Connecting Kaufman

PET ADOPTION

CENTER pets finding their FURever homes in our incredible community

Summer 2023

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Welcome to Connecting Kaufman

It’s summer and the livin’ is easy in North Texas. Our staff members have been in and out of the office recently on family vacations but isn’t it always nice to come back home!

For readers who are looking for some summertime diversions, or perhaps even want to volunteer for a few hours, I hope you all enjoy learning about the Fox and Co Military Museum, which is operated by Dallas Fox, a longtime friend of the Kaufman Herald. When he says his extensive military collection “got out of hand,” he wasn’t kidding! And he would appreciate any suggestions on finding a larger piece of property to house his trove of local military history.

We’re also pleased to bring you an article about the Kaufman County Pet Adoption Center, which is operated by the Humane Society of North Texas. Caring for animals is their passion! Please adopt, don’t shop! In addition to helping, you find a forever friend, the shelter is now offering convenient vaccination clinics to help keep our fur babies healthy.

Finally, for our family, summertime means fun gatherings and good food. Picnics, barbecues, church events and the Fourth of July helps us enjoy time with friends and relatives we love. Who wouldn’t like a new outfit for an event from The Rancher’s Wife, a new addition to downtown Kaufman. Learning the story of the store’s successful, entrepreneurial owner, Amy Wiley, and her family is fascinating.

If you need a dish for a summertime gathering, try Melanie’s recipe for tahini cookies. They’re tasty to keep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for a cool, bite-sized summer treat.

Enjoy your summertime fun - cooler autumn days are just around the corner!

Thanks for reading,

Amy Fowler

Friday Nights

Food Truck Friday is held from 5-8 p.m. every third Friday at the Fresh Market lot on Grove St. Each month is a different lineup of food trucks that include Detour Burgers & Ice Cream, DT’s Off the Hook, Smokin’ Wheelz BBQ & More, Video Vision Shaved Ice, Deep Fried Southern Pies, Misty’s Cakeballs & Sweet Treats, Kona Ice, Famous O’s Catfish & Shrimp, and others to provide delicious meals to enjoy. Several of the downtown merchants have extended hours for Friday evening shopping. Yard games are set up for all ages to play and occasionally local artists will provide live music as you sip, shop, eat, play, and explore the Square every third Friday night.

Amy Fowler Publisher, The Kaufman Herald

ON THE SQUARE HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY!

Contributing Writers

Gay Fowler

Staff

Amy Fowler • Publisher & Editor

Bailey Daniels

Michael Morrill • Sports Reporter

Hannah Loghry

Linsy Mariano• Intern Reporter

Wendy Perkins • Office Manager & Classified Ads

Contributing Writers

Amy Fowler

Mollie Kasper

Destiny Vandeput

Melanie Mazur

PO Box 460 300 N. Washington Kaufman, TX 75142 (972) 932-2171 A

Whether through adoption, fostering, donating, or volunteering, your involvement can make all the difference in the lives of these deserving animals. Learn more at hsnt.org.

Furever Homes found for homeless pets in Kaufman County

By Destiny Vandeput, Director of Communications for HSNT

The Kaufman County Pet Adoption Center is just about to pass a momentous milestone! In a little over one year of opening, the 1,000th adoption is about to take place! That’s 1,000 dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, bunnies, and guinea pigs who have found homes thanks to this incredible community. However, the need is still great for homeless pets in Kaufman County. With people heading out of town for summer vacations, adoptions start to drop off and animals stay at the shelter longer. This extended length of stay starts affecting how many animals the shelter can take in, and it’s sadly already happening. The Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT), who manages the Kaufman County Pet Adoption Center, has been doing what they can to entice new adopters by offering adoption specials and even incentives to shortterm foster. “We have no shortage of adorable fluffs up for adoption,” said Destiny Vandeput, the Director of Communications for HSNT. “The main bottleneck we have when it comes to capacity is dogs over 30 pounds. For the most part, the big dogs coming through our doors are beautiful, well behaved, family dogs who just need to find their perfect match.”

To meet these amazing dogs looking for a FURever home, you can head over to HSNT’s website, hsnt. org/kaufman-county. Each profile offers a glimpse into the unique personalities and stories of these lovable pups.

If adopting is not feasible at this time, you could consider fostering a large dog. By opening your home temporarily to a furry friend, you provide them with the love, care, and stability they desperately need while HSNT works to find them their forever families. HSNT’s dedicated foster team is ready to provide all the necessary sup port and supplies, and HSNT even offers financial incentives for short-term foster ing! For more information, please email foster@hsnt.org.

