The Hometown Press 12-16-2020

409-296-BANK

Volume 31, Issue 51

Santa Clause Visits Whataburger

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

50 cents

S a n t a o n t h e F i r e Tr u c k

Eight year old Rose Hurych and three year old Violet Hurych spent a little bit of time with the Three year old Emerson Ogles made sure that Santa knew what was on his wish list. jolly old fellow.

Wade Thibodeaux   The local Whataburger in Winnie hosted Santa Clause as he made a stop on his tour of the world last Tuesday, December

1, 2020. Santa and Mrs. Clause were there to take requests from all of the children who stopped by the store.

Update to Hostage Situation Wade Thibodeaux  Last Tuesday, December 8, 2020, Chambers County Sheriff's Department Officers were called to the Texas Rice Festival RV Park where a suspect was holding a female hostage. After a little while, the female escaped and the male

inside the RV was threatening to harm himself. Chambers County Sheriff's Officers tried to negotiate with the person, but ultimately he took his own life. The occupant, a white male 34 years old was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Wade Thibodeaux   Santa Clause was seen on the Winnie Stowell VFD

Fire Truck last Saturday, neighborhoods of Winnie to meet the jolly old fellow December 12, 2020 as it and Stowell. Children of and get a little bit of candy made its way through the all ages came out of houses from the big guy.

Chambers County ESD No.1 Assists Hamshire VFD

EC Education Foundation Awards Grants

Wade Thibodeaux   The Chambers County Emergency Services District No.1 and Winnie Stowell

These Elementary school teachers, EC Administrators and EC Education Foundation members posed for a picture after the grants were presented Tuesday morning.

VFD assisted Hamshire VFD last Monday, December 14, 2020 extinguish a mobile home fire in the 13,000

block of Hamshire Road.

Also assisting was Jefferson County ESD No.4. The blaze was put out, but the mobile

home was pretty much a total loss. No injuries were reported with the fire.

WNFR Crowns Champions

Primary teachers show off their grant awards after being presented with them Tuesday morning. Pictured are teachers, EC Administrators, and EC Education Foundation members.

Wade Thibodeaux   The East Chambers Education Foundation began awarding grants to teachers who had applied for specific requests to assist them in the classroom.

Some of the requests were for additional tools, whether it be software, a book vending machine, or simply a fun field trip to lift the spirits of the children. Due to Covid-19 restrictions this year, a single large grant party was not able to be conducted, but EC Administrators and Foundation

members visited each campus instead and presented the grant awards. The Hometown Press id featuring the Primary and Elementary Campuses this week and will have the Junior High and High School awards next week. The Foundation was able to award $41,752.00 for 19 grants this year which is a phenomenal accomplishment considering limited ability to raise funds due to the pandemic.

Congratulations to all that received grants.

This beautiful image of Old Glory was projected onto the floor of Globe Life Field and a mounted patrol unit presented the colors before the start of one of the 10 rounds of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Wade Thibodeaux  The 2020 version of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Texas is in the books and some new and some repeat Champions were crowned. Stetson Wright won the All Around Title for the second year in a row

CONFIDENCE

and is the youngest cowboy to accomplish that feat. He wrapped up the all around title on the last Friday night of the Finals and then came back Saturday night to split the final round and win the Champion Bull Riding Title.

Kaycee Field became the third

Bareback Rider to win 5 World Championships and this one was his first since 2014. He edged out Tim O'Connell by about $7,000 and had to use a re ride on the final night to secure the title. Ryder Wright split the round 10 win with his brother Stetson to win his

second Saddle Bronc Title.

This was Ryder's fifth go round win of the 2020 NFR and that was the second time that he accomplished 5 go round wins in his career, doing it first in 2016. He must have liked even numbers (contd on page 4)

Wednesday, December 16, 2020 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 conducted an experiment over the past week or 10 days and the results came out fairly favorable. I was out of both offices for over a week and nothing fell apart and everything pretty much was completed as far as getting three newspapers out the door and in the mail. I was attending the National Finals Rodeo and it was somewhat of a working vacation as I was working during the day and some at night, but I was also watching some pretty good rodeo action from some pretty good seats. That tells me that there is a possibility that I may actually be able to take some time off every now and again. As long as I have a laptop and an internet connection, I think that we can get newspapers in the mail......as long as everybody else does their job of gathering information, retrieving newspapers from the printer and delivering them to the post office. I have been doing this publishing thing for over 30 years and it still amazes me how things have changed in this business. I

remember when I first started that we had to cut the type into strips and paste(glue) it onto a blue line layout sheet, drive the layout sheet to the printer, and then take a picture of the layout sheet with a great big camera at the printer. The printer would then place the negative from the camera and burn the image onto an aluminum plate and then place the plate onto the press. Nowadays, a computer has pretty much replaced all of that and it's all done digitally. I was in Ft. Worth, my editor was in Denver, and the office staff was in Winnie and Huntsville. I authored some articles and received some information, forwarded all of that to my editor and she put the newspapers together and sent me the proof. I forwarded the proof to the office for proofing, corrections were sent to Denver and the final copy was returned to me and I sent it to the printer. The printer spit out a plate from my file on his computer and he was ready to print. Pretty slick, ain't it???? You know what that tells me???? I may

Opinion & Entertainment be able to take a vacation occasionally..... as long as my fishing spot has electricity and an internet connection.

