VOL 6 ·ISSUE 31
WALKER COUNTY
PRESS
PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #60 WINNIE, TX
Thursday June 9 , 2022
Ta l l e n t S a u s a g e Jeep Club Hosts First C e l e b r a t e s 4 5 Y e a r s Responders Appreciation Day
store officially opened in May of 1977 and it was located across Highway 19 from the current location. The store is a complete grocery store, plus a meat market and also serves Bar-B-Que and they marked the occasion of 45 years by serving cupcakes from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm, as well as giving away free sausage wraps to the first 100 customers last Saturday. The next generation has taken control of the establishment and is Cody Roberts, Ashley Tallent Roberts, Ron Talllooking forward to the ent, Diane Tallent (left to right) pose for a picture next 45 years and beduring their 45th anniversary celebration. By Wade Thibodeaux 45 years of serving the yond. Tallent Sausage in community last SaturRiverside celebrated day, June 4, 2022. The
Hospital District Managers Hear Good News
By Wade Thibodeaux The Walker County Hospital District Board of Managers met in regular session on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 6:00 pm. in their office located in the First National Bank Building in Huntsville, Texas. The agenda was relatively
short as things have progressed to be running extremely smoothly and evidence of that was the report from the Administrators of Huntsville Memorial Hospital. The Administrators told the Board that the hospital was doing well financially with reve-
These youngsters took the opportunity to ask a few questions from a Walker County SWAT Team member about the BATT Mobile during the First Responders Appreciation Day.
By Wade Thibodeaux The Huntsville Jeep Club hosted a First Responders Apprecia-
tion Day last Saturday, June 4, 2022 at Kate Barr Ross Park from 11:00am. until 2:00
pm. All of the First Responders from Walker County were represented (contd on page 6)
nues continuing to go upward and expenses within budget. The hospital is ten months into its fiscal year and they are continuing to implement new policies and procedures to assist the patients of the hospital. The Managers (contd Wischnewsky was on hand during the First Responders Appreciation Day on page 6) with Jeeps on display and plenty of free giveaways.
Thursday June 9 , 2022
Community 47. Shed tears 48. Winter Olympics participant 50. Embarkation location 52. *Earth traveler (2 words) 56. 2-time NBA Champion Rajon 57. Double-reed instrument 58. Muscovite or biotite 59. Lopsided 60. Undesirable dwelling 61. Causing pain 62. Like certain military tent 63. Between “ready” and “go” 64. #63 Across, pl. DOWN 1. J. Lo’s ex 2. Wet nurse 3. *Don’t cross it when driving 4. Hot dish stand
Walker County Press-Page 2
5. Garlicky mayonnaise 6. Shopping ____ 7. Pub offering 8. *Car name that sounds like “unending” synonym 9. Opposite of all 10. Hammer or sickle 11. Choose or select 13. Like a rosebush 14. Maple goo, alt. sp. 19. French city, popular coronation location 22. Like a certain Tuesday 23. First ‘M’ in MGM 24. Aweigh 25. Turn toddler into an adult 26. Chicken house 27. Home of famous shroud 28. Obelus, pl. 29. Soup server
32. *Car company founded by a Henry 33. Unit of electrical resistance 36. *German luxury car 38. *Driving maneuver 40. Take your pick 41. In the same place, in a footnote 44. Cupid’s ammo 46. Smells 48. Expensive fur 49. Type of whip 50. Do like a model 51. Squid’s defense, pl. 52. Death, to some 53. Kamala Harris, e.g. 54. Not counterfeit 55. Dose of sunshine, pl. 56. *Car name that also means Aries
Community Calendar
THEME: FABRICS ACROSS 1. Fountain treat 5. Pharaoh’s cobra 8. “____ the Woods,” movie 12. Gulf V.I.P. 13. Native American tent 14. Rapper Dogg 15. Hindu princess 16. *Used to alert when driving 17. “____ ____ me,
then who?” 18. *Corvette, e.g. 20. Cambaodian money 21. *Like Stephen King’s Christine 22. “Some Nights” (2012) band 23. *Aston follower 26. State legislature’s home 30. 7th letter of Greek alphabet
Solution on page 15 31. *What I used to step on the gas 34. Lowest brass 35. Salon offerings 37. Exclamation of surprise 38. Fathered 39. Do like phoenix 40. Underarm 42. The Jackson 5’s “____ Be There” 43. 3 or 6 in 3+6=9 45. Knit cap
Friday, June 10: -Story time from 10:45am-11:45am at the library -Sittercise from 10:00am-11:00am at the library Saturday, June 11: -The Piney Woods Writers Group from 2:00pm-4:00pm at the library Monday, June 13: -Mother Goose Lapsit from 10:45am-11:45am at the library -Citizenship Preparation Course from 6:00pm8:30pm at the library Tuesday, June 14: -Sittercise from 10:00am-11:00am at the
