The Hometown Press 12-30-2020

409-296-BANK

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Volume 31, Issue 52

Chambers County Forced to Reduce Business Capacity Due to TSA Hospitalization Rate  CHAMBERS COUNTY, TEXAS – On Monday, December 21, 2020 Chambers County officials became aware that the hospitalizations rate in Trauma Service Area R (of which the County is a member) had surpassed the limit set forth by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in Executive Order GA-32.

Per GA-32, areas with high hospitalizations are defined as those who have had seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity exceeds 15 percent.

Because TSA R has had sustained high hospitalization rates, all businesses currently operating at a 75 percent occupancy rate in Chambers County must reduce their occupancy to 50 percent, effective Wednesday, December 23, 2020.

Exceptions to this rule may be found on the Governor’s website: gov.texas.gov.

Additionally – and due to this hospitalization rate – TABC has mandated that all bars and similar establishments in Chambers County close.

Further, all elective surgeries are prohibited in Chambers County (and all other Counties which are part of TSA R) until further notice.

While the Governor and TABC both offer an appeal process for this reduction of capacity, Chambers County does not qualify. Per the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), a County must have fewer than 30 total cases of COVID-19 reported over the last 14 days. Chambers County has averaged 25 cases per day for the past 14 days, thus far surpassing the minimum allowed. “The success of Chambers County businesses and continuity of our resident’s livelihood is one of our utmost concerns,� said Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia. “However, protecting the lives of citizens is our top priority and this mandate from the Governor’s office is intended to do that.�

With increasing case numbers and high regional

hospitalization rates, Chambers County residents are encouraged to be mindful when making decisions regarding their own health and safety. “The things that we do affect those around us,� continued Judge Sylvia. “With Christmas quickly approaching, I’m encouraging each of you to include safety in your holiday planning.

Social distance, wear face coverings and wash your hands regularly.

Remember: slowing the spread of COVID-19 is the best way to get these businesses reopened at 75 percent capacity."

Per GA-32, this rollback in occupancy can be reversed once hospitalization rates in TSA R have been 15 percent or less for at least seven consecutive days.

Chambers County and Chambers County Public Health will continue to monitor COVID-19 data and will update residents as more information becomes available.

For more information regarding this update, please visit the following websites: ¡ Texas Governor Greg Abbott: gov.texas.gov ¡ Texas Department of State Health Services: https://www.dshs.state. tx.us/coronavirus/ ¡ TABC: https:// w w w. t a b c . t e x a s . g o v / coronavirus/ga-32/ The following list is provided for convenience only and is not meant to replace standards set forth

by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Per Governor Abbott’s Executive Orders GA-30 and GA-32, the following businesses must reduce operations to 50 percent of the total listed occupancy of the establishment: ¡ In-store, non-CISA retail establishments ¡ Dine-in restaurants ¡ Non-CISA office buildings ¡ N o n - C I S A manufacturers ¡ Museums and libraries ¡ Gyms and exercise facilities and classes For more information, please visit the Governor’s website at gov.texas.gov.

Ricelands Begins Administering Covid-19 Vaccine

Wade Thibodeaux  Riceland Medical Center(Winnie Community Hospital) received and began administering the Moderna version of the

Covid-19 vaccine last Monday, December 28, 2020. Ten of the front line health workers received the vaccine Monday afternoon and more will receive the shot

later this week. Winnie Stowell EMS received their vaccinations on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 and East Chambers ISD Nurses, Hamshire EMS, and Broussard

Mortuary employees are in line to receive theirs.

Pictured here is Suggie Daigle, Director of Administrative Services with Ricelands receiving her shot on Monday.

Shooting PBR and Discovering America

By Andrew Giangola  More than 40 years ago, in a small town in France, little 7-year-old Chris Elise sat with his grandfather, watching dubbed TV westerns and falling in love with cowboys.

He began dreaming of coming to America.

