Tex Appeal | August & September 2022

Y EARS CELEBRATING 10

RA L I N C ENT

TEXAS

August & September 2022

Life and Style in Central Texas

ENHANCING EDUCATION ROBIN BATTERSHELL EMBRACES NEW ROLE ON BOARD OF TEMPLE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

EXTRACO BANKS

OVARIAN CANCER SIGNS

WOMEN WHO LEAD

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Our wood-fired coffee roasting process results in a smooth, balanced coffee. Every batch of Summer Moon coffee is roasted in our handmade brick roasters over seasoned Texas oak. We drew up the plans, laid every brick by hand, and have dedicated the better part of two decades to proving that the wood makes it good. Our team of roasters use sight, sound, and smell to produce a distinctly bold, flavorful taste.

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INDEX

34

Baylor Scott & White program provides blankets for bereavement

36

Women Who Lead: Meet influential Central Texans Debbie Nash-King, Brynn Myers, Col. Khanh Diep, Natasha Tolleson, Michelle DiGaetano, Dell Ingram-Walker, Jean Shine and Jessica Walker

Salado Legends takes the stage at Tablerock for the 29th season under the leadership of local playwright Jackie Mills. She’s seen here in 2013 with Donnie Williams of Killeen. | 56

ON THE COVER

6 7 8 12 14 16 20 22

PUBLISHER’S LETTER CONTRIBUTORS NEIGHBORS Robin Battershell SCENE Independence Day SCENE Mayo golf tournament FLAVOURS Arepitas Restaurant THE REVIEW The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line IN THE SPOTLIGHT Extraco Banks

4 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

Former Temple ISD Superintendent Robin Battershell continues to encourage kids to learn as board president of the Temple Children’s Museum. | 8 Photo by SKEEBO

24 28 30 52 58 60 62 66

EVENTS What’s Happening in August and September THIS GIRL’S GARDEN Right place, right plant HOME Keeping your home cool HEALTH & WELLNESS Working with cancer CENTEX ED Parent-teacher partnerships TEX MESSAGES Texas football wardrobes DAYTRIPPIN’ Mayborn Museum Complex ADVERTISING INDEX

48

Sisters launch entrepreneurial empire with Summer Moon Coffee

50

Blair Dupre balances art and science to create stunning photos

54

What women need to know about ovarian cancer

56

Playwright Jackie Mills brings Salado Legends to life

64

Salado’s Miriam “Ma” Ferguson became first woman governor

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

S

ome of the top leading women of Central Texas take us into late summer and early autumn in our 2022 Women Who Lead issue, and we’re excited to introduce them to you. While leadership by women is not unique, sometimes recognition is a little slower. We are singling out a few women who are representative of many others in our area. We recognize a few today and salute all those whose efforts we enjoy and appreciate daily.

This issue’s leaders include Dell Ingram-Walker, vice president of operations at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Hospital; Natasha Tolleson, managing artistic director at Temple Civic Theatre; Michelle DiGaetano, owner of Temple Machine Shop; Jessica Walker, Temple city councilwoman and co-owner of Lengefeld Lumber; Brynn Myers, Temple city manager; Debbie Nash-King, mayor of Killeen; Col. Khanh Diep of III Corps at Fort Hood; and Jean Shine of Shine Team Realtors. They all dropped by the Tex Appeal offices and spoke with us about leading in their careers. Meet them starting on page 36.

Neighbor tells the story of the Temple Children’s Museum under the leadership of Dr. Robin Battershell, whom you might remember as the previous superintendent of Temple Independent School District. She talks with us about the museum and what its future will be on page 8.

CenTex Ed looks at creating productive partnerships in education between parents and educators on page 58.

SUE MAYBORN Meet the Makers meets local photographer Blair Dupre Tex Appeal publisher and shows of her creativity in images that make her subjects’ dreams and fantasies come true on page 50.

Home looks at the ways our Texas ancestors made themselves a little more comfortable in the summer heat and discusses ways to keep your home cool in modern times on page 30.

This Girl’s Garden tackles the concept of “right plant, right place,” and the special challenges of maintaining a garden in Central Texas on page 28.

Scene explodes with multiple events during Independence Day celebrations and a look at the John Mayo Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Central Texas Youth Services starting on page 12.

Flavours samples a taste of Arepitas, one of our local favorites in Harker Heights, to see how it’s expanded and what it has to offer in delicious Venezuelan fare on page 16.

Jackie Mills, writer and lyricist of Salado Legends, shares her experience of Being Central Texan as the musical reaches 29 years on stage on page 56.

Tex Messages explores the feminine fashion of football season, past and present, with a nod to those huge Homecoming game mums on page 60.

Love her or hate her, the first woman governor of Texas, Miriam A. “Ma” Ferguson features prominently in CenTex Past on page 64.

Carey Stites continues sharing tips for coping with breast cancer and a career on page 52.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and we speak with Baylor Scott & White specialists on the signs and symptoms of one of the deadliest cancers for women on page 54.

Day Trippin’ travels to the blissfully cool indoors of the Mayborn Museum Complex on the Baylor University campus in Waco to explore things to see and do, especially for children, on page 62.

Entrepreneur introduces two sisters in business at Summer Moon Coffee in Belton and their plans to expand to Harker Heights on page 48.

We also take a look at losing a baby and the care delivered to grieving parents via a bereavement program in Temple that does what it can to help salve the profound hurt experienced by families on page 34.

It is important to me to make sure the stories that matter to you are featured in Tex Appeal. We’ve been at it 10 years now and want to share our joy at being a part of the community this last decade as we look forward to many more in the future. Share your story tips and ideas with us by emailing our editor at editor@texappealmag.com or calling 254-774-5266.

Sue Mayborn Tex Appeal publisher 6 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

Tex Appeal Life & Style in Central Texas

Published by FRANK MAYBORN ENTERPRISES, INC.

KILLEEN DAILY HERALD

1809 Florence Rd., Killeen, TX 76540

TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM

10 S. Third St., Temple, TX 76501

Publisher SUE MAYBORN Editor JANNA ZEPP Graphic Designer M. CLARE HAEFNER Contributors LISA CARLISLE BRANDY CRUZ ELIZABETH FINKENBINDER SKEEBO REICHERT AMY ROGNLIE BECKY STINEHOUR CAREY STITES RACHEL STRICKLAND JOHNA UNDERWOOD TONYA WARREN Advertising 254-778-4444 in Temple 254-501-7500 in Killeen ABOUT US: Tex Appeal Magazine is published by Frank Mayborn Enterprises, Inc. 10 S. Third St., Temple, TX 76501.

The cover and content of Tex Appeal Magazine is fully protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced in any manner without prior permission.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: For the United States, $24 per year, 6 issues.

Mail check to P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114. For questions about subscriptions, call 254-778-4444.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Tex Appeal Magazine, P.O. Box 6114, Temple, TX 76503-6114.

HOW TO CONTACT US: Advertising: 254-778-4444 or 254-501-7500.

Editorial: Contact Janna Zepp at 254-774-5266 or editor@texappealmag.com

CONTRIBUTORS LISA CARLISLE is Tex Appeal’s account executive, having previously worked in the health care field. Lisa is a wife and mother of five — two girls and three boys, together they enjoy exploring locally and you can always find them outdoors or in the water. She is a native Austinite and has lived in Temple for five years. She also is a member of the Betty Martin DAR chapter. Her hobbies include photography, genealogy, cooking, family time and festivals.

CAREY STITES is a registered and licensed dietitian located in Harker Heights, Texas.

Carey obtained her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Texas Tech University has been a practicing dietitian since 2001. Carey is also an AFAA certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer; Carey has promoted health and wellness through presentations, classes, writing and cooking demonstrations all over Texas.

BRANDY CRUZ is a proud Army wife and mother of four. She has been a writer, editor, photographer, graphic designer and a host of other things for more than 14 years and is currently an editor for the Temple Daily Telegram. She enjoys writing stories that are important to people, stories people want to read. She looks for the beauty in everything, which she believes is vital in photography.

RACHEL STRICKLAND is a university writing tutor and freelance writer. She earned a Master of Arts in English from Texas A&M University-Central Texas in 2021. She has a passion for anything related to language and writing, and her words have been published in various blogs, newspapers and literary journals. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and listening to true crime podcasts — always with her cat on her lap.

ELIZABETH FINKENBINDER is a writing instructor at Temple College and has been a teacher for Academy Independent School District, Central Texas Christian School, Memorial Christian Academy and Nazarene Christian Academy. She is also a novelist; Land of a Thousand Dreams: House of Laurel is her most recent work.

JOHNA UNDERWOOD lives in Temple and teaches English at Gatesville High School, working with her husband, Joe, who is the assistant principal. Both she and Joe are passionate, professional educators who want the best for their students and community.

The Underwoods are University of Mary Hardin-Baylor graduates.

SKEEBO REICHERT has over 25 years experience as a professional photographer and has expanded his services to include filmmaking. The Temple High School graduate has a BFA in photography and sculpture. He lives in Temple with his wife and two sons. PhotoBySkeebo.com

TONYA WARREN has been a registered nurse for 33 years with Ascension Providence Healthcare in Waco and a lifestyles writer for two years. She lives in Waco and enjoys reading, writing and taking her grouchy German Shepherd on walks.

AMY ROGNLIE is an author and middleschool teacher. Her newest series of cozy mystery novels, The Short Creek Mysteries, are set in Bell County. Amy’s articles have been published in national magazines and websites. She blogs on encouragement, hope and faith on AmyRognlie.com. Amy and her family reside in Little River-Academy.

BECKY STINEHOUR is a portrait, commercial and event photographer, specializing in live music venues. Her work has been published in several regional magazines. She is a Killeen High School graduate who loves to highlight her treasured hometown connections through the lens of her camera. Find her on Instagram at ciphoto.

JANNA ZEPP is the editor of Tex Appeal.

A native Texan, her career in mass communication includes writing for film, TV, radio, and print media. She spent four years writing for the Fort Hood Sentinel and two years as a III Corps Public Affairs television producer, anchor and writer for Fort Hood On Track.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Tex Appeal is looking for photographers and freelance writers with newspaper or magazine experience. We are seeking candidates from the Central Texas area. Candidates must be detail- and deadline-oriented and good storytellers. Send a resume and three to five recent published samples for consideration to editor@texappealmag.com.

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NEIGHBORS

A Place for Children

RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT ROBIN BATTERSHELL EMBRACES ROLE AS BOARD PRESIDENT OF TEMPLE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

BY AMY ROGNLIE | Photos by SKEEBO and courtesy of ROBIN BATTERSHELL

B

et you didn’t know Temple now boasts its own children’s museum! And with retired Temple Independent School District superintendent Dr. Robin Battershell at its helm as board president, the fledgling Temple Children’s Museum is in expert hands.

“I think the biggest contribution to the community is for what the museum can be. This community has the ability to take this museum to a whole new level that is very individualized to our community,” Battershell said. “There are so many possibilities.”

Through their connections and hard work, a group of women realized their dream of opening the Temple Children's Museum, which is designed for children ages 0-8. It began operating with pop-up exhibits in 2016 and opened a permanent location on Fourth Street in June 2021.

A child explores “The Peacham Market of Temple” inside the Temple Children’s Museum.

8 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

IF YOU GO

Temple Children’s Museum 11 N. Fourth St., Temple Email: templechildrensmuseum@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ templechildrensmuseum Hours: 9 to 11 a.m. Monday-Wednesday and the first and second Saturday of each month; Thursdays and Fridays are reserved for private parties, camps and other special events.

Admission: $7 (first parent admitted free); reservations are currently required for all sessions. Call 254-500-7617.

The museum staff strives to provide a hands-on interactive experience between parent and child with their imaginative and ever-changing STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) exhibits in the 8,500-square-foot building. Many of the exhibits, such as a crawl-in cave complete with bats and bugs, are constructed on-site by creative volunteers and staff. Other popular exhibits include an art station, music wall, veterinarian’s office, kitchen, construction zone, art corner, puppetry, stage, engineering area and a grocery store named “The Peacham Market of Temple.”

“We don’t want to duplicate what our other fine museums are doing in this area, we want to enhance Central Texas' opportunities for entertainment and education,” Battershell said.

Future plans for the museum include adding some classroom space indoors and building a small-scale interactive model of the city outside in the courtyard. A move to a bigger building on Second Street is in the works in the next few years, where the museum will be able to have even more room for exhibits and classroom space.

“We want to connect kids to the community and expose them to these big ideas…help them become successful,” Battershell said.

Continued

In her role as board president, Dr. Robin Battershell helps ensure the Temple Children’s Museum is a place where young children can learn and have fun.

TEXAPPEALMAG.COM 9

The Temple Children’s Museum includes hands-on activities and a music area for children to explore.

In the meantime, the staff works hard to make all the exhibits portable so they can take the museum, either as school programs or pop-up exhibits around the city, straight to the children.

In her “spare” time when she’s not working at the museum, Battershell is busy with her other post-retirement adventure: beekeeping. “I wanted to do something very, very different,” she said.

“Beekeeping piqued my curiosity — still does.”

