409-296-BANK
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Volume 32, Issue 28
EC School Board Ponders New GPA Rules
50 cents
WS Lions Club Ticket Winner Sees a Big Win
A complete East Chambers ISD Board of Trustees met for over two hours Monday evening while discussing the District's business.
By Wade Thibodeaux The East Chambers ISD Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, July 12, 2021 at 6:00 pm. in the Administration Building located at 216 Champions Loop in Winnie, Texas. Among the many items considered on the agenda, the board heard about a new method of calculating grade point average to determine class ranking and while no action was taken, the item is expected to come up on the agenda in the future. The plan
would basically be a complete overhaul of the current method and would only be subject to incoming Freshmen and potentially Sophomores, while Juniors and Seniors would still go by the existing rules as it wouldn't be fair to change the rules in the middle of their High School career. The new plan would only count grades in core subjects that every child is required to take in High School. Electives would not count at all (contd on page 4)
By Wade Thibodeaux The East Chambers ISD Education Foundation is back in business and hosting the annual Gala again this year. Last year's Gala was cancelled due to the Covid-19 situation and while a substantial amount of money was raised last year through a mailout campaign, there is nothing like the comradery of gathering to support a
worthwhile cause. This event is the main fundraiser for the group and usually sells out of tickets and fills the community building in the Winnie Stowell Park. The event is slated for August 21, 2021 and a ticket entitles the holder to dinner and the social gathering. For ticket information call 409.781.0043.
EC Education Foundation Hosting Gala Again
Chris Fearing and friends enjoy an Astros game as the winner of the Winnie Stowell Lions Club Astros ticket giveaway fundraiser.
NON PROFIT 501(C)(3) PUBLIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Buccaneer Gala AUGUST 21, 2021
WINNIE-STOWELL COMMUNITY BUILDING SOCIAL/SILENT AUCTION/RAFFLE 6PM DINNER 7PM FOLLOWED BY LIVE AUCTION
7th Annual Education Foundation Dinner/Auction EACH TICKET IS $50 & ENTITLES PURCHASER TO THE SOCIAL & DINNER FOR TICKETS OR SPONSOR INFORMATION CONTACT 409-781-0043
WWW.ECISDEF.COM
Let us
WS Lions Club President Bill Keating(right) congratulates Chris Fearing(left) on winning the four tickets to an Astros ballgame.
By Wade Thibodeaux The winner of the Lions Club recent Astros ticket raffle for 4 tickets saw what appeared, for 8 and a half innings, to be a disappointing Astros loss. However, in the bottom of the 9th inning, trailing the New York Yankees 7-2, the Astros offense went to work and scored 6 runs capped off by Jose Altuve's walkoff 3 run homer for an unbelievably exciting 8-7 win! Chris Fearing was the lucky winner of the drawing for 4 great tickets, parking pass and
$100 concession card in the Winnie Stowell Lions Club annual fundraiser. The Lions Club sold 300 tickets for the drawing over the past month and will use the proceeds of the raffle to provide assistance to those in need in the Winnie-Stowell community "This is our third year and we always enjoy the Astros ticket raffle because it creates a lot of excitement in the community and the Astros have had great teams! It is a fun fundraiser for us." said Bill Keating, President of the Lions Club.
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Opinion & Entertainment
Wednesday, July 14, 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 I’m going to go ahead and state the obvious here......it’s hot outside. I realize that I claim to work a lot, but in reality, I don’t think that I could actually put in a full day’s work in this Texas heat. Let me explain the situation that I found myself in last weekend. First, a little background. I have this place up in Elkhart, Texas, just a little North of Crockett, Texas and that is where I have my little small herd of cattle. There is a creek running through the property, but I’m not sure that it will stay wet all Summer long, and with the rest of July and August coming, I decided that I had better secure a backup water supply. That really wasn’t a big problem because thankfully, the very end of the community water system is on this property and there is already a meter. All I had to do was get the meter turned on and then figure out just exactly where the pipe that heads up to the abandoned house was closest to the water trough and connect it to the water trough. In other words, there had been water there before and all I had
to do was locate the previous water lines and connect them. Wyatt and I planned a work day for last Saturday with the intentions of this project and a couple more. First thing Saturday morning.......well, not first thing because I overslept because I was tired from staying awake most of the night before thinking about what tools we would need to bring and what order we would try to accomplish the various projects, but sometimes around 9:00, we began gathering things and preparing to load them in the truck. Wyatt went to get the four wheeler and I heard him grumbling instead of a motor running. As I made my way to the back of the shop to where he was located, I heard him say that the battery was dead on the four wheeler. Ok, let’s put it on the charger and we will continue with other things. I grabbed the jug of weed killer to load it into the truck and quickly realized that it was almost empty. Ok, while the battery is charging, I’ll run to Tractor Supply and get another jug of weed killer. Now, all of this is