Chris had always been fascinated by photography, a hobby of his father. In 1997, his father tragically passed at 46, and Elise took possession of his dad’s Nikon FE camera and one 50mm lens. He

CONFIDENCE

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shot portraits, including musician Ravi Coltrane – son of John Coltrane – and dabbled in wedding photography.

One day a girlfriend asked about his biggest dream. Chris finally heard his voice saying aloud what had always been deep inside: “My dream is to live in America.�

It was go time. He’d need to support himself. He loved that Nikon. And sports. Why not put the two together and make a run at a new career using the universal languages

of pictures and sports to cross the ocean? “French was my mother language, so if I drop the pen and pick up the camera, I don’t have the language barrier,� he explained. “I had always loved sports, so it was an easy way for me to walk into the USA and not have that barrier.�

Elise hooked up with a photo agency in California and began covering the NBA for the French basketball magazine Reverse. Several sports agencies took notice.

He became a French photo correspondent in the U.S., covering pro hoops while going on assignment to cover sports in exotic places like the Sahara desert, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Elise is now a renowned sports photographer, and in mid-November, he drove his Chevy pickup from Los Angeles to Texas to shoot the PBR World Finals as his new favorite sport played in a giant football stadium usually hosting the Dallas Cowboys.

And when PBR announced that the 2021 season would start with a southern swing through iconic small-town outdoor rodeo grounds, the first media member to ask for credentials was none other than Chris Elise. “My first love was the cowboys, so yes, (contd on page 3)

Wednesday, December 30, 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 should have known better, I should have known better, I SHOULD have known better, but I didn't, or It just didn't click in this hard head of mine. It is a tradition, or a common practice for us to take off the week between Christmas and New Year's and this year was supposed to be the same, but somehow we have managed to get ourselves into a position of producing a newspaper in all of our markets for this week that we are supposed to be on vacation.

However, in this world of up to the minute news and more concerning the social media aspect of the news business, we are going to produce a digital version of the papers this week.

I'm not exactly sure how they are going to look, how many pages in each publication, or just exactly what information will be contained in them, but we are going to produce a pa-

per.....well, a publication at least and they will at least contain the stuff that we can gather and find information about during this holiday season. This all started because the Hornets were in the playoffs and I didn't want to skip a week because then we would be a week behind as I was just sure that they were going to be playing well into January. So, instead of producing a full blown, hold in your hand newspaper, I decided that we would just produce a digital version and make it available to everyone on our social media page. That way we could cover the Hornets game, give our advertisers a little extra exposure because we weren't going to charge them for this week, and still be somewhat in the news flow on a little more relaxed basis.

Well, the Hornets lost their game in overtime and that bad news could have

Opinion & Entertainment certainly waited for an extra week, but I had already broadcast the digital edition in last week's paper and I certainly wanted to keep my word, therefore we will produce the digital version. Besides that, people still get arrested, obituaries need to be published, and news continues to happen regardless of the calendar, so here we are producing a newspaper.

And, if we are going to do one....we may as well do all of them. So, if you are reading this, it means that you found the link on our social media sites and if you like the digital version just shoot us an email, a phone call, or even an old fashioned letter in the mail and we will be glad to include you on our weekly digital distribution list...... no charge for paper subscribers and only $25. a year for new subscriptions.

Now, on to something a little funny. This is a Sonic story that's a little backwards from the usual. I was in line at the drive thru the other day and a guy pulled up behind me and yelled out the window of his truck for me to hurry up.

I looked in my rear view mirror and recognized the fellow as the pastor of one

of the local churches and he and I have developed a friendship over the years.

I waved to him and pulled up to the window and as I was driving up, the thought of doing something nice for him during the holidays crossed my mind and I asked the young lady at the window if I could pay for his order. She said that she would check to see how much it was and she came back and said that he had an "Order Ahead"

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and it was already paid for.

