VOL 5 ·ISSUE 41 PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #60 WINNIE, TX
Thursday August 12, 2021
Sheriff’s Office Responds to Shooting Calls The Walker County Sheriff’s Office responded to two calls of shootings over the weekend of the 7th and 8th of August. A release from the Sheriff’s Office describes the calls below. On Saturday August 7, 2021 at 11:26 PM, a Walker County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was dispatched to CHI St. Luke’s Health Care, Emergency Room to meet with a potential shooting victim. Upon arrival and interviewing the victim it was determined that he had been assaulted and not shot. The victim described that he was “pistol whipped” by a family member earlier in the evening at a home in the 100 Block of Brandon Road, Huntsville. Deputies arrived at the scene of the crime and the suspect had already left the area, the identity of
the suspect is known and detectives are following up on this case. On Sunday August 8th at 4:56 PM Deputies with the Sheriff’s Office responded to the 100 Block of Julia Justice Road to the report of a shooting. Upon the initial units arrival, they discovered a male had been shot one time in the chest and that the suspect had fled the area by vehicle. Walker County EMS along with Riverside VFD arrived and began treatment, the victim was transported by Air Ambulance to a Houston Hospital in critical condition. The suspect’s vehicle was located about a mile from the crime scene and was abandoned. The identity of the suspect is known to detectives and they are actively following up on this investigation.
“Elvis” Makes Appearance at Old Town Theatre
Elvis, aka Travis Powell performed at Old Town Theatre last Saturday, August, 07, 2021.
By Wade Thibodeaux Elvis, aka Travis Powell made an appearance before a sold out crowd at The Old Town Theatre last Saturday evening. The award winning Powell portrayed Elvis during the 1960’s for about an hour and then changed outfits and provided a 1970’s Elvis for the entertainment of the crowd. Powell had the crowd fully into the performance with most singing along to the music and some even
getting up and dancing in the aisles. Old Town Theatre provides a variety of entertainment and has some great shows in the near future including The Texas Tenors this Friday, August 13, 2021 at 8:00pm. and shows by Marty Haggard Music, a Frank Sinatra Tribute, Moe Bandy, and Janie Fricke. Ticket information can be found at www. oldtowntheatre-huntsville.org.
1 8 W h e e l e r Fi r e S h u t s D o w n I - 4 5
diesel fuel caught on fire near the 131 mile marker north of Huntsville. An earlier accident had slowed traffic in both directions of the freeway, and just as that accident was about to clear, calls began to come into the Walker County 911 dispatch center. The first several callers reported that the A fully engulfed tanker required several Fire rear axle was on fire, Departments to bring the blaze under control last Thursday. and the driver reported By Wade Thibodeaux afternoon, August 05, that the tanker trailer Traffic on I-45 came 2021 after an 18 wheel- contained approxito a standstill Thursday er that was hauling mately 7300 gallons
of diesel fuel. A DPS Trooper arrived on the scene and advised that the tank and its contents were fully involved, and Firefighters decided to summon additional crews from nearby Madison County. Fire departments from Crabb’s Prairie VFD, Huntsville, and New Waverly all responded to the fire. The roadway was shut down as crews began to apply water and foam to the flaming (contd on page 9)
Thursday August 12, 2021
THEME: FOOTBALL
ACROSS 1. *Sports analyst, ex-wide receiver Randy 5. Dashboard acronym 8. *Depth of an end zone, in yards 11. Fencing
blade 12. Weight not charged for 13. Young hog 15. Witnessed 16. Aroma 17. Nary a soul 18. *Line of ____ 20. Spanish
Community ing 35. Newbies 37. Bert Bobbsey’s twin 38. Like a neon sign 39. “Clueless” catch phrase 40. Not a desktop 42. Metal-bearing mineral 43. “Chim Chim Cher-ee” setting 45. Relating to nose 47. Actors’ group 48. Sink hole 50. Golf club handle 52. *3-point score 56. Make a canyon, e.g. 57. Not written 58. Racing sled 59. *”Purple People ____” Solution on page 7 song, inspiraearthen pot tion for Vikings 21. Pinocchio defensive line and the like name 22. Bean house 60. Like H. C. 23. Antonym of Andersen’s duckdescent ling 26. Cycle taxi 61. Poet Pound 30. Greek “t” 62. *AFC coun31. 50-50 terpart 34. Not happen-
Walker County Press-Page 2
63. Dreaming stage of sleep 64. Daytime entertainment DOWN 1. Hodgepodge 2. Oil cartel 3. Palm reader, e.g. 4. Old and mentally infirm 5. Weather-related Doppler tool 6. Programs, for short 7. Insignificant 8. Hammer or sickle 9. Europe’s highest volcano 10. Born, in bio 12. Marinara fruit 13. Ornamental hair net 14. *Grabbing penalty 19. Breath freshener 22. *Pre-game encouragement 23. Rose oil 24. One’s assertion 25. Collectible in a cabinet 26. *Fourth down option
