Walker County Press Volume 5 Issue 6

VOL 5 ·ISSUE 6

WALKER COUNTY

PRESS

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #60 WINNIE, TX

Thursday December 10, 2020

Huntsville Celebrates Christmas Huntsville Remains with Parade and Activities Undefeated, Hosting First Round Playoff Game

The Hornets pose for a picture with the undefeated District Championship banner after the last regular season game This was one of the many decorated floats participating in the By Wade Thibodeaux career that he fin- Bowers Stadium. The The Huntsville Hor- ished the regular sea- Hornets outscored Huntsville Lions Club Annual Christmas Parade.

By Wade Thibodeaux the Huntsville Lions rade was (contd on nets took on the Ful- son with an unbeaten the Chargers in every shear Chargers last record. The Hornets quarter and scored 14 The 2020 version of Club Christmas Pa- page 9) Friday night in Madi- will be hosting a first points in the first and sonville and kept their round playoff game third quarters and 7 unbeaten record in this Friday against the points in the second tack with a 42-6 vic- Nacogdoches Drag- and fourth periods. tory. The victory was ons in Madisonville, The Chargers finalthe 9th on the season Texas as this is the ly scored in the final for the Hornets and Hornets home away frame, but the extra the first time in Coach from home due to point was no good Rodney Southern’s the construction on (contd on page 9)

Historic National Finals Rodeo at Mid Point of Event

HISD Clarifies Appreciation Bonus

By Wade Thibodeaux The Huntsville ISD Zeke Thurston scored a 72.5 on Jerry Nelson’s Frontier Rodeo Board of Trustees Company horse “Delta Force” during round four of the saddle held another special session on Friday, bronc riding.

By Wade Thibodeaux events, fifteen cow- for each event and it December 4, 2020 at Noon and the agen Ten days, seven boys and cowgirls (contd on page 9)

da contained only one item which was to approve a resolution pertaining to the one time employee incentive payment.

This was a follow up

meeting for the meeting that was held on Monday of the same week that neglected to identify the exact amount of the incentive. (contd on page 9)

Thursday December 10, 2020

THEME: HAPPY HOLIDAYS ACROSS 1. “Lord of the Flies” shell 6. *New Year’s Eve choice: Brut or Demi-____ 9. Get-out-of-jail money 13. Convex

Community

molding 14. *”____ I Want for Christmas...”

15. Sign of life 16. Redo, to a carpenter 17. Flying saucer acronym 18. Often-missed humor 19. *Hanukkah

toy 21. *____ Santa, gift-giving tradition 23. Ides mo.

24. Part of a hammer 25. Cook’s leaf 28. “Hey!” 30. Brain’s ____ system 35. Revered one

37. “____ Your Enthusiasm” 39. Capital of Egypt 40. Went by horse 41. “I do” spot 43. *____ Sandler’s “Eight Crazy Nights” 44. Scary movie consequence 46. Dexterity 47. Boundary line 48. Modern self-portrait 50. Superman’s last name 52. Actor’s domain 53. Wild plum 55. Mama sheep 57. *”I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my ____” 60. *African-American celebration 64. Town news announcer 65. Charged particle 67. Elephant poacher’s ware 68. Give new guns 69. *The night before Christmas 70. Present 71. *Like a Christmas sweat-

Walker County Press-Page 2

er, often 72. Uncooked 73. Adherents of Sikhism DOWN 1. Umbilical connection 2. *”Grandma got run ____ by a reindeer...”

3. *Santa’s “cheeks were like roses, his ____ like a cherry” 4. Request to Geico 5. Carriage on top of elephant 6. Pulitzer winner Bellow 7. *Santa helper 8. Bring to an end 9. Jefferson’s Vice President 10. Medicinal succulent 11. Negative contraction 12. Bovine hangout 15. Alfresco meal 20. Novelist Jong 22. Sushi restaurant choice 24. *Have a piece of Christmas Goose, e.g.

25. *”Five golden rings, four calling ____...”