Well dang, the one time that I'm going to do something nice for somebody and this new digital world full of apps took me out of the equation. You see, once the order is placed, confirmed, and paid for on the Sonic app, there's no going back. I wanted to pay for it and they refund his credit card, but she said that they couldn't do that and so I just drove off, waving goodbye to my friend. As

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I'm writing this column, the thought occurred to me that I guess I could have bought him a gift card and left it for him to use next time, but I didn't think of that option at the time. Oh well, I'll catch him next time, because I think he is a frequent consumer of the sweet nectar from Sonic like I am and so there should be more opportunities. Till next time, I'm........

Wade in the Shade.

Tumbleweeds

JODY NIX CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF PLAYING MUSIC

By Tumbleweed Smith

“I was born to play music.

Country Music. Western Swing. It moves me, moves my soul. If I hear those fiddles start playing with a good steel guitar and good rhythm section my ears perk up. That’s what I’m known for: a driving Texas dance beat. I want those people to dance to my music. If that floor isn’t full, then I’m not doing my job.”

Jody Nix lives on a farm near Big Spring that has been in his family nearly 100 years.

His grandmother bought him a set of drums when he was 4. His father was Hoyle Nix, who had a popular western swing band. Jody started paying drums for his dad in 1960 when he was 8.

Hoyle’s drummer got sick and he asked Jody to help out for a gig at the American Legion in Brownfield. Two weeks later the drummer quit and Jody got the job.

“I was a fulltime musician and going to school every day,” says Jody. “I’d go play somewhere with the band, get home about 3 AM, take a nap and go to school.

Next day, same thing. We played 5 nights a week. I got to play with my dad 25 years.” He started playing fiddle when he was 11. “I got my first full size fiddle

for Christmas, 1963. My brother Larry taught me to play. New Year’s Eve I was still drumming, but daddy called me up to play FADED LOVE in front of the whole crowd. That was the first time I played fiddle in public, New Year’s Eve 1963.”

He played it at THE STAMPEDE, a legendary dance hall Hoyle built in 1954. When Hoyle died in 1985, Jody took over. “It was either let everything go or try it. I didn’t want to let it go.” Faron Young, Ernest Tubb and other top ranked musicians asked Jody to be in their bands, but Jody stuck to his roots. He knew about the music side of things, but not the business side. But he learned. “Praise God it has worked,” says Jody. “The longer I did it the easier it got. Here it is 35 years later and I’m still going and have people wanting us a year and a half away.” He has played in Nashville, Las Vegas, Branson and Washington DC, but he says most of his income comes from Texas.

He and his band make 120 appearances a year and get invited back a lot. “I just celebrated playing the Bob Wills Day in Turkey, Texas my 45th year. I’ve played at the Stamford Rodeo 35 years straight.” Jody plays

left-handed, even though his fiddle is made for a righthanded player. “I don’t know of many left-handed fiddle players except the one I was named after, Joe Holly.

He played for Bob Wills.

They called him Jody.”

Jody has produced 11 albums, composed songs, is on satellite radio in strong rotation and played country swing for 60 years. One of his highlights was playing for the inauguration of George HW Bush in 1989.

Another was playing drums for Bob Wills when he was 4 and again at 21. Another was when Gene Autry handed him a Western Wrangler award at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. He has won several honors, is in numerous music halls of fame and is the current Man of the Year in Big Spring, recognized by the Chamber of Commerce at its annual banquet. “It is an honor beyond measure to have that title,” says Jody. www.tumbleweesmith.com

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

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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: BOARD GAMES ACROSS 1. Arithmetic operation 6. Romantic getaway destination 9. "Hold on!"

13. Foolish 14. Unit of electrical resistance 15. Ann Patchett's novel "Bel ____" 16. Parallel grooves 17. New Zealand's bygone bird 18. Daisy-like bloom 19. *En ____, cooked and served in individual pot 21. *Raw fish 23. Like Second Testament 24. Archipelago unit 25. Fool's Day mo.

28. "Days" in Havana 30. Just one of TV's "American ____" 35. Russian mountain range 37. Urban haze 39. Spiral-horned African antelope 40. Aggressive remark 41. 10 percent to charity, e.g.

