The Hometown Press 05-12-2021 Auto

409-296-BANK

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Volume 32, Issue 19

Neuman Commits to Southern Illinois

Winnie to Get New Baseball/Softball Fields

An architectural rendition of the four new baseball/softball fields to be constructed at the Cook Road Complex.

By Wade Thibodeaux

An agenda item to construct new baseball/ softball fields at the Cook Road complex was on Chambers County Commissioners Court yesterday, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. The agenda item was approved and the wheels of County government should begin turning albeit very slowly

50 cents

By Wade Thibodeaux Sam Neuman received six D1 offers to continue his college football career and he has chosen Southern Illinois.

Sam really likes the agriculture program at Southern Illinois and plans to continue his education in beef cattle reproduction while playing for the Salukis(mascot).

Sam has been at Trinity Valley Junior College(Athens, Texas) for two years and has three years of eligibility left in his college playing days

and eventually dirt will begin to turn and the new fields will be created. In order for the clover leaf pattern of fields to be constructed, the Chambers County Road and Bridge yard where all of the road equipment and supplies are stored will have to be moved and odds are that the best location would be at the box site(trash) located along Interstate 10. No specific timeline was given for all of this project to commence, but just moving the road and bridge yard will require quite a bit of time and then the surveying and engineering departments will have to do their work before the first shovel of dirt can be moved. The fields will have turf infields and natural grass outfields and will be patterned in a clover leaf design to maximize the available space. Concession stands and restrooms will be centrally located to all four of the fields.

thanks to the Covid rules that basically gave all college athletes a free year. Sam has one more game to play for the Cardinals of Trinity Valley in this Spring football season that is delayed from last Fall due to Covid and then he has to report to Southern Illinois on June 5, 2021. He has received a full ride scholarship from Southern Illinois who play in the Missouri Valley Conference and are located in Carbondale, Illinois.

Congratulations Sam Neuman.

Babin Recognizes Participants of the 2021 Congressional Art Competition

Chambers County Commissioners Court to Resume In-Person Meetings The Hometown Press received the following news release concerning in person meetings for Chambers County Commissioners Court.

Chambers County Commissioners Court will resume in-person meetings and reopen these Court proceedings to public viewers on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

"We are excited to invite members of the public to once again join us at meetings of Commissioners Court," said Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia.

Seating will be limited because of the small size of the Court room. Admission will be granted only to the first 15 people to arrive. All additional people will be asked to wait in the hall and, if there to address an agenda item, will be invited in only when that item is being considered.

For those who wish to continue viewing Court proceedings remotely, a live stream will still be available for online viewing. Residents who wish to offer public comment may still do so virtually as well.

"We are going to continue offering live streaming and the option to participate

virtually," continued the Judge. "This will help save space for members of the public in the Court room and accommodate anyone who may not feel safe visiting inperson."

In fact, Departments with items on the Court Agenda will be asked to participate remotely.

If in-person participation is unavoidable, only one person per department will be allowed to attend.

To reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19, all persons who enter the Chambers County Court House will be required to submit to a health screening that includes a questionnaire and temperature check.

Face coverings are encouraged but not required in the Court House and other County facilities.

"As we move on to this phase of reopening, we ask the public to continue to partner with us and make smart decisions to ensure their safety and the safety of their friends and neighbors," said Judge Sylvia.

For more information regarding meetings of the Chambers County Commissioners Court, please visit the Chambers County website at co.chambers.tx.us.

Left to Right: Casey Ochoa (Art Teacher), Julia Satre, Marissa Williamson, Rep. Babin, Josye Meteer, Hannah Riddle, Brad McEachern (Hardin-Jefferson Superintendent), and Patrick Brown (HJHS Principal).

By Wade Thibodeaux On Thursday, May 6, 2021, U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) hosted a ceremony at HardinJefferson High School (HJHS) in Sour Lake to recognize the participants and announce the winner of the 2021 Congressional Art Competition. This year's competition followed the theme of “TX-36 the Energy Capital of the World.”

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First place was awarded to Josye Meteer, a junior at HardinJefferson, for her artwork Oil Cars in the Early Morning, which will now be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for an entire year.

“I would like to congratulate Josye Meteer and thank each of the talented students who participated in this year’s Congressional Art Competition, as well as the art teachers and

families who supported them throughout this process,” said Babin.

“Since the discovery of Spindletop in 1901, the area encompassing much of Texas’ 36th Congressional District has been the epicenter of the nation’s energy sector. We have so many great artists in TX-36, and I am extremely proud to show off their work to visitors from both our district and different parts of the

country as they pass by the display in the U.S. Capitol.”

Participating Students: Hardin-Jefferson High School Students: Hannah Riddle, Julia Satre, Josye Meeter, and Marissa Williamson Teacher: Mrs. Casey Ochoa Liberty High School Student: Emeri Greak Teacher: Mr. Ross Meche

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Opinion & Entertainment

Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Disclaimer: This column is the opinion of Publisher Wade A. Thibodeaux and may contain subject matter on a variety of topics, but usually contains humor of some description. An occasional serious thought may be thrown in to entice the reader to think.

Wade In the Shade

by Wade Thibodeaux What a weekend!!!!! It seemed like it started on Wednesday and maybe it did because it's hard for me to determine exactly what's a work day and what's supposed to be a play day. I have one of the best jobs in the world because I have the privilege of playing while I work. The only problem with this job is that it doesn't pay much, but I have learned to survive on $0.39 ramen noodles and some of those flavored waters are pretty good. Anyway, back to my weekend. I ended up in Elkhart talking to my new ranch foreman.... don't that sound impressive.....actually he's a pretty neat guy that has bailed me out of trouble on a couple of occasions already and he is going to help me when I need him to work my cows and he will do a little fence patching along the way. I finally made it to Huntsville from Winnie via Elkhart and seven hours of traveling with a stop for counting cows and some vittles for me and the kids. After about

six hours of sleep, I started my Thursday with an early morning meeting and then ended up at a program for the National Day of Prayer.

Once again, working, but I was able to squeeze a sandwich out of the deal and it never hurts to get a little extra praying in, especially for me because I need all of the help that I can get.

Thursday evening culminated with a little short two hour Huntsville ISD school board meeting.

Friday morning started off with getting Annie to school and then some time in the office to catch up on emails and things like that. Friday evening is generally a fun night for you guys, but I was working.

However, it's really hard to claim attending a BarB-Que Cook-off as work, but I was actually working.

In all fairness, I did find a way to mix a little fun into the work schedule as I was able to take some pictures with a camera in one hand and hold a rib in the other.