library -Story time from 5:30pm-6:30pm at the library Wednesday, June 15: -Story time from 10:45am-11:45am at the library Thursday, June 16: -Sittercise from 10:00am-11:00am at the library -KidScape from 12:00pm-1:00pm at the library -Microsoft PowerPoint classes from 5:00pm6:00pm at the library Friday, June 17: -Story time from 10:45am-11:45am at the library
-Sittercise from 10:00am-11:00am at the library Saturday, June 18: -The Piney Woods Writers Group from 2:00pm-4:00pm at the library Monday, June 20: -Mother Goose Lapsit from 10:45am-11:45am at the library -Citizenship Preparation Course from 6:00pm8:30pm at the library Tuesday, June 21: -Sittercise from 10:00am-11:00am at the library -Story time from 5:30pm-6:30pm at the library
Walker County Press-Page 3
Business Directory
Thursday June 9 , 2022
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906 10th Street Huntsville
Monday - Friday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday June 9, 2022
Arrest Report
Walker County Press-Page 4
Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home -All Prearranged Services Honored -Prearranged Funeral Sales 1700 Normal Park Huntsville, TX 77340
936-291-7300
From the office of Walker County Sheriff
Clint McRae Twenty-Four individuals were arrested and booked into the Walker County Jail between Tuesday, May 31 and Friday, June 3 . Contin-
ued 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 per-
haps 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.
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Arrest Report
Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 936-581-5161
Thursday June 9 , 2022
Don’t let your competitors attract all the business! Call 936-581-5161
Thursday June 9 , 2022
Community
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 8:30am, and 11:00am 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)
First Responders Appreciation (contd) at the event that provided an opportunity for young and old to get up close and personal with several pieces of equipment used from policing to fire fighting. Both Walker County and the City of Huntsville had
SWAT units available for inspection and then there was the usual stuff like Fire Trucks, Ambulances, and other equipment. A raffle was held with several items available for chance and the Jeep Club hosted a
Jeep show with judging and prizes for the Jeeps. Probably the most popular attraction was the snow cone stand as the Summertime heat was starting to build as the day progressed.
heard the financial report that indicated $21,562.48 in monthly bills and Chairman Anne Woodard gave some closing remarks that the lingering bankruptcy case involving the creditors of the old HMH was going to mediation and hopefully
would be resolved soon. In a previous meeting of the Walker County Hospital District Board of Managers, they voted to extend some of the terms of some of the Managers to get onto a four year election cycle. This would create a situation where two
of the five Managers would run in one cycle on the Gubernatorial election and three of the Managers would run on the Presidential election. This would eliminate the cost of having election expenses every year and provide more stability on the Board.
Texas Game Wardens issued fewer boating-related citations over Memorial Day weekend than they did in 2021. They cited increased boating safety awareness and patrols by game wardens and other marine safety officers as contributors to a drop in incidents. Between Friday and
Monday, 352 game wardens conducted 10,218 safety checks on vessels, issuing 62 fewer citations than they did the year before. Texas Game Warden Colonel Chad Jones attributed this decrease to factors including expansion of boating safety awareness outreach. “First off, I want to
commend those who conducted themselves safely and responsibly over what is always a busy weekend,” he said. “Our game wardens have really focused on increasing boating safety awareness over the past year, and I think we are starting to see the fruits of that effort. Combined with our pa-
Hospital Distrcit Good News (contd)
Texas Game Wardens See Reduction in Citations During Memorial Day Weekend
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
trols on Texas rivers, lakes and coastal bays, we saw a general reduction in cases over the weekend.” Game wardens did, however, respond to 15 boating accidents and six drownings that occurred on waterbodies including the Rio Grande, Lake Sommerville, Grapevine, Blanco River, Cedar Creek Lake and Lake Buchanan. “Unfortunately, drownings and deaths on the water are a painful reality our game wardens must contend with over holiday weekends,” Jones said. “So, while we are proud of the progress we’ve made in awareness of safe boating practices, we know we must continue our work to see people return home safely.”
