Massive dog rescue in progress

Massive dog rescue in progress
Celebrating
Houston County’s
175th Year
Written by the “Oldest
Inhabitant” and published
in The Crockett Printer, Volume 1, Number 1, on Dec. 6,
1853 was the following:
Unlike most historians,
who depend upon preceeding writers for their materials, the oldest inhabitant,
himself contemporary with
Crockett, is enabled to note
its rise and progress, free
from the melancholy task
of recording it decline and
fall.
Crockett was located as
the county seat of Houston County in the winter
of 1837 owing its position
to its being the only point,
within reasonable distance
of the San Antonio Road,
and the center of the county,
where running water could
be found.
It was emphatically a frontier village, but three hours
ride from the Buffalo range;
for several years Indian
outrages were committed
in its vicinity. The Coshattas hunted on the South, the
Cherokees joined the county
on the East, while North and
West the world of Prairie Indians penetrated the sparse
settlements almost unperceived, and too generally
unpunished.
A very narrow chain of
settlements along the San
Antonio Road, formed the
connection with the white
population of Texas. This
road, as is well known,
passes through the poorest
and worst watered portion
of Houston County, giving
no promise of a better country to the passing stranger.
Distance from market
(the Trinity not being navigated), danger from Indians,
and the usual inconvenience
Trail ride, dance
scheduled for
Austonio VFD,
Community Ctr.
There will be a trail ride,
barbecue and dance benefitting the Austonio Volunteer
Fire Department and Community Center Saturday,
July 2.
Registration is 11 a.m. - 1
p.m., and riders will hit the
trail at 1 p.m. They are expected to return at approximately 6 p.m.
Perry Little and Reel
Company will provide music for the dance from 8 p.m.
to midnight.
A light lunch will be available to purchase for $5 prior
to the ride.
See Trail, Page A-2
of a frontier country, long
retarded the settlement of
the county, and the growth
of the village.
Although a log courthouse and jail had been
erected, and the liberality of
the legislature had granted
a charter providing for the
election of a Mayor, eight
Aldermen, a Town Cerk,
etc., yet for some month the
solitary citizen, who kept
store in a 16-foot log cabin,
was daily asked, “How far
to Crockett?”
“You are right in the public square of Crockett, now,
Stranger,” was the answer.
In 1839 there were two
resident families, and the
danger from Indians was
so great that the neighbors
fortified the courthouse lot
with pickets and took shelter with their families until
the immediate alarm had
passed over.
For two years the sittings
of the District Court were
suspended, during which
time cases of assault and
battery were so multiplied
that succeeding Grand Juries declined noticing them.
Card playing (not then
prohibited) and quarter racing were the favorite amusements on public days. The
eastern and western mails
arrived on an average twice
a month.
The northern
mail for Fort Houston was
sent whenever there was
See Celebrating, Page A-3
Photo by Lynda Jones
Newly appointed Grapeland City Council Member Jim Thorpe took the
oath of office during the
council meeting Tuesday, June 14.
Photo courtesy of ARC
This pooch is one of 81 abandoned dogs found on
a property in Houston County. The Animal Rescue
Corps is rescuing the animals. See related photos
on Page A-6.
By Lynda Jones
Managing Editor
The first of 81 Houston
County dogs were expected
to be on their way to new
homes by the time this edition of the Houston County
Courier hits the news stands,
thanks to Animal Rescue
Corps (ARC), a non-profit
animal protection organization based in Washington,
DC.
ARC President Scotlund
Haisley confirmed late Friday afternoon that ARC is
assisting the Houston County Sheriff’s Office in the rescue approximately 80 dogs
from a 17-acre property east
of Crockett.
HCSO initially assumed
control of the animals and
custody has been awarded
to ARC.
“The dogs are in really
bad shape,” said ARC Texas
State Liaison Monica Ailey.
“They are emaciated, de-
hydrated and anemic. They
are covered in the worst
flea infestation I have ever
seen and many of them have
mange.”
“At least two dogs died
as a result of the desperate
conditions on this property
prior to ARC’s arrival. The
dogs, who range from several eight-pound chihuahuas
to a 60-pound St. Bernard
mix, have lived with irregular access to food and algaeinfested tubs of green water
for an undetermined amount
of time. One dog gave birth
just days before ARC’s arrival and several other dogs
are pregnant,” according to
ARC officials.
“ARC immediately started planning a response upon
hearing of the conditions
of these animals,” Haisley
said. “With temperatures
exceeding 100 degrees, no
access to clean water and
See Massive, Page A-6
Latexo ISD approved for $1.5 million
By Lynda Jones
Managing Editor
Latexo ISD Superintendent Don Elsom announced
Thursday, June 16 at the
LISD Board of Trustees
meeting that the district has
been approved for a substantial grant to fund a summer
and after-school program.
The district would receive
$1.5 million over the next
five years, Elsom said.
He explained the funds
can be used for enrichment
and/or intervention purposes.
For example, Elsom said,
the funds could be used
for music, art, field trips to
Houston museums during
the summer.
They also can be used for
academic intervention. Further, the funds will allow the
district to provide snacks
during the after-school program.
The after-school program
will run 12 hours per week
during the school year.
He said the district would
be hiring a district coordinator and two site coordinators (elementary and high
school). There also would
be one parent liason.