26. Dig intensely 27. Cry of the Alps 29. *Time for log 31. Address with apostrophe 32. Stays somewhere 33. About to explode 34. *Vixen follower 36. Table extension 38. Diamond’s corner 42. Sign up again 45. Divest one of a gun 49. “Slippery” tree 51. Mark and Shania 54. Twig of a willow tree 56. End of a poem 57. Fortune-teller’s residue 58. Iranian coin 59. Suggestive of the supernatural 60. Was aware of 61. Fall asleep, with ‘out’ 62. Foot part 63. Pirates’ affirmatives 64. French vineyard 66. Female gametes

Walker County Press-Page 3

Business Directory

Thursday December 10, 2020 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

Auto

Tomorrow’s Promise

Covid may have changed things, but children still learn the same way!

Our hours have changed to 5:00am - 6:30pm

Home

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 December 10, 2020

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 Seventy-Five individuals were arrested and booked into the Walker County Jail between Monday, November 30 and Monday, December 7.

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 ar-

rested in Walker County on outstanding warrant(s) while in Walker County.

In instances in which individuals were arrested on out-

standing 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 December 10, 2020

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

Corner of 16 and 24 Sam Houston Ave.

Walker County Press-Page 6

Arrest Report

Thursday December 10, 2020

Walker County Press-Page 7

Baptist: -University Heights Baptist Church worship services every Sunday at 9:30am and 10:45am -First Baptist Church Hunts-

Arrest Report

ville every Sunday bible study at 9:30am, worship at 10:50, and 6:00pm Catholic: -St. Thomas the Apostale Catholic Church Rosary

Church Services

at 5:00pm and 5:30pm (English) every Saturday and every Sunday at 7:45am (English), 10:45am (English, and 12:30pm (Spanish)

Rep. Bailes Asks Employers to Give Service Members Veterans Day Off State Representative Ernest Bailes filed House Concurrent Resolution 6 to encourage employers to provide service members flexibility in celebrating Veterans Day, including allowing them the day off in appre-

ciation for their service. Honoring veterans continues to be a priority for Bailes in the upcoming 87th legislative session.

Bailes decided to file the resolution after being contacted by a constituent and veteran

Thursday December 10, 2020

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

who had concerns regarding required professional development meetings held on Veterans Day, which prevented him from celebrating a day meant to honor his service.

“While we will never be able to adequately thank those who have sacrificed so much

for our freedom, this is a notable way to help acknowledge their service,” stated Rep. Bailes. “If workplaces have the ability to do so, I encourage them to extend thanks to their veteran employees by extending a day off.”

Veterans Day is one of eleven con-

gressionally recognized federal holidays, including Inauguration Day every four years. Federal employees are traditionally given paid time off, with states and private businesses left to determine their own response.

Community

Thursday December 10, 2020

Community Calendar

The Huntsville Public Library will reopen to the public on Monday, October 26, 2020, under the modified hours of 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Mondays through Fridays, following the guidance of City officials.

The facility, located at 1219 13th Street, will only be able to accommodate 50 patrons inside the

building at one time.

Per Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order 28, all persons must wear a mask unless they are under the age of 10 or have a medical condition.

Citizens will also be able to take advantage of the library’s book sale which will be also reopened.

Computer access will be available on a first-come, firstserved basis with

limited use to social distance. In light of the safety of staff and citizens, personalized computer assistance will be offered on a limited basis.

Unfortunately, the ever-popular meeting rooms and study room reservations will not be available, and the library’s reading furniture will be inaccessible.

For more information, call 936-291-5472.

Obituaries

Dr. Harley Edwin Rex

Harley Edwin Rex passed away on November 26, 2020 in Trinity, Texas. Harley was born on March 29, 1930 in Lehighton, Pennsylvania to Harley Russell Cleveland Rex and Marie Daugherty Rex. Harley attended Lehighton schools where he played football on the field and clarinet in the band. On Friday nights he juggled his evening activities accordingly. He graduated from Lehighton High School and spent a year working in a Pennsylvania Poconos resort before entering Mansfield State Teachers College in 1948. He worked his way through college by being

dining room manager for 4 years, lining football fields and playing dance band jobs. He graduated as President of his class with a B.S. in Music Education in 1952. That fall he enrolled at the University of Michigan, receiving a Master of Music degree in 1954. He was immediately drafted into the Army. He was in the U.S. Army Band and the President’s “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C. for 8 years. In 1962 he accepted a teaching job at Sam Houston State University where he taught until 1997 as professor of music. He developed a History of Rock’ n Roll course that had hundreds of students waiting to enroll. He wrote a Rock’ n Roll text book for the course. In 1972 he finished a Doctor of Music Arts in performance and theory at the University of Michigan.