Now, onto another topic.

The one theme that kept being mentioned at the National Finals Rodeo was the fact that Texas and a lot of people had stepped up to make the entire thing possible. An event that takes an entire year to plan was completely re racked and put together extremely well in only 110 days. When Vegas said that it wasn't going to let it happen in the Thomas and Mack Center, Texas said "We'll take it and make it good". Many, many hours, days, and weeks of planning went into this event that was conducted according to CDC guidelines with all of the safety measures in place for a comfortable event. Now, did everybody follow every rule.....no, but most did and Ft. Worth and Arlington had some enforcers that were walking around monitoring the crowd to assist them in remembering to follow the guidelines. But, for the most part, the attendees were just happy to be able to come to the event and they were not going to ruin it by not following the rules. All of the contestants were just so appreciative of the effort made by everybody to have the event and to allow them to compete.

The big topic that was driving all of these CDC guide-

lines and restrictions was of course the Covid-19 situation. I have to tell you guys that my thoughts on this situation are just as confused today as they were 9 months ago when this all started. I realize that it's real, I know people that have succumbed to the virus, and I've had it myself, but we have been socially distancing and wearing masks for 9 months and the numbers are just as high or higher than they have always been. I also realize that it's a numbers game as far as available beds in the hospitals and we have to stretch this thing out to buy some time for the hospitals and also for the

THE HOMETOWN PRESS

vaccine to be created. But, we are social people and we cannot be kept cooped up like a bunch of chickens for ever and people will do what people feel like doing one way or the other. I certainly am not a doctor or a virologist, but as I said just a bit ago, we have been doing this socially distancing stuff for months and it ain't no better or maybe even worse. Hopefully, this vaccine that was shipped today as I'm writing this column will help with the virus and everybody's attitude. I guess that time will tell how the events in Arlington and Ft. Worth affected everything and maybe with the vaccine

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becoming more available, we can get back to some normalcy.

Anyway, a big shout out to all of the folks that were involved in the production of this year's NFR and while it was different from Vegas, it's going to take me a while to sort through my feelings before I draw the conclusion to leave it in Texas. It sure was nice to have it here, but it just wasn't Vegas. Now that I've determined that I can be gone for a little while without the wheels falling off, I just may stay in Vegas for two weeks at the next NFR. Till next time, I'm.......Wade in the Shade.

Tumbleweeds

THE LIGHTS OF ANDREWS

By Tumbleweed Smith Andrews, Texas has a Christmas light display that rivals something you might find at Disneyland. It all takes place on a vacant lot which has a screen mounted on a frame that resembles a football goal post. And the lights are everywhere, all synchronized to music. They flash on and off and seem to dance in sequence. Although it can be controlled by a laptop from a remote location, even a beach, the control panel mounted on a wall resembles an airline cockpit.

It’s the brainchild of Randall Roberts, who started buying strings of light that were on sale after Christmas in stores all over the Permian Basin. He bought pallets of lights and decorated his house with them. The resulting display was so spectacular it was featured on the second episode of ABC TV’s Christmas Light Fight.

Randall is really into computerized lights synchronized to music. He goes to seminars all over the country and beyond to get ideas and find out new products and new ways of controlling the display. He showed me a string of lights that must have stretched 50 yards. Every 3 or 4 inches

there was a rectangular device that had 3 tiny light bulbs in it. The lights can go on and off with the click of a mouse.

“Millions of times a second it’s sending commands that tell the 4th one on this string to come on or go off, blink or be part of a sequence,” says Randall. In the beginning it took him 20 hours to program one minute of display. That was using 500 channels.

Now it’s much faster and he uses 300,000 channels.

He’s hiring others to do a portion of the display now.

He got started doing this back in 2005 or 6 when the Chamber of Commerce had a synchronized display around the courthouse and people could sit in their cars and watch it and hear the music on their car radio. “I thought I’d like to do something like that, but maybe a little bit bigger.” When he moved to the vacant lot in 2015 people stopped to ask him if he was building a new highrise apartment building.