This year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department launched new social media channels focused on water safety. Game wardens attended outreach events including Houston Boat Show, Poteet Strawberry Festival, Duck’s Unlimited and Mayfest, and used other digital media tactics to broaden awareness, said Boater Education Manager Kimberly Sorensen. “With boating season in full swing, we encourage all boaters to take the boater education course,” Sorensen said. “Boater education is required for anyone born on or after Sept. 1, 1993. If you are a new boater, learn the required safety equipment for your boat, use your engine cut off switch, avoid alcohol while boating
and be aware of carbon monoxide even on open-air motorboats.” Over the weekend, game wardens rescued capsized boaters, including at Lake Nasworthy, where they pulled 13 people from the water, and Lake Lewis, where some of the 16 rescued from choppy waters were not wearing life jackets, and instead were clinging to their overturned boat while waiting for help. They also worked a cliff-jumping injury that resulted in a broken femur, broke up a fight at a swimming area and a hunting without consent case for a pronghorn killed in Sherman County, among other incidents.
With summertime quickly approaching, and Texans will be getting out on the water. Now more than ever, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) urges boaters and paddlers who en-
joy water recreation this summer to do their part to fight back against aquatic invasive species that threaten Texas lakes. “Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kick-off to boating season in Tex-
as, and while we want everyone to have a great time, we also want them to avoid giving free rides to invasive species and helping them travel to new lakes,” said Brian Van Zee, TPWD Inland
Boaters Urged to “Clean, Drain, and Dry” to Stop the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
Thursday June 9 , 2022 Fisheries Regional Director. “The best way to prevent the spread of many destructive aquatic invasive species is to clean, drain and dry your boats and equipment – every time.” Zebra mussels and giant salvinia continue to spread to new areas in Texas. Yet while they remain some of the biggest threats to Texas lakes, other highly invasive species can also be spread or be introduced by boaters, including water hyacinth, crested floating heart and quagga mussels. “There’s no doubt that Texans love their lakes,” said John Findeisen, TPWD Brookeland Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Team Lead. “We also need Texans to take action to help protect their lakes. It only takes a tiny fragment of an invasive plant to create a new infestation and preventing aquatic invasive species introductions avoids costly, longterm efforts to manage these species once they infest a lake.” Giant salvinia, a highly invasive, free-floating aquatic fern that can double its coverage area in a week, is one of the major threats to our lakes. The invasive plant can produce thick surface mats that make fishing, boating, swimming and other water recreation nearly impossible. Giant salvinia is currently present on 23 East Texas lakes and numerous rivers, creeks and marshes between Houston and Beaumont.
Community While TPWD efforts have kept giant salvinia from limiting angling or boating access in Texas public waters, they could still hitchhike from one lake to another on a boat, trailer or other equipment. Zebra mussels, a non-native shellfish that attaches to hard surfaces, also pose a significant threat to our lakes. These invasive mussels damage boats and infrastructure for water supply and control, alter lake ecosystems and cause harm to native species. They also litter shorelines with hazardous, sharp shells that impact lakefront recreation. Zebra mussels are found in 33 Texas lakes across six river basins, as well as in river reaches downstream of infested lakes. Quagga mussels, a close relative of zebra mussels, have also been detected in Lake Amistad. The TPWD and partners monitor numerous at-risk lakes around the state for early detection of zebra and quagga mussels, but once they’ve been introduced and become established in a lake, nothing can be done to control or eradicate them. “Zebra mussels and quagga mussels can be attached to boats or even carried by anchors or attached to plants clinging to boats,” said Monica McGarrity, TPWD Senior Scientist for Aquatic Invasive Species Management. “Microscopic zebra mussel larvae can be transported in residual water in the boat. Taking just a few minutes
to clean, drain, and dry boats can make a huge difference in our efforts to prevent further spread of this highly damaging species and harm to Texas lakes.” Boaters need to remove all plants, mud and debris from boats, trailers, vehicles and gear and drain the water from the boat, all equipment and on-board receptacles before leaving the lake. In addition, boats should be dried completely before visiting another lake, preferably for at least a week. If drying isn’t possible, washing the boat and compartments using a carwash or spray nozzle on a water hose before visiting another lake can help reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species. If you have stored your boat in the water at a lake with invasive mussels, it is likely infested and poses an extremely high risk for moving these invasive species to a new lake. Before moving your boat, call TPWD at (512) 3894848 for guidance on decontamination. On top of the harm aquatic invasive species can cause to aquatic ecosystems, water infrastructure, and the recreational experience at lakes, the transport of these organisms can result in legal trouble for boaters. Transporting prohibited aquatic invasive species in Texas is illegal and punishable with a fine of up to $500 per violation. Boaters are also required to drain all water from their boat and onboard
receptacles, including bait buckets, before leaving or approaching a body of fresh water and to immediately remove all invasive plants from the boat, trailer, and tow vehicle before leaving a lake. For more information on how to properly clean, drain and dry boats and equipment, visit the
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TPWD YouTube channel for a short instructional video. To learn more about giant salvinia, zebra mussels and other invasive species in Texas, visit tpwd.texas.gov/ StopInvasives. TPWD and partners monitor for invasive species in Texas lakes, but anyone who finds them in lakes where they
haven’t been reported before or who spots them on boats, trailers or equipment that is being moved can help identify and prevent new introductions by reporting the sighting to TPWD at (512) 389-4848 or by emailing photos and location information to aquaticinvasives@tpwd. texas.gov.
