Walker County Press 08-26-2021

VOL 5 ·ISSUE 43 PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #60 WINNIE, TX

Thursday August 26, 2021

Hornets Kick Off 2021 Football Season

The Huntsville Hornets “Kicked off” their season this past Friday evening, August 20, 2021 on the brand new turf at Hornet field.

By Wade Thibodeaux Panthers on brand new The Huntsville Hor- turf at Hornet Field. The nets participated in their Hornets held their own one and only scrimmage and even scored a few this football season as times against the (contd they took on the Lufkin on page 9)

Schematic Drawings of New Stadium Released

An aerial view of schematic drawings of the new sports complex looking from the Northeast to the Southwest. The new football stadium is closest in this drawing with softball and baseball fields in the distance. The building to the North of the football stadium is the field house. A pedestrian walkway bridge will connect the ball fields to the football stadium with a beautiful stand of trees between the two.

By Wade Thibodeaux ISD Board of Trustees During a regular ses- meeting last (contd on sion of the Huntsville page 8)

WCSO Deputies Rewarded

to an EMS call because they were in the area of the caller. The actions taken by these officers had a major impact on the outcome of the patient’s situation.

On July 4, 2021 around 4:30 AM a Cardiac Arrest with CPR in-progress call with went out to EMS Units in the area of FM 2550. Deputies with the Sheriff’s Office monitoring the EMS radio channel over heard the call and took it upon themselves Walker County Press Walker County Sher- received by three offi- to respond to the call received the following iff’s Office pertaining cers who took it upon and provided (contd on news release from the to the commendations themselves to respond page 6)

M a i n S t r e et M u s ic Se r ie s P r ese n t s T h e Br o w n Su g a r B a n d

By Mackensey Bailey

The Brown Sugar Band performed at the Main Street Music Series in Rather Park on August 19th, 2021.

Their music brought people from all over town to the park to enjoy a family-friendly night. The weather couldn’t have been better after the temperature (contd on page 9)

The Brown Sugar Band performed in the Main Street Music Series on August 19, 2021

Thursday August 26, 2021

Community

people 30. Lung pouch (2 words) 35. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s target 37. Stain on Santa 39. Take exception to 40. Highland tongue 41. Bar, legally 43. Tropical tuber 44. Time on the job 46. Grey tea 47. Make a picture 48. Satellite Navigation System, for short 50. Mr. Eugene Krabs, e.g.

52. X 53. *Compilation of nominees, e.g.

55. Uh-huh 57. *”Swingers” actor turned “The Mandalorian” director THEME: EMMY AWARDS Solution on page 7 61. *Ewan McACROSS Lexington have in ____ with John Gregor’s role 1. *Emmy Awards common Oliver” 65. Soviet entity attendees or celes- 15. Power glitch 21. *”Lovecraft 66. Flightless bird tial bodies 16. White condi____” 68. Princess of 6. “He ____ and ment 23. Excessively #34 Down drank the precious 17. Schiller’s 24. Invitation re69. Type of weawords...” “____ to Joy” quest sel 9. Skier’s trans18. Movie “The 25. Part of gradu- 70. Lady or port ____ of the Chica- ate’s ensemble Tramp, e.g.

13. Move like ivy go 7” 28. South Amer71. Improvise 14. What Alex and 19. *”Last Week ican indigenous 72. Young herring

Walker County Press-Page 2

73. Printing unit, pl.

74. ‘90s TV sitcom “Boy ____ World” DOWN 1. Sing like Ella Fitzgerald 2. Jack, Janet and Chrissy from “Three’s Company,” e.g.

3. Long time 4. Rekindled 5. Faucet 6. Loads (2 words) 7. *Jason Sudeikis’ role 8. Golden parachute recipients 9. U, on the road 10. One from Great Britain 11. Culture-growing turf 12. Bank on 15. Like an ignoramus 20. *Hugh Laurie’s medical drama, nominated 25 times, that ended in 2012 22. Egg cells 24. Great Britain’s anti-mob law (2 words) 25. *”The Queen’s Gambit” game 26. Blood carrier 27. Suggest

29. *Drag ball culture drama 31. Retired, shortened 32. *”Get ____,” Outstanding Comedy Series winer in 1968 and 69 33. Saintly glows 34. *Royalty chronicles, with The 36. Philadelphia’s Ivy 38. Millimeter of mercury 42. “Vamos a la ____” 45. *What one needs to be nominated 49. Itinerary word 51. Old crone 54. Like Elvis’s famous shoes 56. Digression 57. Much ado 58. Against, prefix 59. Violin’s Renaissance predecessor 60. One less traveled 61. Os in XOXO 62. *The Handmaid’s “story” 63. ____ top of ____ 64. Captures 67. *Allison Janney’s show

Walker County Press-Page 3

Business Directory

Thursday August 26, 2021

TEXAS MEDIA CORP Huntsville

2ND LOCATION COMING SOON! Stay tuned for details!