Harley was music director for many years for SHSU summer music camps. He

wrote the curriculum for the popular Music Therapy course at SHSU. In 1963 Jimmy Dean called Harley to ask him to direct a band for him when he entertained at the October Prison Rodeo in Huntsville. Jimmy and Harley had worked together in Washington and New York City. After the Sunday Rodeo, Dr. Beto, Director of Prison System for Texas, asked Harley to try to build bands on all the prison units. Harley eventually hired 10 band graduates from SHSU to teach at the various prison units and within a few years had 5000 inmates signed up for the music programs within the system. He worked at the Texas prison system for almost 20 years.

Harley played saxophone with the Houston Symphony for 16 years and played in the Barnum & Bailey Circus in Houston for 9 years. In 1974, he and Marjorie organized the Huntsville Commu-

nity Choral Society with members from many area churches and ethnicities.

Such works as the Messiah, Amahl and the Night Visitors and 6 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas were performed. For 16 years Harley directed the Huntsville Senior Adult Community Choir. He was President of the Huntsville Habitat for Humanity for 10 years.

The Rexes are long time promoters of the Arts.

They have had season tickets since 1968 for the Houston Alley Theatre and since 1990 for the Houston Grand Opera performances. These were in addition to the many local concerts and plays they attend.

Traveling has been one of their favorite activities.

They have visited many countries in Europe and Asia.

Harley is survived by his children, Dr. Donald Rex and wife Ruth Munoz, Dr. David and Dee Dee Rex and Cindy and Charles Carlow. He is also survived by his sisters, Patricia Rex and Helen Rex. He also leaves behind three grandchildren, Jaclyn Ladewski, Natalie and Harley Rex and three great grandchildren, Helen and Henry Ladewski and Olivia A. Rex. A service will be conducted at a later date in Huntsville. His wishes were for Marge and himself to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Those plans are currently being processed. Memorials in his memory can be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 1016 Sam Houston Ave., Huntsville, Texas, 77320 or the Harley and Marjorie Rex Endowed Scholarship at SHSU, P.O. Box 2537,

Walker County Press-Page 8

Huntsville, Texas 77341.

Memorial condolences to the family may be made at www.shmfh.com.

Frank Joseph Pharma Jr.

Frank J. Parma of Huntsville, Texas passed away on November 28, 2020 at age 86. He was born in Ammannsville, Texas on Jan. 29, 1934. He grew up in Eagle Lake, Texas and attended all 12 grades there and graduated in 1952. He is survived by brothers Leon B. Parma and wife Hilda of Tynan, Texas, Boniface G. Parma and wife Betty of El Campo, Texas and sisters Margie G. Miller and husband Edward, both now deceased of El Campo, Texas and Anita L. David of Magnolia, Texas. Upon graduating from High School, he joined the U.S Air Force and served as an Airborne Radio Operator from 1952 – 1956. While serving in Germany, he met and married Eleonore A. (Laura) Lutzenberger. They had the most beautiful family in the world: Brigite M. Magenheim and husband Gordon of The Woodlands, Frank J. Parma, Jr. and wife Diane of Rockport, Alexander D. Parma and wife Margaret of Austin and Edward B. Parma and wife Lori of Kerrville. He was pleased they all resided in Texas and was very proud of them and he was able to spend much of his time enjoying their wonderful relationship along

with all of his adorable grandchildren.

After he was honorably discharged, he completed his B. S. degree at the University of Houston.

He went to work as an Air Traffic Controller in Houston and spent 37 years enjoying the challenge of his profession. He ended his career in the management ranks and retired in 1994.

Upon retiring he moved from Humble to Huntsville, Texas which he adopted as his native city.

He and his wife spent their retirement years traveling intensively with their RV to Canada, Alaska, Mexico and all of America where they met many dear and wonderful friends. Their RV club, the Kountry Lone Stars, became their second family where they would enjoy week-end outings throughout Texas and the U.S. Frank enjoyed the Elkins Lake community in Huntsville, where he and his wife became actively involved in social and community affairs. They were members of the St. Thomas Catholic Church and participated in many clubs and functions where they cherished the many friend they met along the way. Frank often said this would be his final resting place and he would always cherish those splendid years he spent here.