For those who cannot adopt or foster, there are still ways to make a significant impact. Financial donations are always welcomed, but you can also give your time! Whether you can spare a few hours a week to walk dogs or assist at offsite events, your physical help is invaluable. By volunteering, you become an inte gral part of the life-saving efforts at the Kaufman County Pet Adoption Center, giving these animals the at tention, exercise, and companion ship, they crave during their stay at the shelter.

FIND YOUR NEW BEST FRIEN

KAUFMAN COUNTY PET

ADOPTION CENTER

hsnt.org/kaufman-county

Office: 972-932-6589

Cell : 972-978-9159

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THE RANCHER’S WIFE: Bringing Luxury Shopping at Affordable Prices to Downtown Kaufman

By Mollie Kasper

The Rancher’s Wife has arrived on the square in Kaufman, and customers are snapping up the boutique’s trendy clothing, shoes, and accessories from the location that formerly housed Daisy’s, a longtime clothing business.

Boutique Experience at Reasonable Prices

What makes The Rancher’s Wife so special? Store owner Amy Wiley believes it’s their unique combination of an upscale shopping experience with budgetfriendly prices. The newly-renovated retail space has the feel of a high-end store. It is light, open and airy, with pale gray wooden floors and lots of pink. Their price point, however, is, “so different from boutiques that look like us,” Wiley explains. Most items sell for between $20 and $40, and there are very few pieces over $50. Jewelry is always under $20, and many earrings come in at less than $10.

TRW offers the same or an elevated experience as high-end stores, with events and high-quality, frequently changing displays. Due to their reasonable prices, the stock rotates quickly, which keeps their core 20- to 40-something demographic clamoring for more merchandise. “We won’t budge with pricing,” Wiley shares. “That’s what sets us apart.”

Their grand opening in May was a great success, not only for the store itself, but also for Kaufman. According to Stewart McGregor, the director of the

Kaufman Economic Development Corportation, the store’s total sales that day were about 5% of the sales for all of Kaufman. “It’s a huge win for Kaufman and the downtown merchants,” building owner Alexandra Kelly noted.

Humble Beginnings and Hard Work

Wiley is one of eight siblings, seven of whom grew up sharing one bedroom. She was a mediocre student but displayed creative talent early, winning art shows and being featured in the local newspaper for her artwork. She admired the chunky, beaded jewelry that was popular at the time, but couldn’t afford the $60 price tag. At the age of 16, she learned to create the jewelry on her own and began selling it out of her car for $19.95.

When she and husband, Dalton, were newlyweds, he worked as a cowboy on the Hunt Ranch. They lived on the ranch (which provided the inspiration for the store’s name) and survived on his salary of $400 per week. Wiley wanted to work in retail, but she had no college degree and there were no jobs available. In 2013, she decided to open an upscale consignment shop on Moore Avenue in Terrell.

After noticing her customers’ desire for new items, Wiley decided to devote a tiny corner of the store to new products, with an initial investment of $500. Customers began turning in consignment items and purchasing new. The tiny corner grew into half of the store, and finally she dropped the consignment side altogether. After three years, she was able to open a second location in Texarkana and then another retail store and an outlet in Canton.

Kaufman residents have always been a key factor in her success, so when the Terrell store closed, Kaufman was a logical location for a new storefront. Kaufman shoppers definitely showed up for the grand opening. According to Wiley, sales were double the amount of any previous grand opening.

Parleying that $500 initial investment into a multimillion-dollar company in just six years without any business loans has not been easy. For the first five years, she did not take a salary and any earnings were poured back into the business. She admits to making many mistakes, but understands the lesson she learned from each one, acknowledging that it may have been a blessing to be on a shoestring budget initially. “You learn a lot of $200 lessons,” Wiley explains. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes that didn’t cost me as much as they would now.”

She credits her success to her determination and work ethic. “I’ve always been able to work,” she says. “You have to make a way for yourself. There is no bailout. There’s no other options.” Even now, Wiley drives a modest car and is most comfortable in a T-shirt and jeans. “I’m actually really cheap,” she laughs.

A Family Business

As the business has grown, Wiley has recruited family members to help out. Each one of them has a particular skill that fills a niche in the organization. In 2015, Wiley’s dad, Bill Brooks, moved in with her. She immediately put him to work, helping with deliveries and vehicle maintenance. He began offering advice, helping her think through all the angles of her decisions and teaching her about taking calculated risks. Having his guidance, “changed the whole game,” Wiley says. Although he recently passed away after a battle with cancer, his legacy lives on in the lessons Wiley learned from him.