Wade Thibodeaux (936) 581-5161

P.O. Box 149

Huntsville, Tx 77342

Montessori Child Care 6 wks. to 12 yrs. old

wade@txmediacorp.com

Auto Home Commercial Life Health Office: 936-295-6000 Email: huntsvilleoffice@ rolloinsurance.com Steven R. Gregory - Agent www.rolloinsurance.com 1010 University Ave. Huntsville, TX 77320

936-435-0303 2817 Old Houston Rd. Huntsville Monday - Friday 5:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Thursday August 26, 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 Thirty-Nine individuals were arrested and booked into the Walker County Jail between Monday, August 16 and Friday, August 20.

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 26, 2021

Personalizing Your Events...Since 1957 www.huntsvilleheartfieldflorist.com office: 936-295-5448

Corner of 16 and 31 Sam Houston Ave.

Thursday August 26, 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)

WSCO Deputies Rewarded (contd)

lifesaving aid prior to the arrival of the first EMS unit. This action is believed to potentially aid in the survival of a person life.

(Arriving 8 minutes before EMS) Being in the area the deputies knew they could arrive faster than the EMS units. Upon their arrival they found a son giving his father CPR, the patient had no pulse and his skin color was in a state of blue/ gray coloring.

These deputies jumped

into action and took over the CRP applying a BVM (Bag Mask) as well as applied an AED Automated External Defibrillator unit. The patient needed a shock from the AED meaning his heart was not beating correctly are at all.

After which the deputies checked and found a pulse near the carotid artery and his color started to change back to normal.

They did not stop at that point Deputy Fryar assisted with preparing

the patients IV line for EMS’s arrival saving more time on scene. It needs to be noted that none of the three deputies said anything to supervisors about this action we only learned about their actions upon the patient’s wife calling us saying that her husband had been released from the hospital with no long term effects and would like to thank the deputies.

Sgt. Tyler Pursell Cpl. Matt Morris Deputy Chase Fryer

Local organizations that help to bring tourism to Huntsville can apply for Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds for 2021-22 beginning Wednesday, September 1. Applicants can apply for funds from the Huntsville Arts Commission or the Hotel Occupancy Tax Board.

Under Texas law, the City of Huntsville col-

lects a hotel occupancy tax from hotels, bed and breakfasts, and other lodging facilities. This revenue must be used to promote tourism and the hotel industry.

Each year, Huntsville City Council approves an amount of HOT Funds to be allocated to outside organizations.

Individual organizations are then awarded

an amount by the Hotel Occupancy Tax Board or Huntsville Arts Commission based on scoring criteria. The organizations are scored based on their ability to directly enhance and promote tourism and that fits in at least one of the seven categories shown below.

The applicant’s planned use of funds must fall

Apply for (HOT) Funds for 2021-22

Methodist: -First United Methodist Church worship every Sunday at 8:30am, 9:45am and 11:00am

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

within at least one of the following categories: Visitor information/ convention center Convention registration Advertising Promotion of the arts Historical restoration or preservation programs Promotion of a sporting event Transportation of

tourists from hotels to attractions Applicants are required to attend one workshop prior to submitting their application. Workshops will be held at the William Hodges Education Building at the Sam Houston Statue & Visitor Center (7600 SH-75 Huntsville, Tx 77340) on Tuesday, August 31 at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, September 9 at

8:30 a.m., and Monday, September 13 at 5:15 p.m.

Applications must be submitted online by Thursday, September 30 at 11:59 p.m. For more information, contact Tracy Rikard at trikard@huntsvillletx. gov or Sarah Faulkner at sfaulkner@huntsvilletx.gov.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is proud to announce that Black Gap Wildlife Management Area (WMA) has been designated as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). Black Gap WMA is the second TPWD property to receive the Sanctuary designation, joining Devils River State Natural Area – Del Norte Unit which was designated as a Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2019.

“This designation will help preserve the night skies in the Big Bend Region of Texas and will serve as an economic benefit to the area overall,” said Travis Smith, a TPWD Natural Resource Specialist at Black Gap WMA. “It will aid in the future goal of establishing a Dark Sky Reserve in the local area.”

