Walker County Press 09-09-2021

VOL 5 ·ISSUE 45 PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #60 WINNIE, TX

Thursday September 9, 2021

Lions Club Helping Louisiana Neighbors

By Wade Thibodeaux

This week, along with First Presbyterian Church, the Huntsville Lions Club will be collecting items for residents in St Tammany Parish Louisiana. Below is a list of items that are needed. Please, keep in mind these folk still have no electricity. Donations are being accepted from anyone, you do not have to be a member of Huntsville Lions Club to donate.

Bottled water (all sizes individual and gallons) Diapers all sizes

Cat and Dog food Nonperishable food ...

Food should be able to be eaten without being heated (NOTHING EXOTIC).

Cans should be able to be opened without a can opener. (Ex. Tuna fish, canned chicken, corn) You may bring the donated items this week to 2013 Sycamore Dr. between 8:00-6:00. Call 291-3045 for after hours drop off.

A trip is planned for this Saturday and then the needs will be assessed for further relief efforts.

New Waverly Catholic Church Holds Annual Bazaar

The New Waverly Catholic Church held their annual bazaar last Sunday, September 5, 2021 with a good crowd and enthusiastic buyers for the many items that were donated.

A wonderful Bar-B-Que meal was prepared and served by the Knights of Columbus and all of the activities were enjoyed by everyone in attendance.

Hornets Beat Willis 43-31

Jaylon McClain(#9) runs for some yardage in the game against the Willis Wildcats.

By Wade Thibodeaux The Huntsville Hornets hosted the Willis Wildcats last Friday evening at Bowers Stadium and came away with a 43-31 victory.

The Hornets started off very slowly with two miscues, one interception and one blocked punt, to spot Willis to a 10-0 lead. However, Huntsville recovered very quickly when Justin Butcher(#2) returned a kickoff for 78 yards and a touchdown. (contd on page 8)

HISD Crowns Homecoming King and Queen

Homecoming King Matthew Schweitzer and Homecoming Queen Jasmine Walker. mony during halftime of

By Wade Thibodeaux The Huntsville ISD held the football game against their Homecoming cere- the Willis Wildcats last

Jasmine Walker was certainly excited when her name was called as the Homecoming Queen.

Friday, September 3, weitzer and the Home2021. The Homecoming coming Queen was JasKing was Matthew Sch- mine Walker.

Thursday September 9, 2021

Community

37. Burden or load 39. Official language of Lesotho 40. Choose politically 41. Sashay 43. Thailand, formerly 44. All worked up 46. One assigned menial work 47. Rancher’s unit 48. Blue jeans 50. Famous Scottish lake 52. A cause of inflation 53. Number one 55. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s guitar 57. *Stars Hollow Luke’s love interest 61. *Louise Jefferson’s husband 64. Like a solitaire player 65. Government Printing Office THEME: TV COUPLES Solution on page 7 67. Home to BYU ACROSS supply around rain storm 69. Request to 1. Sweeney 16. Short skirts 23. 31st of the Geico Todd’s weapon 17. Flightless bird month, e.g.

70. Calendar mo.

6. It’s in the hole? 18. Wavelike pat- 24. E-mailed 71. Gladdened 9. Plural of #6 terned silk 25. Digital audio 72. 36 inches Across 19. *Philip Banks’ workstation 73. *Jake and 13. Soft palate wife 28. Essence of ____ of “Brookdngler 21. *Dre Johnidea lyn Nine-Nine” 14. Each one for son’s wife on 30. Mouth infec74. Rub off himself?

“Black-ish” and tion DOWN 15. Red Cross occasional site 35. Fusses 1. Cuba Libre in-

Walker County Press-Page 2

gredient 2. Tel ____, Israel 3. Pueblo tribesman 4. Good will branch 5. Leveling to the ground 6. Congregation’s echo 7. *Mitch’s husband in “Modern Family” 8. Accustom 9. Long, long time 10. Baby container 11. German currency 12. Old World duck 15. The ____, an English rock band from the ‘80s 20. Goodbye to amiga 22. Marching insect 24. Classroom attendee 25. *Patrick’s fiance on “Schitt’s Creek” 26. Dig, so to speak 27. King of the gods in Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” 29. Barber shop sound 31. Civil Rights icon 32. Ancient city in

Africa 33. *Javen’s companion on “Temptation Island” or Lamb Chops’ puppeteer 34. *Marge Simpson’s husband 36. Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence 38. Kind of gin 42. Follow as a consequence 45. Bald Eagle to Americans, e.g.