Thursday June 9 , 2022
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Local News
Thursday June 9 , 2022
Walker County Press-Page 9
Kid Scoop is sponsored by Wischnewsky Dodge. 130 I-45, Huntsville, TX 77340 http://www.wischnewskydodge.com/ (936) 220-1745
© 2022 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 38, No. 27
What is a sea star and what is it not? A starfish is not a fish at all. Many marine biologists want to change its name to a sea star, because most of them look like stars. Sea stars are echinoderms (eh-keen-oh-durmz)—animals that lack a back bone.
he ocean is full of amazing creatures, and one that is unique is the sea star or starfish. It is a sea creature, but it lives close to the shore. Sometimes they are washed up on the beach or stranded in a tide pool, giving people a chance to see this mysterious creature up close.
Sea stars don’t have skeletons. Their spiny, tough skin gives them their shape and protects them.
One thing sea stars like to eat is clams. Once one has wrapped its rays around a clam ______, its hundreds of tentacles ________ to the shell and hang onto it as it pulls and pulls until the shell opens. As soon as it opens just a little, the sea star ________ its stomach out of its body and into the shell and __________ the clam. This can take an hour or two.
Do the math to match each sea star to its name.
25 = chocolate chip star 22 = sun star 48 = candy cane star 18 = basket star
Amazing Sea Stars Sea stars do something nearly no other animal. Can do. If a a sea star loses a ray, it will grow another ray. Not only that—the ray that broke off can become an entirely knew sea star. In fact, if a sea star is brokens into pieces, each peace can become a whole new sea star.
How many sea stars are hidden here? Standards Link: Life Science: Animals have structures that serve different functions.
Sea stars have arms but no legs. Their arms are called rays. Some sea stars have five rays, some have six, ten or twenty.
Sea stars have no eyes, no ears, no nose. They do have a ______ on their underside. To eat, a sea star ________ on top of, and slowly wraps its ______ around its food.
Are you an eagle-eyed reader? Read the story below and circle the nine errors you find. Then rewite the story correctly.
There are more than 3,600 different kinds of sea stars. They come in lots of different colors and shapes. Some sea stars are colored to match the surfaces on which they live. This camouflage helps them hide from predators.
Sea stars have feet but no toes. If you look on the bottom of a sea star’s ray, you will see rows of soft tentacles called tube feet. The sea star slowly creeps along on these feet. These sea stars swiped some of the words from paragraphs at left. Write in each word where it belongs.
27 = cushion star 12 = fat star 32 = comb sea star 16 = sunflower sea star
How many sea stars can you find on this page in 30 seconds? Now have a friend try. Who found the most? Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written directions.
You can create a new creature from the parts of creatures pictured in today’s newspaper. Cut out different parts of different people and animals found in today’s newspaper. Use these to create a new creature. Give your creature a name. Make up things about it, such as what it eats and where it lives. Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow simple written directions.
Standards Link: Life Science: Students know examples of diverse life forms in different environments; physical structure or behavior may improve an organism’s chance for survival.
SEA STARS SKELETONS TENTACLES CREATURE PREDATORS CRAWLS RAYS SHORE TUBE CREEPS TIDE POOL ARM
While sea spars love eating clams, they will also eat a ded fish or dead krab, if it is lucky enough to crawl over one.
E T C S H O R E S P
H I E S Y A R N N R S S E N E U O R M E
L S T D T T U B E D
W P I A E A S E A A A T E L R T C A S T
R R E A R S F L H O C K C R E E P S E R S A R M I P O O L S
Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.
Little-Known Facts
Look through today’s newspaper and find three to five facts that you think not too many people know. Create a question for each fact. See how many people know these facts. Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Ask questions to demonstrate comprehension.
Summer Jokes and Riddles
wade@walkercountypress.com
Send us your favorite summer jokes and riddles.