Within the TPWD system, there are now two International Dark Sky Sanctuaries and four International Dark Sky Parks, including

Big Bend Ranch State Park Complex, Copper Breaks State Park, South Llano River State Park, and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, designated by the IDA. Black Gap shares a boundary with Big Bend National Park and is a short distance away from Big Bend Ranch State Park (BBRSP), both International Dark Sky Parks, making this area of the Big Bend one of the largest contiguous areas under dark-skies protection in

Black Gap Wildlife Management Area

Thursday August 26, 2021 the United States.

Mark Garrett, Project Leader for the Trans-Pecos Wildlife Management Areas echoed Smith’s statement adding that, “we recognize the value of natural nighttime darkness and are fully committed to protecting it as any other element of conservation.”

At approximately 103,000 acres, Black Gap is the largest WMA managed by TPWD. Black Gap WMA is located in the rugged and remote Trans-Pecos region of far west Texas in the Chihuahuan Desert. The Trans-Pecos encompasses seven of the largest and most sparsely populated counties in the state. It is surrounded by protected public lands on both sides of the international border with Mexico.

Black Gap shares its western and southern boundaries with Big Bend National Park, the fourteenth largest park in the National Park Service system at over 800,000 acres. Its eastern boundary follows 25 miles of the Rio Grande and borders the Mexican State of Coahuila at the U.S./Mexico border.

This stretch of the Rio Grande is part of the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River which represents 196 miles of federally protected river course celebrated for its natural and cultural significance.

Local News

This effort was led by Amber Harrison, an Interpretive Ranger at BBRSP with the goal of strengthening existing protections, as well as extending outreach and programming to focus on the entire region.

“We are always looking for ways to strengthen our partnerships within the region and we want to expand responsibly so your dark skies can be experienced by those who live here alongside those who are visiting,” said Cassie Cox, a TPWD Regional Interpretive Specialist.

As part of this initiative, BBRSP revised their Interpretive Management Plan and extended their Dark Sky Steward volunteer program to include Black Gap. The Dark Sky Steward volunteer program helps monitor the condition of the night sky over time.

It enlists volunteers with experience in astronomy and/or astrophotography to gather observations of the night sky from various locations.

The observations and images generated by our volunteers are used to track the quality of the night sky, as well as for promotional and educational purposes.

Not only does this designation mean continued protection of pristine night skies, but it also represents a collaboration between the State Parks and Wildlife divisions of TPWD, our

Walker County Press-Page 7

Happy Birthday George!

partners at the McDonald Observatory, and local advocacy groups – all working together for the greater goal of becoming an International Dark Sky Reserve.

“The commitment from all members in this community will pave the way for a landscape-scale conservation approach that will provide the greatest impact for preserving night skies in this area,” said Ruskin Hartley, Executive Director of IDA. The IDA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Tucson, Arizona, which advocates for the protection of the nighttime environment and dark night skies.

It does so by educating policymakers and the public about night sky conservation and George Leinneweber, 100 years old on 8/15/21, celebrated with his daughthrough the promotion ter and friends at the Senior Center of Walker County. of environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. The IDA established the International Dark Sky Places conservation program in 2001 to recognize excellent stewardship of the night sky. Designations are based on stringent outdoor lighting standards and innovative community outreach. Currently, 32 Communities, 106 Parks, 18 Reserves, 14 Sanctuaries, two Urban Night Sky Places, and six Dark Sky Friendly Developments of Distinction are recognized with International Dark Sky Places designations.

Thursday August 26, 2021

Local News

Community Calendar 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 14: -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 25: -Story time from 10:45am-11:45am at the library -Familysearch workshop from 11:00am-12:00pm at the library Thursday, August 26: -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 27: -Story time from 10:45am-11:45am at the library -Wild Things zoofari from 2:00pm-3:00pm at the library Monday, August 30: -Mother Goose Lapsit from 10:45am-11:45am at the library Tuesday, September 1: -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

New Stadium Drawing Released (contd)

Thursday, August 19, 2021, architects revealed several schematic drawings of the new Huntsville ISD Sports Complex. The new football stadium will be built around the recently installed new turf on Hornet Field and new Baseball and Softball fields will be constructed along Martin Luther King Drive and all of it will be connected by a pedestrian walkway bridge with park-

ing scattered throughout the complex. The architects will use the existing topography of the land to construct beautiful ball fields that will require minimal dirt movement and will allow patrons the ability to park and enter the stadium on the same level with the fields below. The football stadium will seat approximately 6500 people and will have a two story field house adjacent to the

stadium. The existing tennis courts will be relocated to provide additional parking and a lot of the existing parking will be able to be used for the stadium thereby saving money on the cost of parking lot construction. Construction is expected to begin around the first of 2022 with completion of the stadium expected for the 2023 season.