after I had made a trip to the supply stores the day before in preparation of this trip. I had plumbing fittings, water and gatorade, electrical supplies(for another one of the projects), and everything except weed killer. The weed killer was to spray around the cattle pens in preparation of working cattle later this Fall and not having to wade through tall grass and weeds while chasing cattle.....or, being chased by them. I’m back from getting chemicals, and the battery has been charging for almost an hour, so let’s give it a try. Absolutely nothing from the battery. Another trip to town to get a new battery for the four wheeler. We are finally loaded and ready to leave and I look at my phone to see the time and it’s Noon. So much for getting an early start. We have a couple more stops to get fuel and feed(for us and the cows) and we finally make it to the place about 2:00 in the afternoon, you know, about the hottest part of the day. I had the water company turn on the meter and had tested it on a previous trip. We had running water at the old house and so we started cleaning the fence line to run the pipe. I could work about thirty minutes and then had to stop and cool off for just a bit. We finally got the fence line cleaned and began running the pipe and sometimes late in the afternoon, we had water at the trough. Wyatt had been also working on cleaning out an old
shed so that we could leave a few supplies under cover and I started looking at the electricity situation. I had the electric coop install a meter into the previous meter pole by the old house and I was thinking that surely there would be a couple of circuits that we could locate and use temporarily until we could get a better handle on the power situation. I opened the breaker box and absolutely nothing was inside..... no wires, breakers, nothing except the ends of wire that had been cut when probably the copper thieves made a trip through the place. Okay, we have a generator with us for this trip if we need power, but the electrical is going to take a little more work than originally planned. Let’s see
THE HOMETOWN PRESS
about spraying those weeds. I hooked the spray rig up to the battery on the four wheeler to give it a test run before I completely filled the tank and it was working perfectly until the little diaphragm pump sprang a leak and that project was halted. At this point, it’s getting late, I’m exhausted, and I’m not sure what else we could accomplish, so we decided to load up and head home. At least we got the water situation resolved, and that was the main objective. On the way home, we are trucking along at about 70 mph and all of a sudden the truck starts vibrating like a tire is bad out of balance. I found a safe place to pull over and discovered that a tire on the trailer is coming apart and parts of
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the tread have peeled off of the tire. It’s still holding air and of course the spare tire is in the shop, so the only choice is to leave the trailer, four wheeler and accessories on the side of the road and go get the spare or just vibrate along and pray that the tire doesn’t blow out. Miraculously, we make it home about 10:00 after vibrating along at 40 mph and I take a shower and crawl into bed exhausted. The next morning, I can’t move. There are parts of me that are sore that I didn’t even know that I had. Isn’t this cow business stuff fun????? But HEY, my cows have water. Remember to make sure that you and your cows are well hydrated in this heat and Till next time, I’m........Wade in the Shade.
Tumbleweeds
WHEELCHAIRS FOR DISABLED ATHLETES By Tumbleweed Smith
People in wheelchairs participate in just about every sport, including golf and fencing. Mike Box of Wharton makes some of the wheelchairs they use. “When my brother got hurt, he brought me to a wheelchair basketball game.” says Mike. “He was playing in it. That just set me on fire.” Mike has been making wheelchairs for Olympic Athletes for 30 years. His brother was paralyzed from a motorcycle accident and was having trouble finding a chair that fit him. So Mike started making wheelchairs. “I actually worked with him to develop a chair especially for him. Then we just started making them for other customers. Some of our first chairs were for tennis players.” At trade shows, Mike showed videos of people in his wheelchairs doing the same things skateboarders do. “They’re jumping curbs,