Howard Virgil Blalock

Thursday December 10, 2020

Local News

Huntsville Celebrates Christmas (contd) held last Saturday, December 5, 2020 with a parade route that wound its way through downtown Huntsville. With a theme of “Everyday Heroes” the floats

were decorated with lights, costumes, music, and people. Additional activities were held at the City of Huntsville’s Visitor Center and the Wynne Home. Santa stopped

long enough from the parade route to light the Christmas Tree that is located in front of the Walker County Courthouse.

Hornets Remain Undefeated (contd)

to make the final 426. The score could have been much worse had not three touchdowns been

called back for the Hornets due to penalties on the play. Even though the Hornets are unbeaten, none of

that matters now as it’s win or go home in the playoffs. Go Hornets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HISD Clarifies Bonus (contd)

up their game to offer daytime activities as well as plenty of nightlife.

With five of the ten nights in the books as of the writing of this article, things are getting interesting as far as crowning World Champions in each event. In the bareback riding Tim O’Connell is sitting in first place with total winnings of $185,952.86 and has a nice lead over Kaycee Field with $153,686.48.

The steer wrestling competition is much closer with Matt Reeves maintaining a small lead over Jacob Talley with $125,925.00 to $116,046.52. The team roping competition has the team of Dustin Egusquiza and Travis Graves main-

Walker County Press-Page 9

taining only about a $200.00 lead over Luke Brown and Joseph Harrison. Saddle bronc riding has Wyatt Casper holding about a $40,000.00 lead over Ryder Wright, but Ryder has been on fire as he has won two of the five rounds and is first in the average which pays a chunk of change. This race may go down to the very last night.

The tie down roping is another interesting race. Shad Mayfield has a comfortable lead of $187,399.13 over Westyn Hughes with $120,736.91, but Westyn is sitting first in the average and Shad is last. That average payout could certainly make up the difference if they continue to rope accord-

ingly. The barrel racing is fairly tight with Hailey Kinsel having about a $17,000.00 lead over second place challenger Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi.

The bull riding will go down to the wire as well because the leader is Ky Hamilton, but he only has a $1,100.00 lead over Ty Wallace. Ky is in first place on the average, but Ty is not far behind in third place and with these bulls a zero can happen any night.

With five more nights to go it’s going to remain interesting to see just who takes home the World Championship in each event. Stay tuned and we will have a wrap up in next week’s paper.

This time around the Trustees provided a resolution that spelled out just exactly what each employee would receive. Full time employees would get a $500.00 incentive payment and part time employees would receive a $250.00 payment. Even substitute teachers that qualified with a minimum amount of days(10

to 32) would receive a $125.00 incentive bonus, substitute teachers with more days(33 to 54) would receive the $250.00 bonus, and substitute teachers with 55 or more days would receive the $500.00 incentive pay. Scott Sheppard, Superintendent of HISD announced during the meeting that he would

not receive the bonus offered to other employees. In conversations with District Administration, the aggregate amount of $475,000.00 was tossed around as a maximum amount of the incentive bonus as the exact number would not be known until the next payroll report is produced.

could be considered more of an endurance test than a skilled event. The National Finals Rodeo is what is being described.

This year the NFR is being held in Texas for the first time in it’s existence. When Vegas told the PRCA that they would not host

the event due to concerns over Covid-19, the City of Arlington and the City of Ft. Worth stepped up and offered their facilities. Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers baseball team was converted into a rodeo arena and the Ft. Worth Conven-

tion Center hosted the ever popular Cowboy Christmas event that offers vendors for everything cowboy and then some. The Junior World Finals were also held inside the Ft. Worth Convention Center and the always active Ft. Worth Cody Webster(left) and Dusty Tuckness(right) get up close and Stockyards stepped personal with one of the bovine beast during the bull riding.

Historic NFR Mid Point (contd)

Thursday December 10, 2020

Local News

Walker County Press-Page 10

Covid-19 Update by Darren Grant

Following some weeks behind the national increase in Covid cases, things have ramped up here in Walker County. Our 278 active cases are the most we’ve had since this summer.

And any Thanksgiving case boom hasn’t had time to show up in the data yet. Perhaps by the end of this week.

There is even a boomlet of cases in the prisons, which have been pretty quiet on this front for months. I have no idea why this is happening now. It is one of many baffling things about this disease.

Another baffling thing: the low rate of cases throughout East Texas, partly in the U.S. 190 corridor east of Huntsville.

The Washington Post and

New York Times have maps that show case counts throughout the country, and for well over a month the lightest colors, and lowest case counts, have been in East Texas.