“I told them I was just building a town for Santa.”

He changes the music every year but wouldn’t dare take off some of the regular songs.

He does a special with GOD BLESS THE USA. “At the end of the song I’ve had

Viet Nam veterans come up to me with tears in their eyes and tell me it was the first time they’ve ever been appreciated.” This year he has added a Christmas rap song.

The display is lighted at dark from the day after Thanksgiving until the night of January 1st. It lasts until 10 PM weeknights and 11 on weekends. Sometimes there is a manger scene with live animals. The same Santa has been in Andrews for 37 years.

The chamber serves cups of hot chocolate. That’s how they measure the number of people who attend. One single night they passed out 5,000 cups of hot chocolate.

Some people stay in their cars, others get out and walk around Santa land. Most of the visitors are from out of town. You can see his light show if you Google Andrews Christmas lights. People all over the world have seen the display and let Randall know they appreciate it. 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: YEAR IN REVIEW ACROSS 1. *New wardrobe accessory 5. *RIP, ____ 8. Flock's echo 12. Reply from a tunnel?

13. Feline noise 14. Edward Teller's "baby" 15. Beat 16. Competently 17. Savory jelly 18. *Blue vs. red competition 20. One third of a threepiece suit 21. Mailed greetings 22. Long time 23. ____ biloba 26. Anointing oil 30. Nurses' org.

31. Leafy vegetable 34. "Cogito, ____ sum" 35. Mooring spots 37. Bring into play 38. Old Brazilian coins 39. Prefix with 'graph' 40. *Joe's running mate 42. PGA peg 43. What bees did 45. Fixes firmly 47. Summer mo.

48. R in NPR 50. Widespread 52. *WHO's March announcement 55. Cliffside dwelling 56. Drop-off spot 57. Sonic sound 59. Sports figures, e.g.

60. Persian backgammon 61. Water carrier 62. *Late basketball legend 63. *____ lightning, cause of California wildfires 64. X-ray units DOWN 1. Copy cats 2. Flu symptom 3. Synagogue 4. 1/100th of a ruble 5. Bid again 6. Western neckwear, pl.

7. Gwyneth, to friends 8. *Like a vote during lockdown 9. What Joy Mangano does on TV 10. Do like exhaust pipe 11. *"Transplant" network 13. ____ of honor 14. It's often wreaked

Solution on page 3

19. Zoo enclosures 22. Compass dir.

23. Labored breaths 24. *Jared Kushner to Donald Trump 25. Nigerian money 26. Part of an eye 27. About to explode 28. Looked at, amorously 29. Smelling organs 32. Two of the same 33. Philosopher's study 36. *Best Picture Oscar-winner 38. China grass 40. Party barrel 41. Having a cover 44. *What Zoom host does to guests, sometimes 46. Type of jacket 48. "M*A*S*H" character 49. Ticked off 50. *President Trump used this power in 2020 51. United ____ Emirates 52. Be undecided 53. *Caucus state 54. Like most universities 55. Pose a question 58. Robinson or Doubtfire

■ Word of Life Church in Winnie has partnered with The Houston Food Bank to have a Community Food Fair Mobil Unit delivery. Entergy has made a generous donation assisting Word of Life Church with this ministry. Entergy’s donation is very much needed and appreciated. The Unit (truck) will be at the Winnie-

Stowell Park in Winnie on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month from 9AM til Noon.

For more information please call 409-296-8935.

■Neighborhood Watch meeting held on the last Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Word of Life fellowship hall, 344 Broadway, in Winnie.

Everyone is invited. Contact Lionel LaDay for more information at 409-225-4602

invites seniors, 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 Lily of the Valley Food Pantry, 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 encouraged to do so.

■ The Wellness Center at Bayside

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, December 16, 2020 PUNISHMENT RANGE

Thirty-One individuals were arrested and booked into the Chambers County Jail between Sunday, December 6 and Saturday, December 12. 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

Utility Commission of review and reach a final Texas has one year to decision.

Babin Commends the Passage of WRDA 2020

Total Main Jail:

31

R e l i a b l e Po w e r, R e s i l i e n t C o m m u n i t i e s It’s never convenient when the lights go out – especially if you’re a critical business working to serve customers during these unprecedented times. Entergy Texas understands the need for some businesses to have 100 percent, uninterrupted power to ensure they can focus on their core mission without worrying about power outages.

To address this need, Entergy Texas has filed an application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas to begin offering an enhanced resiliency solution for commercial and small industrial customers across Southeast Texas.

If approved by the PUCT,

Entergy Texas would be able to begin providing this service to interested customers around January 2022.

Entergy’s innovative offering – called Power Through – utilizes backup generation that benefits both customers and the community.