The next family member to join the team was oldest sister Brittany Brooks. She has a head for numbers and took over the finances, handling the paperwork and taxes. She is currently studying for her certified public accounting license. Sister-in-law Mackenzee Stone helps with buying and other responsibilities, brother Blake Brooks runs the vans, and sister Kristy Day was recently brought on to handle daily operations. In addition, Wiley’s husband has left the cowboy life and now “he does everything,” from building the checkout stands for the stores to driving to Georgia to pick up a vehicle.

Wiley notes the many benefits of a family business. She is aware of her own strengths and weaknesses, and believes that the siblings’ strengths complement each other. Working together helped them coordinate schedules during their father’s bout with cancer, and she believes it has made the family closer. Her son is growing up with family always near. “I like it. It’s real fun. You get to be yourself a lot more.”

Future Plans

TRW continues to grow by leaps and bounds. They opened or purchased five businesses this year, including an air freshener manufacturing facility in Edna, Texas, as well as a screen-printing business. They purchased the hardware store in Edgewood, Texas and plan to turn it into a wholesale business. Finally, they signed a contract with Forney ISD to open a location in The O.C., Forney’s innovative facility designed to provide business internship opportunities for students. Wiley has more plans for the Kaufman location as well. The iconic Daisy’s sign will be moved inside, and a whole line of Daisy’s clothes is being developed. Proceeds from this line will go back into growing Kaufman’s downtown area.

TRW is an exciting addition to downtown Kaufman. Shoppers are sure to continue to be attracted to their luxurious shopping experiences, affordable prices, family values, and ambitious future plans.

Facebook: TRW tribe and The Rancher’s Wife Boutique Instagram: @trwboutique

TRWBoutique.com

105 W Mulberry | Kaufman | 972.210.7187

4050 Summerhill Square | Texarkana | 903.691.9675

111 South Buffalo Street | Canton | 903.292.6768

HONORING MILITARY HISTORY:

Fox & Co Military Museum Advocates for U.S. Veterans

By Mollie Kasper

Dallas Fox excitedly holds up the World War I uniform which formerly belonged to Henry Struck, the postmaster and last telegraph officer in Rosser. His eyes sparkle and his words tumble out as he describes the circa-1914 outfit. He was given the complete uniform, including dog tags, by Struck’s descendants. He also found Struck’s stamp collection at a garage sale and snagged that, too. “That’s history!” Fox exclaims.

Fox’s enthusiasm never wanes as he continues the tour of his self-made military museum near Rosser. He has items from as far back as the Civil War, and his collection also includes equipment and memorabilia from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. Several buildings on his property house the conglomeration of military items: uniforms, medals, patches, books, binoculars, pictures, posters, diaries, and flight instruction manuals, just to name a few. He even has a vinyl recording of a speech by General Douglas MacArthur. “People bring us stuff all the time,” Fox says.

G.I. JOE STARTED IT ALL

Fox began collecting G.I. Joe action figures in 1978, and he has marshaled an army of 125 of them, including likenesses of Audie Murphy, Bob Hope, George Bush, Colin Powell, and many others. He even commandeered a few of his wife’s Barbie collectibles, such as Air Force Barbie and Navy Barbie. Most of the figures have notes which provide historical information and context.

By 1982, friends began asking to see the action figures and to show them to their children. Before long, they also began offering Fox military items they didn’t know what to do with. Fox estimates that more than 300 individuals have contributed to the museum, and what began as a small collection has turned into a treasure trove of military history, mostly focused on veterans from Kaufman County. It includes items from local notables such as Billy Collins, a decorated Navy veteran from the Vietnam conflict, and Thurman Cousins, who served in Korea, Vietnam, West Germany, Italy and Turkey during his 25-year Army career. “A lot of people from Kaufman County are heroes but nobody knows about it,” Fox explains.

Now, in addition to the memorabilia, he owns a 1953 Jeep from the Korean war, a 1968 Jeep and a 1968 “deuce and a half” troop truck from the Vietnam war, and a rare WWI-era Spad airplane. If he can find the space, there are donors willing to contribute a helicopter and a flight simulator.

The Spad is a lucky find. Only 8,472 of the single-engine, single-seat, French biplanes were built during WWI. The outer covering behind the cockpit has been peeled away and visitors can examine the lightweight bamboo frame construction. Fox even lets kids sit in the fighter for a few moments to pretend they are flying.