49. Old Man’s turf, according to Hemingway 51. Capital of the Republic of Macedonia 54. Fraternity letter 56. Trial’s partner 57. Like a doily 58. Paella pot 59. Big cat sound 60. Blyton or Bagnold 61. Like a bloody horror movie 62. Romantic painter Francisco ____ 63. December 24 and 31, e.g.

66. *Jim’s co-worker and wife on “The Office” 68. Type of poem

Walker County Press-Page 3

Business Directory

Thursday September 9, 2021

Something BIG is coming

TEXAS MEDIA CORP Huntsville

Wade Thibodeaux (936) 581-5161

P.O. Box 149

Huntsville, Tx 77342

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

Montessori Child Care 6 wks. to 12 yrs. old

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

Thursday September 9, 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 Twenty-Six individuals were arrested and booked into the Walker County Jail between Monday, August 30 and Thursday, September 2. 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 original 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 September 9, 2021

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

Corner of 16 and 31 Sam Houston Ave.

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)

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

Thursday September 9, 2021

Local News

5 Hobbies You Can Pursue on Your Own

(StatePoint) Whether you simply prefer doing things solo or you have a tight schedule that makes it difficult to commit to classes at set times of the week, you don’t need to forgo the pursuit of new hobbies. Here are five activities that you can take on completely on your own: 1. Running: Running is great for cardiovascular health, a proven stress reliever and a fun way to explore your local area.

The good news? All you need is a pair of sneakers to get started. While many people prefer to join a running group or pair up with a buddy, this is one sport that’s ideal for individualists.

2. Music: Teach yourself to play piano at your own pace using a keyboard that features builtin learning tools. The Casiotone LK-S450 is not only an affordable model, it has lighted keys to help guide you

through its built-in songs, along with intuitive StepUp Lessons providing finger placement guidance to help you along your musical journey. The keyboard is also compatible with Chordana, a free learning app available for iOS and Android that teaches you to play any MIDI file using standard notation.

3. Arts and crafts: From cake decorating and sewing to drawing and painting, you can learn more than 20 hobbies with a Craftsy membership. The site hosts over 1,500 classes and members get access to live events, a newsletter and additional resources designed to educate and inspire DIYers.

4. Coding: If you are looking to pick up a new job skill or you simply want to exercise your mind, you can learn the fundamentals of coding by programming

a graphing calculator.

Some of the models available from Casio, which have a natural textbook display for ultimate readability and user-friendliness, feature built-in Python programming functionality.

Get started by visiting casioeducation.com where you can find free resources and tutorials.

5. Indoor gardening: Indoor gardening is a satisfying and calming hobby that you can take on in order to beautify your space and grow your own herbs and vegetables. What’s more, you can get started any time of year, making it a great activity for those who march to the beat of their own drum.

Using new tools and resources, you can make your hobbies completely your own, fitting them into your schedule when, where and how you see fit.

(StatePoint) When Chad VanCamp, 42, began feeling intense pain in his tail-

unbearable and he began dreading everyday activities that most people wouldn’t think twice about -- car rides, airplane trips and even going out to dinner.

More than 50 million people in the Unitbone whenever he sat ed States live with down, life changed. chronic pain -- which Suddenly, his favoris pain that persists for ite hobbies became

How Some Patients Are Finding Drug-Free Relief From Chronic Pain

six months or longer.

Unfortunately, many suffer without finding relief, and not for lack of trying. Pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care, but its sources are often complex and difficult to diagnose. Additionally, patients may not be familiar with the wide range of available treatments.

As for VanCamp, (contd on page 8) he tried many different relief strategies, including visiting his family doctor, seeing a chiropractor, and getting cortisone shots. Some of these measures provided him with temporary relief, but nothing worked long-term.

Eventually, the pain was so intense that he even met with a doctor to discuss the possibility of having his tailbone removed.

Having left no stone unturned, VanCamp was angry and frustrated, nearly resigning himself to the idea that relief might never come.

Chronic pain like VanCamp’s is a serious medical issue and can be linked to restrictions in mobility and daily activities, dependence on opioids, anxiety and

Walker County Press-Page 6

depression, and poor perceived health or reduced quality of life. Unfortunately, it is also an issue exacerbated by recent world events. In a survey conducted by Boston Scientific of chronic pain sufferers, nearly half of the respondents reported that their pain had worsened during the pandemic.