Entergy Texas would install, operate, own and maintain the generator, while the customer pays a monthly fee. If an outage occurs, the generator switches on, allowing the business to continue operations.

However, during the majority of the time when the host customer is served from the grid, Entergy Texas can use that available power capacity to serve customers in the

surrounding area.

“Our focus is on providing reliable power to our customers, but sometimes uncontrollable events occur,” said Stuart Barrett, vice president of customer service for Entergy Texas. “This new program will help businesses that require uninterrupted power – such as grocery stores, hospitals and other essential businesses – by providing a solution that ensures greater reliability.”

This program builds on Entergy Texas’s successful pilot project to test this concept with a grocery store in The Woodlands area. Since deploying the initial pilot in 2019, Entergy Texas

has utilized the generator numerous times to serve power needs in the local area, as well as the customer utilizing the system during an outage in the area.

“Our experience with our pilot project has shown that these type of commercial backup generators have significant value for all of our customers,” continued Barrett.

“The expansion of this program, pending Commission approval, will help meet a critical customer need and continue our work to invest in reliable and affordable infrastructure for our customers.”

Entergy Texas filed its application on Dec. 9, 2020, and the Public

U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) issued the following statement commending the House passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020, in which he secured many provisions that will greatly benefit the Port of Houston, Houston Ship Channel, and entire Southeast Texas energy sector.

“Southeast Texas is the global leader in creating reliable, affordable energy, and the key to that success is found in the Port of Houston and the expansion of the Houston Ship Channel,” said Babin. “Modernizing and improving our infrastructure is fundamental to not only advancing our country’s energy independence, but also improving our national security and providing goods and services that support our growing economy.

“I am pleased to have helped lead efforts to ensure that provisions supporting the widening and dredging of the Port and Channel passed in the

House’s 2020 WRDA. This is a critical milestone for our region. From conversations with the Port and companies who utilize the Channel, to meetings with Secretary James of the Army Corps and leaders at OMB, the Houston delegation and I have supported the Channel’s Expansion Project in every way that we can. Our work is not yet done, and the Port of Houston as well as the other three vitally important ports located in the 36th Congressional District of Texas will continue to have my support in Congress.

“It is not an exaggeration to say that by spending a million dollars today on hurricane and flooding prevention infrastructure, we can save a billion in damages down the road from another storm like Hurricane Harvey.

I am proud and thankful that this bill contains numerous provisions from me and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that work to address these critical needs in Southeast Texas.”

Wednesday,December 16, 2020

Religion & Lifestyle

Sunday Observations from Christy

“Laugh Every Chance You Get!"

Mark hurried out the door and grabbed the lunch on the counter. After getting to work he received a text from his wife, Jennifer. It read, “You got my lunch instead of yours. Don’t microwave my yogurt!”

Mark responded, “Yogurt! I thought that was mashed potatoes!”

“If you are cheerful, you feel good; if you are sad, you hurt all over.” (Proverbs 17:22) Merry Christmas, y’all!

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

Obituaries

Ray Austin Evans, 34, of Winnie, died Tuesday, December 8, 2020. He was born on September 4, 1986, in Anahuac, to Lori Ann Smith and Raymond Franklin Evans, Jr. Survivors include his parents, Lori and Ray Evans; brother, Sam Evans and his wife, Meagan; sister, Cheyenne Evans; 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)

nephew, Reece Nolan; nieces, Lillie Nolan and Zoey Evans; paternal grandmother, Ethelene Trahan; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; and his dogs, Diamond and Merlin.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, George and Edna Smith; paternal grandfather, Ray Evans, Sr.; and Paw Paw John Trahan.

Memorial contributions may be made to Humane Society of Southeast Texas to P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.

A gathering of Ray’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, December 18, 2020, at Cornerstone Church, 3810 TX-124, Stowell.

His funeral 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

THE HOMETOWN PRESS

You know, I have seen so much fussing about the inconveniences of 2020.

About the changes in our lives, not being able to go like normal, etc.

While I will never negate the seriousness of this pandemic, Or the losses in service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 19, 2020, at Cornerstone Church, Stowell, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.

Cremation arrangements will be handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.

Please observe social distancing guidelines. By attending any public event you are acknowledging the risk of exposure to the Coronavirus. Please follow the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control: cdc.gov Complete and updated information may be found at: broussards1889.com.

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life, finances, and health, I am beginning to see a somewhat silver lining.

This weekend, my mom and I ventured out to look at Christmas lights.

Pleasantly surprised to see a lot more lights than in previous years. Many areas in town that you didn’t see one light, now have many!

It was truly wonderful to see! Why more lights this year? Maybe some unknown incentive?