The only decision that had

to be made was whether to put the rib or the camera down in order to reach for the adult beverage to wash down the delicious samples coming from the cooking teams. There was also plenty of good music to be heard and of course I had to get up close and personal with the entertainment in order to take a picture for my job.

Do you guys know just how difficult it is to take a good in focus picture while two stepping around the dance floor(pasture)?? Also, I would like to point out that this job has long hours associated with it. I had to stay out way late in order to get all of these pictures and interviews with the cooking teams.

Saturday was no different.

I had to be up early in the morning to cover a street fair that was going on in Downtown Huntsville. I wanted to get the opportunity to visit with most of the vendors and then that rolled right into a little event called Wine Down, Shop Small.

This was the 10 year anniversary of that event and of course I had to cover it for the paper. Basically, it's a four hour ordeal where you have to walk around to all of the shops that are around the square in Huntsville and each of the shops have samples of food that has to be tasted in order to make sure that they are represent-

ing themselves properly.

Things like shrimp cocktail, pulled pork bbq sliders, and mexican food. Each of these shops also has a winery that has samples of their wine available to wash down the food in the event that some of that food is just not acceptable. I tell you......this is a tough job and some days I just don't know how I survive. Of course, plenty of folks are also sampling the food and beverages and that provides ample opportunity to visit with people that are ambling around the square and get their opinions on the festivities which can be incorporated into the articles.

Now, next weekend isn't looking any better. Friday afternoon I have to cover a golf tournament and if you

THE HOMETOWN PRESS

think dancing and taking pictures is tough, just try swinging a golf club and taking a picture. One of two things can happen.....either your picture is out of focus, or your golf shot is sliced off into the woods.....or both. Saturday is going to be tough as well. The Walker County Fair and Rodeo will be in full swing and I'll have to take a moment out of my busy schedule to sample the ribeye dinner that they serve every year for the scholarship committee before catching the action of the rodeo(for the article in the paper, of course). Sunday will be a work day as well because I'm going to have to be on the sidelines watching my Sam Houston Bearkats play for the National Champion-

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ship in the Covid delayed Fall football season. It's another hardship, but somehow I'll manage to try to get several good pictures from the endzone to help tell the play by play of the game.

Monday is the day that all of this work gets organized and placed into the paper and then Tuesday the paper goes to print and is placed in the mail. And then there is Wednesday where this column started in the first place and it just starts all over again. As I said, it doesn't pay much, but it's a pretty good job and I'm getting a little too old to be taught new tricks, so I think I'll just keep on keeping on.

Till next time, I'm ...........

Wade in the Shade.

Tumbleweeds

THE PIE LADY OF FLYNN

By Tumbleweed Smith When Kelly Storey was growing up in Houston her mother taught her to make pies.

Now Kelly has a pie shop in Flynn, a small community near Centerville.

“I do six different kinds of chess pies and 4 different kinds of meringue pies,” says Kelly. “Then we start in with pecan and other types of pies: caramel, strawberry, rhubarb, butterscotch and so forth. The best seller is coconut cream hands down.

The second is buttermilk and buttermilk pecan. People ask me if I make all these pies myself and I tell them yes.

They’ll ask me how I do it and I say one by one. Every pie is an extension of me.

They’re like my children.”

She worked in law offices for 40 years but always dreamed of owning a pie business.

When she bought ten acres of land in the country she started making pies.

“I took a piece of plywood and make a tacky sign with the words HOMEMADE PIES on it and put it by the road every Sunday. My house sits near the road where the sign

is and I’d sit on the porch and wait for a car to stop. Then I’d haul pies down there.

I baked all day Saturday.”

She has a café that is open Thursdays through Sundays.

During the pandemic she shut down her dining room but that didn’t stop customers from coming.

“They started bringing card tables and chairs and telling me ‘we miss you.’ They’ll sit outside and I’ll serve them pie under the shade trees in my picnic area. I’ll carry the coffee pot out there and give everybody an extra splash of coffee. I have these two crazy donkeys that’ll stand there and watch people eat and bray at them.”

She just serves breakfast now (yummy cinnamon rolls).

Later she might resume serving lunch (a glass of cornbread and milk is on the menu). People around Flynn must have been hungry for pie because they brought dishes, mixers, coffee makers and other appliances and donated them to Kelly when she opened.

She has a catering business.

“You can buy a meatloaf dinner or chicken and dumplings. I do fried chicken.

People call and say ‘there’s seven of us can you make us a fried chicken dinner?’ I make it and they’ll come pick it up.”

In the summer she makes a salsa.

“I call it THE GHOST MAKER ‘cause it’ll kill ya.”

Mostly, though, she makes pies. Most people buy a whole pie rather than just a slice.

“I make a Texas Southern Pecan, Bourbon Pecan, Caramel Pecan. Those are all twenty dollars. Double crust fruit pies are twenty.

All my other pies are fifteen.

I’m not in this to get rich.

I’m in it because I love it. I meet people from all over and that’s what I enjoy.” www.tumbleweesmith.com

Tumbleweed Smith’s column in the Hometown Press is presented by

MARKET BASKET

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ■ East Chambers regular school board meetings are held on the second Monday beginning at 6pm in the 216 Champions Loop Winnie, TX 77665

THEME: EUROPEAN CAPITALS ACROSS 1. RPM gauge 5. Have a bawl 8. *"Neutral" capital 12. Paella pot 13. Mend, healthwise 14. Deadly snake of southeastern Asia 15. Multicolored horse 16. Estimator's phrase (2 words) 17. "The Addams Family" manservant 18. *Northernmost European capital 20. One of British Isles 21. EUR, pl.

22. Ensign, for short 23. Pieces of glass, e.g.

26. Vacuum cleaner alternative 30. "____ the land of the free..."

31. Oxygenate, as in lawn 34. Insane, in Spain 35. Just harvested, e.g.

37. A in IPA 38. Church song 39. Tiny amount 40. Military marksman 42. Fake tooth 43. Devoid of liquid 45. Jet setters' vessels 47. Address abbreviation

48. Sports stadium 50. Japan's highest mountain 52. *Capital that hosts Nobel Prizes 56. Sophia ____, Italian actress 57. Genesis twin 58. Curved molding 59. Tequila source 60. Non-permanent office worker 61. Like dental surgery 62. *Capital on a fjord 63. Possesses 64. Big top DOWN 1. Unit of pressure named after Torricelli 2. Post sun-bathing relief 3. Wallace & Gromit modeling material 4. Desire 5. Aussie gas station 6. Desert wanderer's hope 7. Alexander Alexandrovich ____, Russian poet 8. *Also the capital of European Union 9. James ____ Jones 10. Paddy grain 11. To the ____ degree 13. Like voice after a pep rally 14. "A Fish Called Wanda"

Solution on page 3

actor Kevin 19. Judea, alt. sp.