The district will be expected to expend about
$10,000 over the next five
years if the board approves
acceptance of the grant.
The superintendent also
reported preliminary TAKS
results.
“We have a very good
chance of being a Recognized District again this
year,” Elsom stated.
In other action, the board
approved the elementary
and high school handbooks,
with the disciplinary sections to be added after the
By Lynda Jones
Managing Editor
The Grapeland City Council voted Tuesday, June 14 to
contract with Hutto Garbage
Service, pending a review
of the contract by the city’s
attorney, for solid waste collection.
City Superintendent Trey
Job reported the average
cost for sanitation is $13,685
per month ($164,220.68 per
year). This includes salaries
and wages for three employees on the truck, insurance
for the truck, fuel cost, truck
maintenance and solid waste
disposal fees.
Hutto is proposing to
charge $17 per month for
homes inside and outside
the city limits for a total of
$11,050. Hutto will charge
$22 per commercial handpicked for a total of $1,056.
The city currently charges
48 hand-picked commercial
routes $25 per month for a
total of $1,200 per month.
Job reported the cost for
Hutto’s services is $12,106
per month, the city will collect $14,998 per month,
and the ptotential profit to
the city will be $2,892 per
month.
If the saving of fuel, truck
insurance and yearly maintenance for the truck, Job
estimates the total profit/
savings for the City of Grapeland will be $7,444.80.
In addition, Hutto proposes to purchase the city truck
for $70,000. Thus, Job explained, the first year’s proposed city income would be
$80,360.80 and the proposed
profit would be $10,360.80
per year after that for the life
of the contract.
The city will continue to
charge residents $21 per
month to cover administrative costs. The city will bill
and collect from residents,
and the city will pay Hutto
its monthly fee for collection.
Randy Platt, an owner of
Hutto Garbage, stated Hutto
will pick up garbage from
the entire town on Mondays
and Thursdays.
If the city declares a residence to be a “handicapped
residence”, Hutto will provide door service for collection.
Platt said the company
prefers bagged garbage, but
does not require it.
Pick up of limbs and
brush will have the same
requirements as current city
ordinance.
Council Member Willie
Shepherd moved to accept
the proposal, pending the attorney’s review, and Council Member Jim Thorpe
seconded the motion. The
motion passed with Council Member Wanda Nichols
abstaining from the vote.
There were no votes against
the motion.
In other action, the council unanimously voted to
allow the Grapeland Economic Development Commission to spend $3,500 on
city entrance signs on the
north and south ends of the
US 287 By-pass.
GEDC Director Brandon
Bridges explained the signs
are a Grapeland Chamber of Commerce project,
paid for through donations,
free labor, the chamber and
GEDC.
The signs will be approximately 16 feet long by 5
feet tall on concrete slabs
with brick. Steel letters will
be provided by Vulcraft and
Nucor, according to Bridges.
The signs also will feature
solar-powered lighting.
Additional business included unanimous approval
of spending $10,000 of
$95,000 already approved
for the Market St. Drainage Project. The $10,000
is required by TxDOT for
engineering costs and environmental clearance.
Grapeland votes to contract with
Hutto for city garbage collection
Photo by Lynda Jones
Grapeland City Council Members Jeff Willoughby, Jimmy Moffett, Sr. and Wanda Nichols took
the oath of office Tuesday, June 14. Willoughby
and Nichols were re-elected and Moffett was newly
elected on May 14. The council voted Tuesday for
Nichols to continue her position as mayor pro tem.
Meeting Tuesday
The Crockett City
Council will meet at 6
p.m. Tuesday, June 21.
The Houston County
Hospital District will meet
at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June
21.
state legislature finishes
making changes to what is
required.
A parent, Barbara Simpson, addressed the board
and questioned the district’s
policy regarding class ranking for early graduates.
Simpson, also an LISD
teacher, stated her daughter
had been assured early graduation would not exclude
her from the class ranking.
She said her daughter
was told she had the highest
GPA, but at graduation she
was not recognized for it.
Class ranking is important
when students are applying
for college admission and
scholarships, Simpson said.
Board President Butch
Patton said the trustees will
look into the issue.
Student
‘turned it
around’
Rachel Montgomery
By Lynda Jones
Managing Editor
Rachel Montgomery, 18,
met Crockett Municipal
Judge Mo Amjad when she
was stopped for not having
a driver’s license or automobile registration.
That is when she began
making changes in her life.
Montgomery, a homeless
teen at age 16, now has a
driver’s license and she completed her GED at Crockett
ISD’s Piney Woods Alternative Program in May.
“Judge Mo was the first
one I told,” Montgomery said about the day she
learned she had passed her
GED exams. “He motivated
me and I wanted to surprise
him.”
When she was 16, Montgomery’s father, a truck
driver, left her in Crockett,
See Student, Page A-6
PAGE A-2-HOUSTON COUNTY COURIER-SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011
COMMUNITY
Community
happenings
June
2011
Gospel fest in park Tuesday nights
The “Late Spring into Summer Nights Gospel Fest” starts
at 8 p.m. each Tuesday at Davy Crockett Park. The purpose
of the event is to raise funds for the Mary Allen College
Museum. Bring a lawn chair, a folding chair or a blanket.
The program is free and open to the public, but a free-will
offering is solicited to address the needs of the Mary Allen
Musuem. Donations may be sent to Mary Allen Museum,
P. O. Box 63, Crockett, TX 75835.
Contact Roberta Mason at (936) 544-3033 for more information.
Parkinsonians of East Texas to meet
Parkinsonians of East Texas will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday,
June 23 at the Pavilion, 801 Clinic Dr. in Tyler. Kelley
Babcock, speech/language pathologist, will discuss speech
problems related to the Parkinson’s Disease patient.
Pearson Chapel School Reunion
The Pearson Chapel School Reunion is scheduled for Saturday, June 25, beginning at 1 p.m.
Crockett: Show us what you got!
Hampton Memorial Church in Crockett will celebrate the
legacy of Rosa L. Doglass with a talent jam from 2 p.m. to
5 p.m. Saturday, June 25. To enter, send a text message to
(817) 271-0373 or email mrs_rosa_l_douglass1981@aol.
com with your talent and contact information (name or
name of group, telephone number and email address) by
Wednesday, June 22.
Elks announce golf tournament
The Crockett Elks Lodge will host its 11th Annual Golf
Tournament Saturday, June 15 at the Neches Pines Golf
Course in Diboll. It will be an 8 a.m. shotgun start, fourperson scramble at $60 per person/$240 per team.
Door prizes and cash prizes will be given away. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Proceeds are for Benefit
the Sweetheart and Children’s Special Needs Fund.
Persons interested in participating should contact Dean
Anderson, chairman, at (936) 544-8695 (days). Each year
the Crockett Elks help children in the community who have
special needs.
Ramsey’s FPU class starts June 26
Crockett Methodists
welcome new minister
Keith A. Jenkins, Ph.D.,
has been named the new
pastor of First United Methodist Church in Crockett.
A third generation Texan
and second generation native Houstonian, Keith Jenkins graduated from Waltrip
High School.
He received a Bachelor
of Arts cum laude in Religion and English from
Southwestern
University
in Georgetown, and a Master of Divinity summa cum
laude from Duke University
Divinity School.
After serving as pastor
of several churches in East
Texas and the Houston area,
he began graduate studies at
Rice University, completing
M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in
Victorian literature.
He has lectured and published material on both
Charlotte
Brontë
and
Charles Dickens and their
use of Biblical material in
their fiction, and he has been
invited to present a paper at
the Brontë Society Conference at Cambridge University in August.
Jenkins also is considered
an expert on religious imagery and thought in movies.
Jenkins has more than 35
years of ministry experience
in the local church, campus
ministry and higher education.
Among his appointments
are chaplain, then academic
Keith A. Jenkins, Ph.D.
dean at Lon Morris College;
executive vice-president at
Tennessee Wesleyan College; chaplain at Berry College in Rome, GA; senior
associate pastor at John
Wesley United Methodist
Church in the Champions
area of Houston; and most
recently president of Houston Graduate School of Theology.
Jenkins is married to Barbara Parker Jenkins of El
Campo, who is also a graduate of Southwestern University and Duke Divinity
School.
They have two grown
children. Allen, a 2006
graduate of Southwestern,
is working on a masters degree in counseling. Emily,
a 2010 graduate of UT Austin, founded and directs the
first YoungbLife chapter in
Georgetown.
Beau (yellow lab) and Jasper (orange & white tabby)
round out the family.
Crockett Lions Club news
Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University (FPU), a 13week course, will be held in Crockett at First United Methodist Church, beginning Sunday, June 26. The classes will
begin at 4 p.m. Contact Cindy Robinson at (936) 544-2044
for more information or to register.
Crockett Police Department
Incident Reports
June 9, 2011 - June 15, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
*Incident No. 1106045. Officer Tina Berry was dispatched to a business in the 1000 block of Brazos in reference to an alarm. Case Status: Active.
*Incident No. 1106046. Officer Craig Osaw was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Charles St. in
reference to a burglary of a habitation. Electronics and a
window air conditioner were reported stolen. Case Status: Active.
*Incident No. 1106047. Officer Todd Little was dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of Rose St. in
reference to burglary of a habitation. Electronics valued
at $345 were reported stolen. Case Status: Active.
*Incident No. 1106048. Sgt. Lonnie Lum was dispatched to a city building in the 600 block of Bradshaw
St. in reference to burglary of a building. Case Status:
Active.
*Incident No. 1106050. Officer Craig Osaw was dispatched to a business in the 300 block of N. 4th St. in
reference to a theft. Case Status: Active.
Friday, June 10, 2011
*Incident No. 1106051. Officer Craig Osaw was dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of Sterling Court
in reference to burglary of a vehicle. Case Status: Active.
*Incident No. 1106053. Sgt. Joel Martin was dispatched to a business in the 700 block of Polk St. in reference to a cell phone stolen from a vehicle. The phone
was recovered. Case Status: Cleared by arrest.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
No activity reported.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
*Incident No. 1106054. Officer Tina Berry was dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Lewis Circle
in reference to burglary of a habitation. Electronics valued at approximately $810 were reported stolen. Case
Status: Active.
Monday, June 13, 2011
No activity reported.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
*Incident No. 1106062. Officer Johnny Romo met at
CPD with a complainant in reference to a theft. A pit
bull valued at approximately $4,800 was reported stolen.
Case Status: Active.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
*Incident No. 1106064. Officer Paul Biscamp was
dispatched to a residence in the 1200 block of Edminston
Dr. in reference to a theft. Case Status: Active.
Grapeland dance slated for July 8
The Grapeland Senior Center, 112 Church St., is hosting
a “Second-Friday Dance” on July 8.
This smoke-free/alcohol-free/not-just-for-seniors event
begins with dance instruction at 6:30 p.m. Joe Dale and
Caddo Creek will play classic country music from 7 p.m. to
9:30 p.m. Singles are welcome.
In August, the monthly dances will return to the third Friday schedule.
Admission is $5 per person. Bring finger food to share.
Tea and coffee will be provided.
Trail, from Page A-1
Water, sodas and snacks
will be provided along the
ride at breaks for no charge.
Water will be provided for
horses during the ride. A
porta-john trailer also will
accompany the trail riders.
A negative Coggins certificate is required for all horses. Current shots are encouraged, but not required.
There are minimal rocks on
the trail.
Cost of the trail ride is
$20; the trail ride with dance
and dinner, $30.
The location is on SH
21, approximately 15 miles
west of Crockett. For more
information, contact Trail
Boss Meghan Jenkins at
(936) 204-2092 or AVFD
Chief Russell Jenkins at
(936) 577-6930.
Photo by Lynda Jones
On Tuesday, June 14 Crockett Lions Club President Heath Murff presented Lion Ellen Brooks with
the Leo Club Advisor Outstanding Service Award
“for dedicated service in fulfilling the roles of edumotivator, counselor, liason and humanitarClarification cator,
ian as Leo Club Advsor”.
On Page A-1 of the June
The Crockett Lions Club meets at noon on Tues12 Houston County Courier, days at Rosemary’s Hilltop Kitchen. The organizathe photo in the lower right tion’s annual banquet will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday,
corner also included Jerry June 28 at First Methodist Church in Crockett.
Baker of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office.
On Page A-1 of the June
16 issue, the Ralph Bunche
alumni cutline should have
read James McCullough,
Shirley Murray, . . .”
DEADLINES
Community Happenings
3 p.m. MONDAY for Thursday
Noon THURSDAY for Sunday
Photo by Lynda Jones
Kristy Rains and Jessica Murff are shown at the
benefit lunch hosted by Community Care of CrockExchange students need host families
ett on Thursday, June 16. All proceeds from the
Ayusa, a non-profit exThey come with their own jambalaya meal went to the Jeremy Rains Medical
change program, is seeking spending money and health
host family volunteers to insurance and have studied Fund at Crockett Bank. Rains recently was serioushost foreign exchange stu- English for at least three ly injured in a four-wheeler accident in Alto. Rains
is home from the hospital and recovering. Kristy
dents for the 2011-12 school years.
year.
For more information Rains is Jeremy’s wife, and Murff is his sister.
Exchange students are between the ages of 15 to 18
and come from more than 60
countries around the world.
about hosting a student, call
(888) 552-9872 or go to ayusa.org.
DETCOG meets Thursday
JASPER – The Board of Directors of the Deep East Texas
Council of Governments (DETCOG) will hold its regular
meeting Thursday, June 23 at the Nacogdoches County
Courthouse Annex in Nacogdoches. A luncheon will be
served at noon with the board meeting to follow.
The meeting is open to the public. Anyone needing information may contact the Deep East Texas Council of Governments Office in Jasper at (409) 384-5704.
HOUSTON COUNTY COURIER-SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011-PAGE A-3
COMMENTARY
NICKEL TOWN PIZZA
ACROSS
1 TXism: “he can
strut sitting ____”
(arrogant)
5 song: “Texas
When _ ___”
6 TX Roddenberry
or TX Tierney
7 ex-Cowboy RB
Tony (init.)
8 Dallas city hall
architect I.M. ___
9 Gutenberg or Bach
15 golf bag toter
16 TXism: “_ ___-____
man” (good roper)
18 in ‘28, this Dem.
didn’t carry TX
20 impressionist
painter Claude
22 old west town:
______ Creek, CO
27 TXism: “got a bun
in the ____”
(pregnant)
28 seat of Sutton Co.
29 independent state
in the Middle East
30 mgr. of Muleshoe’s
TV 6, Gilrobert
32 SMU Kyle in NFL
Hall of Fame (init.)
33 blood vessels from
the heart
36 send out
37 TXism: “___ biscuit
in the pan” (boss)
38 UT enrollee, e.g.
39 TXism: “hireling”
41 TX Buddy’s wife:
Maria ____ ____
44 “Dallas Museum
__ ___”
45 TX actress Evans
46 TXism: “just two whoops
and a holler ____” (near)
47 TXism: “ugly as ___”
48 this actor starred with
TX Jimmy Dean in
“Big Bad John”
51 sleeping quarters at
TX Tech, e.g.
52 TX poet Naomi Shihab
53 Bond creator Fleming
54 TXism: “it belongs to
me ___ the bank”
22
23
24
25
1
2
3
TEXAS
CROSSWORD
4
5
6
by Charley & Guy Orbison
7
Copyright 2011 by Orbison Bros.
8
9
18
19
13
14
26
27
34
28
31
32
36
35
37
39
42
41
40
43
44
46
45
21
20
38
1 TXism: “___ in”
(eat up)
2 TX Benson film:
“___ to Billy Joe”
3 in Runnels Co.
on hwy. 83
4 TXism: “I ____ __
____ ____ a dry
land farmer needs
rain”
8 TX-born S.A. Griffin
film: “____ Rider”
9 his cabin is still in
downtown Dallas
10 TXism: “fits like
hide __ a horse”
11 TXism: “__ don’t
give didly squat”
12 TX Ivory Joe
Hunter’s “I ______
____ My Mind”
12
17
30
33
11
16
15
29
DOWN
10
47
48
13 Tex Ritter title
song: “High ____”
14 negative in Palo
Duro Canyon
15 oldest thoroughfare
in U.S., located in
Nacogdoches: “La
_____ ___ Norte”
16 _ ___ gallon hat
17 more sprightly
19 UT has large
collection of folk
songs of this Burl
21 ‘85 thriller with TX
born Gayle Hunnicutt
22 101 in old Rome
23 ex-Cowboy
“dodger” QB (init.)
49
50
P-1016
51
52
53
54
24 nest eggs (abbr.)
25 TXism: “we
______ ways”
26 TX-born Mason
Williams wrote
for singer ______
Clark
28 TXism: gave his
pall bearers the
____” (recovered)
31 TX Carol Burnett
won this award
six times
34 this Russo starred
with TX Quaid in
“Yours, Mine & Ours”
35 TXism: “brains __
_ box” (computer)
37 “A rose __ ___
other name . . .”
40 TXism: “got the
hang __ __”
42 indebted
43 in Fannin Co. on 34
49 to correct text
50 TXism: “fat __ a
boardinghouse cat”
• Dine-In
• Carry Out
• D e l i ve r y
936.544.2822
2000 SE Loop 304
Crockett
Solution on Page A-4
Guest op/ed
Rev. James L. Snyder
Father’s work is never done, either
By Rev. James L. Snyder
Guest Columnist
There is an old saying that
to my knowledge nobody
has ever taken credit. “A
man works from sun up to
sun down. A mother’s work
is never done.” If I had said
that, I would not want any
credit for it either.
Why this anonymous person compares a man with
the mother is certainly information that is above my
pay scale.
It is almost like comparing apples with horses. I like
apples and I enjoy riding a
horse occasionally, but they
sure do not have anything
else in common.
Right up front I will say
that I honor and revere
motherhood. As good old
Abe Lincoln said, “All I am
or ever hope to be, I owe to
my mother.”
I think that is a rather nice
way of saying how much
he appreciated his mother.
But, if you will permit me, I
think good old “honest Abe”
exaggerated just a wee bit
on this point.
While I believe mothers
have a very important role
in the bringing up of children, it does not preclude
the influence of the father.
After all, most mothers
will say to their children,
“Wait until your father gets
home!” Even mothers know
that they cannot handle it all
by themselves.
And while I will also give
way to the point that mothers have a lot of work to do
and it never seems to get
done, such is the case with
fathers as well. There never
seems to be enough time to
get everything done.
Take for example, the
father’s job of mowing the
grass. That job never gets
done. If the father has a wee
streak of ambition about
him, gets up Saturday morning and goes to the garage
and prepares the lawnmower
to mow he knows very well
that he will never get done
mowing the grass.
If perchance he gets the
lawn mowed on any given
Saturday, he knows, come
next Saturday, if not before,
the grass will need mowing
again... And again... And
again. An endless chore that
never seems to get finished.
Of course, there is a positive side to this routine.
When the mother of the
See Father’s, Page A-6
Celebrating, from Page A-1
a chance, then generally in
the crown of a hat.
The Galveston mail was
suspended for five months,
and at last arrived in coffee
sacks on an ox wagon.
Sassafras tea, rye coffee,
milk and whiskey were the
only beverages that could
be depended on, as coffee
frequently could not be had
at any price. In the way of
diet, steel mill bread and
jerked beef were the great
staples.
Indian hardships, and it is
to be hoped, dissipation has
passed away forever from
Crockett, and there is every
indication that its course in
onward and upward.
The telegraph entered our
town, a substantial brick
courthouse has just been
completed, the Masonic
Hall, Temple of Honor and
Free Church are well attended; six stores, two taverns, a boot and shoe maker,
four smith shops, a wagon
and three cabinet shops, a
tannery and saddler’s shop
accommodate the public.
Professional gentlemen offer their services to clients
and patients, our bricklayers
are busy, and all the usual
means and appliances of
civilized life may be found
in our village.
Of the future of Crockett
there can be but one opinion. With the increase of
the population of the county
and the cultivation of its fine
cotton lands, the wealth and
the population of the village
must increase.
The very institution of
a newspaper indicates the
progress of Crockett, and
there can be no doubt that
its future pages will record
a state of things, that will
throw into the shade and almost render incredible these
scanty reminiscences of the
Oldest Inhabitant.
Guest op/ed
James L. McCullough, M. Ed.
Juneteenth celebrated for 146 years
By James L. McCullough,
M. Ed.
Contributing Columnist
Abraham Lincoln issued
a presidential decree to free
slaves and admit Blacks
into the armed forces on
Jan. 1, 1865.
Most slaves in the South
did not hear about the proclamation for years, learning
of it from various sources.
In Texas, the news may
have come via mule-back
messenger. Some sources
noted two legends of why
Texas slaves didn’t receive
the news until two months
after the Civil War was over,
being a good two and a half
years later.
One says a Black union
soldier was sent on a mule
to deliver the news but was
murdered along the way.
The second and most fa-
vored is so slave and land
owners could bleed one last
crop from slave labor.
Whatever the case, this
day has been celebrated for
146 years as Emancipation
Day, Jubilation Day or simply, Juneteenth.
By the 1950s, Juneteenth
Day came to be linked with
not only emancipation but
with segregation as well.
On Juneteenth, segregated
cities would allow blacks to
be citizens for 12 hours by
granting them entry into
white only city parks and
zoos.
With the passage of civil
rights legislation in the sixties, “refined” Black Texans abandoned Juneteenth
to their “country” cousins
and took to celebrating the
Fourth of July and Independence Day along with their
white brethren.
However, as time progressed, the Juneteenth celebration gathered steam and
eventually became an official holiday in the state of
Texas.
You can find Juneteenth
rituals in all regions of the
country now. States like
California where Black
Texans migrated en masse,
have held celebrations for
decades.
Grand celebrations are
held in Buffalo, NY, where
existed during slavery, a
rich history of anti-slavery
sentiment and activity.
In Wisconsin, at least five
celebrations are held each
year, including Milwaukee
which has held celebrations
since 1971, becoming the
largest cultural event in the
state.
In Minneapolis, MN what
began as a poetry reading in
a church basement, is now
two weeks of programming,
including a film festival and
underground railroad re-enactments.
Still, some Blacks think
Juneteenth is an embarassment, feeling the holiday
tells more our ignorance
and subjugation than of an
inheritance that predates
slavery.
Some say it is “too Black”,
yet some feel it is a day
where all Americans can
get in touch with the Africanism within, and to think
about those people of all
colors who sacrificed much,
many their lives, to allow a
formerly subjugated people
an opportunity to march
in lockstep with all other
Americans toward a life of
freedom, prosperty, equality
and justice.
Wright writes
Jerry Wright
Eric Clapton had guitar built at this shop
By Jerry Wright
Contributing Columnist
Several years ago, we
were touring Southern Virginia and visited Grayson
Highlands State Park.
The park is next to the
Mount Rogers National
Recreation Area in the Jefferson National Forest. I remember, I went to an overlook and took a picture of
the valley below.
In the picture are a couple
of houses and barns. As it
turns out, years later I met
Wayne Henderson who lives
in one of those houses.
As a matter of fact, I am
sitting in that house right
now using Henderson’s
computer. From where I
am sitting in Henderson’s
computer/laundry room, I
can see that very overlook
in Grayson Highlands State
Park where we stood years
ago. It is so interesting how
life will turn things around
on you.
“The Crooked Road:
Virginia’s Music Heritage
Trail” goes right down US
58 and past the little community of Rugby. Turn on
Tucker Road and in just a
little piece, you will be right
in front of Wayne’s house
and his small shop.
In that little shop is where
some of the finest guitars
are made. We have a book
entitled “Clapton’s Guitar” which was written by
award-winning journalist
Allen St. John.
Eric Clapton had been on
Wayne’s waiting list for 10
years. St. John goes in great
detail showing how Wayne
built the guitar.
One of the photographs
in the book shows Henderson wearing a cap from
our event, the Palestine Old
Time Music and Dulcimer
Festival which is held every
March. Several people from
Houston County attend that
music festival and have met
Wayne there.
The stop at Henderson’s
shop is just one of many on
the Crooked Road which focuses on the region’s unique
musical heritage. The journey includes 10 counties in
Western and Southern Virginia covering about 300
miles.
In a couple of days people
from all over the United
States will be converging
on the little community of
Rugby to see Henderson
and visit his little shop.
This is one of our many
years to pitch our tent in
Henderson’s yard and visit
and play music until Saturday when the Wayne C.
Henderson Music Festival
and Guitar Competition is
held in the Grayson Highlands State Park.
This year the performers
will be the Boxcars, George
Hamilton IV, the April Verch
Band, Eddie Pennington,
the Harris Brothers, Bobby
Ingano and Wayne Henderson and Friends. He’s also a
famous, talented musician.
Henderson has six CD
recordings released and is
a National Heritage award
winner who has played in
more countries representing the United States than
we can count. Henderson is
a well-traveled, brilliantly
talented, humble man who
loves his art, life and those
who surround him.
As a prelude to the 17th
annual Wayne C. Henderson
Festival and Guitar Competition, Henderson is bringing his friends to the Blue
Ridge Music Center to kick
off a very special concert.
The 88-year-old, living
legend, Doc Watson and
multi-instrumentalist David
Holt will make it an unforgettable night of hot picking, down home stories and
the best of American music.
Two years ago here at
Henderson’s house we met
Don Wilson from Florida.
Wilson comes up every
month and spends time with
Henderson building guitars
and has become a builder
who is developing name
recognition also. Wilson
has made about 40 plus guitars, and Margaret’s instrument is number nine.
I hate to break the news to
you but we have all of this
music and temperatures that
run around 75 during the
day and 58 at night. But
don’t be misled. I would
rather live in Kennard and
visit this area since the winters here are too cold for this
old East Texas boy.
The Houston County Courier welcomes Letters to the Editor concerning community issues.
The Courier reserves the right to edit any letter
submitted.
Letters must be limited to 650 words and must
contain the author’s name, address and phone
number. For provisions concerning letters exceeding the word limit, please contact Courier
General Manager Jeannine Rhone.
Letters may be emailed to news@HoustonCou
ntyCourier.com. Persons writing Letters to the
Editor are limited to one letter per topic. The
Courier reserves the right to limit a specific topic
to be discussed to six weeks from the first letter
received. Letters to the Editor are printed on a
space available basis.
PAGE A-6-HOUSTON COUNTY COURIER-SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2011
STATE NEWS
Father’s work never done, from Page A-3
household gets up on a Saturday morning and says to
the father, “Honey...” (Every father knows that when
he is being addressed as
“Honey,” there will follow a
“to-do-list.”) . . . when the
mother of the house tells
the father of the house what
needs done that day he can
simply smile and say, “Honey”... (Every mother knows
that when she is being addressed as “Honey,” there
will follow a very good reason why he will not be able
to do her “to-do-list.”)
“Honey, I would love to
do all of that for you today, really, but the backyard
needs to be mowed.”
And with a smile that
stretches from Saturday to
Saturday, he slowly sashays
out to the garage and prepares the lawnmower for a
day of mowing the grass.
Oh yes, a father’s work is
never done.
Then there is the matter
of the father’s paycheck. On
payday when the father of
the household receives his
paycheck, his heart is filled
with jubilation, that is, until
he gets home.
When he gets home the
mother of the household and
all of the children standing
behind her have their hands
out for their share of his
paycheck.
He looks at his family
with a great deal of pride
as he counts out, dollar-bydollar, his hard-earned paycheck. He had been harboring some hope that he would
go bowling with his buddies
this week, but by the time
he doles out the weekly allowances he finds himself
completely doled out. His
only consolation is that next
payday he will get another
paycheck.
Oh yes, a father’s work is
never done.
Let us not forget vacation
time. All year long, the father of the household works
very hard at his job anticipating that weeklong vacation.
He dreams about setting
on the beach with his only
agenda being nothing, an
entire week of relaxation
and exploiting the vigor of
nothingness. It is the dream
that energizes him all year
long.
Finally, the week comes
that nobody is more excited
than the father of the household.
“All right, family,” the father says, “let’s all head for
the beach.”
“Aw, dad” the tribe of his
household says, “we want to
go to Disney World.”
“Whose world?” the father sighs.
After the family votes on
where they will go for their
week’s vacation the father
of the household, although
he will be funding the entire week, is outvoted 99 to
1. “Oh well,” he groans as
he packs the car for Disney
World, “there’s always next
year.”
Oh yes, a father’s work is
never done.
Only one exception exists for this rule. That is our
heavenly Father. His work
is finished in Jesus Christ.
“Let us therefore fear,
lest, a promise being left us
of entering into his rest, any
of you should seem to come
short of it. For unto us was
the gospel preached, as well
as unto them: but the word
preached did not profit them,
not being mixed with faith
in them that heard it. For we
which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I
have sworn in my wrath, if
they shall enter into my rest:
although the works were
finished from the foundation of the world” (Hebrews
4:1-3 KJV).
Hallelujah, His work is
done.
The Rev. James L. Snyder
is pastor of the Family of
God Fellowship, 1471 Pine
Road, Ocala, FL 34472. Call
him at 352-687-4240 or email jamessnyder2@att.net.
The church web site is www.
whatafellowship.com.
Student ‘turns it around’, from Page A-1
she said. They weren’t getting along, and she wanted
to see if she could make it
on her own.
After a couple of months,
the Darrell Griffith family
took her in, Montgomery
said.
With the support of
Griffith, Amjad and her
aunt, Tracy Adams, in addition to Griffith’s son, Zach,
Montgomery went back to
school.
“It was hard,” she said,
because she was so far behind and because she was
older than her classmates.
“I felt dumb,” she said.
She first starting skipping
school when her mother had
her held back in the seventh
grade, Montgomery said.
“My mother was working and didn’t know if I
was going unless the school
(in Kingwood) called her,”
Montgomery
explained.
“So why go” is what she
thought.
“Nobody made me go, so
I dropped out,” Montgomery said.
Now, Montgomery has
her GED and will attend Angelina College classes at the
new Houston County Vocational School in the fall.
She wants to become a
dental assistant.
Her advice for other teens
who might be considering
dropping out is “Don’t”.
Adams described her niece
as “very outgoing” and “a
good girl....she doesn’t get
into trouble.”
“I’m very proud of her,”
Adams said about Montgomery’s academic feat.
Typical of many teens,
she likes hanging out with
her friends.
Montgomery has been
working at Smitty’s Bar-
becue for about a year and
says she likes working.
At the completion of this
interview,
Montgomery
immediately went back to
sweeping the restaurant
floor, preparing for the lunch
crowd.
Coming events at Mission
Tejas State Historical Park
June 25, 4 p.m. - Hoot
‘N Holler – Learn about the
American Crow and hand
calling techniques to lure
crows in. Bring a crow call
if you wish and wear clothing to blend in to nature.
June 25,8:45 p.m. - Night
Hike – Join a night time ad-
venture as we look and listen for nocturnal wildlife.
We might call for owls, encounter an armadillo or just
enjoy the trails under the
night sky. Wear hiking gear,
bring water, bug spray and a
flashlight.
Events are free; the entrance fee is $2 per person
for all 13 years and older.
Ask about Bluebonnet passes for seniors.
Please call 936-687-2394
with any questions.
In case you missed it . . .
Producers invited to FSA meeting
Houston-Leon-Madison producers are invited to a
public meeting at the Houston County Farm Service
Agency Office located at 1030 South 4th St. in Crockett
on Wednesday, June 22, at 9 a.m. to discuss the county
committee nomination and election process as well as
current FSA programs available through the Farm Service Agency, according to Darvin L. Collins, county
executive director. All eligible voters in LAA 2, Community B, and LAA 4, Community D are encouraged to
participate in this year’s COC election.
Massive, from Page A-1
the extreme flea infestation,
there is no question these
animals have been suffering
immeasurably and would
not have survived much
longer.”
According to ARC, the
animals’ previous owner
moved off the property after
being evicted a month ago.
Bowlin is credited with
leading the care of the dogs
in response to a request from
HCSO, and for notifying
ARC of the dire situation.
At the time she notified
ARC about the dogs, Bowlin had already removed
approximately 20 equines
from the property.
Haisley explained that
when Bowlin contacted
ARC, Ailey came down
from the Dallas-Fort Worth
area to assess the situation.
When she confirmed the
conditions and the need for
ARC’s assistance, a team
made plans to travel to
Crockett.
Five team members came
from Washington, DC,
Maryland, Los Angeles, San
Francisco and the D-FW
area, Haisley said. ARC
volunteers from the D-FW
area also arrived.
They arrived in Houston
County early Friday morning, conducted additional
assessments and made a
commitment to move the
dogs.
While waiting for the
ARC team to arrive, Haisley said, Ailey assembled
a small group to help Lori
care for the dogs during the
interim.
Once ARC made the commitment to rescue the dogs,
Haisley explained further,
Photo courtesy of ARC
This is one of 81 starving dogs recently found abandoned in the eastern part of Houston County.
Photo courtesy of ARC
The dog pictured here is lying on barren ground
next to a small puddle of green water.
Photo courtesy of ARC
ARC now has custody of these abandoned dogs.
They are receiving food, water and loving care
while awaiting transport to new homes.
the organization’s placement
partner team began working
on locating placements for
the dogs.
Saturday morning (June
18), the first group of dogs
was expected to leave in a
climate-controlled vehicle
to new homes, mostly out
of state. Haisley said ARC
works diligently to move
the dogs to shelters that can
place them in the best of
permanent homes.
The team member driving the vehicle will return to
Crockett and repeat the process until all dogs have been
relocated safely, Haisley
said. He expects the mission to be complete by the
early part of the week.
Haisley explained the organization is designed to
help in cases like this.
“Lori has been working
hard to care for these animals for weeks,” said Houston County Sheriff Darrel
Bobbitt. “Houston County
does not have the resources
to address a problem of this
magnitude. Lori’s support
has been invaluable and I
am grateful ARC is here to
wrap up this situation.”
ARC performed this
rescue with the generous
support of The Arthur E.
Benjamin Foundation and
American Dog Rescue.
Haisley said this rescue will
cost approximately $20,000,
with fuel consuming a great
portion of the expense.
He explained that ARC is
a 501-3c organization that
depends totally on donations.
As part of an agreement
for ARC’s involvement, the
previous owner has been
served a mandate by Houston County prohibiting her
from owning more than
three animals for the next
two years, and the animals
must be spayed or neutered.
No animal cruelty charges
have been filed.
Bowlin is well-known
in Houston County for her
compassionate care of animals. Prior to this rescue,
many Houston County residents remember her for the
rescue of Layla, the puppy
who was abandoned after
someone cut off her ears.
Through Bowlin’s efforts,
Layla now is happily living
in a healthy home.
Haisley, the founder of
ARC, has been a leader in
the animal welfare field for
20 years. He has experience
as president of In Defense
of Animals, senior director director of the Humane
Society of the United States
Animal Rescue Team and
president of the Washington
Animal Rescue League.
Additionally, he is credited with raising six million
dollars for the creation of
the world’s first completely
cage-free animal shelter,
post-Katrina rescues of over
one thousand animals, rehabilitation for 11 of Michael
Vick’s dogs, a year in India
creating policies and operating philosophies for animal
welfare groups, and almost
three years of traveling the
globe to rescue an unprecedented number of animals
from puppy mills, dog fighting, hoarding, other largescale cruelty cases and multiple natural disasters.
Houston County residents
who wish to donate to ARC
can do so by mailing checks
to Animal Rescue Corps,
1380 Monroe St. NW #326,
Washington, DC 200103452 or online at http://www.
animalrescuecorps.org.
For more information,
about ARC, visit http://www.
animalrescuecorps.org.