“Given that the opioid epidemic continues to surge, educating patients about non-drug treatment interventions is critical,” says Dr. Louis Raso, a pain specialist and owner of an interventional pain management practice. “Pain physicians actually have many non-drug tools in our toolbox to address chronic pain.”

For example, Dr. Raso treats many of his patients with spinal cord stimulation (SCS).

Most commonly used to treat pain experienced in the lower back, legs and feet, SCS interrupts the perception of pain as it travels to the brain.

This small device is implanted under the skin and flexible leads are connected to the stimulator and placed near specific nerves along the spinal cord.

And because each

person experiences pain differently, patients can adjust the programming of the device to personalize their treatment.

When VanCamp realized that his pain was hindering his ability to be fully present in his life and the lives of his family members, he underwent a procedure to implant the Spectra WaveWriter SCS System from Boston Scientific, which is designed to offer fast, tailored pain relief. That was two-and-a-half years ago, and with SCS, he’s had nearly complete pain relief. Today, favorite activities like family bike rides and hunting trips are no big deal. He even went horseback riding – something he’d never dreamed he’d be able to do just a few years ago.

“Above all else, SCS has helped me feel like a normal person again,” says VanCamp. “While results may vary among patients, I would urge anyone living with chronic pain to consider this and other treatment options, and to remember that they’re not ‘broken,’ they’re just in pain.

Don’t ever give up searching. I found

Thursday September 9, 2021

Local News

SCS and it completely turned my life around.”

To learn more about chronic pain, take a pain assessment quiz, connect with other pa-

tients and find a pain management specialist in your area, visit pain.com, a resource from Boston Scientific.

Chronic pain can

make daily life unbearable. However, experts say that nondrug therapies can provide a long-term solution for patients.

Entergy Texas, Inc. has completed its multiyear deployment of advanced meters to homes and businesses across southeast Texas. The new advanced meters improve service to customers by offering quicker and more accurate detection of outages and provide new tools that allow customers to manage their energy usage.

The upgrades are part of Entergy Texas’ plan to invest today to ensure a bright future for Texas.

“The new advanced meters not only upgraded our system with new technology that helps us detect outages quicker, but they provide customers with more benefits and control over their energy usage,” said Stuart Barrett, vice president of customer service for Entergy Texas. “As the heat sets in across

southeast Texas, customers can easily access new online tools to manage their energy usage, which can lead to a reduction in their energy usage and potentially help lower their electric bills.”

With advanced meters, customers have access to more detailed energy usage to take control of their bills. Advanced meters allow customers to log in to their accounts and view how much electricity has been used daily, shown in 15-minute increments for residential customers, rather than having to wait until the end of the month to view their energy usage.

Through the new online tools, customers can set up alerts when reaching budgetary goals to keep them aware of their monthly spending.

Advanced meters

provide customers with more timely usage information so that they can decide whether to reduce consumption to help reduce their electric bills.

Detailed information can be accessed by logging into the customer account at www.entergy.com/ MyAdvisor, which also has helpful “how-to” videos for using the dashboard.

In addition to the customer’s energy usage available on the site, the bill projection tab provides an estimate of what the bill will be by the end of the billing cycle. The bill analyzer tool lets a customer compare previous bills by month and year to better understand the effects of variables like the number of days in the billing cycle, energy usage, fuel costs, and weather.

E n t e r g y Te x a s C o m p l e t e s Advanced Meter Deployment

Solution on page 11

Walker County Press-Page 7

Thursday September 9, 2021

Local News

Community Calendar Friday, September 10: -Story time from 10:45am-11:45am at the library -Wild Things zoofari from 2:00pm-3:00pm at the library Monday, September 13: -Mother Goose Lapsit from 10:45am-11:45am at the library Tuesday, September 14: -Sittercise from 10:00am-11:00am at the library -Free basic computer class from 11:00am12:00pm at the library -Story time from 5:30pm6:30pm at the library Wednesday, September

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

15: -Story time from 10:45am-11:45am at the library -Familysearch workshop from 11:00am-12:00pm at the library Thursday, September 16: -Sittercise from 10:00am-11:00am at the library -Book club from 10:30am-11:45am at the library -Lineage society workshop from 10:30am3:00pm at the library -Free basic computer class from 5:00pm6:00pm at the library Friday, Septembr 17:

-Story time from 10:45am-11:45am at the library -Wild Things zoofari from 2:00pm-3:00pm at the library Monday, September 20: -Mother Goose Lapsit from 10:45am-11:45am at the library Tuesday, September 21: -Sittercise from 10:00am-11:00am at the library -Free basic computer class from 11:00am12:00pm at the library -Story time from 5:30pm6:30pm at the library

Walker County Press-Page 8

H o rnet s Be at Willis (contd)

Justin Butcher(#2) races for a touchdown after the catch during the Hornets game versus Willis.