turning 360-degree flips in the air, just all sorts of things. When the people saw the videos they said, ‘they’re just like us.’” The name of Mike’s company is Box Wheelchairs. His products are sold all over the world. When I visited him he was making 14 wheelchairs for Argentina. “These are individual chairs made to fit the athletes. Ten of these are for normal use, 2 are for tennis, one is for basketball and one of them is for rugby. It’s like getting fitted for a suit. These athletes are getting fitted for a chair.” Mike donates 50 or more chairs a year. “It’s not for any other reason than to see a young individual with a smile and knowing he is able to do the most he can do.” For the disabled, Mike says wheelchairs are their tennis shoes. “Wheelchair motocross is becoming an Olympic sport. Little girls dance
in wheelchairs. There’s a group called The Rollettes. I get goose bumps just talking about it. I’ve made a couple of their chairs. They just light up. They start moving their chairs in and out an find out they’re just like everybody else.” Before starting his wheelchair business, Mike had a job making parts for airplanes, battleships and submarines. “I was pretty good at welding. God has blessed me with a tremendous set of hands and I try to put them to good use.” Mike has acted as equipment manager for a rugby wheelchair team in 2 Paralympics. There is a backlog of orders for his wheelchairs. 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: MOTTOES AND SLOGANS ACROSS 1. 1965 march site 6. Bottle top 9. Dried up 13. Can’t see the forest for this? 14. *____ You Need is Love 15. ____-upper 16. End of a poem 17. Filmmaker Spike 18. Like a good athlete? 19. *”Tastes So Good, Cats Ask for It by Name” 21. *”The Quicker Picker Upper” 23. Duke of Cambridge to Prince of Wales 24. Blood vessel 25. The Jackson 5 1970 hit 28. Plural of velum 30. Havanese or Pekingese 35. High school formal 37. What the phone did 39. Abrupt increase 40. *____ John’s: “Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.” 41. Working shoelaces 43. Island east of Java 44. Shockingly graphic 46. Hurtful remark 47. Design detail 48. Canine’s coat 50. Law school prerequisite, acr. 52. a.k.a. Tokyo
53. Muscovite or biotite 55. Uber alternative 57. *”Let’s Go Places” advertiser 60. *”Can You Hear Me Now?” advertiser 64. On the fritz 65. Wharton degree 67. Upholstery choice 68. Bell-bottoms bottom 69. Emergency responder, acr. 70. Prenatal test, for short 71. Medieval Northern European 72. Be obliged 73. Reconnaissance, for shorT DOWN 1. Part of a flute 2. Marine eagle 3. What malevolent and levorotary have in common 4. Jellicles’ cries 5. Isaac of science fiction fame 6. Burnt metal residue 7. India pale ____ 8. Annapolis frosh 9. Leo or Virgo, e.g. 10. Sign above a door 11. Count on 12. Before, poetically 15. Floras’ partners 20. Apathetic 22. Crude fuel 24. Flavoring from Madagas-
Solution on page 3
car 25. *”Think Different” advertiser 26. Former Milwaukee Brewer All Star Ryan 27. Dried coconut meat 29. *”Betcha Can’t Eat Just One” advertiser 31. Drinking establishments 32. Blind alternative 33. Checked out 34. *”So Easy, a Caveman Can Do It” advertiser 36. Disfigure 38. African migrants 42. Actress turned princess of Monaco 45. Lower a rank 49. Ignited 51. Tooth decay agent 54. Tarantino in his own movie, e.g. 56. Biotic community 57. Story “of Two Cities” 58. October stone 59. Nomad’s round house 60. Flower holder 61. Dietary mineral 62. Medley 63. Ne 64. *”It’s Finger Lickin’ Good” 66. *”The Ultimate Driving Machine”
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 ■ August 21st. ECISD Bayside invites seniors, Education Foundation
7th Annual Buccaneer Gala. Social hour begins at 6pm. Dinner and Auction begins at 7pm For tickets or sponsor information contact Scott Jones at 409-781-0043.
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, July 14, 2021 PUNISHMENT RANGE
Twenty-Eight individuals were arrested and booked into the Chambers County Jail between Sunday, July 4 and Saturday, July 10 . 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
Total Main Jail:
28
B i p a r t i s a n P r o p o s a l G o o d f o r Te x a s W i l d l i f e During the pandemic, Texans headed back to nature in record numbers, with more people visiting state parks, hunting, fishing, and boating than ever before. A new congressional proposal aims to tap that exploding interest by investing more than $50 million per year in Texas for wildlife recovery and related public education and recreation, a move expected to boost the state’s already booming nature-based economy into overdrive. The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, H.R.2773, would provide $1.4 billion to state and tribal wildlife conservation initiatives to support at-risk wildlife populations and their habitats. The funding would come from existing revenues with no new taxes. If passed, this legislation would send grant funds flowing across Texas to nonprofit organizations, nature centers, universities, landowners, and many others for projects to conserve vulnerable wildlife before they become endangered. Species like the much-loved Texas horned lizard, our