22. Mama sheep 23. *Bulgarian capital and actress Vergara's given name 24. Long-necked bird 25. Rocky ridge 26. Pas 27. Hunt illegally 28. Audienceís approval 29. Frolics 32. "Atlas Shrugged" author Ayn 33. Cassius Clay 36.*Balkan capital and 1984 Olympics location 38. Practical joke 40. Canine command 41. Eyeball washing vessel 44. Offer two cents 46. Collusion 48. Away from harbor (2 words) 49. Drifts 50. *London was famous for these pea soup particulars 51. Russian mountain chain 52. Comedian Rogan 53. Shrek, e.g.

54. Not fatty 55. Patty ____ 56. ____ Tzu

or any members, to join them for Chicken Foot on Thursdays at noon, and Bingo on Wednesdays at 1 p.m.

For more information, please call 267-3700.

■ The Wellness Center at ■ The Lily Bayside invites seniors, Valley Food

located at 1222 N. Main St. in Anahuac, distributes food to those in need on the fourth Saturday of each month.

Anyone wishing to donate canned goods, money or volunteer is of the encouraged to do so.

Pantry,

The Hometown Press The Hometown Press, ID#006414 is published weekly on Wednesday, except for the Wednesday immediately following Christmas, by Hometown Press, Inc., 2028 State Hwy 124 or P.O. Box 801, Winnie, TX 77665.

Annual instate subscription rate is $25.00 and out-of-state is $25.00. Second Class postage is paid at Winnie, TX Postmaster.

Change of address may be sent to Hometown Press, P.O. Box 801, Winnie, TX. 77665. Phone: 409296-9988, Fax: 409-296-9987, email: htpress99@gmail.com Periodical Class Permit #006414 Winnie, TX 77665 STAFF BOX Publisher: Wade Thibodeaux Advertising Deadline is noon Monday for Wednesday paper.

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THE HOMETOWN PRESS

Local News

Wednesday, May 12, 2021 PUNISHMENT RANGE

Thirty individuals were arrested and booked into the Chambers County Jail between Monday, May 3 and Saturday, May 8. Warrants from last week are also as followed.

The individuals have been magistrated and formally

informed of the charges against them. However, just because these individuals were arrested and magistrated does not mean they are guilty of the crimes they are charged with committing. Also, not everyone charged with a crime

is alleged to have committed the crime in Chambers County, but perhaps was simply arrested in Chambers County on outstanding warrant(s) while in Chambers County.

Instances in which individuals were arrested on outstanding

warrants, their original conviction and the reason they are on probation or parole, if available, is included in parenthesis set.

• First degree felony: punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison and a $10,000 fine.

• Second degree felony: punishable by up to 20 years and a $10,000 fine.

• Third degree felony: punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

• State jail felony: punishable by up to two years in prison.

• Deferred adjudication probation: typically offered to the first time offenders. Defendants’ judgement is deferred until later, if ever. If they successfully complete the terms of their probation, they are not judge and thus have no criminal conviction in connection to the offense. However, if they accept deferred adjudication probation but fail to abide by the terms of their probation, they could be sentenced to the maximum time in prison allowable under the law without the benefit of a trail by jury.

• Class A misdemeanor: punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.

• Class B misdemeanor: punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Patti Henry District Clerk Passports M-F 8 am-11 am & 1pm-4pm

Jimmy Gore Commissioner Pct 1

409-296-8250

409-267-2432

Jimmy Sylvia County Judge

409-267-2440

Gore Propane is now hiring for Bobtail drivers, must have CDL/Hazmat. Competitive salary and benefits. For further information cal (409)389-2242 or (409)267-5412

PUBLIC NOTICE

Total Main Jail:

30

P r o R o d e o To u r E v e n t s Ta k e Precedence on Cowboys' Schedules The end of the ProRodeo regular season is nearly five months into the future, yet bull rider Laramie Mosley and rookie steer wrestler Marc Joiner have that in their sights.

They both know the ProRodeo Tour Finale in Salinas, Calif., Sept. 23-26 could be a make-or-break weekend in determining qualifiers for the Wrangler Nation-

al Finals Rodeo.

The Tour Finale will pay out more than $500,000 and will include the top 24 contestants in each event in the Tour Standings.

Both Mosley and Joiner were in the top 10 of their respective events in the PRCA | RAM World Standings as of May 6 and both were among the top 24 in the Tour Standings.

"It'd mean a lot (to make the Tour Finale)," said Mosley, 25.

"There's a bunch of big money added at the Tour Finale. I've never gotten to go, and I really want to."

Mosley is coming off winning the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo over the weekend, where he earned $4,504 and 750 Tour points. That helped him climb to fifth in the world standings

and third in the Tour.

Mosley is rolling with the season. He says he doesn't search out the world standings, but that's because he doesn't need to.

"I've always been told not to (look), but I do," he said. "I don't let everybody know that I do, but I look at the standings. And people send it to me."

Joiner is traveling with about as (contd on page 7)

Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Theresa Ortiz, Deceased, were issued on May 4, 2021 in Cause No. 21CPR0046, pending in the County Court of Chambers County, Texas, to: Michael George Ortiz All persons having claims against this Estate, which is currently being administered, are required to present them to Michael George Ortiz within the tie and in the manner prescribed by law at the following address: Michael George Ortiz 309 East Pear Avenue Winnie, Texas 77665

Religion & Lifestyle

Wednesday,May 12, 2021

Sunday Observations from Christy

Setting the Hook

I was standing beside Leon when his line took off, and he began to reel. You could tell by the way the rod was bending he had a “bull red” redfish on the other end. When he finally got his prize catch to the surface, we all saw the biggest fish of the day as it “spit” the lure out and swam away. I thought we were going to have to call 911 to take care of Leon.

Our guide looked at Leon and said, “I think that one would have made the Guinness Book of World Records, but you still have to set the hook!”

In John 10:28 Jesus said of those who place their faith in Him, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

In other words, “Jesus sets the hook.”

