Austin County Insider Winter 2023

Ed Edit itor o Editor

The last editorial that I wrote was about how excited my husband and I were to go to a BBQ contest in Kansas City. As some of you may know, we did not get to go. My husband’s mother passed away.

I am a very private person and don’t express my feelings very often, but I need to talk about this very important person in my life that I lost.

Keeping the memories of Virginia, my mother-in-law, alive is very significant to me. Looking back, one of the best Christmas gifts that we gave to her was an Elvis impersonator. She and I were/are big Elvis fans. She once told me that she saw him live in concert, and she was one of the ‘screamers’. I can tell you that I am still jealous to this day.

As I sat beside my husband, at her funeral, sobbing as the priest was talking about how she was such a great person, it was hard not to have a good distraction from my two-year-old grandson, who was talking about everything not related to this funeral. She would have been amused, not frustrated.

She loved me the first day she met me, and I loved her. I will never forget her. I thought about you yesterday and today Virginia, and will think about you again tomorrow. God has you now, but you will forever be in my heart.

- Karen Lopez

M O M M Y M O M M Y M O M E N T S M O M E N T S

by Amanda Luksha

Restaurants and Children: know when to pick your battles

Going to a restaurant with children does not have to be for only special occasions anymore. It seems many parents are either overthinking the location and what their kids are going to order, some wonder if it’s healthy enough. Of course there are some parents that don’t worry about what they eat or how they act. I can say when it comes to me and my children, I am at a happy medium on their food and their behavior. They are not the healthiest and are somewhat picky. A lot of times they can be hyper and pick a fight, then at times, they can be well behaved. I take the good with the ugly. When heading to a restaurant you must consider many distinct factors; how many food options, what the environment is, what the cost will be, and is it kid-friendly?

If you have picky eaters, like me, you must consider the food options. I do not mind going to a Mexican restaurant, having my kids order chicken nuggets and French fries because sometimes, that is exactly what they want. I see it as a winwin situation, because even though they will eat tacos and quesadillas, it is not what they are in the mood for. I am grateful for these options. If you can get your kids to eat all the things on a menu when going to a restaurant, then I applaud you. But there are days when you just want to say, I am not fighting you, and let them get those nuggets.

Sometimes children are just hyper and need to blow off the stress of their day. Children do have stress days, just like us. We have to be prepared on days such as these and avoid the restaurants that are not kid friendly.

If you are like me and don’t carry a purse, let your child carry a small backpack with a coloring book and crayons. Kids love to color, and it’s a great distraction while waiting on your food. You don’t want them yelling, screaming, jumping around or punching each other, do you? Oh, wait, is that just my kids?

You have older kids? Allow them to bring their phone or tablet. Download a few books or learning games. If their face is not in the device 24/7, then it’s okay every once in a while. Not everyone will agree with that statement, but either way, it’s okay to disagree. If you don’t mind your children running around and burning off some energy, there are plenty of restaurants that have play and outdoor areas. Other advice to help when going out, especially when your children are younger, is to make sure you order their food first. As adults we like to sit around talking, relaxing, and enjoying the company around us, and occasionally a nice adult beverage; the food is not usually the first thought for us. But, for kids, if they do not eat as soon as they are hungry, they get hangry. No parent enjoys that and neither do the tables around you. Ordering their food first and letting them eat, makes life easier on everyone, especially you. Kids are kids, and we have to let them be just that. It's our job to guide them and do the best we can. Will they be crazy and act up sometimes? Of course, they will. I have learned, and am still learning, to be more patient with my boys every day. My boys all have different personalities, and different behaviors when it comes to eating. They do not want or like the same things. We have made a pact to at least try everything once, and then if you do not like it, you do not have to eat it. But you must try it. Do I let them play on phones and tablets when we go to dinner? I sure do, but not every time. Sometimes they have crayons or pencils to pull out their creative side. Dinner is meant to be a time of good food, fun, family and mommies not having to cook.