state fish the Guadalupe bass, and many songbirds and coastal birds are among the many wildlife that would benefit. This funding will also help recover species that are already endangered, such as sea turtles and the whooping crane. The additional resources are urgently needed to aid fish and wildlife populations under increasing pressure from habitat loss, invasive species, emerging diseases, and extreme weather events in Texas and throughout the country. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, the Texas outdoor recreation economy contributes to 327,000 jobs, generates $14.4 billion in salaries and wages per year, and $3.5 billion in state and local tax revenue. For example, nature tourism is huge in Texas, and people travel from all over the world to see iconic landscapes and catch a glimpse of unique wildlife. Around 4.4 million wildlife watchers in Texas generate $1.82 billion in retail sales and support 146,000 jobs. Research surveys conducted
in 2011 and 2013 found that about 2.2 million people fish in Texas annually, and their spending amounts to $2.01 billion in retail sales and contributes to 29,800 jobs. “The litany of ways natural resources bolster the Texas economy and improve our quality of life is seemingly endless,” said Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department executive director. “Studies show property values can increase up to 20 percent when adjacent to natural areas. Natural buffers make coasts and communities more resilient to intense storms and flood events, thereby protecting our citizens and saving billions of dollars in recovery costs. Wellmanaged and restored habitats provide clean water, clean air, and healthy rivers, rangelands, and bays and estuaries that benefit both wildlife and people’s enjoyment of the outdoors. While it would do much to protect fish and wildlife that need it most, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would also mean a longterm investment in the
public health and wellbeing of all Texans, as well as stewardship of our home ground.” Unfortunately, many fish and wildlife species on which the outdoor recreation industry depends are declining. For example, in a 2019 study that gained worldwide attention, researchers estimated that North America has lost close to three billion breeding birds since 1970. Many of the bird groups mentioned in the report—such as migratory songbirds and grassland birds—depend on Texas natural areas, working lands, coastal habitat, and city spaces—either during migration, or as year-round residents. This loss of birds is a blow to our natural heritage, the enjoyment of future generations, and critical ecosystem services such as flood control, pest control, and pollination. Birds are also essential to our vibrant nature tourism economy. There are 2.2 million birders in Texas, and people “flock” from all over the world to bird across the state. In the Lower
Rio Grande Valley—a popular birding hot-spot—a 2011 study from Texas A&M estimates the direct economic contribution from nature tourism led to a total county-level economic output of $463 million and 6,613 full and part time jobs annually. Passage of H.R. 2773 would provide the funding needed to greatly expand habitat restoration on public and private lands, which in turn will support bird life and critical nesting habitat and help reverse course for declining bird species. Bird-watching infrastructure could also be boosted through new wildlife-viewing platforms and nature trails. RAWA funding could expand marketing and education for programs like Bird City Texas and the Great Texas Wildlife Trails, to further mitigate some of the threats that birds face in urban areas, such as window collisions. It would also benefit more local communities through bird tourism. National estimates indicate that passage of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would create 23,800 to 33,600 jobs and add $3.36 billion of economic output, leading to a net positive gain of $1.96 billion annually to the U.S. GDP. In Texas cities and counties large and small, the funding would fuel natural investments in things like coastal artificial reefs, oyster bed restoration, habitat enhancement for clean air and water, urban ecology centers, and getting Texas children outside. It would create thousands of new “shovel-ready” jobs for
wildlife management, tree planting, river restoration, and outdoor recreation projects and reap benefits tenfold. To cite one more example, the conservation of Guadalupe bass—our state fish of Texas—is about helping the entire river systems where the fish lives, including the people who live along its banks, and all those who love to come swim, wade, fish, float or paddle. On the South Llano, the Guadalupe bass is the centerpiece of a broad effort involving local communities, riverside landowners, nonprofits and universities, all focused on improving the health of the entire watershed. Fisheries biologists say, if RAWA passes, we could restore thousands of acres of spring, stream and river habitats and directly benefit water quality for human use while helping Guadalupe bass and many other aquatic creatures. Recovering America’s Wildlife Act funds may also be used to create more paddling trails to give kayakers and canoers safe places to access rivers including signs and educational kiosks sharing information about the Guadalupe bass and other aquatic life. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is strongly supported by the Texas Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife, a statewide coalition of more than 165 diverse organizations and businesses. See the alliance website for information about this historic legislation on how to help.
