply, starting February 15 you can visit that website or call 1-833-9TX-RENT Monday - Friday, 8am - 6 pm.

3. Texans can use Google Search function to find COVID-19 vaccine information Texas is one of the first states in the nation to have COVID-19 vaccine sites updated on both Google Search and Google Maps.

Last week, Google launched the program. The platform has been populated with validated

information from the Texas Department of State Health Services, major national grocery chains, and pharmacies. It is an easy way to find vaccine locations near you along with appointment requirements, hours, locations, and contact information.

4. Texas to receive more than 400k doses of vaccine this week The state of Texas will receive over 400,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government this week. Those doses will be shipped to 358 providers in 135 counties across the state. Of those providers, 85 are hub providers that focus on broader community vaccination efforts, including the hardest hit populations and areas. The other 273 providers will receive doses that focus on those that serve older adults, like health departments, pharmacies, health centers, community and rural clinics, and medical practices that specialize in care for older adults. The Department of State Health Services is encouraging providers to prioritize people 75 and older who are

at the highest risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.

Importantly, this does not change or restrict groups already eligible for vaccination.

5. Walmart to start COVID-19 vaccination in Texas, 21 other states Last week, Walmart announced that Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacies will start a vaccination program in Texas and 21 other states. More than 1,000 locations across those states will receive vaccine allocations from the federal government. There will be an emphasis on locations that reach customers in underserved communities with limited access to health care. The vaccine supply is still limited and will vary by location. You can schedule a vaccine appointment directly through the Walmart and Sam's Club websites. A Sam's Club membership is not required to make an appointment.

There are several locations in East Texas. For a list of locations and more information on how to sign u p , v i s i t https://corporate.walmart.c om/covid-vaccine.

DPS Issues Official 60-Day Notification that DL Expiration Waiver Ends in April AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has officially issued the 60-day notice that the COVID-related waiver on expiration dates for driver licenses (DLs) and identification cards (IDs) ends on April 14, 2021. Therefore, DPS continues to urge customers to make an appointment or renew online today. The department first advised the public that the waiver would end two months ago.

To assist customers with expired licenses who are unable to schedule an appointment prior to the April 14 deadline, DPS has implemented a new procedure. If a customer has a renewal appointment that falls after the deadline, they will be able to request a temporary driving permit that will be valid until their appointment date. For additional details on the new procedure, please visit the DPS website.

The expiration waiver, originally granted by Governor Greg Abbott in March 2020 due to the

COVID-19 pandemic, applied to DLs, commercial DLs, commercial learner permits, ID cards and election identification certificates that expired on or after March 13, 2020.

Renewing online remains a convenient option Many Texans are eligible to skip the trip to the office entirely by renewing their DL/ID card or changing their address online at Texas.gov. Customers can also renew by phone at 1866-DL-RENEW (1-866357-3639). The requirements and cost for online and phone renewal are the same as in-person transactions. (If you schedule an appointment, you will also be notified if you are eligible to renew online.)

Expanded office hours To assist customers n e e d i n g i n - o ff i c e D L services, designated highvolume offices are offering expanded hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Scheduling an appointment

Services at driver license offices are now conducted by appointment only. To schedule an appointment or check availability, visit the online appointment scheduler. If you are unable to find an appointment at the office of your choice, check back for availability at that office or other locations nearby. Please check often as availability does change.

If you are unable to make your scheduled appointment, please reschedule or cancel it ahead of time.

While the department is working to serve as many customers as possible, people not showing up for their appointments continues to be a major obstacle. In December 2020, for example, approximately 31% of people (or more than 167,000 customers) were no-shows for their appointments.

The appointment system, which debuted in May 2020, is designed to provide additional convenience, reducing the time Texans wait in line. Customers can book appointments for a

specific day and time, up to six months in advance, and show up 30 minutes or less before their scheduled time.

Customers can check-in using the kiosk inside the office or from their mobile device.

All offices offer a limited number of same-day appointments. These appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers who book these appointments can leave the DL office until their designated time.

Additionally, most offices also offer customers without an appointment a spot on a “standby” list.

These customers are required to wait in the office and are assisted in the event of a cancelation or no-show.

The number of standby appointments available is limited to ensure all customers who are placed on the list will be served by the end of the day.

To e n s u r e a s a f e environment, COVID-19 protocols have been implemented at DL offices.

Creighton and King file Resolutions Reaffirming Texas’ Sovereign Authority and Independence “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in State governments are numerous and indefinite.” – James Madison, The Federalist No. 45 Austin, Texas--Senator Brandon Creighton (RConroe) and Representative Phil King (R- Weatherford) have filed SCR 12 and HCR 14 for the 87th Legislative session.

The respective resolutions reassert the balance of power between the federal government and Texas, as prescribed by the United States Constitution.