… eating lots of fruits and vegetables all summer long.
Community
Thursday June 9 , 2022
Obituaries
Robert Leonard Wilkins
Robert Leonard Wilkins passed away unexpectedly on May 25, 2022, at his home in Round Rock, Texas. The son of Leonard and Susan Wilkins, Bob was born and raised in Beaver, Pennsylvania, but spent all of his adult life in the State of Texas. As a child, he lived with his family for 4 years in a thatch-roof cottage (“St. Mary’s Cottage”) in Rickmansworth, England, and attended the American School of London. After graduating from High School in Houston, Texas, Bob attended Stephen F. Austin University and eventually landed a job with Radio Shack - his dream job. Bob had a life-long love of electronics and as a child, could take apart almost any electronic device and put it back together perfectly. With the Radio Shack experience, he moved
on to a job with the State of Texas, traveling across the state to manage technology installations and repairs. He then accepted a position with Williams Communications, in which he applied his technical expertise to ensure the performance of Williams’ technical infrastructure. Bob retired under medical disability but continued his love for all electronic gadgets throughout his retirement and would frequently arrive at family visits with a suitcase full of electronic components and proceed to fix anything in range. Bob was a good son, brother, uncle, and friend. He was always there for his Mother, Susan Wilkins, who spent her last years at the Summit in Austin, Texas. He spent holidays and vacations with his older sister, Lynne Wilkins Fulmer and her husband Dr. Gil Fulmer, who resided in San Marcos, Texas, and humored his sister, Rita Wilkins Chambers by accompanying her to two Bonanza Conventions in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. He had many
long-term friends in Austin, including Andy Souhrada and Noel Findley, and continuously opened his home to those who needed a place to stay - for the short or long term. In 2013, Bob accompanied his Mother, Rita, Joe, his niece, Rebecca Tribbey, and his grand-niece, Leona Chambers, on an Atlantic cruise from New York City to England and had the wonderful opportunity to revisit St. Mary’s Cottage after over 45 years. Following his sister Lynne’s death in 2010, he would often accompany his brother-in-law Gil to Philosophy conventions and couple that with a vacation - at one point spending a week in the woods with Gil at a cabin in Maine. Bob loved a big Texas steak, boiled shrimp, and a big bowl of Blue Bell chocolate ice cream! Not a fancy dresser, he was most at home in his Walmart Polo shirts and shorts. Bob is survived by his sister, Mareta (Rita) Wilkins Chambers and her husband, Joseph (Joe) Chambers
of Dayton, Maryland; his long-term friend, Andy Souhrada, of Round Rock, Texas; a nephew, Dr. Andrew Chambers and his wife Jennifer of Charlottesville, Virginia; and 7 grand-nieces and grand-nephews, including Leona Chambers (Dayton, Maryland), Seth Tribbey (Columbia, Maryland); Charlotte Chambers (Charlottesville, Virginia); and Caroline, Lily, Drew, and Jack Chambers (Virginia Beach, Virginia). Bob will be sorely missed by all.
Mary Louise Handy
Mary Louise (Hastedt) Handy, 83, went to be with our Lord in the early morning hours on May 30, 2022. Mary was born March 3, 1939, in Houston (Bellaire), Texas to Walter Fritz Hastedt and Mamie (Boessling) Hastedt. Mary met the love of her life, Numa Handy, in 1978 who she shared a long career in the mirror
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manufacturing industry. She loved life and found joy in spending time with family and friends bowling, playing cards, cooking, traveling, casino hopping, gardening and crafting with the grands. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by 8 of her 9 siblings and her loving husband of 29 years, Numa Thompson Handy. Survived to cherish her memory are her older sister, Dorothy Mae Beyer of Houston, Texas, her two sons, Michael S. Gross, Sr. and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Macumber, Matthew P. Gross and wife Misty Gross, two stepdaughters Vickie Domaschk and husband Gregory, Sheila Weissman and husband Timothy, 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and close friends. Over the last several years Mary faced many health issues but throughout her struggles she never gave up and retained her love of life. Mary loved her sons beyond measure to include daily GPS tracking. She was encouraged by the two
granddaughters she lived with. Elissa, 14 years old, kept MeMe up to date on all the latest generational “T” (gossip) and current fashion, which MeMe constantly questioned. Hadley, 5 years old, kept her buddy active by taking walks, playing babies, office and nurse. Mary will be missed by all that knew and loved her. We will treasure her memories in our hearts and minds forever.