Religion & Lifestyle
Wednesday,July 14, 2021
Sunday Observations from Christy
Life on the Edge
Mr. Red brought his tractor to me to be used to help recovery efforts following a storm. To assure him what good care we would take of his equipment I said, “I’ll treat it like it’s mine.” Mr. Red responded back, “ I don’t want you to treat it like it’s yours; I want you to treat it like it’s mine!” King David prayed, “Restore unto me the joy of THY salvation, oh Lord.” (Psalms 52:12) May we never be a disgrace to His grace. Danny R. Biddy, Chaplain: Chambers County Sheriff’s Office & Fellowship of Christian Cowboys
EC School Board Ponders New GPA Rules (contd) towards the GPA ranking. The core subjects would be given a 4.0 scale for regular classes, a 5.0 scale for AP classes, and a 6.0 scale for dual credit classes. This method would put everybody on a level playing field and also allow students to choose electives based on interest rather than credit levels. Administrators are continuing to study the
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
plan and board members were encouraged to visit with parents and educators before this item is presented for a vote at a future meeting. In other action, the board approved a new bus driver incentive plan that would provide additional monetary incentives for new and existing bus drivers. Brand new drivers would be eligible for a $1,000 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
On Friday’s, my mom and I typically go eat. During Covid, I brought in, but as a rule, out we go. This last Friday was no different, and as we headed towards our destination a monsoon of rain began. It kept getting harder and harder, and after witnessing lightning strike #3, we decided it’s time for a new plan. So we circled around, driving out of the rain, and decided we would grab Cracker Barrel to go. After all, I could run in and grab the food and not risk getting her out in it. Little did we know we were bonus after driving for a year and existing bus drivers would be eligible for two $500 retention incentives, payable in installments in the middle and at the end of a year. Other bonuses such as a safe driver bonus and a
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opting for simple entertainment, and it was great. We pulled in, placed the order on my phone and began to wait. The rain had stopped and a large group was gathered outside waiting on their table. They all stood and waited, while two in their party self entertained. Keep in mind, Mom and I had a front row seat to all of this, from the car while waiting our 25 minutes for the order to be ready. Anywho…… There were two young boys in this group, that were less than impressed with family gathering and taking pictures. They were having a ball playing in wet grass, and in the process getting absolutely filthy. Not an adult in that groups could have been bothered. They were chatting amongst themselves. I finally go in to get
food and as I came out I pass the group finally being seated. Right at the door I see the boys, pretty much drenched, with flecks of mud on their faces, but grinning from ear to ear. Mom saw them playing, or attempting to play, leap frog over the trash can while I was inside. These two had a ball. Couldn’t help but laugh at the evening, our one hour ride to nowhere, because weather had me driving 45 mph. Our witnessing of lightning. The decision to turn around and head back home at 45 mph. Then 25 minutes of pretty good entertainment. The adults in the party that just let them be kids. Happy Sunday peeps…. I hope that as life throws you some curves this week (we all have them) that you maintain the
ability to improvise, change course, self entertain, and more than anything find the ability to laugh. Life is too hard. It’s unpredictable. It rarely goes according to plan….. at least mine doesn’t. But what it is, if you allow it, is fun. May you worry less about the kids appearance, and let them be kids. Don’t be mad over a failed trip for dinner out, instead embrace the show you get while waiting for takeout. And as you pass a kid in the lobby of a restaurant, who has flecks of mud on his face, I hope you refrain from judgement, and instead opt to be as calm as the parents who just say….. y’all go to the restroom and clean up. It’s time to sit down and eat. The world isn’t perfect….. life is a lot easier when you just accept it. And laugh. A lot!!!
referral bonus were also approved as part of the plan. Josh Rutherford was approved for hire as an Assistant Principal and will split his time between the Primary and Elementary campuses. Some housekeeping
items such as insurance renewals and interest payments on existing bonds were approved as well as some change orders and progress payments on current projects were also approved. The next
regular meeting of the East Chambers ISD Board of Trustees will be Monday, August 9, 2021 at 6:00 pm. in the Administration Building located at 216 Champions Lop in Winnie, Texas.
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, July 14, 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
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
McCall BS pg:May 21 ad 6/28/17 1:10 PM Page 1
C & V WRECKER SERVICE
$10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 296-9988
Craig Stowe Owner
PO Box 1376 2425 Hwy 124 S. Winnie, TX 77665
409-296-9542
Game Warden Field Notes
The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) law enforcement reports. Kids Say the Darndest Things A Polk County game warden received a call from county dispatch regarding a father and his 9-year-old son who had gotten stuck in their buggy deep in a deer lease. They attempted to walk back to their camp and got lost in the process. County dispatch was able to ping their location within a three-mile radius. Once in the area, the warden was able to follow the tracks to the father and son. Dad commented to the son, “Yeah, might be bad luck being the second time we’ve been stuck together,” as the son responds, “but each time, dad, you were driving.” The warden responded, “you’re a smart kid,” and presented him with a Texas Game Warden badge. Seedy Situation Cargo was being inspected at a Dallas-Fort Worth Airport by Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Inspectors when they came across packages containing what they claimed to be steel nippers. The package didn’t have the expected weight and was opened for inspection. Inside the box was numerous bags of vegetable seeds and
dried shrimp. A package contained Ipomoea Aquatica seeds (water spinach), which is a harmful aquatic species in Texas. A second package claimed to be shirts. Wrapped inside the clothing was a bag that also contained Ipomoea Aquatica seeds. It is illegal to import or possess seeds in Texas. The cases were referred to a Tarrant County game warden and the packages were seized as evidence. The individuals who imported the products were issued citations. The cases are pending. Swift Water Rescue A Terrell County game warden responded to a call from the sheriff's office when a local rancher was caught in a flash flood. His truck had died and was starting to move downstream from the rising water reaching the hood of his truck. It was dark and there were no lights to light his way to safety, so he called 911 for help. The warden responded along with a deputy and volunteers. Armed with swift water personal floatation devices (PFD), a throw bag, and rope they were able to make their way to the truck and extract the rancher to safety while being mindful of fencing downstream that could trap anyone who may lose their footing in the rushing water. Everyone went home safely that night.