“Regardless of who is in control of Congress or the White House, reaffirming the 10th amendment sends a

clear message to the federal government: Texas’ rights, and the rights of Texans shall not be infringed. Now is the time to remind Washington, D.C. that we stand strong, and we will always ‘Let Texas Run Texas’, said Creighton.

“Extreme federal overreach over the last 20 years has made this an urgent matter. Unprecedented executive orders, draconian regulations, unsustainable debt, and red tape being ordered from Washington, D.C., make clear that now is the time for Texas to hold the line.”

This resolution has been filed in the House and Senate, creating momentum to finally pass, and reaffirm the 10th amendment in the Texas Legislature.

“We're calling on every other state to issue similar calls both in their legislature and the courts to reign in the federal government,” said Representative Phil King.

“We must all remember that a limited, decentralized federal government was always the intent of our founders, said Creighton.

“Texas holds all remaining authority and more importantly the people of Texas hold absolute authority.”

The 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States limits the power of the federal government and holds that the federal government was established by the states to be an agent of the states—not the other way around. This resolution

reaffirms those 10th Amendment Rights and reasserts the balance of power between the states and the federal government codified in the US Constitution.

Senator Creighton represents Montgomery, Harris, Chambers, Galveston and Jefferson counties, and serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education and Select Committee on Ports.

Representative King represents Parker and Wise counties and serves as Vice Chair of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute and is the past Chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Montgomery County News, Wednesday, February 17, 2021, Page 5

www.montgomerycountynews.net

Devotional Looking at the Bright Side in Every Circumstance Spreading the Word

By Gail J. Box Gailbox@consolidated.net

I really like to write a b o u t “ j o y. ” I t i s something I desire to walk in every day.

There are times God gives me a song before I wake in the mornings.

No matter how hard the previous day was…joy can come in the morning. It comes from God’s heart for the new day. I can pray, serve, and be ready to live as Jesus did every day.

Some people may not look at these cold and snowy/icy days with much joy, but God gives us many good ways to help our friends and neighbors during hard winters. We all may face times when electricity goes out, or pipes freeze, but in a short time, all will be well once more.

All of us face difficulties in life. It’s how we meet those hard times with our hands lifted up to God in prayer, or if we just sit and weep. Instead, we have a chance to turn that weeping into listing

Area Churches This Devotional and Directory page is made possible by these businesses

Church, ASSEMBLY OF Hwy 105 W., GOD Montgomery, 936-597Cornerstone 4230 Christian Assembly of Honea Baptist God of Conroe, Church, located at 100 FM 2854, MontgomMosswood Dr., ery, Conroe, Texas in front 936-588-1260 of River Plantation.

Jones Chapel 936-273-1755 Baptist, New Life Assembly FM 2854, 936-756of God, Rabon Chapel 2505 Road, Montgomery, Mt. Calvary Bap936-588-3399 tist, Old Hwy 105, 936BAPTIST 588-2330 Church of the Good Mt. Sinai Baptist, Soldier (Baptist Bethel Road, MontAffiliation), 1501 gomery, 936-597-4668 North Frazier Union Grove (McKenzie's BBQ), Baptist Church of Conroe, Texas, Phone: Richards, Texas 936-494-5775, About 11 mi N of www.churchofthegoods Montgomery on FM oldier.org. Worship: 149 Sunday at 10:30am, Sunday School all Sunday School: 9:30 ages 9:45 am, Church am Service 11:00 am, Heritage Baptist Wednesday Bible Church 19087 Lake Study and Youth Group Mt. Pleasant Rd, 6 pm Montgomery 77356 Phone: Pastor Bear CATHOLIC 936 448-4027 Sacred Heart Gary Chapel Catholic, Baptist Church 109 N. Frazier, PO Box 125, MontConroe, gomery, Texas 77356, 936-756-8186 5525 Spring Branch Road, Montgomery.

St. Mary’s 713-478-1256, Sunday Catholic, Bible Class 10:00 am, FM 1774, Worship Service at Plantersville, 11:00 am.

936-894-2223 Faith Baptist 7:45 Service Church St. Joseph’s CathoMeets at 464 lic, McCaleb Rd. CR 213, Stoneham, Sunday Morning 936-894-2223 Bible Study 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service 10:45 JEWISH a.m.

Congregation Beth Sunday Evening Shalom, 5125 Worship 6:00 p.m.

Shadowbend Place, St. Beulah Baptist The Woodlands, Church, located in 281-362-1100 Dobbin, P.O. Box 112, Montgomery, 77356 LUTHERAN Benui Baptist Grace Lutheran Church, (ELCA), Scott Ridge and FM Highway 105 W., 1097, Montgomery Lake Conroe, 936-588Antioch Baptist, 1944 Dobbin, 936-597Living Savior 5560 Lutheran ChurchChina Grove LCMS 309 Pond St. Baptist Church, Montgomery 77356 Willis, 936-767-4744 Church phone: 936Dacus Baptist, 597-8013 Web : Dacus, www.livingsaviortexas.