43. Milk choice 44. Burnt ____ 46. "Nobody ____ It Better" 47. London art museum 48. Evening party

50. Boll weevil, e.g.

52. Dianne Feinstein, abbr.

53. Windmill blade 55. "... ____ he drove out of sight" 57. *It's battered and fried 61. *Cheese and potato dumplings 65. Loudspeaker noise 66. Sheep sound 68. Frank Wright's middle name 69. Atones, archaic 70. Days of ____ 71. Containing fat 72. Cut the crop 73. College degrees 74. Stainless material DOWN 1. Catchall abbr.

2. Gung-ho about 3. DEA agent 4. Jimmy Hoffa's organization 5. Position while landing 6. A few 7. *Vietnamese soup 8. Accumulate 9. Done in loads 10. Opposing prefix 11. Unit on a list 12. Torus, pl.

15. Milk protein

Solution on page 3

20. *Cocktail garnish 22. Mont Blanc, e.g.

24. Heavy hydrogen, e.g.

25. *With jus 26. First-rate 27. Browning's "____ ben Ezra" 29. In the thick of 31. Benign lump 32. New Zealand parrots 33. Like NCAA's eight 34. *Japanese noodle soup 36. Suggestive look 38. *Clarified butter 42. Ruhr's industrial center 45. "The Dean Martin Show" and "The Carol Burnett Show" 49. Lobe locale 51. Ogres of the Norse 54. Bigwig in the Orient 56. Approval of the audience 57. Tow rope alternative 58. River in Bohemia 59. Comedian Rudolph 60. "Dead Poets Society" school, e.g.

61. Cowboy's prods 62. Apple leftover 63. Jekyll's alter ego 64. Bucolic poem 67. *____ ____ mode

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

For more information, please call 267-3700.

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

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

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

Pantry,

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

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

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

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THE HOMETOWN PRESS

Local News

Wednesday, December 30, 2020 PUNISHMENT RANGE

Twenty-Two individuals were arrested and booked into the Chambers County Jail between Sunday, December 20 and Saturday, December 26. 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:

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Shooting PBR and Discovering America (contd) I have come full circle,” he said in a heavy French accent with a good laugh.

Elise initially became intrigued with bull riding after seeing a single picture – a soaring bull and sprawling buckedoff rider, captured from ground level.

“I was really impressed by the picture. Realizing these men were riding bulls, I wanted to see this sport and shoot it,” he said.

And so, in 2017, while in Las Vegas to participate in a documentary pilot for a French TV show and out for a drink, Elise looked up at the TV and saw a cowboy hanging on to a furiously bucking bull.

It was the PBR World Finals.

He took out his phone and bought a ticket for the next night.

“I didn’t know a thing about it, but I go there and fall in love right away,” he said. “PBR knows how to put on a show. It was really fantastic.”

A few months later, in Denver to shoot the Nuggets, he decided to contact PBR for credentials for its event in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Elise explained

that he may be an NBA specialist, but he loved cowboys and always wanted to be involved with the PBR. PBR is eager to introduce the sport to writers and photographers covering other sports.

He was immediately credentialed.

“It was my first time in Sioux Falls, my first time shooting PBR, and I loved everything about it,” he said. “I would come to experience how PBR takes care of the media like nobody else.”

With his afro exploding to the heavens, French accent, tattoos, and fingers dangling with conspicuous silver rings, Elise brings a coolness quotient ratcheting up the hipness level of any night’s PBR media contingent.

Working press normally don’t make it into the slate of zany hijinks that goes down between death-defying rides, but he drew the attention of PBR Official Entertainer Flint Rasmussen. The funny back and forth banter between rodeo clown and French photographer by way of LA and Denver went up on the video board.

While the NBA remained

Chris’ bread and butter, his PBR immersion would continue. The cast and crew barnstorming the country week to week were eager to learn more about the tall, affable photographer with the Waylon Jennings tattoo on his arm who was increasingly often seen on tour.

An impromptu meeting at T-Mobile Arena during the 2018 World Finals would show an open and intimate sports culture Elise has come to cherish.