Danny R. Biddy, Chaplain: Chambers County Sheriff’s Office & Fellowship of Christian Cowboys

OBITUARIES

Eloise Evans, 95, of Winnie, died Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Harbor Hospice of Beaumont. She was born on November 3, 1925, in Doucette, to Assemblies of God

Cornerstone Church 3810 Hwy. 124 • Stowell 409-296-2481 Sunday Worship Service.........10:00 am Wednesday Family Night......6:30 pm Cornerstone Church 1100 Oak Street • Anahuac 409-296-2481 Sunday Worship Service.....10:30 am

Baptist

First Baptist Church of Anahuac 405 South Magnolia • Anahuac 409-267-3262 Sunday School..............9:00 am SundayMorningWorship.....11:00 am Evening Worship..........6:00 pm Wednesday Prayer Meeting.....6:30 pm First Baptist of Fannett Highway 124 • Fannett Sunday School.................9:30 am Sunday Morning Worship...10:45 am Sunday Discipleship Training.......5:00 pm Sunday Evening Worship.............6:00 pm Wednesday Prayer Meeting......7:00 pm First Baptist Church of Hamshire Highway 124 • Hamshire 409-243-2163 Sunday School.................9:15 am Morning Worship.........10:30 am Evening Worship............6:00 pm Wednesday Discipleship....6:15 pm First Baptist Church of Stowell W. Main &VanOstrand • Stowell 409-296-4510 Sunday School.........................9:30 am Sunday Morning Worship......11:00 am Sunday Evening Worship........6:00 pm Wednesday Bible Study............7:00 pm OutdoorsMen Church of Winnie Hwy 124 in Winnie Saturday.......6:00pm (covered dish meal at service)

THE HOMETOWN PRESS

Laura Mae Marshall Dean and Jerry Franklin Dean.

Survivors include her son, John Evans, of Weatherford; granddaughters, Heather Currie and her husband, Jeff, of Allan and Becca Hansen and her husband, McKay, of Fort Worth; great-grandchildren, Meagan and Gavin Currie, of Allen; and daughter, Joy Lynne Labough, of Winnie.

She is preceded in death by her parents

First Baptist Church of Winnie Winnie 409-296-4072 Brian Johnson, Pastor Sunday School.................9:15 am Sunday Morning Worship..10:30 am SundayEvening Worship...........6:00 pm Wednesday: Kids for Christ.................4:00 pm Youth (Grades 7-12)........4:00 pm Adult Bible Study/Prayer Meeting.6:00 pm Sweet Home Baptist Church Hankamer 409-374-2208 Pastor: Ronald Smith Sunday School.................9:30 am SundayMorningWorship.........10:30am Wednesday Dinner......................6:00 pm Wednesday Bible Study Adult, Youth and Children’s.....6:30 pm Mt. Horeb Baptist Church Campbell Rd &Ave G • Stowell 409-296-2938 Sunday School.........................8:00 am Sunday Morning Worship.........9:00 am Monday Mission & Teachers.......6:00 pm Wednesday Prayer Meeting & Choir St. Paul Baptist Church First Street • Stowell 409-296-2750 Sunday School.........................9:45 am Sunday Worship....................11:00 am Monday Brotherhood............7:00 pm Tuesday Mission.....................6:30 pm WednesdayPrayerMeeting...........7:00pm

I have started this multiple times this week, all along the lines of “our wonderful moms”, and hit a brick wall. So today, I figured out why.

Here is the thing. You shouldn’t celebrate your mom on Mother’s Day, you should celebrate her 365 days a year. And before I get told not all moms deserve celebrating I will say you are right!

So find that maternal person that stepped in, and celebrate them. Daily.

Just like fathers, celebrate them daily. We don’t need a special day to do so. We don’t have to cook lunch or make a huge fan fare.

So what do I mean by

and her husband, L. N. Evans.

A memorial service for Mrs. Evans' was at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Broussard's, 134 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie.

A family committal was held at Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

Complete and updated information may be found at: broussards1889.com.

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celebrate them then? Well let me explain….

Respect them. If they make a request, do it. I don’t care how dumb you think it is. DO IT. Unless it is downright dangerous, just do it. Do you know why? Nope you think I’m going to say because of age, they are your elder, blah blah. And that’s not it.

Do you remember those ridiculous clothes you had to have? The hair cut? The absurd music?

The countless hours of sitting at your practices, games, recitals? Have you forgotten the trips to the ER when you got hurt doing something you knew better than? The meals? All of it?

Ok…… maybe you are getting my drift. If your parent or grandparent wants to tell you a story you have heard before, sit down shut up and listen. They want to share some advice you think you know better than?

Remember these folks taught you to use a spoon.

Listen to their advice.

More than anything…..

make time for them. Go see them. Call them. Bring your kids to see them.

Make the time while you have the time. Why??

Because I promise you, glance at Facebook today.

Not Twitter. Not Snap or Insta. Glance at Facebook, the one us old people use primarily. While you are scrolling take count. Of the people saying they miss their mom. Their grandmother.

Their bonus mom. Their aunt.

Their sister. Their wife.

I promise the magnitude of loss shared on these holidays will take your breath away if you pay attention.

Life is happening folks.

Every single day. I’m blessed. I have my mom, my bonus mom, a kiddo that will spend the day with me, and had my grandmothers far longer than many. Damn near made it to 50 before I lost the last one. I know when I was younger I didn’t take the time I should have.

I know as well I can’t change that now. What I can do is take the time to make the time.

Happy Sunday peeps, celebrate those you love daily. By showing them respect. By picking up a plant for them. By shipping something they may like to them. Call them. And yes…. Text them. Because one day, before you blink, you will lose them. Then it’s too late. Don’t wish you had, instead know you did. We get one ride here, make your parents and loved ones a part of your priorities. I promise you will never regret it.

It just may take you a few years to realize just how thankful you are. To have heard the stories, the advice, and the love.

I would give just about anything to hear my grandmothers (either one) say, Christy Michelle what have you done now? To hear my grandfather say, hey sugar. Or to watch my other grandfather fly one more time. Literally, I blinked. Celebrate those folks….. every single chance you get. Don’t wait on special dates on the calendar. Every day is special, I promise.

Linda Joyce Craigen Hale, 78, of Winnie, died Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Harbor Hospice of Beaumont. She was born on November 21, 1943, in Anahuac, to Anna Josephine Weisse

Craigen and Forest Craigen. Linda was loved by all that met her. She was outgoing and loved conversation, French music, and dancing.

She leaves behind a son; six grandchildren; for great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Forest and Anna Craigen; husband, Tommy Hale, Sr.; sons, John and Danny Hale; brothers, Mark and Baby Robert Craigen; and sistesr, Lilly Craigen and Emma

Lou Mansolo.