407-735-6403, org Pastor David R. dacusbaptist@consolid Bailes. ated.net www.dacusbaptist.org METHODIST First Baptist

our blessings. Thank God for more blessings to come as we go through a hard winter.

His blessings never stop. Just try to list them – even just for one week. It may be surprising.

And His blessings never stop.

David makes this one whole song of praise for all the people of the world. It’s Psalm 117: “Praise the LORD, all nations; Laud Him all peoples! For His loving kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the LORD is ever-

lasting. Praise the LORD!” Psalm 117: 1, 2.

Looking for the bright side of things, remember this: praise, joy, and thankfulness all go together for all of us who have our hearts turned toward our Maker. If we ever run out of praises for Him, we’ll find many in Psalms 134 to Psalms 150. Things like these: “Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him, in the heights! Praise Him all His angels; Praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him h i g h e s t h e a v-

ens,…Psalm 148:1b, 2a, 3b, 4a And here is the very last verse of all the Psalms in our Bible.

You may have guessed it: “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!” Psalm 150:6.

As we look on the bright side of every situation, allow His word to give His calm and peace and joy that spreads to everyone.

Know this also – out enemy hates for us to be happy. And he wants us to argue, fight, and become a recluse.

That’s because a joyful

heart is one of smiles, praises, and good words towards all others. Here are a few words from Proverbs that let us know better, those who walk in the joy of the Lord: “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.”

Proverbs 4:18-19.

Be that “bright light.” Get closer to God. He’ll get closer to you.

Montgomery United Methodist Church 22548 Highway 105 West Montgomery, TX 77356 Phone: 936-5976162 Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m., 9:45 am., 11:00 a.m. Praise & Worship Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.

Www.mumctex.org Richards United Methodist Church 6639 FM 1696 Richards Worship Service 11 AM Sunday School 10AM Porter Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, 1308 S. Hwy 1486, Dobbin, 936-597-5331 or 936-449-5983 Living Way Church, 2080 Longmire Rd, Conroe 936-441-8875 Hope Tabernacle Pastor David Whitaker Meets at 18961 Freeport Dr Montgomery 936.582.7722 Thursday 7:30pm Sunday School at 10:00am Sunday Worship at 6:00pm Community And Interdenominational Lone Star Cowboy Church 21627 Eva St. Montgomery, TX 77356 (936) 597-5742 Pastors Randy & Darla Weaver Service Times: Sundays 8:30; 10:00 and 11:30am Mondays 7:00pm Livestream: Watch us live Sundays & Mondays @ live.lonestar.tv or go to the Lone Star Cowboy Church Facebook page and click on the Livestream link.

Website: www.lonestar.tv Abundant Life Ministries Corner of FM 149 & FM 1097 W. Montgomery TX 77356 Prayer /Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Service 11:30 am Wednesday Pray/Bible Study 6:30

pm RiverStone Community Church 19380 Hwy 105 Ste. 500 Montgomery, TX 77356 Sun: 9:00 Kingdom Life, 10:30 Worship Wed: 6:30 p.m.

RiverStoneCC.org April Sound Church, 67 ½ April Wind S., April Sound, 936588-2832 Lighthouse Fellowship Church, Montgomery, 936582-7700 Living Branch Church, Highway 105 W., Lake Conroe, 936-5883400 New Beginning Bible Church, 19087 Mt. Pleasant Cemetary Rd, 936-5978921 Father’s House, Family Worship Center, Highway 105 W, Lake Conroe, 936-5884660 Walden Community Church, 12400 Walden Rd, Walden, 936-582-6696 Services 9:30 and 11 a.m.

WaldenChurch.com River of Life Church, 17156 FM 1097, Montgomery, 936-4494414 Cornerstone Church, 1011 W. Lewis, Conroe, 936-756-7792 Lakeside Bible Church, 18940 Freeport Drive Montgomery, 936582-1977 Church of St. John, retreat and wildlife center, 2615 St. Beulah Chapel Rd., Montgomery, 936-597-5757 Fellowship of Montgomery 12681 FM 149 Montgomery, TX 77356 (936) 597-3949 Senior Pastor Dale Talbert Service Times: Sundays at 9:30am & 11am / Wednesdays at 6:30pm for Children & Student Ministries Watch us live Sundays @fellowshipofmontgo

mery.online.church or follow us on Facebook @thefmchurch! www.thefmchurch.c om

Willis, Tx. 77378 936/890-8034 www.cfmlife.org Celebration Service 10am Sundays Youth Explosing 7pm Wednesdays Pastors Sean & Lori Jo Cook