$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, July 14, 2021
Free for individuals selling personal items
THE HOMETOWN PRESS
Call (409)296-9988 • Fax (409)296-9987 htpress99@gmail.com
PAGE 6
Let our readers know about your garage sales, help wanted, services.... Deadline: Monday before publication at 12 noon
FOR RENT
FOR RENT
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 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 July 11-17, 2021
FOR SALE Handyman needed for only Cub SI40 farm tractors a few hours work around the - 14’50’ mobile home house and yard. 409-296-6224 large dog house metal General Labor crew needed. Duties include: shoveling, weed- garden tiller - 3 drilling eating/mowing, pouring concrete, rigs want to buy disk laying pipes and clearing land. - brush hog - tractor w/ Background check and drug screen required. Tempto-hire - $12.00 front loader. 281-788-7838 per hour.
Call us at 835-5566.
Part time maintenance man needed. Apply at Winnie Square Apartments 218 W Magnolia Ave #33 Winnie TX 409-296-2100 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 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
SERVICES
Canal City lot for sale by Garry Brattenowner on the middle canal Experienced Handyman. undeveloped Lot #302, No job too small or 1468 Van Sant Gilchrist 409-354-8280. TX call Alan 409-939- large. Horse hay 4x5 fertilized 3240 no texts $30,000 Jiggs Bermuda in barn $50.00/ 2004 40' Mountain Air roll. Call 409-781-2236 motorhome, made by sale: Bradford, Newmar. 250 Cummings For Brangus, and Hereford diesel, 6 speed Allison bulls. Call 713.875.5703 transmission $25000.00 Call or
409-277-0883 409-277-9872
Trailer axles $40 - 100 each Located in Stowell 4 0 9 - 4 5 7 - 5 2 0 4
Part-time shop help needed for weekends and some weekdays. If interested please call 409-296-6980.
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
Metal Shelves $10 each 4 available Located in Stowell 4 0 9 - 4 5 7 - 5 2 0 4
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
GENERATORS
GENERAC Standby Generators provide backup power during utility power outages, so your home and ACREAGE family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free Hunting/investment/recreational property. We quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions. have some of the best in Texas! From the Hill Country 1-855-704-8579. (Edwards, Menard, Coke, Val Verde County, free RETIREMENT ranging exotics) to South Texas (Kinney, Duval, Live Oak County, whitetail, hogs). Large or small acreage. NEED HELP WITH YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN? 30-year fixed rate owner financing, only 5% down. If you have questions about your pension, 401(k) or Call toll-free or email for individual prices and terms, profit sharing plan, call the South Central Pension Rights Project at (800) 443-2528 to get free legal www.ranchenterprisesltd.com, 800-876-9720. advice. Funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging, SCPRP staff provides free legal assistance to anyone AUCTION with a question about their retirement plan. CALL US 2 Day Farm Auction – Chouteau, OK – Thurs., July TODAY 1-800-443-2528. 22, starts at 8:46 a.m.; Fri., July 23, starts at 10:36 a.m. Thurs.: farm equipment, shop & woodworking tools, welders, antiques & collectibles, generators, storage tanks, concrete tools & mixers, power tools and more. Fri.: 15+ John Deere tractors, Classic tractors, dozer, telehandler, skidsteer, hay equipment, bale wrapper, 30+ flatbed & enclosed trailers, no-till drill, power washer, gravity wagon, wagons, buggies & carts and more. 5884 W. 620 Rd., Chouteau, OK 74337. For full terms, photos and updates visit chuppsauction.com. Chupps Auction & Real Estate, Dale & Maria Chupp, Coldwell Banker Neokla Select, 918-630-0495.
FOR SALE
HELP WANTED
Wade A. Thibodeaux
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
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
for NON-BUSINESS PURPOSES:
Paraquat – Parkinson’s Disease. If you were exposed to the herbicide Parquat and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, you may be entitled to compensation. Call 800-444-9112 for more information. Pulaski Kherkher, PLLC.
Individuals & Non-Profits (furniture, clothes, garage sales, etc) Ads are inserted on a space-available basis with no guarantee of insertion.