27. Colonoscopy tract 28. Ancient assembly area 29. B in IBS 32. *Start of a football play 33. Goo on a trunk 36. *Scrimmage-related penalty 38. Plant louse 40. Yule firewood 41. By word of mouth 44. Candle shape 46. English in Spanish 48. Mourner’s song 49. Camelot, to Arthur 50. Tennis great Steffi 51. College officer-training prog. 52. *Number of downs to get a first down 53. Anis-flavored aperitif 54. Site of Taj Mahal 55. *Lambeau Field jump 56. Poetic “even”
Walker County Press-Page 3
Business Directory
Thursday August 12, 2021 2801 Old Houston Road 936-435-0303 www.tomorrowspromise.com email: tpms1@msn.com fax: 936-730-8278
TEXAS MEDIA CORP Huntsville
Wade Thibodeaux (936) 581-5161
P.O. Box 149
Huntsville, Tx 77342
wade@txmediacorp.com
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Tomorrow’s Promise
Covid may have changed things, but children still learn the same way! Our hours have changed to 5:00am - 6:30pm
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Texas Tidbits From Historic Tours of Texas
Commercial
Sam Houston was baptized twice?
Life Health Office: 936-295-6000 Email: huntsvilleoffice@ rolloinsurance.com Steven R. Gregory - Agent www.rolloinsurance.com 1010 University Ave. Huntsville, TX 77320
Did you know...?
The rest of the answer can be found at historictoursoftexas.com
Thursday August 12, 2021
Arrest Report
Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home -All Prearranged Services Honored -Prearranged Funeral Sales
Joetta’s
Women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories Home Decor and gifts Tyler Candles and Glamour Wash
office: 936-661-6125 www.joettas.com
Walker County Press-Page 4
1700 Normal Park Huntsville, TX 77340
Located in West Hill Mill
936-291-7300
From the office of Walker County Sheriff
Clint McRae Forty-Nine individuals were arrested and booked into the Walker County Jail between Monday, August 2 and Monday, August 9. Continued indictments
from last week are also as followed. The individuals named 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 Walker County, but perhaps was simply arrested in Walker County on
outstanding warrant(s) while in Walker County. In instances in which individuals were arrested on outstanding warrants, their orig-
inal conviction and the reason they are on probation or parole, if available, is included in parenthesis set.
Walker County Press-Page 5
Arrest Report
Thursday August 12, 2021
Personalizing Your Events...Since 1957 www.huntsvilleheartfieldflorist.com office: 936-295-5448
Corner of 16 and 31 Sam Houston Ave.
Thursday August 12, 2021
Arrest Report
Walker County Press-Page 6
Church Services Baptist: -University Heights Baptist Church worship services every Sunday at 9:30am and 10:45am -First Baptist Church Hunts-
ville every Sunday bible study at 9:30am, worship at 10:50, and 6:00pm Catholic: -St. Thomas the Apostale Catholic Church Rosary
at 5:00pm and 5:30pm (English) every Saturday and every Sunday at 7:45am (English), 10:45am (English, and 12:30pm (Spanish)
Alligator Snapping Turtles Seized in Illegal Trafficking Case Are Returned to Natural Habitat Twenty-one adult, and six juvenile, alligator snapping turtles were recently released back into East Texas as part of a coordinated effort among Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Stephen F. Austin State University, Sabine River Authority, Northeast Texas Municipal Water District, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Houston Zoo, and the Turtle Survival Alliance, among others, after being seized in an illegal trafficking at-
Methodist: -First United Methodist Church worship every Sunday at 8:30am, 9:45am and 11:00am
which they were taken, but also to learn more about their habits and tempt. Texas where harvest is their biology so that we can more effectively In 2017, Texas Game illegal. Wardens, in coordina- The turtles were trans- conserve Texas population with the Service’s ported to East Texas tions to ensure their viOffice of Law Enforce- from the Natchitoches ability for generations ment, investigated the National Fish Hatchery to come.” poaching of alligator in Louisiana, where “I am very proud of the snapping turtles. Large they were being held Service’s role in helpturtles up to 150 pounds following their seizure ing to rescue these alliwere being poached in by law enforcement in gator snapping turtles from the illegal wildTexas and transported 2016. into Louisiana, which “Alligator snapping life trafficking market is a federal Lacey Act turtles have been pro- and return them back violation. Alligator tected in Texas since to where they belong snapping turtles are a the 1970’s,” said Mer- in East Texas,” said popular food item with edith Longoria, Deputy Amy Lueders, the Sera restricted limit of one Director of the TPWD vice’s Southwest Reper day in Louisiana. Wildlife Division. “We gional Director. “I also This has led to a small- have a unique opportu- want to acknowledge er population of the nity to not only return the teamwork of evspecies in Louisiana, these turtles to their eryone who made this along with poaching in range in Texas from return possible: from
Presbyterian: -First Presbyterian Church Huntsville classes every Sunday at 9:15am and worship at 10:30am
Non-Denominational: -The Ark Church. 10:30 am service. Loman’s Student Center, 1717 Avenue J. Lead Pastor - Luke Cunningham. 936-463-8416