Stephen Gilliland
Stephen (Steve) Robert Gilliland, born March 21, 1947, in Springfield, Missouri, passed away peacefully on June 3, 2022, in Huntsville, Texas at the age of 75. Steve enlisted into the United States Army Reserves in January of 1966 as a Basic Corpsman and attended basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. In 1967 after obtaining the rank of Sergeant E-5, he applied and was accepted into the Army Officer Can-
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didate School (OCS). Steve graduated from OCS and became a Second Lieutenant in 1968. He held numerous positions and garnered rank that would eventually lead him to becoming a Lieutenant Colonel, the rank he would retire as on June 27, 1996. Steve obtained both bachelor and master’s degrees in psychology from Fort Hays Kansas State College in Hays, Kansas in 1975. He and his wife, Kathryn (Kathy), moved to Huntsville, Texas
Community
in his pursuit of a career as a psychologist with both the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC) and eventually the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Steve would retire from both TDC and UTMB respectively and would go on to enjoy his retirement with family and friends. Steve is preceded in death by both his parents and his brother Michael A. Gilliland. He is survived by his: wife Kathy of 52 years; daugh-
ter Kendra Collins and husband David of Huntsville, son Kevin Gilliland and wife Jessie of Willis, daughter Kristi Stewart and husband James of Huntsville; grandchildren Leslie Sanchez and husband Edgar, Savannah Stewart, Stephen Gilliland, Alexander Stewart; great grandchildren, Emelia Sanchez and Theodore Sanchez. Steve’s final resting place will be at Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas.
PRCA Convention,” Munroe said. “So many committees are having breakaway roping at their rodeos and now they along with fans will have the opportunity to see the best women breakaway ropers in the world compete at the South Point.” The South Point Hotel, which is a hotspot for contestants and visitors during the Wrangler NFR, is glad to be the event venue for the 2022 Wrangler NFBR. “We are thrilled to host
the National Finals Breakaway Roping at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center,” said Ryan Growney, General Manager of the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa. “When Paula and Michael Gaughan built the South Point, they created a place that Cowboys and Cowgirls could call their home away from home – we call it Vegas Cowboy Central. With the addition of the Breakaway Finals, we’ll call it Vegas Cowgirl Central, and it will be
Thursday June 9 , 2022 an amazing addition to all of the other events and activities held at the South Point during those first two weeks in December.” The 2020 National Finals Breakaway Roping took place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, in conjunction with the NFR and Jackie Crawford captured the inaugural world championship. Last year the NFBR took place in Las Vegas at the Orleans Hotel and Casino and was won by Sawyer Gilbert.
Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping on tap for Nov. 29-30 The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association announced in a press release that the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping will take place at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nov. 29-30. The Top 15 breakaway ropers will compete for prize money of $250,000 during the two-day,
10-round performance. “I’m pleased to see the continued success and growth of breakaway roping since the inaugural National Finals Breakaway Roping in 2020,” PRCA CEO Tom Glause said. “Breakaway roping has experienced rapid growth and it is now featured at over 300 PRCA rodeos annually. This success has resulted in an increase of prize money at the NFBR to
reach $250,000.” The 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is Dec. 1-10 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Jimmie Munroe, WPRA president, also is excited for the 2022 NFBR. “The WPRA is looking forward to the National Finals in the Women’s Breakaway Roping being held at the South Point Hotel and Casino during the the
To order, contact Wade Thibodeaux at (936) 581-5161 Texas Media Corp
Walker County Press-Page 12
Lifestyle
Sunday Observations by Christy
So this last week I did a little experiment. I asked for thoughts about current gun laws, regulations, and restrictions. On social media. EEEEEK! I felt like I was bungee jumping off a bridge when I hit post. But surprisingly, a very decent, informative dialogue began. Maybe it’s because I admit I’m am gun ignorant. Maybe it’s because I started with “not looking to argue”, and I listened. Maybe it’s because the bulk of my friends, and I take that as a sampling of middle America, is tired. Tired
of the hurting, kids dying, violence, and death. Whatever it is. I greatly appreciated the open dialogue, and the private as I had many send me messages privately. Some very fair ideas were thrown out. By former military, a few cops, educators, mothers, grandmothers, and more. Like I said, fair sampling of middle America. One was raising the age to 21 to purchase ALL types of guns. Before you say, but they can fight in war…. Surprisingly, that idea was overwhelmingly