The two point conver- Wilson(#8) tossed a was 13-10 at the end sion failed and the Hor- 12 yard pass to Butch- of the first quarter. Annets trailed 6-10. After er(#2) for the Hornets other defensive stop a defensive stop, the second touchdown of and another trip down Hornets marched down the night. The kick was the field with another the field and Anthony successful and the lead 12 yard TD pass from

Thursday September 9, 2021 Wilson(#8) to Tre Taylor(#5) and the score was 20-10 after the successful PAT. A quarterback sack from Calvin Simmons(#10) forced another Willis punt and after a few plays, Wilson(#8) launched a 48 yard pass to Butcher(#2) for another score and the good point after attempt made the score 27-10 with about 3 minutes left in the half. A defensive miscue allowed a long run by Kaden Fitch(#21) of Willis for a touchdown and the PAT made the score 27-17. The Hornets had one more score in

Local News

them before the half as Wilson(#8) tossed an 18 yard pass to Jawaan Giddens(#18) to make the score 33-17 at the half after the two point conversion failed.

Huntsville added another score in the third quarter when Jaylon McClain(#9) powered a 4 yard run for a touchdown and Christian Avalar(#3) kicked the extra point to make the score 40-17 at the end of the third quarter.

The Wildcats responded with a short rushing touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter and with a successful two point conversion,

tightened the score to 40-25. The Hornets added a field goal from the 33 yard line midway through the final frame to make the score 43-25. The Wildcats quickly responded with a passing touchdown and then a failed two point conversion made the score 43-31 with 5 minutes to go in the contest. Each team had another possession with Huntsville punting the ball away and the Wildcats turning the ball over on downs to allow the Hornets to go into the victory formation with the final score of 43-31.

Walker County Press-Page 9

Justin Butcher(#2) scores his third touchdown of the night last Friday night.

Community

Thursday September 9, 2021

Obituaries

Emmitt DeWayne Williams

Emmitt DeWayne Williams, 58 years old, passed away in Huntsville, TX on August 30, 2021. Emmitt is survived by his son Cody Williams and wife Jessie, son Tanner Miller and girlfriend Hannah Robertson, brother Lance Williams and wife Tina, sister Pamela Williams, and many nieces and nephews.

Emmitt is preceded in death by his daughter Keli Williams, son Justin Isbell, father Emmitt Franklin Williams, mother Elizabeth (Liz) Williams, and sister Carol Robertson and husband Arthur.

Emmitt was raised in Huntsville, TX where he put down roots and gained lifelong friendships. He worked for Gulf States Utility, went overseas to Iraq as a contractor, and held other jobs as a truck driver, operator, and mechanic.

Emmitt loved music and played in several bands throughout his lifetime.

You would normally find him center stage belting out some tunes

and/or playing the guitar. His favorite genre was country music but he also enjoyed southern rock.

It was a rare occasion if he wore something other than his Wrangler jeans, a button up dress shirt, and a cowboy hat.

He would break out the felt hat as soon as the cooler weather approached and that straw hat when the Texas heat came back.

Emmitt will be greatly missed but will live on through the memories created and the love he shared.

Deborah Kay McCance Deborah Kay (Saucier) McCance, 63 of Huntsville, Texas, passed away August 12, 2021 at Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital Katy, Texas after a long hard-fought battle with Bronchiolitis Obliterans. She was born May 6, 1958 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Arthur and Lillie Saucier.

For over 30 years Deborah worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. During her career she worked in many capacities rang-

ing from switchboard operator, correctional officer, grievance investigator, inmate interviewer, case manager, chief of classification and administrative assistant for the board of pardons and paroles as well as substance abuse treatment programs.

The years and locations brought numerous people to cross her path, many which have become lifelong friends.