Sudden onset of holiday spirit?

More like sudden onset of more time at home. I’ve noticed it. I’m not near as rushed this year. Why? No parties. No gatherings.

While yes, I miss it, I am also enjoying one season, one year..... to catch my

breath.

It is the middle of December, and I’ve gotten more cards, seeing more lights, and overall joy.

We have all had the pause button pushed on our need for perpetual busyness..... and it just might be the one good thing to come from this year.

Maybe if we focused on what we gained this year, instead of lost, what we maintained, instead of neglected. What our relationships are, not the amount of gifts under a tree. Or the amount of parties we are invited to.

Maybe.... we might stress less.

Make no mistakes, 2020 has been hard. So many losses. Our lives are truly

in a holding pattern. We’ve missed births, weddings, birthdays, graduations, and trips. The list is lengthy of what has been lost this year. I just can’t help but wonder, is there a lesson here that we all need to learn?

Happy Sunday peeps..... I hope that in the season of giving, you take time to see what’s been given. More time with your loved ones.

More time to decorate.

More time to cook, to mail cards, organize, or to just exist. It’s not perfect, but I don’t know when we have ever been given the gift of time before. You have it.

Pack the kids up. Go look at lights. Sing Christmas carols. Find that one good thing..... about 2020

Allen Paul McMahan, 40, of Winnie, Texas, passed away in his home surrounded by family on December 9, 2020.

Allen was born to Paul and Rebecca McMahan on July 22, 1980 in Beaumont, Texas at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

Allen loved the outdoors.

Often times you could find him with his kids fishing off of back roads and many other places.

He also loved hunting waterfowl.

He is survived by his wife, Donia McMahan; three small children, Alex, Allyson and Ruth McMahan; parents, Paul and Rebecca Bertrand McMahan; sister, Jennifer McMahan-Mitchell; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Earl and Eunice McMahan and Alexson and Trixie Bertrand; aunt, Patricia Underwood, and cousin, Patrick Rose.

Memorial contributions for Allen may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210 or a cancer organization of your choice.

A graveside service for Mr. McMahan was held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, December 14, 2020, at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.

WNFR Crowns Champions (contd) because he won round 2,4,6,8, and 10.

Shad Mayfield needed every bit of his regular season winnings to hold onto the World Champion Gold Buckle.

He finished just $231.00 ahead of Marty Yates. Shad had a forgettable NFR as he only placed in 2 of the 10 rounds and had 6 no times, but his huge $89,479.00 lead coming into the Finals was just enough to hang onto the Title. Team Roping partners Colby Lovell and Paul Eaves needed a 4.4 second round 10 to win the Team Roping Championship as Header Lovell was just $453.00 ahead of second place

Luke Brown. Heeler Eaves had a little bit more margin of $2,983.00 over second place finisher Payden Bray. It was the first Gold Buckle for Lovell and the second for Eaves who won one in 2018 while roping with Clay Smith.

Steer Wrestler Jacob Edler will never forget his first trip to the WNFR as he won the 10 day average and the World Champion Title. Edler finished $1,700.00 ahead of Stetson Jorgenson who let Edler ride his horse during the Finals.

Edler was certainly thankful to Jorgenson in the post run interview, saying to Jorgenson "Thank you so much, thank

you for being a friend". Hailey Kinsel won her third Gold Buckle in the last three years in the barrel racing and won a whopping $349,076.00 this year with a record setting $270,615.00 coming at the NFR. Kinsel's horse Sister became somewhat of a crowd favorite as the superstar horse did everything asked of her and more. Kinsel gave credit where credit was due and said about the horse "She does it because she thinks that I asked her to and she likes me". The 2021 WNFR is already being planned for next December 2-11 in Las Vegas, but who knows......it could be in Texas again.

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 344 Broadway, Winnie, Texas 409-296-8935 Adult Sunday School............8:45 a.m.

Sunday Service.....................10:00 am Bible Study Wed.....................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

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

PAGE 5

THE HOMETOWN PRESS

Business Directory

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

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

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

www.clarkfreight.com

“Trucks Move Your World”

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 $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 2969988

Craig Stowe Owner

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

409-296-9542

$10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 2969988 $10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 2969988 $10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 2969988 $10 per week • Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 296-9988

Classifieds

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

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

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

3 bd rm/ 1 bath/storage shed. $130,000.00 washer and dryer connections. Owner financing 713-875-5703

Handyman needed for only a few hours work around the house and yard. 409-296-6224 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.