This should be good news, but I am concerned that it is actually bad news. It looks like there isn’t enough testing. If cases were actually low, deaths should also be low.

But that is not what’s happening.

If you look at the case curves for these counties—San Jacinto, Polk, Tyler, Jasper, Newton—they are pretty flat, suggesting cases aren’t growing much over time. But the death curves aren’t flat. They keep creeping upwards, faster even than you see for the country

as a whole. The best way to explain this is a lack of testing.

I will give the county and the university credit for this: they have not neglected testing. For months the county has offered free testing. And, after a slow start, the university has too.

Now they have a little booth out by the student center, and you can literally walk up there, show your ID, do a little paperwork, and walk up and get your test.

It is popular with the students and faculty. Most of the time there is a little line of people waiting at the booth. My wife and I tried it before Thanksgiving and we got our results back in a day.

(The results were ARE YOU KIDDING ME? OF COURSE YOU DON’T HAVE COVID. NOW STOP WASTING MY TIME. Which I thought was a lot of attitude for a simple Covid test, but whatever.)

Testing is especially helpful during the holidays, since we can check to see if we’re infectious before getting together with friends and family.

Take a test and you can make that case curve a little bit flatter.

Howard Virgil Blalock was born to Virgil Ray Blalock and Julia Allen Blalock on August 23, 1933, in Frederick, Ok and passed at his home in North Richland Hills, Tx on November 28, 2020.

He attended Frederick schools, the San Marcos Military Academy and the University of Houston.

After graduating from Frederick High School in 1951, he moved to Houston where he started his career with Hughes Tool Company. He held many positions there, and was a Shipping and Receiving Manager when he retired in 1991. He took a short break from Hughes and joined the Navy serving from 1956 to 1958.

He married the love of his life, Tootsy on November 27, 1958 and was happily joined together for 62 years and one day.

Howard loved life in general and always loved a good time. He had a great sense of humor and loved funny jokes. He loved camping, dancing, and the Wurstfest (a 10 day salute to sausage) in New Braunfels which he and Tootsy attended for 42 years. And he loved his food and drink.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents, a brother who died at birth, a sister, Thyra Lee and

Obituaries

a brother, Kelton Allen Blalock. He is survived by his wife, Zelda Loraine (Tootsy) Blalock. Many, many nieces and nephews and friends.

There will be Memorial service for Howard sometime in the future after Covid has calmed down.

We will let everyone know when that is scheduled.

Memorial condolences to the family may be made at www.shmfh.com.

Lee Scott Price

Lee Scott Price passed away peacefully at home on November 30, 2020 with his wife of 63 years at his side.

He was born on October 29, 1938 in Dallas, Texas, eldest son of Archie Lee Price and Pauline Worley Price. After graduating high school from South Oak Cliff in Dallas, he attended the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1957, he married Margaret Ann Stahl at St. James

Catholic Church; they proceeded to have three loving daughters. While living in Dallas, Scotty was very active in the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees), was a political Precinct Chairman and played recreational men’s baseball, all while working in banking and sales.

After moving to the Greater Houston Area in 1975, Scotty continued his volunteerism with the Pasadena Strawberry Festival, joined the school board at St. Pius V Catholic school and was on the Board of Directors for his residential neighborhood. He became a referee for recreational men’s basketball and an umpire for recreational men’s baseball.

He opened Plastic Fabrication’s where he designed and created a variety of unique items including pieces that were used on NASA space missions and the international flag installations that still stand outside of George H Bush Intercontinental Airport. He joined the Knights of Columbus in 1993 and remained

Walker County Press-Page 11 active until his retirement to New Waverly, TX. After retiring, Scotty and Margaret fulfilled their dreams and traveled to Portugal, Italy, Rome, Hawaii, Germany, Austria and took several cruises including to Greece and Alaska. Always ready to help others and add a hearty laugh to any situation, he will be greatly missed.

Scotty is survived by his wife Margaret, daughters: Teri Elizabeth Price, Margaret Lea Steinmann and husband Adam, Angela Suzette Cummings and husband Wayne, sister, Laurin Elaine Price, brothers: Michael Da-

Local News

vid Price and wife Nita and Mark Christian Price and wife Cindy, grandchildren: Cade Scott Tremie, Reagan Elizabeth Tremie, Alexander Quentin Steinmann, Aidan Price Steinmann, Rhyan Ann Haworth, Avery Elyse Steinmann, Arden Grace Steinmann and Abigail Mairead Steinmann.