our own Service law enforcement, hatchery and ecological services staff to the TPWD, river authority, university and non-profit organization staff who provided their time, funding and logistical support to get these living dinosaurs back into the wild. The success of this project demonstrates our shared commitment to protecting and conserving wildlife in Texas.” TPWD Nongame and Rare Species Program staff have worked with turtle researchers across Texas and the Turtle Survival Alliance to support the development of a ge-
netic analysis on all of the turtles that were released in order to determine the river basin where they originated. In addition, veterinarians evaluated each turtle to ensure the health of the species and fitted each with radio telemetry tags to allow researchers to monitor the turtle’s survival, habitat use, and movement throughout their lives. More information about nongame and rare species in Texas, including species listed as threatened or endangered, can be found on the Wildlife Diversity page of the TPWD website.
Thursday August 12, 2021
Local News
Walker County Press-Page 7
Thursday August 12, 2021
Local News
Community Calendar Friday, August 13: -Story time from 10:45am-11:45am at the library -Wild Things zoofari from 2:00pm-3:00pm at the library Monday, August 14: -Mother Goose Lapsit from 10:45am-11:45am at the library Tuesday, August 15: -Sittercise from 10:00am-11:00am at the library -Free basic computer class from 11:00am12:00pm at the library -Story time from 5:30pm-6:30pm at the library
Subscribe Today Name:____________________ Address:__________________ City, State, Zip: ___________________ $25.00 Mail Check or Money Order to: Walker County Press
P.O Box 149 Huntsville, Tx 77342
We Accept Most Major Credit Cards 409-296-9988
Wednesday, August 18: -Story time from 10:45am-11:45am at the library -Familysearch workshop from 11:00am-12:00pm at the library Thursday, August 19: -Sittercise from 10:00am-11:00am at the library -Book club from 10:30am-11:45am at the library -Lineage society workshop from 10:30am-3:00pm at the library -Free basic computer class from 5:00pm-
6:00pm at the library Friday, August 20: -Story time from 10:45am-11:45am at the library -Wild Things zoofari from 2:00pm-3:00pm at the library Monday, August 23: -Mother Goose Lapsit from 10:45am-11:45am at the library Tuesday, August 24: -Sittercise from 10:00am-11:00am at the library -Free basic computer class from 11:00am12:00pm at the library -Story time from 5:30pm-6:30pm at the library
Walker County Press-Page 8
HISD Announces Free School Meal Information for 2021-2022 School Year The Huntsville Independent School District announces that during the 2021-2022 school year, healthy meals will be offered every school day to all students at no cost. Typically, a student’s household must meet income eligibility requirements to qualify for free or reduced-price meals. However, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) along with the Texas Agricultural Agency
(TDA) issued guidance that allows schools to offer meals to all students at no cost for the 2021-2022 school year. The Standard (MultiChild) Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals application or eligibility determination will NOT be required for students to receive free meals this school year but Huntsville ISD does request that every parent/guardian submit a brief 20212022 Socioeconomic
Information Form instead for each child they have attending Huntsville ISD schools. The District is required to collect and report the socioeconomic status of each student to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for purposes of the annual accountability ratings and for federal funds. The monies received from the federal government is what funds many of the special programs and valuable resources
Thursday August 12, 2021
Local News
in our schools such as Title I and other federal mandates; therefore, it is essential that a completed form be received for each student as soon as possible. The 2021-2022 Socioeconomic Information Form is now available online and in paper form. To complete the requested
form ONLINE, visit the HISD Child Nutrition Services webpage @ https://www.huntsville-isd.org/meals. Submitting the online form is secure, quick and easy with information going directly to the Child Nutrition Services office. Paper forms are also available in English and Spanish,
and can be obtained and/or returned to any HISD campus or the HISD Child Nutrition Services offices at 1010 7th Street, Huntsville, TX 77320. For questions regarding HISD school meals, please call 936-4356920.
vessel and quickly contained the fire to keep it from spreading. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control within about 30 minutes, which limited the
damage to the pavement and the rest of the truck. Contractors that specialize in HazMat Cleanup arrived on scene to begin the process of cleaning up the mess when the fire
was out and TxDot officials re-routed traffic to minimize delays. Fortunately, there were no reports of any injuries and the freeway reopened later in the evening.