When she decided to retire from Temple ISD, Battershell thought beekeeping was a great connection to her dad and the family farm that would also be good for the world. She and her son named their bee company Grandpa Bill's Honey Farms to honor her dad. The Battershells have 22 hives and bottle their own honey, which they sell by word of mouth. They also offer bee removal.

“We have learned so much and still have so much more to learn. My husband has recently joined our venture and we keep pretty busy for six months out of the year,” Battershell said. “It’s something new to learn. My brain can’t go stagnant. … I can’t live that way.”

10 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

THE

BEST 2021

Readers’ Choice AWARD

Upcoming EVEnts 2019

Upcoming Exhibits 202

July 9-12 - Summer Fun for Early Learners July 16-19 - Junior Historians Camp

June 15 - August 11- backstage pass: Early Days of Rolling Stone magazine

Visit the Bell County Museum!

September 1 - October 20 - American July 23-26 - STEAM CAMP (pre-registration required) Farmer July 20- backstage pass

November 8, 2019 - January 18, 2020 historic holiday toys

•July Discover Bellscience!

County history 27 - Weird •COME Explore the GaultUS! SEE Archaeological Site • Free admission year-round!

• Free educational tours by appointment!

•• Become Take ina our Friend of the Museum today! Call or visit the museum website.

1904 Carnegie Library

Voted THE BEST Museum in Central Texas!

Tiny Thinkers

AUGUST 17, 2022 • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Admission is Free Welcome to Bell County!

Kids 5 years and younger are invited to the museum to learn about pioneer life on the Texas frontier.

There will be a special presentation in our 1850s log cabin and a reading of Papa & the Pioneer Quilt followed by crafts and activities that explore how life has changed. Activities include making mini quilts, practicing pioneer chores, making butter, and learning to count money.

The event is completely FREE. Pre-registration is required and spaces are limited to 25 kids (1 adult per family group).

201 North Main Belton, TX 76513 • 254-933-5243 • bellcountymuseum.org

SCENE: INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS

1

4

2 5 3 6 1. Giorgio Graf enjoys watching the Belton Fourth of July parade.

2. Pikachu and Batman ride on the Bell County Comic Con float.

3. Belton's Fourth of July parade included a Selena tribute float.

4. SPJST Stage King and Queen wave as they pass spectators at the parade.

5. Zoie and Starr Kennedy sparkle in red, white and blue outfits.

6. Finley and Lee Novak are dressed to impress on the Fourth of July.

Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR 12 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

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SCENE: JOHN MAYO MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

1

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14 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

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1. Keith Talley’s arm span is measured with raffle tickets during the John Mayo Memorial Golf Tournament.

2. Dana Lange with Nikki Mayo, John’s wife. Funds were raised for Central Texas Youth Services.

3. Talitha Heath Photos by SKEEBO

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FLAVOURS

EVEN IN SUMMER‘S HEAT, AREPITAS BRINGS

A Welcome Warmth D

By LISA CARLISLE | Photos courtesy of AREPITAS

uring the summer in Texas, we do all we can to escape the heat yet, dining at Arepitas Restaurant invites a new form of warmth that won’t make you sweat. The warmth takes over instantly; you are greeted by smiles from the staff, the aroma of spices, and the sound of Latin music in the air. You are welcomed as if you are family, and the feeling remains throughout the dining experience.

Arepitas Restaurant in Harker Heights serves homemade, from scratch authentic Venezuelan food earning top awards. Recently earning the 66th spot in Yelp's top 100 in Texas award, Arepitas has become a staple in the area for its incredible menu, family atmosphere, and fresh ingredients.

Family owned and run by husband and wife team, Tony Caselle and Maria Fernanda Rodriquez, who were determined to produce only the finest meals for their customers while bringing in the flavors and flare from Venezuela. ”When we started the business, we wanted for it not only to be a restaurant, but a movement,”

Caselle said. “As soon as we started this location, we started an agreement with Braveheart Beef which use DNA-traceable cows. No steroids, no growth hormones, no artificial ingredients, grass fed, and the chickens are the same.” This is evident throughout their menu, every item being made to order. The wait may be a bit but it’s worth every second.

Arepitas server Alexander is full of zesty energy.

He speaks with joyful pride about various items on the menu, highlighting traditional favorites and flavor profiles. His first suggestion are the tequeños, a traditional Venezuelan party staple and easy to see why. A tequeño is a breaded and fried cheese stick but is so much more than that simple description. An initial crunch then the warm gooey cheese, it’s new yet somehow a familiar flavor, it tastes like home.

The next item explained was the Pabellón arepa.

Pabellón is Venezuela's national dish. It is a flawless combination of black beans, rice, and marinated slow roasted beef, nestled in an arepa with cheese and plantains. An arepa is another traditional Venezuelan food made from cornmeal creating a warm cake, perfect to house these flavors.

There are several vegetarian options utilizing arepas and incorporating your choice of homemade sauces. Many feature plantains and roasted vegetables, so there is something for every palate.

Arepitas also features several cocktail options, all of which are also made from scratch containing only natural ingredients and freshly squeezed juices.

Continued

16 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

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Alexander points to the Pape-Rum, a refreshing drink which uses top shelf 1796 Venezuelan Rum with a raw cane sugar lime combination. Among the options is a sangria made with Merlot and imported rum with fresh cut pineapple, green apple, and oranges. They also offer zero calorie drinks and other classics like mojitos and mimosas.

Arepitas Restaurant is an intimate space with cultural pride on display, from flags to art to music.

A screen rotates through scenes of mountain tops, majestic ocean views and scenic vistas highlighting the overwhelming beauty of the country. The tables offer the convenience of a QR code and pay-byphone option for those who would prefer it.

The staff is constantly smiling; not only at the customers, but even more so at each other, they are clearly glad to be there. They are the family you're invited into when you come in, and they are thrilled to share stories of traditional food and drink which is a wonderful way to introduce new items. Arepitas has started a local movement, one of traditional foods done deliciously with their customers at heart.

“Our main goal is to feed people the right way, like they are home,” Caselle said, and that is exactly what you get. You leave with a full belly, some education, a smile, and a new place to call home.

IF YOU GO

Arepitas Restaurant Address: 440 E. Central Texas Expressway, Suite 101, Harker Heights Phone: 254-220-4535 or 254-833-5137 Website: arepitasusa.com 18 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

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THE REVIEW

Women Who Changed the World Eder shares accomplishments of 15 WWII heroes

By M. CLARE HAEFNER Cover photo courtesy of book publisher

S

pies. Resistance fighters. Rescuers. Journalists.

Nurses. Advocates. Mapmakers. Throughout World War II, women did it all, but most of their contributions weren’t recognized at the time.

Seventy years later, most people still don’t know their names or their stories. Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mari K. Eder aims to change that, introducing readers to 15 heroic women in The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of World War II (Sourcebooks, August 2021).

“Women who served in World War II did everything the men did, except fight in combat. By the war’s end, they were serving in every branch, doing every job but those on the front lines,” Eder writes.

From the first chapter, Eder had me hooked. Unlike many biographies I’ve read, The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line is full of action. Fast-paced, gripping narratives introduce each woman, sharing her own words and relating her acts of heroism during the war.

I’d heard of a few of the women before, but knew more about Alice Marble’s career as a tennis player than about her role as a spy. A real-life wonder woman, Marble fought for everything she accomplished, and once she found success, she used her renown to uplift other women.

Women like Hilda Eisen were unknown to me before Eder brought their stories to life. Eisen escaped from a ghetto, then from a Nazi cell, survived in a frigid Polish forest and escaped again to make a new life for herself in America as a successful businesswoman and philanthropist.

Capt. Stephanie Czech Radar and Virginia Hall were among the first women in the Office

20 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

of Strategic Services, the precursor to the CIA. Their daring exploits make me wish their accomplishments had been more celebrated.

Perhaps the most interesting woman I learned more about was Ola Mildred Rexroat—the only Native American woman pilot to serve with the Women's Airforce Service Pilots. Persisting against all odds, she earned her silver wings and flew, later helping train other pilots and gunners.

While each chapter delves into a different woman’s journey, Eder’s book blends their shared stories, noting ways in which their lives intersect — being in the same place at a similar time or serving in the same military or special operations branch — binding them together in history and in heroism.

“From the beginning, all the women had been connected, whether they liked it or not, building on one another’s successes, saddled with one another’s failures, and pressing on together,” Eder writes.

Together they persisted and succeeded, helping end the war before returning to the home front.

The book’s final chapters relate how these women’s actions changed the world and paved the way for the next generation’s accomplishments, even while their stories remained virtually unknown.

Eder’s goal was to highlight their accomplishments. “Following the end of the war, a soldier from the 26th Infantry Division wrote, ‘No war is really over until the last veteran is dead.’ We are approaching that sobering benchmark now,” Eder writes. “It gives more urgency to telling the stories of these remarkable people and enhancing our understanding of their contributions to our lives today.”

We stand on their shoulders and there’s no forgetting these Girls Who Stepped Out of Line.

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EVENTS AUGUST 2022

7:30PM AUGUST 5, 6 2:30PM AUGUST 7 GUYS AND DOLLS Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler Nathan Detroit tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer Adelaide laments that they’ve been engaged for 14 years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler Sky Masterson for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the strait-laced missionary Sarah Brown as a result. Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong.

Temple Civic Theatre 2413 S. 13th St., Temple 254-778-4751 templecivictheatre.com/main-series 6 TO 9:30 PM AUGUST 5 2ND ANNUAL SUMMER "SELTZER" IN THE SANTA FE PLAZA This free, family-friendly community event coincides with First Friday in Downtown Temple. Don't miss an evening of live music, food trucks, an outdoor market, and fun for the entire family. Chairs and blankets welcome.

Santa Fe Plaza 301 Santa Fe Way, Temple 254-773-2105 templechamber.com/summerseltzer.html 8 PM AUGUST 6 SALADO LEGENDS The 29th annual Salado Legends is Central Texas’ favorite outdoor musical drama, written by Salado resident playwright and lyricist Jackie Mills.

Dinner at 7:15: $13.00 adult or child (must purchase in advance). Show: 8:15 PM, adult $25, student (high school or college with student ID) $10, child $5 (12 or under).

Tablerock Amphitheater 409 Table Rock Road, Salado centraltexastickets.com

24 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

10AM TO 6PM AUGUST 6 & 7 BELL COUNTY COMIC CON Bell County Comic Con is a wholesome family friendly event for our community! BCCC focuses on bringing comics, pop culture, gaming, movies and fantasy together in one epic expo. There will be artists, superheroes, comic and toy exhibitors, games, cosplay contests, celebrity guests and much more! Come dressed up in your favorite costume, cosplay, or superhero tee and celebrate all that is amazing with us for two epic days! Ticket prices vary.

Bell County Expo Center 300 W Loop 121, Belton 254-534-9508 bellcountycomiccon.com 11 AM TO 1 PM AUGUST 13 WEIRD SCIENCE Join us at the Bell County Museum to learn more about chemistry with fun science experiments that explore chemical reactions! The event is free.

Bell County Museum 201 N. Main St., Belton 254-933-5243 bellcountymuseum.org 10-11 AM AUGUST 17 TINY THINKERS Kids 5 years and younger are invited to the Bell County Museum to learn about pioneer life on the Texas frontier. There will be a special presentation in the 1850s log cabin and a reading of Papa & the Pioneer Quilt followed by crafts and activities that explore how life has changed.

Activities include making mini quilts, practicing pioneer chores, making butter and learning to count money.

The event is free, but preregistration is required. Space is limited to 25 kids (one adult per family group).

Bell County Museum 201 N. Main St., Belton 254-933-5243 bellcountymuseum.org 9 AM TO NOON AUGUST 20 GAULT SITE TOUR Join us at the Gault Site for a tour! It Continued

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ZOOTYS INSIGHT

ZOOTYS

ZOOTYS | 1407 South 31st Street | Suite C | Temple, Texas 76504 | 254.770.0904 Photography: Angela Stiz | Model: Michelle DiGaetano

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EVENTS

A remarkable woman who serves with passion Young’s Daughters Funeral Home and Bereavement Center is family owned by Mrs. Sabrina N. Young, five daughters, and two fur babies. Mrs. Young is a proud U.S. Army veteran that continues to serve her community locally, through local organizations, VFW, and American Legion to ensure her families are taken care of.

Young’s Daughters has a connection of resources that promote Central Texas.

• Ask us about free cremation when pledging for body donation • Fire or water cremations • Green or traditional burials • Pet funeral services, burial/cremation • Funeral travel protection @499 per person • Grief classes through our bereavement center • Pre-planned legacy and funeral planning • Destination Funerals

4235 E Business 190, Temple

254-401-1302 www.youngsdaughters.com THE

BEST 2021

Readers’ Choice AWARD

is a full guided 3-hour tour across the 2.5-mile site. Learn about the many artifacts excavated and the Paleo Indian culture found right here in Bell County. All attendees meet at the site at 8:30 a.m. The tour will begin promptly at 9. Maps will be provided a few days prior to the scheduled tour date. The site is 30 minutes from Belton, between Salado and Florence. Pre-registration is required.