M A T T E R H O R N

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I P E L I N E B Y H O L L Y G A L V A N - P O S E Y ustin County residents will soon begin hearing about the construction of progress as the

he con truction of the proj o ect i e pec ed o begin in June 2023 and end b June 202 , ith he proj o ec being in ser ice b the third quar er of 2024. It i planned tha he pipeline ill begin in Pecos Coun and ill e tend over a dis ance of 580 mile to reach harton Coun . Natural gas rom he Permian Ba in ill be tran ported through he pipeline at a ra e of up to 2.5 billion cubic fe f et per da .

ccording to Forbe , he Mat erhorn E pres line ould ranspor enough gas o hea 1.5 million homes e er da . he Ma terhorn E press Pipeline project is being de eloped b hi e a er Inc., a e a -ba ed infras ruc ure compan , in partner hip i h Ridgemon Equi Partner and Firs Infras ruc ure Capital.

“ hi e a er is e cited o partner i h EnLink, De on, and MPL o de elop incremen al gas ranspor ation out of he Permian Ba in a production con inues to gro in e t e a , ” aid Chri ter Rundl , EO hite ater in a pres relea e. “Matterhorn ill pro ide premium marke acces i h uperior fle ibilit for Permian Basin shippers hile pla ing a critical role in minimizing flared olume . ”

ccording to the companies that are constructing the pipeline, the Permian Basin is expected to continue to gro , hich means there ill be a need for f more takea a capacit in order to transport natural gas to the market. number of shippers ha e alread appro ed the Matterhorn E press Pipeline, demonstrating its necessit .

he pipeline quickl became a topic of discussion among lando ners in ustin Count that ould be aff ffected b it. s a result of the state la allowing pipeline companies to use eminent domain in a take that is fo f r "public use," residents ma not be able to a oid the easements required fo f r the Matterhorn Express Pipeline. s far as eminent domain rights are concerned, it is true that the project does ha e this right, ho e er, it has been reported that it is onl used as a last resort.

Looking ahead to the pipeline' arri al in us in Count , Austin Count Judge Tim Lapham in ited representati es from the pipeline to come to an ustin Count Commissioners Court meeting on ug. 3 and brief them on the pipeline and ho it might affect the count . “ hen it as first announced that it as coming through. I had quite a fe people calling me and asking me about the information on it,” Lapham said.

Lapham suggested that lando ners speak ith a la er that specializes in dealing with pipeline companies. The pipeline is still negotiating with landowners before coming back to speak ith the commissioner's court.

“ here's a lot of things that ou can negotiate ith the pipeline compan , rather than just taking that first initial offer that they give you,” Lapham said.

Lapham said there has been a mixed reaction among residents from Austin Count .

“If it’s not coming through our properties, then those people aren't too concerned about it. But for the land owners that this pipeline is coming through, are not real happ a 42-inch natural gas pipeline, it’s a big thing,” he said.

In the construction phase of the project, more than 3,500 people are expected to be emplo ed. here ill be 50 permanent jobs created in e as following the completion of the project.

“The 'll be a little bit of local hires, probabl not er much. The 'll use a big construction cre that ill come in and put the pipe in. So there, there'll be er fe local people that ill be hired out of the project,” Lapham said. It's possible that there ill be more pipelines laid in ustin Count in the near future. Lapham said that it is common for pipelines to run alongside one another once the are built.

“ here are a fe reasons, one is to keep all of a bunch together so that the 're not spread all out e er here,” Lapham e plained. “ he other reason is because if a pipeline has come through a piece of propert then those lando ners ha e usually already dealt with them and it's not as hard to put another pipe beside one that is alread built s building one here there asn't one.”

ccording to the pipeline, state and local go ernments ill be able to collect an estimated $75 million in taxes through the completion of construction. Upon completion of the pipeline, it is estimated that it ill contribute an estimated $35 million in ta es to local and state go ernments each ear once it becomes full operational.

ustin Count Chief ppraiser Greg Cook said that hen it comes to pipelines, like the Matterhorn E press Pipeline, there are a fe different a s that the 're ta able.