18 Wheeler Fire Shuts Down I-45 (contd)
Walker County Press-Page 9
Walker County Proposes Tax Rate
The Walker County Commissioners Court held a special meeting last Monday, August 9, 2021 to propose a tax rate for the coming year. The tax rate that they are proposing is $0.4799 per $100. of valuation and is basically the same as last year’s tax rate of $0.4808 per $100. of valuation. A public hearing for the proposed budget will be held at 9:00 am on Monday, August 30, 2021 and an additional public hearing on the proposed tax rate will be held on
the same day at 9:30 am with both public hearings held at the Walker County Storm Shelter for social distancing purposes. In other actions, the Court approved applying for an HMPG grant for Hurricane Laura and the recent Winter Storm. This grant would require a 25% match from the County and could be used for a variety of items, but the Court was leaning towards the purchase of generators for County Buildings. The Court approved order
2021-78 that amended the financial and budget policies and they approved the waiving of the 90 day waiting period for insurance for the new EMS director with a 3-1 vote with Commissioner Kuykendall voting against and County Judge Danny Pierce being absent from the Court. The next regular meeting of the Walker County Commissioners Court will be Monday, August 16, 2021 at 9:00 am in room 104 of the Walker County Courthouse.
Community
Thursday August 12, 2021
Obituaries
Sadie M McMahon On July 31, 2021 Sadie Mae Atkins McMahon went to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 91 with her family by her side. Sadie was born January 26, 1930 in Des Arc, Arkansas to Jim & Mary Britt Atkins. She grew up in Des Arc, AR on a share cropping farm. She spent her childhood chopping and picking cotton as well as helping raise her eleven siblings. Sadie was the oldest girl of the twelve children. Sadie loved children and gave birth to her pride and joy Ray Elton Twardeski in the Spring of 1946. Shortly after she had Ray Sadie left Arkansas to start a career. She was an adventurer and found work in many different industries but ultimately put roots down at Thatcher Glass in Elmira, New York and retired after twenty-five years. During her time in New York, Sadie met the love of her life Joseph McMahon who she referred to as,” “My Joe.” Joe and Sadie spent much of their time after retirement with their grandchildren. The grandkids would often spend their summers in New York with them making memories. Pat Burt one
of Sadie’s dear sisters also lived in New York and Sadie spent much of her time with her and her nieces. After the passing of her husband Joseph, Sadie relocated to Texas to live near her son, daughter inlove, and grandkids, later great grandkids & greatgreat grandkids. While Sadie was often referred to as “Sis” in her younger years she is famously know by all her grandkids as “Gg.” Gg was full of life she wasn’t scared of a thing. Her laugh was contagious, and her smile could light up a room. Up until her passing you could find her on the ground reading a book to one of the babies or pushing cars around the living room or even playing baseball outside with them. When she was not busy with the family, she passed the time sitting in her rocking chair on the porch. She was always up for a ride out to get ice cream & after 5pm each day you could find her at her kitchen table playing a game of rummy with her beloved son Raybo. Sadie is survived by her son Ray, (Raybo) Twardeski, granddaughters Shelly Beaird and Monica Twardeski, grandsons Robert Twardeski, Rodney Twardeski, and Lee Beaird of Huntsville, Texas; great grandchildren, Shelby Beaird, Curtis Twardeski of Huntsville, Riley Twardeski, Coby Twardeski of Finksburg, Maryland, Timothy Watson, and Trevor Ray Twardeski of Huntsville; great great grandchildren,
Wyatt Janes and Sadie Janes of Huntsville. Sister Cari Bradshaw, brother Clifford Atkins, twin sisters Patricia Burt and Barbara White, and sister Bertie Fortner all of Arkansas; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. She preceded in death by her parents Jim Atkins and Mary Bell Francis Britt Atkins her husband Joseph McMahon, daughter-in-love Judy Harper Twardeski, brother-in-law Judd Burt, brother Calvin Atkins, brother Robert Atkins, brother Walter Atkins, brother Ray Atkins, brother Johnny Atkins, and baby sister Atkins.
