Down Home East Texas Winter 2022

ON THE COVER

See page 20 to read about

Publisher’s Letter

Thank you so much for picking up 2022’s final issue of Down Home East Texas Magazine. We love putting out this beautiful magazine four times a year for everyone here in Hopkins County and we hope that you’ll enjoy this issue. We have a lot of exciting things planned for the magazine in 2023 and our issues come out in February, May, September and December.

I am absolutely blown away that 2022 is coming to an end. This might actually be the fastest a year has gone by in my 60 years on earth. I’m pretty sure that 0-1 went by fairly quickly, but I have very few memories from back then. I just remember a lot of screaming, but I think that might have been me.

So here we are, 2023 is right around the corner and that means resolution time is approaching. Are you a “New Year’s resolution type of person?” Are you going to join a gym with really high hopes and a month later realize that “cute and chubby” really fits you? I’ve always been the kind of person who needs to work out three times a week just to stay chubby.

I think the resolution that we all need to make for 2023 is to be kinder to others. Not just the people in your inner circle, your church, your civic groups or at your place of employment, but everyone you come in contact with. If you are a true Christian, then you should embrace the idea of, “love thy neighbor,” and “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

So let’s make 2023 a wonderful year for everyone and I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Down Home East Texas Magazine.

Down Home East Texas magazine is a publication of the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram and is published four times a year.

Down Home East Texas is copyrighted by and a registered trademark of the Sulphur Springs NewsTelegram in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Reproduction of any part of the publication is strictly forbidden without written permission from the Sulphur Springs NewsTelegram.

Dave Shabaz, dave@ssnewstelegram.com

Marlene DeYong

Marlene

Photo By Michelle Wood

Down Home Magazine’s

Staff

DJ Spencer Sports Editor

Dave Shabaz Publisher

Faith Whittle Graphic Designer

A Day in the Life of Robin Palmer-Clemmons, Wildlife Rehabber

By Dave Shabaz Photos By Daylan Millard

We all believe that we know the person that has the biggest heart in the world. Well, like they say, “hold my beer,” while I tell you the story of Robin Clemmons. It might make you reevaluate who you believe has the biggest heart of them all.

Robin is a Wildlife Rehabber and operates White Oak Wildlife Rehabilitation. If you’re like me, you’re going to need to have that explained to you. Robin takes care of injured and/or orphaned wildlife and hold on to your hat, she does this for free.

Here is just a short list of the types of wildlife that Robin rescues, nurses back to health, and releases back into the wild; bobcats, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, fawns, fox, skunks, otter, and beaver. Any wildlife native to Northeast Texas. Hawks, owls and eagles are transferred to another Wildlife Rehabber who she works closely with. While Robin was telling me this, I was honestly shocked when I heard the word, skunk. Oh, and did I mention, she does all of this for free. This is not a paying job and she does it all out of the goodness of her heart and her true love for wildlife and the conservation of wildlife.

How does someone start doing something like this? Well, Robin

is a native Texan. She was born in Odessa, Texas, raised in Mt. Vernon, Texas, and now resides near Talco, Texas. She has loved animals her entire life. About seven years ago, a dead tree had to be cut down in her front yard when a nest of baby squirrels fell out. She took it upon herself to raise and release the two squirrels. She regularly put them on Facebook and it kind of took off from there. She became known for raising squirrels, so much so that one day while she was fishing, a game warden came up to her, asked her if she was the one who raised squirrels, and began writing in his ticket book. She thought for sure it was to give her a ticket for rehabbing wildlife without a license. When the game warden spoke to her, he said, “Will you please get your license, because we really need you?”

Well, the nearest rehabber at that time was in Tyler, Texas. In order to get your rehabbing license, Robin had to sub with the licensed rehabber for two years. But she did what she needed to do and attained her rehabbing license. She now has a job that allows her to get bit, scratched and thrown up on every day and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She points out that she’s not a tree hugger. “I know that

people hunt, and the deer population needs to be controlled, but I’m here to take care of the babies in trouble,” she said. “However, I don’t think people should kill just for the sake of killing,” she concluded. Unfortunately, she sees how cruel humans can be all to often, “ I do not tolerate abuse of any animal.”

But there are the rewarding moments. For example, last year she raised three fawns and released them near her home. They would come back occasionally to eat, but the visit she remembers the most was the one day she was outside calling for them and she heard something running towards her. “At that time, they were about a year old and became part of a herd of deer. Running towards me was a big buck, a doe, along with the three fawns I rehabbed,” she said. “But the big buck was not too happy that the three fawns were socializing with Robin, so he lowered his head and pawed the ground. The three young deer knew then that this would no longer be acceptable and ran off with the group.” She knew her job was done.

When I asked Robin just how many wildlife she takes care of on a daily basis, the number astounded me. She said during the height of summer, she takes care of up to 100

to 120 at one time. This includes three feedings a day and giving the ones who are ill or injured the medications and attention they need. And during the slower times, like right now, she’s taking care of about 40. And this is all funded out of her own pocket and with the help and donations from people. All funds go for food, formulas, supplies, vaccinations, vet visits, medications, building upkeep, utilities, and travel expenses. She relies on the kindness

of others and she said, “I don’t like to beg, but sometimes I have to in order to keep these amazing animals alive and the facility running.” She knows that when the economy is down and when holidays are approaching, it’s hard for others to give, but she said that she’s amazed at who donates to her. She said, “people you’d never imagine will be the ones who will step up and give.”