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 Trailer axles $40.00 - $100.00 each, PVC pipe 1 1/2 to 4" $50.00, Call 409-457-5204 2014 Lincoln MKZ Gray 4 Door Loaded Run Good One Owner. $6,000. 409-504-7058 Commercial gas tank for sale $700. refrigerator for sale $80. please call 832-298-8159 Horse hay 4x5 fertilized Jiggs Bermuda in barn $50.00/ roll. Call 409-781-2236 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 Free flooded mobile home.

You haul away. 409-651-7789 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 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

Canal City lot for sale by owner on the middle canal undeveloped Lot #302, 1468 Van Sant Gilchrist TX call Alan 409-939-3240 no texts $30,000 2004 40' Mountain Air motorhome, made by Newmar.

250 Cummings diesel, 6 speed Allison transmission $25000.00 Call 409-2770883 or 409-277-9872 Antique trunks, power equipment, generators, chain saws, lawn mowers, etc Call 409-651-7789 Trailer axles $40 - 100 each Located in Stowell 4 0 9 - 4 5 7 - 5 2 0 4

Garry BrattenExperienced Handyman.

No job too small or large.

409-354-8280.

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 in Winnie.

3/2/2 with Central Air & Heat, fresh paint, new frig and stove, on almost 1 acre of property. House sits high and dry - never flooded. $900 per month 713-829-3791

House for Rent 3 BR 1 1/2 bath $1100.00/month and $1100.00 deposit. No utilities.

Call Reenay 409-201-0399

SMALL HOUSES 2BR, 1 Bath, built-ins in kitchen, washer-dryer hookups, Franzen Rd, great location, 725/m0.

409-679-9773

FOR SALE 4x5 Round bales stored outside for cows. $35.00 each. Call 409-781-2236 Butcher calves for sale, grass and fed. $1.65 on the hoof 713-875-5703

FOR RENT 1600 sq. ft. for rent.

Window display, Highway frontage 409-781-0918

House for Sale 405 Hagemeier St. Winnie 3Br 2Ba 2,479 sq ft.

110,000 Phone 296-2265

Needed: Professional carpenter to remove and reinstall new door and frame. All materials furnished. Call 409-267-7112

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

House for rent in Winnie.

3 bed, 1.5 bath + game room, fenced backyard. Brick house in nice neighborhood. $1,200 month +deposit.

4 0 9 - 7 8 9 - 0 2 8 9 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.

9 3 6 - 5 4 6 - 4 4 0 1

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30-year fixed rate owner financing, only 5% down. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior Call toll-free or email for individual prices and terms, & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-815-5722. www.ranchenterprisesltd.com, 800-876-9720.

AUCTIONS

MEDICAL

Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the Real Estate Auctions: 10+/- ac w/Office, Home & compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Warehouse – Jan 21. Public Inspection 11-2 p.m. Fri., Free information kit! Call 866-747-9983.

Dec 18 & Jan 8. Three Rivers, TX, 345 & 349 Highway Life Alert. One press of a button sends help FAST, 72. Just over an hour from San Antonio & Corpus 24/7! At home and on the go. Mobile Pendant with GPS. FREE First Aid Kit (with subscription.) CALL Christi. Auctions: 11am, Thu Jan 21 on site or bid live 844-831-1525. FREE Brochure. from anywhere at auctionnetwork.com. 800-801-8003, DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual williamsauction.com/TX. Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. Call 1-855-901-0467 43rd Annual Cattleman Bull & Female Sale Jan. for details. www.dental50plus.com/txpress. 6118-0219 23, 2021, 12:00 Noon, El Campo Livestock Auction, El Campo, TX. Expecting 100 Bulls. Also selling

WANTED

a group of select females. www.cattlemansale.com FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient.

Adrian Knight Tx Lic #11102, 903-452-7591; Kelly Certified Professionals. Call (312) 291-9169 or visit Conley Tx Lic #9558, 903-850-3449.

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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

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GENERATORS

GENERAC Standby Generators. The weather is increasingly unpredictable. Be prepared for power outages. FREE 7-year extended warranty ($695 ACREAGE value!). Schedule your FREE in-home assessment Hunting/investment/recreational property. We today. Call 1-855-704-8579. Special financing for have some of the best in Texas! From the Hill Country qualified customers.

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The Arboretum of Winnie is accepting applications for full time LVN night shift positions.

Please apply online at www. winnienr.com

TexSCAN Week of December 13, 2020

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

Call 409-781-2236 Heifers and bulls for sale. Sharolias cross. Four butcher calves for sale $1.50/lb on hoof plus $.79 to out and wrap.

7 1 3 - 8 7 5 - 5 7 0 3

FREE WANT ADS POLICIES TWO KINDS OF WANT ADS

Call Inogen Today To Request Your FREE Info Kit

PAID/BUSINESS WANT ADS

FREE WANT ADS

1-866-461-1442 © 2020 Inogen, Inc. All rights reserved.

for NON-BUSINESS PURPOSES:

MKT-P0108

The Arboretum of Winnie is accepting applications for full time LVN day shift positions.