Deborah was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, gigi, aunt, cousin and friend to many. She loved so deeply that she created a chosen family, adopting people into her life who she loved with a fierce passion and devotion. To say she will be missed does not capture the hole that fills so many hearts today, but what a legacy she has left behind.

She is preceded in death by her Parents Arthur and Lillie Saucier, Siblings Robert (Bobby) and Jeri Lynn Saucier.

Husband David McCance and son James Moore.

Those left behind to cherish her memories are her daughter Wendi (John) Collins, Daughter in law Dawn Moore, bonus daughters Lesa (Mark) Johnson, Sarah Morris and fiancé Richard Mosco.

Siblings Kenneth (Pat) Saucier, Richard (Judy)

Saucier, James (Nina) Saucier. 10 Grandchildren Jordan, Kameron (Cassidy), and Austin Dunaway, Leah Tatsch, Cole (Megan) Tatsch, Seth Johnson, Landry Johnson, Bailey, Noah and Ellah Morris. 4 Great Grandchildren Greyson, Maddox, Mallie and Duke, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family would like

Walker County Press-Page 10

to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Houston Methodist Lung Transplant Team for the years of care and attention to Deborah’s needs.

A memorial service will be held at Family Faith Church in Huntsville, Texas September 11, 2021 at 11:00 am.

“For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is

at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” II Timothy 4:6-8.

Sam Houston Memorial

Funeral Home

1700 Normal Park Huntsville, TX 77340

936-291-7300

Walker County Republican Women

Nick Adams, a fourtime, best-selling author, will be the guest speaker at the Walker County Republican Women September 20, 2021 meeting. This is an evening meeting, and the community is invited to attend.

Nick Adams is also a television commentator, a motivational speaker and is the Founder and Executive Director of The

Foundation for Liberty and American Greatness (FLAG) ( w w w. f l a g u s a . o rg ) .

This organization visits elementary, middle, and high schools to provide training to increase patriotic pride in schools today.

Born and raised in Australia, Adams is an immigrant to America, receiving a rare Extraordinary Ability Green Card.

The program begins at 5:30p.m. and will be held at the Walker Education Center Auditorium, upper level, located at 1402 19th St, Huntsville.

For more information, email Walker County Republican Women @ walkercountyrepublican Womwefwalkercountyrepublicanwomen@gmail.com Light refreshments will be served.

StatePoint) Hate bugs?

You’re not alone. Nearly seven in 10 Americans can’t sleep if they know there’s an insect in the room, according to a

recent survey conducted

by OnePoll for Zevo. The same poll also found that two in three Americans would give up a month’s pay to not deal with bugs!

Science says your visceral reaction is actually quite rational.

According to researchers at the University of California, Davis, those creepy-

Hate Bugs? Here’s Ho w to Remove the Ick-Factor

Walker County Press-Page 11

Community

crawly feelings you may experience upon seeing a bug is simply nature’s way of helping you avoid pathogens and parasites.

The good news? Insect experts say that there are steps you can take to protect your home turf from disgusting bugs and other pests.

“While you should not lose your healthy distaste for bugs, you can take steps to keep them out of your home,” says Daniel Perry, entomologist at Procter & Gamble.

Here are a few ways to help keep America’s top three hated bugs: cockroaches, spiders and ants, along with a host of other common insects, out of your home.

1. Guard doors and windows: Keep doors and windows sealed when they’re not in use. If you love a fresh breeze, be sure that your screen doors and windows are in tip top shape and contain no holes. Don’t have a

screen door? Consider quickly installing a mesh door screen over your front door or patio door that seals up the middle with a magnet. This is a good choice for renters and others unable to make more intensive home updates.

2. Seal holes: Use an afternoon to caulk small cracks in your home’s foundation and siding.

This is a quick, easy and affordable way to seal these common entry points for bugs.

3. Remove their food source: Bugs need a food source to survive, so keep your home clean. In the kitchen, seal your trash bin and remove its contents regularly, wipe down surfaces -- especially after spills, and sweep up those crumbs. A cockroach can survive months on a single crumb of food! Be sure to regularly vacuum furniture, rugs and carpets in any room where you eat.

4. Blast bugs: Bugs will find their way into your home no matter how hard you try to keep them out. Because a small bug problem can spread quickly, it’s important to be ready to meet them head-on.