“ he first is actuall hat's (in) that line, hether it's a gas, oil, or hate er. nd that's done on slo edge, hich means how much is actuall going through the line. he second thing it's ta ed on is the actual ph sical structures of the pipeline, hether it be the pump stations that line it, etc.” Cook said. “ he first ear, that the pipeline actuall goes online, ou're going to get the most ta dollars out of it, because that depreciates rather quickl . ”

Cook e plained that the biggest ear regarding ta es for the pipeline ould be for the first ear.

“Just because of the usage of it. For example like if the first ear is sa it's orth, ou kno , $10 million. Oka , that next ear, it might onl be orth 80%, of that third ear, it might onl be 60% of that. So that part of the ta es, ou're gonna get our biggest bang that first ear," Cook said.

The pipeline will include features such as remote shutdown after it has been built. hen a problem is suspected, pipeline controllers will be able to shut down the pipeline system remotely and the line can only be restarted after a visual inspection by field personnel. On the pipeline route, pipeline markers will also be installed in line-of-sight indicating the general location of the pipeline, including crossings of roads, properties, and creeks.

s a means of minimizing effects on ustin Count lando ners, Matterhorn Express intends to use best management practices during construction to minimize erosion and sedimentation. Aside from returning the area of impacts to preexisting contours, the also intend to ensure egetation is reestablished and allo areas outside of our permanent right-of- a to return to their pre ious condition.

A Matterhorn Express representati e should ha e contacted homeowners in Austin Count if the pipeline is planned to pass through their propert . Matterhorn Express representati es said the are committed to being good neighbors, looking for ard to orking together and incorporating residents' feedback into the proposed route and overall project design.

Austin County Antiques

ANTIQUES

By Emily Kelley

L o v e r s o f a n t i q u e s h a v e a p r o f o u n d a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h e w a y i n w h i c h w e l lw o r n i t e m s t h a t h a v e p a s s e d t h r o u g h m a n y h a n d s t a n g i b l y c o n n e c t u s t o t h e p a s t . A l t h o u g h t h e p e o p l e w h o o n c e h e l d , u s e d , a n d l o v e d t h e s e o b j e c t s m a y n o l o n g e r b e p h y s i c a l l y w i t h u s , w e c a n g e t a s e n s e o f t h e i r s p i r i t s a n d t h e t y p e o f l i v e s t h e y l e d b y u s i n g a n d a p p r e c i a t i n g t h e s e o b j e c t s o u r s e l v e s . A n d n o t o n l y t h i s , t h e y a r e l o v e l y . T h e c a r e , c r a f t s m a n s h i p , t i m e , a n d p r i d e t h a t w e n t i n t o i t e m s p r o d u c e d i n p r e v i o u s e r a s e n s u r e d t h a t t h e y w o u l d p h y s i c a l l y e n d u r e a n d , i t i m b u e d t h e m w i t h a n i n d e l i b l e b e a u t y t h a t i s s o m e h o w o n l y a m p l i f i e d b y t h e i r d i n g s , c h i p s , a n d c r a c k s . A u s t i n C o u n t y i s h o m e t o s e v e r a l a n t i q u e s v e n d o r s w h o v i e w t h e i r w a r e s i n e x a c t l y t h i s w a y . I f y o u a r e a k i n d r e d s p i r i t , y o u w o n ’ t w a n t t o m i s s t h e c h a n c e t o m e e t t h e m a n d s h o p t h e i r s t o r e s f u l l o f h i s t o r i c a l g e m s .

Mustang Alley Antiques

W h e n M a r y O ’ N e a l o p e n e d h e r s t o r e , M u s t a n g A l l e y , i t w a s a n a t u r a l p r o g r e s s i o n o f h e r l i f e l o n g i n t e r e s t i n a n t i q u e s . S h e h a s o p e r a t e d h e r b u s i n e s s s i n c e 2 0 0 0 , b u t t h e b u i l d i n g i n C a t S p r i n g t h a t h o u s e s h e r c o l l e c t i o n w a s f o r m e r l y t h e S t r a u s s G e n e r a l S t o r e , w h i c h o p e r a t e d f r o m t h e e a r l y 1 9 0 0 s u n t i l a r o u n d 1 9 6 5 . U p o n p u r c h a s e , i t w a s a l r e a d y f u l l o f a n t i q u e s , a n d s h e l a t e r a d d e d a d d i t i o n a l i t e m s t h a t s h e t r a n s p o r t e d f r o m C h i c a g o . H e r o f f e r i n g s a r e e c l e c t i c , b u t s h e e s p e c i a l l y a p p r e c i a t e s r u s t i cs t y l e a n t i q u e f u r n i t u r e t h a t f e a t u r e s m e t a l a n d w o o d c o m b i n a t i o n s . I n a d d i t i o n t o a n t i q u e s , s h e c a r r i e s c o w h i d e s a n d d o e s c u s t o m f r a m i n g . T h e s t o r e i s m a i n l y o p e n b y a p p o i n t m e n t , s o c a l l 9 7 9 - 8 7 7 - 8 3 4 4 t o b r o w s e . F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d p i c t u r e s , y o u c a n v i s i t t h e s t o r e ’ s w e b s i t e a t w w w . m u s t a n g a l l e y . u s . M u s t a n g A l l e y i s a l s o o n F a c e b o o k a n d o n I n s t a g r a m @ m u s t a n g a l l e y a n t i q u e s .

ANTIQUES

Nothing Ordinary Antiques

H o u s e d i n a r e n o v a t e d 1 9 2 0 s a u t o d e a l e r s h i p , N o t h i n g O r d i n a r y A n t i q u e s i n B e l l v i l l e h a s a w h o p p i n g 7 , 7 0 0 s q u a r e f e e t o f a n t i q u e s a n d o d d i t i e s t o e x p l o r e . T h e o w n e r o f t h i s e s t a b l i s h m e n t , N a n c y L a w r e n c e , o p e n e d h e r s t o r e i n 1 9 8 9 , a n d s h e m a k e s f r e q u e n t t r i p s t o E n g l a n d t o a c q u i r e n e w i n v e n t o r y . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e i t e m s t h e o w n e r b r i n g s b a c k f r o m h e r t r a v e l s , t h e s t o r e h o s t s n u m e r o u s b o o t h s w h e r e i n d i v i d u a l v e n d o r s s e l l t h e i r o w n f i n d s . S h o p p e r s a t N o t h i n g O r d i n a r y w i l l d i s c o v e r a n t i q u e f u r n i t u r e ( c o u n t r y , c o t t a g e , a n d V i c t o r i a n ) , V i c t o r i a n a n d E d w a r d i a n a p p a r e l i t e m s ( c l o t h i n g , p a r a s o l s , j e w e l r y , b o n n e t s , a n d p u r s e s ) , m a j o l i c a ( E n g l i s h , E u r o p e a n , a n d J a p a n e s e ) , c o u n t r y p r i m i t i v e s ( A m e r i c a n , T e x a n , a n d E u r o p e a n ) , b a r b o l a w o r k , F r e n c h i v o r y , t r a n s f e r w a r e , f i n e c h i n a a n d g l a s s w a r e , a n d m u c h m o r e . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e s t o r e h a s a s e c t i o n o f m o d e r n , o n - t r e n d h o m e a n d g a r d e n d é c o r . T h e s t o r e i s o p e n M o n d a y t h r o u g h S a t u r d a y f r o m 1 0 A M – 5 P M a n d o n S u n d a y f r o m 1 2 – 5 P M . T h e s t o r e ’ s w e b s i t e , w w w . n o t h i n g o r d i n a r y a n t i q u e s . c o m , h a s p i c t u r e s a n d a w e a l t h o f i n f o r m a t i o n ; y o u c a n a l s o f i n d t h e s t o r e o n F a c e b o o k .

Stardust Emporium

C h r i s R e d m a n , t h e p r o p r i e t o r o f S t a r d u s t E m p o r i u m i n C a t S p r i n g , h a s b e e n a n a v i d c o l l e c t o r o f a n t i q u e s f o r 4 0 y e a r s . S h e s e e s t h e b e a u t y i n w e l l - l o v e d o b j e c t s w i t h r i c h h i s t o r y , a n d s h e h a s a l w a y s a p p r e c i a t e d t h e f i n e c r a f t s m a n s h i p o f b y g o n e e r a s t h a t s t a n d s i n s t a r k c o n t r a s t t o t h e f e e l o f t o d a y ’ s m a s s - p r o d u c e d , a l m o s t d i s p o s a b l e p r o d u c t s . H e r s t o r e h o u s e d i n a d e c a d e s - o l d f o r m e r f i r e s t a t i o n i s p a r t o f t h e h o m e t h a t s h e a n d h e r h u s b a n d s h a r e . T h i s c o z y s p a c e h a s b e e n o p e n t o p a t r o n s s i n c e 2 0 1 4 , a n d i t i s a b s o l u t e l y j a m - p a c k e d w i t h a n t i q u e , v i n t a g e , a n d c o l l e c t i b l e i t e m s s u c h a s f u r n i t u r e , k i t c h e n i m p l e m e n t s , d o l l s , c h i n a , g l a s s w a r e , o l d j a r s , b u t t e r c h u r n s , a n d g r i n d e r s . W h e n p o s s i b l e , s h e l i k e s t o o b t a i n r e l i c s t h a t h a v e a v e r i f i e d d a t e o r p r o v e n a n c e , a n d s h e r o t a t e s i t e m s i n t o h e r s h o p f r o m h e r g e n e r o u s b a c k s t o c k . A n o t h e r a t t r a c t i o n t h a t v i s i t o r s e n j o y b r o w s i n g i s t h e s t o r e ’ s l o v e l y q u i l t s s o m e a n t i q u e , a n d s o m e n e w b u t h a n d - s t i t c h e d . T h e y a r e o p e n t h r e e d a y s a w e e k F r i d a y , S a t u r d a y , a n d S u n d a y f r o m 1 1 A M –

ANTIQUES

Stockyard Antiques

A s i t s n a m e i m p l i e s , S t o c k y a r d A n t i q u e s i s l o c a t e d i n t h e h i s t o r i c P o r t C i t y S t o c k y a r d s i n S e a l y O w n e r P h y l l i s R o b s o n o p e n e d t h e s t o r e i n 2 0 1 5 w h e n s h e m o v e d h e r e f r o m G e o r g i a . S h e h a d b e e n i n t h e a n t i q u e s b u s i n e s s t h e r e , t o o , s o s h e w a n t e d t o c o n t i n u e d o i n g w h a t s h e l o v e s . H e r d e e p i n t e r e s t i n h i s t o r y a n d f l a i r f o r i n t e r i o r d e s i g n ( i n f a c t , s h e m i n o r e d i n i t i n c o l l e g e ) c o m b i n e d t o m a k e t h i s b u s i n e s s t h e p e r f e c t n i c h e f o r h e r p e r s o n a l i t y . V i s i t o r s t o S t o c k y a r d A n t i q u e s c a n f i n d e v e r y t h i n g f r o m p r i m i t i v e s t o m i dc e n t u r y m o d e r n p i e c e s , i n c l u d i n g f u r n i t u r e , a r t , g l a s s w a r e , p o t t e r y , a n d v a r i o u s d é c o r i t e m s . I n a d d i t i o n t o a l l o f t h i s , t h e s t o r e s e l l s r u s t i c g a t e s f r o m t h e s t o c k y a r d s a n d f e a t u r e s t h e P a r k H i l l l i n e o f c a n d l e s . T h e s t o r e ’ s h o u r s a r e T u e s d a y t h r o u g h S a t u r d a y f r o m 1 0 A M – 5 P M a n d S u n d a y f r o m 1 – 4 P M .

Pick Up a Treasure from the Past in Austin County

I f y o u l i v e i n A u s t i n C o u n t y o r f i n d y o u r s e l f v i s i t i n g o r t r a v e l i n g t h r o u g h , y o u n e e d t o p u t t h e s e s h o p s o n y o u r c h e c k l i s t o f d e s t i n a t i o n s . Y o u w o n ’ t r e g r e t c o m m u n i n g w i t h t h e s p i r i t s o f t h e p a s t b y a d m i r i n g t h e i r a n t i q u e t r e a s u r e s . B e t t e r y e t , t a k e o n e o r t w o i t e m s h o m e a n d d a y d r e a m a b o u t t h e p e o p l e w h o o w n e d t h e m b e f o r e y o u . T h e i r j o y s a n d s o r r o w s a r e i m p a r t e d i n t h e w e l lw o r n i m p r e s s i o n s t h e y l e f t b e h i n d , a n d y o u m i g h t f i n d t h a t y o u h a v e m o r e i n c o m m o n w i t h t h e m t h a n y o u t h i n k .

QUES

While Betty Reinbeck’s petite size may give people the wrong impression about her leadership capabilities, her firm handshake does not.

The first time Betty met Austin County Sheriff Truman Maddox, she said he stood back, almost shocked when she shook his hand. “I said, ‘I had to get your attention.’” As Sealy’s first female mayor, Betty did not have difficulty attracting attention - primarily for her successful leadership, but she also faced blatant discrimination. Told she was too young for office and called the “prettiest mayor in Texas,” Betty smiled and then got on with leadership roles she says God called her to do.

Before being declared “the first woman mayor of Sealy, Texas” by The Sealy News, Betty became Sealy’s first female city council member elected by write-in vote in 1985. At the time, she taught Marketing and was the Career and Technology Department Chairperson at Sealy High School. Betty became a fixture in the Sealy business community while introducing her students to local business leaders. One thing led to another, and Betty began serving on the Sealy Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and then, as would become a pattern, Betty was asked to serve as the Chamber’s President.

During this term with the Chamber, a group of concerned citizens asked her to throw her name in the hat during the 1985 Sealy City Council election. Betty’s campaign seemed to threaten the mayor of the time, who told Betty he’d have the newspaper publish a story saying she would damage the city if elected to council. “I didn’t want to hurt the city, so I put my packet away and didn’t file to run,” Betty said.

But that wasn’t the end of it. The Thursday before Saturday’s election, a council member called Betty at the high school and insisted she run as a write-in candidate. After trying to refuse, Betty gave in and said she’d run. Betty assumed she’d lose, “but I’m not going to lose big,” she said.

“I’ r t eir a l ost en t em,” s e la e .

T h e n e x t t h i n g s h e k n e w , t h e y w e r e k n o c k i n g o n d o o r s T h u r s d a y a n d F r i d a y a f t e r n o o n .

B e t t y a n d h e r p r e - t e e n d a u g h t e r C a t h y a n d o t h e r s u p p o r t e r s s t o o d o u t s i d e t h e p o l l i n g p l a c e o n e l e c t i o n d a y a n d h a n d e d o u t f l y e r s e x p l a i n i n g h o w t o v o t e f o r a w r i t e - i n c a n d i d a t e .

S h e d i d n o t l o s e b i g I n f a c t , s h e w o n

S h e b e a t t h e m a l e i n c u m b e n t 1 8 9 v o t e s t o 7 8 f o r S e a l y C i t y C o u n c i l P l a c e 4 i n 1 9 8 5 .

P e o p l e d r o v e b y t o s e e t h e e l e c t i o n r e s u l t s p o s t e d o n a l a r g e g r e e n c h a l k b o a r d o u t s i d e C i t y H a l l , b u t t h e m a y o r p r o m p t l y r e m o v e d t h e c h a l k b o a r d a n d s h o v e d i t i n s i d e C i t y H a l l , a p p a r e n t l y u n h a p p y a b o u t t h e e l e c t i o n r e s u l t .

T h e m a y o r t h e n r e f u s e d t o s w e a r i n B e t t y a n d , w i t h o u t m e r i t , a c c u s e d h e r c a m p a i g n o f u s i n g “ y o u n g g i r l s i n s h o r t s ” a t t h e p o l l i n g p l a c e t o s w a y t h e v o t e . T h e y o u n g g i r l s i n q u e s t i o n w e r e h e r d a u g h t e r a n d h e r d a u g h t e r ’ s f r i e n d i n n o c e n t l y h e l p i n g B e t t y o n e l e c t i o n d a y .

A f t e r t h e v o t e s w e r e c a n v a s s e d a n d c e r t i f i e d , t h e m a y o r s t i l l r e f u s e d t o s w e a r i n B e t t y . T h e T e x a s S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e g o t i n v o l v e d a n d d e c l a r e d t h a t h e r c a m p a i g n h a d n o t a c t e d i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y o r i l l e g a l l y . T h e m a y o r n o w h a d n o c h o i c e b u t t o s w e a r i n B e t t y a s t h e f i r s t f e m a l e C i t y C o u n c i l M e m b e r o f S e a l y , T e x a s

B e c a u s e s h e w a s t h e n e w k i d o n t h e b l o c k a n d l i k e d t o h a v e h e r f a c t s s t r a i g h t , B e t t y p l a n n e d t o s p e n d t h e f i r s t f e w m o n t h s o f h e r t e r m l i s t e n i n g a n d l e a r n i n g b e f o r e d i g g i n g i n

I c a m e h o m e a f t e r t h e f i r s t m e e t i n g a n d s a i d , ‘ N o p e , I ’ v e g o t t o s t a r t r i g h t n o w . ’ I s a i d s o m e t h i n g i s g o i n g o n i n t h e c i t y . I d o n ’ t k n o w w h a t i t i s , b u t I w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n e l e c t e d i f p e o p l e h a d n ’ t s e n s e d t h e r e w a s a p r o b l e m , ” B e t t y e x p l a i n e d .

L i t t l e d i d s h e k n o w t h a t h e r i n s t i n c t t h a t s o m e t h i n g w a s a m i s s w o u l d l e a d t o a m u l t iy e a r i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o t h e m a y o r ’ s S e a l y R e g i o n a l A i r p o r t p r o j e c t

T h e F e d e r a l A v i a t i o n A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ( F A A ) , t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f J u s t i c e O f f i c e o f t h e I n s p e c t o r G e n e r a l , t h e F B I , a n d A B C C h a n n e l 1 3 N e w s d e s c e n d e d u p o n S e a l y , T e x a s T h e F A A t e r m i n a t e d t h e p r o j e c t d u e t o t h e m i s a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f f u n d s , w h i c h t h e y l a b e l e d “ f r a u d . ” U l t i m a t e l y s e v e r a l i n d i c t m e n t s i s s u e d a g a i n s t i n d i v i d u a l s i n v o l v e d i n t h e p r o j e c t w e r e s e n t t o t h e U . S . A t t o r n e y f o r t h e S o u t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f T e x a s l o c a t e d i n H o u s t o n

L a t e r a n a g e n t f r o m t h e I n s p e c t o r G e n e r a l ’ s o f f i c e t o l d B e t t y t h e U . S . A t t o r n e y h a d d i s m i s s e d t h e i n d i c t m e n t s . h e n s h e a s k e d t h e U . S . D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y , w h y h e h a d d i s m i s s e d t h e m , h e s a i d , “ L a d y , I d o n ’ t h a v e t o t e l l y o u a d a m n t h i n g ”

T h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n e x t e n d e d i n t o h e r t e r m s a s m a y o r , a n d e v e n t u a l l y , a l o c a l d e v e l o p e r f i l e d a l a w s u i t f o r $ 1 5 m i l l i o n a g a i n s t B e t t y , t h e C i t y o f S e a l y , a n d o t h e r i n d i v i d u a l s .

A f t e r e i g h t d a y s i n c o u r t a n d B e t t y ’ s s e v e n h o u r s o n t h e s t a n d , t h e j u d g e t h r e w o u t t h e l a w s u i t a g a i n s t t h e i n d i v i d u a l s .