Tickets are $10 per person, payable by debit or credit card only. Payment is needed within 5 days of registration.

All proceeds go directly to the Gault School of Archaeological Research.

Gault Site 3439 FM2843, Florence Tour pre-registration and payment: Bell County Museum, 254-933-5243 5:30-9 PM AUGUST 20 HISTORIC ESCAPE GAMES There has been a crime at the Bell County Museum and it is up to you to find the culprit! You have 60 minutes to work together, solve the crime, and escape! There are 3 game themes and times (please be mindful of ages) 5:30 pm: Heist, ages 14 & older 6:45 pm: SOLD OUT 8 pm: Murder Mystery, ages 17 & older Tickets are $10/person. Preregistration is required. Games are private and limited to 8 guests per game time.

To reserve your game, payment is required within 3 business days of submitting the registration form.

Payments can be made at the museum or by phone.

Bell County Museum 201 N. Main St., Belton 254-933-5243 bellcountymuseum.org 7:30 PM AUGUST 20 GRUPO FANTASMA Grupo Fantasma has been praised as one of the most important independent acts in the Latin genre and has continually defied expectations to create one of the most unique musical voices to come out of the United States in the 21st century. In 2011, they garnered further

26 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

Tour the Gault Site on Aug. 20.

acclaim by winning a Grammy (their second such nomination) for their self-produced release El Existential on Nat Geo Music which the Wall Street Journal called “Latin music both new and traditional … vibrant fusions that transcend easy classification.”

Tickets: CAC Members, $25; nonmembers, $30 Cultural Activities Center 3011 N. Third St., Temple 254-773-9926 cacarts.org

SEPTEMBER 2022

7:30 PM SEPTEMBER 16, 17, 23, 24 5:00 PM SEPTEMBER 18, 25 THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG Welcome to the opening night of the Cornley Drama Society’s newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous.

This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show — an unconscious leading lady, a corpse

Let’s Dance!

Join the Fun

Register Now for the 2022-2023 Season!

Wildflower Guild Junior Cotillion

that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accidentprone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!

Purchase tickets at showpass.com/ theplaythatgoeswrong Central Texas Theatre 3401 S. W.S. Young Drive, Killeen 254-526-9090 vlakilleen.org/main-stage 4 PM SEPTEMBER 25 FRISSON Introduction of 2022-23 Wildflower Belles & Escorts will be at 3 PM before the concert.

Frisson Ensemble is made up of master musicians, all young graduates of the top music schools in the United States who are the best and brightest of classical music’s rising stars. Oboist Thomas Gallant leads this nonet as a small chamber orchestra, performing a showcase of familiar “Pops Concert”

music for Central Texas.

Tickets: Adults, $25; Students, $5; Military/Dependents, free Cultural Activities Center 3011 N. Third St., Temple 254-773-9926 cacarts.org 5PM SEPTEMBER 26 EMPIRE WILD Empire Wild is a genre-bending, crossover trio founded by Ken Kubota, Brandon Ilaw and Mitch Lyon. The three musicians met at Julliard and formed Empire Wild as a vehicle for their love of musical exploration — fusing the sounds of pop, folk, Broadway, and more into their songwriting and composition.

Tickets: Adults, $25; Students, $5; Military/Dependents, free Central Texas Orchestral Society 3011 N. Third St., Temple 254-773-9926 app.arts-people.com/index. php?show=127288

6th - 8th Grade Student Enrichment • Social Skills • Dance Techniques • Performances • Live Concerts

A Program Under

Cultural Activities Center 3011 North 3rd Street • Temple

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THIS GIRL’S GARDEN

Right Plant, Right Place CONSIDER CLIMATE WHEN PLANNING A GARDEN

By AMY ROGNLIE

I

f there is one cardinal rule for gardening, this is it: right plant, right place. That sounds…easy.

But we’re talking gardening in Central Texas, so all bets are off. Plants that would happily produce cascades of lovely blooms in full sun in, say, Ohio, will shrivel up and blow away after only a few days of basking in our more-than-balmy temperatures.

Of course, we are accustomed to summer’s extreme heat and humidity, but my garden — not to mention my AC bill — will testify to the fact that this summer has been a veritable inferno. Not good, especially for veggies. But in general, in a “normal” gardening year, the plants you choose and where you plant the little dears will make all the difference in success or abject failure.

In her well-loved novel, Elizabeth and Her German Garden, published in 1889, author Elizabeth von Arnim vividly describes her first gardening experience as a child in Germany: “And after all, nothing came up. The labor of digging and watering, the anxious zeal with which I pounced on weeds, the poring over gardening books, the plans made as I sat on the little seat in the middle gazing admiringly and with the eye of faith on the trim surface so soon to be gemmed with a thousand flowers, the reckless expenditure of pfennigs — all, all had been in vain. No sun shone there, and nothing grew.” Can I get an amen?

Though gardening in Central Texas has not been quite that dismal for me, I can sympathize, since I too, have had my visions of floral grandeur dashed more than once. Though disappointing at the time, I did learn what not to do… sigh. And of course, as I discussed last time, experimentation is often part of the overall enjoyment of gardening. But for many folks, fussing over a finicky plant that may or may not do well in our climate is not their idea of fun. So, what is the average gardener to do?

I’m glad you asked. Here’s my highly original advice: Don’t shy away from planting “ordinary” plants. Take good ol’ purple heart, for instance.

I fell in love with purple heart (Setcrasea pallida) when I first moved here. Who cares if it grows in every dry, neglected planter everywhere in Bell County? It’s purple. And it has tiny, pink iridescent

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“I have taken care in choosing my plants to put down only those humble ones that are easily pleased and grateful for little, for my soil is by no means all that it might be, and to most plants the climate is rather trying. I feel really grateful to any flower that is sturdy and willing enough to flourish here…”

— Elizabeth von Arnim flowers. And it is drought tolerant. And heat tolerant. And noninvasive. And you can propagate it like crazy. If a stem breaks off, stick it in the ground or some potting soil or even a glass of water and the thing will root in days. And did I mention that it is purple? What’s not to like?

There’s a reason why you see plants like purple heart, lantana, Mexican petunias, Turk’s cap, rock rose, salvia, agave and balloon flowers flourishing in so many of your neighbors’ yards. These “ordinary” plants are either native to our area or have adapted well and are wise choices for any garden. Once they have been established, native plants will not need much extra watering and they will reliably return year after year, thriving even in our torrid summers. These plants are as beautiful as they are tough, which is a win-win situation, because, as Arnim’s Elizabeth expresses, “...I don’t love things that will only bear the garden for three or four months in the year and require coaxing and petting for the rest of it. Give me a garden full of strong, healthy creatures, able to stand roughness and cold [in Texas, read ‘heat’] without dismally giving in and dying.”

Tips for August & September •

•

•

If your tomato plants have made it through the summer, now is the time to cut them down to about one-third their size, even if they have flowers and tomatoes on them. After cutting them back, feed them and keep a consistent watering schedule. This will (hopefully) help to ensure that you have a great fall harvest. Consider using shade cloth to give some protection from the sun until the temperatures cool.

Good annuals to plant in pots or in beds this time of year include celosia, petunias, marigolds, coreopsis, pentas, purslane, salvia, periwinkle, zinnias, impatiens and cosmos.

Think about fall and winter gardening, which is prime time for growing veggies and flowers that If you have your heart set on “a garden full of strong, healthy creatures” here in Zone 8b, beginning with native or adapted plants is key.

Considering water requirements, sun/shade requirements, size, lifespan and hardiness zone is also crucial.

Though much of this information is usually included on the plant tag, make sure to take into consideration that you are gardening in, as our

•

•

will thrive in our temperate climate once the scorching heat starts to abate. Many veggies including beans, beets, carrots and corn, as well as many herbs and flowers can all be planted from seed or transplants beginning around the middle of August.

September is a great time to plant new perennials, shrubs or trees as it gives them months to establish their root system before the summer heat sets in.

Plan carefully!

If you have a spot that has morning shade and afternoon sun (a tricky combination), try to choose plants that are full sun but can take some shade, rather than the other way around. It’s the intensity and not the duration of the sunlight that is at issue in this case.

German gardener says, “a rather trying climate.”

This means that even plants labeled as full sun will usually benefit from at least some shade, especially during the brutally hot summer months.

If you have spent most of your summer gazing at your garden from inside your air-conditioned house, now is a great time to get out there and plan for fall when you and your plants will both be able to enjoy the cooler temperatures.

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HOME

Some (Don’t) Like it Hot HOW OUR ANCESTORS SURVIVED THE TEXAS HEAT AND HOW YOU CAN KEEP COOL TOO

By JANNA ZEPP

changed. In the winter months they used feather mattresses, and in the summer, they ummer is nearly over, but it is still unbearably would use corn husk or corn leaves. hot. This year will go on record as one of • Dog trots, aka outdoor, open-air breezeways the hottest, rivaling the summers of 2011, between rooms in a home helped facilitate 1998 and 1980 for misery. History shows that high air movement in the summer. An example of summer temperatures have always been common, a home with a dog trot exists at the Daniel so how did our ancestors survive?

Village at the Mayborn Museum at Baylor More than a century ago, Texans had University in Waco. nothing like modern air conditioning to These tricks did not keep things cool cool their homes. They found ways to as much as made the heat more tolerable. make things tolerable, but by and large, Today, we have more options, thankfully. they sweated out summer temperatures “There are many factors, most even indoors. Of course, 120 years ago, importantly of course to have an HVAC the climate was different. The planet was system and insulation,” says Megan Kiella, coming out of what historians call a “minivice president of Kiella Homebuilders.

Ice Age” that ran from about the 1200s “Insulation type and thickness play a until about the 1850s. Temperatures rarely role in the temperature of your home, went higher than 95 degrees. Still, the insulated windows and window coverings MEGAN KIELLA heat was, at least to them, miserable. (like blinds, curtains or shades), door Our Southern forebears tried to make weather stripping and thresholds, and their homes as breezy as possible to beat then the elevation of the home in general. the heat. The list of things that follow are Having overhangs or porches in windowed what they did: areas help some with cooling.”

• Homeowners kept all the windows Dean Winkler of CRW Construction and doors in the house open to keep agrees and adds: “Protection from the sun the air moving. on the east and west sides of the house by • Carpets were pulled up during the patio covers, window shades, landscaping summer and put in storage. (helps). Insulated windows can be very • Thick screens were put on the beneficial as well as window shades to windows to keep direct sunlight from block the sun’s rays or even solar screens. shining into the house.

Extra insulation is always a big benefit, also.

DEAN WINKLER • Downstairs, ceilings were high to Upgrades in A/C equipment is expensive draw hot air upward and away from but also will help in the long run.” the lower parts of the rooms.

If you are building a home, speak to • Upstairs, the ceilings were lower than rooms your builder about what works best for efficient on the ground floor and a home had twice as heating and cooling of your home. You also many windows to let the hot air escape. might include a feature from the last two or three • Families put slip covers on all the furniture to centuries to help, such as high ceilings or add a protect the fabric from fading in the heat. dog trot between your main home and a guest • Kitchens typically were separate from the room that has its own separate climate control. You home, usually a structure in the backyard. It might want to include a fireplace in a room with a kept the heat of the stove away from the house high ceiling to cut your heating costs in winter, but and protected the home from catching on fire. again, your builder will help you best decide.

• In the bedroom, the mattresses would be Continued

S

30 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

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6 Ways to Keep Your House Cool 1. REPAINT SUNNY ROOMS

If you have rooms that get a lot of direct sunlight, they can become extra warm in the summer if you have dark walls. Dark colors absorb light and heat in ways that lighter colors don't. If your walls are painted white, the sunlight will reflect off them better and keep from heating up your room. While this might seem like a big job just to keep your house cool, if you've been considering repainting some of your rooms, this could be the motivation you need.

Repainting your rooms a brighter color will also lower the need for lighting, which could help you to keep your rooms cooler in the evening.

2. CONSIDER DRAPES

While you might think that summer is when you want to take down your big thick drapes, think again.

The sun coming through your windows can raise the temperature in your house several degrees. If you block it or absorb it closer to the window, the rest of your house will stay cool.

Thick drapes could keep the sun from overheating your home on those hottest days of the year. If you have drapes up during the winter, keep them up during the hottest days of the year. If you don't have drapes yet, summertime could be the best time to get a great deal on them.

3. KEEP AIR FLOWING WITH FANS

A fan is your best friend during the summer months. Some people travel everywhere with a little pocket fan when it gets warm out. A fan that catches a cool breeze can quickly cool down a house on a hot day.

Keep your windows open, when possible, with a fan either blowing the hot air out or the cool air in. If you have a clean, finished basement — which is rare down here — blow the cooler air from downstairs up into the main floor. If you're going to be spending time on the upper floors of your home, blow the air upstairs from a lower floor.

If you notice you get more wind from the back of your home toward the front, use your fans to create a wind tunnel. As air picks up speed through your house, it will remain cooler.

4. USE YOUR GARDENING SKILLS

You can use nature to help keep your house cool during the hotter months in Texas. While it might be difficult to plant lush green trees like you could in the northern states, bushes, trees, and other plants can help to block direct sunlight that heats up your home. There's a delicate balance between what could look good and what could plunge you into shadows.