“I’m leaving the arena and some guy shouts out, ‘Hey!’ It was Cody Nance,” Elise said.

“He’d seen me before and wanted to know who I was. We had a good chat – he wanted to know more about me, so he said he’d see me tomorrow.”

Elise had been in sports for 15 years. Yet this was an experience with an athlete he’d never had.

“In LA, I’d shot the same team for six years, and a player never had said hello once,” Elise said. “This guy had had just gotten on a bull at the most important event in the sport, and he’s genuinely interested in me. The values in this

league aren’t marketing BS; it’s totally real.”

The cowboy he enjoys shooting the most, the sport’s biggest star, twotime world champion J.B. Mauney, also befriended Elise.

“J.B.is one of a kind,” Elise says. “His attitude and approach personify the hero that is a cowboy.

He never disappoints me. If I could be one cowboy, I would be J.B. Mauney.”

The consummate professional who’s routinely been around stars big as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James has to contain his enthusiasm when in Mauney’s presence.

“I’m going to be 50 years old next year, and I can say that I feel like a kid, and he is my John Wayne,” Elise said Elise was becoming more fascinated with the sport, but he didn’t expect what would happen next as he covered the rides.

Friendships began to blossom.

“I’ve never met real friends in other sports organizations like I have in the PBR,” he said.

“Everyone is outward and friendly. Being a fan is easy because (contd on page 8)

Public Notice East Chambers ISD 216 Champions Loop Winnie, Texas 77665 NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS EAST CHAMBERS ISD’S STATE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY RATING East Chambers ISD will hold a public hearing at 6:00 P.M., January 11, 2020, in the Administration Building, 216 Champions Loop Winnie, TX 77665 The purpose of this meeting is to discuss East Chambers ISD’s rating on the state’s financial accountability system.

East Chambers received the highest of four financial accountability ratings to Texas school districts, with the highest being “Superior Achievement”.

Public Notice A Public Hearing on the East Chambers ISD Texas Academic Performance Report, PEIMS Financial Standard Report, Campus Performance Objectives and the Annual Report on Violent and Criminal Incidents will be held on Monday, January 11, 2020 at 6:00 P.M. in the board room at East Chambers Independent School District Administration Building at 216 Champions Loop in Winnie, Texas 77665. The purpose of the hearing is to share the District and Campus Texas Academic Performance Report, campus performance objectives, the annual report on violent and criminal incidents and to invite public comment.

Public Notice Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Don Rchard Russell, Deceased, were issued on December 15, 2020, in Cause No. 20CPR0129, pending in the County Court of Chambers County, Texas, to: David Christopher Russell and Stephenie Mary Russell Devillier All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to David Christopher Russell at the following address within the time in the manner prescribed by law.

David Christopher Russell 15125 Old Irish Farm Road Baytown, Texas 77523

Wednesday,December 30, 2020

Religion & Lifestyle

Sunday Observations from Christy

“A Better Year"

As my mother-in-law advanced in years, health issues multiplied. Her youngest son, a doctor, told the rest of the family, “The most important thing for her quality of life is still good nutrition. She has to eat.”

2020..... it is winding down quickly. This is after all the last Sunday of the year.

Brings to mind, what was 2020? What is the earmark of this last 12 months?

The utter chaos of the year that has developed its own designation.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Blessed is the person who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8) Just what the “Doctor” ordered for quality of life in 2021!

Beaumont. Her graveside service will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 1, 2021, at High Island Cemetery, High Island.

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

Obituaries

Nelda Joyce Ayala, 72, of Stowell, died Saturday, December 26, 2020, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. She was born on December 19, 1948, in Anahuac, to Hazel Smith and Claude Revia.