Please apply online at www. winnienr.com.

43rd Annual

Cattleman Bull & Female Sale January 23, 2021 • 12:00 Noon

Texas Press Statewide Classified Network 273 Participating Texas Newspapers • Regional Ads Start At $250 • Email ads@texaspress.com

El Campo Livestock Auction, El Campo, TX

NOTICE: While most advertisers are reputable, we cannot guarantee products or servics 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.

www.cattlemansale.com

EXpECTiNg 100 BuLLs

Also selling a group of select females For information:

Adrian Knight Tx Lic #11102 903-452-7591

Kelly Conley Tx Lic #9558 903-850-3449

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

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

WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE

FOUL-WEATHER FRIENDS

By John Jefferson

I thought I knew something about Texas waterfowl hunting.

After all, my earliest hunting adventures included wading a large pond near the Gulf to hunt ducks during high school years -finding out later that it was full of alligators. Then, I acquired a brother-in-law who owned 10,000 acres of rice, cattle land, and duck ponds near Devers, also enjoyed

Welcome Neighborhood Net Readers!

countless hunts in the rice-rich areas west of Houston, and even hunted geese and Sandhill cranes in the Panhandle.

But as I sat down to write this column, I sought a favorite outfitter, and googled “Waterfowl hunting guides in Texas” to locate him. That was surprising. Up came 57 different hunting operations scattered across Texas.

The first two tell the tale of diversity. First Shot Outfitters is near Coleman and Swamp

Nasty Outfitters is in the Bonham area – half-way across Texas from each other and about the same distance or more from the legendary rice and soybean belt inland from the coast running from Beaumont to near Victoria. I’ve never hunted with either of the two guides mentioned but use them as examples of the waterfowl hunting range throughout Texas.

I also remember an afternoon flight years ago in a small Parks

and Wildlife plane at low altitude and marveling over ALL the water-reflected, late afternoon sunlight shining up at me the entire way back to Austin from Dallas.

Despite the vast urbanization caused by high tech and our welcoming economy, Texas is still an agricultural state. Huge water impoundments are also waterfowl attractors, as are private ponds developed by new, rural landowners. I can only imagine waterfowl parents telling chicks not to fret over northern ponds rapidly icing: “Tomorrow, we’re flying to Texas – a land of open water and abundant food!”

Texas big-bird hunters are lucky. We’re at the end of the line

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

in the Central Flyway, the aerial “Highway One” for waterfowl fleeing the north as winter temperatures and snowstorms blanket their homeland and feeding grounds.

And, as the Internet revealed, hunting the web-footed flocks is available in most of the eastern two-thirds of Texas. Much of it’s awaiting hunters just a doable drive from population centers.

Goose hunting on the legendary Lissie Egypt Prairie west of Houston became a sad story a few years back when drought and falling lake levels in Central Texas decimated the rice industry. All remaining water was hunted, pressuring birds away.

That could explain the

increased number of upstate guides.

Now, rice farmers still in business have water, and rice and geese have returned – somewhat. TPWD Migratory program leader, Kevin Kraii, estimates 500,000 geese in Texas presently -- nowhere near what was here before.

David Butler, TPWD area waterfowl biologist, reports that many more northern geese are poised to come.

Increasing numbers of pintails have been observed, too, although neither species justifies an increase in the reduced bag limits of ten snow geese and one pintail.

TPWD is working on a water plan, but it will take time. Patience is a virtue.

Ten years ago, geese and ducks were plentiful along the rice farming area east and west of Houston, and hunting was extraordinary. Drought throughout Central Texas curtailed water supply and rice farming was severely impacted, forcing some farmers to seek other crops or occupations and waterfowl to change winter roosting sites. Populations are slowly improving. Duck season and East Zone goose season are open until January 31 and West Zone goose season closes February 14. Photo by John Jefferson.

Community

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

THE HOMETOWN PRESS

PAGE 8

LEGAL NOTICE

CHAMBERS COUNTY, TEXAS

Holiday Trash Guide Holiday Collection Station and Landfill Hours December 24: December 25: December 26: January 1:

Open 9 a.m. to Noon Closed Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed

Please remember: • Flatten any cardboard boxes so that they take up less space • Only trailers up to 10 feet in length are permitted at box sites • Trailers greater than 10 feet in length must be off loaded at the landfill

Reduce Waste this Holiday Season Each holiday season American families dispose of an ADDITIONAL one million extra tons of trash per week! This year, do your part to reduce waste.