Jerry Lee Hardy Jerry Lee Hardy 19492021 With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Jerry Lee Hardy of New Waverly, Texas. Jerry was called home in the early morning hours of July 31, 2021 due to heart complications. Jerry Hardy was many things, held several careers and titles over the years. But his favorites were, Husband, Dad, Paw-Paw and Uncle Jerry. He was truly an outdoor sportsman at heart, he just belonged outdoors. He fished catfish or crappie, hunted wings or whitetail and was an avid squir-
rel hunter. He was a pretty fair horsemen too, but his favorite was to fish the coastal region. He was a Proud Texan, Bulldog, and lifetime member of the “Old Buzzards Club”. He found much happiness in sharing the outdoors with his family, friends or whoever would go with him. If you knew Jerry, you knew he never met a stranger and if you did not have the chance to know him your truly missed out on a great human being. He will be greatly missed by many. Jerry was proceeded in death by his parents Alvin “Preacher” Hardy and Mary Ethel Hardy. His brothers Lyn Hardy, Jimmy Hardy, Dean Abendroth, sister Joyce Hardy, grandson Sam Wyatt Hardy, and countless aunts, uncles and cousins who might be found in the East Sandy Cemetery on FM 1374. Jerry leaves behind his loving wife Joyce Anne Hardy, brothers and sisters Mike and Grace Hardy, Janice Abendroth and Socorro Hardy. Six children, Chad and Jennifer Lewis, Scott Hedges, Billy Hardy, Eric and Pearl Silvis, Donny and Sara Brown, and Suzanne Hardy. Grandchildren by best account, Tre’ and Madison Thibodeaux, Dillon Silvis, Blythe Black, Sydney Brown, Raili Flint, Nikolas Silvis, Skyler Black, Brett Silvis, Tristin Hardy, Kurstyn Lewis, Jeremiah Weaver, Peyton Hedges, Iverson Eli Brown, Hailey Lewis, Corlie Hardy, Laynie Weaver, Leslie Hedges, Zian Brown, Will Cody Hardy, and Kai Brown. Great granddaughter Ivy
Walker County Press-Page 10
Rae Silvis. Nephews and nieces, Lance Abendroth, Wesley Hardy, Lee Hardy and Mandy Lightsey along with their families. Extended Family, Paul and Tonya Hungerford and their boys, Michelle Gibson and her girls, Cody Sorensen, Clint and Tracy Sorensen, Rafe and Melanie Dean, and their boys. Let it be known that there are countless others that called him Paw-Paw!
Edie Loosier Burton Edeltraud (Edie) Loosier Burton, 76, passed away on August 3, 2021 at her home in Spring, TX. Known by friends and family as Edie Burton, she was born on January 20, 1945 in Steinau an der Oder, Germany, to Guenther and Kathe Pohl. Edie grew up in Germany, post World War II and graduated from High School in Frankfurt-Griesheim in 1961. Shortly after that, she met the love of her life Thomas (Tommy) Oscar Loosier who was stationed in Germany while he was serving in the United States Army. He brought her to America and they got married in Bryan, TX when she was 18 years old in 1963. They had a bouncing baby boy Jason Shane Loosier 2 years later. After the devastation of his early death when Tommy was only 39 years old, Edie began
her career in collections to support herself and her then 15 year old son Shane. In 1986, she married her second husband Edward (Ed) Charles Burton and lost him in 2003. Edie had a passionate love for animals and enjoyed raising Longhorns at her ranch with Ed. She always made sure they had plenty of the finest birdseed for all the birds, and peanuts for the squirrels. She could not pass by a stray animal in need and nursed many cats and dogs back to health and spoiled them with the finest foods and vet care, without hesitation. Through the years, she enjoyed many visits to Germany to spend time with family there until her health prevented her travel. The last decade was spent traveling to Houston with her daughter-in-law Madilene at the wheel, escorting her and helping her interpret doctors visits and mulitple surgeries while assisting in her care. Edie was very proud of her son and 3 grandsons and would do anything for them. Edie is survived by Shane Loosier - son, Madilene Loosier - daughter-in-law of Huntsville, TX and 3 grandsons-Tommy Loosier, Brandon Loosier and Dillon Loosier. Lilo Doebrich-Sister- of Germany , as well as several nieces and nephews in Germany. Edie is preceded in death by Guenther Pohl- father, Kathe Pohl - mother, Thomas (Tommy) Loosier-husband, Edward (Ed) Charles Burton-husband, and Lota Doebrich- brother-in-law. Gloria Jean Rodriguez Gloria Jean Motley was
Walker County Press-Page 11 born January 23, 1948 in Houston, Mississippi to Ray Thomas Motley and Annie Charlene Alford Motley. She was raised in Kilgore, Texas and graduated from Kilgore High School with the Class of 1966. She attended Kilgore Jr. College from 1966-1968 and then finished her degree in Education at Stephen F. Austin University, graduating in 1970. She moved to Houston, Texas in 1970 and began her 39 year teaching career in several different school districts. She married Gabriel Rodriguez in June of 1980 and together they had a son, John Alford Rodriguez, the light of her life. Two years ago she was beaming with pride with the birth of her grandson Jace, who celebrates his second birthday this Saturday. Mrs. Rodriguez is survived by her son, John Alford Rodriguez; grandson, Jace Rodriguez and his mother, Brynne Gingras; her step son Gabriel Rodriguez of Huntsville, Tx; two step daughters: Wendy Rodriguez and Deanna Rodriguez of North Zulch, Tx; her brother Marlon Ray Motley of Beckville,Tx; her sister Sharon Kay Motley Davis and
Community
brother-in-law, Terry Davis of Carthage, Tx. She was preceded in death by her husband Gabriel Rodriguez and her parents, Ray Thomas Motley and Annie Charlene Motley.