Talk to a friend or colleague who knows landscaping to see what they think. If you have the wherewithal, perhaps you could plant a tree on your own.

32 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

5. CHANGE YOUR BULBS

Hot bulbs can heat up your home, even if you need them to light things up at night. Thankfully there are options to light your home with bulbs that create less heat. Fluorescent, LED, and lower wattage bulbs will use less power and still give you the light that you need. Changing your bulbs can make a big difference, not only in how warm it is, but how warm you feel. Being under bright lights when you're already uncomfortably warm will give you the perception of being hotter than you are.

6. KEEP APPLIANCES OFF

Keeping appliances off during the hottest weather is a must. However, there are still some things that need to be done around the house.

Finding alternatives is your best bet for dealing with balancing domestic tasks and keeping your house cool. If you're doing laundry, you should consider hanging your laundry up to dry during the day. This will keep your energy costs down and keep you from having to use your dryer and filling your house with unnecessary heat. If you must use your dryer, put it on right before bed so that the heat will be gone by the morning.

If you're planning on make some pastries or baked goods, consider alternate desserts. There are plenty of no-bake cake recipes that can give you just as good of a dessert without having to heat your home in the summer.

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The Cultivator Speaker Series Presented By

Temple Children’s Museum

Presenting:

Kathryn Clark Childers CELEBRITY LUNCHEON Thursday, September 29, 2022 • Noon Cultural Activities Center – Strasburger Hall Sponsorships Available: Call 254-500-7617 for details Temple Children’s Museum Kathryn made history as one of the first five female U.S. Secret Service special agents protecting the President and world leaders. Fondly called the “pistol packin’ nanny”, Kathryn was charged with protecting the Kennedy children - Caroline and John Jr. - while traveling the globe with Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

11 N. 4th St • Downtown Temple • 254-500-7617 templechildrensmuseum@gmail.com • www.templechildrensmuseum.org

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Blankets for Stargazing, Bereavement

Texas Style!

“The Texas State Gem” Lonestar Cut Blue Topaz

1202 South 31st Street, Temple

254-773-5772

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BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE PROGRAM HELPS FAMILIES EXPERIENCING PREGNANCY LOSS

L

By AMY ROGNLIE | Photo courtesy of BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE

abor and delivery nurse Jenny Kayser and her husband know the anguish of experiencing an early pregnancy loss. As a longtime nurse at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple, Kayser’s mission is to help others who are experiencing this kind of devastating loss.

Kayser, a lifelong Bell County resident, is the face of the labor and delivery department’s bereavement program, which aims to compassionately care for and support mothers and their families through the processes of delivery, stages of grief, and beginning stages of coping as they move toward renewed hope after experiencing a fetal loss.

“Eighteen or 20 years ago when I went through this, no one talked about it. There were really no resources for the medical community and no one knew how to interact with a patient going through a fetal loss,” Kayser says. “I want provide our patients with what I didn’t have. Our staff tries to care for our patients as we would want care provided for us in this painful situation.”

When Kayser first became involved in the program in 2013, it was very simple. She and her fellow nurses had minimal known resources and supplies, but over the last few years with Kayser at the helm as bereavement coordinator, the program has blossomed and evolved to better support patients and their families.

One of the nurses’ most meaningful expressions of that support is to provide a hand-painted memory box to each family who has experienced a pregnancy loss. Inside the box are keepsake mementos of their baby,

34 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

including hand/footprints, a lock of the baby’s hair, a handmade name bracelet or charm, a birth or “born sleeping” announcement along with handmade hats, blankets and clothing items. Kayser and her department staff hand paint each and every one of the boxes on their own time.

“This adds a special touch for these families, to know that we took time and our love to provide them with something special that they can keep forever,” Kayser says. “It’s heartwarming to see the gratitude of each family when they realize that we have spent time making a beautiful box full of memories for them.”

Whenever possible, these special nurses try to get a feel for what each family likes in order to “match” a box to them. The nurses are also on hand to take photos of the families with their babies, ensuring that a grieving family does not have to wait weeks for professional photos to arrive, but can take the precious photos of their baby home with them in their memory box.

Funding for the project is provided by the Baylor Scott & White Central Texas Foundation, which receives support from the community as well as from hospital staff, who make voluntary donations from their paychecks. The program also supports families who lost a pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation and are unable to financially afford cremation or burial.

One example of this support is the program’s annual Common Grave Memorial Service. This service is held in Temple on the last Saturday of October at Bellwood Memorial Park Cemetery, which donates a plot every year and provides an outdoor covered

HOW TO HELP

Anyone can volunteer or donate supplies to the program.

“Anything and everything is much appreciated and utilized,” Jenny Kayser says. Donations can be dropped off at the receptionist’s desk in the Labor and Delivery Unit at the hospital.

The program is always in need of: • Baby hats of all sizes (sewn, crocheted or knitted) • Blankets (sewn, crocheted or knitted) of all sizes from as small as a potholder to full-size • Preemie size onesies or sleepers • Blank or plain wooden boxes or photo boxes • Plain, flat wooden shapes from the craft store (to be painted and used to decorate the boxes) • Gently used wedding dresses, which are made into gowns or outfits of various sizes For information on how to make a monetary donation, email CTXFoundation@BSWHealth.org.

Jenny Kayser and the Baylor Scott & White bereavement program provide a foundation of compassion, support and rapport with the patient and their family after fetal loss through nursing, the medical staff and pastoral care. area with seating for the service.

Kayser and her team send invitations to the family and they, in turn, can invite family and friends to celebrate the life of their baby at a graveside service coordinated by Baylor Scott & White’s pastoral care team.

Volunteers are also integral to the program’s success. Local individuals and church groups work year-round on sewing and crocheting or knitting blankets and baby hats of all sizes and styles. Kayser and her staff also

work with organizations such as Angel Gowns of North Texas and Angel Wings of Sun City in Georgetown, who create tiny garments made from donated wedding dresses. The wedding dresses are deconstructed to create gowns of all sizes and wraps for even the smallest fetal losses.

In addition, the local chapter of Hope Mommies donates boxes of grief resources and provides the hope of Christ to grieving mothers through a local community of fellowship.

The Baylor Scott & White labor and delivery department participates in the annual 5K Hope Mommies fundraiser, which helps this foundation continue to provide their support to Baylor Scott & White patients and the community at large.

Grief is a roller coaster of emotions and without support, many mothers and families do not know how to begin coping. The Baylor Scott & White bereavement program supports the community by providing an initial foundation of compassion, support and rapport with the patient and their family through nursing, the medical staff and pastoral care. With every step that is taken, all participants are involved in the care and decision-making.

“Our focus and goal is to make the best of a sad and heartbreaking event while making memories of happiness and gratitude without regret,” Kayser says.

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8 WOMEN

These inspiring ladies help make Central Texas

DELL INGRAM-WALKER

NATASHA TOLLESON

36 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

MICHELLE DiGAETANO

JESSICA WALKER

WHO LEAD a better place for everyone who calls it home

COL. KHANH DIEP

JEAN SHINE

BRYNN MYERS

DEBBIE NASH-KING

By JANNA ZEPP | Photos by SKEEBO TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

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D

ebbie Nash-King served her country as a soldier and as a career counselor on Fort Hood. Now she serves her community as the mayor of Killeen. Nash-King says the most rewarding part of her job is serving others.

“I also enjoy collaborating with community leaders to come up with solutions for complex problems that will enhance the quality of life for the people we serve throughout Central Texas,” she says.

Her passions include volunteering with local organizations so she can stay connected to the community, as well as spending time with her family.

“My relationship with God motivates me in my career to serve others without expecting anything in return, and my faith in God motivates me to work on being a positive role model for others to follow.

To God Be the Glory,” Nash-King says.

And God figures prominently in her work day.

“I start my work day by meditating on the word of God. I have coffee and review my schedule for the day. I follow up on emails and phone calls before checking in with city staff,” she says. Her work days often turn into work nights with meetings and events running late into some nights.

“I must be flexible with my time.”

Much of Nash-King’s work involves meeting people and reading into what their needs are beyond what their words tell her.

“My best piece of career advice is that you better learn how to read people quickly because everyone’s needs are different,” she says. “I want to make a positive impact in people’s lives and the community I serve, which will influence the next generation to continue to work toward making

our community an even better place to live.”

Nash-King, who grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, learned a life of service from her grandmother who worked within their community to meet the needs of the low-income and the elderly. She says her grandmother was the first leader to open the doors for the first African American to be elected on the city council. “I would assist my grandmother after church on the (first) Sunday of the month taking communion to members of the church that were ill. When I got home, I would assist my mother with preparing the Sunday’s meal for our family and church members in the church that did not have family that lived near,” Nash-King says. “I decided when I was in high school that I wanted to be a missionary because I grew up in an environment learning to serve others, but instead I went to college, joined ROTC and became a military officer.”

After completing high school, she attended the University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff and graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Social Work.

Nash-King entered military service and, after being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, she attended the Medical Services Corps Officer’s course and completed her military tour as the Fort Hood Dental Clinic’s company commander.

When her Army career ended, she entered graduate school and earned a master’s degree in Human Resources from Tarleton State University.

She also has a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of California. She has served as vice president of Killeen’s NAACP chapter, secretary of Killeen Volunteers Inc., and board member of KISD Education Foundation.

“My career philosophy has always been to put the people first and provide excellent customer service,” she says. “As a teenager, I worked as a telephone campaign caller. Working as a campaign caller was a fundamental building block in my journey. It taught me how to communicate and understand the needs of the people I currently serve."

Debbie Nash-King MAYOR OF KILLEEN 38 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

B

rynn Myers, Temple’s first woman city manager, knows that it takes teamwork to get things accomplished. She leads a team of more than 900 full- and part-time employees and a budget of nearly $150 million.

“There is so much good and amazing work being done in Temple — a lot of projects. No way can one single person make that happen,” she says. “We get the right person on the team, give them the tools, resources — things they need to be successful in their positions. I couldn’t do it all if I wanted to.”

Meetings dominate her workday, addressing the needs of Temple and its community. She works closely with all departments, boards and commissions including police and fire, code enforcement, planning and zoning.

“I don’t attend every board and commission meeting, but I do attend some of them. There is no time to be bored,” Myers says.

Her attention to detail and analytical mind makes diving into a new topic an enjoyable process, and she likes getting involved in a range of projects.

“It presents the opportunity to learn something new and find solutions to a problem,” she says.

Her workdays start early, but when they’re not too early, she spends time with her son and daughter first. She and her husband, Blake, who owns a real estate investment company and works from home, share family responsibilities.

Myers studied political science at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, in pursuit of a career in local government. She volunteered at the city during her freshman year at school.

The city needed college interns to help put together a budget with narrative and statistical information. Myers applied for an internship and was accepted. The city immediately gave her the previous year’s budget and she got to work.

“I like to dive into and solve a problem,” Myers says. “I start to understand problems and get them fixed. It fits my personality. They don’t have time to show you how to do it. They let you figure it out on your own.”

Myers eventually became the part-time budget analyst for the City of Huntsville.

Soon the position evolved into full-time employment as the city’s budget manager, and she worked there while still in school. She credits Huntsville’s then-city financial director Winston Duke as her mentor.

“He helped me learn so much about city finances.

But my passion was not in budgets — I wanted to be a city manager,” she says. “I needed a mentorship to get started. I always loved it. It’s really my passion. I felt lucky to know what I wanted to do from early on. A lot of people work long before they find their life’s passion.”

Brynn Myers TEMPLE CITY MANAGER TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

39

C

ol. Khanh Diep fully commits to her mission, combining military tradition with a distinct human touch.

“Military service is something that Texans hold in high regard. There is no place better for our men and women in uniform to serve than right here in Central Texas,” she says. “This community is something special. As the senior human resources officer for the III Armored Corps at Fort Hood, the focus of my job is people. Every day, I get to see how this fantastic community makes our soldiers and their families stronger.”

The colonel cites the most rewarding part of her job as the ability to help soldiers.

“Whether it’s assistance with an assignment, promotion or award, the thing I love most is to be able to make a difference in someone’s life,” she says.

Diep’s personal interests include hiking, tennis and running. In fact, as a tennis player, her favorite quote is from Arthur Ashe: “Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.” She says it reminds her to be in the moment – to enjoy the journey and to make the most with what one has.

When asked about how she starts her workday, Diep says prioritization is key.

“I start each day with looking at my calendar and prioritizing key tasks and events for the day.

Then, off to good physical training to exercise the mind and body. This is a great for stress relief and to prepare for the day ahead,” she says. “At the end of the day, I review events for the next work day and anticipate any requirements that would be involved.”

Diep leaves her work at work, however.

“At home, spending time with family is so valuable, and you need to make time for it. This is not easy; it’s deliberate time management,” she says.

The example set by her parents as they made great sacrifices and took many risks to start a new life in the United States after the Vietnam War motivates her daily.

“Opportunities present themselves every day, and it is up to us whether or not we make the most of them,” she explains. Her career advice includes a hockey analogy.