All newly arriving wildlife must be quarantined for 10 days in a separate

building from the main wildlife population. All newborns need to be kept in a warm environment and closely monitored, so they are in an unused bedroom in her house until they are eating solid foods. Then they are taken out to an outside rehab building to begin assimilation to the real world while still being closely monitored. After about 2 to 3 months, the babies are introduced to large, outside enclosures to complete their rehabilitation before

being released. All baby wildlife that arrive in the fall have to be overwintered in the warmth and safety of the rehabilitations building until release in April.

So, we have a person here who doesn’t get paid, gets bit, scratched and vomited on basically every day, nurses injured wildlife back to health, and releases them back into their natural habitat. I think we found our winner of the “Biggest Heart in the World” contest.

If you want to donate and I encourage everyone to

donate to Robin, you can reach her on her cell at: 903305-3077 or email her at: robpalmclem@yahoo.com. White Oak Wildlife Rehabilitation has a Go Fund Me Page set up in addition to other donation options.

God bless you Robin for the wonderful work you do, and I believe people who give of themselves to help the defenseless, voiceless, sick and injured, whether they are human or animals, are people who will be rewarded with the most positive karma there is.

The Almost Deadly Christmas Gift

By Tammy Vinson

Several years ago, my mother almost died while the family unwrapped our presents on Christmas Eve. It’s a really funny story.

This happened around 15 or 20 years ago. To give you a little background, we (approximately 10-12 people, plus anyone else happened to show up) used to have huge, elaborate Christmases. Our gathering included a big dinner, which was a repeat of our Thanksgiving meal; ham, turkey, green bean casserole, baked potato casserole, corn, carrots and more desserts than you could shake a proverbial stick at.

Then came the marathon gifting session. There were always so many presents that they didn’t all fit under the tree. Some years they took up about a quarter of my sister’s living room or were stacked six or seven feet up the wall behind the Christmas tree. The gifts would be passed out to the recipients (usually by the youngest members of the group) and no one could start opening until every gift had been distributed. Sometimes this step took 30 minutes or longer. It was nothing for us to spend two or three hours or longer opening presents, because we all took turns and opened them one at a time, ensuring that everyone got to see what everyone else got. I think at our peak of people and gifts, we had a four or five hour session.

I should explain that our Christmas focused on

quantity, not cost, so not all the gifts were large or expensive. If the gift was a toy or electronic device that required batteries, the batteries were wrapped separately. Once I think someone even got a pack of gum wrapped in beautiful paper! Sometimes there were instructions for which gift was to be opened first or last, or what order they were to be unwrapped. Sometimes there were secret presents that were held back until all the other gifts had been opened. Those were generally the most excellent, desired gifts.

In the case of unexpected attendees, my sister makes a habit of keeping small, generic gifts on hand that can be discreetly wrapped and slipped into the pile. She has always hated for someone to come for Christmas and not have at least one gift to open.

So on this particular Christmas, we had been opening presents for at least two hours and decided to take a break. Some people headed to the kitchen to grab a snack, others stepped outside for a smoke break and some stayed right where they were on the couch, chairs, fireplace hearth or floor (because they were still too full to move).

Mom headed outside for a quick smoke. Just before she walked back inside, my sister and niece disappeared into the master bedroom. They came out carrying a brightly wrapped box that was about four feet tall.

I think it was a refrigerator box they’d cut down. They had taken my story about my department at work giving our boss a wrapped empty box as a Christmas gift, calling it a “Box of Love” and improved upon it with a much bigger box.

My niece grinned mischievously and crouched down while my sister lifted the box over her. When Mom walked back into the living room from the kitchen, where she’d been talking to my niece while she refilled her tea glass, there stood a huge box, wrapped in multiple pieces of at least three different wrapping paper patterns, one of which wasn’t even Christmas. My niece didn’t answer her, but Mom hadn’t noticed.

“Who’s this present for?” she asked. My sister told Mom it was for her from my niece.

“What did you do?” Mom asked, trying to figure out what could possibly be inside that huge box. She seemed a little scared too, which was appropriate, because my sister and niece were known for their skill in pranking people. It

was especially fun to prank Mom because she always gave a big reaction, screaming, jumping or saying inappropriate things.

Judging by how gingerly she began trying to open the top of the giant package, Mom was probably worried that something was going to jump out at her. And that’s exactly what my niece did, bursting out of the top shouting, “Merry Christmas!”

Mom screamed “God A’mighty!” and launched herself several inches into the air and about four feet backwards. She nearly landed in the fireplace, but we managed to grab her before that happened or before she fell and hit her head on the hearth. It took her several minutes to catch her breath, at which point we remembered she had a pacemaker and we probably just caused it to have a power surge. But she recovered just fine and began laughing like crazy.

Even though she’s gone now, we still laugh about how the “Box of Love” nearly killed Mom.