Zevo sprays, including the brand’s Multi-Insect Killer Spray, are powered by essential oils. Zevo’s BioSelective Technology was developed by experts to be targeted to bugs’ unique biology, plus Zevo is safe for use around people and pets when used as directed. To learn more, visit zevoinsect. com.

If you’re tired of being grossed out in your own home, it’s time to take charge. Not only can you help prevent insects from invading your home, you can swing into action at the first sign of bugs to make sure it doesn’t become a bigger problem for you and your family later.

StatePoint) The Peace Corps, established in 1961, partners with communities abroad to develop sustainable solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges at the grassroots level.

While all volunteers returned home in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency is working to return to service and is now actively recruiting volunteers of backgrounds historically underrepresented in the organization, including

African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Asian-Americans.

“As part of our mission, we seek to reflect the rich diversity of the United States abroad, bringing different perspectives and solutions to development issues in the countries we serve,” says Carol Spahn, acting director of the Peace Corps.

“We also seek to create inclusion – a culture that encourages collaboration, flexibility and fairness; and leverages diversity so that all individuals are

able to contribute to their full potential.”

If you’re interested in Peace Corps service, here’s what to know.

New Challenges While Peace Corps service is demanding for every volunteer, being from a diverse ethnic background can introduce additional challenges, according to those who have served.

“I had to deal with people’s expectations about Americans looking a certain way. About once a week I had to explain

The Peace Corps is Recruiting Volunteers from Diverse Backgrounds

that Americans come from diverse backgrounds, and that I was just as much an American as any other Peace Corps volunteer,” says Neng Lee, a firstgeneration HmongAmerican who served as a health volunteer in the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) from 2015 to 2017, and as a youth development volunteer from 2017 to 2019.

Valuable Assets In other cases, a diverse background can be an advantage.

“Integrating into Jamaican culture was easy due to the many similarities with my Mexican culture,” says Maria Elena Venegas Banulelos, a Spanish speaking, MexicanAmerican Peace Corps volunteer who served in Jamaica. “For instance, both Mexicans and Jamaicans are very religious, we enjoy a little spice in our food, and like to dress our best when in public. Both cultures

Thursday September 9, 2021

love soccer, dancing and loud music. Also, the environments are similar in the structure of the homes and agricultural products, and both are home to the most humble people.”

This sentiment is shared by other volunteers as well.

“My color and my accent have not affected my volunteer work negatively, instead this has allowed me to integrate well in my community, and people even call me ‘African,’” says Aboubakar Bodi, who was born in Togo and served in Jamaica.

Bringing Skills Home Peace Corps service can be an emotionally rewarding experience and an effective way to develop the skills needed to make a difference in one’s community back home. It can also be a key stepping stone in one’s career. Volunteers serve for 27 months in education, health,

agriculture and other sectors, and upon their return, they are able to usher innovative solutions to collective problems in U.S. communities.

“I am very proud of having taught CPR and first aid to people in different villages in the Kyrgyz language. I also translated most of my CPR and first aid materials into Kyrgyz,” says Lee, who notes that, “Volunteering opens so many doors in the future, and the people you meet along the way will help you.”

To learn more about Peace Corps or to connect with a recruiter, visit peacecorps. gov.

“Volunteers are international cultural ambassadors representing the United States. That’s why it’s so important our body of volunteers actually reflects the diversity of the country,” says Spahn.

Walker County Press-Page 12

Lifestyle

Sunday Observations by Christy

Between Covid c r a z i n e s s , Afghanistan sadness, turmoil in the world, it just gets to be too much.

We all have our own personal issues as well. Kids, parents, schools, health issues, the stress level can boil. Add a hurricane last week in the gulf, and SETX residents begin to have a dazed and confused look. So with Labor Day and the end of

summer upon us, I began my trek north to see my Fort Worth family. Time to step away.

When you have made the drive from Beaumont to Fort Worth as many times as I have, it can get quite mundane.

I’ve tried every route there is, I’ve done it with others, by myself, making calls, listening to music, singing songs, crying, and

in silence. Then a couple of years ago, I started listening to podcasts or audio books on the drive. BAM! It’s a drive you give zero thought to.

Being of the optimistic type, I like uplifting things. Go back a paragraph or two and there is plenty of reason to not listen to the news. It can be overwhelming on long drives.

This trip I opted for the Matthew McConaughey book, Greenlight.

I won’t give the book away, but I will tell you it covers how with pain there is pleasure, with sadness there is joy, with trials there is triumphs, and with red lights…..there are green. Look for the green lights.