EPISCOPAL St. James the Apostle Episcopal, 1803 Highland PRESBYTERIN Hollow, Conroe, 936First Presbyterian 756-8831 Church of Conroe The Grace Chris2727 N. Loop 336 tian Outreach Center West 25293 Tisdale Road, Conroe, Texas 936Dobbin, Texas 756-8884 936-689-3141 Sun. 9:00 & 11:00 Mt. Pleasent Sun Sch 10:00 Baptist Church Nursery provided FM 149 N., MontChurch of Christ in gomery, 936-449-6807 Montgomery The Church @ 301 Pond Street, Lake Conroe Montgomery, TX. 1701 McCaleb Rd Sunday Bible Class Montgomery, TX - 9:30 am 77316 Worship - 10:30 am 936-588-4975 and 6:00 pm www.lakechurch.com Wednesday - 7:00 Sunday worship @ pm 10:00 a.m. Wed. Phone: 936-582activites 6:30-8pm 4855 North Shore Email: Church cofcmontgomery@con 10 am Worship solidated.net Service Web: 18501 Fm1097 West @ the Bentwater West www.cofcmontgomery. org Gate Entrance Paul Praschnik, Pastor Cary Smith Minister Covenant Felloship 302 N. Danville,

Page 6, Wednesday, February 17, 2021, Montgomery County News

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NOTICE OF SALE STATE OF TEXAS MONTGOMERY COUNTY

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BY VIRTUE OF AN ORDER OF SALE

and issued pursuant to judgment decree(s) of the District Court of Montgomery County, Texas, by the Clerk of said Court on said date, in the hereinafter numbered and styled suit(s) and to me directed and delivered as Sheriff or Constable of said County, I have on January 15, 2021, seized, levied upon, and will, on the first Tuesday in March, 2021, the same being the 2nd day of said month, at 501 N. Thompson, 4th Floor, Suite 402, Conroe, Texas, 77301, between the hours of 10 o'clock (1.m. and 4 o'clock p.m. on said day, beginning at I 0:00 AM, proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder all the right, title, and interest of the defendants in such suit(s) in and to the following described real estate levied upon as the property of said defendants, the same lying and being situated in the County of Montgomery and the State of Texas, to-wit:

www.montgomerycountynews.net

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TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR. TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE, PLEASE CONTACT THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR'S OFFICE AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE SALE. Dated at Conroe, Texas, January 15, 2021 /s/ Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayen Montgomery County, Texas By /s/ RANDY CROWDER Randy Crowder, Deputy Notes: The Minimum Bid is the lesser of the amount awarded in the judgment plus interest and costs or the adjudged value. However, the Minimum Bid for a person owning an interest in the property or for a person who is a party to the suit ( other than a taxing unit), is the aggregate amount of the judgments against the property plus all costs of suit and sale. ALL SALES SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL TAXES DUE ON THE PROPERTY WHICH HAVE BEEN ASSESSED SINCE THE DATE OF THE JUDGMENT. For more information, contact your attorney or LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON, LLP., attorney for plaintiffs, at (936) 760-1410 Published Dates: February 10, 17, 24, 2021 NOTICE OF SALE STATE OF TEXAS MONTGOMERY COUNTY

§ § §

BY VIRTUE OF AN ORDER OF SALE

and issued pursuant to judgment decree(s) of the District Court of Montgomery County, Texas, by the Clerk of said Court on said date, in the hereinafter numbered and styled suit(s) and to me directed and delivered as Sheriff or Constable of said County, I have on January 25, 2021, seized, levied upon, and will, on the first Tuesday in March, 2021, the same being the 2nd day of said month, at 501 N. Thompson, 4th Floor, Suite 402, Conroe, Texas, 77301, between the hours of 10 o'clock a.m. and 4 o'clock p.m. on said day, beginning at 10:00 AM, proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder all the right, title, and interest of the defendants in such suit(s) in and to the following described real estate levied upon as the property of said defendants, the same lying and being situated in the County of Montgomery and the State of Texas, to-wit:

(any volume and page references, unless otherwise indicated, being to the Deed Records, Montgomery County, Texas, to which instruments reference may be made for a more complete description of each respective tract.) or, upon the written request of said defendants or their attorney, a sufficient portion of the property described above shall be sold to satisfy said judgment(s), interest, penalties, and cost; and any property sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the said property, or their interest therein, within the time and in the manner provided by law, and shall be subject to any other and further rights to which the defendants or anyone interested therein may be entitled, under the provisions of law. Said sale to be made by me to satisfy the judgment(s) rendered in the above styled and numbered cause(s), together with interest, penalties, and costs of suit, and the proceeds of said sales to be applied to the satisfaction thereof, and the remainder, if any, to be applied as the law directs.