A gathering of Mrs. Hale's family and friends was from 5:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at Broussard's, 134 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie. Her funeral service was at 2:00p.m. on Sunday, May 9, 2021, at Broussard's, Winnie, with her interment following at Fairview Cemetery in Winnie.

Memorial contributions may be made to Epilepsy Foundation, 2401 Fountan View Drive, Suite 900, Houston, Texas 77057.

Methodist

Nondenominational

Church Services

St. Mary Baptist Church Hwy 61 &Albritton •Hankamer 409-374-2182 Sunday School.........................9:30 am Morning Worship..................11:00 am Wednesday Bible Study.........7:00 pm SunlightMissionaryBaptistChurch Spikes Rd • Hankamer Sunday School.........................9:45 am Sunday Morning Worship......11:00 am Wednesday Evening..................7:00 pm LaBelle Baptist Church 9400 Hwy 365 • LaBelle 409-796-1240 Sunday School.......................10:00 am Sunday Adult Worship............11:00 am Sunday Children’s Church......11:00 am Sunday Evening......................6:00 pm Wednesday Bible Study.............7:00 pm First Baptist Church High Island Sunday School.........................9:30 am Sunday Worship....................10:30 am Sunday Evening Worship..........6:00 pm Wednesday Prayer & Bible......7:00 pm

Catholic St. Louis Catholic Church 315 W Buccaneer Dr • Winnie 409-296-4200 Weekday Mass Wednesday..................8:30 am Spanish Friday....9:45 am English at Arboretum Saturday...Reconciliation 3:00-3:45 pm Mass in English...............4:00 pm Sunday Mass in English.....7 am & 10:30 am Spanish Mass........................noon Holy days......8:30 am & 6:30 pm Our Lady of Light Catholic Church S. Main St • Anahuac 409-267-3158 Confession:Saturday...............5:00 pm English: Sunday.......................8:30 am Spanish: Saturday...................6:00 pm Thursday...................................6:00 pm

St. Mary’s Catholic Church Hwy. 365 & IH-10 • Fannett 794-2548 Saturday Mass.........................5:00 pm Sunday Mass............7:00 & 11:00 am St. Martin DePorres Mission Boyt & Kidd • Cheek 409-794-2548 Sunday Mass............................9:00 am

Church of Christ Winnie Church of Christ 2559 Hwy 124 • Stowell 409-899-1737 • 409-363-9898 Sunday Bible Class.................9:45 am Sunday Morning Worship.......10:45 am Sunday Evening Worship......5:00 pm Wednesday Service................7:00 pm Church of Christ Oak Street • Anahuac 267-6445 Sunday Bible Class.................9:30 am SundayWorship Service......10:30 am SundayEvening Worship.......6:00 pm Wednesday Service................6:00 pm

Episcopal Trinity Episcopal Church Washington & Light St • Anahuac 409-267-6582 Sunday Holy Communion.......9:00 am

Latter Day Saints

Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints Menely Road • Winnie Sunday Morning.....................9:00 am Wednesday Youth Activities.....7:00 pm

Lutheran

Hope Lutheran Church 9th & LeBlanc - Winnie 409-296-2377 Sunday Worship............9:30 am Sunday School............10:45 am

First United Methodist 204 Trinity St • Anahuac 409-267-3242 Sunday School.......................10:45 am Sunday Worship....................11:00 am St. James Methodist Ed Hopkins @ Texas St • Anahuac Sunday School.........................9:30 am Sunday Worship 1st & 4th Sunday.....................................11:00 am Wednesday Bible Studies......6:00 pm Faith United Methodist Highway 365 • Fannett 409-794-1121 Sunday School......................10:00 am Sunday Worship....................11:00 am UMYF 2nd and 4th Sunday.....5:00 pm Middleton Memorial Methodist Wallisville Rd • Wallisville 409-389-2218 Sunday Worship......................9:00 am St.PaulUnitedMethodistDoubleBayou www.stpauldoublebayou.com Sunday School........................10:45am Sunday Worship .................... 9:00 am Wednesday Bible Studies.........6:30 pm St. Mathew’s United Methodist 1312 Weeks Ave • High Island Sunday School.........................9:00 am Sunday Worship Service.........10:00 am UMYF.............................................3:00 pm First United Methodist Highway 124 @ Freeman • Winnie 296-4382 Sunday School.........................9:30 am Sunday Worship....................10:45 am UMYF.......................................6:00 pm Sunday Worship......................9:30 am Sunday School.......................10:45 am

SmithPoint Community Church Smith Point Sunday School.......................10:00 am Sunday Morning Worship......11:00 am Trinity Church 1324 Hwy. 124 • Winnie Sunday Happy Hour...............9:00 am Morning Worship.................10:00 am WednesdayEveningWorship....7:30pm House of Prayer Fannett Elementary School 409-794-9470 Sunday Services.............2:00-5:00 pm HankamerCommunity Fellowship FM 1663 @ FM 1724 • Hankamer Sunday School.....................10:00 am Sunday Praise & Worship..11:00 am Wednesday Bible Study........7:00 pm Lighthouse of Hope Church 507 6th St. Winnie, Texas (at the corner of 6th St. and Oak St.) 409-782-5354 Sunday Worship....................10:00 am Wednesday Worship..............6:30 pm Word of Life Church Please call (351) 999-4923 to participate in our phone church services: Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

Church services 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 pm

Pentecostal

Calvary Tabernacle 1210 FM 1406 • Winnie 296-2020 Sunday School........................2:00 pm Sunday Worship.....................2:45 pm Thursday Evening...................7:00 pm (Children’s Church, Youth Service & Bible Study) - Pastor Carl A. Vickery Calvary Tabernacle UPC 11185 Mahon Rd, Fannet Pastor Steve Adams 409-201-8033 Sunday 1pm, Thursday 7pm First UnitedPentecostal Church 1352 Walter Street • High Island 286-5444 Sunday Worship....................10:00 am Tuesday.....................................7:30 pm

PAGE 5

Business Directory

THE HOMETOWN PRESS

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

$10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 296-9988

Clark Freight Line Bus Pg Ad:May 21 ad 11/29/17 11:39 AM Page 1

Bus Pg Ad:May 21 ad 6/28/17 1:11 PM Page 1

Winnie Dairy Queen Hwy 124 South P.O. Box 981 Winnie, TX 77665

(409) 296-2116

$10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 296-9988

McCall BS pg:May 21 ad 6/28/17 1:10 PM Page 1

C & V WRECKER SERVICE Craig Stowe Owner

PO Box 1376 2425 Hwy 124 S. Winnie, TX 77665

409-296-9542

Clark Freight Lines, Inc. Pasadena, TX 281-487-3160 Beaumont, TX • W. Memphis, AR Birmingham, AL • Nashville, TN

www.clarkfreight.com

“Trucks Move Your World”

$10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 296-9988

$10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 296-9988

$10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 296-9988

$10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 296-9988

$10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 296-9988

Classifieds

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Free for individuals selling personal items

Call (409)296-9988 • Fax (409)296-9987 htpress99@gmail.com

THE HOMETOWN PRESS

PAGE 6

Let our readers know about your garage sales, help wanted, services....