Mary Ann Gladden

Mary Ann Gladden was born on February 17, 1945, to Marshal Neal Roark & Lillian Loraine Roark. The third of four children, she grew up playing baseball & fishing off the dirt roads of Dodge, Texas.

After starting school in Dodge, Texas, and graduating from Huntsville High School in 1963, Mary worked at Bookland while waiting for her husband, David Earl Gladden, to return home from the Vietnam War. Together, they built and operated Gladden Concrete for 40 years.

She is survived by her

husband David Gladden; her son Robert Christopher Gladden; her daughter Tracy Lynn Gladden; her granddaughter Presley Anne Gladden; her sister Lou Nell Husfeld and husband Delbert; her sisters-in-law Gwynetta Baker, Ear-

Thursday December 10, 2020

lene Fulton and Mary Roark; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Mary is preceded in death by her father Marshal Neal Roark; her mother Lillian Loraine Roark; her brother Marvin Gene Baker; and her brother Lloyd

Neal Roark.

She was a sweet, devoted, and beautiful lady that enjoyed to travel, listen to music, laugh, and spend time with her family.

Mary passed away in Conroe, Texas on Tuesday, December 1, 2020.

Sam Houston Memorial

Funeral Home 1700 Normal Park Huntsville, TX 77340 936-291-7300

Thank you Walker County for allowing me to service your auto body needs for the past 20+ years. Come see me at my new location!

2011 Sycamore Ave, Huntsville, TX 773405322, United States Huntsville, TX 77340-5322 (936) 439-4545 www.nelsonamayascollision.com

All in

suran claim ce proce s ssed!

Walker County Press-Page 12

Lifestyle

Sunday Observations by Christy

I have this 8 lb alarm clock, named Dixie. She tends to think sleeping past 5 is a sin, so I tend to accomplish a lot before 7 am. Now don’t talk to me after 8 pm as I am a walking zombie, but alas that’s for another day another column.

So as I woke this morning, the question arose, what do people use social media for?

I know I’ve asked

this before, but hear me out. What do you use your chosen platform for?

Twitter, Parlor, Facebook, I n s t a g r a m , Snapchat, whatever your choice, what do you use it for?

Do you use it to complain? To vent about politics? To bash others? For humor? To keep in touch? To share your kids and grandkids?

To stalk your ex?

For recipes? To get

news updates? To make fun of others?

Ask yourself what do you use the platform for?

Here is why I ask.

I had a friend post a prayer request.

Hard times were on them. She simply asked for prayers.

She chose to use her platform for a prayer. I stewed on it a day or so, then something spoke to me and said, help her. Does your Facebook ever speak to you?

Cause mine does and whew, that God fella has a way to do it so well. So I listened. I decided to reach out to YOU. I decided to be a vessel. To help connect the one with an issue with those who may be able to help. That’s it. I asked you for help. Y’all helped.

I did zip, I simply connected the parties.

I’ve done this before. We all have. Maybe put a mechanic in line with a person who’s car was broken.

A plumber with

Thursday December 10, 2020

a home owner. A bereaved person with a host of prayers. I’ve asked for prayers, and I’ve received many.

Social media has become sort of the community bulletin board at the corner store. Where 40 years ago a garage sale sign was hung, a mechanic hung their business cards.

A teen requested a babysitting job. But you know what you wouldn’t see on that community bulletin board?

Someone telling that teen they were useless.

Someone saying that mechanic is

awful. The bashing wouldn’t happen on the community bulletin board.

Leads me back to social media. What are you using it for? If your answer is for negative things, I ask you to question yourself, would you walk up and hang that on the community bulletin board?

Happy Sunday peeps..... I like a laugh as much as the next person. I post inappropriate things. So I don’t want to come across as holier than thou, but please think before you post.

Ask yourself would

you post that on a community bulletin board? Our job is to connect people.

To love people.

To lift people. If you aren’t doing any of the above, on social media or other methods, please rethink your purpose. Help the friend that has asked for prayers. I promise it will affect you in positive ways far more, than the short second of gratification, because you told someone your opinions online.

Just be nice to each other.

Please.

