POSTCARDS MAGAZINE - Piney Woods - October 2023

14 Do You Know?

Jamie Sugg

38 Texas Treasures

100 Years of Texas State Parks-Part 1

56 Community Builders Walker County Amateur Radio Group

66 A Special Conversation Gary Liebst

74 Business Focus Tallent Sausage

20 Questions -11

A Heroes Salute-30

Awesome Apps -37

Community Calendar -94

Conundrum -88

Creative Corner -65

Dear Gabby -20

From Our Readers -6

From the Mouth of Babes -85

Garden Post, The -22

Giggles & Grins -93

FAVORITES

Glorious Grandkids -62

Kidding Around -48

Let’s Celebrate -12

Living with Children -53

Medical Matters -92

Milestones -35

Mustard Seed Moments -97

Pet Pals -28

Publisher’s Post -9

Puzzle Solutions -46

“Seens” from our World -96

Snapshots -54

Special Invitation -87

Star Students -24

Sudoku Marketplace -89

Teachers Touching Tomorrow -26

The Grands -63

Things My Granddaddy Said -64

What Are You Reading -10

What’s Cookin’? -72

Wildlife Wonders -86

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Cover Photo by Lori Slott Postcards 2022

Photo Contest 3nd Place Winner-People

Love your magazine, but...

Love your magazine, but...the Zucchini Corn Fritters recipe August 2023 should come with a WARNING. When I turned the fritter over in the oil, hot grease started popping for an extended time, splattering my arms and face. I guess the zucchini was much too wet inside. Might be advisable for folks to press moisture out of it before cooking.

Ann Barosh

Editors note: Wise words. Please always use caution with hot oil.

Every Month

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Ella Austin

@PostcardsMag

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And speaking of…drama

It’s been an eventful month! As I write this column, I am envisioning cooler temperatures and pumpkins. I admit, that’s quite a stretch to imagine, even for this fall lover. I have not yet had the desire to enter a hot attic for my lovely fall decor.

And speaking of stretches - there have been an awful lot of those in my world! Immediately after we went to press last month, I had knee replacement surgery (This is where you might see someone on social media post the hashtag #iykyk). It stands for “If you know, you know”and I know a lot of you know! I’m now at post-surgery week 3 and finally convinced I will survive. One of my physical therapists thinks I’m a little dramatic…and for the life of me, I don’t know why. I only mentioned once, okay twice, that I thought he was trying to kill me.

I also had the pleasure of speaking to the Huntsville Newcomers Club a week ago. For those of you doing the math, that was 2 weeks post-surgery. I may or may not have been on some serious medication…depends on what you hear I may have said!

And speaking of what you hear…my brother texted me from Abilene this morning after he saw a story regarding the latest alligator incident at Huntsville State Park. One of the reptile residents decided to investigate a group of Girl Scouts a little too closely. I think HE heard there may have some Thin Mint Cookies on hand. This gator was reportedly between 12-14 feet long, but I’m fairly certain they were unable to determine…at a distance…in the water…whether it was male or female. In spite of that, the Girl Scouts apparently named it “Karen.”

Now, I am starting to get a little tired of this Karen stuff. Those who know me well know I may occasionally ask to “speak to the manager” when I deem it necessary, but I am always calm and reasonable…unless I am on serious medication…or being stalked by an alligator.

But seriously people…at this rate, I’ll be fortunate to have a great, great, great-granddaughter named after me! Let’s pick a new name, okay? Because I really do not want to have to “go all Karen” on you!

Enjoy the fall and enjoy a laugh--even if it is at a dramatic friend’s expense. I bet they’ve had plenty of practice laughing at themself. #iykyk

Later gator, ~ Karen

John Knight

Physician, Kelsey-Seybold

BAD AT?

I have no food self-control (and my wife and daughter own a bakery!)

15 BUCKET LIST ITEM YOU’RE MOST GLAD YOU’VE DONE?

Traveled to Italy 16

TOP THING LEFT TO DO ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

See the Northern Lights

17 IF YOU COULD LIVE ABROAD, WHERE WOULD THAT BE?

Italy

18 WHO DO YOU ADMIRE?

The pastor who married us, Tom Hovestol, because of his Christ-like qualities.

19 BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN?

Don Johnson, my father-in-law to be (when asking for Julie’s hand in marriage) told me to read the Bible every day.

20 ADVICE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

Don’t be self-conscious and try to make everything perfect; enjoy your kids and don’t try to control them.

Let’s Celebrate!

This Month’s Business Anniversaries:

1849 Celebrating 174 years

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

See ad on page 27

1962 Celebrating 61 years

Reliable Parts Company

See ad on page 87

1992 Celebrating 31 years

McKenzies BBQ - Huntsville

See ad on page 75

2002 Celebrating 21 years

Sulllivan Classic Homes

See ad on page 80

2010 Celebrating 13 years

Kelly Lawson, Realtor®

See ad on page 33

2018 Celebrating 5 years

Climatec Storage

See ad on page 58

Joetta’s

See ad on page 72

Jamie Sugg

New county agent shares about life inside and outside the office.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is our state agency providing programs, tools, and resources on a local and statewide level to teach people improved agriculture and food production, advanced health practices, environmental protection, and economic and youth programs. “AgriLife” seems an appropriate word when describing Jamie Sugg, who began his work in Walker County as the agriculture and natural resources county extension agent last December.

Story by Wes Altom

Photos by Karen Altom

There are multiple agents in the Walker County office. Explain how that works.

A small county (like Madison County), has one agent, and that’s generally going to be an ag agent. Their job is ag and natural resource issues, education, and questions. You get to a little bigger county (like Grimes County), and they will have a second agent, an FCH (Family/Community Health). I generally explain to people that it’s like having an ag teacher and a home economics teacher. In a slightly larger county (like Walker County),

there are three agents, with the third being 4-H and Youth Development. Their focus is work with the 4-H program and the kids.

The FCH here is Meredith Cryer. She works with people on canning, on healthy lifestyles and healthy eating. The 4-H and Youth Development agent here is Kristy Titzman. So if I want to become a canning expert, I don’t have to rely solely on YouTube videos.

Absolutely not. In fact, in the spring, Meredith will have a series of classes on canning different types of food. Canning has kind of come full circle. It used to be how everybody survived, then it kind of went away. Now, it seems like more people are trying to homestead and be a little more selfsufficient, so it’s making a comeback.

Describe some services the extension office provides people may not be familiar with.

Well, of course, the local 4-H program. Kristy is the agent, but when there is an activity scheduled, it’s a staff effort with “all hands on deck.”

The Walker County Master Gardeners program is through our office. As a matter of fact, they have a plant sale October 14th. We have agricultural educational programs. The first Friday in January is a big one at the storm shelter. We’ll bring in speakers on various topics, from pesticide regulations to best management practices for growing hay, cattle management, and other related subjects.

We’re also working on a series of programs for new landowners, that will include things like beekeeping, tax valuations, how to get an ag exemption or a wildlife exemption for their property, and such.

Education topics are constantly changing. We have a committee of locals who help us “keep a pulse” on what’s going on locally and what is needed. Through the extension, if we don’t have the expertise locally, we have a network to get an expert to come in and teach.

We just wrapped up a soil testing drive where people brought in their soil samples, and I took them to the lab at A&M for analysis. In October, we will have a program where

We

We are committed to listening to your concerns and providing you with the best options for your comfort.

Dr. Debra Sims

Dr. Rodney Elmore

Dr. Bobby Lane (retired soil professor from SHSU) will speak on interpreting results and ways to amend your soil. Even if you didn’t submit a sample, anyone is welcome

to come to the program to get the soil health knowledge.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I get asked that a lot. When I started to entertain the idea of extension as a career, I went to a county extension agent and asked him the exact same question. He said, “There’s no such thing.” I’ve come to realize that, and that’s what I really like about the job. On days when it’s nasty, cold, or rainy, there’s always paperwork to do. When it’s pretty and the sun is shining, there’s always stuff outside to go check on. We do result demonstrations (where we will plant different varieties of the same plant type and measure and document how much each variety yields), so there are always side projects to maintain and work on. I’ve been returning calls today on garden pests and how to address them. We are here to answer your calls and help, so you never know what question is next. What is something you wish people knew or understood better?

I drive around here, and I see a lot of pasture weeds, some of which are so easily managed. When I see that, I see space that could be filled with grass. In dry years like this, every bit of grass would help. I know there are some absentee landowners and

some folks who don’t have the means to control them, but I see this as a bigger issue here than counties I have been in before. Pasture management is definitely something we can assist with. Send me photos, or snap some weeds off and bring into the office, and I can help you with what to use to deal with them.

Share a little about your personal and work background.

I grew up on a ranch in Lampasas, in Central Texas, in the northeast corner of the Hill Country. My dad owned a cattle company. My grandmother also had a ranch. I was born and raised in ag. I raised and showed pigs, so I knew who my county agent was, but I wasn’t entertaining it as a career at that point. That changed in college.

I started in Rusk County as an assistant agent (we don’t have those anymore) in January of 2000. I then went to Nacogdoches County

as an ag agent for three years, and then back to Rusk County as an ag agent, before coming here to Walker County in 2022 after Reggie Lepley retired.

Tell about your education experience.

I went to Texas A&M and got my bachelor’s degree in ag economics. I went back to get a teaching certification so I could teach ag, and they said, “As long as you’re taking classes,

you might as well get a master’s degree. I was a newlywed at the time, and they gave me a paid assistantship, which happened to be with the extension service there on campus. A&M is the headquarters for the extension service, so there is always plenty of office work and special projects. So, when I finished my master’s in ag education,

I already had my foot in the door with the extension, and just stuck with it. As for the doctorate in ag education, I love a challenge, and I just took a class or two a semester. I woke up one day…and I was done. I told myself I didn’t want to be limited by my degree or experience when opportunities arise.

In the business I’m in, we preach to people to be lifelong learners. I believe you’ve got to practice what you preach.

Share about your family.

My wife Regina works in school administration. Having been in Rusk for nearly 20 years, that’s where my two children were born and raised. After the kids graduated and we became empty nesters, that freed me up to move when this opportunity became available in Walker County. Regina has to finish up this school year in Henderson, then she will be looking for something in this area. She is looking forward to the move, and I am certainly looking forward to getting her here!

My daughter Ashleigh works for the extension office in Brazos County. She got her bachelor’s at A&M in animal science and

is working on her master’s in ag education. My son Turner is a music education major at Northwestern State in Nachitoches. He’s a sophomore and is the drum major for the band.

Do you have hobbies outside of work?

I like to hunt and fish, but the hobby I am probably best known for is trapping hogs on the side. It’s been pretty slow this summer. Its’ been so hot and dry, and there hasn’t been a lot of pig activity. I guess, by default, that makes me a feral hog expert. I often get asked to go to surrounding counties to do programs and talks on feral hog control. Tell how people can get tuned into information on what’s going on through the Walker County Extension Office.

I put out a monthly newsletter via email that has topical articles as well as information on upcoming programs. Anyone can call the office at (936) 435-2426 and ask to be added to the newsletter list. We also have a facebook page at www.facebook.com/ WalkerCoTxAgrilife.

Dear Gabby

Welcome back to the Dear Gabby advice column. I don’t recall ever being this excited about the beginning of fall and cooler weather! You folks with convertibles have your two perfect days of top-down weather coming around the corner. Don’t worry--there will be two more in the spring. Enjoy Columbus Day (even though the fellow was a shade late) and Halloween. I’m especially looking forward to Halloween, because it’s the only day of the year that it’s okay to ask “What are you?” When in doubt about most anything, ask Gabby. Send your questions to me by clicking on Dear Gabby at www.PostcardsLive. com/share.

DEAR GABBY

I’m almost 70 with natural silver hair and sun-damaged skin. (I don’t hide my age!) Men now address me as, “Young Lady, how may I help you?” How can I respond to let them know I don’t appreciate their sparky “Young Lady”? They never called me that when I was younger!

NOT YOUNG ANYMORE

DEAR NYA

I suppose that’s better than “Old Lady,” but it is rather condescending…and more common than I thought, because it has also happened to me. I prefer not to be rude in return, because I don’t really think they mean it to be derogatory. My favorite retort, while looking them seductively (wink, wink) in the eye, is “I love it when you lie to me.” We both laugh and go about our business.

GABBY

DEAR GABBY

This Artificial Intelligence business is really creeping me out. I feel like all these hightech gadgets with girl’s names are spying on me. Am I being paranoid, or are we under surveillance?

DISTRUSTFUL

DEAR DIS

You’re not delusional. I don’t even Google what I want to shop for anymore. I just shout it out and ads start popping up. Creepy is an understatement.

GABBY

CONFIDENTIAL TO “FEELING MY AGE”:

I totally understand. I see people my age mountain climbing. I feel good getting my leg through my underwear without losing my balance.

A FUNDRAISING EVENT

Help us make a difference in children’s lives!!

This fundraiser will support our partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This will allow us to continue sending over 875 free books to children under the age of five in Walker County monthly. By age five, brain growth is 90% complete.

Only one in every 300 economically disadvantaged children have a children’s book in their home. In Huntsville, 60.2% of our children are economically disadvantaged.

On average, there is an 18 month achievement gap for children entering kindergarten. Help us change these facts!

The

By Kim Bius

Everyone loves the sight of fields of bluebonnets in spring, followed by gaillardia, coreopsis, rudbeckia and eustoma exaltatum (bluebells) in early summer. Wildflower planting season begins in late September and ends in mid to late October. If the weather stays unseasonable warm, the planting season can be extended through November. Fall is the target date for producing spring blooms, and 85% of all wildflowers are planted from seed. Coreopsis and Rudbeckia are often found in garden centers in the fall and make hardy perennials. Wildflowers are generally easy, but a few selections, such as poppies, can be a bit tougher to germinate, but do not give up.

Where to plant? Plant in a very sunny, well-drained area that will stay undisturbed by mowing until mid- June. Please wait for mowing until these areas have their seed drop from the pods-otherwise, the plant will not

return next year. This is called a reseeding annual. There are many reseeding annuals: zinnias, periwinkle, poppies, celosia, moss rose, and native petunias come to mind.

How? Scratch the soil with a leaf rake and broadcast the seed. Lightly cover the seed by “tossing” a light coating of existing topsoil over the seed (birds love the seed) and pray for spring rains. Nothing else is required. For the “fussier” varieties, such as poppies, start your seed in starter trays or old egg cartons with holes for drainage. Seed starter pellets or peat pots or also great with Fertilome Ultimate Potting Mix, which makes a fantastic seed starter medium.

At this writing, we are still experiencing triple digit heat, but God has never failed to bring fall. Area lawns and landscapes will need additional nourishment due to the heat and excessive watering that leached the soil of

vital nutrients. Definitely not finding fault for excessive watering; it is required to keep your plants alive. Depending on the size of your landscape, you can go liquid or granular.

A 21-7-14 slow-release granular fertilizer with micronutrients, that can be used on lawn and shrubs, is this gardeners favorite. Liquid applications of FoxFarm Bush Doctor Boomerang Comeback Formula (organic) can be applied with a hose end sprayer and produces miraculous results in several weeks.

There seems to be a popular misconception that dead tissue can be overtaken with live tissue…this is not true and dead tissue, just like gangrene, will slowly kill live tissue if not removed. Dead wood will need to be removed from shrubs now…..do not leave to overwinter.

To find where live tissue ends and the dead begins, keep scratching the cambium layer (outer layer of stem or bark) until you find a solid circle of green in the branch, or green if you are scratching the main stalk. Remove tissue 1”-2” below the dead. In some cases, this may be severe, but from experience, waiting almost never gives the desired

results. Yes, pruning heavily in September is not optimum, but will be required this year. On the silver lining side, it does appear, our warm temperatures will be around longer than usual, giving plants time to adjust before a freeze could occur. Our first freeze date (on average) is late November, but this fall it may be pushed into December.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & MEDIA

OCTOBER EVENTS

Art

64TH ANNUAL FACULTY EXHIBITION

Sept. 5 – Oct. 7

University Gallery, ART Free Admission

Music

FESTIVAL OF STRINGS: SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT

Oct. 6 | 7:30 p.m.

Payne Concert Hall, GPAC

Music

Cool weather starter veggies and pansy season begins in early October. The max high needs to be 84 degrees with a high of 79 preferred to successfully grow either without the chance of “bolting.” Happy fall y’all, and a big shoutout to the gardeners who survived and thrived in the summer of ’23.

Happy Gardening!

SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT

Oct. 10 | 7:30 p.m.

Payne Concert Hall, GPAC

Theatre & Musical Theatre

GALATEA

Inspired by MJ Kaufman

Oct. 12 – 14 | 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 14 | Matinee | 2 p.m.

Showcase Theatre, UTC

Art

GLOSSOLALIA EXHIBITION

Oct. 16 – Nov. 24

University Gallery, ART Free Admission

Music

JAZZ BANDS CONCERT

Oct. 19 | 7:30 p.m.

Payne Concert Hall, GPAC

College of Arts & Media

CAM ARTIST SERIES: SCOTT PLUGGE & FRIENDS

Oct. 21 | 7:30 p.m.

Recital Hall, GPAC

Music

ALL CHOIRS FALL CONCERT

Oct. 24 | 7:30 p.m.

Payne Concert Hall, GPAC

Music

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT

Oct. 27 | 7:30 p.m.

Payne Concert Hall, GPAC

Rosemarri Walker Huntsville High School

Favorite Movie: Lilo and Stitch

Favorite Food: Italian

Favorite Quote: “Never give up, because you’re only giving up on yourself.”

Rosemarri is a senior at Huntsville High School and is the daughter of Traci and John Walker. Her activities include FFA (treasurer), showing chickens at the “majors” and the Walker County Fair, and she is a member of the school’s traveling competitive welding team. Following graduation, Rosemarri plans to attend Lone Star College to study welding, followed by a career in welding and fabrication. She believes, “I love to work and would rather work for everything I have than have it handed to me.”

Favorite Movie: Interstellar

Huntsville High School

Favorite Music/Artist: Fleetwood Mac

Favorite Food: Orange Chicken

Favorite Quote: “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” –Andy Defresne in Shawshank Redemption

Cole is a senior at Huntsville High School and is the son of Scott and Heather Schroeder. His activities include football, National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and German Honor Society. Following graduation, Cole plans to become a high school football coach and, eventually, coach at the collegiate level. He believes, “Tomorrow is never promised.”

Teresa Bautista

Huntsville High School

Favorite Movie: Princess Diaries

Favorite Music/Artist: Promises by Maverick City Music

Favorite Food: Lasagna

Favorite Quote: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” – I Timothy 4:12

Teresa is a senior at Huntsville High School and is the daughter of Cristobal Bautista and Blanca Serrano. Her activities include Huntsville Military Marching Band, Advanced Culinary/Buzzy’s Lunchbox, Mu Alpha Theta, English Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, student council, National Technical Honor Society, and leader at her church Iglesia Cristo Rey. Following graduation, Teresa plans to attend Sam Houston State University to major in bilingual primary education. She echoes Tim Tebow, “I’m not perfect. The great thing about living the Christian life and trying to live by faith—you’re trying to improve every day.”

Favorite Movie: Twilight Series

Brooke Arnold

Trinity High School

Favorite Music/Artist: Country, Rap, R&B

Favorite Food: Dorito Salad & Pasta

Favorite Quote: “Life is a garden; dig it.”

Brooke is a senior at Trinity High School and is the daughter of Haley Ogden and Evan Arnold. Her activities include softball, cheer, HOSA, FFA, student council, and class vice president. Following graduation, Brooke plans to obtain her BSN and eventually travel as a registered nurse.

Devan Dee Dawson is an attorney with the law firm of Haney Paschal & Romoser, P.C. Devan is a 2013 graduate of Huntsville High School. Devan attended Baylor University and graduated with a B.S. Ed. in 2017. In 2019 Devan received her law degree from Baylor Law School.

While at Baylor Law, she worked with the in-house counsel department at Texas State Technical College, the McLennan County DA’s office, and interned with Honorable Judge Vikram “Vik” Deivanayagam, in the McLennan County Court at Law. Devan specializes in real estate, probate, and estate planning. Devan grew up in Huntsville, Texas and her family is Stephanie and the late Don Clute and sisters, Cameron and Rachel Clute. Devan is married to Parker Dawson and together they have one son, Cooper Dawson.

Honoring teachers who work with our kids day in and day out. They go above and beyond, and really do “Touch Tomorrow.”

What is a CFP® professional?

The CFP® designation stands for Certified Financial Planner™ and working with one is a helpful step in planning for your future. Advisors that hold these marks meet rigorous education and examination requirements and are held to the highest ethical and professional standards.

To start, the CFP Board requires all advisors looking to attain the marks to have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in any discipline to become certified. This is coupled with thousands of hours of real experience in the investment and planning business. The additional education and following examination cover seven major areas in financial planning: Investment Planning, Tax Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Insurance Planning, Financial Management, and Education Planning.

After passing the strenuous 6-hour exam, and for the final step of the certification, CFP® practitioners must satisfy the CFP Board’s Fitness Standards and agree to abide by a strict code of professional conduct, that sets forth their ethical responsibility to the public, client, and employees. The CFP Board also performs a background check during this process, and each individual must disclose any criminal history, personal financial history and any regulatory or civil proceedings.

CFP® professionals must complete continuing education coursework, including a CFP Board approved ethics course, to ensure their continued competence in financial planning.

It is important to understand how CFP® professionals deliver their services and how they are compensated. Planners are compensated for the services they provide in different ways. Some are paid through commissions and others through fees or a combination of both. While all CFP® practitioners are trained to provide you with comprehensive financial planning services, some specialize in one or more areas, or work with specific type of clients. Be sure to ask the planner how he or she is paid.

We, at Global Financial Partners, would love to help you better understand your current financial situation and develop a plan to move you towards your goal.

We believe so strongly in the CFP® designation that all our advisors are Certified Financial Planner™ professionals. Whether you are years away from retirement, or already enjoying your golden years, we can help provide a clear plan to “Enjoy More, Worry Less”.

Huntsville High School

Agriculture/Welding Educator

Nominated by Rosemarri Walker

Mr. Sockwell has taught me the meaning of hard work, along with how to rely on myself, but still be a team player. He has taught me a lot about the ethics and business side of industry, as well as how to accomplish all I plan in life.

Nominate a special teacher today by going online: www.PostcardsLive.com

Those chosen for publication are awarded a gift card to 1836 Steakhouse.

Sponsored by:

Submitted by: Brian B Smith, CFP®, Bryan M Masten, CFP® & Riley W. Smith, CFP®

Jeff Sockwell

A Salute to Heroes

With sincere appreciation from communities affected by the Game Preserve Fire – September 2023

When the call goes out, they run; From near and far, they come. Some are family, neighbors, friends, Quite a mix that alarm bell sends. Many don’t know us or owe us…but they come-And, whatever the cost, work till job is done. Why undertake noble tasks so hard? The answer is simple; it’s who they are.

I took a ride the other day up FM 247 and Lost Indian Camp Road. I’ve seen burned ground before, so that wasn’t all that interesting. The interesting part I experienced was all the homes where the fire burned the woods up to and all the way around the house, but the houses were untouched. In the past, I’ve only looked at these fires and how they affected me. But this is different. I could see firsthand what the firefighters have done for so many. It hits hard that these folks seriously put it on the line for others. There just isn’t enough thanks that pays for it. But here it goes anyway. Big heartfelt thanks for what you do, and may God even up the scales!

David McGann (from Facebook)

So well said, we had to share.

This New Waverly Fire Department Wildland Engine (which proved invaluable in this incident) is the first of its kind in our area, but similar fire engines have been used around the country in places like the Florida swamps and Minnesota forest bogs. It carries 500 gallons of water and 10 gallons of firefighting foam concentrate.

The majority of these photos were shared on social media. In our efforts to honor the work done during this event, we share the following photo credits (as best we could determine). We apologize if we missed anyone. It was not intentional.

You may recognize Amy Barnett as one of Postcards Magazine’s writers. Because of her interest in music, she frequently authors feature articles on music artists. We are proud to share that she wrote a country music single of her own, Label (sung by Ariel Hutchins), that recently reached number one on the Texas Country Radio charts! Congratulations to Amy from your Postcards family and all our readers.

Amy Barnett

Awesome Apps

Walker County OEM (Office of Emergency Management)

Receive alerts, notifications, and information on local incidents, road closures, power outages, weather, and more.

From WC OEM: Our app is now live! We are very proud to introduce our mobile app is available for download for apple and android. Below are the links and a QR code. Bear with us, we are still building useful information into the app and learning how to do this as well. We welcome useful comments to help make this a great app for our entire community.

Android Link: https://play.google.com/store/ apps/details...

iOS Link: https://apps.apple.com/.../walkercounty-oem-tx/id6461775151

Story and Photos by Mike Yawn

Texas State Parks: A Centenary Celebration

Highlighting the birth and development of our state park system.

Sam Houston may have written that “Texas is the finest portion of the globe that has ever blessed my vision,” but Texans were slow to embrace and preserve the natural beauty that so impressed Houston. It was not until 1923 that Texas created a true state park system, and even then, government leaders have been hesitant to provide adequate funding. Much progress has been made in this regard, and today—in the state park system’s centenary—the system can boast more than 800,000 acres of preserved land, within which every Texan can experience the state’s diverse regions, natural beauty, rich history, marvelous and sometimes eccentric wildlife, and unique geologic features.

Yellowstone and Yosemite National Park, the foreground to the soon to come State Parks of Texas.

Texas State Parks: An Idea Takes Root

The concept of a state park system did not come easily to Texans. For the most part, citizens of the Lone Star State are averse to the idea of public regulation, public management, or public ownership, so the notion of setting aside public lands for the common good wasn’t an easy sell. And when the idea did come, it did so in fits and starts, always beset by challenges.

By the end of the 19th century, however, national trends, at least, were favorable. A nostalgia for a pre-industrial America was emerging as the country’s western frontier was closing. Yellowstone was established as a National Park in 1872, the first such designation in the country—and the world. Yosemite, Sequoia, and Mount Rainier followed, all in the 19th century. Theodore Roosevelt employed the “Antiquities Act” to expand preservation efforts, and in 1916, the National Park System was created. “National Parks,” Wallace Stegner noted, “are the best idea we ever had.”

In Texas, this trend manifested itself in greater support for historical sites rather than in a simple regard for the preservation of nature. In 1891, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) was formed, in part, to preserve historical sites. In 1897, the legislature allocated $10,000 for the purchase of the San Jacinto Battlefield—where General Sam Houston won Texas’ independence as a nation— and it became the first “park” owned by the State of Texas. Similar efforts were made to preserve the Alamo, Gonzales, Washingtonon-the-Brazos, and other historical sites over the next decade.

San Jacinto Monument

A deer at sunset in Mother Neff State Park

Entrance to Mother Neff State Park where you will find Rock Cave, wildlife, and beautiful landscapes .

To develop a full-fledged park system, however, Texas needed a politician with the will and zeal to go “beyond historical monuments” and, as author Cynthia Brandimarte has noted, “to showcase the diversity of Texas’ landscape, encourage tourism, and promote conservation.” That politician was Pat Morris Neff.

According to contemporary accounts, Neff “was not like other boys.” As Stephen Harrigan recounts, Neff, “though Texas born,” had “never shot a gun, baited a fishhook, used tobacco in any form, nor drunk anything stronger than Brazos water.”

He did, however, have a vision for Texas’ future, which he laid out in a series of reelection speeches between 1922-1923, as well as calls for legislative action. According to authors Dan Utley and James Steely, Neff called on the state to “establish parks, both large and small, throughout her borders.

The people should have the breathing spots where they can enjoy nature in stream and tree, in rock and rill.” He proposed such a bill, enjoining the legislature to create a state parks board and to fund a new parks system.

Texas State Parks: Growth of the System

The legislature was recalcitrant, and while it approved a parks board, it provided only a bare minimum of funding. Indeed, its annual budget in the early years was only $375, with no funding for staff, the acquisition of land, or the improvement and maintenance of such land.

With no funds, the Board pushed for donations, often having to beg the donors to provide additional funding for improvements and maintenance. What followed, according to former Parks Director Carter Smith, were “grueling political battles, eleventh-hour land

One of the citizens who spearheaded the campaign for donations was Huntsville native Marian Rather Powell, whom author Jennifer Bristol described as “brilliant” and “fiercely organized.” These qualities would serve her well as she led a letter-writing campaign; attended and spoke up at meetings; and lobbied legislators on behalf of Texas parks.

Powell’s efforts were successful. In 1927, the legislature agreed to accept the donation of 24 parcels of land, each of which would serve as a State Park. Without real funding, however, the supervision and

maintenance of the parks was left to local municipalities. But as Representative W. R. Chambers noted at the time, “It requires more than a cow pasture and an excited Chamber of Commerce to make a park go.”

Texas State Parks: A Park is Born

Pat Neff regarded all these sites as more than cow pastures, but one had a particular place in his heart. Shortly after he was elected governor, Neff’s mother passed away at the age of 91. “Mother Neff,” according to Utley and Steely, “bequeathed a small part of [her] homestead ‘as a park for the public, for religious, educational, fraternal and political purposes.’”

Although Texas had previously designated public lands as “parks,” such sites had been selected for their historic importance. Mother Neff, at least in Pat Neff’s mind, was the first State Park to be established in the National Park mold, a land of natural beauty, with support for diverse activities and rich wildlife. This land, on which he had reached maturity, was his inspiration of what a park system could provide.

In its earliest iteration, the Park was only six acres, but even today,

at 259 acres, Mother Neff State Park is one of the state’s smaller recreational parks. It lacks the desolate grandeur of Big Bend Ranch, the brooding beauty of Caddo Lake, and the towering spires of Palo Duro. But, as Utley and Steely note, “Mother Neff State Park is everything a park should be.”

Nestled in Texas’ hill country, Mother Neff State Park is approximately 30 minutes from Waco. Such placement is consistent with the original concept of the park system, which sought to provide city dwellers quick access to rustic environments.

Mother Neff’s “parkitecture” themed visitor’s center and xeriscape grounds provide an attractive gateway to the park—and a home for a diverse number of butterflies and birds. Its modern look, however, belies its claim to being one of the oldest parks in the system. But the Park’s rich history is easily discovered in its interior. A short trail from the main road, for example, takes visitors to a “rock cave” occupied by the Tonkawa Indians hundreds of years ago. Another short trail offers access to “Wash Pond,” a small, spring-fed body of water used by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers in the 1930s.

The CCC was central to the development of Mother Neff State Park, but the Park is not unique in this regard. More than 50,000 men worked for the CCC in Texas alone, with approximately 30 Texas parks housing CCC camps. In Mother Neff State Park, there are several CCC structures, most of which reflect the distinctive stone construction favored by the Corps. In typical fashion, the construction materials were locally sourced, allowing the structures to blend with their surroundings.

The Park also features more than three miles of hiking trails—many developed by CCC—which wend through prairies, rocky landscapes, and along the Leon River. Given its four distinct habitats and proximity to the river and other water sources, the Park features an abundance of wildlife, with deer, armadillos, and rabbits, particularly visible. Perhaps its most striking feature, at least in the spring, is its wildflowers, which bloom across the Park’s prairies, at the visitor center, and at the entrance portal, the latter also constructed by the CCC.

Mother Neff State Park is not the State’s most dramatic park, but it is to an unusual degree,

a successful representation of what it was meant to be: a rural oasis, that, as Governor Neff hoped, enhances the “health, welfare, and happiness” of Texans, by providing them with “leisure periods…for rest, recreation, and relaxation.”

This is the first of two pieces celebrating the State Park System’s centenary. Next month, Postcards will highlight some of the State’s most dramatic and unusual parks.

Living with Children

By: John K. Rosemond www.rosemond.com

The Blessing of Being Unpopular

When my daughter Amy entered middle school, she looked two to three years younger than most of her female peers. That was a blessing to me, of course, but from Amy’s perspective, it was a curse. She frequently - at least once a week - came home from school complaining that the other girls didn’t want her around, that she had no friends, and so on. Willie and I felt for her, but we also knew there was nothing we could do to solve her social problems. We could not magically cause her to look more mature. (And besides, having been a testosterone-driven teenage boy once, I did not want her to look more mature.)

We listened to her complaints, talked to her about her problems (none of which she had brought on herself), said that things in her life at that moment weren’t fair, agreed that many of her female peers were selfcentered and mean, and held her when she cried. Nothing changed, of course. She continued to be Miss Unpopularity.

Finally, at somewhat of a loss, I decided to share a different perspective with her. One day, after a litany of complaints, I said, “Well, Amy, I know you’re going to have difficult understanding this, but being unpopular isn’t such a bad thing, really.”

“How so?” she asked, her eyes full of tears. “Well, it’s teaching you to not need other

people’s more two feet.”

“Yeah, “I know thirteen, you someday.”

“Yeah, From up the would that to be she would around went, In high more friends this day), One in her three she suddenly, “Daddy, middle about me it Well, didn’t

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Congratulations to Huntsville native Eric Burns who was recently named the new principal for Samuel W. Houston Elementary. He is a Hornet grad and was a student at Samuel W. Houston Elementary when he was a child.

Natures beauty. Shared by Allie Moore

Community Builders

Local enthusiasts embrace reliable, time-tested technology for both fun and public service.

Story by Courtney Burleson

Photos by Tom Miller

Dusk is arriving, and as you hike, the sky is becoming painted with hues of gold and pink as the sun fades behind the horizon. Suddenly, your sense of direction is gone. You’re lost or worse yet, have become injured and unable to walk back to the trailhead on your own. It’s time to pull out that cell phone, right? Wrong. There is no signal, or the phone is dead and there is no way to contact anyone for help - unless you have been trained as a “ham” radio operator.

Amateur Radio, also known as ham radio, is a popular hobby and licensed radio service that enables people to communicate all around the world and even through outer space without the use of the internet or cell phones, but instead, by using your own equipment and a radio frequency spectrum. On a lighter side, imagine you are in the comfort of your own home and are listening to astronomy reports from the North Pole or visiting with friends in New Zealand as if they were sitting right next to you. These dialogues are not over a cell phone with outrageous roaming fees attached, but instead, the communication is through ham radio with no fees.

Both these scenarios may seem extraordinary, but for members of the Walker County Amateur Radio Group in Huntsville, Texas, they have been and can be a reality. After sitting down with some WCARG members, their passion and enthusiasm for amateur radio and the club itself became

evident. Stories with laughter, joy, and the desire to help others filled the conversations. While club members have found documents dating back to the 1950s, WCARG Vice President Rene Roman said the club has been truly active for more than 20 years. With around 70 members, the 501(c)(3)

nonprofit club meets weekly for breakfast. They also have a regular meeting on the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m. at the Walker County Storm Shelter in Huntsville. For those who can’t make a meeting in person, the club meets on the air each Monday at 7:00 p.m. at on-call station 146.860 DCS 631 negative offset.

Currently, there are over 700,000 ham operators in the United States. Those members are not just military veterans and old men reliving war stories over the radio; they include women and even the younger generation. In fact, the Huntsville Club has 10 and 12-year-old members. There is no age limit on ham radio operators, as long as they take the test and pass.

“We help people learn how to use their radios or even phone app and practice with them,” explained Roman. “We are open to anyone who is interested or wants to learn about the hobby.” Roman explains that it is a broad hobby, with many avenues, but for him, the human mind amazes him most. “What I enjoy most is the sheer inventiveness of humans,” comments Roman. “Some ‘hams’ are able to bounce signals off the moon, access the International Space Station, or serve the National Weather Service as weather spotters.” Roman even recalled seeing a ham radio made from a metal bed frame and crystals or barbed wire used as an antenna. While some might imagine elaborate radios and equipment when they envision a ham

Ryan Gills

Top: Wilma & Clenard Hightower, Diane Roman, Josiah & Jesse

Bottom: Becky Flarity & Laura McDonald, Wilma & Clenard with Greg Coleson, Tyson Eppink & Rene Roman

radio setup, it is not always necessary. “It doesn’t take much to get into it,” said Laura McDonald, WCARG secretary, and ham operator since 2020. “You can get set up with an antenna and a handheld radio to talk to people in the club. You can find a good handheld for less than $100.”

Ham radio operators can also use their skills through various outlets, including an “Echo Link” app on their cell phones or “Winlink” for sending emails on computers independent of the internet.

Operation of amateur radio requires an amateur operator license granted from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the operation of ham radios does have some restrictions set by the FCC including no broadcasting (such as podcasts or music) is allowed. Everything on the ham radio is heard by anyone who tunes in.

Before receiving a license grant, you must pass an examination administered by a team of volunteer examiners that includes a series of questions, with a specified passing rate for each level. The three licensing levels for amateur radio are technician, general, and extra. On the technician level, ham radio

operators are able to communicate with other local operators and club members. The general license has more bandwidths, and the technology is a little more sophisticated. It usually includes a single desktop unit at 100 watts and is about the size of an alarm clock

radio. McDonald says she also recommends a tuner that helps align the radio frequency with the antenna. With each level, the radio operator’s bandwidth increases, allowing them to communicate with others near and far.

Craig Schlicher setting up for a meeting

Rene, Greg, Diane & Clenard wrapping up a meeting at the Josey Lodge.

McDonald, who has an extra amateur license, has taken her handheld ham radio to New Zealand, and was able to talk to locals. “It’s great when you’re traveling, because the other “hams” are so friendly, and I’ve met nothing but helpful people on it,” says McDonald. “When we were in New Zealand, there was a ferry situation with a long delay, and by using the ham radio and with help from the local operators, we were able to avoid it.”

Roman, who has an extra amateur license, talks about listening to reports from the Middle Atlantic--while Diane Roman visits with people from Alaska, Scotland, and Japan – all on the ham radio, from the comforts of their homes in Huntsville, Texas.

Diane Roman also has an extra amateur license and is the WCARG social director. “I just want to emphasize how much fun it is,” said McDonald. “We spend 99 percent of the time laughing and joking about silly mistakes as we’re learning about amateur radio. We are never bored and share great stories.”

McDonald does say one drawback is that it’s

like fishing. “Since the amateur radio works off radio waves, it is affected by weather, solar storms, and other variables, so you don’t always know what you’re going to get,” explains McDonald. “You don’t always know where your radio contacts are going to come from. They can be pretty random at times. Sometimes you can’t get out of the U.S., and sometimes you can reach people in other countries.”

For McDonald and Diane, one of the most fascinating parts of amateur radio is its application in science and astronomy. “The radio waves we use are interlinked with the atmospheric condition,” says Diane. “Operators use it to give reports to the National Weather Service, chase hurricanes, and give updates--or you can even talk to astronauts in space.”

Along with the sheer joy of socialization and conversing with people around the world, for many, one of the big draws to amateur radio is being able to serve their communities in the event of emergencies.

“When Hurricanes Rita and Katrina hit, cell phones would not work, so the U.S. Navy was

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using ham radio operators to communicate; and, during 9/11 when cell phone towers were jammed, ham radio operators were used for communication. When the wildfires ravaged parts of Northern California, amateur ham radio operators responded at shelters and county radio centers; and, in the aftermath, helped one community develop a radio communication network,” explained Roman who was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve and an emergency preparedness liaison officer. “When natural events pose a threat to people’s ability to communicate with family, neighbors, and with responders, amateur radio addresses that threat.”

Diane says the club wants to be more involved with the community and teach people how to use the ham radios in the event of a disaster. “We want to help prepare them for if, or when, something does happen,” said Diane. “If I’m in an emergency somewhere, there is someone out there who can help me with ham radio. I want others to know how to do that also and be able to get help.”

For more information, visit. www.wcarg.org.

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The Grands

1 What is your grandparent name and does it have a special meaning? Poppa

2 Number of grandchildren and age range?

Four, from ages 4-7…and another on the way!

3 Favorite activity with them? Any kind of play activity

4 Advice to other/new grandparents?

Don’t try to overdo it. Take what comes. You can learn so much from grandkids, you won’t believe it!

5 What’s your fondest memory of your grandparents?

I just hope they remember me as a nice guy.

6 What do you hope your grandkids remember about you?

My fondest memory of my maternal grandfather was spending time on the farm—picking peas or digging potatoes, I always enjoyed being with him. My Grandma Bailey—she was always cooking something, and it was always good!

Russell BAILEY

Things My Granddaddy Said

Attraction

Talking about a fellow you’re smitten with, you might say…

Every time I’m with him, I get more butterflies than a field full of petunias.

Brashness

To a fellow who always comes on much too strong to the women he meets, you might say…

A lasso ain’t no datin’ tool.

Frustration

If you’ve dated lots of women without finding the right one, you might say…

I sowed wild oats and reaped prunes and bran.

Appearance

Advising a gal who’s concerned that the nice guy she’s dating isn’t very handsome, you might say…

A good horse is never a bad color.

As I grow older, more and more often I find myself saying, “Like my Granddaddy used to say…” In an effort to keep some of these old sayings alive, we are sharing them here. Please feel free to share yours with us!

Publisher Karen Altom and her Granddaddy J.C. Farris

1957 Trinity County UFO mystery solved

By Janet Allen Batchelor

When I was very young, my family left Texas and moved to Louisiana. I loved Texas but, being four years old, I didn’t have much say in the matter. The next five years of my life were spent in the suburbs of New Orleans, until circumstances brought my Mother, my two sisters and me, back to Texas and, better yet, to the piney woods of East Texas. I was one happy kid!

A pretty single Mom, and her three daughters from 15 to 9 years old, were made to feel very welcome in the small town, and school, of Groveton. We settled into our tiny two story house in Woodlake and, over the years, made many lifelong friends.

Country life was calm and serene for our little household that was entirely female, including the dog and cat. We weren’t the least bit afraid to live six miles out of “town”. We didn’t even lock our doors unless we heard on the radio that there was an escaped convict from the Huntsville prison. That is, until we saw the UFO.

I don’t recall which one of us saw it first, floating low in the dark above the field across the dirt road from our house, but we all ran around locking the doors. Taffy, our cocker spaniel, had the fur on the scruff of her neck standing at attention, our cat went AWOL, and everyone in the house lined up, glued to the front windows.

There were six lights on the craft, all in a row, and it wasn’t making any noise that we could hear from inside the house. Sometimes the lights were evenly spaced, and then they would spread apart and slowly come closer together again. They moved up and down slightly as they came closer and closer to our front porch. To say we were afraid would be the ultimate understatement. I don’t think we could have wedged ourselves any closer together. We could scarcely breathe, and then we heard the voices.

The lights went every different direction as the boys climbed through the barbed wire fence across the road. It turned out that the UFO was actually six teenaged ‘coon hunters wearing lights on their heads. What a coincidence that these boys would wind up six miles out in the woods on the very evening that every teenaged girl we knew was at our house for a slumber party!

We were so relieved that the invaders were actually our schoolmates that we couldn’t even be mad. The “aliens” thought it was hysterical that we thought we had seen a UFO. After we calmed down, we thought it was pretty funny, too. I still do.

No raccoons were harmed in the production of this story. In fact, I’m pretty sure that they were safe, all along.

Gary Liebst

How a “divine orchestration” united an area orchestra with a conductor.

Story by Ruth Fields

Photos by Gina Turner

There was no music program in the parochial school Gary Liebst attended in Buffalo, New York, but just as he was about to enter the fourth grade, the school contracted with the local public school system to provide a beginner band class for the first time. It wasn’t ideal—just one day a week—but it was enough for a gifted young musician to learn to play the clarinet.

Neither Gary’s parents nor other close relatives had musical ability, but as Gary grew older, it became apparent he had what he acknowledges is a God-given talent. He began studying music in earnest in seventh grade, when he switched to public school. The following year, one of the high school band directors recognized Gary’s ability. There were only about 50 members in the high school band, and saxophone players were in short supply. So, the band director told Gary that if he’d learn to play saxophone—a cousin to the clarinet—he could play in the high school band as an eighth grader. “I thought my band directors were musical heroes, and I would have done anything for them,” Gary says, so he learned to play the saxophone, earning a place in the high school band for the concert season.

No horses or tumbleweeds

When Gary was 15, his father, a World War II veteran who coordinated incoming and departing aircraft for American Airlines, was transferred from Buffalo/Niagara International Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, requiring the Liebst family to move to Texas. Gary envisioned a Texas with horses, backyard oil wells, and tumbleweeds, but found none in the metroplex. Furthermore, he learned that Texans embraced stereotypes too, and usually assumed he was from New York City.

Gary soon found he could nurture his musical talent in Texas just as well as he could in upstate New York. By the end of his junior year in high school, he knew he’d found his career path. He ultimately earned a Bachelor of Music Education from East Texas State University and a Master’s in Performance from East Carolina University. He had “visions of grandeur,” he says, and hoped to play professionally, but as he neared the completion of his graduate courses, he realized that “not all of us can be performers in New York City and Los Angeles,” he says

with a smile.

After graduate school, Gary got a job as a junior high band director with additional duties as an assistant high school band director in Bay City, Texas. Being a new teacher in a small school district was a challenge, but the following year, Gary began teaching at Wharton County Junior College and found his niche in community college music education. Over time, he came to love directing ensembles. “I was really connecting with these students in a way I never thought I could,” he recollects, and he realized, “This

is the right place for me.”

By the time Gary retired in 2021, he had spent a combined 37 years at Wharton County Junior College, Lone Star College, and Angelina College in Lufkin. Although he ultimately worked in administration, he was able to continue conducting by virtue of his 18-year tenure with the Kingwood Pops Orchestra. Gary joined the community orchestra when it was beginning its fifth year, and it flourished under his leadership. “We were rocking and rolling on all cylinders,” he says with a chuckle.

A nearly-missed opportunity

Looking back, Gary can’t believe how close he came to missing the October 2021 concert of the Conroe Symphony Orchestra (CSO). His wife Lee Ann didn’t feel up to it, but Gary, who had just retired after 38 years in music education, wanted to support the local symphony orchestra. So, at the last minute, he decided to attend. It was the orchestra’s first live performance since the pandemic, and the emcee welcomed patrons with enthusiasm. And by the way, she said, the orchestra was looking for a new conductor. Did anyone know a qualified candidate?

Gary was thunderstruck. For the previous three years, his job duties as a dean at Angelina College had prevented him from conducting, and he missed it terribly. He had wondered if he would ever be able to conduct again.

After the emcee’s surprising announcement, Gary hoped he would recognize a member of the orchestra who could provide an introduction. He knew that the Kingwood Pops Orchestra and CSO sometimes shared members; furthermore, Gary had been a part of the music community in the area for many years. But as he searched each face on stage, he made an unwelcome discovery. “I didn’t know a soul,” he says.

After the concert, he gathered his courage and embarked on what he admits was a rather awkward mission: to let the orchestra know that he did, in fact, have conducting experience, and that he wanted to apply for the job as CSO’s conductor. Over the next few months, several other job applicants served as guest conductors, but Gary finally had the opportunity to interview in April 2022. He later learned from the hiring committee that his vast experience with volunteer adult

ensembles and his zealous enthusiasm were the deciding factors. Gary took the baton just in time for CSO’s 25th anniversary season.

CSO’s 25th anniversary

Like most musical groups, CSO struggled during the pandemic, but Gary joined the

orchestra as it began its 25th anniversary season, bringing his infectious love of live music to the group.

Orchestra members have extended a warm welcome to Gary, citing his pleasing personality and vast musical knowledge. “He can bring the music to life in a different way

than the conductors we have had before,” says Stephanie Harris, the orchestra’s principal flutist and one of its six charter members. “If we are not doing something right, he’s going to let us know, but he’s very personable all ’round and fun to talk to.”

The orchestra is currently planning its 26th season, and Gary promises “an amazing mix of classical and popular music.” While the orchestra will perform some classical pieces, it will also play “well-known Broadway music, some jazz and some popular music,” Gary says. “There’s something for everybody,” he says, noting that he is pleased to be a part of a musical organization that can connect with audiences in a meaningful way. “It’s local talent performing for friends, neighbors and families,” he says. “That’s pretty special.”

While rehearsals often concentrate on mastering technical aspects of the music, Gary says, live performances can unleash the music’s indefinable emotional qualities. Sometimes patrons approach Gary after concerts to say that the music touched them in unexpected ways. And occasionally there are unforgettable moments during performances, like the time an aging veteran

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struggled to stand during the playing of an armed forces medley and then saluted crisply. “It’s something you don’t plan on, but when it happens, it’s always special,” he says. “Tell me, what better feeling is that?”

Family and football

While Gary’s professional focus has always been on music, he and Lee Ann, who married in 2000, have other interests, too. They enjoy spending time with their grown children, Kimberly, Carley, Alec and Evan, and like to travel. Although they didn’t know each other at the time, both Gary and Lee Ann grew up watching the Dallas Cowboys with their fathers. This shared interest in professional football sparked a unique goal: to attend a professional football game at

each NFL stadium. They sit in the “cheap seats,” Gary says with a laugh, and mingle with “the regular people of society.” They are particularly looking forward to visiting the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles because of its magnificent architecture. (For the record, Gary and Lee Ann have crossed 14 off their list and have 18 to go.)

Meanwhile, Gary often reflects on his spurof-the-moment decision to attend CSO’s October 2021 concert. “If I hadn’t gone to the concert. . .” he says, shuddering. “What a lucky moment,” he says, acknowledging that perhaps it wasn’t luck so much as a divine orchestration. “I was the right person for them, and they were the right group for me.”

What’s Cookin’

French Apple Cake

Ingredients

3 large baking apples (such as Honeycrisp)

2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp kosher salt

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup white sugar

2 Tbs light brown sugar

2 large eggs

3 Tbs dark rum

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 Tbs white sugar for the top

1 Tbs powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with butter and line the bottom with parchment paper.

Step 2: Peel (or leave skin on) and core apples; cut into cubes between 1/4 and 3/8-inch in size. A little smaller is okay, but if your cubes are any larger, they won’t get tender enough when baked. Add to a large bowl and toss with apple cider vinegar.

Step 3: Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.

Step 4: In another bowl, beat butter, 1/2 cup white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in 1 egg on high speed until it is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Add the second

egg and repeat. Mix in rum, vanilla extract, and 1/2 of the flour mixture. When the flour disappears add the rest, and fold in with a spatula.

Step 5: Fold in apples until evenly mixed into the batter. Transfer batter to the prepared pan, making sure all the batter is pressed in firmly. Smooth top and dust with remaining 3 tablespoons sugar.

Step 6: Bake in the preheated oven until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

Step 7: Remove cake from oven and let cool in the pan for about 30 minutes. Invert cooled cake onto a wire rack, place a serving plate on top, and flip back over. Dust top with powdered sugar and serve.

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Spanish Chorizo Stuffed Chicken Breast

Ingredients

2 Tbs olive oil

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tsp chopped fresh oregano (optional)

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (8-10 oz each)

2 oz Spanish chorizo sausage, thinly sliced

salt to taste

2 Tbs fine breadcrumbs

2 Tbs finely grated ParmigianoReggiano cheese

2 Tbs sherry vinegar

1/3 cup sherry wine

2 Tbs cold butter, cubed

freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 Tbs chopped Italian parsley (optional)

Directions

Step 1: Mix olive oil, garlic, and oregano in a small bowl and set aside.

Step 2: Preheat the oven to 475 degrees.

Step 3: Use a sharp thin knife to make five deep slashes at a 45-degree angle into the chicken breast, about an inch apart, going almost, but not quite all the way through. Leave about 1/2-inch of breast uncut on either side of the slash.

Step 4: Salt chicken breasts generously

on both sides, and spoon oil mixture on top. Rub olive oil mixture into slashes, and all over the surface and bottom of the breasts.

Step 5: Slide slices of chorizo into the slashes in the chicken. Once inserted, at least 75% of the sausage slice should be covered by chicken.

Step 6: Transfer chicken to an oven safe skillet or pan and pour over any extra oil. Dust breasts with breadcrumbs, and sprinkle with cheese.

Step 7: Roast in the preheated oven until chicken is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 150 degrees.

Step 8: Remove chicken from pan, and let rest on plate, loosely covered with foil.

Step 9: Add vinegar and sherry to the pan and turn the heat to medium high. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Cook until sauce has reduced by half.

Step 10: Add any accumulated juices from the plate of chicken to the pan. Reduce heat to lowest setting and stir in cold butter. Stir constantly until butter has disappeared.

Step 11: Turn off heat and stir in the parsley. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.

Step 12: Transfer chicken to plates and top with sauce.

Hot Dog Mummies

Ingredients

8 hot dogs

1 (8 oz) pkg refrigerated crescent rolls

1 tsp yellow mustard or ketchup as needed (Optional)

Directions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: Place hot dogs in a saucepan and cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Drain.

Step 3: Roll crescent dough onto a work surface; tear into 8 pieces. Roll 1 piece dough around each hot dog, creating the look of a mummy. Place dots of mustard (or candy beads) on the top of each for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Arrange hot dogs on a baking sheet.

Step 4: Bake in the preheated oven until crescent dough is golden brown and flaky, about 10 minutes.

Witches Brew Punch

Ingredients

1 cup boiling water

¾ cup white sugar

2 (3 oz) pkgs lime-flavored gelatin mix

1 (46 fl oz) can very cold pineapple juice

1 (2 liter) bottle ginger ale

½ gallon orange sherbet

3 cups orange drink

20 gummy candies, or more to taste

Directions

Step 1: Mix boiling water, sugar, and lime-flavored gelatin together in a large bowl until sugar and gelatin are dissolved. Stir in pineapple juice.

Step 2: Pour pineapple juice mixture into a punch bowl. Add ginger ale, orange sherbet, orange drink, and gummy candy; stir well until blended.

Ingredients

3 c. plain popcorn or kettle corn

2 c. pretzels

1 c. semisweet chocolate chips, melted

1 c. white chocolate chips, melted

1/2 c. candy corn

1/2 c. yellow, orange, and chocolate

M&M’s

2 tsp. Halloween-colored sprinkles

Directions

Step 1: On a parchment-lined baking sheet, place a single layer of

popcorn or kettle corn and pretzels.

Step 2: Transfer melted chocolates to separate piping or Ziploc bags, with a corner snipped, and drizzle popcorn and pretzels with melted semisweet chocolate, making sure to drizzle lines very close together (you want the majority of the mix to be covered in chocolate).

Step 3: Top with candy corn and M&M’s and drizzle with melted white chocolate. Top with sprinkles and freeze or refrigerate until chocolate is firm, 20 minutes.

Step 4: Break into pieces and serve.

Monster Munch

Katelyn McNully Member Services

Business Focus

Story by Claudia Kirkwood

Photos by Tom Miller

The Business Focus is chosen each month by random drawing from among Postcards contract advertisers.

Third generation family members serve Riverside and beyond with this grocery, meat market, deli, meat processor…and “sausage wonderland.”

Cody & Ashley Roberts and Ron & Diane Tallent

With this warm and welcoming attitude (plus almost 20 varieties of smoked sausage, upwards of 60 flavors of fresh links, and many other quality products) Tallent Sausage is sure to please!

Originally named “Riverside Supermart” when established in 1977, the store was rebranded in the mid-1980s as “Tallent Sausage & Grocery.” It is now known simply as “Tallent Sausage.” In its beginning, the store provided groceries, minnows, and gasoline to the local community. Thomas Tallent (or “Grandpa” to family members) had worked as a meatcutter for years in a Houston area grocery chain, and upon retirement, looked for a more rural place to live. Joining sons Ron and John in Riverside, the store was opened and adapted to the needs of area citizens. “Grandmother” Arlene and Tommy Jr. operated a fullservice restaurant onsite for a time, offering

breakfast and lunch menus. Over the fortyfive years of its existence, many family members have worked at the store at either the initial location or at its current facility, built in 2000, at 3736 Hwy 19 in Riverside, Texas. The store now employs twenty-five people and is operated by third-generation family, Cody Roberts and Ashley Tallent Roberts. Ron and Diane Tallent are now enjoying their well-deserved retirement.

Although smoked sausage was not originally offered by the store, it was quickly determined they needed something to set them apart, so they began experimenting with different flavors, spice blends, casing types, meat ratios, and cooking styles. According to Ashley, this quickly became the signature product and Tallent Sausage now offers sixty varieties of pork and beef sausage flavors-including Original, Jalapeno Cheese, Cajun, German, Philly Cheesesteak, Loaded Baked

Potato, Reuben, and frankly, too many more to name. They are one of the few sausage makers who still use a true wood-smoke process without the use of fillers or liquid smoke, and only the highest-quality meats and seasonings are utilized. The sausage comes packaged in various sizes, with sample packs available as well. In addition to sausage, they have developed new award-winning chorizo flavors, tamales, and homemade meatballs. Everything found in their fresh meat case is all-natural and minimally processed. Beef is ground fresh every day using only whole-muscle beef. As you gaze at the selections, you will realize that delicious—yet difficult--decisions await! Need more options for your dinner table? Other meat offerings include poultry products such as marinated chicken wings, smoked chicken breast, smoked half chickens, snack trays, and grab-n-go items. Need meat cut

»

“From the moment you walk through our doors, we want you to feel welcome. It’s important that our customers feel seen and heard instead of feeling like an anonymous shopper at a self-checkout line.”

-Ashley Tallent Roberts

to your specifications? No problem. Let their skilled meatcutter enhance your dinner with a high-quality thickcut angus steak or some other mouthwatering choice. Complete your menu with fresh vegetables, fruits,

peas, beans, and rolls, along with many other items, all available from their well-stocked shelves, so that you have only a one-stop shopping trip to prepare that perfect meal. All products are fresh, all-natural with no

additives, and are minimally processed. This includes their full line of pickles and pickled products, quail eggs, jellies, cobblers, and salsas. These Texas-based products are made special for Tallent Sausage and cannot be purchased elsewhere. And if you are a cook who delights in concocting new dishes of your own, a line of custom seasonings has been developed and packaged and await the culinary adventures in your kitchen!

In addition to a broad selection of groceries and meats, Tallent Sausage can take care of

A

SPIRITUA L SANCTUARY

At First Christian Church where individualism is encouraged.

FORTHINKIN G CHRISTIANS

Embracing tradition

Weekly open communion

Sermons that make you think

Great music

Second Annual 19th Street Quilt Stroll

October 14 • 10 am - 3 pm

✔ 3 Churches

✔ 100’s of quilts

✔ Free - Our gift to the community

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Sunday worship service @ 10:45 AM

Sunday School @ 9:30 AM

Youth Group Sundays @ 3:00-5:00 PM (with meal on last Sunday of month)

Bible Study @ 10:00 AM on Wednesdays (zoom available)

that pang of hunger you feel when out and about running errands, or just finishing a fishing trip on the Trinity River. Stop by and enjoy their ready-to-eat offerings at the deli counter. Everything is fresh and made from scratch so fill a plate and feel good about what you eat! Many choices are available including smoked sausage, pulled pork, or BBQ chicken breast. Cozy that up with ample servings of potato salad, coleslaw, and beans, add a beverage, and one of their luscious desserts, and you are on your way

Worship services are live streamed on our FB page First Christian ChurchHuntsville, TX

Pastor Daniel Paul

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): A Movement for Wholeness in a Fragmented World.

1800 Ave. R. • Huntsville, Texas 77340 (936)295-3677

Email - firstcchuntsville@gmail.com

Website: Fcchtx.org

to finishing your busy day on a sweet note! Booths are available to enjoy your meal onsite, or you can purchase it as takeout.

Deer processing is another service offered by Tallent Sausage and they have served a wide variety of customers over the years. For information on services and prices, check their website at www.tallentsausage.com or call 936-594-2591.

Tallent Sausage was featured in a 2018 edition of Texas Monthly magazine as “The Best Texas BBQ Bites of 2018” and referred to in the article as a “sausage wonderland.” They were also awarded the Reserve Grand Champion in 2019 for beef jerky by the Texas Association of Meat Processors and again by TAMP for beef jerky in 2022. And let’s not forget those yummy snack sticks! They were named Grand Champion Snack Sticks in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, Tallent Sausage was voted The Huntsville Item Reader’s Choice award for “Best Meat Market” in 2017 and has won the “Best Butcher” Reader’s Choice award for several years. These awards and accolades are proof that Tallent Sausage not only offers the finest quality meat products, but also has a loyal customer base that continues to grow. As Ashley tells it, “We have a lot of great local customers we see daily. Some walk here from around the corner, and one even drives his tractor from down the road. We have customers who stop in once a week or once a month to stock their freezers with meat,

Grandpa’s motto was always to ‘offer a good product at a fair price,’

including plenty who drive in from Houston and Dallas. In fact, one Dallas customer buys sausage for his whole neighborhood each month. Another lives in Washington, DC, and always gets a shipment of sausage when family comes to visit. And still, another loyal enthusiast from as far away as California eagerly awaits an occasional shipment of mouth-watering Tallent meats.”

Shopping at Tallent Sausage can be accomplished by walking in or calling ahead

to have an order ready. Some customers regularly call at the first of the week or month to place their order which will be customwrapped and ready for pickup when needed. In the cooler months (usually beginning in October), orders can be shipped to certain areas. Information about shipping can be obtained by calling the store. Tallent Sausage continues to improve by incorporating more products from small businesses, as well as adding Blue Bell Ice Cream and coffee

products that local shoppers enjoy. Ashley and Cody continue to enjoy working on new recipes and creating new products. They also work hard to stay true to their roots. As she states, “We recognize that you can buy a steak or BBQ in a lot of places, so we focus on a great customer experience. Grandpa’s motto was always to ‘offer a good product at a fair price,’ and we still stand by that today. I believe it is a big part of why we’re still in business.” The family and employees at Tallent Sausage look forward to getting to know you and meeting one of your most important needs--that of having high-quality and great-tasting meats and groceries for your table. You may want to include one of those sixty flavors of sausage on your dinner table this week!

TALLENT SAUSAGE

3736 Hwy 19 Riverside, TX 77367 936-594-2591

www.tallentsausage.com

Facebook: Tallent Sausage and Grocery

Tuesday – Saturday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Closed Monday

Ron & Diane Tallant and Cody & Ashley Roberts

From the Mouths of Babes

Logan (6): Why do bad guys always try to take over?

Me: They want to be in charge and make all the rules.

Logan: Why don’t they just become moms?

Sarah (5): I’m gonna marry Noah.

Me: Why?

Sarah: He’s handsome, and I like his shirt.

Me: Looks aren’t everything.

Sarah: He likes to clean, too.

Me: Lock that in.

Dad: Come on, you guys are LATE!

Abby (11): You should have started YELLING at us earlier!

Me: Do you want the baby to be a girl or a boy?

Wylder: I want the baby to be Batman!

Mom, you were my best friend until I actually got friends.

Wildlife Wonders

QUIZ TIME

By Cheryl Conley

Lake Creek Preserve Board of Directors

It’s that time again--time to test your knowledge. If you read my monthly articles, this should be easy-peasy, right? Not so fast. I think this quiz is a bit more difficult than the last one and will really make you think. Let’s see how you do.

1. Name one country that has outlawed glue traps.

2. What disease can you get from the kissing bug?

3. What is the state bird of Texas?

4. If you know the answer to #3, name one other state that has the same state bird as Texas.

5. What caterpillar is often called the Toxic Toupee or puss caterpillar?

6. Can animals die from capture myopathy?

7. How many species of tree frogs live in Texas?

8. Are tree frogs carnivores or omnivores?

9. Is a green anole the same thing as a chameleon?

10. There are fewer than 200 of these birds left in the wild. What am I referring to?

How did you do? To be honest, if I hadn’t written the articles I would have gotten most of these wrong so if you missed some, don’t feel bad. It’s just for fun!

Carnivores; 9. No; 10. Attwater’s prairie chicken

Mockingbird; 4. Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi,

Zealand, two states & one territory in Australia, & four

ANSWERS: 1. Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, England,

Special Invitation from the Texas Bluebird Society

Thousands in and around Huntsville have a nestbox from John Grivich, a Johnny Appleseed for bluebird nestboxes. Usually, it is a nestbox that attracts an Eastern bluebird to a property. The iridescent blue-colored Eastern Bluebird cannot excavate a cavity for a nest. The nestbox, mounted on a pole, serves as an artificial cavity and perfect home. This October is the perfect time to add a nestbox to your property. The male Eastern bluebird begins scouting for a safe location to raise future fledglings next spring.

This year, Texas Bluebird Society is coming to the 49th Annual Fair on the Square (Saturday, October 7th) with a free nestbox for first-time members. Join for one year with an in-person $20 donation, and walk away with a nestbox and a full-color Bluebird in Texas handbook.

Look for a red, white, and blue Texas flag canopy near the Kid’s Korner. The Texas Bluebird Society wants to help you spread “Bluebirds across Texas…one nestbox at a time.”

Medical Matters

By Leonardo Taarea, DO Sports Medicine Primary Care Physician

Concussion Guide for Parents of Young Athletes

As the local school districts begin another season of athletics, all parents and athletes should know by now that a concussion is more serious than simply “having your bell rung.” Young athletes make up a significant portion of those sustaining this type of head injuries each year. However, many parents do not know the most common signs to watch for, says Dr. Leonardo Taarea, sports medicine specialist at Houston Methodist The Woodlands.

Up to 40 percent of sports medicine patients are children ages 16 and younger — many of which are student-athletes who have suffered a blow or jolt to the head while playing soccer or football. According to Dr. Taarea, the most common concussion symptoms include:

• Coordination problems

• Dizziness

• Fatigue

• Headache

• Nausea

Lesser-known signs are also important to watch for, include:

• Difficulty concentrating

• Memory problems

“Many young athletes may show signs of not remem bering where they put their homework or even forget the day of the week,” Dr. Taarea says. “Sometimes, it shows with emotions of sadness or irritability. Many parents might notice a behavioral change, saying their child is just not acting the way they normally would.”

Another sign to look for is balance issues. A mild brain injury can lead to trouble balancing--because as the brain recovers from a concussion, the person is dizzy and nauseated and the brain is having trouble putting together what’s going on in the world around it.

If you suspect your child may have suffered a concussion during sports practice or another competition, Dr. Taarea suggests asking “orientation questions,” such as:

• What’s your name?

• What month and year is it?

• Do you remember what happened just before your injury?

How do you feel?

If your child’s answers seem off, it’s imperative to make an appointment with a health care professional trained in concussion evaluation and management right away.

Depending on what the doctor says, your child may be held out of school and sports for a period of time to allow the brain to rest. “Prevention is the best treatment for concussion. You should always emphasize the importance of playing by the rules and wearing appropriate equipment,” Dr. Taarea says. “If your child does experience any concussion symptoms during competition, he or she should immediately report it to the coach, referee, or athletic trainer.”

A primary care sports medicine physician can help evaluate, diagnose and manage concussions and concussion symptoms.

Giggles & Grins

Some parents run a tight ship. I run a pirate ship. There is some swearing, some drinking, and a touch of mutiny from the tiny raiders I created.

I told my coworker that she swallowed too many kids, and that’s why everything that comes out of her mouth sounds childish. Now I have a meeting with HR.

“Them: How many pushups can you do?

Me: If they’re the orange flavor, I know for a fact I can do 7 of them in one sitting.”

I just got myself a pet termite. I’m going to call him Clint…Clint Eats Wood.

You can’t hurt my feelings. I’ve had to back up a trailer in front of my dad.

Me at 14: Can’t wait to travel the whole world once I’m earning my own money.

Me now: Mustn’t forget that Tupperware container at work; it’s my only one.

How One Golfer Beat Neuropathy and Got Back to the Green

For John, retirement meant freedom - and golf. Days were filled with the satisfying thwack of the club connecting with the ball and the camaraderie among golf buddies under the vast blue sky. Golf wasn’t just a pastime; it was the heartbeat of his retired life.

But then, neuropathy struck.

A creeping numbness started at his toes, a tingling that became persistent pain. Mornings once filled with the excitement of a game ahead turned into a struggle. His confident stride was replaced with a hesitant step. Each swing became a reminder of the pain, and soon, the course that was once a sanctuary seemed more like a challenge too big to tackle. He watched, benched, as his friends continued playing, their laughter echoing, a cruel reminder of what he was missing.

Enter Huntsville Physical Medicine Institute.

A friend, noticing John’s absence from the course, mentioned Dr. Brian McGee, DC. “He’s working wonders,” he’d said. With a mix of hope and desperation, John decided to reach out. One phone call to 936-291-2111, and he found himself scheduled for a neuropathy consultation.

Dr. McGee and his team at Huntsville Physical Medicine Institute weren’t just clinicians; they were lifesavers. They listened intently as John spoke about his passion for golf and the void neuropathy had created. With every treatment session, they didn’t just treat a patient; they worked on reviving a golfer, a friend, a man with dreams of returning to the green.

In what seemed to be no time at all, John’s pain and numbness began to disappear. Each day marked progress. And one sunny morning, with a deep breath and a heart full of hope, John decided to step onto the course again.

The satisfaction of that first pain-free swing was indescribable. His buddies, seeing him stride confidently, cheered. The birdies came back, and so did the familiar banter and laughter. The course was no longer a challenge, but a playground again.

Like John, many have rediscovered their passions after being benched by neuropathy. And the secret? It’s right here in Huntsville. Don’t let neuropathy decide your life’s course. There’s a solution, and it’s waiting for you at Huntsville Physical Medicine Institute. Dr. Brian McGee, DC, and his dedicated team are here to help. And the best part? This month, they have 20 spots available for a complimentary neuropathy consultation. They’re filling up fast, so don’t wait.

Your next birdie is just a call away. Dial 936-291-2111 and schedule your appointment. Take the first step towards reclaiming your game, your passion, your life.

17-28

20

The Woodlands Houston Symphony: Hocus Pocus Pops woodlandscenter.org

20-Nov 5 Conroe “Clue on Stage” crightontheatre.org

Nacogdoches

J.R.A.

Don’t Look Back

Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers against us; let your compassion come quickly to meet us. – Psalm 79:8

Don’t let your yesterday keep you from your today and your tomorrow. God has forgiven the mistakes we made in the past, and he has a bright future in store for us. Jesus died to save us from our own evildoings, and His compassion has fallen on us—while we were yet sinners.

In Christ, we don’t run—we stand.

In Christ, we don’t doubt—we trust. In Christ, we don’t lead—we follow. We don’t need to add anything to what Jesus has already made perfect.