AN ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS

Fox does much more for veterans than collect artifacts. He is active in the American Legion, consistently attending the group’s continental breakfasts at the No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum in Terrell. Veterans meet for coffee, donuts and conversation from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of every month. Working with the American Legion, Fox directs groups of children to put flags on all the veterans’ graves at Mt. Olive Cemetery each Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Fox also connects the Kaufman Quilt Guild with veterans to be honored through their Quilts of Valor program. In addition, he is responsible for acquiring an MIA/POW chair from Rolling Thunder, a motorcycle group that supports veterans. This perennially empty chair now stands at the scale-model Vietnam Wall in Kaufman as a reminder of the soldiers left behind. He also coordinates military shows in Bullard, Canton, and Kaufman, where he displays his military

vehicles and equipment, and teaches about the proper disposal of the American flag. He frequently visits veterans at the Terrell State Hospital, providing a listening ear and bringing them small items they need, such as pens, paper, and snacks. Finally, he works with the Kaufman County Probation Office to provide community service opportunities for veterans who need service hours. He takes them to the cemetery, where they pick up garbage and clean veterans’ headstones.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MUSEUM

Like many veterans, Fox avoids discussing his own military service, preferring to share the experiences of his fifteen-plus family members who have served. But Fox is a military hero as well. He spent seventeen months as a combat engineer with the 168th division, fourteen of them in Vietnam. While there, he witnessed the horrific deaths of friends and was exposed to Agent Orange. In addition to the emotional trauma that will always be a part of him, he has now had several skin cancers appear on his body.

Fox becomes emotional when he discusses what the museum and his veteransupport activities mean to him. The museum creates a space for veterans and their families who have kept their emotions buried to finally let them out. Many visitors are so overpowered that they end up in tears. Fox shares that his father, who fought in WWII, never discussed his experiences. “My dad was a veteran. He was at Normandy, and some of them guys didn’t even get off the ships. They were blown up before they even got to the land… and Dad never talked about it, never said a word about Normandy,” Fox explains. Other veterans are similarly silent. “Nowadays we don’t want anyone to know our problems,” he continues. “We keep it inside of us and we don’t want you to know it. We think about it all the time. We were kids! We were seventeen, eighteen, nineteen-year-old kids. Couldn’t vote, couldn’t drink, but [we were given] a rifle to kill people.”

Another motivation behind the museum is more specific to Vietnam veterans, who did not receive a heroes’ welcome when they returned stateside. Fox had first-hand experience with this treatment. “When I came home from Vietnam,” Fox shares, “when I got into California, they told me to take my uniform off because they were going to spit on me.” He says the museum is important to him, “Because I’m a veteran and I know how we were treated, and I don’t want all the veterans to be treated like we were treated.”

SEARCHING FOR A NEW HOME

The collection has grown to the point that Fox cannot display it all in the current location, and donations are still arriving. He is actively searching for a new home for the items. He is talking with the county commissioners and county judge about possibly using space in the courthouse, but plans are not firm, and he welcomes other ideas.

“It got out of hand,” Fox admits. “We don’t have a place to put everything.” If you have ideas about a building to house the artifacts, or would like to visit, contact Dallas Fox at (972) 922-1066.

You can also view his Facebook page: Fox & Co Military Museum.

Tahini cookies are elegant twist

The first time I tried tahini cookies, I thought they were suggestive of a peanut butter cookie because they have a slightly nutty flavor, but they’re intriguingly different.

I learned these delicious treats are made with tahini, which is comprised of two ingredients: hulled sesame seeds and a little salt.

TAHINI COOKIES

• 2 cups flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 1/2 sticks room-temperature butter (3/4 cup)

• 3 tablespoons honey

• 3/4 cup tahini

• 1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds

BY MELANIE MAZUR SPECIAL TO THE HERALD

Some versions add oil to make it pourable. It’s available in most grocery stores in the Asian foods section, along with the toasted sesame seeds. You can use regular sesame seeds and toast them yourself, but I like the convenience of buying them toasted, because it seems like I usually burn them in my toaster oven!

Tahini is a versatile food that is popular in Middle Eastern cooking. It’s an excellent source of minerals, and studies show sesamol, a natural chemical found in sesame seeds and sesame oil, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging benefits, according to WebMD.

Place parchment paper on two or three cookie sheets.

Cream butter, sugar and honey for three minutes. Add the tahini and mix together.

Whisk together the dry ingredients, then add the dry mix to the creamed mixture in two batches, making sure the batter is completely mixed after each addition.

Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop out about a teaspoon of dough and roll

it in in the sesame seeds.

Place on the cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 11 to 13 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets once during baking. This makes about 70 small cookies. They can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator or freezer. Bon appetit!

Candi Carney, FNP-C