By John Jefferson FA L L / W I N T E R FISHING If I were writing a song parody entitled “Lemme Tell Ya What I Like About Texas’ Autumns” I’d have to start with the weather. Discounting hot days in October and November, and a little rain some years, our falls are delightful.

Cooler weather means rejuvenation. As the sap drains into the tree roots and leaves

begin to change color, our blood starts flowing again and we feel alive after another sweltering, seemingly endless summer.

But I’d also have to include Fall Fishing -and even a lot of it extends into what most people call winter.

It all starts as the weather began cooling in late September. The bass come to life, and we do, too.

They begin to leave their deep-water summer sanctuary from

the heat and move back into shallower water. A variety of lures work then, as do minnows. One fisherman-friend refers to October as “tackle box month,” since he says you can just reach into your tackle box and pick up any lure and expect to catch fish on it.

So, until it gets Really cold AND blustery, I’ll be out there fishing. Some of our most pleasant weather occurs during the

Woods, Waters, and Wildlife

Walker County Press-Page 13

Indian summer days with which we’re blessed each October into January. I had a nice bass break off on a wonderful, shirtsleeve afternoon in mid-December. And I was with fishing guide, Mike Hastings, that same time another year when he caught a 22-pound striper on a Jumping Minnow, a large topwater lure, while bass fishing.

The topwater bite has slowed down and I will employ lures now that will get down deep. A weighted hook with a wacky worm is a good choice here. The wackyhooked plastic worm falls in a slow, fluttery motion that probably seems natural to the

bass and passes down through the water column slowly enough to give suspended bass a chance to strike as it sinks to bass further down.

By now, the water temperatures have begun to drop, and bass will be heading out of the creeks and back into deeper water in the lakes. They also seem to lose their appetites in colder weather. Some say they have lockjaw during the winter. A more probable cause is that they just don’t want to waste energy during the winter and won’t chase a lure racing back to the boat. Bass don’t move as much, then.

The key now is to fish slowly. When you

Lifestyle think you’re reeling slowly enough, slow down a little more!

Seven of Texas’ top 50 largemouths were caught in January, including the long-lasting state record 18.18-pound sow caught by Barry St. Clair late one January.

And I always receive a few reports of white bass running near Colorado Bend State Park on the Colorado during sunny spells.

But when the weather turns winter again, stripers are at their best in most lakes, especially Lake Texoma.

So, don’t store your fishing gear just because the calendar says it’s winter.

There’s still good fishing in Texas!

Thursday December 10, 2020

“Charge Your Battery”

I had an off-road motorcycle I use for hunting. It was rigged out with extra carrying racks and accessories, but it had a problem. The battery would go bad because I only used the bike occasionally. I should have kept a charger connected to it, but instead I had to pay for a new battery.

“Tis the season” to charge your battery! As you remember the Christ of Christmas, get connected to His church and stay charged. “I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1) Fall fishing can be some of the best of the year, and even extends into December and January. Don’t quit fishing just because the calendar has a snow scene on it. Photo by John Jefferson.

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

Lifestyle

Thursday December 10, 2020

Disclaimer: This column is the opinion of Publisher Wade A. Thibodeaux and may contain subject matter on a variety of topics, but usually contains humor of some description. An occasional serious thought may be thrown in to entice the reader to think.

You know, I’m just a simple kind of fellow and it really doesn’t take much to make me happy. I’m writing this column from the press box at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas as I’m watching the first ever National Finals Rodeo in Texas. The rodeo is pretty entertaining in itself, but the thing that moved me to write this particular column was the pre rodeo activities. The NFR provides a different theme for each of the 10 nights of rodeo and tonight’s theme was remembering those that had passed away since last year’s NFR. It was a very moving ceremony with Red Steagall singing “Amazing Grace” as a representative of each family placed a cowboy hat(assuming it was the deceased’s hat) on an altar with an illuminated cross hanging from the ceiling.

Following that ac-

tivity, a prayer was spoken and then the National Anthem was sung.

Now, the interesting thing about all of those activities is that every person in the building was standing, paying attention with their hat or hand over their heart, and participating appropriately.

Even the beer vendors stopped draining the keg during these activities. There was nobody kneeling in protest during the National Anthem, nobody shouting in protest during the prayer and the ceremony. I felt bad to put my hat down and take a picture during the portion of the program where they were honoring the deceased. I felt like I was being disrespectful.