Even if it’s down the road, and you are stuck at a red light….. that red light may pause you just long enough so that you see a pretty sunset, avoid a wreck, or help a homeless person.

Greenlight.

I’m grateful for parents and a life that has given me the independence to get in my car and go. Not sure if it’s no fear, or no sense, but I’m never uncomfortable, scared, or afraid when driving.

Being alone is just where I am at this venture in life, and I’m ok with that.

When married, I was the audio of audio books prior to

Thursday September 9, 2021

them being popular.

I read a few novels out loud to my ex husband while we road tripped. It’s making the best of road trips, solo or with someone.

Happy Sunday peeps, at some point in your life, road trip alone. Do so until you are comfortable with your own mind.

Do so until you are at peace enough to ride 5 hours with

no noise. Do so until you have sung every song from your youth. Do so until the tears dry.

Do so until you reach for a book that lifts your heart.

Most of all…. Keep an eye on out for green lights. After all, that’s the easy part of life. The smooth sailing. The lack of pause. The auto pilot. Green lights…… and happy Labor Day!

WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE

GOOD FOR WHAT EELS YA

By John Jefferson

I don’t make this stuff up. At least, not all the time.

I recently saw a posting on the Parks and Wildlife Department Facebook page telling of people seeing shrimp eels on beaches near Galveston.

I grew up along the upper coast, having spent myriad hours on the beaches there and later on all the beaches from Rockport to the border. And I’d never

heard of shrimp eels.

I do recall napping on a large beach towel just behind the first dunes on Padre once and felt something burrowing up underneath us. We both awoke rapidly and vacated the towel. When I mustered enough courage to lift the towel, there was nothing there but sand. Now I wonder if it was a shrimp eel.

They’re said to burrow into sand and mud, coming out at night to feed on crustaceans. Could the

towel have darkened its hideout, giving the impression it was time for supper?

According to researchers, shrimp eels are not dangerous to humans. They usually grow up to 20-inches long but can exceed 30-inches. Pictures, though, do look scary to people who don’t know what they are.

Did you know there are eels in many Texas waters? Yessir! To quote a line from The Music Man: “Right here in River City!”

But these are Amer-

Walker County Press-Page 13

ican eels. The state record is 6.45 pounds, 42-inches long, and was caught in Austin’s Lady Bird Lake in 2001 by a man fishing with a shrimp.

That figures. Eels dine on crustaceans.

An Austin fisheries researcher has published that they were even in Shoal and Barton creeks.

They first hatch in the Sargasso Sea, and slowly move inland – up, around, or over several dams to get farther upstream.

Longhorn Dam forms Lady Bird and is a tall dam. I asked TPWD how they did it.

Stephen Curtis is a TPWD fisheries bi-

ologist and an eel specialist. He replied, “That’s hard to imagine,” but they are good climbers over wet ground or dams.” We discussed the possibility of waterspouts, fishermen, or birds assisting, but those seemed unlikely. If salmon can do it, why can’t a long, slender creature that swims like a snake?

A young friend, Jonathan Gray, Jr., caught one during spring break a couple of years ago in the San Marcos River. He was using a spinning rod downstream from Pecan Park Riverside RV Park at midday.

His lure was a jig with

Lifestyle a crawfish trailer. Jon said it fought like a catfish. He released it.

American eels are said to be very slimy. In Japan and other parts of the orient, eels are considered a delicacy, often becoming sushi.

My research turned up no one willing to admit having eaten eel, except one man from Louisiana who said he had tasted it.

Ogden Nash, wrote, “I never saw a purple cow; I never hope to see one. But I’d rather SEE one than to BE one!”

I’m sorta that way about American eels.

But I’d sure like to see one.

Thursday September 9, 2021

Just Ask

I was visiting with an advertising agent named Will. I was not planning to stay on the phone long, but he just kept asking questions that kept my attention.When I commented about his good questions, Will said, “My grandfather used to say, ‘A closed mouth never gets fed.’”

American eels, also known as yellow eels, become brown or gray as they move upstream in Texas waters. They inhabit all major Texas river systems but are often barred from upstream movement by big dams. How they succeed as far as Central Texas is still a mystery. Fisheries biologists acknowledge the need for more information and encourage fisherman and scientists to report observations and provide specimens of all stages of the species. After roughly 20 years, they return to the Sargasso Sea to breed and die. TPWD photo.