Gwyneth Elaine Gore Gwyneth (Gwyn) Elaine Ener Gore was born in Jasper, on May 27, 1934, to Ernest and Bessie Mae Ener, the 5th of 8 children. Gwyn was working for the phone company in Silsbee when she met Tracy, the love of her life. She knew that he was “the one” when her daughter Frances began following him around like a puppy dog at age 5. Gwyn convinced Tracy to move to Huntsville where there were greater job opportunities and they lived happily married for 52 years. Gwyn remained a resident of Huntsville following Tracy’s passing until 8 years ago where she relocated to Flower Mound, Texas to be closer to her
daughter. She passed away on August 7, 2021, at age of 87. Those left to cherish her memories are her daughter, Frances Gore; “second daughter,” Peggy Wheaton; sisters Daphne Flurry, Doris Wright, brothers Donald Ray Ener and wife Addie and Martin Ener and wife Laura, numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Bessie Mae Ener, son Orlen Ray, husband Tracy, and brothers Rudolph Ener, Warren Ener and E. L. Ener. Gwyn had many roles in her life. She worked as a switchboard operator for Sam Houston and Southwestern Bell. She also worked for State Farm and Haney Oil. Most importantly, she was a wonderful wife and mother. After retirement Gwyn and Tracy were fortunate to spend time traveling across the country in the RV, especially after she finally convinced Tracy to sell the Crabbs Prairie store as it was eating up their travel time together. Gwyn was a dedicated member of Cook Springs Baptist Church up until the time she moved to Flower Mound to be near her daughter.
Sam Houston Memorial
Funeral Home
1700 Normal Park Huntsville, TX 77340
936-291-7300
Thursday August 12, 2021
HISD Proposes New Tax Rate
The Huntsville ISD Board of Trustees met in special session on Thursday, August 5, 2021 to cover a couple of topics and to have a budget workshop to hear about bond developments and a new proposed tax rate. The new proposed tax rate is $1.0599 per $100. of valuation and is only a couple of pennies more than last year’s rate of $1.0378 per $100. of valuation. This small incremental increase is made possible by the fact that HISD got an incredible rate of 1.925% interest on the $90Million in bonds that were recently sold to fund the first phase of the upgrade to the school buildings in the plan that was passed by voters last Spring. The proposed overall 2021-
2022 budget is $115.8 Million in expenditures and is a balanced budget in the general fund. There is a planned small drawdown of fund balance in some of the ancillary funds such as food service, but that is by design to maximize return from State Agencies. In other actions, the board approved the procedures and protocols for the Hornet Return to School Plan 20212022. This plan called for many of the same protocols such as cleaning and disinfecting procedures, but a few changes were made to comply with the Governor’s mandates. Parents should check the District’s website for the latest updates to the procedures. The only other item on the agen-
da was to approve the Seamless Summer Option(SSO) for the 20212022 school year. This agenda item had to do with the feeding of the District’s students and the changes that were being made for the coming year. A news release from HISD is included in this week’s Walker County Press, but District officials stressed that the paperwork for free and reduced meals still needed to be filled out by the parents in order to assist the District in qualifying for other Federal and State programs. A regular meeting of the HISD Board of Trustees will be held on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 6:00 pm in the Hawkins Administration Building located on Fm 2821.
Walker County Press-Page 12
Lifestyle
Sunday Observations by Christy
A crazy week of getting new tires Monday, a day of tests Wednesday, a vet visit for the dog Saturday has me thinking whew….. glad that’s over. But that being said, all those activities give ample time to sit and people watch. To chat. To think. That’s what led me here…. I like to make people think. To use their minds independently of any other influence if possible. I like comparing thoughts. In no way do I ever think my opinion is the only right one. About the only time I will shut
down is if someone is patronizing, speaks down to me, or is abundantly arrogant. At that point I’m out. But y’all, I have questions. None of which are meant to sway you, I just want you to think…. Or be as confused as I stay. Some folks don’t want to require an ID to vote. But want everyone to show their vaccine records. Flip that around. Some will say no way will you show a vaccine record, but you should be required to show ID to vote. Double standard? Both ways? Think. The thought is there
that higher insurance premiums for the unvaccinated, is fair. But what if you smoke? Are overweight? Live in a flood zone? Have a bad driving record? All can lead to increased premiums, due to your personal choice. All considered higher risk to the insurance company. Double standards? Both ways? Think. The debate is there that vaccines being required is unAmerican, against their rights. Yet we have gotten vaccines required by public schools since we were children. We have shown those shot records, and updated them as required. Double standards? Both ways? Think. The debate of mandatory health tests, can be countered with random drug tests. The question of vaccine safety, to the opposing view is that the percentages are lower, that the side effects are far less than the virus. When this first started many had the mind set that it “only hits the elderly”, and now that is not the case. For every view, their is an opposing. For a sun up a sun down. It’s how life goes. Think. As humans we develop our own thoughts and beliefs. Or should. So much of what we are dealing with, is how things have gone for years. Our country has withheld funding if a state did not change
their legal drinking age. Implement seat belt laws. Motorcycle helmets. So the money grab is not new. Think. That we are at a point of employers demanding a vaccine, or risk job loss, is like the Feds withholding Fema funding if your governor did not declare a state of disaster. It’s wrong. But it’s not new, sadly. Every thing we do is driven by money. Big pharma has a vested interest here. Think. I don’t know the answers. I do appreciate every single view point on this. I also know we simply must begin to think for ourselves. Not what the media,
Thursday August 12, 2021 social or news, has told us. Or what our family, friends, or the guy at the corner store told us. Independent thought is the first step to improving any situation. Happy Sunday peeps. If you do nothing else this week, look at the flip side of whatever your thoughts are on this pandemic. One time. If you are pro ANYTHING, look at another human beings perspective. Without criticism, or insult. It may open your eyes. It may make you a tad more compassionate. Believe it or not, none of us are 100% right, every hour of every day. Someone else has
valid points. Open your horizons and learn from one another. No one is selfish, a sheep, or any other insulting word you choose to throw out there. Every single one of us, is doing the best we can, to get by daily. For whatever reason each of us has for our own thoughts, no one has the right to insult, demean, or harm another for an opposing view. The biggest pandemic we currently suffer from, is the rapid spread of hate and intolerance. Think of others, practice compassion, do your thing, and THINK. God would like that. I just know it.
WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE
NOT SEEING BUCKS?
By John Jefferson
Years ago, a friend asked me to meet him and another hunter to discuss a possible photography job they wanted done. We met shortly afterward. They were members of a group of hunters about ten or 12 as I recall – that had bought a ranch. Intending to hunt it for about five years, they would
then possibly sell the ranch, hopefully for a profit. After the first year of this plan, some became discontented due to not seeing the many trophy bucks they had been told were on the ranch. To keep peace on the lease, the two men wanted me to fly the ranch with a wildlife biologist and photograph every mature buck we saw. Then, we were to later show the images to the hunters and hopefully
calm would return to the hunting camp. I agreed to do it. They arranged for the helicopter and wildlife biologist, Larry Weishuhn, to perform an aerial survey of the 5,000-acre ranch near the border. I accompanied him. We saw - and I photographed - about 16 good bucks. Weishuhn presented his deer survey numbers and I showed the slides. I think that cooled things down. I’ve been told that they
Walker County Press-Page 13 never killed any Boone and Crockett bucks, but did take some nice deer, shot lots of quail, and thoroughly enjoyed the sociability and the fine accommodations. That jaunt also launched a new facet to my photography and put me above some fine ranches for the next few years. I was reminded of that venture in a recent National Deer Assn. article by Lindsay Thomas Jr. NDA had recently received hunters’ questions asking why they weren’t seeing many bucks or large-antlered ones. According to Thomas, “Bucks move less and cover less real estate in summer than any other season.” Much of their usual home
range remains unvisited during the summer. That might have come into play on the South Texas ranch mentioned above, since hunters often visit hunting leases during summer or Labor Day weekend to fill feeders, perform repairs, and socialize. That’s still high summer in South Texas! Some of the earlier hunters’ complaints might have been caused by unfamiliarity with the new ranch since the previous season was their first on the property. But I imagine it was a little of that and a lot about the time of year and lack of deer movement. South Texas summers are scorchers. Thomas cited three
Lifestyle studies. All three were similar. They showed numbers of deer in two areas at two different times. The home range was where deer spend 95% of their time. Core area is where they spend 50% of their time. Stay with me. Summer home range was only about 62% of their winter range. And the summer CORE AREA was only 21% of that summer range. Trail cameras help, but it’s hard to pinpoint the secretive summer core area. Thomas says the deer are probably there, but “cooling it” in seclusion. So, don’t schedule aerial surveys before October.
Thursday August 12, 2021
Hoof-n-Mouth Disease
I was a high school freshman sitting in Ms. Richmond’s math class. For whatever reason, I decided to make a “smart aleck” remark. I will never forget the quote she said to me, “Danny Ray, it’s better to hold your tongue and be thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove all doubt!” “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.” (Proverbs 17:28) A fine South Texas buck dashes for cover to evade a helicopter survey during October. During summer months, fewer bucks are noticed since they occupy much smaller core areas than they are seen in in the fall. Photo by John Jefferson.
Danny R. Biddy, Chaplain: Chambers County Sheriff’s Office & Fellowship of Christian Cowboys
Lifestyle
Thursday August 12, 2021
Disclaimer: This column is the opinion of Publisher Wade A. Thibodeaux and may contain subject matter on a variety of topics, but usually contains humor of some description. An occasional serious thought may be thrown in to entice the reader to think.
For the second week in a row, I will be making a trip over to Louisiana to bury my Aunt. Not the same Aunt that we buried last week, but a different one. We have some strange situations in this family, but we only bury our family members once. This is an Aunt on my Dad’s side of the family and last week was an Aunt on my Mother’s side of the family. I received the call about Noon on Saturday and expected arraignments are for a Monday-Tuesday burial. That’s not really good timing for me, but then it’s never a good time and I figure that if I can be gone for 10 days in December to work and cover the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas, then I should be able to take a couple of days to take care of my family. I can work remotely and the papers will be just fine without me hanging around and probably doing more harm than good when it comes to getting a newspaper out the door.
This will be a more traditional funeral with burial in a cemetery plot as opposed to the mausoleum that we encountered last week, but all of these funerals have gotten me to thinking about my own situation and are pushing me to make some final arrangements. I am a member of the Thursday Leads Group in Huntsville and one of our members owns the local funeral home and he has talked many times about pre planning for our final wishes. I have spoken publicly to that group about how easy it was with my Dad because everything was pre planned and basically all we had to do at his funeral was to pick out the music. I don’t want to sound like a hypocrite and say “Do as I say, and not as I do”, but part of the problem with dealing with my situation is I just don’t have a clue as to just exactly what I want. You would think that as I approach 60 years of age and having at-
tended a few funerals, I would have some sort of idea as to just what my final wishes would be, but I don’t. When I was in my 20’s and was very naive, I wanted to be buried on my several hundred acre ranch at the top of the tallest hill under a large oak tree. Well, that hasn’t exactly worked out and I don’t know how some stranger would feel about me being buried in the middle of his cow pasture. Later, maybe when I was in my 40’s, I just didn’t care and thought that I would just be cremated and then my family could just do what they wanted to do with the ashes. I often joked that cremation was just a warm up for where I was headed anyway. Now that I’m approaching 60, that may not be a joke, but reality and so I’ve given some additional thought to that procedure. And, I have to tell you guys that the mausoleum thing is becoming somewhat appealing to me. After
seeing the condition of my Uncle’s casket last week and realizing that he was in a nice dry clean environment, I’m leaning towards that direction. Part of my thought process about ground burial is my concern with groundwater. I have never been a very good swimmer and I wouldn’t want to spend eternity treading water, so the nice dry mausoleum is appealing. I haven’t even checked to see if there is a mausoleum anywhere in the area and
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I’m sure that would be the most expensive option of all of the above, but maybe I have a few years to plan and save up for my spot. I’ve buried all of my Uncle’s and I only have two Aunt’s left, plus my Mother and so the time is getting nearer for my generation. Both of these Aunt’s lived into their 90’s, had long productive lives and there is no doubt in my mind that they are resting in peace and will have eternal life with their relatives. I encourage
you to begin making your own plans if you have not already done so, and I promise you that I’m going to get a little more serious about my plans to ease that burden on my family when the time comes. Sometimes, I use this column for pure entertainment and other times I try to make you think about life’s situations. Hopefully, next week we can get back to the entertainment part. Till next time, I’m........ Wade in the Shade.
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Thursday August 12, 2021
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