1 bag movie theater butter popcorn

4 tbsp. coconut oil, liquid

2.5 tbsp. chocolate protein powder

1.5 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1.5 tsp. Swerve confectioners’ sweetener

1/4 tsp. salt

1. Pop popcorn according to directions on the box.

2. Whisk the coconut oil, protein powder, cocoa powder, confectioners’ sweetener and salt together.

3. Once popcorn is popped, pour into a large resealable bag and drizzle the chocolate mix on top.

4. Seal bag and shake up until popcorn is covered.

5. Pour in your favorite holiday bowl, sprinkle with holiday sprinkles and enjoy!

Hosting any Christmas parties this season?

Treat your guests to this festive popcorn and enjoy it without all the extra carbs & guilt. The added protein keeps this holiday snack balanced while also adding the chocolate taste that we all love!

Recipe Provided By Whitney Vaughan

McKay Law is TEXAS TOUGH

As we approach the holidays, any driving tips?

Absolutely, the holidays are a busy time for our office not because we are preparing for Christmas and setting goals for next year, but more importantly there is an increase in collisions as more people and trucks are on the road.

What if I get in a wreck and I don’t think I am very hurt?

I always tell people they are not a Doctor who specializes in trauma injury and you cannot see a bruise on your brain or a herni ated disc in your back. Expert reports would show you that in most cases once you have been involved in a motor vehicle collision, the natural degenerative aging process has been accelerated by 10 years.

I call the back and spine the “science of millimeters” because it does not take much for a herniation or nerve damage issue to have major impact long term and pain is not always felt immediately.

The head is serious because if you suffer

a head injury that is often undiagnosed and later hit your head a second or third time it can be even more serious or catastrophic. Well, I went to the ER and they sent me home and told me I was fine. Does that mean I’m not hurt?

The emergency Room knows a little about a lot but not a lot about any one thing. In other words, for the purpose of the ER, you did not need to be admitted to the hospital or undergo emergency surgery. However, for the purpose of a Dr. who specializes in pain management or trauma injury, that diagnosis can be very different.

What if the ER even took X-rays and images and said everything looked ok?

The images in the ER are usually limited to a CT Scan or X-Ray. The MRI image is the best form of imaging as it will tell the story of your injuries – herniations, annular tears, disc bulge, and is usually ordered by a pain man agement doctor or specialist – not at the ER.

If someone came into your house and with a baseball bat, they smashed your TV. Are you

going to be okay with a smaller replacement or a TV that has no volume? No! you expect the same TV to be replaced and I’m sure you will inspect to make sure it works just as it should. The same goes for your body after a collision. Get checked out!

You are a Christian, do you think it is biblical to sue people?

First, we are not necessarily suing indi viduals. We are pursuing cases that have an avenue of collectability which is typically through the insurance coverage the individual has paid through the policy. The insurance company hires lawyers and handles the case and the individual at fault usually has little involvement in the process. That is the duty of good faith and fair dealing all insurance carriers owe their insureds.

Second, not every wreck requires a lawsuit. In fact, most car wrecks do not require a lawsuit at all. For the cases that do require a lawsuit, only a handful go to trial. However, we handle every client and prepare every case as if it were going to trial from day one.

Third, and most important, considering the staggering statistics of roadway dangers in Texas, I am interested in making a difference to keep our families safer on the road. The only way to force distracted drivers to take safer measures when operating a motor vehicle or commercial truck is to hold those accountable when they are negligent.

I am really impressed with how parents, teachers and coaches take a hands-on ap proach to teach and discipline children in our community. When a child misbehaves, there are consequences.

Similarly, every case we file and every insur ance claim we pursue we are one step closer to making our roads and highways safer for my family and for yours. I consider it our duty to hold negligent drivers and unsafe compa nies accountable.

When are you most frustrated as a lawyer?

It is always a victory when there is plenty of insurance available to cover my client’s damages and injuries. However, the most frustrating is when there is NOT enough insurance available. The minimum car insur ance policy in Texas is $30,000. That is not very much when you are injured from a wreck but certainly better than California which is a minimum of $15,000. Commercial Trucks or 18-wheelers on the other hand have to carry a minimum of $750,000 of insurance but usually have more coverage. What can someone do if there is not enough insurance to cover all their dam ages?

I wish everyone carried UNDERINSURED/ UNINSURED Motorist “UM/UIM” Coverage. What is UM/ UIM coverage?

It’s insurance on YOUR policy that covers you in the case the other negligent driv er does not have insurance or there is not enough for your injuries.

I just had a case that is a good example. My client is 19 and suffered a traumatic brain injury, lost her vision temporarily after she slammed her head on the dashboard from a hit-and-run that totaled her family’s only vehicle. If her family had UM/UIM coverage, we would have been able to help her with her

injuries, medical bills and replace their totaled vehicle even though the other driver got away, but they didn’t have that coverage.

In the State of Texas, insurance companies are required to provide UM/UIM coverage to their insureds unless the insured signs a rejection. Clients often think they have “full coverage” but are disappointed to learn that they only have liability coverage because they signed a rejection.

Has it been challenging for you as a woman in your legal field?

Yes. As a woman, the expectations among colleagues are greater, but it is rewarding to be underestimated only to gain respect. We work hard to exhibit expertise and profession alism. Not only has there been a “good old boys club” of lawyers for decades, but there are fewer female lawyers in the personal injury field. When I started McKay Law in East Texas in 2021, another male attorney, whom I have great respect, told me that I would have a harder time here because I am a female. Was your colleague correct?

God is bigger than any of our perceived shortcomings. As a working mom, I have a lot going on, and I think it’s always challenging as a woman in any profession. I also believe that our success at McKay Law is based on people being more receptive to women in the workforce than ever before. We may have to work harder and faster, but with enough hus tle and grit, you can soar. I am honored that people trust us with their case as I know, giv en the opportunity, we do whatever it takes, and we win. I view every case and client as an opportunity to go above and beyond their expectations.

What has helped make you a success in your legal specialty?

Knowing the law and having a salient un derstanding of medical injuries is imperative. But I believe what separates us is our empa thy for all our clients and attention to detail. We help coordinate details of life that have been turned upside down by the headache of a car wreck or tragedy. Life is challenging on its own. When someone is involved in a car or truck wreck, they are not prepared to deal with big insurance companies, steep medical

bills and a wrecked car. But we are. This is what we do every day. Not only do we fight and win, but we help take the stress out of the process for our clients.

Additionally, we have the education, talent and experience from a long line of achieve ment. Before starting a personal injury law firm, we have participated in trials and complex litigation all over the state of Texas, and in some cases, nation-wide.

Moving from a bigger city, McKay Law brings the competitiveness, professionalism, and the experience with the personal care of a smaller town.

What are some examples of coordinating the impossible for clients?

Think about navigating your daily life with no sleep because your back or neck pain kept you tossing and turning all night. Or what happens when husband is hurt and wife has to slop pigs, feed the cattle, mow and take out trash on top of her other duties? One of our clients was in that exact situation and they just welcomed their fourth child. Another client was not able to dance with his daughter at her wedding because he was so badly hurt by a city water truck. These are real stories. Living in pain affects everyone in your life –and it affects us at McKay Law.

We provide rides when a client is without a vehicle. We have paid for funeral expenses, covered bills for those who can’t work and found babysitters when needed.

A car or truck wreck can be an opportunity for us to help in other meaningful ways. One of my clients was homeless and pregnant with twins when she was involved in a car wreck. We helped her find housing, a support group with childcare and all the supplies for her babies. We also helped those struggling with addiction get the aid they need to get sober and stay clean. In some cases, it’s rewarding when we present the settlement check to the client who was otherwise spiraling and now on a healthy path. These are God’s people and I am called to serve. We are smart enough to win and small enough to care!

Photo By Michelle Wood

Most of you in Hopkins County know Marlene DeYong from her very successful business, Marlene’s Sass & Class Boutique. Here are some things you may not know about her.

Marlene and her family moved to Hopkins County about 25 years ago, believing they would only live here about a year or so and then return to their home in Oklahoma. However, as you can tell, she’s been in Sulphur Springs for 25 years and her and her family have made Sulphur Springs their home.

In 2015 Marlene had a change in employment and she decided to open a boutique in August of 2015. After being in a small location in Wind sor Plaza for about a year and half, she then leased the building at 212 Main Street in March of 2017 and moved her shop to the downtown location where she is to this day. Marlene has always loved Sulphur Springs but being a part of the downtown area really made her excited about what our town had to offer.

Marlene has been a part of the Downtown Business Alliance for about 6 years and she currently serves as the Vice President of the group. At the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce meeting in 2022, she was awarded the 2021 Growth & Renewal Award for her contribution

towards the growth and involvement in the downtown activities. Marlene says, “I truly love serving the community and for a few years I hosted the Christmas Market on Main Street before the Downtown Business Alliance began to sponsor this event and we currently hold 2 markets a year the Spring and the Christmas which helps local vendors have the opportunity to sell their products and let the community know about their small business.”

This past year she also held a Fashion Show to help promote the Main Street Theatre. Her boutique always strives to support community fundraisers and help the local schools and clubs during their fundraiser events. Marlene also participated in the Designer Handbag Bingo for the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation, plus she has made do nations to the Northeast Texas Symphony Auction for the past couple of years. As you can tell, Marlene truly loves helping the people of Sulphur Springs through her business. At her boutique, Marlene and her staff find joy in helping their customers find the perfect gift or creating the outfit they desire for any special occasion.

15 Things About Marlene

1. What did you want to be when you grew up?

“I actually did not have a specific profession in mind when I was young. I just knew that I loved helping others and I wanted to be successful.”

2.

What is your favorite quote?

“A kind of motto I have is, “You have not because you ask not”, so I guess that is my favorite quote.”

3. What is number one on your bucket list?

“I have not really had a bucket list as such when I was young I always dreamed of going to see places I had seen on TV. Such as the Statue of Liberty and Golden Gate Bridge, etc. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to go and see both these sites several times. So, at this point I would say I would like to go to Paris. The Eiffel tower has always amazed me and Paris is such a fashion place that it has always been interesting to me.”

4. What’s your biggest pet peeve?

“To have to redo something that I have done or not doing something right the first time.”

5. On a scale from 1-10, how funny would you say you are?

“Maybe as a 4. I don’t think I am very funny but my husband makes up for that. He is always funny and has funny things to say.”

6. What’s the one item of clothing you couldn’t live without?

“I would say anything black as I always look better in black outfits.”

7. Who is your hero?

“Well I would say that would need to be someone that is perfect, and as a teenager I trusted in Jesus and I would say that he is still my Hero.”

8. What’s your favorite place on earth?

“I don’t think I have a favorite town or specific place so I would just say, home with my family.”

9. What would you change about yourself if you could?

“I think I would like to be a little bit taller. My husband is 6’3 and I am 5’4, so I would love to be taller. “

10. What motivates you to work hard?

“Money! But I have always wanted to do my best and be successful which has always motivated me to work hard. I have always known that nothing comes easy and hard work is important to

succeed.”

11. What is your proudest accom plishment?

“I would say becoming a mom and raising my son. I am sure there are other things that I have accomplished but to me this is the most important.”

12. What would you sing at karaoke night?

“I love Elton John’s music. So, I think I would try to sing, ‘Your Song’.”

13. If you could only eat only one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?

“I would probably say some type of Mexican food, however my motto is usu ally, ‘life is short, so eat dessert first!”.

14. If money was no object, what would you do all day?

“I would probably find a way to help my family, friends and others.”

15. If you could share a meal with four individuals, living or dead, who would they be?

“I have so many more than four people and I would hate to leave someone out, so I’ll just say, “too many to list.”

Shaver brings winning culture to Sulphur Springs basketball program

Aims to prepare players for life

By DJ Spencer

To some, basketball is a game. To others, like Brandon Shaver, basketball is life. As a former basketball player himself, Shaver now has a completely different role in basketball and aims to leave a positive impact on the lives he touches.

Shaver, a Diana native, was a four-year letterman in basketball at New Diana High School. During his time at New Diana, Shaver scored over 4,000 points during his career and helped the New Diana Eagles make several deep playoff runs.

Though he played multiple sports growing up, Shaver decided to fully dedicate himself to basketball in high school.

“During the summers, I would travel the country going to different camps,” Shaver said. “My goal was get as much exposure as I could, and it ultimately worked out.”

After high school, Shaver received a basketball scholarship from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La, where he played under Mike McConathy. Unfortunately, his time on the basketball team was short-lived, as he suffered an injury. Despite this, he has maintained close contact with his teammates throughout the years, and also cheered the team on when they made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament during his junior year.

Shaver didn’t immediately go in to coaching, instead doing it mostly on the side. He would work during the day, and then coach during the evening. With that

experience, he has accumulated 15 years of coaching experience.

His first teaching and coaching job was at a small private school that only fielded basketball, which lasted one year. Shaver stated that he enjoyed his time there.

“We were able to start full practice in August, play 45 games per year, and travel a lot,” said Shaver. “Our district was comprised of schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. We weren’t picked to win many games that year, but we managed to outperform expectations and win 18 games.”

During his time coaching, New Diana consistley asked Shaver to come coach, but he continuously turned them down, feeling like it wasn’t the place he was being led to. His wife was also insistent on not moving away from Louisiana.

Then, one day, a friend was able to get Shaver an interview at Pine Tree High School in Longview. Shaver vividly remembers what he was doing when he got the interview.

“I was at Target buying some things for my wife when I called her about the interview,” Shaver said. “She said I could go do the interview, but she said we’re not moving to Texas.”

“A few days later, I went and interviewed on a Friday morning, and what I thought would be a 30-minute interview turned into a six-hour interview. I was shown the campus and facilities as well,” Shaver added.

A few days later, Pine Tree called back and offered Shaver the job. After careful consideration and showing the Pine Tree campus to his wife, she agreed to let him take the job.

Once he got to Pine Tree, he had to undertake a rebuild, as Pine Tree had lost most players and their best player got injured during football season.

“We weren’t picked to win many games my first year, but like my previous job, we ended up winning 18 games that year,” Shaver said. “We almost made the playoffs as well, but missed out due to some bad luck.”

Shaver’s second year at Pine Tree was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Like the previous year, they once again lost their best player to a football injury.

“Because of everything getting pushed back, we only played a district schedule that year,” Shaver said. “It was also tough because 95% of our team came over from football.”

After two years at Pine Tree, the head boys basketball position at Sulphur Springs opened up. Being good friends with then head coach Clark Cipoletta, he was contacted to see if he was interested.

“I put my name in for an interview, and then got a call from Derek Driver. After meeting for about an hour, I was offered the job,” Shaver said. “One of the big things I’ve brought to Sulphur Springs is to love the kids hard. We do this because we want to make our athletes better men after high school.”

One big difference in taking the Sulphur Springs job is that Shaver was coming into a successful program. Despite this, he still made changes to the team.

“Cipoletta did a great job of building a winning culture here. I have much respect for him, but our coaching philosophies are different,” Shaver said. “I came in and changed the offense and defense, and was able to get a lot of buy-in from the players.”

During his first season, Shaver guided the Wildcats to a 28-10 record, leading them to a district championship and an appearance in the Regional Quarterfinals.

Another great benefit of coming to Sulphur Springs is that most of the basketball players are already in the offseason program, making it easier to develop the players.

“We were able to have over 170 practices last season, which is a big advantage,” Shaver said. “The kids are also passionate about basketball and often stay after practice.”

“I also want to help this program be seen doing positive things in the community,” Shaver said. “I wanna teach them to be unselfish and to be contributing members to society.”

This season, the Wildcats have eight new players on varsity. They will have a rotation of up to 10 players. The Wildcats will also be looking to make it to the Regional and State tournaments. Shaver also revealed strategies to help them win.

“We won’t always be the more athletic team in games, but we strive to be the smartest team,” Shaver said. “We do this to help expose flaws in teams that aren’t as smart as us.”

The Brandon Shaver era of Sulphur Springs basketball enters year two this year, and Shaver will look to continue the recent success for years to come.

My Trimiliation

The sweat streamed down my face, my brow soaked, even though the morning air was chilly. Each step jarred me as I pushed to pick up speed. I knew from the mile marker that I only had two more miles to go. Rest seemed far off still. But, my mind was listlessly blank and eyes glazed in nothingness thought. That was the moment of elation during a triathlon, the moment when you forgot who you were and what you were doing. That was the blissful moment before a twelve-year-old junior athlete passed me like I was standing still! That little girl shattered all illusions I had of being a “success.” As her race number flew off in front of me, my singular moment of solitude was destroyed! My head lolled in self-loathing.

The process of running a triathlon is not easy. It is something that most normal, sane, people would not consider. For good reason, a triathlon involves swimming, biking, and running, all at various lengths and without stopping. It is a mad dash to see who can make it the farthest, the fastest, and without totaling falling out! And for some unknown reason, maybe my pride, I had decided that this was the sport I wanted to throw myself into!

I had started my triathlon career in a pretty solid fashion. I had run a few races and done well. I had developed a good swim regiment to improve my swim times and had borrowed a racing bike that was fast and sleek. I had quickly outpaced what I had expected of myself. I thought I had it all figured out and down to a nice regiment. However, as Rowdy Roddy Piper used to say, “Just when you know the answers, I change the questions.”

The questions were changed for me early on as I began training for the “Luck of the Irish” triathlon in 2022. I had written up my daily workouts and plans. This race was to be a short Sprint style race consisting of only a 300-meter swim, a nine-mile

By Carey Gable

bike, and a standard five kilometer (3.1 miles) run. I had completed longer and faster courses before, so I understood what I was getting myself into. The calamity of errors also began the moment I attempted to seriously train.

First was that the heater went out on the pool I used. I dipped a toe into the fifty-degree water and froze in an instant! There was no “training” that could be done when trying to keep your toes thawed! Then the gracious person I had borrowed the racing bike from required it back. I dutifully returned it. However, I was left with no bike and no way to train for a road race other than a stationary bike. I attempted to make the most of it and ran and ran and ran. I told myself the lie that the running would balance out the others. (To my chagrin, it would not.)

I was two months into my training when the pool finally reopened with heat. I was just a week away from race day when I finally obtained another borrowed bike. This new bike was the same sleek, fast model as the previous. However, it had clip shoe pedals that I had never used. A clip shoe is a shoe that is specifically designed to hook into the pedal, thus allowing you to gain speed on the downward and upward movement of the legs. It is slightly ingenious, but also means that if you start to fall, you have no legs (since they are literally strapped to the pedals) to catch yourself. The vision of flying over the top of the handlebars with my feel bringing the bike down upon myself kept repeating in my dreams nightly. But there was no time to ponder these notions!

With a mere three swim trainings and one meager half speed bike in place, I found myself checking in to the hotel with full triathlon gear preparing for the next day’s race. I was unprepared and unnerved, but I was determined to at least finish. I talked and psyched myself up and into believing that I had done this

race before and I could surely do it again. With a better time even, if I really put my mind to it. I was terribly wrong!

I arrived at the triathlon facility early, but not early enough to obtain a prime parking spot. Instead, I walked over a mile with full pack to the check-in station, only to be told that I could not check-in since I did not have my driver’s license with me. (I had brought another form of identification.) So, I trudged back a mile to the truck, got my license and trudged back again. After three miles in full gear, pushing a bike, I was allowed to unload in the race area. Of course, I then had to use the rest room. The only rest room available was in the aquatic center. The line was outside of the building. I dutifully stood in the chilly line for thirty minutes and was surprised when I finally was inside the building to see that the pool length was NOT your standard twenty-fivemeter Olympic pool but a HUGE fifty-meter pool! I had never swum in that length, ever, in all of my training!

Moments after arranging my gear at the transition station, we were called to the starting line. Again, I found myself in a line. For almost an hour I slowly marched to the starting point of the pool. The entire time my body tightened and I could not get loose for anything. The warm up that I had previous had was completely gone when I dove into the pool. The first thing that happened, my knee scrapped the bottom, bruising my knee cap in such a way that it would stiffen later. But I was in the water, the race had begun! I was happy, I was pleased, I was in my focused zone.

My steady breathing and focused zone lasted only the first fifty meters. As I made the turn to the next lane, the length of the pool began to zoom away from me like a special lens used in movies. And then I began to be passed! Not just passed by the faster racers, but by EVERYONE! I stayed steady, I knew that the swim was my weakest event and that I would make up time later in the race. As I made the turn to conclude the 200-meter point, I was passed yet again. What made this pass stand out to me in the moment was that when I looked closely, this gentleman was racing, and swimming, with ONLY his left arm! He did not possess a right arm at all. (Come to find out, he was a Marine veteran and was a highly experienced triathlete, always finishing at or near the top.) This inspired me to swim harder, I wanted to prove myself to this man, I wanted to gut it out, even though I had not yet

finished even the first event!

I did not, in fact, gut it out. I finished the swim section with a nice twenty meters of doggie paddling. I pulled myself out of the water and jogged lackadaisically to the transition area. I was spurred at the transition area to quickly shift to my biking clip shoes and took off as quickly as possible. It was at the first turn, a near ninety degree leaning turn at speed, that I realized just how narrow the tires were that I had installed on this silver bullet! No wider than an inch, every single pebble posed the threat of my imamate demise. My nightmares of my feet flying over my head in a face first crash seemed like a certainty. Thus, I slowed down. I slowed way down!

That was when I became the barn door for everyone to pass on the way to their success. As I prioritized safety over speed, I attempted to keep my sprits up by focusing on the run portion of the race and envisioning an epic three-mile sprint that would surely take me into the middle of the pack! I dwelt on it, lived it, believe it, projected this vision into the Astral plane of existence! I became one with the race! My mind sauntered into that nothing realm that only happens when a distance athlete finally finds a center and Zen like moment in the effort. Then a ten-year-old child, a boy, passed me.

I was unaware at this point that a “juniors” division was racing with the adults, but I quickly figured that out as packs of “juniors” passed. I was impressed by all of them! (Yet still very ashamed.) Then I heard a deep voice come from behind me, “On your left!” I pulled further to the right.

The Marine that had passed me in the pool was lapping me on the bike! This inspired me! Emboldened, I sped up the silver bike to stay within two length of him. Like this, following his led into every turn and every position, I road for the remainder of his laps. By watching, following, paying attention, I felt like I had grown in confidence. It was only at the very end of the bike portion that I finally felt like I had mastered it.

Launching myself from my bike, I hung it up at my transition and raced speedily away on foot, changing shoes in the process. The run had always been my strongest event and I felt ready for it. I quickly settled into the run, the steady steps echoing in my ears, the jarring of the pavement against me. I knew this portion. I was passed by some, but I passed many, many others. I could feel my confidence growing with each step. Then, it was over.

By the time I crossed the finish line, I finally had gotten my back warmed up again and was loose enough to really compete. They hung a heavy finishers medal around my neck as I skipped over to the curb to sit down and contemplate. I am a contemplative athlete.

I pondered what I had done wrong in training. I postulated how I had managed to finish. I wondered, above all, how fast the one-armed Marine had run! (He was in the top ten.) It is a lonely feeling, when you finish a race. I had no one there to welcome me across the line as many did. Instead, I kept my own company, licked my own wounds of injured pride, and loaded up my gear.

As I made the one-mile trudge back to the truck for the last time, I saw the entire “juniors” team lined up and

celebrating. I paused for a moment, took in the entire scene, and slowly began to applaud them. Children from ten to sixteen had all competed, finished, and many with high placing medals around their necks. They had been determined and found success! I was proud of them, even though I had never met them. I was proud of the Marine, although I never knew him other than someone to chase.

That was when it finally dawned on me, the point of a triathlon. It was not always about winning or placing highly. Sometimes, it was about being in awe of your fellow humanity and cheering on their success. Sometimes, it was about finishing, completing the race, and facing a new race the next day. Sometimes, it was about those still mental moments of nothingness that interlude your thoughts in the

midst of panicked action.

As I loaded my bike into the back of my truck, I resolved to not run another triathlon. I was done. I had lived that experience three times and felt success and failure, as much as failure could be felt. I hung up my racing shoes. I did not race again. I would not race again.

Then, just this month, a special holiday priced special popped up in my email. Fifty percent off your next triathlon, “REGISTER NOW.” I contemplated it for a long moment before I clicked the button! I would race again! I would nearly drown! I would find my inner solitude and solemnity! It was my Christmas present to myself, another Spring triathlon! Thus, I begin training January 1st!

Ana Velasco is founder and creator of Beauty Grace (2015). She is also a dog mom, sister, aunt and proud Latina, the best labels to have. She is the youngest of five siblings. Born into a hard-working family of entrepreneurs, she has been influenced to be driven to accomplish her goals and dreams. Success isn’t given but earned.

If you see Ana you know CoCo is not far behind as he holds the highest position as four legged Manager of Hospitality. Coco is a two year Golden-doodle who absolutely adores his mom and getting to meet new people as they come in to shop. He specializes in entertaining children and or husbands with his gentle and playful personality. Coco loves car rides, playing fetch, and most of all helping people feel loved and appreciated!

Formerly located in Windsor Plaza, Beauty Grace is now downtown Sulphur Springs with two locations 220 + 224 Connally Street. The Grand Opening on November 12th, 2022 was definitely the breakthrough for us all. The feeling of completing a marathon you spent months training for or finishing a test after countless hours of studying or a wedding day after the season of engagement, we knew the results would outweigh any obstacle during the preparation season. Enjoying the sense of achievement, we were able to take a step back and admire the start of who Beauty Grace was always meant to be. With loved ones, friends and family all around, it was an unforgettable moment of celebration and accomplishment. We were so grateful to celebrate with the smell of our signature Sweet Grace in the air, incredible appetizers, mimosas and good music.

We have quickly adopted a wide age range of customers, whom we dearly love, which allows us to experiment with

a wide variety of styles and selections of clothing. It warms our hearts to see your excitement when y’all walk in with bright faces in seeing the newest clothes. From athletic wear to on trend pieces, formal events or dressy casual, show up with style and class when wearing our items. Ana carefully curates high quality clothing collections to bring into the shop as we aim to bring in timeless styles to elevate your wardrobe.

In looking for gifts, we have been known for our wide range of quality gifts. Your next birthday, holiday or wedding, let us help you be intentional with what gifts you give this year by personalizing it to your loved ones. Candles with quirky notes, jewelry, non-toxic perfume, Harry Styles crew neck sweatshirt, cards for all occasions are just a few ideas of what we have to offer.

We are huge advocates for giving the highest quality experience by providing our community avenues to a healthier lifestyle through the clean products you can find at Beauty Grace. We never want to force products on our customers, but love to give information as to why we are so passionate about them, enabling the customer to make the best educated decision to fit their needs.

Rowe Casa Organics has been all about helping your family thrive through natural products with ingredients you can trust. Their mission is to provide clean, non-toxic, high quality, and completely natural and effective products. “We take our mission seriously by extensively researching each ingredient & always looking first to their indigenous region.” We carry their products for newborns, mommas, herbal alternative medicines, cleaners and many more. Root & Splendor ingredients are 100% pure and natural, safe for people and planet and eco-friendly. They adhere to using earth’s finest natural ingredients and scent them with pure and natural essential oils chosen specifically for aromatherapy benefits and a beautiful scent profile. “As a family and brand, we are passionate about our faith, the outdoors, a cleaner and simpler lifestyle, and being in community with others. They do not waiver in their commitment to bring you products that are 100% natural and safe for you and the environment, eco-friendly and handcrafted.” We carry their products for room and body sprays, hand shield, nontoxic laundry detergent, and wool dryer balls.

Moon Rivers Naturals is based in Tyler, TX and they have made their brand one of the top independent beauty brands. “Named after our son, Rivers, and homestead in Hawkins, TX, Moon Rivers Naturals is our attempt to share the beauty we’re enlivened by via our products.

We keep it simple, pure, organic, wild, new, and adventurous, and are always looking for new scents, new combinations, and new experiences.

Thanks for letting our family at Moon Rivers Naturals

make your day just a little bit better.” We carry their products for all things skincare, bath products and beauty.

Little Seed Farm has flourished their small dairy goat operation from selling soaps at farmers markets to selling globally. On their goat farm, which is located in the hill country in Tennessee, the goats are 100% grass fed, able to roam free year round, and are not pushed to produce milk in an unhealthy manner. This results in a beautiful company with handcrafted products that show their hearts through every product. “I think one of the things that makes our products so special is that they are made by hand, by people who really care about every step of the process.” We carry their goat milk soaps, all things skincare, and deodorant creams.

With the expansion, we were able to focus on our refill station! If you are like the larger portion of our customers, you probably haven’t heard of a refillery before or didn’t know we have one. So, what does this mean for you? Bring in your old containers,

soap dispensers, mason jars, or even plastic ware. We will weigh your empty containers, fill them with your favorite nontoxic products and weigh them a second time so you are only getting charged for the weight of the product. As you could imagine, this cuts down on waste with single use plastics and allows you to save on money in the long run. As of right now, you can refill deodorant cream, foaming hand soap, laundry detergent, room and body sprays, nontoxic all purpose cleaner spray and stain remover spray. We are always looking for new products and small businesses with the same mindset to support and to give our customers more opportunities to incorporate organic and non-toxic products into their lifestyle.

We could not have ask for a better interior designer to capture the aesthetic of who Beauty Grace is. House of Sabo is newly opened in Sulphur Springs and they have gone above and beyond to exceed our expectations with every minor detail of our shop. Not only has their work

shown their expertise but from the beginning of the project, when Beauty Grace was just an idea, they were so enthusiastic and knew exactly how to make our idea come to life. To say the knocked it out of the park would be an understatement. We wouldn’t have such a gorgeous store if it were not for them and for that, we thank Cody and his team, from the bottom of our hearts.

In conclusion, our mission is to empower women making them feel beautiful while enhancing their beauty within. Self-care and wellness plays an important role when feeling and looking your best. Here at Beauty Grace you will find what you need to embrace who you are.

Once again, none of this would be possible without the love and support of you. Our hope is the love you feel within our shop would reflect the gratitude within our hearts. We would be honored to invite you to our new location as we celebrate the success and growth of Beauty Grace.