PURCHASERS OF TAX SALE PROPERTY MUST PRESENT TO THE CONSTABLE CONDUCTING THE SALE A WRITTEN STATEMENT ISSUED TO THE PURCHASER BY THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR STATING THAT THE PURCHASER OWES NO DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES TO THE COUNTY AND THAT THERE ARE NO KNOWN OR REPORTED DELINQUENT TAXES OWED BY THE PURCHASER TO ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CITY WITHIN THE COUNTY. STATE LAW FURTHER PROHIBITS THE CONSTABLE FROM DELIVERING A TAX DEED TO ANY PURCHASER WHO FAILS TO PRESENT TO THE OFFICER THE REQUIRED WRITTEN STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSORCOLLECTOR. TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE, PLEASE CONTACT THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR'S OFFICE AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE SALE. Dated at Conroe, Texas, January 25, 2021 Constable Philip Cash Montgomery County, Texas /s/ Stephen Closson Stephen Closson, Deputy Published Dates: February 10, 17, 24, 2021 Notes: The Minimum Bid is the lesser of the amount awarded in the judgment plus interest and costs or the adjudged value. However, the Minimum Bid for a person owning an interest in the property or for a person who is a party to the suit (other than a taxing unit), is the aggregate amount of the judgments against the property plus all costs of suit and sale. ALL SALES SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL TAXES DUE ON THE PROPERTY WHICH HAVE BEEN ASSESSED SINCE THE DATE OF THE JUDGMENT. For more information, contact your attorney or LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON, LLP., attorney for plaintiffs, at (936) 760-1410 Published dates; February 10, 17, 24, 2021

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

(any volume and page references, unless otherwise indicated, being to the Deed Records, Montgomery County, Texas, to which instruments reference may be made for a more complete description of each respective tract.) or, upon the written request of said defendants or their attorney, a sufficient portion of the property described above shall be sold to satisfy said judgment(s), interest, penalties, and cost; and any property sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the said property, or their interest therein, within the time and in the manner provided by law, and shall be subject to any other and further rights to which the defendants or anyone interested therein may be entitled, under the provisions of law. Said sale to be made by me to satisfy the judgment(s) rendered in the above styled and numbered cause(s), together with interest, penalties, and costs of suit, and the proceeds of said sales to be applied to the satisfaction thereof, and the remainder, if any, to be applied as the law directs.

PURCHASERS OF TAX SALE PROPERTY MUST PRESENT TO THE CONSTABLE CONDUCTING THE SALE A WRITTEN STATEMENT ISSUED TO THE PURCHASER BY THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR STATING THAT THE PURCHASER OWES NO DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES TO THE COUNTY AND THAT THERE ARE NO KNOWN OR REPORTED DELINQUENT TAXES OWED BY THE PURCHASER TO ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CITY WITHIN THE COUNTY. STATE LAW FURTHER PROHIBITS THE CONSTABLE FROM DELIVERING A TAX DEED TO ANY PURCHASER WHO FAILS TO PRESENT TO THE OFFICER THE REQUIRED WRITTEN STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE COUNTY

Notice is hereby given that original Letters of Independent Administration with Will Annexed for the Estate of Jimmie D. Mitchell, Deceased, were issued on or about February 9, 2021, in Cause No. 20-39398-P, pending in the County Court at Law No. 2, Montgomery County, Texas, to: Brett Mitchell.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. c/o: Andrew J. Bolton Attorney at Law 21 Waterway Avenue, Ste 300 The Woodlands, TX 77380 DATED the 10th day of February, 2021 /s/ Andrew J. Bolton Andrew J. Bolton Attorney for Brett Mitchell State Bar No.: 0 85706 21 Waterway Avenue, Ste 300 The Woodlands, TX 77380 Telephone: (936) 435-1908 E-mail: satient2009@yahoo.com Published Date: February 17, 2021

Contact Montgomery County News to Publish Legal Notices 936-449-6397

Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 2021, Montgomery County New, Page 7

www.montgomerycountynews.net

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STATE OF TEXAS MONTGOMERY COUNTY

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NOTICE OF SALE §

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and issued pursuant to judgment decree(s) of the District Court ofMontgome1y County, Texas, by the Clerk of said Court on aid date, in the hereinafter numbered and styled suit(s) and to me directed and delivered as Sheriff or Constable of said County, I have on January 21, 2021, seized, levied upon, and will, on the first Tuesday in March, 2021, the same being the 2nd day of said month, at 501 N. Thompson, 4th Floor, Suite 402, Conroe, Texas, 77301, between the hours of 10 o'clock a.m. and 4 o'clock p.m. on said day, beginning at 10:00 AM, proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder all the right, title, and interest of the defendants in such suit(s) in and to the following described real estate levied upon as the property of said defendants, the same lying and being situated in the County of Montgomery and the State of Texas, to-wit:

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CITATION BY PUBLICATION Application to Determine Heirship CLERK OF THE COURT MARK TURNBULL P.O. BOX 959 CONROE, TX 77305

ATTORNEY OF RECORD OR PERSON FILING CAUSE WESTON COTTEN 1500 E WALLISVILLE RD HIGHLANDS, TX 77562 THE STATE OF TEXAS

TO: The unknown heirs of the ESTATE OF: COLLIER, KATHY LYNN BRENAN, Deceased GREETING: You are commanded to appear and answer to the Application to Determine Heirship filed by Andrea Gorman, at or before 10 O'clock A.M. of the first Monday after the expiration of Ten (10) days from the date of Publication of this Citation, before the Honorable County Court at Law #2 of MONTGOMERY County, at the Courthouse in Conroe, Texas. Said application was filed on February 09. 2021.

The file number of said matter being: 21-40749-P The style being: ESTATE OF: COLLIER. KATHY LYNN BRENAN The nature of said proceeding being substantially as follows, to wit: Determine who the heirs and only heirs of the decedent are and their respective shares and interests in this estate; that no appraisers be appointed; and for all other relief to which applicant may be entitled.

GIVEN under my hand and seal of said Court, in CONROE, Texas, this 11th day of February, 2021.

(SEAL, County Court at Law #2)

MARK TURNBULL, COUNTY CLERK MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS 2/11/2021 8:46:24 AM /s/ Eloisa Salinas Eloisa Salinas, Deputy Published Date: February 17, 2021 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Robert Allen Dean, Deceased, were issued on February 11th, 2021, in Cause No. 21-40565-P pending in the County Court at Law No. 2, Montgomery County, Texas, to: Denise Ann Dean.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. c/o: Robert S. Griffin Attorney at Law 122 West Davis, St. Suite 101 Conroe, TX 77301 DATED the 11TH day of FEBRUARY 2021. /s/ Robert S. Griffin Robert S. Griffin Attorney for Denise Ann Dean State Bar No.: 24075836 122 West Davis, St. Suite 101 Conroe, TX 77301 Telephone: (936) 539-1011 Facsimile: (936) 539-1002 E-mail: rsg@griffinandcain.com Published Date: February 17, 2021 CITATION BY PUBLICATION Application for Independent Administration and Letters of Administration Pursuant to Section 401.003 of the Texas Estates Code and Determination of Heirship CLERK OF THE COURT ATTORNEY OF RECORD OR PERSON FILING CAUSE MARK TURNBULL LYNN E MARKHAM P.O. BOX 959 608 EAST HOUSTON AVE CONROE, TX 77305 CROCKETT TX 75835 THE STATE OF TEXAS

(any volume and page references, unless otherwise indicated, being to the Deed Records, Montgome1y County, Texas, to which instruments reference may be made for a more complete description of each respective tract.) or, upon the written request of said defendants or their attorney, a sufficient portion of the property described above shall be sold to satisfy said judgment(s), interest, penalties, and cost; and any property sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the said property, or their interest therein, within the time and in the manner provided by law, and shall be subject to any other and further rights to which the defendants or anyone interested therein may be entitled, under the provisions of law. Said sale to be made by me to satisfy the judgment(s) rendered in the above styled and numbered cause(s), together with interest, penalties, and costs of suit, and the proceeds of said sales to be applied to the satisfaction thereof, and the remainder, if any, to be applied as the law directs.

PURCHASERS OF TAX SALE PROPERTY MUST PRESENT TO THE CONSTABLE CONDUCTING THE SALE A WRITTEN STATEMENT ISSUED TO THE PURCHASER BY THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR STATING THAT THE PURCHASER OWES NO DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES TO THE COUNTY AND THAT THERE ARE NO KNOWN OR REPORTED DELINQUENT TAXES OWED BY THE PURCHASER TO ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CITY WITHIN THE COUNTY. STATE LAW FURTHER PROHIBITS THE CONST ABLE FROM DELIVERING A TAX DEED TO ANY PURCHASER WHO FAILS TO PRESENT TO THE OFFICER THE REQUIRED WRITTEN STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR. TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE, PLEASE CONTACT THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR'S OFFICE AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE SALE. Dated at Conroe, Texas, January 21, 2021 R. Gable Constable Ryan Gable Montgomery County, Texas

By Bill Lang Deputy

TO: The unknown heirs of the ESTATE OF: Young, Steven Todd, Deceased GREETING: You are commanded to appear and answer to the Application for Independent Administration and Letters of Administration Pursuant to Section 401.003 of the Texas Estates Code and Determination of Heirship filed by Vela Jane Tatum, at or before 10 O'clock A.M. of the first Monday after the expiration of Ten (10) days from the date of Publication of this Citation, before the Honorable County Court at Law #2 of MONTGOMERY County, at the Courthouse in Conroe, Texas. Said application was filed on the February 12, 2021.

The file number of said matter being: 21-40768-P The style being: ESTATE OF: Young, Steven Todd The nature of said proceeding being substantially as follows, to wit: Determine who the heirs and only heirs of the decedent are and their respective shares and interests in this estate; that no appraisers be appointed; and for all other relief to which applicant may be entitled.

GIVEN under my hand and seal of said Court, in CONROE, Texas, this 12th day of February, 2021.

(SEAL. County Court at Law #2) MARK TURNBULL, COUNTY CLERK MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS 2/12/2021 11:42:24 AM /s/ Sandy Faught Sandy Faught, Deputy Published Date: February 17, 2020 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that on the 4th day of February, 2021, Diana Gottschalk was duly appointed as Independent Administrator of the Estate of William Gottschalk in Cause No. 20-40540-P, County Court at Law No. 2, Montgomery County, Texas and Letters of Administration With Will Annexed were issued to Diana Gottschalk.

All persons having claims against the estate are hereby required to present same within the time required by law to the address of Diana Gottschalk, being at: c/o: Robert Markowitz 18735 West Cool Breeze Ln. Montgomery, TX 77356 DATED: February 11, 2021 This notice issued by: Robert Markowitz Attorney at Law 18735 West Cool Breeze Ln Montgomery, TX 77356 Tel. 936-582-1945 Published Date: February 17, 2021

The Minimum Bid is the lesser of the amount awarded in the judgment plus interest and costs or the adjudged value.

However, the Minimum Bid for a person owning an interest in the property or for a person NOTICE TO CREDITORS who is a party to the suit (other than a taxing unit), is the aggregate amount of the judgments against the property plus all costs of suit and sale. ALL SALES SUBJECT TO Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Dorothy Nelson, CANCELLATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL Deceased, were issued on January 14, 2021, in Docket No. 20-40107-P, pending in County Court TAXES DUE ON THE PROPERTY WHICH HAVE BEEN ASSESSED SINCE THE Number Two (2) in Montgomery County, Texas, to: Rodney Nelson DATE OF THE JUDGMENT. For more information, contact your attorney or c/o Seiler Mitby, PLLC LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON, LLP., attorney for plaintiffs, at (936) 2700 Research Forest Drive, Suite 100 760-1410 The Woodlands, Texas 77381 Published Dates: February 10, 17, 24, 2021 THE STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY

§ §

NOTICE OF EXECUTION SALE By virtue of a Order Of Sale issued out of the Honorable 410th Judicial District Court, Montgomery County, Texas, on a Judgment rendered on the 3 day of October, 2018, ,in the case of Amerihome Mortgage Company LLC., Plaintiff, vs. Ayana Robinson And John F. Paul In His Capacity Only As Sole Trustee Of The Betty Whitlock Trust Uta October 14, 1997 For The Benefit Of Derrick Whitlock And In His Capacity As Personal Representative Of The Estate Of Betty Whitlock For (1) $201,407.81 As Of March 26, 2018 Principal Sum (2) $0.00 Attorney Fees (3) Interest At The Rate Of 4.6250 % Per Annum From March 26, 2018, Until The Date Of The Judgment, Together With Interest From The Date Of This Judgment Interest At the Rate Of 4.6250 % Per Annum (4) $410.00 Court Cost (5) $0.00 Judgment Credit, Defendant, Cause No. 17-08-09645-CV in said court, judgment being in favor of Amerihome Mortgage Company LLC., Plaintiff as against Defendant, I did on the 4 day of January 2021, at 10:55 o'clock a.m., levy upon the following-described property of Defendant: Lot 45, Gleneagles, Section 3, An Addition In Montgomery County, Texas, According To The Map Or Plat Recorded In Cabinet "B", Sheet 89A, Map Records Of Montgomery County, Texas, And Being The Property Commonly Known As 17247 Glen Oaks Dr., Conroe, TX. 77385 ; and on 2 day of March, 2021, between the hours of 10:00 o'clock a.m. and 4:00 o'clock p.m., at the Montgomery County Courthouse located at 501 N. Thompson Suite 402, Conroe, Texas 77301, I will offer for sale and will sell at public auction, for cash, all the rights, title and interest of Ayana Robinson And John F. Paul In His Capacity Only As Sole Trustee Of The Betty Whitlock Trust Uta October 14, 1997 For The Benefit Of Derrick Whitlock And In His Capacity As Personal Representative Of The Estate Of Betty Whitlock, Defendant in and to said property.

DATED at 1520 Lake Front Circle Suite 200, The Woodlands, Texas, this the 4 day of January, 2021. /s/ Bill Lang Deputy William Lang Ryan Gable – Constable Pct. 3 1520 Lake Front Circle, Suite 200 The Woodlands, TX 77380 281-364-4211 Published Dates: February 10, 17, 24, 2021

All persons having claims against this estate which is currently being administered are required to present them within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. All persons having claims should address them in care of the representative at the address stated above.

DATED the 10th day of February, 2021.

Respectfully submitted, SEILER MITBY, PLLC /s/ Kenna M. Seiler Kenna M. Seiler State Bar No. 13944250 kseiler@seilermitby.com Lindsey H. Karm State Bar No. 24074513 lkarm@seilermitby.com 2700 Research Forest Drive, Suite 100 The Woodlands, Texas 77381 (281) 419-7770 (281) 419-7791 – Telecopier ATTORNEYS FOR ESTATE Published Date: February 17, 2021 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Diane Ellen Ragsdale, Deceased, were issued on January 28, 2021, in Cause No. 20-40485-P, pending in the County Court at Law No. 2, Montgomery County, Texas, to: Christine Ringrose.

All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. c/o: Gina A. Price, Attorney at Law, 101 Simonton, Conroe, TX 77301. 2/11/2021. /s/ Gina A. Price Gina A. Price Attorney for Christine Ringrose State Bar No.: 16287350 101 Simonton Conroe, TX 77301 Telephone: (936) 756-5511 Facsimile: (936) 441-5745 E-mail: gaprice@priceandprice-law.com Published Date: February 17, 2021

www.montgomerycountynews.net

Page 8, Montgomery County News, Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Community Straight From The Horse’s Mouth: Equine Dental Care Just like small animals, horses require veterinary attention for dental health.

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Feb. 12, 2021 — February is National Pet Dental Health month, a time when pet owners are reminded that routine oral care is an important aspect of their animal’s well-being. Just like their small animal counterparts, large animals such as horses also require veterinary attention to keep their mouths in top shape.

Dr. Leslie Easterwood, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veteri-

nary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says that there are not many preventative maintenance procedures owners can do at home with their horse’s teeth, so it is important that owners keep an eye out for signs of discomfort and contact their veterinarian if any concerns arise.

“Dropping grain, holding their head funny while chewing, odors, resistance to the bit, and performance issues are all signs that there could be dental issues,”

Easterwood said.

She said that the most common dental issue seen in horses is due to normal wear. Sharp enamel points along the cheek side of the upper arcades and tongue side of the lower arcades occur because of the sideto-side grind of a horse’s mouth, which is normal.

However, these sharp edges cause ulcers along the horse’s cheeks and tongue, and smoothing the sharp edges allows the ulcerations to heal quickly.

“Dental floating is a procedure to smooth these sharp enamel points,” Easterwood said. “Floating is the common term for routine maintenance of a horse's mouth. The term 'floating' comes from woodworking, in which boards are planed smooth.”

Horses that are going to be ridden should start having their teeth floated prior to introducing the

bit. Most horses need their teeth floated annually, but missing teeth, unlevel arcades or other dental problems may require more frequent maintenance.

Horses may also require dental attention for the removal of their wolf teeth, which are usually removed prior to introducing the bit.

“A horse can have zero to four wolf teeth, but usually have only two, on the upper arcades,” Easterwood said. “These teeth are small and are

actually the first cheek teeth.”

Staying up to date on your horse’s oral health can help prevent unnecessary discomfort and larger health issues. Since most equine dental maintenance practices require the care of a veterinarian, it is important that owners establish a relationship with their veterinarian that includes discussion of oral health.

Although equine oral care may look very different from the dental care required for humans

and smaller animals, regular maintenance and veterinary care can keep your horse happy, healthy, and champing at the bit.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be found on the Pet Talk website. Suggestions for future topics may be d i r e c t e d t o e d itor@cvm.tamu.edu.

B y Te x a s A & M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Staff

MCCF’s Gifts Of The Vine from page 1 Under The Stars

Attorney Jay Knighton, Knighton & Stone, a MCCF Wine Dinner Bouquet sponsor, visits with Norm Parrish at the Montgomery County Community Foundation’s 2020 Wine Dinner. The 2021 Gifts of the Vine Under the Stars event is scheduled for May 13th, 2021 on the outdoor patio of Madera Estates in Conroe and will be catered by Amerigo’s Grille. For information on sponsorships, tables, and tickets, contact Julie Martineau at jmartineau@mccfoundation.org scholarships, 45 hurricane related home repair grants to Montgomery County residents,

and more than 497 grants to local nonprofits. Learn m o r e a t www.mccfoundation.org.

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