Nelda is survived by her husband, José “Alex” Ayala, of Stowell; sons, José “Shorty” Ayala, of Stowell and James Revia, of

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)

High Island; grandchildren, Canyon Revia, Tynner Revia, James “Little” Revia, and Lilah Revia; niece, Janice Gonzalez, of Sour Lake; great-niece, Antonia ReviaSantiago and her husband, Martin, of Beaumont; greatnephew, Willy Gonzalez and his wife, Lori, of Sour Lake; brother, Junior Revia and his wife, Cheryl, of High Island and Joe Revia, of Anahuac; numerous adopted children; other family members; nieces; nephews; and greatnieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Hazel and Claude Revia; and sisters, Barbara Monceaux, Ruby Jean Hamilton, and Mary Revia.

A gathering of Mrs. Ayala’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, December 31, 2020, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive,

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

Vickey Marie Comeaux, 73, of Hamshire, died at home surrounded by family on December 24, 2020. She was born on September 16,1947, to Mary Louise Ayling and Elbert Wims Hawkins in Baytown.

She was a devoted mother who stayed home with the kids and she also owned and operated Comeaux’s Restaurant in Hamshire, she was devoted to her husband, kids, and grandkids. Vickey was one of a kind, she is a two-time cancer survivor and never gave up, she was a spit fire, always lending a helping hand, where she was needed, or being the one to listen to your problems and always

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Will the year be known as the moment of a virus? Whether you still believe it’s a hoax, or you are on board with masks and hand sanitizer, this year has been marked by a virus.

Will the year be known as a moment of change in the civil rights issues that America continues to struggle with?

Whether you still believe we don’t have issues, or you are on board with a change and justice for all, this year has been marked by a civil rights movement.

Will the year be known as the death of the American voting system? Whether you believe the election was rigged, or are on board with a new coming administration, this year has been marked by a level of electoral fighting not seen before.

Will the year be known as the time scientist developed a vaccine in record speed, for the betterment of human kind? Whether you believe the Covid19 vaccine is of harm, or are in line to get your shot now, this year has been marked by the joint efforts of scientist and medical experts worldwide.

Whether you believe that this is just how America is now, or you long for the days when we all had the ability to stand together for a common cause, this year has been marked by division. A year of fighting.

A year of bashing. A year of showing the world the finer parts of America. Said with much sarcasm.

Happy New Year peeps..... my wish for 2021 is a return to decency. There are many

ways to view any situation, but we have to respect those differing views. To allow one another the independence to live our lives. To prosper.

To lawfully coexist and lift one another. I’m not stupid, a sheep, ignorant, a homophobe, a liberal, a right wing extremist, racist, superior, a know it all, or follower. I am however a lover of peace. A respectful individual of all races. An inquisitive person who desires knowledge to better understand. I have a deep love for anyone different, for the underdog, for the mistreated. I’m also a person who is horribly disappointed in the overall hate I see in our world. May we find a way back to decency. I’m doing my part.... are you?

knew what to say to make it better, she loved being with family and loved to fish and occasionally deer hunt with family.

Survivors include her daughters, Carolyn Knoblock and husband, Earl, of Warren and Patty Norris and her husband, Chris, of Anahuac; son, Lonnie Comeaux of Freeport; grandchildren, Toshia Dubose and her husband, Lesley, of Kirbyville; Jason Reed of Houston; Josh Norris and his wife, Bee, of Louisiana; Jacob Knoblock and his wife, Dee, of Warren; Kinley McFarlin and her husband, Mason, of Vidor; and Jacy Norris of Anahuac; greatgrandchildren, Emalee Reed, Ryleigh Gray, Ava Dubose, Sophia Norris, Gracie Knoblock, Jason McFarlin; and numerous, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Comeaux; brother, Dennis Hawkins; her parents, grandparents, and nephew, Freddie Daigle; and uncle, Lexie “Red” Hopson.

A gathering of Mrs. Comeaux’s family and friends will begin at 12:00 p.m., with her funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at First Baptist Church of Hamshire, 25304 Highway

124, Hamshire. Her interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie, under the direction Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Please observe social distancing guidelines.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1640 North Major Drive, Suite 101, Beaumont, Texas 77706.

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

Curtis LeBlanc, 79, of Livingston, TX died Wednesday, December 23, 2020 in his residence, leaving behind his sister, Sandra LeBlanc Jones, as well as his children, grandchildren & great grandchildren.