“Do things that will make you happy. Seek out assignments where you can make a difference and pursue them with tenacity and passion. When life throws a wrench in your plans, take the challenge head on and, to quote Wayne Gretsky, ‘Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.’”

Everyone has a personal favorite theme song. Diep says hers is Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold.”

“I think in our life’s quest, for whatever we all maybe searching for, this song reminds me that the search truly begins within you. My favorite lines, ‘I want to live, I want to give,’ make me internalize my own qualities and traits that I desire to possess as I navigate life’s journey,” she says.

Independence Day is the colonel’s favorite holiday.

“Not only is Independence Day a reminder of when the United States officially became its own nation gaining independence from Great Britain, but a day to reflect on what we aspire to be as a country. For all of our flaws, we are always striving to be better, not just for ourselves but for each other.”

Col. Khanh Diep SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, III CORPS AND FORT HOOD, U.S. ARMY 40 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

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41

N

atasha Tolleson comes to the Temple Civic Theatre with an impressive professional theatre education background, making her more than a mere heavy hitter in the performing arts; she’s a champion theatrical director and producer. No stranger to TCT, her history as a performer, technical designer and director with the civic theatre goes as far back as her history with the Temple Independent School District.

Tolleson moved to Temple in 1989 with her husband, Richard, who accepted a job with KCEN-6 as a weatherman on the local news. She then spent the next 31 years leading the Temple High School Theatre Arts Department. In the middle of all that, she developed a passion for TCT, which she indulged as often as possible, starting with a role in the play The Boys Next Door.

“I got overwhelmed working so many theatrical productions at the high school and then acting with the Temple Civic Theatre, so I had to back off a bit, but I did try to do at least one TCT production a year whenever possible,” Tolleson says. “I always tried to come and support and get other people involved in Temple Civic Theatre when I could. It is such a positive way to become involved in the community.

It’s a great way to meet new friends, and it’s very attractive that Temple has a viable arts program.”

Tolleson and her One Act Play students swept the University Interscholastic League 5A state championships twice, saw state

competitions nine times and took district champion awards for three solid decades. No other UIL team at Temple High School holds those honors. Her theatrical design students conquered UIL state championships twice, and her film students aced the state championship in Division II, Narrative in 2014.

A member of the Texas Thespians Hall of Fame since 2014, her International Thespian Society competition students — more than 100 of them — advanced from state to the international contest.

Tolleson’s students advanced in more events than any other troupe in Texas, featuring on the main stage seven times since 2004.

In 2020, her THS tech design team won the Texas Thespian State Championship. Many of her former students now work in the theatre and entertainment industry.

“The people I work with at TCT are people I’ve known since I first lived here. It’s really fun because my students that I’ve taught here, even 25 or so years ago, come here and I get to work with them again as adults,” Tolleson says, smiling.

“TCT has been very much a part of our lives.”

It will be more so, now that Tolleson is in charge.

Michelle NatashaDiGaetano Tolleson MANAGING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, TITLE TEMPLE CIVIC THEATRE 42 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

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43

Y

ou might not know what a piggy-back cylinder is, but Michelle DiGaetano does. Her company, Temple Machine Shop, makes piggy-back cylinders for a variety of industries including road building, utility, material handling, oil and gas, and agriculture. She especially knows the importance of manufacturing quality products.

She also knows the importance of quality volunteering.

“Knowing that satisfied employees, make and ship quality products that make our end customers successful. Everyone plays a critical role in making the company successful. This success translates to making a difference in our employees’ lives,” she says. “Additionally, my participation in service organizations and serving on community boards inspires me to continue assisting many fellow members in our community with various needs. Kindness is contagious and we are fortunate to have many gracious volunteers in our community.”

Precision and details figure prominently in DiGaetano’s success. She loves outlines and lists.

When responding to questions for this interview, she organized her answers into concise, numeric order, leaving no doubt that she loves preparation before action. In person, her genuine nature and love for people shines through.

DiGaetano likes to ease into her workday with cup of Italian roasted coffee, reading the newspaper (the Temple Daily Telegram, of course), playing Wordle with her husband, Bill, to keep the creative flow going, reviewing emails, and often, a two-mile walk. She winds down the workday by packing up key reports for review later, wishing any team members still at the shop a good night, and looking forward to a nice meal at home while sharing

the day with her husband.

Her career advice? “Be real, be fair, be honest, and do the right thing for the right reason every time.

“I am a blessed person and very grateful. Mother Teresa says, ‘We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.’ I love my family and friends, I love serving people through volunteering, I love music, and taking care of myself, by running, walking, and working out,” she says. “And being a ‘girl’ from Kansas, I simply love sunflowers.”

She loves blue and red. Her favorite holidays include Independence Day and Thanksgiving. She enjoys eating homecooked Mexican food, German cuisine and now, Italian favorites made by Bill.

“And shrimp, any day,” she adds, smiling.

She also loves working for a company in continuous business for the last 42 years making custom products shipped worldwide.

She loves making a difference in families’ lives and the machine shop’s partnership with Temple ISD’s Career and Technical Education program, helping young students find a potential career path.

“TMS is a family-owned business and founded in 1980.

We are a manufacturer of custom hydraulic cylinders that are utilized in multiple industries across the US and worldwide,” she says. “Being a partner with TISD CTE is extraordinary.

We are very thankful for our 100 employees, who make a difference each and every day.”

If she was not at TMS, DiGaetano laughs and says, “Any beach with fine sand, Tuscany, and my backyard.”

By the way, TMS’s website says a piggy-back cylinder is actually two attached cylinders working together.

After the first cylinder finishes extending, the other cylinder extends. In limited space, a piggy-back cylinder often solves the problem. DiGaetano knows that, and now, so do you.

Michelle DiGaetano OWNER, TEMPLE MACHINE SHOP INC. 44 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

K

aizen, the Japanese word for “improvement,” refers to business activities that continuously improve all functions and involve all employees from chief executive officers to assembly line workers. Kaizen also applies to processes, such as purchasing and logistics, which cross organizational boundaries into the supply chain. Health care, psychotherapy, life coaching, government and banking apply the concept as well. For Dell Ingram-Walker, it is her way of life.

“Continuous learning. Constant improvement. I always want to be better — whether it’s for the patients we serve, or in my own personal life. In order to do that, I have to learn and grow each day, and I have to do things that may be scary or outside of my comfort zone,” Ingram-Walker says.

That continuous improvement also applies personally. A body builder, weightlifter and golfer, Ingram-Walker works hard to stay physically and mentally fit.

Those pursuits require her to stay disciplined, and her personal discipline shows in how she spends her workday.

“Reflecting on the prior day and what I want to do differently in the next 24 hours, marks the beginning. I’m very passionate about the work that we do at McLane Children’s. I love the ability to impact change that helps our patients and their families and makes a difference in our communities. Some may not know about our high quality and the high level of care that

we provide right here at home,” she says. “I want our families to know that if their child or grandchild gets sick — McLane Children’s is absolutely where they need to be.”

She ends her day by cleaning off her workspace and resetting for the next day, so she is fully home when she gets there.

“I wipe my desk down and leave the items that I need to tackle the next day front and center. Hospitals are 24/7, but I do try and make a conscious effort to be present in anything that I choose to do once I walk outside of those doors.”

Ingram-Walker’s career path at Baylor Scott & White Healthcare exemplifies getting outside her comfort zone, even though she’s been a part of the hospital system since 1999. She first came to Central Texas when her husband was stationed at Fort Hood. She was still earning her B.S. in Health Care Management at the University of Alabama, and she was certain they would not stay long. But they did, partly because BSWH offered so many opportunities for career growth and education.

“How could I possibly leave?” She credits her colleagues at BSWH for encouraging her and supporting her from her first day back in 1999 to the present.

“Ralph Waldo Emerson said that there is no limit to what can be accomplished, if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit. Successful people don’t do it alone,” Ingram-Walker says.

“You have to take advantage of the resources available to you — whether that is education, supplies or even help.

Never be afraid to ask for help.”

Dell Ingram-Walker CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MCLANE CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

45

W

orking for the greater good describes Jessica Walker. On her resume, she counts time spent on the board of the Temple Chamber of Commerce, on the Temple Education Foundation board and on the Temple Planning and Zoning Commission.

“I love living and working in Central Texas and enjoy playing an active role both at Lengefeld Lumber and with the City of Temple,” she says. “I am grateful daily to be a part of such a thriving community full of good people who also think Temple is a place you love to call home.”

Walker describes the beginning and end of her work day: “I’m an early riser. I go to the gym, read the Telegram, check my calendar, shower, and head to work. At the end of the day, I wind down with a quick walk around the block with my dog, Maya. I watch TV with my husband, Bruce and then head to bed before 10 p.m.”

She also describes what motivates her each work day: “I am motivated by the positive team I surround myself with.

Positivity is contagious.”

She adds: “I am involved in building something that I hope will continue to be a legacy for our family and employees. We are one of the few family-owned businesses in our industry and we strive to be good partners in our community.”

Walker’s favorite quote and piece of career advice comes from her husband, Bruce.

“Work hard, save your money, be honest, ambitious, true to your friends and be a good Christian,”

she says of what she calls the Walker Boy Mantra.

“Bruce made sure all three of our boys had this memorized by the time they went to school.”

She adds, “Do what you say you are going to do. I think it covers everything.”

But city politics and working at a lumber company were not how Walker started her working life. She was a flight attendant for American Airlines from 1989 to 2001 as a way to see the world. During her time in the skies, she met celebrities and public figures, such as the late Rosa Parks and famed civil rights activist, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, whom she says memorized every flight attendant’s name on that particular flight.

“A true politician,” Walker says of Jackson.

She stopped being a flight attendant when her eldest son, Branan was 3.

“I stopped flying when Branan took all of my clothes out of my luggage and got into the suitcase,” she said. “I knew I had to stop flying. I needed to be home.”

Walker has a music background, having belonged to a band she and her friends formed.

They called themselves the Kendall Jackson Five (after their favorite wine) and performed covers of Joan Jett, Cheap Trick, Nancy Sinatra, Violent Femmes, as well as some country and western tunes at local eateries in the area. An example of Walker’s determination to succeed showed up when she taught herself to play keyboard via YouTube videos just so that she could be part of the band. Walker says if she had a theme song, it would be “Good Vibrations”

by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.

“It reminds me of carpooling in the neighborhood and it’s Branan’s karaoke go-to (song),” she adds.

Jessica Walker CO-OWNER LENGEFELD LUMBER CO. AND DISTRICT 1 COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY OF TEMPLE 46 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

J

ean Shine loves to make her community a better place for everyone.

“I am motivated by the many relationships I have been blessed with over a long career and with the people I mentor and serve every day.

This includes people inside our company and in my community, as well as clients, business affiliates, and those I serve in the military,” Shine says.

“Helping families realize and build their dreams through homeownership is so rewarding. There are few other callings that are so impactful in people’s lives.

We get paid to connect people with, not just a home where they make memories, but a refuge where they feel safe in an unsettled world, and a center point from which they can build friendships, raise their children, and feel a sense of belonging.”

Shine’s success is not limited to real estate. She is the daughter of a career military officer and the wife of a former Army officer and Vietnam veteran. Family roots in Bell County go back to the 1850s.

Active in both the civilian and military community, Shine accepted the appointment of Central Texas Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army in September 2008. She stepped down from her position on the Killeen Independent School Board of Trustees after nine years and continued to serve area schoolchildren as a founding member and president of the Killeen Education Foundation. She actively supports the Association of the United States Army and appreciates the

unique needs of soldiers and their families, working as a volunteer helping Fort Hood families and raising money for projects benefiting them. She calls Central Texas the “Heartbeat of Texas.”

“Through my work, both at the office and in the community. I strive to make Central Texas a better place to live, work, attend school, retire and thrive,” she says.

She is married to Bill Shine, a native of Killeen, who served from 1991 to 2005 as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. For more than 30 years, the Shines owned Shine Brothers Goodyear in Killeen, Copperas Cove and Belton. In 1999, Bill sold the business and joined Jean at the Shine Team. His leadership and business management experience, as well as his association with the Army have helped Shine Team succeed. Bill served over 20 years on the Board of Trustees for Central Texas College.

The Shines’ sons also belong to the Shine Team. Scott, an honor graduate of the University of Texas, is an Accredited Buyers Representative and Sales Manager.

Steven, an honor graduate with an MBA from Tarleton State University, is the Escrow Manager. In addition, the Shine Team Manager and Listing Manager Rodney Shine (Bachelor of Business Administration, Texas Tech) is Jean’s nephew.

Jean Shine has successfully combined her career and family, citing hard work and dedication as the secret to her success. She believes in treating people as they want to be treated and providing them with “Positively Outrageous Service.”

Jean Shine ASSOCIATE BROKER, SHINE TEAM REALTORS TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

47

ENTREPRENEUR

Summer Moon Coffee

OFFERS ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE TO BELTON FAMILY

By RACHEL STRICKLAND | Photos courtesy of SUMMER MOON COFFEE

I

f there’s one thing Texans truly love, it’s a good cup of coffee in the morning. Or really, any time of day.