agreed on by my former military and law enforcement friends. You know…. The ones seeing this stuff. Not all but the majority. Another idea….. requiring insurance to purchase guns. Yes insurance companies would have to develop a plan. But insurance that you have to have, just like a car. When you show ownership, you show insurance. Would it help? I don’t know. It would however bring more accountability to the gun owner. Just like when car insurance became necessary. Would people still not comply? Sure. I’ve been hit by an uninsured driver. I know this. I still however, think making car insurance necessary helped ensure responsibility of vehicle owners. Slows us down, makes us pay more attention, you don’t want tickets because that hits your insurance. Increased accountability. There is nothing that will stop this completely. I know this. I also know your politicians will do absolutely nothing right now because it is an election year. I find that abhorrent. There is a lot that could be improved, without touching gun ownership. Better internet and radio communications. Enhanced school secu-
rity. Funding for that. Not one American child should be subjected to a system that allows them to be shot down, in their classrooms, while calling 911 and begging for help from the inside. Speculation that the radio systems were antiquated, that proper communication was not reaching the commander. The only way that story flies is if there is reasonable doubt that the radio system was sub par, and that somehow 911 communications were too. It’s possible. The optimist in me does not want to think that commander ignored those 10 year olds. Rural communities as a whole do not have the most updated systems. Why? FUNDING. It is beyond baffling to
Thursday June 9 , 2022 me that we allow the things we do. Small communities get the wrong end of the deal and this has to stop. Our Governor visited HF THIS YEAR, April 26 actually, about sub par internet for our community. Because we are rural. It’s a step in the right direction. But should a shooting occur at our school, are we properly equipped? We may be, I don’t know. But I would bet money on it UVALDE thought they were equipped on May 23. May 24 showed them how horribly wrong they were. Happy Sunday peeps…… here’s to civil conversations, to the ability to discuss things, to actually want change and not just have our own way. The current system needs
help. It starts with us. If we can’t have civil dialogue, then how can we demand better of our representatives in Austin? Be civil, be kind, be in thought, find something that helps, willingness to compromise. It goes a long way. And it is far more effective than telling me or anyone else how stupid they are. We are individuals trying to collectively drive a single train. The only way we get up a hill is to all roll together. Always remember your strength is your community….. your train. Be a part of the solution with willingness to come together and talk. Your way is not the only right way. Neither is mine. We have to have the ability to admit that.
WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE
COWBOYING A DINOSAUR! By John Jefferson
Dinosaurs are prehistoric. And extinct. So, what am I talking about? Well, a man fishing near Houston caught a fish so large that he’s been quoted as saying it was like having hooked a dinosaur.
Payton Moore was fishing in a stream near Houston and thought his line was hung on a log underwater. Then, it began moving. Fifteen minutes or so later, he landed a mammoth alligator gar, fishing with a rod and reel. But he had to employ a lasso to bring it up on the bank. This IS Texas, isn’t it! Moore didn’t hook the ‘gator gar by accident.
He was actually fishing for big gars. “Alligator gars are among my favorite species of fish,” he told me. “I’ve fished for and caught gar in most rivers, bayous, and creeks in the greater Houston area.” Since he released the huge fish back into the water without weighing it, we’ll never know for sure how much it
Walker County Press-Page 13 weighed, but his catching it is not in doubt. He videoed it on a GoPro-type rig that recorded the entire romp. It’s well-worth watching; readers can see it on Moore’s YouTube page at YOUTUBE/PAYTO N M O O R E / W I L D LIFE (two words). An article from the Houston Chronicle said he realized how big it was when it finally surfaced and was longer than his eight-foot fishing rod. He is shown on the video measuring it, and the tape read 8-feet, 2-inches. That’s 98-inches. One experienced angler questioned the validity of his measuring procedure, but even if he was a little excited, it looked like he measured it fairly accurately. The Texas rod and reel record catch weighed 279-pounds and was set
by Bill Valverde on January 1, 1951, while fishing on the Rio Grande. It was not measured. The world record is said to be 327-pounds and measured 8-feet, 5-inches. The Texas all-tackle record is reported as 302-pounds and measured 90- inches. It was caught on a trotline. Any way you stretch the tape, Moore’s fish is remarkable. In MY book, he holds the world record for “Videoed, lasso-assisted, measured, alligator gar catches.” Gar prefer sluggish rivers and reservoirs, according to Russell Tinsley’s book, “Fishing Texas.” Most people consider them as “trash fish,” and not a food source. However, they are on the menu in restaurants in Mexico according to an intriguing TV program we saw one night in Browns-
Lifestyle ville. They call it “katan,” although it may begin with a “c.” Moore baited with fish heads. His reel was a Salis X 3000 by Piscifun. He used braided main line with a ten-foot top shot of 100-pound test monofilament, ending with a wire leader and a circle hook. The lasso wasn’t twirled and tossed, cowboy style, as I first thought. He slipped in over the rod butt, down the rod and line and around the fish’s head and past the gills. Though called prehistoric, alligator gars are still with us. They’re meat eaters. Dinosaurs, however, mysteriously disappeared eons ago. Do you suppose …? We’ll never know.