Curtis was born on January 6, 1941 to Mildred Ledet LeBlanc & Charles LeBlanc. When he was in JH, he & his family

moved to Winnie, TX, a town that he quickly loved & called home.

He was drafted into the Marine Corp, where he served our country in Vietnam. He left with an honorable discharge & rushed back home to his Momma in Winnie. Curtis later retired from Mobil Oil in Beaumont, TX. He loved watching high school football & supporting East Chambers every chance he got. He also loved to fish at the beach, where he had a camper parked for years.

Those who knew Curtis LeBlanc, know that he loved making people laugh! He will be greatly missed by all who have ever called him Daddy, PawPaw, Brother, or Friend!

A gathering of Mr. LeBlanc’s family and friends will begin at 9:00 a.m., with his funeral service to follow at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 2, 2021, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A graveside service with Military Honors will follow at 2:00 p.m., at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie.

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.

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 30, 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

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“Trucks Move Your World”

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

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$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

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C & V WRECKER SERVICE Craig Stowe Owner

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409-296-9542

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

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

Classifieds

Wednesday, December 30, 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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PO Box 801 • Winnie, TX 77665 (409) 296-9988

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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 27, 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

6118-0219

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Texas Press Statewide Classified Network 273 Participating Texas Newspapers • Regional Ads Start At $250 • Email ads@texaspress.com NOTICE: While most advertisers are reputable, we cannot guarantee products or 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.

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

Please apply online at www. winnienr.com.

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

ANCIENT ARMAMENT

By John Jefferson

I saw an exhibit of historic weaponry at the Metropolitan Museum of Art a few years ago.

It was -- to be honest – frightening. Wars were once fought with crude weapons that created severe maintenance problems. Recovery was usually not an option. Even the horses wore armor.

I don’t recall seeing crossbows, but there might have been a few, though overshadowed by battle axes, blud-

Welcome Neighborhood Net Readers!

geons, and other accessories. Be glad crossbows survived and the others were relegated to museums.

Just a few years ago, Texas legalized crossbows as permissible choices during the special archery-only season for deer, turkeys, and javelinas. Except in Grayson, Collin, Dallas, and Rockwall counties. See the TPW Outdoor Annual for other regulations.

That has opened the door for other hunters to use crossbows who might not have hunted with a rifle or compound bow. I think

that’s good. One family I know agrees.

Phillip Walker was an active hunting and fishing guide in Central Texas. When he met and married non-hunting-Cathy, both their lives changed. Avery arrived later and Walker became infatuated with fatherhood. I’d call him to ask where the fish were biting, and he’d talk non-stop for 10 minutes about what little Avery had done that week.

I didn’t mean to sound critical; a friend once asked me if I didn’t ALSO have two sons.

He wondered why I

didn’t talk about them.

Little girls can do that to a daddy.

Flash forward to 2020.

Avery is now in high school, beautiful, has learned to hunt and fish, and is still her father’s most animated conversation subject.

Just ask him how she’s doing on the High School Bass Team tournaments and sit back and listen. And she also hunts.

With a crossbow. And very efficiently. Phillip accompanied her on a crossbow hunt on the second weekend of 2020 deer season in the Hill Country. They had just gotten comfortable in the blind when

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

a nice buck appeared.

Phillip had seen two larger ones in the area when scouting it, but this one was there, and in crossbow range. He gave the go ahead, and she released the bolt.

For you rifle hunters, she wasn’t using a bolt-action rifle. Projectiles for crossbows are called “bolts”. And that one struck its target! Elated over her first buck, after a short interval to make sure it was terminally down, she started to dismount the blind. As she did, Phillip spotted the biggest buck he had scouted, and frantically began whispering Avery back into her

seat while re-cocking her crossbow.

Then he realized he had left the cocking device at home. It almost cut his fingers to do so, but he managed to re-cock it without mechanical help. She steadied herself, took aim, and filled her second buck tag. The entire hunt took fifteen minutes.