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 Corpus Christi Fleet Maintenance Auction, Sat., www.qualitydriveaway.com or call 574-642-2023. July 17, 10 a.m., 5352 Ayers St., Corpus Christi, TX. WANTED Bid live on-site or on-line. Viewing: Fri., July. 16, 10 Need Extra Cash – I Buy RVs & Mobile Homes a.m.-5 p.m.; sale day: 8-10 a.m. 10% B.P. Partial listing: backhoes, motorgrader, Cat D3C, steel whl rollers, cars, –Travel Trailers, 5th Wheels, Goosenecks, Bumper Pulls. In Any Area, Any Condition – Old/New, Dirty pickups, vans, dump trks, crane trks, trash trks, car lifts, or Clean! I PAY CA$H. No Title – No Problem, we mini ecavators, tire machines, compressers, lathes, can apply for one. ANR Enterprises, 956-466-7001. utility trks, Pintel hitch tlrs, SUVs, ATVs, ambulances, FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders brush fire trks, fire engine, a-frames, bumper-pull trlrs and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. & much more. www.siskauction.com, TXS#7425, John Certified Professionals. Call 312-291-9169 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com.. Sisk Auctioneers, Inc., 361-456-7771.
Texas Press Statewide Classified Network 221 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.
Publisher wade@txmediacorp.com 409.656.5677
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
DRIVEN TO BE THE BEST
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.
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
______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ MAIL TO:
PAGE 7
Culture/Lifestyle
THE HOMETOWN PRESS
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Basset hounds are said to have a tracking nose second only to blood hounds. Mine found two deer for us during his short hunting career that we might have otherwise lost. Many breeds can track wounded deer, and are almost as important to a hunt as is a rifle. Photo by John Jefferson
WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE
HUNTING DOG INSTINCTS By John Jefferson
When my eight-yearold granddaughter visits from Tennessee, she often ventures into my man-cave while I’m working to tell me about her latest adventures. Yesterday, it was about how much our latest dog had grown since last summer when she carried him around everywhere. She could almost ride him, now. That started a conversation about dogs. She sat on the floor, legs folded, listening intently. I jumped to the semi-recent hunting dogs. Ri-
Welcome Neighborhood Net Readers!
ley’s a young hunter and has a Lab. I told her about Beauregard, my first and best basset hound. His picture was over my computer. She squealed with delight, saying, “I’ve always wanted a basset hound. I love their long ears.” I told her about hunting deer when my sons were about nine and ten. We were one a high bluff overlooking a clearing along the Pedernales River at 29-1/2 minutes after sunset. We spied several deer, and I leaned across a large boulder for a rifle rest in the fading light. When I pulled the trigger, the muzzle flash in low light blinded us for a second. All we saw were some of the deer racing for cover along the river to the left. I contacted my wife back where we were camped and asked her to bring Beau. She laughed, doubting he would be any help. When she brought him to us, we found blood where the deer had been. Beau lapped that up and took off to the right. We yelled at him. That was opposite of where the several deer had gone. He kept going, beginning to yip. That became baying – like he was trailing something. We followed, probably just to bring him back.
Several minutes later, we found him, sitting beside a recently dead deer, looking like he wanted to ask if we needed anything else. Later that evening, he was awarded the deer’s grilled heart. Another time; another dog. Pilo was a Lab. I was back at the cabin writing. Vicky was hunting alone. I heard a shot about a mile away. Thirty minutes later, she called for me to come help look for her wounded deer. She had Pilo in the truck and had enlisted his help. She said he kept trying to go the wrong way instead of where she thought the deer had run. I joined the search … to no avail. We never found the deer. But I felt we should have relied upon Pilo’s instincts. My oldest son wounded a deer a year later on the same ranch. We saw it and several others run over a hill and out of sight. We released Pilo after letting her sniff blood. Coming over the hill, we saw several deer run to the right. Pilo, though, kept heading straight. After discussing it, we followed Pilo, who led us down the hill for a hundred yards – right to the dead deer. Hunting dogs have hunting instincts. We’ve learned the hard way to rely on their instincts -rather than ours.