Deadline: Monday before publication at 12 noon

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

HELP WANTED

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

SERVICES

Palms RV Park 721 9th Street, Winnie. Showers, laundry room, wifi, propane bottle exhange, privacy fence, security cameras. 409.673.5927 For Lease 4 BR 2 bath 1 car garage. 936 Van Ostrand, Winnie. $1550.00/ month. Call 409-363-4570

House for rent: brick house, 3 bed 2.5 bath, inside has washer, dryer & refrigerator. very nice house. one month $1,200. One year contract please call 832-298-8159 House for Rent 3 BR 1 1/2 bath $1100.00/ month and $1100.00 deposit. No utilities.

Call Reenay 409-201-0399 For Rent 3BR House Kitchen Appliances, Central Heat/Air $1250.00/ mo 409-651-0578 1600 sq. ft. for rent.

Window display, Highway frontage 409-781-0918

Handyman needed for only a few hours work around the house and yard.

409-296-6224

Cub SI40 farm tractors 14’50’ mobile home - large dog house metal - garden tiller - 3 drilling rigs want to buy disk - brush hog - tractor w/ front loader. 281-788-7838

Canal City lot for sale by owner on the middle canal undeveloped Lot #302, 1468 Van Sant Gilchrist TX call Alan 409-9393240 no texts $30,000

Garry BrattenExperienced Handyman. No job too small or large.

409-354-8280.

2004 40' Mountain Air motorhome, made by Newmar. 250 Cummings diesel, 6 speed Allison transmission $25000.00 Call 409-277-0883 or 409-277-9872

Horse hay 4x5 fertilized Jiggs Bermuda in barn $50.00/roll.

Call 409-781-2236

1000 sq. ft. office space for rent. 409-781-0918.

FOR SALE

4x5 Round bales stored outside for cows. $35.00 each. Call 409-781-2236

.ARBO:RETUM o:F.WINNIE RE Due to our continued success, we are now taking applications for full time and part time positions. Great work environment and only 25 miles from Port Arthur or Beaumont.

Certified Nurse Aide

We offer competitive pay with benefits. Come join our TEAM. Apply in person at 1215 HWY. 124, Winne, TX 409-296-8200

TexSCAN Week of May 9-15, 2021 ACREAGE Hunting/investment/recreational property. We have some of the best in Texas! From the Hill Country (Edwards, Menard, Coke, Val Verde County, free ranging exotics) to South Texas (Kinney, Duval, Live Oak County, whitetail, hogs). Large or small acreage.

30-year fixed rate owner financing, only 5% down.

Call toll-free or email for individual prices and terms, www.ranchenterprisesltd.com, 800-876-9720.

AIRPORT RFP

TRUCK DRIVERS Be Your Own Boss, Choose Your Own Routes!

Looking for CDL drivers to deliver new trucks all over the country, starting in Laredo, TX. Experience preferred. Must have DOT physical and be willing to keep logs. No DUIs in the last 10 years, clean MVR. Quality Drive-Away. Apply online at www.qualitydriveaway.com or call 574-642-2023.

MAINTENANCE Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection.

Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-815-5722.

General Labor crew needed. Duties include: shoveling, weed-eating/ mowing, pouring concrete, laying pipes and clearing land.

Background check and drug screen required.

Tempto-hire - $12.00 per hour. Call us at 835-5566.

FOR RENT

House for rent in Winnie.

3 bed, 1.5 bath + game room, fenced backyard.

Brick house in nice neighborhood. $1,200 month +deposit.

409-789-0289

One BR apartment $600.00/per month, $600.00 deposit. No utilities Call Reenay 409-201-0399 FOR LEASE Horse and cow pasture for lease. One mile from Winnie. 20 acres and 2 barns. $100/month.

4 0 9 - 4 6 6 - 6 4 1 7 , 4 0 9 - 2 9 6 - 9 2 6 7

Cat 3406, new rods &main bearings, marine gear includes PTO & hydraulic pump. Shaft is 2 1/2" x 12'3" w/4 blade prom 3 drum winch & stainless cables.

Engine on stand to hear run in Oak Island.

936-546-4401

7 1/4 acres furnished house lots of outside equipment.

409-284-5543 2005 Crown Vic Intercepter: Clean, dependable, new tires, brakes, great ac, etc., $3, 800.00. 281-414-6353 Trailer axles $40.00 - $100.00 each, PVC pipe 1 1/2 to 4" $50.00, Call 409-457-5204 Commercial gas tank for sale $700. refrigerator for sale $80. please call 832-298-8159 2 Iron Bar stools with wood swivel seat. $40.00 Call 409-277-0064 2012 Jeep Compass runs good. A/C works but does not cool well.

Work vehicle $5000.00 Call 409-277-1065 Queen size bedroom set, includes dresser with mirrors and one nightstand. $300.00. Call 409-291-1288 4x5 Round bales Horse quality in barn $50.00 Call 409-781-2236 2000 Ford gas tractor parts.

Call for prices Located in Stowell 4 0 9 - 4 5 7 - 5 2 0 4 Window air conditioner $50 Located in Stowell 4 0 9 - 4 5 7 - 5 2 0 4 4 tires size 33x12.50 R18LT $100 Located in Stowell 4 0 9 - 4 5 7 - 5 2 0 4

AT&T Internet. Starting at $40/month w/12-mo agmt. Includes 1 TB of data per month. Get More For Your High-Speed Internet Thing. Ask us how to bundle and SAVE! Geo & svc restrictions apply. Call us today 1-855-439-5457.

Texas Press Statewide Classified Network 273 Participating Texas Newspapers • Regional Ads Start At $250 • Email ads@texaspress.com NOTICE: While most advertisers are reputable, we cannot guarantee products or services advertised. We urge readers to use caution and when in doubt, contact the Texas Attorney General at 800-621-0508 or the Federal Trade Commission at 877-FTC-HELP. The FTC web site is www.ftc.gov/bizop.