After Thanksgiving, Cathy took her first buck with the same crossbow.

And then, after observing “Ladies First”, Phillip hunted, shooting a buck that scored 213 B&C points and had a 25-inch-antler spread!

Avery Walker and her father, Phillip, only sat in a deer blind for 15 minutes before Avery had filled the two buck tags on her license. Hunting in Comal County, Amy downed both deer with a crossbow. Phillip Walker photo.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Community

Shooting PBR and Discovering (contd) PBR is true. The sense of a family is very rich and real. The cowboy values you see PBR pushing; they live by these values.

The values and slogans you see the other leagues push, they don’t live by it.”

He lives in Los Angeles with a famous, beautiful and sassy novelist wife, driving his beloved muscle cars – a 1968 Chevelle SS and a 1969 Dodge Super Bee – as well as his modern pickup to cover PBR in Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas, Wyoming and South Dakota.

“Those flyover states, that is America,” Elise says. “I tell people all the time that LA and New York are not America.

Some people may think the worst about those other places, but go there and you’ll see honesty and sincerity in the small places all across this country. In the real America, people like you for who you are, for how you treat them. People in America are much easier to talk to than a place like France. I’ve never had a bad experience in all my years of traveling across America.”

When Elise gets to the next city and settles into his position next to the dirt, the lights go down and the “Be Cowboy” video comes up on the video screen, and the dragon-slaying cowboys strut through fire for rider introductions, he gets chills. Every single time.

Elise’s magazine work

trained him to be ready for anything that might happen on the field of play.

“I’m a good enough photographer at covering different sports to get some super-good photos and some that are just good,” Elise said. “With PBR, what happens in front of you is spectacular in any second. You could have a ride for only two seconds and still get a spectacular picture.

“When I get on the floor of the NBA, it’s my happy place. I always enjoy that. PBR is the only other sport where I get the same feeling.

Every time I shoot PBR, I get excited. I feel being with my grandfather again, when the western movie started.”

Elise wanted to use his camera instead of a keyboard in America. He thought he’d do better with pictures than words.

But he borders on poetic in describing the objects of his lens.

“PBR is this strange dance, this clash, this fight of a man and an animal,” he said.

“And that animal is a magnificent beast.

There’s a mythology to this bull. They’re beautiful and dangerous.

And then you have these cowboys, most of them skinny and tiny, not like football players or UFC fighters. You put them together, the cowboy and the bull, and the chemistry of their dance is completely unique.”

Along with the westerns airing on three TV channels available in

France long before satellite TV and the internet, Elise learned about America by reading about baseball.

“Bull riding is like baseball: two sports that are like a painting – the colors and shades, the confrontations on the field,” he said. “In bull riding, you have the beast and the man. Baseball has the pitcher staring down the batter, which is like how the cowboy looks at the villain in a showdown. It’s a very interesting combination for a photographer.”

As Elise shoots more PBR events – he was the only photographer outside of PBR’s official lensman Andy Watson to shoot the Monster Energy Team Challenge closed-to-fans events at South Point Arena throughout June – he is expanding his canvas.

“Every photographer has his eye and his aesthetic,” he said. “You want a photo of a good ride – the hand is up, he’s in control, everything is looking good. That doesn’t always transfer to good photography.”

Like that first photo that attracted him to PBR, he is in search of the next picture revealing something entirely new.

“Catching the bull looking through the slats of the chute can be a great moment,” Elisa said. “After the big picture of a great ride, the magic is to focus on something else. Maybe when the bull is running in the arena after jerking the rider down on the

dirt.”

At every event, his curiosity grows. He’s eager for more rides, new paintings, the next discovery.

“I get more and more interested in the possibilities every

THE HOMETOWN PRESS

time,” Elise said. “It’s 8 seconds, but there’s many interesting things going on in every single one of those seconds.”

As a youngster in France, his first love was cowboys. He’s grown up in America

PAGE 8

now, in his own boots, photographing cowboy magic.

And amid the wonder of heroes normalized, he’s still feeling all the little boy.

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