Te x a s G a m e W a r d e n s W r a p up Busy July 4th Weekend
Thousands of Texans and out-of-state visitors headed to Texas lakes, rivers and coastal bays to celebrate the Independence Day weekend. Texas Game Wardens were out in force to ensure everyone stayed safe on the water. “Texas Game Wardens conducted safety checks on more than 12,220 vessels statewide between Friday and Sunday over the Fourth of July weekend,” said Cody Jones, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Assistant Commander for Marine Enforcement. “Our game wardens were present across Texas waterways doing their absolute best to help holiday waterway visitors have a responsible weekend, enabling many safe returns home and enjoyable holiday memories.” In addition to issuing 1,474 citations and 1,797 warnings for various boating safety law violations, wardens arrested 42 individuals for Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) and filed eight other charges for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Additionally, another 33 people were arrested for various other charges. Texas Game Wardens also conducted multiple search and rescues over the holiday weekend. They also assisted with 18 reportable boating accidents at several Texas lakes and rivers including: Nasworthy, Bob Sandlin, Grapevine, Richland Chambers, Canyon Lake, Possum Kingdom, McQueeny Granbury, Corpus Christi, Lewisville, Ray Roberts, Lake Fork Ray
Hubbard, Neches River, Lake Austin, Lake Travis (2) and Lake Belton. Game wardens were involved statewide with numerous waterway assists or other incidents. In one incident in Bexar County, game wardens rescued a boat that was taking on water and transported the boaters to safety on Braunig Lake. In another incident on Falcon Lake off the Rio Grande River, Game Wardens attempted to conduct a safety inspection on a white skeeter vessel. The vessel was taken to a boat ramp on suspicion of BWI after a brief pursuit. An inspection of the vessel revealed more than 200 pounds of illegal narcotics in the vessel’s storage compartments. In Travis County, the TPWD dive team assisted with locating an open-water fatality at Lake Travis. Four game warden vessels, a game warden helicopter and 10 game wardens assisted in the initial response. Game wardens also assisted with a highwater rescue. Texas Game Wardens also dealt with two boating fatalities and seven open water fatalities on Texas waterways over the Independence Day weekend. The two boating-related fatalities occurred on Lake Lewisville. Openwater fatality locations included the Brazos River, Lake Amon G Carter, Lake Travis, North Bosque River, Joe Pool, the Gulf of Mexico (Matagorda Beach) and the Comal River. “The dedicated efforts of the game wardens while working these tragic
events is second to none – and is never the easiest part of the job,” said Cody Jones, TPWD Assistant Commander for Marine Enforcement. “We keep the families who have suffered in our thoughts and prayers.” On more than one occasion, game wardens were involved in search and rescue activities, responded to numerous boating accidents, and engaged in rescues in which life jackets were not being worn. In Austin on Lady Bird Lake, TPWD Boater Education Manager Kimberly Sorensen and City of Austin Lake Patrol made contact with 60 people without proper life jackets on their canoes, kayaks or stand up paddleboards. Texas Water Safety Act states that everyone on board a boat must have a life jacket that is easily accessible and children 12 and under must wear a jacket while the boat is underway or drifting on the water. “Many accidents and fatalities could be avoided by taking a boater education course and using life jackets, ” said Kimberly Sorensen, TPWD Boater Education manager. In addition to the boating incidents over the Fourth of July weekend, Texas Game Wardens statewide juggled numerous other non-boating related incidents, including illicit drug movement, illicit drug possession and use, felony and parole violation arrests, response to shootings, domestic violence, illegal shooting of wildlife incidents, jeep rollovers, helping lost children locate parents, among others.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Community
PAGE 8
Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine’s Great Outdoor Scavenger Hunt The Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine’s Great Outdoor Scavenger Hunt (GOSH) returns for another year of summer fun across Texas. Travel to various locations regionally or statewide, take a selfie and post it with the hashtag #GOSH2021. Discover history, wildlife, parks, waterways and quirky attractions — plus iconic Texas food stops as a “bonus” to enjoy along the way. The GOSH 2021 challenge ends at midnight on Labor Day, Sept. 6. Select from six regions, including Dallas, Central Texas, Houston, Panhandle, South Texas and West Texas. Register on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine website or the TPWD Facebook Page, then find the spot, take a smiling selfie and tag it on Twitter or Instagram. Participants can also post and tag it on the TPWD Facebook Page with #GOSH2021. Partakers can visit locations regionally or
To order, contact Wade Thibodeaux at (936) 581-5161 Texas Media Corp
THE HOMETOWN PRESS
statewide and complete one or all GOSH activities. "We are so ready to have fun outdoors again," says Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine editor Louie Bond. "GOSH inspires those day trips that make lifelong memories. Pack the ice chest and your swimsuits and hit the road for a summer of fun. Share selfies everywhere you go, and you'll have bragging rights at Thanksgiving for being great Texas adventurers." In South Texas, snap a selfie at one of the park’s wildlife watching or nature trails at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. With the Gulf of Mexico in the background, take a breezy break at the wooden beach picnic shelters at Mustang Island State Park. Grab a photo in front of the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum’s seven flags or holding a copy of the Laredo Morning Times, with seven flags on its banner. Visit GOSH 2021
South Texas Region for more information. See how to enter, rules, where to upload your selfies and more information on challenge locations regionally or statewide at TPWD GOSH 2021. Those who complete activities regionally will receive a TPWD certificate and a shout-out in a future issue of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine. If participants complete all 30 activities (36 with bonus activities in each category) on this year’s TPWD Great Outdoor Scavenger Hunt, they will receive a downloadable certificate and a two-year digital subscription to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, plus some epic bragging rights. Regional graphics highlighting GOSH challenge locations across Texas can be found on the TPWD Flickr Page.