My mind immediately went to those words in Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.”

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

Lifestyle

Thursday September 9, 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.

Well, I guess that I learned a lesson about bragging about my technology achievements.

Here’s the rest of the story. Last week I told you about my triumph over the phone wizards and how I had configured two numbers onto one phone. I left the Verizon store and everything was working just fine for the rest of the day on Saturday, all day Sunday, and Monday morning. Monday afternoon, I went to make a phone call and it didn’t go through. Upon further research, I discovered that I was getting a message that said my phone wasn’t registered on the network. This happened while I was traveling from Huntsville to Winnie and I was dead in the water with my phone, but Wyatt graciously allowed me to use his phone to call Verizon. I know that I have a couple of dead spots for phone service on the trip and what I suspected actually happened. Between the Verizon reps disconnecting the call and the dead spots, I placed six calls to Verizon without any resolution to my problem. I would place a call and by the time that I got through the voice prompts and the hold time and actually talked

to somebody, something would happen and not in a good way. The first guy disconnected me, the second time I waited and then was referred to another department before the call was disconnected. The third time, when I finally was able to explain my problem to the person on the other end of the phone that seemed to have some grip on how to solve a problem besides reading from a script provided on the computer screen, I entered the first dead zone and the call was dropped.

The fourth call was like starting all over again and she connected me to another department except that she forgot to bring me along on the call and it was disconnected. The fifth call ended when I entered the second dead zone and then the sixth call was connected when I was almost in Winnie and I frankly couldn’t understand the person on the Verizon end and I hung up thinking that I would call from the office. I used the office phone and luckily reached somebody who cared and actually had a grip on how to fix my problem.

After about three hours of programming and un programming we finally

completely reset everything on the phone and reloaded everything and it’s been working ever since. So, five hours the first time at the Verizon store, three hours driving, and three hours at the office, I think I actually have a functioning phone. It’s kinda weird though because I had become accustomed to both phones and was able to do things like talk on one and use the other for navigating with GPS maps or set two alarms to wake me up in the morning in case the first one didn’t work. Now, everything is on one phone and I have to use it for everything.

I guess I will get used to just carrying one phone, but you folks know how I don’t like change. I also got several comments about the purple color and so I’ve decided that it’s actually Rose Gold colored instead of purple and I covered it up with a green cover anyway just for good measure.

Okay, enough of this phone talk. I just want to share with you a couple of things about the newspaper business.

This business is tough, it’s tough financially, it’s tough emotionally, and sometimes it’s just not much fun. We have had to make some tough fi-

nancial decisions over the last few years and we are going to have to make some more in the future. We have to make decisions all the time about what to run in the paper and sometimes it’s not very popular and sometimes it hurts personally, but we are in the news business and we report the news, good, bad, ugly, it’s just news.

Nevertheless, sometimes it gets to working on you and I guess it was showing on me because I made a comment the other day about wondering if we even made a difference in the paper business and the person replied

Walker County Press-Page 14 back that they suspected my thoughts were trending that way. I said “Is it showing that bad?” and she said “Pretty much”. A few days later, I received a phone call inquiring whether I was going to do an article about some things that were happening on social media.

I replied that I wasn’t planning on it, and they replied good and Thank You. That phone call actually lifted my spirits because it made me think that regardless of what happens on social media, people actually still worry about what is written in the newspaper. We will continue to

produce a newspaper that is truthful and straight down the middle of the road, covering the news and reporting on events that happen whether good, bad, or ugly and let the chips fall where they may. I’m writing this on the Sunday before Labor Day and my plans are to celebrate just like the name of the holiday.....I’m going to labor tomorrow just like any other Monday before a Tuesday deadline. Hopefully, some of you guys were able to take a day off and enjoy some grilling and fellowship. Till next time, I’m........Wade in the Shade

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Thursday September 9, 2021

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Walker County Press owned by: Wade Thibodeaux (Publisher) Julie Gill (Editor) Mackensey Bailey (Reporter/ Photographer) Walker County Press P.O Box 149 Huntsville, Tx 77342 Contact Wade Thibodeaux at wade@ txmediacorp.com or 936.581. 5161 Subscriptions: $25 a year Letters Policy: The Walker County Press prints Letters to the Editor on a space-available basis.

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Thursday September 9, 2021

News

Walker County Press-Page 16