There was a beautiful projection of the American Flag on the floor of the arena and it would have made an awesome

picture, but I missed that picture because I wasn’t about to put my hat down and grab my camera.

Where have we gone wrong in this Country??? I’m all about freedom of speech and individual rights, but dang it.......if you have a problem with this Country, I have a solution.......leave.

Nobody is forcing you to stay here and so quit trying to change things that we should all be proud to do every day. As far as the praying thing...... this Country was founded on Christian principals and we remain a Christian Country. If by some chance you are a person of a different belief or a person of no belief, then by all means just go along with the program and show some respect. I’m not saying that you have to or even asking you to participate, but just go along with

the program and not try to disrupt it by causing a disturbance in order to make a statement.

It seems that some folks kind of look up to some of these pro athletes and movie stars and those are the ones causing the biggest ruckus.

That’s a large part of

Walker County Press-Page 14

the reason that about 40% of the Country has quit watching pro football and I really never was much on going to the movies and if those folks had to live off of what I spend on movies, they would be eating beans and tortillas instead of tofu and caviar.

Maybe the reason that I like rodeo so much is because of the respect for our Country and our God. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. I’m just a simple man and I’ll keep it that way. Till next time, I’m...........

Wade in the Shade.

Want Ads

Walker County Press-Page 15

C O R N H O L E BOARDS, custom made, ACA standards, “no bag bounce”, high quality, unfinished, with folding legs or on wheels! $180.00$210.00 . Also custom drink stands $80 pair.

Call for details Gerald Barosh 936-524-0480 Huntsville, Texas

Job opening for telephone interviewer positions.

Starting $9.00/hr. For more information or to apply online, visit promarkresearch.com Huntsville Post Office now hiring assistant rural carriers. Please apply at the main post

Thursday December 10, 2020

office on Highway 30. TEXT 936.581.9773

parts needed for layering as required.

2 matching wooden $50.00 Contact in end tables w/ smoked Huntsville - 936-662glass tops. $50 set. 1 7575 bamboo motif end table w/ glass top $20.

Text for photos. 281728-1733

1756 sq ft., built ‘96, 2 bath, screened porch, .67 acre, metal roof, 77320 zip NO FLOOD, backs up to 1100 acre TRA property (public access). NO OWNER FINANCE. $169,000. Artificial GAS LOGS VERY FIRM. Available with all

Subscribe for just $25 a year Send Subscriptions to Walker County Press P.O Box 149 Huntsville, Tx 77342

Walker County Press owned by: Wade Thibodeaux (Publisher) Daiquiri Beebe (Contributing Writer) Ryan Welch (Reporter) Julie Gill (Editor) 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

Want to sell something? Let us help.

Contact us at wade@txmediacorp.com to put your ad in for free for individuals.

Wade A. Thibodeaux Publisher... wade@txmediacorp.com

PO Box 149 • Huntsville, TX 77342

(936) 581-5161

FREE WANT ADS POLICIES

TWO KINDS OF WANT ADS

TO PLACE WANT ADS:

FREE WANT ADS

for NON-BUSINESS PURPOSES:

Mail to: P.O Box 149 Huntsville, Tx 77342 Fill out form at: www.walkercountypress. com

PAID/BUSINESS WANT ADS

DEADLINE is Noon Friday for the following week’s issue. We cannot take want ads over the phone.

Free ads run space permitting. Must resubmit to re-run. Limit of 25 words per ad. Ads will be run on a space available basis.

Individuals & Non-Profits (furniture, clothes, garage sales, etc) Ads are inserted on a space-available basis with no guarantee of insertion.

All business want-ads, Including small & home businesses (babysitting, yard services, house cleaning etc.)

1 time - $10; 4 times - $32; 12 times - $72 • Include payment w/ ad • Cash, check, money order or credit cards accepted.

Sorry, No phone-in want ads

Include phone number(s) and limit your ad to 25 words or less. _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ MAIL TO:

To order, contact Wade Thibodeaux at (936) 581-5161 Texas Media Corp

PO Box 149 • Huntsville, TX 77342

Thursday December 10, 2020

News Merry Christmas

Walker County Press-Page 16

From our family To yours!

WIESNERCHEVY.COM | WIESNERCADILLAC.COM | 936-291-7500 I-45 AT EXIT 116 BOTH WAYS IN HUNTSVILLE! ACROSS FROM HOME DEPOT - HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL