Focus Magazine | Spring 2017 by Focus Magazine

F O C U S M

HOLY SMOKES

BBQ restaurants offer good food and atmosphere

ON THE ROAD

Truck drivers discuss what it's like to live and work on the road

A Baylor University Student Publication | Spring 2017

GROWING PAINS

An in-depth look at the social and financial costs of expanding I-35

Letter

from the

EDITORS

Interstate 35 may be a simple highway, but it tends to bring about some mixed feelings. Some strong mixed feelings. Running from Minnesota to Texas, travel down this road is an epic quest unto itself, not only due to the sheer length, but the multitude of construction sites and projects dotting the stretch as well. In this edition of Focus, we wanted to explore places and people that make the interstate their own. Highways tend to attract unique sorts of businesses, and our I-35 is no different. Churches of all shapes and sizes join the menagerie, and we've given you a sneak peek at a couple of these places. However, much like the people who frequent it, I-35 is changing, leading to social and economic issues of its own. To write about the diamonds of I-35, we have to write about the rough as well. We invite you to hop in a vehicle of your choice and just take a drive down I-35; you never know what treasures you may find!

Marcus Maurer

Maggie Malone

Cover Photo, Back Cover Photo and Editors Photo by Maggie Malone

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CONTENTS History of a Highway

The Stones Beneath

On the Road Again

Cowboys in Christ

Holy Smokes

Central Texas BBQ of I-35

Derby Days & Derby Nights

Growing Pains

28 Angela Tharpe

6 |The Stones Beneath

CONTRIBUTORS

Ellie Cantor

26 | Derby Days & Derby Nights

ANGELA THARPE Angela_Tharpe@baylor.edu

AARON COBBS Aaron_CobbsTitle@baylor.edu

ELLIE CANTOR Ellie_Cantor@baylor.edu

DÃ&#x2030; KWAAN WYNN DayDay_Wynn@baylor.edu

KRISTINA VALDEZ Kristina_Valdez@baylor.edu

JAS JEFFRIES Jasmine_Jefferies@baylor.edu

MEREDITH WAGNER Meredith_Wagner@baylor.edu

MAITLAN WADE Maitlan_Wade@baylor.edu

PALMER BRIGHAM Palmer_Brigham@baylor.edu

MICHAELA SCHIRRA Michaela_Schirra@baylor.edu

Maggie Malone

28 | Growing Pains

see more of I-35 online at

BAYLORFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM

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HISTORY

HIGHWAY by Marcus Maurer

TOTAL LENGTH = 1,568 MILES

Generally considered to be a border-to-border, but it does not directly connect to either international border ENDS IN THE SOUTH AT LAREDO, TEXAS ENDS IN THE NORTH AT DULUTH, MINNESOTA

FORMALLY COMPLETED in 1982

TEXAS CONTAINS 503.96 MILES

Kansas Oklahoma

MISSOURI CONTAINS 114.74 MILES

In Austin alone, more than 220,000 vehicles travel on I-35 on a daily basis

Texas

Information provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and the History Channel

see more history online at

BAYLORFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM

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DID Minnesota

Iowa

Missouri

KNOW?

• It took the U.S. government 17 years to create and fund the idea of the interstate • Every state owns its portion • The states set the speed limits, with 70 MPH being the most common in Texas • The popular red, white and blue shields used to designate interstate numbers are trademarked • Interstates and highways with the same number cannot run through the same state • The interstate is part of the U.S.'s atomic attack plan, meaning it was justified as a method of removing citizens from large cities • There are no design rules dictating the shape of roads

The Future of I-35 in Texas Community-driven initiatives work to improve Interstate 35 Before the modern Interstate Highway was christened I-35 in 1959, much of it was known as the Chisholm Trail. What was once crowded with cattle in long drives north of Kansas has transformed into a crowded road for both drivers and businesses. In an effort to renovate and improve the experience for drivers, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) created the My35 initiative. My35 is a citizen-driven effort to expand a 96-mile stretch of I-35 from Hillsboro to Salado in the Waco district. Maggie Malone The project's estimated cost is at about $2.5 billion, with the overall effort being made up of 17 smaller construction projects. The state targets a completion date of December 2017. by Marcus Maurer

A Brief History of Interstate 35 in Texas

1946

The right-of-way for the future Interstate 35 in Austin is purchased

1960

Construction in the DFW region begins with the upgrading of US 77 to interstate standards

1962

Interstate 35 formally opens in Austin

1965

Interstate 35 that connects Dallas and Oklahoma is completed

1967

Interstate 35 connection between Austin and Dallas is completed

1970s

All at-grade railroad crossings over Interstate 35 are removed

1975

A two-mile set of elevated express lanes were added in Austin

2008

The state of Texas commissions My35, a committee dedicated to improving Interstate 35

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The

STONES

BENEATH Church Under the Bridge works to bridge the divide in the Waco community, all underneath Interstate 35

Story by Aaron Cobbs | Photos by Angela Tharpe

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Interstate 35 is a monumental structure with massive pillars that rise off the ground. Underneath the highway lie stone pebbles that rumble and shake every time a car rushes on top. But on Sunday mornings, another rumble can be heard: the footsteps of a large gathering of homeless men and women who come to serve God. This is the organization known as Church Under the Bridge. Lead pastor Jimmy Dorrell and his ministry founded Church Under the Bridge in 1992. He describes its formation as a natural process, something that came about when he, his wife and a Baylor student invited a group of homeless men that were living under I-35 to have dinner with them. These men took kindly to Dorrell’s invitation. “Eventually, it got to be so big that they invited me for Bible study,” Dorrell said. “So I walked to them.” More and more people started to show up to the fellowship under the bridge – some looking for food and others looking for faith. Dorrell and his members realized that they could meet both needs and decided to establish Church Under the Bridge as a continuing identity. Today, with 25 years of service, Church Under the Bridge has transformed the spiritual and physical lives of the Waco citizens and the homeless population it swore to help. Like Jesus, who ministered to those who were not a part of the church, the members of Church Under the Bridge are granted a haven and the opportunity to seek out his Word. Before each service, physical needs are met in the form of a church wide food drive that serves breakfast or lunch. One staff member, Lydia Harden, enjoys providing for the members. “Sometimes it’s just putting marshmallows in their hot chocolate when they’re cold,” Harden said. “It’s a much different church than the one I grew up in.” Most of the Church Under the Bridge staff members used to be a part of other churches around the city, Harden said.

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TOP With half in the sun and the other half shaded by Interstate 35, the church's congregation gathers for their weekly service. ABOVE Pastor Jimmy Dorrell leads the church in prayer. RIGHT A couple from the church embrace after holding their wedding in front of the congregation.

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Church members often call themselves "trolls," coming from the tale "Three Billy Goats Gruff" in which the trolls of the story live under a bridge.

However, they felt called to Church Under the Bridge to serve the community. In fact, some of the staff were once members themselves who sought to return the favor paid to them by the church, including Allen Bryant. After enduring the death of his only daughter at a young age, Bryant soon became homeless. In his grief, he lost his faith. However, once he discovered the Church Under the Bridge and attended a few services, his faith began to grow and he began to attend regularly. Bryant, along with his wife Shelley Bryant, currently serves as the leader of the "Walking in Faith Group," one of the 13 small groups within available to church members and guests. “Right here brought me back,” Bryant said when asked about his time in the church. “Now I’ve been coming here for 10 years, married to my childhood sweetheart, and I now work as a monitor at a shelter that I once stayed in. That’s the power that God can have.” The churches found within the New Testament had a profound effect on determining how Church Under the Bridge should function. These churches acted on their charity rooted faith: taking care of the sick, giving to the poor and providing for those who needed help. While

these attributes were found in many churches in the New Testament, some say these principles are often missing in many modern churches, making the Church Under the Bridge a rarity in today's age. “I’ve seen people who look like our members be turned away at other churches,” Bryant said while motioning to the congregation sitting in folding chairs. “That’s not Christian in my opinion.” Church Under the Bridge challenges what it means to be a Christian in today’s time. Because not all of their members are Christian, the church works to accommodate as much as it can. Don’t be surprised if you see members smoking off to the side or walking around the service. For these members, it’s a natural part of life. Church Under the Bridge members find their own reasons for faith. Thomas Williams, one of the members of the church, described the church as “the only place where I can get this type of assistance.” “I’ve been a believer all my life,” Williams said. “But you never know what you have to do to stay alive.” While fellow members can relate to his experience, Baylor students who attend these services see this play

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out front and center. Marion, Ill., sophomore Anna Frerichs first attended Church Under the Bridge while taking part in the Poverty Simulation Program, a weekend program run by Dorrell's charity Mission Waco that works to expose participants to the realities of being homeless and lost in a large city. “I think a meaningful life comes from people,” Frerichs said. “It’s about filling each others' needs and about God filling our needs.” Filling the needs of others is essential for Church Under the Bridge. Current Mission Waco driver and former addict Derrick Thomas became connected to the church after joining a recovery project called the Manna House, an alcohol and drug treatment center for adult men guided by Christian principles and secular treatment. As a member of

the Manna House, he was required to attend church every Sunday. Thomas has since been a member of Church Under the Bridge for seven years. “I’ve become an employee for Mission Waco and I’ve been clean from drugs and alcohol for about seven years,” Thomas said. “[The church] doesn’t focus on how you’re dressed or what you have. It focuses on love and the care and concern for the next person. Whether they are on drugs or not on drugs, you still have to treat them the same way.” From the homeless members to the prominent business leaders of the Waco community, Church Under the Bridge continues to serve and connect the diverse communities. While the church may have no physical permanence, underneath the rubble of the highway bridge, the stones cry out to Christ above in harmony.

RIGHT After driving the church's truck, a staff member discusses his involvement with the church. SECOND RIGHT A member of the worship team helps lead the congregation by playing guitar. In addition to having a weekly praise team, the Church also allowed for outside organizations to perform.

The

Core Values

In 2000, the Church adopted a basic statement of several principles of the church. These core values are considered to be guiding and affirm the basics that shape their ideology as Christians in the Body of Christ.

1 Our call is to be a church based on the revealed truth of God 2 Our call is to be church to the unchurched 3 Our call is to the poor and marginalized 4 Biblical justice will continue to be an overriding theme of the church 5 Multiculturalism is a foundational pillar of the church 6 De-emphasizing attractive or "holy" buildings 7 Discipleship through small groups 8 Being an interdenominational congregation 9 Church Under the Bridge affirms the call of "life together"

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"May we come together, black, white, brown, rich and poor, educated in the streets and in the university, all worshiping the living God, who makes us one." TOP A family gathers together following the service. On average the Church typically attracts 275 to 300 people most weeks. LEFT A member of the church enjoys a cup of coffee while attending Church Under the Bridge. Services typically include songs, prayer and a short spiritual message followed by a meal. ABOVE A church member sporting the church's "Troll" shirt enjoys the warm weather. While the church has no physical building, the leaders have made a commitment to meet regardless of the weather.

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Truck driver Reno Alton rests in front of his 18-wheeler outside the Flying J truck stop. The stop offered Wi-Fi, showers, truck scales and a drivers lounge.

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on the

ROAD AGAIN Semi-truck drivers discuss what it's like to live and work on one of the longest roads in the United States

Story by Kristina Valdez | Photos by Dé Kwaan Wynn Speeding out of an 18-wheeler's blind spot on Interstate 35 is common. One rushes by the towering truck relieved, passing the drivers as they stare ahead. They are the truckers—identified by occupation and the time it takes to pass their massive vehicles. But they are there—living life on the road. Truckers Abel Rodriquez and Reno Alton talk about life inside these invisible road beasts from the Flying J gas station in Waco. Rodriquez loves life on the road while Alton hates it. From Illinois, 27-year-old Abel Rodriquez has been a truck driver for six years and said he loves his job as much as he did when he was a kid watching the trucks drive by him. “Don’t do it for the money,” Rodriquez said. “Do it because you like it because the money is not there. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, I am going to get my CDL [commercial driver’s license], that way I can get a bunch of money.’ You’ve got to like what you do.” Rodriquez owns his own trucking company, Roca Transport Inc., with four trucks and four drivers working under him. Roca Transport Inc. transports ink for Sherman-Williams from Chicago to Texas and produce from Texas to Chicago. Rodriquez dropped out of the University of

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Wisconsin with a 3.7 GPA after he decided that instead of investing in school he would rather invest in equipment and start his own trucking company. “I did that for two years and then I decided that is what I wanted to do,” Rodriquez said. In January 2016, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enforced new laws to regulate the recorded hours of 3 million commercial truck and bus drivers to prevent fatigue on the road. Rodriquez said the new laws "screwed [him] over" instead of helping him. Truckers can only log, with paper or electronic logs, 11 hours a day and, for Rodriquez, that means fewer breaks and less money. “If your 11 hours are up or if you decided to take a twohour day, it counts against you,” Rodriquez said. “You’ve got to keep going instead of stopping. You can’t stop and rest. You’ve got to keep going until the computer tells you. It’s hurting more than it's helping.” The weekly miles that Rodriquez puts between him and his home become barriers, especially when family members die. Rodriquez said family members passing away, and him

facts about TRUCKERS Numbers provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation & Triumph Business Capital

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not being there, is the worst thing that has happened to him on the road. “You’ve just kind of got to ignore it for a second until you get home,” Rodriquez said. “I own the business and I’ve got customers and they need to know beforehand because I booked the load.” Rodriquez's wife, Danielle, joined her husband on his most recent route and emerged from the cab’s bed during the stop. The pair plans to have kids after Rodriquez’s business expands to having more trucks and more drivers. In the meantime, his wife is learning English at a community college while Rodriquez is on the road. When asked if having his wife with him on the road was easier on him, Rodriquez giggled and said yes. “It’s hard for her because I married her from Mexico so she doesn’t really know English,” Rodriquez said. “So being at home in a country that she has never been [to] before and being home for four or five days at a time by herself, it’s harder for her.” The dangers of life on the road comes from the solitary

/14 80K

the average capacity of a big-rig in pounds

jobs in the US are created or directly affected by the trucking industry

Trucks are currently in the U.S.

lifestyle that many truckers lead. Truck drivers are more exposed to health risks on the road when there is no one around if an accident or a health scare occurs. “A lot of truck drivers, we’re not healthy,” Rodriquez said. “We are sleeping by ourselves and no one is around you; we can have a seizure or a heart attack or something, and you are just out here. There is nobody to really to help you.” Despite the risks and the loneliness of the road, Rodriquez said he can't imagine stopping anytime soon. He said he always looks forward to seeing the sun on the open roads when driving down I-35. From Oklahoma, 51-year-old Reno Alton said he hates life as a trucker. Alton has been a truck driver for two years after working in the oil fields for 21 years. When his job ended, Alton said becoming a truck driver was the only job out there for him. Alton described life on the road as “not worth doing.” With a wife, two children and three grandsons, Alton said that

AVERAGE SALARY OF A DRIVER

the only reason he is a truck driver is for his and his wife’s insurance. “I am home, if I’m lucky, 34 hours every two weeks," Alton said. “It’s bad when you’ve got grandsons.” After working in the business for two years, Alton had strong words to say about the trucking industry, his fellow truckers and other drivers. “Man, I don’t want other truckers to get mad at me,” said Alton. “80 percent of the truck drivers don’t need to be on the road and 90 percent of car drivers don’t need to be on the road.” Alton transports all kinds of materials across the country, and was currently hauling 20,000 pounds’ worth of steel rods from Canton, Ohio, to Laredo. Alton said that legally he can only drive 64 mph in his specific truck with a 20,000-pound load and it would take him several hundred yards to get to a complete stop in his truck. BELOW Pictures of the inside of a trucker's cabin reveal the compact nature of life on the road. Depending on the company's policy, truckers could drive either at night or during the day.

105,000

average miles logged by a driver per year

1.3 TRILLION

REVENUE GENERATED BY TRUCKING IN 2015 Most common items shipped: FOOD, CLOTHING, FURNITURE & ELECTRICAL MACHINERY

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Alton said that if a car cuts him off within inches when entering the highway, he cannot slam on his brakes without the load on his truck bed going through the cab where he is sitting. Alton said that instead of him slamming on his breaks, he is running the car over. He said that the horror of that reality is that “it could be you and your child in that car.”

"If I get and ,I can care less about me - it's those individuals right there."

“People are idiots including me,” Alton said. “If I’m in a car and I get close to a truck, I am an idiot for getting close to that truck. I need to back off and give him his space. If I pull up beside him like I want to pass him, I don’t want to sit here and ride beside him for miles. Go. Get in front of him. 80 percent of people don’t do that.” Alton expressed his frustration about the January 2016 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration laws that now regulate truckers recording the amount of hours they are on the road. “I can only drive that truck for 11 hours a day,” said Alton. “Still, 11 hours is a whole lot of hours being behind that wheel whenever you’ve got a mother and her child on one side, a father and his child on

RIGHT Driver Abel Rodriquez stands in front of his 18-wheeler with his wife, Danielle. With no statutory regulations, it was up to the driver's parent company whether or not spouses could join them on the road. FAR RIGHT As the owner of his own shipping corporation, Rodriquez stands beside his truck.

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the other side. If I get dozy and sleepy, I can care less about me it’s those individuals right there.” Alton described how he and other truckers get treated by the public. He said he gets honked at, flipped off and ignored. In the two years that he has been a truck driver, Alton said that only four kids in the cars passing him on the highway have asked him to honk the truck’s horn. “I am surprised by how truck drivers get treated. Take it, they brought it on themselves from years ago, but they get treated like garbage—not only at the shipper, but at the place they deliver it to, but also the general public as well.” After working in safety for nine years in the oil field, Alton double checks all his loads at every stop to make sure that they are secure and uses double the restraints on all his loads. “Whenever I get a load—no matter what load it is—I will stand back here [at the back of my truck bed] and I’ll look to the left, I’ll look to the right. I’ll picture my wife and one of my grandsons on the left and I’ll picture my daughter and my other grandsons on the right. Is that load going to stay on that truck? If I don’t think it is, I throw more [restraints] on there,” Alton said. Alton said he will leave the trucking business as soon as the oil field business picks back up. Despite his negative feelings about the trucking industry, Alton said he is always proud of his truck. With his most memorable night in the truck being when a thought crossed his mind after a phone call with his wife. “One memory that will probably always stick with me is sitting in that sleeper of that truck at nighttime, with the curtains closed, having talked to my wife on the phone instead of being with her,” Alton said.

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God 's

COUN 18 FOCUS MAGAZINE

Story by Jas Jeffries Photos by Michaela Schirra

NTRY

While Central Texas may no longer be the Wild West it once was, cowboy churches are beginning to thrive along Interstate 35

riving up the steep black pavement and parking on the khaki gravel, church goers will find themselves at the Lone Star Cowboy Church of Hill and McLennan counties. Its bright blue building as a background for its white-lettered church name cannot be missed sitting off the side of Interstate 35 in Central Texas. Only opening in April of 2015, it has become the home to many local Texans as a place of worship. On a Sunday morning in Waco, Texas, many find themselves commuting to a local church. Baylor’s Christian influence on its students creates a community to be a part of a local ministry. From the short walk to Church Under the Bridge to a quick drive to Antioch Community Church, students have many options to choose from, including Abbott’s very own Lone Star Cowboy Church. Yes, cowboy church. Cowboy churches are fairly popular across the southern border of the United States. The Lone Star Cowboy church is a branch of the Church of the Nazarene network that spans across Texas. Their culture is embedded with a ‘come as you are’ standard as an invitation to serve all backgrounds of people through their distinct ministry. It initially serves a small,

close-knit community in Abbott, Texas though their doors are open to all. Lone Star is not the traditional church setting. Its sanctuary is made up of perfectly aligned fold-out chairs that are separated into three sections with two aisles for members to move about the sanctuary. In front of the rows of seats stands a wooden stage where musicians lead worship and song and where Pastor Rob McDonald teaches his sermon. On the right sits a large silver tin where baptisms take place accompanied by a wooden cross that stands behind it. The worship team that opens up each morning service includes a pianist, guitarist, drummer and singer. The paneled wooden walls mute the roaring semi trucks and traveling vehicles passing on the nearby highway. This church stands on the fact that less is more. And its members admire this fact. Church service is made up of signing, praying, collecting tithes, announcing events and, of course, the sermon. The musical selections combine both country spirituals and bluegrass gospels performed by Lone Star’s very own talented members. After a selection of about five songs and church announcements, Pastor McDonald welcomes

OPPOSITE PAGE The Lone Star Cowboy was adorned with little decoration. The wood paneling was unpainted and the building itself was a single, large room used for both the service and Bible studies.

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all visitors and invites them to be a part of the church’s breakfast break. Each Sunday, the Lone Star family caters a selection of breakfast pastries and coffee for members to enjoy during service. At this time members have the opportunity to welcome visitors and socialize. After Pastor’s sermon, the service concludes with prayer and a collective ‘Yeehaw!’ to send everyone home. Lone Star Church was founded upon very humble beginnings under the leadership of Pastor Rob McDonald. He used to be the district superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene before being called to pastor. “This is what Jesus really wants me to do,” McDonald said. His church only started with a small congregation and has grown to about 30 regulars since then. As word spread, more people came. Pastor McDonald passionately expresses his love for his church in saying, “Everyone is very welcomed here. No matter who you are, we have something for you every Sunday morning”. Pastor McDonald is not the

typical preacher. Each Sunday, he proudly wears a buttonup tucked securely in thick jeans. His white beard and gray hair complement each other as he hides it behind under his fairly large selection of cowboy hats (the cowboy tradition). His character is always relaxed and exceptionally friendly towards anyone who chooses to hold a conversation with him. He is a father, a husband, and friend to many of those around him; especially in his church. He greets everyone right at the door of his church himself. With a gentle, yet firm, handshake, his southern accent speaks of a neighborly “Good morning!” As such a loving leader over a companionable body of believers, he sets the tone for Lone Star as a compassionate church. The cowboy church might be come off as something stereotypical in the southernmost states of the United States. But Lone Star proves just the opposite of that. There may be cowboy hats and boots walking through their doors, but this attire is what distinguishes this church from all the rest.

"This is what really wants me to do."

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TOP LEFT Members of the Little Wranglers work on their weekly craft. TOP RIGHT Framed by bluebonnets, the church stands by itself on the side of Interstate 35. BOTTOM LEFT Members bow their heads to pray as Pastor McDonald leads from the stage. BOTTOM MIDDLE The baptismal was a metal, water trough adorned with a wooden cross. BOTTOM RIGHT Dressed in everything from blue jeans to khakis, members of the church gather for a Palm Sunday sermon.

It uplifts visitors’ spirits. Here, cowboy attire is more than a costume, it is a celebrated and participated culture that everyone is welcome to be a part of. Even with a cowboy-like nature, its congregation loyally comes together to worship God in a very welcoming atmosphere. So what makes a church cowboy-like? It is the culture. It how the church carries itself. The common aspects of worship service is all there: the singing, the sermon. But Lone Star Church offers so much more, such as the Little Wranglers Ministry and the Rodeo Team. Little Wranglers is a children’s ministry that caters to the little ones that come along with their parents to church. Miss Betty Jean is the teacher of this ministry where she provides participatory crafts “with a little Christian twist”. “The kids love coming here. Mostly for the snacks, but whatever makes them happy,” Betty Jean said. Every Sunday morning, she enjoys catering her time to the next generation of believers. On the other hand, Lone Star hosts a rodeo team where adults participate in horseback riding activities within Central Texas. A Sunday morning pit-stop at the Lone Star Cowboy

Church when traveling across Texas on I-35 is definitely a pause worth taking. It may not be the traditional Southern Baptist church, but it definitely has a lot to offer with a small-town, intimate atmosphere. One characteristic being a very unique cowboy culture that many may not be able to find in any city across the southern states of America that they can find in Abbott, Texas. And for locals, they do not have to go far to be a part of such a genuine church body. Visitors don't have to be affiliated with the cowboy culture or dress a certain way to join Pastor McDonald and members in worship. Lone Star has its doors open to all ages, ethnicities and genders, cowboy or not. Central Texas is the home to many churches with various denominations to cater to all. Whether within one’s comfort zone or not, visiting other churches and experiencing their style of worship enriches one’s spiritual growth. Sure, the Lone Star Church admires its cowboy stamp, but, at the end of the day, they love worshiping the Lord too.

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Holy SM Story by Palmer Brigham

RED WAGON BBQ When Joe Slack, owner and pit-master of Red Wagon BBQ, couldn’t find the kind of barbecue he wanted in the local area, he found himself traveling to places like Austin and Dallas for what he was looking for, a barbecue place that treated its business as a craft. Slack, head of tourism at Homestead Heritage, a local community of artisans and where Red Wagon is located, and a fellow member of the area, expressed concern about people coming from out of state for authentic Texas barbecue in Waco but not finding it. “I want good barbecue, but not just for me,” Slack said. When a member of the Homestead Heritage community interested in building a barbecue pit approached him, Slack realized that he wanted to bring the same kind of business to Waco that he had seen at places like Franklin Barbecue in Austin, where people stood in line all day for quality barbecue. One of Slack’s students in his guitar making class was Austin barbecue legend, John Lewis Jr., who worked at Franklin Barbecue before he was pit-master at La Barbecue, another barbecue joint in Austin. At the time, Lewis’ advice on quality barbecue was, “It’s not the cook, it’s the cooker. Your pit has to be right.” Despite the fact that he heard these words before he was

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Courtesy

even interested in barbecue, Slack remembered Lewis’ words when he started down the barbecue path. Slack enlisted the help of Lewis, who designed the pit Red Wagon BBQ uses. To further ensure a quality product, Slack goes above and beyond to make sure he uses all-natural meat by touring farms and getting to know the people who run the facilities. Slack said he does this so he can tell his customers that he knows exactly where their food is coming from. “That’s our thing. We focus on quality, more than profit,” Slack said. Red Wagon BBQ is housed in a red trailer inside a screened-in building in front of the barbecue pit. Slack said that Red Wagon was a “community effort.” In addition to the member who constructed the pit, he credited the community with helping construct, paint and wire the building with electricity. He also said that the Red Wagon helps support Café Homestead, a local farm-to-table eatery. From guitar-making to cooking food, the community of Homestead Heritage approaches what they do with a craftsmanship and attention to detail they feel is missing in a mass-production-oriented world, something Slack also wants in the quality of barbecue he produces. “If you want something to be good, you have to do it as a craft,” Slack said. “You have to get your hands on it.”

MOKES Restaurants offer wide range of BBQ choices and atmosphere along the Interstate 35 corridor

SCHOEPF'S BAR-B-QUE Anyone who knows good barbecue knows to look for smoke, the mark of the time required to create quality barbecue. At Schoepf’s Bar-B-Que in Belton, not only can you see the smoke, you can literally feel the heat of freshly made barbecue. More evidence lies in the stacks of mesquite wood outside. Walk into “the pit” to order your barbecue, see it taken out of their steel box warmers and watch as it is weighed in front of you. Enter the next room to choose between a multitude of homemade sides, everything from macaroni and cheese to cucumber salad. Almost 25 years ago, Ronnie Schoepf Jr., along with his father and stepmother, started to look for a place to open a new restaurant. The three decided to return home to Belton. According to Schoepf, downtown Belton had grown quiet and when the family bought the building that now houses their family business, it was falling apart. “We woke this quiet street up,” Schoepf said. Now he and his wife, Staci, have been running the place together since they bought it from family in 2007. The two have worked to improve and expand the business since then. “My name is on the door,” Schoepf said. “And I provide food I’m proud to have relation with my name.” Schoepf said they smoke their barbecue fresh, regardless

Maggie Malone

of the circumstance. Whether it’s warm or cold or their wood is wet from the rain, they have to “work with whatever the Lord has given us that day.” One of the couple’s biggest undertakings was transforming the land behind the restaurant into a live music venue. Their first concert was held for Belton’s nationally recognized July 4th Parade and Rodeo in 2008. The next year, Schoepf’s introduced its annual Texas Music Series, featuring different artists every Thursday night from April to August. According to Schoepf, the concert series has become a popular event, attracting over a thousand people from all over Texas each week. Downtown Belton has grown in the past 25 years. Now Schoepf’s is located between several fast food chains and has helped pave the way for other local restaurants. At the prospect of competition, Schoepf said that he just focuses on making his restaurant “the best that it can be.” He is encouraged that Belton is becoming a destination with more choices, which is attracting more people to the city. “When you’re a family in a local business you live here, you raise your family here, you’re a part of the community and people look for you to be involved,” Schoepf said. “You want to take care of the community like you take care of your family.”

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FRëKIN GüD BBQ Courtesy

EYES ON THE SIDES Frëkin Güd, Bellmead

Photo by Maggie Malone

Commonly found BBQ Side Dishes Macaroni, Biscuits, BBQ Sauces, Baked Beans with Applewood Smoked Bacon, Southern Greens, Cornbread, Coleslaw, Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad, Hush Puppies, Green Beans, Pickles, Fried Pickles, Corn Bread Pudding, Rolls, Green Bean Casserole, Corn on the Cob, Baked Macaroni and Cheese

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When brainstorming names for his new business, Frëkin Güd BBQ’s owner and pit-master, Shaine Snider, said his mom slammed their list of prospective names down on the table in defeat and said, “I don’t know, but it’s freaking good!” The name stuck, along with some changes to represent their German heritage, but their barbecue is all Texan. “I thought we could cook really good, so we went for it,” Snider said. Snider taught himself how to smoke barbecue, which he described as a trial and error process. Growing up, he said that he was crazy about cooking and even used to light the fire for his parents and grandparents any chance he had, a passion that stuck with him since. Snider said that one of his favorite things is cooking brisket or ribs. Shaine and his wife Carla opened Frëkin Güd BBQ together just under a year ago to bring barbecue to Bellmead. “I wasn’t quite prepared for the business side of it,” Shaine said. But if the new business has taught him anything, it’s the value of hard work. From running the business to putting the appropriate amount of time in to make the perfect barbecue, Shaine said that he works around 90 hours each week. The two also take pride in their work. “It’s amazing how there are a million potato salad recipes out there, but my wife could come up with one that is the best,” Snider said proudly. He explained the process of owning a business has included lots of learning. The couple found a building and just jumped in. “If you want to do something, do it,” Snider said, “If we would have to close today, it would have been worth it. It’s just money.”

Central Texas I-35 BBQ Story by Maggie Malone

Roadtrip

Austin BELTON

Schoepf’s Bar-B-Que Exit 294A 702 E Central Ave

Frëkin Güd BBQ Exit 339

BELLMEAD

4106 Bellmead Dr

WACO

Red Wagon BBQ Exit 337B 169 Halbert Ln

Also home toVitek’s -- a nationally known barbecue restaurant close to Baylor University.

Dallas

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DERBY DAYS Story by Maitlan Wade | Photos by Ellie Cantor

TOP The press tower allowed for judges and members of the press the opportunity to review races from above. FAR RIGHT Chuck, also known as "Speedracer," is considered one of the regulars at the speedway. RIGHT A driver waits beside his four wheeler outside of the speedway. Racers could compete in one of five competitions.

nly 10 miles away from Baylor sits a dirt track speedway packed with action racing – flips, crashes and even fights over who’s in first place. If you’re looking for something exciting and out of the norm to do in Waco, this is it. The speedway frequently hosts sorority and fraternity events and parties. Racing has been in Waco since the early 1900s, and the Heart O’ Texas Speedway is now in its 51st year as the longest running dirt track in Texas. The racetrack originally started out in Cotton Palace across from campus. The speedway moved to its current location in 1966 and it’s been packing the stands ever since. The speedway doesn’t just stick to one kind of car. Drivers race modified cars, stock cars, dwarf cars and sprint cars, just to name a few. The promoter of the speedway, Selby Holder, has

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a fiery passion for racing. Holder started coming to the dirt track at 11 years old before starting his career at 18. From racing to tech to his current career as the promoter, Holder is focused on having a fun family environment and makes sure everyone leaves happy, “whether you’re 5 or 55.” Holder said the rewarding part of his job is to see the fans whooping, hollering and having a good time and to see the drivers drive with a passion and love what they do. Holder has big plans in mind for the speedway – there will be renovations, including party boxes to sit in and watch the race and even stadium seating in the middle of the arena. Even after 51 years, the speedway is still alive and kicking. Charles D. Hitt, an employee of the speedway, shared a story of the previous owner of the speedway, who had owned the speedway for 55 years. At 99 he took what people call his “last lap” around the speedway. He got in his car and took one lap, got out,

DERBY NIGHTS

Heart O' Texas Speedway provides a fast opportunity for thrill seekers

FAR LEFT Audience members wait patiently for the Friday night races to start. Tickets are sold for $12 a piece for adults. TOP One of the race cars undergoes inspection before the race. LEFT The track included a concession stand, a crew pit and a concession stand.

and walked away from the speedway. Racing is in Hitt's roots. Hitt has been around the racetrack for his whole life and doesn’t see that changing anytime soon. “I just love the sport of racing”Hitt said. Hitt shared a part of his racing history; he raced what was known as a “twister car.” For this type of race, everyone puts their name in a bucket and the person whose name gets drawn gets to drive the twister car. He got fourth place but quickly realized they only gave out money prizes to first, second and third places. Win or lose, Hitt holds this racing memory close to his heart. The other employees of the speedway are the same way when it comes to racing running in their blood. An example is Richard, who has been working at the Heart O’ Texas Speedway part time for 35 years. He first came to this speedway at the age of 18 and hasn’t left since. He greets everyone with a smile as he takes their tickets. Richard describes racing as a part of his life.

He can even recall years ago before the speedway was renovated when they had tin shacks for bathrooms. Richard has seen the speedway grow and grow and it still continues to do so. Even the majority of the fans have been around racing for as long as they can remember. Stan, a friend of Richard's is an example. When asked why he comes out here, he replied, “I’ve been a race fan for 60 years.” The speedway races are usually on Friday nights, except for the occasional Sunday race. The full schedule and address can be found on their website: www.heartotexspeedway.com. The speedway offers action-packed excitement and something out of the ordinary for a fun night out — enough to rev the engines of any racing fan.

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SPRING 2017 27

NEIGHBORHOODS WERE . BUSINESSES WERE FORCED TO MOVE.

A COMMUNITY

WAS WHY? TO

INTERSTATE 35

growing

PAINS An examination of the social and financial cost of an expanding I-35

Story by Meredith Wagner Photos by Maggie Malone

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nterstate 35’s significance within the Waco community stretches beyond concrete and yellow lines. For many, it is the primary bridge between home and work, residence and extended family, one opportunity and the next. People from all walks of life utilize its carefully carved trail, many of whom are probably unaware that Waco’s beloved pathway comes at a price. This high cost has been paid by many Wacoans and business owners throughout time, including, notably, an entire community of working class minorities. In order to complete the initial construction of Waco’s segment of I-35, whole neighborhoods had to be uprooted. In order to undergo expansion today, the businesses we know and love must endure the same. Forced to relocate by the federal government, many Waco businesses either start fresh elsewhere or cease to exist altogether. Cameron Morris, owner of Standard Hat Works, was one of the many business owners affected by I-35 expansion. Morris had operated his specialty shop out of 1826 Circle Road before the government claimed eminent domain on his building and forced him to relocate. Now located at 1304 N. New Rd., Morris continues the longstanding tradition of creating and refurbishing traditional cowboy hats. He was one of the lucky few who had the resources to move from one place to another. “If I didn’t have good people on my side, there’s no way we would have survived this move,” Morris said. With equipment over 100 years old, some machinery weighing over 1,000 pounds, Morris said he had specific needs that were not met by the financial compensation he received from the government. “Small businesses like us, especially specialized shops, they don’t take the hit as easy,” Morris said. Since Morris had previously leased his location on Circle Road, he received no compensation for having to change locations. According to Morris, the Texas Department of Transportation [TxDOT] did not factor in all of the necessary moving costs. “They say they take care of you, but they really don’t. It puts you in a financial bind as a business owner,” he said. “We haven’t gotten past it by any means. We’re still trying to overcome the initial sticker shock of everything.” Morris said he is ultimately happier in his new location, though he acknowledged that many other business owners who are forced to move do not find similar luck. Project 4, the up-and-coming expansion of I-35 from four

to six lanes through Waco, has not yet been completed, though preparation is well underway. The expansion of a 7.9-mile stretch from South Loop 340 to North Loop 340 is being pursued in a series of smaller projects as funding becomes available. The primary reason for this is “to meet local and regional travel demands,” thus improving the safety of travelers, according to the interstate's website. Businesses near downtown and Baylor’s campus have been notified that their land will be claimed by the government. They are now evaluating their options and seeking ways to remain open. Clay Pot, a Vietnamese restaurant and local favorite, will relocate downtown to 416 Franklin Ave. La Quinta, the inn adjacent to Clay Pot and frequented by Baylor families, will also be claimed in preparation for Project 4. As a business that relies heavily on its location, there may be a chance La Quinta will have to close its doors for good. Other construction projects not far from the heart of Waco have already been completed, taking some of Waco’s gems with them. Altex Computers and Electronics, a business once loyal to Baylor and its technology needs, permanently closed its doors in 2016 because of the construction just south of Waco. I-35 seems essential to the busy ebb and flow of Waco life, especially to those who frequent Dallas and Austin. But, as Kilgore graduate student Jon Platt wondered, “What’s the cost? Is the cost somebody’s livelihood?” Platt has spent many months researching the long-lost communities that were replaced by I-35 and other similar projects in the late 1950s. One neighborhood, notoriously remembered as “Sandtown,” was named after the streets made of sand and the frequent sand storms that came with the wind. Sandtown was located between Mary Street and present-day Baylor Law School, and between Third Street and the Brazos River, according to Waco History, a joint program of The Institute for Oral History and The Texas Collection. Though it was never officially recognized by the city, it lives on in memory as a lively place, especially for those who grew up there. Sandtown’s disappearance occurred during I-35’s humble beginnings. The interstate’s construction took off in Waco in 1958, according to the Waco History Project. This was around the same time urban renewal became especially prominent on the political scene, specifically at the federal level. Urban renewal was a federal program that focused on preventing continuous urban deterioration. It covered a

"If I didn't have on my side, there's no way we would have survived this move."

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PROJECTS of I-35

COMPLETED PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Businesses Moving because of I-35

La Quinta Hotel

Former Denny's

Clay Pot Restaurant

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My35 construction in Temple slows down traffic and reduces the number of available lanes.

wide range of services and projects, which often included claiming private land for public use. The Housing Act of 1954 was influential to Interstate 35’s placement in particular because it “broadened the definition of an urban renewal project to include… slum clearance and redevelopment,” according to a 1958 study from the University of Chicago. The act was passed around the same time the interstate’s pathway was being drafted. This means that city planners now had a legally valid reason to uproot neighborhoods like Sandtown. Referring to the removal of “substandard structures” in order to revitalize downtown Waco, a 1969 article from the Waco Tribune Herald read, “Urban renewal was selected as a tool to make this project possible.” Innovation may have seemed like a great idea in hindsight, but its effects were

eminent domain - a right of a government or its agent to take private property for public use by virtue of jurisdiction, with payment of compensation real and alive for those who had no choice but to leave their homes. The drafting process was well documented by the Baylor Institute for Oral History. Robert Aguilar, who grew up in Waco and attended Baylor during the Civil Rights Movement, provided an inside look at the decision-making process. Aguilar worked closely both with the civic leaders responsible for the placement of I-35 and the minority communities that its trail eventually affected. He recalled in a 2005 interview that interstate thirty-five was supposed to be going around LaSalle. A combination of influences, including government officials and private forces, such as Baylor, lead to its current position. Aguilar said it was purposefully constructed closer to the downtown area and the university. “Baylor formed a natural barrier between it[self] and the black community and the Hispanic community further up,” he said. In the process, Aguilar said, “It demolished neighborhoods that have been there

for years.” Many would say that these communities were simply too deteriorated to be maintained or revitalized. A 1968 article from the Waco Tribune Herald read, “The 62acre neighborhood a few years ago was one of the most rundown sections of the city… Baylor Waco Foundation… bought the land from the urban renewal agency and gave it to Baylor for campus expansion.” The reconstruction of these run-down areas seemed justified by their “less-than” infrastructure and their inhabitants’ “less-than” standard of living. But, as Aguilar noted, “I had a lot of friends there, and we never saw it as a poor community. We just saw dirt streets and unpainted houses.” I-35 is located where it is today for several reasons. One of the more prominent of these is the idea that it would bring business and life to a town considered to have potential. Baylor students have a first hand view as Waco grows more and more into a thriving city. Well encompassed by the popular term “The Baylor Bubble,” a mere five minute drive from campus to the other side of the interstate takes Wacoans to an entirely different world. Aguilar said the Interstate became a “railroad track” that distinguished between “the haves and the have-nots.” Supposed to be a grand tool for connection, Platt said, “Some of the biggest complaints about the interstate is [that] it didn’t connect us at all.” As a solution, Platt suggested that communities collectively work harder to keep records and expose injustices. “We’ve got to get better at documenting things,” he said. “There are churches that are bulldozed every day in this country with beautiful historical value, and we’ll never remember them.” For Morris, mindful consumer habits are the key to keeping vulnerable businesses alive. “The only way we’re gonna get out of this debt we’ve got is to support our local people," Morris said. "If every town does that... I think we’ll get out of this thing. But you’ve got to get everybody on board.”

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