It seems that everywhere you turn, there’s another coffee shop popping up —from Starbucks and Dunkin’ to Dutch Bros. But there’s a coffee company out of Dripping Springs that’s been taking the state by storm for the last 20 years: Summer Moon Coffee. It’s made its way to Belton thanks to a local family.

Sisters McKenzie Fleming and McKenna Brumfield never thought their lives would take an entrepreneurial turn, but that’s exactly what happened in 2021 when they became franchisees with Summer Moon Coffee. The sisters and their husbands are equal-part owners of their Belton location with their parents, Jack and Jackie Ralston. The Ralstons and their daughters come from a long line of Belton-area natives, which influenced their desire to serve the community in any way they could.

“We’re just doing anything and everything we can to be successful — not for ourselves, but for our community,” Brumfield says. Fleming adds that they want to provide a family feel and a close-knit community for people to feel safe and welcome.

“And, you know, for the fellowship that happens over coffee,” she adds.

On Jan. 29, the families jointly opened the Belton location in a small trailer on Sparta Road, one of only two Summer Moon franchises in a trailer.

They have lots of outdoor seating, lighting and games, which makes the experience fun and unique. Fleming and Brumfield, along with their family, plan to open another Summer Moon location on West Adams Avenue in Temple by the end of 2022, and that location will be a fully-fledged

Sisters McKenzie Fleming and McKenna Brumfield co-own Belton’s Summer Moon Coffee franchise with their parents, Jack and Jackie Ralston. They plan to open another location in Temple this year. storefront with a double drive-thru.

They also hope to open a third location in Harker Heights, but there is no concrete timeline for that yet.

The original idea for Summer Moon Coffee began at a local auction in Dripping Springs in 2002, when the founding family placed the winning bid on a 19th century coffee roaster.

This sparked their interest in coffeemaking, and later that year, they opened their first shop. In 2005, Summer Moon Coffee Bar opened in a tiny space off South First Street

48 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

in Austin. Since then, the founders began licensing franchises and now have around 40 locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

What makes Summer Moon’s roasting process unique is that beans are roasted over an open flame in brick ovens, which is a 19th century tradition. According to Fleming and Brumfield, many other coffee shops roast their beans over a hot plate, but Summer Moon’s wood-fired roasting process makes the coffee smoother

and more balanced without a bitter aftertaste, and it’s what sets them apart from other coffee companies.

Summer Moon is likely just as well known for Moon Milk, its signature sweet cream, as it is for oak-roasted beans, though the Moon Milk recipe is a well-kept secret known only by the founders. According to Brumfield, the founding family wanted to find something that would pair perfectly with their smooth coffee. She says they stayed up all night drinking different concoctions of creamer to find the perfect blend. “There are seven secret ingredients in it that are all vegan-friendly, gluten-friendly and allergen-free; however, they are all top secret,” Brumfield says. “We don’t even know the ingredients.”

Like many other coffee shops, Summer Moon offers beverages for non-coffee drinkers, such as tea-blend drinks and a new strawberry refresher.

They also offer the typical coffee-shop pastries, but the unique thing about the food offered at Summer Moon is that each location offers items that are sourced locally. The Belton location gets pastries from Big Krumnows, a small donut shop in Holland.

Before opening their Summer Moon location, Fleming and Brumfield worked in the golf industry. While getting into the coffee business wasn’t something they’d planned, they always knew that they wanted to do something challenging. “The company knew that McKenzie and I weren’t entrepreneurs but that we wanted to go there,” Brumfield says. “And they allowed us to do that. They’ve allowed us to really show who we are in the community, how much we care

about each other, and how much we care about everyone that comes to the coffee shop.”

Fleming adds that one of her favorite parts about their Summer Moon experience so far has been “seeing people come back and just say, ‘I really love it here because you made it special. You made my day.’

That’s our plan,” she says. “That’s our plan for any store that we open.”

It’s clear that the warm and welcoming environment is very important to the sisters and their family, and it’s something that they work very hard to cultivate every day at their location. “We’re very familydriven,” Fleming says. “My kids are always at the trailer because that’s the community we want. That’s the fellowship we want. This is a place for family. This is a place for people who don’t have a family. This is a place for us to be their family.”

IF YOU GO

Summer Moon Coffee 111 Sparta Rd, Belton Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. MondayFriday; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

49

MEET THE MAKERS

Behind the Lens

BLAIR DUPRE BALANCES SCIENCE, ART TO CREATE STUNNING PHOTOS

By BRANDY CRUZ Photos courtesy of BLAIR DUPRE

C

A Christmas gift in high school led Blair Dupre to a career in photography.

50 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

apturing one moment in time — with all the emotions that are expressed in that single frame — is what Blair Dupre enjoys about photography.

“I like preserving moments in time,” the Belton photographer said.

“I also enjoy the challenge of getting the camera to see things how I do.”

Sometimes a camera does not quite capture a moment the way the photographer sees it, so Dupre said she enjoys the challenge of manipulating the camera settings to produce the image she sees in her mind.

“It’s the perfect balance of science and art,” she said.

Dupre’s passion for photographer started as a teenager growing up in the small town of Orange, about 30 miles east of Beaumont. During her freshman year of high school, she requested a new camcorder as a Christmas present. That last-minute request would change the course of her life.

“Instead of a camcorder, I received a Canon Rebel T2i,” she said. “After I snapped that first photo with it, I couldn’t put it down.”

Dupre began experimenting with different types of photography, principally sports and portraits, where she was able to practice and grow her natural talent and express herself behind the lens.

“Especially in sports, things only happen once and I like to be the one capturing those moments,” she said.

“In shoots where I have more control, like portraits, I enjoy showcasing my models and expressing myself through my photos.”

She said she finds creative inspiration in a variety of ways,

from clothing, to accessories, to decorations and more. She also shared that when her subject is excited to have their photo taken, it helps to feed that inspiration and capture something beautiful.

Dupre graduated from University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2018, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and a minor in economics. While studying at UMHB, Dupre was the photo editor and lead photographer of the UMHB Bluebonnet yearbook for three years. Her photos were also used in marketing materials and decorations throughout the campus.

After graduation, UMHB continued to use her skills as a contractor taking photos of various events and people, for their alumni magazine.

While studying at UMHB, Dupre fell in love with Central Texas and decided to stay. She currently works as the living editor of the Fort Hood Sentinel, capturing images of the men and women in uniform at Fort Hood. She is also growing her small photography business in Belton.

“The support of my parents and my friends has turned me into the photographer that I am today,” she said. “I’m incredibly grateful to all of them.”

BLAIR DUPRE PHOTOGRAPHY

Website: www.blairduprephotography.com Email: blairduprephotography@yahoo.com Instagram: @_bdphotos TEXAPPEALMAG.COM

51

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Surviving and Thriving TIPS TO BALANCE WORK, FAMILY DURING CANCER TREATMENT AND THROUGH RECOVERY

A

ccording to an article I came across recently, about 40% of the 14.5 million cancer survivors in the United States are of working age. In addition to the devastating diagnosis of cancer, this statistic speaks volumes to not only the medical challenges cancer patients face but the financial aspects as well.

Many cancer survivors must keep their jobs through treatment and recovery because they exhaust paid time off and cannot afford to work without pay.

Furthermore, many must keep working as their health insurance is employer provided with certain contractual obligations tied into coverage.

Finances aside, cancer patients can choose to continue working during treatment and recovery if possible.

While everyone’s diagnosis and experience is unique, many cancer CAREY STITES patients believe work can keep their MS, RD, LD, CPT mind off the situation and promote a sense of normalcy despite enduring quite the opposite. Going to work or working remotely can help attain a sense of purpose and maintain a sense of control in one aspect of life as quite honestly, the cancer treatment process can make you feel extremely out of control. Staying connected to who you were before cancer as well as having a built-in support system of co-workers can ease the process.

Ultimately, although improvements in cancer treatments and survival have made it possible for more patients to continue working, not everyone wants to. The decision to work or take time off is 100% personal and influenced by the diagnosis, treatment plan and by the type of work. Not everyone can work through treatment, however, the decision should be based upon what is important to you and what you know you can and cannot handle.

No two people are alike.

For me, work was as important as treatment and is as important as recovery. I consider myself a worklife balance “expert” and know when to draw the line among work, family and health. Working during my treatment was important for me and kept me focused on something other than cancer. Not only did working help contribute to my medical bills, 52 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

helping transplant patients at the clinic (especially with nausea) and mentoring college students in my nutrition classes redirected the focus from my illness to my commitment to helping others.

ORGANIZATION IS KEY

A cancer diagnosis and treatment can throw a routine overboard — there are doctors’ appointments, treatments, lab draws, tests, surgeries and side effects whether you are undergoing chemotherapy, radiation or both.

Without organization, you may unintentionally forget appointments or other important activities such as your kid’s games, dinner plans with friends or work obligations. My advice: get organized and stay organized! I took my extra-large day planner with me just about everywhere I went and put appointments on my calendar as soon as they were scheduled and made detailed notes as needed. This way I knew exactly when my appointments were and scheduled chemotherapy as best I could to coincide with my kid’s obligations.

There is a benefit to having everything laid out in front of you to plan more effectively. When I went into work, I made sure I brought my calendar out and updated our digital work calendar to ensure everyone was on the same page and knew when I was having treatment, attending appointments or had obligations that prevented me from coming into the office.

USE YOUR VILLAGE

Let your colleagues support you; allow them to help if there is something you genuinely need help with. Having my co-workers see the patients or attend important meetings was key in my ability to continue working through cancer, even when I was not feeling up to it or had to run out to another doctor’s appointment.

Be realistic about the workload and only agree to take on projects or appointments if you have the time and energy. Subconsciously it may be easy to believe you are improving yourself and your career by taking on every project which comes your way, but if you end up overwhelmed and sick, with increased stress and decreased productivity, no one benefits. I had to make peace with the fact

Lunch w/ friends 1 p.m.

Doctor's Appt 3 p.m.

Chemo 9 a.m.

Kids' swim lessons 9 a.m.

I could not make it into the office every day and I was not letting anyone down if I was feeling tired, nauseated or sick. This leads in to my next tip.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Exploring options such as working from home while going through cancer treatments can keep you engaged at work while taking care of yourself.

While not every job qualifies for a remote option, you may be surprised with the opportunities by simply discussing this with your supervisor.

While most of my job in the clinic revolved around direct patient care, I was able to help with other projects and attend meetings virtually on the days I did not feel well enough to come into clinic; thankfully I was also able to continue instructing online nutrition courses as this option provided an amazing amount of flexibility. Working from home is an option worth looking into, especially with today’s technology.

Keep in mind, people with cancer can be protected by federal laws such as the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. A qualified employee with a medical disability is

Meeting at the office 11 a.m.

Family Brunch

entitled to reasonable accommodations which can include a modified work schedule, reassignment or restructuring of a position. A great resource to help navigate both these acts is the Job Accommodation Network at https://askjan.org or by calling 1-800-526-7234.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Finding out you have cancer is difficult and devastating; some days it seems the twists and turns with treatment leave you feeling anxious and overwhelmed with thoughts of “How am I going to do this?” I am here to let you know YOU CAN! Whatever your path may be after diagnosis, you are stronger than you think you are — trust me, I know!

Carey Stites, MS, RD, LD, CPT, is a registered and licensed dietitian in Harker Heights. She obtained a master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Texas Tech University has been a practicing dietitian since 2001. Carey is also an AFAA certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer; she has promoted health and wellness through presentations, classes, writing and cooking demonstrations all over Texas.

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Women Need to Know: Ovarian Cancer Doesn’t Play by the Rules

By TONYA WARREN

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER

I

f you see teal ribbons or bracelets adorning lapels or wrists in September, they are being worn in honor of ovarian cancer awareness month. Selecting this specialty in medical school, Baylor Scott & White-Temple physician Dr. Anthony McDowell spends his days at the forefront of the battle against this deadly cancer. “Ovarian cancer isn’t even in the top 10 of most cancers women get, but it’s number five in terms of cancer-related deaths,” he said. Early diagnosis and treatment are key battle tactics against this relentless enemy.

While pap smears and mammograms allow for an early diagnosis of cervical cancer and breast cancer, respectively, there are no established screening tools for ovarian cancer, according to Dr. Gordon Bates, chairman of Baylor Scott and White’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. However, Bates and McDowell both emphasized the importance of women knowing their bodies and recognizing and consulting their doctors when something feels different with them.

Some imaging tests like ultrasounds may detect ovarian abnormalities such as an enlarged ovary, and according to the Mayo Clinic, the blood test CA 125 detects a certain blood protein that can be high due to several different reasons such as uterine fibroids, diverticulitis and endometrial cancers.

This blood test as well as imaging studies may be ordered by your doctor if you are at high risk of developing ovarian cancer.