• Use your own shopping bags • Get creative when wrapping gifts - skip wrapping paper or use reusable bags and boxes • Reuse ribbons and bows • Discontinue catalogs • Give experiences, not a lot of stuff • Choose LED holiday lights instead of traditional incandescents • Remember to unplug tree lights at night and when away from home • When gifting electronics, include rechargeable batteries and a charger

Safety Alert!

Don’t let thieves “window shop” via your holiday trash!

• Take your Christmas boxes directly to the collection station or landfill • Break boxes down and/or tear them into small pieces so that it’s difficult to see what was in them originally • Place gift trash in the bottom of your trash barrel to make it tougher to lift the lid and see what you received

Babin Fights Voter Fraud By Unveiling the You Must Be Alive to Vote Act U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) issued the following statement regarding his new bill, the You Must Be Alive to Vote Act, introduced earlier today following allegations of voter fraud, especially the ballots of deceased individuals being cast absentee in the 2020 presidential election.

“The right to vote is one of the most vital pillars of our democracy, the foundations of which are election integrity and confidence in our democratic processes,” said Babin. “The ease with which someone is

able to steal the ballot of a deceased person and cast an illegitimate vote should disturb, alarm, and outrage every American citizen, no matter what side of the aisle they sit on. To protect our democratic process and Americans’ faith in our elections, we must ensure that deceased individuals are not allowed to remain on state voter rolls.”

“My bill will prevent any funds from the U.S. Departments of Transportation or Education, with the exception of those going toward law enforcement

agency grants, from going to counties of any state that do not annually check their voter lists against the Social Security Administration’s most recent death records in order to purge them of any individuals found to be deceased. All elected officials, from your local city council member to your U.S. President, have an obligation to obey the law and prevent fraud in our elections, and Congress should not be awarding taxpayer dollars to any counties or states that refuse to do the job they swore to do.”

NOTICE OF NEW RATE REQUEST AND CERTIFICATE AMENDMENT On December 9, 2020, Entergy Texas, Inc. (“ETI” or “the Company”) filed an Application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (“Commission”) requesting to amend its Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (“CCN”) permitting ETI to deploy natural gasfired distributed generation and statement of intent for approval of Rate Schedule UODG (Utility-Owned Distributed Generation) and an associated form Customer Agreement.

ETI’s Application was assigned Docket No. 51575 and is styled Application of Entergy Texas, Inc. to Amend Its Certificate of Convenience and Necessity to Deploy Natural Gas-Fired Distributed Generation and Statement of Intent for Rate Schedule UODG. In this Application, ETI seeks to own and operate up to 75 MW of natural gas-fired distributed generation (“DG”) located at the premises of to be determined hosting commercial and industrial customers throughout ETI’s service territory. The total estimated annual non-fuel

revenue requirement associated with ETI’s proposed ownership and operation of 75MW of DG is approximately $16 million, excluding estimated Schedule UODG revenues that will offset that amount. Rate Schedule UODG is a new voluntary rate schedule that will be charged only to eligible commercial and industrial customers who elect to subscribe for backup electric service supplied by the DG. ETI is requesting that Rate Schedule UODG be effective beginning January 29, 2021.

The proposed fleet of DG will supply a portion of ETI’s longterm resource needs, be available to provide capacity and energy benefits to all ETI customers and enhance the resiliency of ETI’s electric grid. In addition, during an outage, the DG will be available to supply backup electric service to host customers and allow them to continue to provide vital goods and services to the community while service to the larger area is being restored.

If the PUCT adopts the 45-day intervention deadline proposed in the Application, the deadline to intervene will be January 25, 2020, and a letter requesting intervention should be received by the PUCT, at its address provided below, by that date. A prehearing conference

is expected to be held in Austin, Texas in the near future.

Persons who wish to intervene in or comment upon these proceedings, or obtain further information, should contact the Public Utility Commission of Texas, P.O. Box 13326, Austin, Texas 78711-3326, or call the PUCT’s Office of Consumer Protection at 512-936-7120 or 1-888-782-8477. Hearing and speech impaired individuals with text telephones (TTY) may contact the PUCT at 512936-7136 or use Relay Texas (toll-free) 1-800-735-2988.

All communications should refer to Docket No. 51575, and any request to intervene in that proceeding should include an email address and fax number (if available) as contact information. Persons with questions or who want more information about this Application may contact ETI at 350 Pine Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701, or call (409)-981-2602 during normal business hours. A complete copy of the Application is available upon request. A copy of the Application may also be viewed on the Commission’s webpage at www.puc.state. tx.us. The Commission maintains an electronic copy of all filings on the “Interchange Filing Search” section of its webpage. The control number for this proceeding is 51575.

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