Name:_________________________ Address:________________________________ City, State, Zip:__________________________

$25.00 Mail Check or Money Order to: The Hometown Press PO Box 801, Winnie, TX 77665 409-296-9988 We Accept Most Major Credit Cards

Set of metal steps. $40 Located in Stowell 4 0 9 - 4 5 7 - 5 2 0 4

Disk and scoop for tractor $25 each Located in Stowell 4 0 9 - 4 5 7 - 5 2 0 4

DRIVEN TO BE THE BEST

Be Your Own Boss, Choose Your Own Routes!

Looking for CDL drivers to deliver new trucks all over the country, starting in Laredo, TX. Experience preferred. Must have DOT physical and be willing to keep logs. No DUIs in last 10 years, clean MVR.

Apply Online at www.qualitydriveaway.com or call 574-642-2023

Wade A. Thibodeaux

Publisher wade@txmediacorp.com 409.656.5677

PO Box 801 • Winnie, TX 77665 (409) 296-9988

FREE WANT ADS POLICIES TWO KINDS OF WANT ADS

PAID/BUSINESS WANT ADS

FREE WANT ADS

for NON-BUSINESS PURPOSES:

Individuals & Non-Profits (furniture, clothes, garage sales, etc) Ads are inserted on a space-available basis with no guarantee of insertion.

All business want-ads, Including small & home businesses (babysitting, yard services, house cleaning etc.)

1 time - $10; 4 times - $32; 12 times - $72 • Include payment w/ ad • Online: thehometownpress.com • Cash, check, money order or credit cards accepted.

TO PLACE WANT ADS: www.thehometownpress.com Drop Box: Market Basket,Winnie Mail: P.O Box 801 Winnie, Tx 77665

WANTED

Need Extra Cash – I Buy RVs & Mobile Homes – Travel Trailers, 5th Wheels, Goosenecks, Bumper Pulls.

In Any Area, Any Condition – Old/New, Dirty or Clean!

I PAY CA$H. No Title – No Problem, we can apply for one. ANR Enterprises, 956-466-7001.

For sale: Bradford, Brangus, and Hereford bulls. Call 713.875.5703

Metal Shelves $10 each 4 available Located in Stowell 4 0 9 - 4 5 7 - 5 2 0 4

City of Pleasanton is accepting Requests for Proposals for A&P Mechanical, Inspection Authority and/ or Aircraft Maintenance Services at the Pleasanton Municipal Airport. Sealed RFPs will be received at City Secretary’s Office, 108 Second St., City MEDICAL Hall Building, Pleasanton, TX 78064 until 4 p.m.

CT, Friday, May 14, 2021. Contact Andres Aguire, Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by aaguirre@pleasantontx.gov.

Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the AUCTION compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Lake Texoma Investment Property, 257 Standpipe Free information kit! Call 866-747-9983.

Rd., Mead, OK, Live Auction with Online Bidding – Fri., May 21 at Noon. Four separate houses on the Life Alert. One press of a button sends help FAST, property, all rental units currently leased with positive 24/7! At home and on the go. Mobile Pendant with cash flow. Call Gary at 817-560-2277 with questions; GPS. FREE First Aid Kit (with subscription.) CALL bidding/info: www.KenCarpenterAuction.com, 844-831-1525. FREE Brochure.

405-620-1524.

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual GENERATORS Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus proceGENERAC Standby Generators provide backup dures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount power during utility power outages, so your home and plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free Information Kit with all the details! 1-855-901-0467 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions. www.dental50plus.com/txpress #6258 1-855-704-8579.

INTERNET

Trailer axles $40 - 100 each Located in Stowell 4 0 9 - 4 5 7 - 5 2 0 4

DID YOU SUFFER DAMAGE BECAUSE OF TEXAS POWER OUTAGE? Those who have suffered an injury, lost a loved one, sustained home or business damage or property loss may be entitled to significant compensation.

Call us toll-free at: 800-444-9112 Pulaski Kherkher, PLLC, Principal Office: 2925 Richmond Ave #1725, Houston, TX 77098

DEADLINE is Noon Monday for the current week’s issue. Free ads run space permitting. Must resubmit to re-run. Limit of 25 words per ad.

Ads will be run on a space available basis.

Include phone number(s) and limit your ad to 25 words or less. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ MAIL TO: PO Box 801 • Winnie, TX 77665

PAGE 7

Culture/Lifestyle

THE HOMETOWN PRESS

hunting. A lot still is.

Some use shotguns; others .22 rifles. I’ve used both. My preference is a trusty Winchester Model 62-A, .22 pump rifle reminiscent of the .22 that Uncle Josh used to introduce me to riflery. The last time I saw

WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE

GET SQUIRRELY!

By John Jefferson

I received an announcement recently about a new .22 caliber rifle being marketed by the CZ USA company. It spoke of the rising interest in small game hunting particularly for squirrels and rabbits.

I’m all for that! There was a time I even promoted hunting for nutria, since they were abundant in southeast Texas, where I lived.

Access to huntable land having adequate

Welcome Neighborhood Net Readers!

wetlands – preferred habitat for nutria – and the threat of ricochets from rifles or pistols fired over water prevented that from becoming popular.

But squirrel and rabbit hunting have always been high on the lists of myriad hunters. At one time, squirrel hunting was more popular than deer hunting. During the Great Depression, deer were shot for food. It became rare to see whitetails at all in parts of Texas.

I was 14 before I ever saw one.

My first hunt ever was accompanying Uncle Josh Munro squirrel hunting in the hardwood Beech Creek bottomland at the edge of the Big Thicket one cold, dim morning at about age ten. I didn’t realize the awakening that was taking place. Or what it would lead to.

From then on, I dreamed of hunting the Lawhorn Woods whenever we passed them going to Galveston.

Then, as veterans returning from WW II began hunting, the infamous screwworm infestation devastat-

ed Texas livestock and deer on into the early ‘60s. Once the tiny, winged beasts were controlled with the release of sterile male flies, Texas Parks and Wildlife’s extensive restocking of deer throughout Texas changed a lot of things.

Photos of kids proudly holding a squirrel or two were being replaced with a young ‘uns first animal kill – a young deer a little younger than the hunter.

As deer mania rose, access, again, became a problem since deer hunting commanded center stage. More land was leased for the sport that provided the most revenue to landowners. Some deer hunters were reluctant to share turf with squirrel hunters.