McDowell said most women present with “vague complaints such as abdominal fullness, bloating, early satiety (feeling satisfied early eating very little) and or pain.” Any of these complaints should be promptly checked out by a doctor. If possible, every woman should know her family medical history. Let your doctor know

It is rare for people with advanced-stage ovarian/fallopian tube cancer to not have any symptoms or signs, which is why it is critical to pay attention to what your body tells you and to seek evaluation and treatment from a physician. Symptoms and signs for ovarian/fallopian tube cancer may include: • Abdominal bloating • Pelvic or abdominal pain • Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly • Urinary symptoms, such as urgency or frequency • Fatigue • Upset stomach • Indigestion • Back pain • Pain during sexual intercourse • Constipation • Menstrual irregularities/ vaginal bleeding after menopause • Swelling in the pelvis or abdomen • Vaginal discharge, which may be clear, white, or tinged with blood For many people, these symptoms can be caused by reasons not related to ovarian cancer, and they may occur often.

However, it is important for a

if your mother, grandmother, sister, aunt or cousin has ever had a cancer diagnosis, as genetic testing might be recommended.

Bates and McDowell shared exciting advances in treating ovarian malignancies.

“Most patients will have a good response to surgery and chemotherapy, but up to 80% may experience a recurrence,” McDowell said, adding that discoveries in the

54 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

person to acknowledge these symptoms if they begin and are different from what is normal for their bodies. People who have any of the symptoms listed above every day for more than a few weeks should see their primary care doctor or a gynecologist. Early medical evaluation may help find cancer at the earliest possible stage of the disease, when it is easier to treat successfully.

Your doctor will ask how long and how often you’ve been experiencing the symptom(s), in addition to other questions. This is to help figure out the cause of the problem, called a diagnosis. You know your body and what is normal.

If you feel that something is out of balance with your body, selfadvocate for answers.

If a doctor diagnoses cancer, relieving symptoms remains an important part of cancer care and treatment. Managing symptoms may also be called ”palliative care“ or ”supportive care.“ It is often started soon after diagnosis and is continued throughout treatment.

Be sure to talk with your health care team about the symptoms you experience, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms.

Source: Cancer.Net

last 15 years have revolutionized treatment, such as the development of Bevacizumab, a drug that blocks the signal for new blood vessel growth, thus choking out cancer cell nutrients that feed the spread of wild, malignant cells.

“We are getting closer and closer to personalized medicine,” Bates added, which allows doctors to design cancerfighting treatments that hopefully lessen unwanted side effects.

n e m o W of the

m a r g e l Te

Women lead in vital roles within the Temple Daily Telegram family. They serve in essential positions in every department at the newspaper — from the publisher’s office to the news department, advertising department, business office,

creative services, circulation department and distribution department.

The Telegram dedicates itself to providing readers with fair and accurate reporting, good business partnerships with our advertisers and serving our community.

The Women of the Telegram make it happen.

Editor and Publisher Sue Mayborn Administration/ Business Office Rose Bretado Sherry McWhirter Rosie Reyna Edla Wilde Teri Zamora Editorial Department Patricia Benoit Brandy Cruz Sophia Daniel

Tex Appeal Magazine Lisa Carlisle Janna Zepp

Distribution/Mailroom Bobbie Banks Barbara Booth

Advertising Department Lauren Ballard Rhonda Blacklock Susan Craig Kayla Gilchrist Jane Moon Angelica Pippens

Creative Services Alberta Munk Leesa Wilson Fort Hood Sentinel Blair Dupre Elena Rodriguez

Circulation Department Delia Eicke Makayla Morris Sandra Pratt

L i f e & S t y l e i n C e n t r a l Te x a s

MAGAZINE

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BEING CENTRAL TEXAN

Legendary Playwright

JACKIE MILLS BRINGS SALADO’S STORY TO THE STAGE

By ELIZABETH FINKENBINDER | Photo from Tex Appeal archives and courtesy of JACKIE MILLS

J

ackie Mills is a legend in her own right. This gracious, elegant lady is 89 years young, and she has been a foundational part of the success of the Salado community theater and many other city projects for decades. She is the owner and operator of the Tablerock Goodnight Amphitheater in Salado, as well as the creator of an historical play.

This year marks the 29th annual performance of the famous “Salado Legends” production, which highlights the colorful history of the Central Texas village. Salado is already an epicenter for arts and creativity, housing many art galleries, restaurants and shops full of handmade goods. People come from miles around to visit Salado and partake in all it has to offer, including the well-known Salado Stroll around the holidays.

Mills and her family have lived in the area for more than 30 years, and they all love the community. Mills lived in Texas as a young girl, but she began moving all around the country due to her stepfather’s job. When she met and married her husband, Denver Mills, during the Korean War, they first lived in Kansas but were given an opportunity to move to Texas. They lived in the Dallas area for many years before heading south to Salado.

Jackie spent much of her time supporting her husband, who was a civil engineer, and raising her two children. Her leadership qualities shone through, however, and she became an alderman for the city council In Salado. Because of her writing ability and her experience with theater at a young age, city officials asked Mills if she would take over the Tablerock Amphitheater. They gave her exactly $1.34 to begin the extensive project. With her wits, a wing and a prayer, Mills worked hard to raise money for reconstruction of the theater. She also began an extensive writing project that would retell the history of Salado and named it “Salado Legends.”

In 1993, the first performance debuted with Mills as an actress. It had taken her nine months of extensive editing and rewriting. She and two other friends all enjoyed writing in various genres and would meet and look over each other’s work.

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Jackie Mills wrote a play about the founding of Salado, the village she’s called home for more than 30 years.

Her tried-and-true test of her final draft would be to stand in front of the mirror and perform the scenes. “If I cried when I was supposed to cry and laugh when I was supposed to laugh, then I knew it was good,” Mills said. She later taught elementary students about theater and writing plays and gave them this same wise advice.

She directed for a few years as well, but she

Salado Legends has filled Tablerock’s Goodnight Amphitheater with action and excitement for 29 years. finally decided to hand the reins over to other directors. For many years, the show has been sold out except for the pandemic years. Her theatrical accomplishments were recognized in the early 2000s by the Library of Congress, which immortalized her play with an exhibit including costumes and scripts. She took one of her daughters and a granddaughter to be a part of that day, and she received an award for outstanding work in outdoor theater productions.

The play retells the history of the area, including cattle drives, founding fathers of the village, and relationships with the Native American tribes in the area. She took a great deal of historical background from actual letters sent by her family members during the Civil War era which delineates the atmosphere in Texas at that time.

The actors are mostly local and include Dr. Howard Horton, who has played Sam Houston for over 20 years, and local meteorologist Andy Anderson and many other talented performers.

Other well-known events take place at Tablerock such as A Christmas Carol during the holidays and a newer event called “Fright Trail” in October. All

these take place due to the ingenuity and initiative of the illustrious and talented Mills.

Her husband, Denver, served on a city council for many years, which involved lots of time, energy and resources. Jackie asked him once why he did it, and he replied that he wanted to give something back.

When asked why she gave so much of her own talent, time, and energy to her town, the arts, and people, she replied that she took his words to heart and wanted to pay it forward to the wonderful village.

Salado owes much of its culture and beauty to this gifted lady, and its citizens will be forever grateful for her ongoing contribution to making it a wonderful place to live.

This season’s final production of “Salado Legends” is Aug. 6. Dinner will be served at 7:15 PM for $13 (adult or child) and must be purchased in advance. Tickets for the performance are $25 per adult, $10 for high school or college students with ID, and $5 for children 12 and younger.

Tickets may be purchased at CentralTexasTickets.com or 24 hours in advance at various shops in Salado and Horizon Bank.

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CENTEX ED

Productive Partnerships PARENTS & TEACHERS NEED TO WORK TOGETHER

R

ecently, it seems we are finding more areas for discord; the classroom is no exception.

It can easily feel that school has become another “us versus them” situation — the school versus the parents. Yet research proves that parental involvement in students’ academic lives can give students a more positive view of their own potential and lead to greater success. Parents and teachers need to work together to build productive partnerships for the benefit of our students.

Creating a working partnership with your student’s teacher can start simply. Be sure parent contact information is up to date and that you know the best way to contact your child’s teacher. Sign in to your student’s classroom apps, like Parent Portal, Remind, Google Classroom, Classroom Dojo, etc. Periodically checking student assignments, JOHNA UNDERWOOD progress, behavior and attendance through these apps can provide parents a fuller picture of what students are learning and how their skills are progressing.

Papers sent home can get lost in the black hole of student backpacks. These additional electronic means of communication keep parents aware of important schoolwide happenings and specific classroom activities, such as parent-teacher conference days. As students get older, teachers will often send out reminders regarding important assignments and tests, or post calendars and syllabuses. When parents help older students check these updates and plan accordingly, students create greater ownership of learning.

Partnerships between teachers and parents work best if they start from a place of positivity. We often think of meet-the-teacher night as a chance for our students to get acclimated to their new learning environments. While this is true, the beginning of the school year is filled with excitement and possibility for teachers and parents too. It is a good opportunity to begin productive collaboration, allowing parents and teachers to meet face to face, exchange information and outline both parent and classroom expectations.

Early communication helps to establish a productive relationship for the rest of the year. For example, it can be helpful to know that a parent’s 58 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

Partnerships between teachers and parents work best if they start from a place of positivity. work schedule may vary, or they may not always be available to take phone calls at work, so email is a better way to be contacted. However, meet-theteacher night does not usually allow for more than brief conversations. If you have questions or wish to convey in-depth information about your student, don’t hesitate to reach out with an email, phone call or even ask for a parent/teacher conference.

Even seemingly small pieces of information can lead to more effective communication.

Currently, the most contentious educational conflicts seem to arise over curriculum concerns.

Teachers craft lessons based on the knowledge and skills students need to master (standards usually established by the state), data that shows where individual students are thriving or struggling, and student interest. Teachers spend most of their time outside the classroom, including summer break, crafting and revising these lessons. Teachers, therefore, are often emotionally invested in the work they create. Likewise, parents rightfully have strong feelings about what their students learn.

Both parties want students to be successful, but strong emotions on both sides can sometimes create miscommunication between parents and teachers. Establishing positive working alliances early allows for parents to be more aware of what will be taught throughout the year. If a curriculum question arises, these established relationships can also lead to conversations about why teachers have chosen to teach certain standards in certain ways and allow parents space to voice their concerns.

The goal, of course, is that these conversations result in student learning growth.

Establishing positive relationships early in the year creates a system of support for our students.

As the saying goes, “it takes a village.” When schools and parents are working together, that village can help ensure student success.

Johna Underwood teaches English at Gatesville High School.

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Texas feminine culture, ritual of football explained

By JANNA ZEPP

F

ootball season is upon us. I can’t explain the sport to you, in spite of my Texas heritage. It was never a religion in my home when I was growing up. But, I can explain some of the culture and ritual involved with attending football games.

For Texas women, a football game is more than a sport. It’s a chance to showcase ourselves.

Football season is an opportunity to show off your wardrobe and how well you accessorize. It’s a social event during which to forge feminine friendships. And it’s a real good place to swap gossip.

Whether it’s a high school or university game, you will see Texas women all decked out in their classycasual finery. Every Hawkins High School football game to which I went, I never attended without my hair being perfect and having my lipstick on.

Like my friends, I carried an arsenal of cosmetics in my purse for touch ups.

To this day, I can draw my compact out of my handbag faster than a gunslinger can draw his pistol. You learn to be fast with the goods, lest you miss a play on the field.

At Austin College, we were pretty low-key at our football games.

Saturday afternoon games in the late summer made it necessary to dress for comfort, but that didn’t mean we had to sacrifice style. My sorority and I attended in our jerseys and designer jeans. This was in the 1980s, so of course no hairdo was complete without a big bow that matched our Theta Sigma Chi jerseys. This showing of the “Greekness” was a prelude to spring rush. We only held rush in the spring at AC, so the fall was spent looking as good as possible to potential members. This is where we got the skinny on who was going to rush whom, what happened after

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the previous night’s party and which college professor was not getting tenure. We also got to eyeball rival sororities and what they were up to.

I went to work for Texas A&M University in the early 1990s.

Attending football games was not a requirement, but I went. I mean, this is Aggie football after all.

And the women were drop-dead gorgeous. Slim, long denim pencil skirts, English riding boots and Ralph Lauren turtlenecks, Dooney & Bourke handbags, designer sunglasses…the works. The women rooting for the opposing teams, if they were Texas schools, also were gorgeously attired.

In 1991, it was the height of female football fashion.

The Texas-University of Oklahoma weekend was another big fashion event back in the 1980s. I don’t mean among the unwashed masses that descended on Dallas streets every October…no. I’m talking about expensive hotel suites with large screen televisions and catered eats. I went to one of these parties while still in college. My then-boyfriend’s parents sent out engraved invitations to the 1986 Red River Shootout soiree at the Fairmont Hotel. Attire: high casual in team colors. No kidding, folks; that was printed on the invitation.

I presume it is more casual now, as much of the 2000s have become.

That’s a shame if it has. I wouldn’t know, but I’m about to find out as my own daughters are now in high school and have become more interested in going to school games on Friday nights for the social aspect. They discovered Homecoming last year, and it’s been mums and boys and parties ever since, so I’m about to get reeducated on all of it.

And speaking of Homecoming (yes, with a capital H), I can’t talk about football fashion without mentioning the enigmatic Homecoming mum.