Thursday June 9 , 2022
The Fall
I do not remember how old I was when this happened, but old enough to know better. I was helping my dad do some work at the church we attended. We had to work in the attic of the church, so my dad told me where to step and specifically where not to step. You guessed it, I had to try it and through the ceiling my foot went. Dad repaired the ceiling and spared my life. I could never enter the church house after that without looking up and remembering how my father fixed my fall. The next time we see a cross, may we remember our disobedience, and how our heavenly Father fixed our spiritual fall.
Payton Moore sits besides the alligator gar he recently caught in a stream near Houston. He respectfully chose to release it back into the water instead of risking taking it to a certified scale and endangering it. It would have been difficult loading it, anyway, since it weighed nearly 300-pounds. Alligator gar are declining, and the bag limit has been reduced to one per day. Photo courtesy of Payton Moore.
“Now unto Him who is able to keep us from falling, and present us faultless before His presence exceeding joy; to the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, power and dominion, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25) Danny R. Biddy, Chaplain: Chambers County Sheriff’s Office & Fellowship of Christian Cowboys
Lifestyle
Thursday June 9 , 2022
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.
OK, so I did a little something last week. A few people knew about this, but I really didn’t broadcast it to the whole world like I guess I’m doing now. I had a medical procedure to remove some blockage in my right leg and all in all, it was relatively painless. This was the third similar type of procedure that I have had over the past five or six years and to be quite honest, I was a little worried about this one. I don’t know why I was bothered about this one, but it was weighing on me and I was glad to get it over with. When I checked into the surgical center to fill out all of the paperwork, the lady asked me if I wanted her to read out all of the possible reactions and detrimental effects this procedure could have and I just told her that I was alright and I would read them if I was so inclined before I signed the paperwork that said that I had read them and I
consented to the procedure. I was nervous enough without hearing all of the possible things that could go wrong and I just figured that if it was my time, it would be my time. Of course, everything went great and I’m recuperating by having to take it easy for several days and let this puncture wound in my groin heal up. Now, interestingly enough, I will apologize to the surgeon when I see him this week for a follow up visit because it seems that I was a little mouthy in the surgery room. I still don’t understand this conscious sedation because I feel like all three times were somewhat different. The first procedure some five or six years ago was to put a couple of stents in my heart(Yes, I know, several of you were wondering if I had a heart) and I remember being somewhat in and out of consciousness. It seems
like I remember most of the procedure, but then when I look back at the experience, it seems like there are some missing pieces and I must have been napping. The second time was like I was on the operating table and carrying on a conversation with the Doctor and he must have had enough because he told the anesthesiologist to “give me a little more juice”. The next thing I knew was that I was back in recovery and some hour and a half had elapsed. This time, I felt like I was awake the entire procedure and I could feel pressure as they manipulated the catheter and did what they needed to do. The Doctor got really mad at me because I kept trying to pick my head up to see what was going on and he kept telling me to keep my head down as it applied pressure to the groin area when I raised my head. I don’t know why I didn’t get more “Juice” this time,
maybe because of supply chain shortages, but I feel like I was awake the entire time. I remember moaning a couple of times as I felt pressure, but then I realized that it wasn’t pain I was reacting to but instead simply the pressure. I asked the nurse if I had said anything stupid while I was under the influence and she responded with “Nothing more than anybody else has said”. I just left it at that and didn’t ask her to elaborate as
Walker County Press-Page 14
I decided to take the Vegas approach...... What happens in the operating room, stays in the operating room. Anyway, I made it through last week and I feel much better. Circulation is a wonderful thing and the lack thereof is something that is not really desirable. I hadn’t realized just how much it was hindering me until I was able to navigate around without my leg hurting or being out of breath. I guess the blockage built up
slowly over time and I just adjusted to it until I really couldn’t adjust any more. Hopefully, I’ll be back checking on cows in the near future and will be ready for the Fall football season. You know the old saying, “If I had known that I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself”. Yeah, well, probably not. Till next time, I’m.........Wade in the Shade.
Walker County Press-Page 15
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Walker County Press-Page 16
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