Thursday August 26, 2021

Local News

Hornets Kick Off New Season (contd)

5A Division I team in what has become an annual event for the two teams. The turf was recently replaced on Hornet Field and will be about the only thing that

remains as architects revealed schematic drawings of the new Stadium complex that will be built around the new turf with construction to begin after the completion of soccer

season. The Hornets will play in a real game where they actually keep score this Friday in Bowers Stadium against Worthington High School with a 7:30 pm starting time.

Walker County Press-Page 9

The Brown Sugar Band (contd) cooled down with a nice breeze right before the music started. The band’s members are all related to one another and bring that feeling of family to the show.

Their music was vibrant through the night and had the crowd singing and dancing along.

Band members consist of Sandra Lee, leader

of the band, Fred Lockett, guitar player, Tasha Johnson Bailey, lead singer, James Mosley, bass player, and Jacques Webster Sr. drummer.

The Main Street Music Series is a free event put on by the City of Huntsville for everyone to enjoy. All they ask is for you to bring your chairs and coolers. They have

outdoor games set up for children and a moon bounce. They also have a snow cone stand. Next Thursday, August 26 is the last event in the series. They will have a tribute to Foreigner band, so come out to play and it will be a good time for all.

Need a way to keep track of your schedule or budget? Have you been meaning to learn Microsoft Excel but don’t know where to start? Learn how to organize your data by attending Huntsville Public Library’s

free Microsoft Excel classes for beginners. Classes will be offered from 11a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesdays and 5 p.m.to 6 p.m. on Thursdays starting Tuesday, September 2 in the Monday Computer Room. Topics to be

covered will include making a new file, data entry, cell formatting, formulas, and manipulating a finished table. Adults 18 years and older can register for classes.

Microsoft Excel at the Library

Players were actually able to tackle someone other than a teammate as the Hornets scrimmaged against the Lufkin Panthers this past Friday.

Community

Thursday August 26, 2021

Obituaries

Marvin Ray Bockhorn Marvin Ray Bockhorn was born in Brenham, Texas the middle child of three to Alfred and Helen Bockhorn. He grew up on his parent’s farm with his brother Larry and sister Karen. After graduating high school, he worked at various jobs in the area before settling at Texas A&M as a veterinary technician at the large animal school of veterinary medicine.

He retired from A&M prior to marrying Susan Bunnell in Huntsville, Tx and enjoyed many BBQ cookoffs where he excelled quite often. He and Susan enjoyed sharing their lives on a small ranch in Huntsville for over 21 years. He is survived by his wife Susan, brother Larry, sister Karen and nephews Michael and Sean.

Denise Gayle Wolfe Denise Gayle Wolfe, 64, passed away on August 15, 2021, in Huntsville,

TX. Denise Wolfe was born on June 25, 1957 in Conroe, TX, to James Brice and Patricia Brice.

Denise began training for laboratory work at age 16 at Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center later earning an Associate in Applied Science for Clinical Laboratory Technician from Houston Community College in 2005 and has been with Huntsville Memorial Hospital for 16 years.

Denise married Daniel Wolfe on December 21, 1983. The couple had 1 child, Deonna Andre, of Greer, SC. Denise was best known for brightening a room with cheer and smiles.

Always finding humor in life she often kept friends and family laughing with her. She was always there to listen and be our rock, big sister and shoulder to lean on. Enjoying traveling, having gone to Amsterdam, Paris, various parts of New Zealand and Australia, as well as cooking, driving and loved being a Grandmother.

Denise is survived by Patricia Brice - mother, James Brice - father, Deonna Andre - daughter, Eva Spillman - sister, John Micheal Brice - brother, Bradley Brice - brother, Miles Andre grandson, Ethan Andre grandson. Denise is preceded in death by Daniel Wolfe - husband.

Bill Steiner W.A. “Bill” Steiner Jr. passed away August 16, 2021, in Huntsville, Texas. He was born March 5, 1934, to W.A. Steiner Sr. and Roseline Elizabeth Ross Steiner. He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Linda Steiner, brother John Steiner, sister Billie Anne Thompson, son, Ross Steiner and wife Kim, daughter Cindy Dixon, grandchildren Jeff Roberts and wife Summer, Michael Steiner and wife Akemi, David Steiner, Angela Steiner, and Travis Dixon; and great-grandchildren Liam and Elle Steiner, Jace Cooper and Alora Roberts.

Bill grew up in Houston, spending much of that time in the automotive shop owned by his Uncle Jay. In his youth Bill greatly enjoyed working on, and racing, anything with a motor, including cars, boats, and motorcycles. He became a gifted mechanic, eventually opening and operating his own automotive repair business, Steiner Automotive, in Houston for over 30 years before retiring to Huntsville. A personal pilot, he also spent many enjoyable hours

piloting his Piper Archer.

In his leisure time Bill enjoyed traveling extensively with his wife, Linda. They took numerous trips together with favorite destinations being Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Crested Butte. They also took many Alaskan and Caribbean cruises. Bill also greatly enjoyed more local destinations, particularly if they were on the water. An avid fisherman, he took pride in the many trophy bass he caught on Elkins Lake but he particularly enjoyed spending summers at Lake LBJ, in the Texas Hill Country, which he regularly traveled to for over 40 years with his wife, his children, and his grandchildren, spending days swimming, riding jet skis, and taking evening boat rides.

Larry Wayne Dahse, Jr. Larry Wayne Dahse had the biggest heart of any man that lived, and on August 18, 2021 his chest could no longer contain that immense heart. He was a man of integrity and love, and meant every word that left his lips. He didn’t mince words and his word was golden. He was a loving father, husband, son, brother and uncle. He found great joy fishing, hunting and any senario that caused for firing up the pit. He was an amazing cook and took

Walker County Press-Page 10

great pride that his meat was always the first to disappear at any family gathering. You could taste the love in every bite.

Born December 31,1971, Larry was preceded in death by his loving Mama and best friend Gracie Dahse, mother-in-law Nelda Sonsel, as well as many aunts, uncles, relatives and great friends.

He leaves behind the light of his life - his son, Benjamin Wyatt Dahse, best friend Chrissy Dahse, father Larry Wayne Dahse Sr., sister Roxanne Dahse Slott and wife Tressa, nephew Justin Dahse, sister and brother-in-law Maggie and Mark Buckner, niece Abby Buckner, brother and sister-in-law John and Trish Sonsel, niece Kelli Sonsel, fatherin-law Sonny Sonsel, and mother-in-law Rita Sonsel.

We find comfort knowing that he will be right by mama’s side fishing in that tall grass and watching over the rest of us, or munching on peanut brittle, giggling with Nana because he’s still her favorite..... but we sure will miss those intense hugs from those huge shoulders. Rest easy my love.

John Ann Lewis John Ann Lewis, a longtime resident of Huntsville, TX, passed away peacefully in her sleep on

the afternoon of August 18, 2021, surrounded by people who loved her.

She died in the home she had lived in for 69 years and she was 91 years old.

She was born to Dunn and Oma Lowery on June 17, 1930, in Texon, TX because there was no hospital in Rankin where they lived. Being an only child, the three of them, plus various pets, lived in a lovely rock house within walking distance of town.

John Ann spent her entire childhood in Rankin and there were 7 people in her 1947 graduating class.

She subsequently enrolled in Texas Tech University.

Being a young girl from a small west Texas town, she was ready to go back home within a week. Although she never did embrace the university life, she did go on one blind date where she met a gentle, handsome boy, Don A Lewis, who soon became her husband. They were married in Rankin on April 9, 1949, and moved to Nacogdoches, TX, where Don worked for the United States Department of Agriculture. While living in Nacogdoches, their first daughter, Lynn, was born in June 1951.

Soon after, they moved to Huntsville, where their second daughter, Cathy, was born in December 1952.

John Ann and Don were married for 55 years.

Their love story is beautiful and for their family, it is the most beautiful story ever.

John Ann had many interests and held various jobs through the years. She did go back to college, SHSU, to complete her degree in

Walker County Press-Page 11 Art. She used her artistic and creative talents broadly. She taught ceramic classes to incarcerated women several nights a week. She and her friend, Margie Golden, designed and created the beautiful floor mosaic, which can be seen in the entryway at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum in Huntsville. She and Don enjoyed going to art festivals all over Texas to sell her weavings and wall hangings. John Ann and her friend, Ann Bass, loved antiques and for many years they rented a part of a larger antique shop in Huntsville to sell their treasures.

Up until her death, she had been the longest living member of the Wesley Methodist Church. She and Don started attending Wesley Methodist Church soon after they moved to Huntsville and were both life-long members.

She was a remarkable woman, who invested her whole heart in the lives of her family and her friends.

She had so many wonderful friends in Huntsville, whom she deeply cared about. She loved her bridge friends, her neighbors who stopped by for coffee and a visit, her church friends who checked on her often. The family is grateful to all the people who befriended and cared for John Ann, but they are particularly thankful for the people who provided the extra care and attention to her during her last few years.

We know how much you loved her, and we hope you know how completely she loved each one of you. Special thanks to Do-

Community

ris Murray, Mike Hagans, David Deusing, Rosa Issac, and Elva Johnson.

John Ann is survived by her two daughters, Lynn Blair of Conroe and Cathy Barth of Temple; her grandchildren, Justin and Alice Barth, Kyle and Cecilia Barth both couples from Temple, Anna John and Gary Heard, Allie and Joe Camp, both couples from The Woodlands, and her great-grandchildren; Natalie Barth, Apollo Barth, Logan and Bodhi Heard, Asher Camp, and another baby girl just months away.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Don A, and her sonin-law, Steve Barth.

John Ann was the heartbeat of her family. She lived a beautiful, rich, full life and will be greatly missed, but she left a precious legacy of grace, courage, wisdom, humor and deep, abiding unconditional love.

Martha Nell Skains Martha Nell Langley Skains was born January 5, 1935, in Huntsville, Texas, and passed away August 19, 2021, in Conroe, Texas, at the age of 86.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Ray Skains; daughter, Shannon Ann Skains Sims; father, Vernon Mickleberry Langley; mother, Clemis Ida

Minter Langley; brothers Kenneth Langley, John Langley, Bill Langley, and Drew Langley; sisters Marie Behrens, Polly Shotwell, and Louise Robinson.

She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Lynn Skains-McLeod and husband David; brother Ed Langley; son-in-law Laney Sims and wife LaDonna; granddaughter Martha Lynn Sims Phillips and husband Ethan; grandsons Benjamin Delaney Sims and fiancé Joana Blair, and JD McLeod and wife Heather; great grandchildren Samuel Jonathan Phillips, Jackson Ray Phillips, Maverick Lee McLeod, and MacKenzie Sadie McLeod; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She spent most of her life in Huntsville, but finished high school in Cleveland, Texas.

She and Raymond married in the spring of 1955 and celebrated 51 years of marriage on April 30, 2006, before he passed away in 2007.

She spent her working years as a clerk at a local five-and-dime and Campus Cleaners, a secretary for Judge Wright, records clerk and secretary for the Huntsville Police Department and the City of Huntsville, and retired as a secretary from the Region 6 Education Service Center.

She spent her golden years living at the Trinity Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Trinity, Texas.

She quickly settled in with a host of new friends.

She joined the residents’ council and became the unofficial welcome wag-

on for new residents.

Depending on when in her life you met her and who you were to her, she went by many names and nicknames - Martha Nell, Martha, Nell, Aunt Nell, Sweet Nell, Nellie Bellie, Mama Nell, Mama Skains, Miss Nell, Willie, Lit-

Thursday August 26, 2021

tle Heifer, and Sassy Little Heifer. However, her favorite names to go by were Mother and Mimi.

She loved her family fiercely and was happiest surrounded by love and laughter. She touched many lives throughout her life. She was a wife,

a band mom, confidant and mom-away-fromhome to all her “baby cops”, a friend, a mom, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her legacy will last for generations to come.

Sam Houston Memorial

Funeral Home

1700 Normal Park Huntsville, TX 77340

936-291-7300

Sittercise at the Library

Get fit while you sit with Sittercise! Everybody’s favorite exercise program is being offered from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Huntsville Public Library in conjunction with Huntsville Memorial Hospital. Classes begin Tues-

day, May 11. Sittercise is designed to help those who are aging and/or dealing with chronic illnesses. Sittercise focuses on strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, endurance, and overall improved function.

Please consult your doctor before starting any

new exercise program.

Liability waivers are required to participate and are available from the instructor. The class is free and open to adults ages 18 and older. Class is limited to 25 so social distancing can be maintained.

Walker County Press-Page 12

Lifestyle

Sunday Observations by Christy

So much turmoil, argument, and conflict right now. This has been a rough week for my bunch.

From a personal level, I want to ask of your assistance.

It goes without saying, Covid is currently visiting my loved ones. It’s been rough, it’s been scary, and we are far from “out of the woods”. If you had it and it was just a cold, or mild flu, I’m thrilled for you. Know for many it is not.

Listen, I 100% believe in rights, America, and all that goes with it. But what is being lost is what America is built on.

Doing better for others.

Being better. Taking care

of one another.

I believe with all in me the rights to choose, that the government needs to be kept in check. That you should be able to do what’s best for your family. But let me explain where this has us and know this has nothing to do with the vaccine.

No matter your belief, pro or anti whatever the subject matter, know at some point your loved one may need a hospital.

Through illness, a heart attack, car wreck, or something as simple as food poisoning. Right now, you don’t have that option.

Right now, our hospitals in SETX are bursting at the

seams. As are the urgent care facilities. If you go, you are hours waiting, sometimes days. You will be sent home in situations that 2 years ago you would have been admitted. I’m not exaggerating. This isn’t a big lie. This is FACTS. Don’t like them?

Sorry. I’m not part of a conspiracy. I’m speaking the truth. Don’t believe me? Talk to any exhausted health care worker.

So the question arises, are you willing to do something to help the situation? This area has the finest people in it I have ever known. We show up at benefits, we muck out flooded houses for months, we rescue one another when waters rise.

We pray for one another.

Y’all are fantastic. So what are you willing to do to help the situation?

18 months ago we pulled out of the first surge by masking up, avoiding crowds, washing hands, and staying home.

That was it. Yes it took government mandates, closures, and shut downs.

I don’t believe in those.

But in order to not have them, we have our rights and choices. This is where you come in.

Choose to put a mask on.

Choose to avoid crowds.

Choose to wash hands.

Choose to stay home.

Stop acting like we don’t have a problem because I promise you we do.

Would you choose to stay in a home taking on water, until you drown, or would you choose to go to the roof? Be rescued? I know what each and every one of you did. You chose life.

You rose above the flood waters, and you helped yourself. Rise above this mess, and help our area.

I’m so heartbroken and disillusioned with what I have seen in the last week.

You may not believe me when I say how bad it is and that is your choice. I pray you and your loved ones are never where we have been, and that you don’t learn the hard way. I sincerely mean this.

As a side note to all this, while I owe nothing to anyone, I will say yes I’ve resumed wearing a mask when I must go out.

Did this over a month ago. My whole bunch is vaccinated. We aren’t

Thursday August 26, 2021 going out. We are doing all we can to make sure your loved one has a bed if needed.

Am I scared? Damned right I am. You would be too. Don’t talk to me about the low percentage of who has bad side effects. It takes one in your personal family for that percentage to mean nothing.

But you were willing to dive into deep waters, to save others. You would run into a flaming building. You would stop at a car accident and help. You will shelter the hurting. I know you will. I know what my community is capable of.

We are so much better than this.

I don’t have a happy anything in me right now.

Simply put you don’t need a mandate from the same government you want to keep in check, to be a decent human. Your Governor, superintendent, mayor, or boss should never have to tell you to help one another. A mask will not kill you, or your child. The world won’t end if you skip a gathering or two. But a life just might. You can’t prove a mask won’t help, I can’t prove it will. But I am willing to try.

And I beg you to as well.

WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE

DOGS, US, AND HEAT

By John Jefferson

Have you ever been hot outside in late August or part of September? Unless this is your first summer in Texas, if you said “No” to my silly question, I’d sure like to know your secret!

Our summers, which keep coming back on us from time to time in the fall, are scorchers. And heat stroke and heat exhaustion are killers that slip up on us. Wear the lightest clothes you have, stay in the shade as much as possible, and drink plenty of water or Gato-

rade.

And be glad you’re not covered with black or chocolate-colored fur.

Even golden retrievers suffer just from being covered in long hair.

Some people walk their dogs on sidewalks or pavement that’s been in the sun since 10 o’clock that morning – with atmospheric temperature approaching 100 degrees.

Would you want to walk on it barefooted?

Sure, dogs have tougher feet than we have.

But I’ve seen dogs seek shade. Once in the Big Bend, we hiked a little farther than we intended, and were glad we had big straw hats and

enough water. My chocolate Labrador retriever got to where she would walk from one greasewood plant to the next one just to catch broken shade that was only slightly cooler than the West Texas sand.

That reminded me of my first trip to Santa Elena Canyon. We lolled around camp a little too long before driving to the mouth of the canyon about noon. That’s a popular calendar scene. We didn’t have a dog, then, but my feet were burning through my hiking boots from walking on the hot sand.

Another time, near Brady, it was 100 degrees where

Walker County Press-Page 13 we were dove hunting.

We were under a spreading mesquite tree for shade, but it was HOT. On about the sixth retrieve, my Lab trotted out about 25 yards, stopped, turned around, and headed back slowly without the fallen bird, which was just a little farther out. I yelled at her, but she went right past me and laid down in the wet sand wallow I had made for her. As she laid there panting, I sprinkled her

with water, and assured her she was a “Good Dog.” And unloaded my shotgun.

That night, we took our bedtime stroll by the swimming pool, and I sat down. I soon realized that she was obediently sitting beside me.

I glanced at her. She had a dove in her mouth – probably accidently dropped near their truck by rowdy hunters from an adjoining state. I took the then-stiffened bird,

Lifestyle and as we looked at each other, a thought came to me; this was to make up for the dove she failed to retrieve earlier that afternoon.

I now always take a jug of water to cool the sand for my dog. And put a towel down to hold a little cool water.

That was probably a closer call that afternoon near Brady than I care to think about.

Don’t let it happen to you!

Thursday August 26, 2021

Jawbone Moans

Cayden accidently got his two front teeth knocked out when he was in 7th grade. The dentist said Cayden would have to wait until he was 21 for permanent teeth. He said, “Unlike a female, a male’s jaw continues to grow!”

Maybe that is why Proverbs 21:23 says, “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”

Often the instinct to retrieve pushes hunting dogs to exceed the limits of their endurance – especially during hot weather. Always try to have a shady place with plenty of drinking water and perhaps a cool, damp place for your retriever to chill out in between retrieves. Photo by John and Vicky Jefferson.

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

Lifestyle

Thursday August 26, 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.

My editors are SCREAMING at me.

It’s 9:00am on Tuesday morning and I’m just now sitting down to write my column and we have to go to print in about an hour. No Problem......I got this.

And, in my defense, I actually have something to write about and it’s not like I played all weekend.....I had some issues. Those issues started with a trip to the place up in Elkhart to check on cows. A couple of weeks ago, I had resurrected an old water trough and put a new automatic float valve on the tank, leveled the tank so that the float valve would shut off with plenty of room before the water spilled over the edge of the tank and left, believing that the cows would have plenty to drink. Saturday, I decided to run up to the place and check on things. Boy Howdy, did those cows have plenty to drink. Either the lumber that I had placed under the water trough to level it had slipped or the cows had banged around on the trough and

knocked the trough off of the lumber, but either way the water was running over the side of the tank and had watered the pasture. The first clue that something was wrong was as I was driving into the place and got about a hundred yards from the water trough and started slinging mud. I thought to myself, this is August, surely we haven’t had that much rain. We hadn’t, it was rain from the water meter. Of course, I hadn’t brought any kind of tools or equipment to deal with this situation, so I simply turned off the water and left. The next day, I headed back up there with tools and supplies and had to clear some fence area to place another trough and move the water line because it was a muddy mess by the old trough, but after a few hours in this August heat we were able to get them a new water supply.

So, I haven’t exactly been playing all weekend. Well, you say, what about Monday???? Why didn’t you get your column

done on Monday???

Our Winnie paper has a special section in it this week called our Fall Sports Preview and it’s like an entire additional paper X 3, so I was a little busy with that project.

However, after staying up half of the night for myself and a few other folks, I think we are going to get it done.

So, here I am, Tuesday morning, writing my column. What I really wanted to talk about this week was this Covid resurgence.

None of us want to go back to things being closed, being mandated to wear a mask, and those things that we went through last year.

So, let’s go on the offense this time(it’s football season, so that’s what’s on my mind) and do everything that we can to combat this nasty little virus. I’m not here to tell you what to do, but instead trying to appeal to the adult side of you and asking you to do a few little things to help the whole of society. If you believe in the vaccine, then go get vaccinated. It may prevent

you from having to be hospitalized and may save a bed for another person that had a heart attack or was involved in a car wreck. If you are inside somewhere and in close quarters with others, wear a mask, it may be just enough to stop the spread of the Covid virus or some other bug that may make you sick enough that you would need to be in the hospital. Wash your hands, wash your hands, and wash your hands again. We are all adults here and if we don’t want the govern-

Walker County Press-Page 14 ment telling us what to do and when we can do it, we need to step up and take care of ourselves and others.

All of our services are taxed.....and, I’m not talking about money. I’m talking about EMS, hospitals, nurses, first responders, etc.

The hospitals are full and that’s causing our EMS 911 providers to be out of service waiting in line at the hospitals for hours. I was at a meeting last night and the Emergency Management Director for Chambers County advised the group that

they could possibly begin screening 911 calls to determine the severity of the situation before they dispatched an ambulance because of a shortage of staff and vehicles because they are all tied up at the hospitals. This situation is critical and will be for the next several weeks as we get through this peak in the virus. Do your part to help. Okay, I’m off of my soapbox, but please take care of yourselves and others.

Till next time, I’m.......

Wade in the Shade.

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