The vast forested land in East Texas, though, provided a veritable wonderland for squirrel hunters. Although the namesakes of the Pineywoods themselves offered nothing for squirrels to eat, Chinkapin oaks and other oaks and nut-bearing trees did. Much of it was National Forest land and open to excellent

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

him, he was alert, but non-talking. At one point, he smiled and pointed at his .22 pump hanging on the wall. I looked at it, smiled and nodded.

He silently did the same, and pointed at me as he did. I think of him every time I

handle my .22 pump.

Squirrel hunting with a rifle is a challenge but makes one a more accurate rifleman in the long run. And a .22 is a great teaching tool for kids.

One they’ll never forget.

Starting kids hunting at an early age gets them off to a safe, early, lasting start – even it’s just with toy guns. Squirrel season in the game-rich East Texas hardwood forests is open until May 31, and the bag limit is ten. Some other counties have a year-around season with no bag limit. Photo by John Jefferson.

ProRodeo Tour Events Take Precedence on Cowboys' Schedules

much experience as one truck can hold.

When he climbs into the rig, he's surrounded by three steer wrestlers who have a combined 15 NFR qualifications and three world titles.

He's traveling with Tyler Waguespack, Kyle Irwin and Tyler Pearson and gains knowledge on a daily basis.

"There's so much – from taking care of horses to bulldogging to how to enter, just life," Joiner said. "It's everything.

They're a great group of guys."

That experience,

plus riding Cheese, Waguespack's horse, and Joiner's talent are paying off. The 22-year-old is 23rd in the Tour – just inside the cutoff for the Tour Finale – with 774.66 points and is eighth in the world with $22,430.

Making sure Tour rodeos are on his schedule is among Joiner's main goals.

He earned more than $11,000 at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, picking up 525 Tour points there.

"They pay more, they add a lot of money," he said about Tour ro-

deos. "It's hard not to go to them. Everyone wants to make those finals at the end of the year, it can be a great deal for us."

Mosley, like Joiner, isn't planning on slowing down.

"I planned on going full time," Mosley said. "I still plan on going as hard as I can and getting to everything I can. I've seen it too many times, guys think they have it made and back off and don't make it. If I can keep entering, keep going and staying on, it'll get me a gold buckle by the end of it."

Community

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Promotes Public Access to Hunting and Fishing in Largest Expansion of Opportunities to Date Continuing the Department of the Interior’s efforts to increase recreational access on public lands, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today a proposal for new or expanded hunting and sport fishing opportunities for game species across 2.1 million acres at 90 national wildlife refuges and on the lands of one national fish hatchery.

In Texas, these opportunities are proposed at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge and Neches River National Wildlife Refuge.

“We are committed to ensuring Americans of all backgrounds have

access to hunting and fishing and other recreational activities on our public lands,” said Service Principal Deputy Director Martha Williams. “Hunters and anglers are some of our most ardent conservationists and they play an important role in ensuring the future of diverse and healthy wildlife populations. Our lands have also provided a much-needed outlet to thousands during the pandemic and we hope these additional opportunities will provide a further connection with nature, recreation and enjoyment.”

Increasing access to public lands and waters is a central component of the Biden-Harris admin-

istration’s approach to conservation, including the efforts to conserve 30 percent of U.S lands and waters by 2030. This proposed rule would open or expand 939 opportunities for hunting or sport fishing (an opportunity is one species on one field station). The expansion proposed in this rule is the largest in recent history – including last year’s proposed rule which itself was larger than the previous five rules combined.

Hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed more than $156 billion in economic activity in communities across the United States in 2016, according to the Service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting

and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, published every five years. More than 101 million Americans — 40 percent of the U.S. population age 16 and older — pursue wildlife-related recreation, including hunting and fishing.

Today’s action proposes to bring the number of units in the Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System where the public may hunt to 434 and the number where fishing will be permitted to 378. The rule also proposes to formally bring the total number of National Fish Hatchery System units open to hunting or sport fishing to 22.

New proposed refuge opportunities include opening big game hunting (turkey) and sport fishing at Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge in Florida for the first time; opening Muleshoe and Neches River National Wildlife Refuges in Texas to migratory game bird, upland game and big game hunting for the first time; and opening Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia for the first time to migratory game bird hunting and sport fishing.

A change at hatcheries includes the proposed formal opening of lands to sport fishing at Green Lake National Fish Hatchery in Maine for the first time.

The proposed rule also continues the effort from previous rules toward

THE HOMETOWN PRESS

revising refuge hunting and fishing regulations so that they more closely match state regulations where the refuge is located. This year’s rule also proposes revisions that ensure whenever refuge regulations depart from state regulations, for safety or conservation compatibility reasons, these extra regulations are consistent across all refuges in the given state. The Service worked closely with the states in preparing the proposed rule.

The Service will seek comments from the public on the proposed rule for 60 days, beginning with publication in the Federal Register on May 4, 2021. The notice will be available at http:// www.regulations.gov, Docket Number: FWSHQ-NWRS-2021-0027, and will include details on how to submit your comments.

The Service intends to finalize the proposed changes in time for the upcoming 2021-2022 hunting seasons. A complete list of all refuges and hatcheries in the proposal is available in the proposed rule. View an online list.

Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the Service permits hunting and fishing along with four other types of wildlife-dependent recreation, including wildlife photography, environmental education, wildlife observation and interpre-

PAGE 8

tation, when they are compatible with an individual refuge’s purpose and mission. Hunting, within specified limits, is currently permitted on 427 units and fishing is currently permitted on 376.

There are 70 national fish hatcheries visited by more than one million people each year. Hatcheries offer opportunities for viewing the operations and learning about fish, as well as activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, sightseeing, nature study, birdwatching and photography. Hunting and/or fishing is currently permitted on the lands of 21 units of the National Fish Hatchery System.

The National Wildlife Refuge System is an unparalleled network of 567 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts.

There is a national wildlife refuge within an hour’s drive of most major metropolitan areas.

The Refuge System receives more than 61 million annual visits. National wildlife refuges provide vital habitat for thousands of species and access to world-class recreation, from fishing, hunting and paddling to nature watching, photography and environmental education.

The Service manages hunting and fishing programs to ensure sustainable wildlife populations while also offering other wildlife-dependent recreation on public lands.

TM

And don’t forget Dad! We will take great care of him too at Riceland Medical Center 538 Broadway Ave. Winnie, TX 77665

WWW.RICELANDHEALTHCARE.COM

To order, contact Wade Thibodeaux at (936) 581-5161 Texas Media Corp

409-296-6000