Fans entertain each other and try to stay warm in December while waiting outside Cummins Field House on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor campus in Belton for the team to return from the Stagg Bowl in Canton, Ohio. | Photo by Nan Dickson for the Temple Daily Telegram My non-Texan friends continually ask, “What the heck is up with those gigantic Homecoming mums?”

It’s a mystery, y’all, but I’ll try to shed some light.

Homecoming mums are a Texas tradition, and I’ve heard that New Mexico and Oklahoma do it too.

Essentially, the mums are flowers worn as a corsage to Homecoming games.

They have been around as long as I can remember and, when I was a girl, the mums represented the admiration a young woman inspired in people who know her. The size of the flower in the center of the mass of ribbons in school colors directly correlated to how much a fella loved his girl. The bigger the mum, the greater the love.

The more mums a gal had, the more fellas who thought she’s the cat’s pajamas.

Now, a gal can receive a mum from her parents, her best friend, and her other relatives, not just her special love interest. Boys don’t figure in quite as much as they once did, but

the fellas now get flowers of their own in the form of a floral garter custom made for them. But we’re talking about the mums that the ladies get right now.

Traditionally, the center flower is a giant, white chrysanthemum usually made of silk and sprayed with glitter.

Some mums sport teddy bears in the center. Usually, the ribbons have names and messages on them in glitter letters. The ribbons also have a dozen or so plastic and metal trinkets, especially mini-cowbells, interspersed among them. The result is a bizarre mass of flower and foof that looks like a cross between a parade float and a space ship. Some even have batteryoperated LED twinkle lights on them.

Our 1983 Hawkins High School Homecoming queen had so many mums on her, she looked like she was wearing Björk’s swan dress from the 2001 Oscars. Even now, I’ve seen girls hunched over from the weight of their mums, trying to walk up the bleacher steps without tripping over the great

gobs of ribbons trailing behind them.

Homecoming mums are as huge— literally—as they’ve ever been.

Back in the 1980s, whether a gal received a mum on Homecoming from her beau determined whether the relationship would last. In 1985, my first college boyfriend neglected to get me a Homecoming mum and got dumped shortly thereafter. Y’all might think that’s shallow, but he and I had an understanding and he breached a sacred tradition of Texas “coupledom” by omitting this gesture. By not remembering me with that goofy flower, he pretty much said, “I don’t love you and I don’t care if I hurt your feelings.”

I have never forgiven him, and thirty-plus years later, we still do not speak to each other.

The female side of football was complicated forty years ago. You were better off not trying to understand it beyond the observance of ritual and symbolism.

If you were a fella courting a Texas woman, you had to be real sure you let her have plenty of time to get ready to go to the game (she needed about 2.5 hours for hair and makeup in the 1980s, and I still do). You had to be real sure not to forget the flowers.

Your relationship depended on it.

Again, I don’t really know what women do now regarding high school and college football games, but it does not appear to have changed much except in how casually we dress to attend. The last Homecoming game I attended was in Boerne last fall. My daughter has a beau who attends Samuel V. Champion High School down there and we went with them. The attire was all over the place, and everyone was appropriately dressed for the occasion. The mums, whether homemade or professionally done were fun, creative, gorgeous, and some were downright hilarious on purpose. The floral spectrum was broad and reflected individual personalities. So the tradition of football flowers and fashion continues…even if I still don’t understand the game at all.

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DAYTRIPPIN’

BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE MAYBORN MUSEUM’S DISCOVERY CENTER KEEPS KIDS LEARNING

By RACHEL STRICKLAND | Photos courtesy of the MAYBORN MUSEUM

S

ummer is here, kids are out of school, and parents Downstairs, the Discovery Center offers something are looking for ways to keep their kids busy and called Play Waco, which is designed specifically for engaged with educational activities. The Mayborn kids that are 5 years old and younger, and it’s all about Museum Complex in Waco is a perfect solution. Along creating a miniature version of the city. It has a mini fire with its fascinating sections and exhibits, the museum station, a mini H-E-B, and even a miniature version of has a Discovery Center that’s just for kids, and it’s the Waco’s historic theater, the Hippodrome. perfect afternoon activity for young people to play, According to Noah, it’s the museum’s most popular learn and beat the heat. exhibit. “People are actually The Mayborn Museum has very sad when they age out,” been part of Baylor University she says, laughing. in Waco since the 1800s, but its Every spring and summer, the looked a little different over the Jeanes Discovery Center has years. According to Molly Noah, a different traveling exhibit to the marketing coordinator, keep things fresh. This summer, the museum was once just a a DC Superheroes exhibit is Natural History Museum before on display through Sept. 11. It combining with the Children’s allows kids to learn teamwork, Museum. She says that in 2004, build confidence and discover the building in which they are their own superpower. currently located was built, and It’s easy to forget that the it officially became the Mayborn Mayborn Museum isn’t just for Museum Complex that exists kids: it has several exhibits, today. The museum is divided including “Founding to Future: into sections: the Natural and The Bright Lights of Baylor Cultural History Exhibits, a University,” which details the Historic Village, and the Jeanes history of Baylor. It also has the Discovery Center.

Historic Village that replicates The Discovery Center, what life was like in the 1890s, which occupies two floors complete with a schoolhouse, of the complex, is a space a church and some houses. designed for kids to enjoy with There’s no doubt that the STEMFest is an annual event held at the their parents and caregivers.

Mayborn Museum Complex is Mayborn Museum to encourage students According to Noah, the a place for the whole family to to pursue education and careers in science, children’s side “focuses on spend an entire day learning technology, engineering, and mathematics. hands-on engagement and and having fun together. the opportunity for families However, the remarkable to play and learn together. In our discovery wing, we Discovery Center is unmatched as an affordable way for have several rooms that are dedicated to a topic. kids to get out of the heat and learn something new this And then within the room, there are several points of summer. engagement for families to learn and play together.”

Within the Discovery Center, there are many IF YOU GO different rooms, including a Light and Sound room Mayborn Museum Complex at Baylor University where kids can play with oversized instruments, a 1300 S. University Parks Drive, Waco Jurassic Augmented Reality area where they can walk Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, with dinosaurs, and a SpaceX room that has a large 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday rocket engine. Noah says that room “gives families an Admission: Adults, $10; children (age 2-12), $8; opportunity to think about what it would be like to go seniors (age 65+), $9; Baylor students and museum to space.” members, free

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The Mayborn Museum is a popular destination for school field trips. Stan, one of the museum’s dinosaurs, inhabits the Natural History section of the complex. A Columbian mammoth skull was discovered near the Exchange Park Medical Center in Dallas in late 1963 or early 1964. It is on loan from the Schuler Museum at Southern Methodist University.

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CENTEX PAST

MIRIAM A. ‘MA’ FERGUSON

FIRST WOMAN TEXAS GOVERNOR WAS BORN IN SALADO

By JANNA ZEPP Public domain photos

B

ell County is home of quite a few “firsts,” and one of them was born in Salado. Miriam Amanda Wallace Ferguson, aka “Ma” Ferguson was one of two American “firsts” as state governors who happened to be women, along with Wyoming’s Nellie Tayloe Ross. Both were elected as governor of their states in 1924, just four years after American women gained the right to vote.

Ferguson attended Salado College and what was then Baylor Female College (now the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor). She married her husband, James, son of a Bell County preacher, on Dec. 31, 1899, likely without any plans to become active in politics.

It was her husband’s alleged penchant for unethical behavior while in office that launched her career.

“Pa” was governor of Texas until he was indicted and impeached during his second term, forced to resign and barred from holding further Texas office.

Jim Ferguson had been one of the nation’s strongest opponents of woman suffrage earlier, but actively promoted his wife’s candidacy. He ran his wife’s campaign for governor with the slogan: “Two governors for the price of one” against Judge Felix Robertson, the candidate endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan. The Fergusons beat Robertson and went to the Governor’s Mansion for a third time.

“Fergusonism,” as the Fergusons’ brand of populism was called, remains a controversial subject in Texas. Ferguson herself has been described as a fiscal conservative but also pushed for a state sales tax and corporate income tax. She is often erroneously credited with a quote allegedly referring to bilingualism in

Miriam A. “Ma” Ferguson of Salado became the first woman elected governor of Texas in 1924.

Texas schools: “If English was good enough for Jesus Christ, it ought to be good enough for the children of Texas.”

The phrase did not originate with Ferguson and was often attributed to other public figures as a means of making them look uneducated and bigoted.

As governor, Ferguson tackled some of the tougher issues of the day.

Though the Fergusons did not drink, she aligned herself with the “wets” in the battle over prohibition. She opposed the Ku Klux Klan, especially after the abduction, rape and murder of a manager of the Indiana Young People’s Reading Circle, Madge Oberholtzer, by then-National Klan President, D.C. Stephenson. The most significant accomplishment during Ferguson’s first term in office was the enactment of legislation — aimed at the Ku Klux Klan — prohibiting the wearing of masks in public.

In her second term, during the

64 AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022 | TEX APPEAL

Great Depression, Ferguson backed loans for cotton farmers and “bread bonds” to assist mothers with starving children. Regulation of the oil industry began under her administration, and she proposed a tax on oil to benefit schools and roads.

Ferguson issued thousands of pardons of prisoners during her two nonconsecutive terms in office, many of them to set free those convicted of violating prohibition laws. Though never proven, rumors persisted that pardons were available in exchange for cash payments to her husband. In 1936, voters passed an amendment to the state constitution stripping the governor of the power to issue pardons and granting that power to a politically independent Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Rumor also had it that state highway contracts went only to companies that advertised in the Fergusons' newspaper, The Ferguson Forum. A House committee investigated the rumors, but no charges were ever filed.

It is convenient for some historians to lay the blame of lawlessness in Texas at Ferguson’s feet, but she, alone, was not the sole cause. By the 1930s, the Great Depression caused federal and state governments to cut down on personnel and funding of their organizations including the Texas Rangers. The number of commissioned officers in the law-enforcement agency was reduced to 45, and the only means of transportation afforded to Rangers were free railroad passes, or using their personal horses.

After taking office in January 1933, Ferguson discharged all serving Rangers. The force also saw its salaries and funds slashed by the Texas Legislature, and their numbers reduced further to 32 men.

Eventually, rising crime rates in Texas caused the Legislature to review

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public safety in Texas. Based on the report from a Chicago consulting firm, Griffenhagen and Associates, and on the findings of a subsequent legislative committee, the Texas Legislature opted to merge the Texas Rangers with the License and Weight Division, creating the Texas Department of Public Safety on Aug. 10, 1935. The newly formed department became the new home for the Texas Rangers, The Highway Patrol and the crime laboratory.

In October 1933, Ferguson signed into law Texas House Bill 194, which was instrumental in establishing the University of Houston as a four-year institution.

Except for an unsuccessful bid to replace Gov. W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel in 1940, the Fergusons remained retired from political life after 1935.

In the 1940 campaign, Ma Ferguson trailed O’Daniel’s principal rival, Ernest

O. Thompson of Amarillo, who was Texas Railroad commissioner.

Her husband, James, died of a stroke in 1944. Miriam Ferguson died from congestive heart failure in 1961 at the age of 86. She was buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

Historians of the past have a tendency to view notable women in rather poor lights based on the narratives of their contemporaries.

Ferguson’s legacy is no different.

She was accused of being a puppet governor; a front for her husband to remain in charge. But, even allegedly checkered as hers was, she opened the doors for other women to run for higher government offices. She did what she could to help other women and their families, farmers, the state economy, and the public. Ferguson was, willingly or not, a woman who led and left an indelible mark on Texas history.

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21 Main.............................................. 15 Acropolis Greek Cuisine...................... 3 AdventHealth...................................... 5 Baylor Scott & White Hospice........... 13 Bell County Museum......................... 11 Bentons............................................. 19 Bryn Oaks B&B.................................. 33 CareAge HomeCare.......................... 21 Colonial Real Estate.......................... 67 Cook Residential Design................... 66 Crossroads to Texas Quilt Guild........ 13 Cultural Activities Center.................. 27 Dead Fish Grill................................... 15 Downtown Belton Business Alliance.. 43 Dusty Rose Boutique......................... 43 Ellis Air Systems................................ 53 Extraco Banks............................... 22-23 Gallery Design Center....................... 13 Garlyn Shelton GM...............Back cover Greater Killeen Airport...................... 41 iMERAKi............................................ 41 Lastovica Jewelers............................. 34 My Giving Tree.................................. 41 Nancy Best........................................ 31 NJP Balloons..................................... 41 Nolan Creek Realty........................... 24 Pain Specialists.................................. 59 Photos by Skeebo............................. 31 Precious Memories............................ 21 Rodney Dunn/Janie Reed................. 21 Salado Glassworks............................. 15 Stellar Homes.................................... 43 Summer Moon Coffee......................... 2 Suzy Q’s............................................. 31 Tanner Roofing.................................. 33 Temple Children’s Museum............... 33 Temple Daily Telegram...................... 55 Temple Feed & Supply...................... 19 West Temple Orthodontics............... 65 Woods Flowers.................................. 60 Young’s Daughters Funeral Home..... 26 Z Medical Aesthetics......................... 19 Zooty’s............................................... 25 The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions to this index.

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