O n t h e n i n t h d a y , t h e j u r y f o u n d t h e C i t y o f S e a l y i n n o c e n t . A n e d i t o r i a l p r o c l a i m e d , “ t h e t r u t h s h a l l s e t y o u f r e e . ”

I n 1 9 8 6 , a b o u t s i x m o n t h s i n t o h e r c i t y c o u n c i l t e r m , t h e m a y o r a s k e d B e t t y t o r u n f o r m a y o r b e c a u s e h e s a i d h e w o u l d n ’ t s e e k r e - e l e c t i o n . S h e i n i t i a l l y d e c l i n e d t o r u n , b u t a g a i n , s u p p o r t e r s u r g e d h e r o n . I t w a s a l s o h e r r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t t h e r e w e r e i s s u e s w i t h i n t h e c i t y t h a t s h e c o u l d h e l p i m p r o v e t h a t l e d t o h e r f i l i n g f o r m a y o r .

A n d s o d i d t h e m a y o r - e v e n t h o u g h h e h a d s a i d h e w o u l d n o t s e e k r e - e l e c t i o n .

B e t t y ’ s m a y o r a l r u n w a s o n e r o u s b u t w a s w o r t h i t f o r t h e c i t y .

C a m p a i g n a d s b y m a l e c a n d i d a t e s r a n w i t h s l o g a n s l i k e

“ e ’ r e n o t g o i n g t o s k i r t t h e i s s u e s , ” c l e a r l y p o i n t i n g t o t h e g e n d e r o f o n e f e m a l e c i t y c o u n c i l c a n d i d a t e a n d B e t t y .

“ I s a i d t o J o h n , ‘ T h e y t h i n k I ’ m g o i n g t o b e a t t h e m . T h e y ’ r e b o t h t r y i n g t o t a k e m e d o w n , ” B e t t y r e m e m b e r e d .

S h e d i d b e a t t h e m . B e t t y w o n w i t h 4 3 7 v o t e s c o m p a r e d t o 3 2 7 f o r t h e 1 0 - y e a r i n c u m b e n t m a y o r .

“ I w a s t h e o n l y o n e t a l k i n g a n d a s k i n g q u e s t i o n s , s o t h e y j u s t p u t m e i n , ” B e t t y l a u g h e d

I n a n t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e m a y o r a g a i n r e f u s i n g t o s w e a r i n B e t t y a s m a y o r , a g r o u p o f S e a l y r e s i d e n t s s i g n e d a p e t i t i o n a t 1 : 1 5 a . m . o n A p r i l 1 1 , 1 9 8 6 . T h e p e t i t i o n a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t B e t t y h a d t a k e n t h e o a t h o f o f f i c e i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f E a r l J . F r n k a , J r a n d o f f i c i a l l y m a d e h e r t h e f i r s t f e m a l e m a y o r o f t h e C i t y o f S e a l y

E v e r y d a y a t 4 : 0 0 p m a f t e r t e a c h i n g a t S e a l y H i g h S c h o o l , s h e w o u l d h e a d t o C i t y H a l l t o b e g i n h e r s e c o n d j o b a s m a y o r .

h a t s h o u l d h a v e b e e n a t i m e o f c e l e b r a t i o n a n d p r o d u c t i v e w o r k w a s a d a r k t i m e f o r h e r f a m i l y B e t t y ’ s h u s b a n d ’ s m e a t p l a n t c a u g h t o n f i r e s h o r t l y a f t e r s h e w a s e l e c t e d m a y o r A t a n o t h e r t i m e , s o m e o n e l e t h i s c u s t o m e r ’ s c o w s o u t o f t h e i r s t a l l s i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n i g h t .

A f t e r t h e O f f i c e o f t h e I n s p e c t o r G e n e r a l h a d b e e n i n S e a l y f o r s i x m o n t h s i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e S e a l y R e g i o n a l A i r p o r t p r o j e c t , h e t o l d B e t t y t o h i d e a n y t h i n g p e r s o n a l , i n c l u d i n g f a m i l y p h o t o s i n h e r o f f i c e i n C i t y H a l l . B e t t y s a i d , “ I t ’ s a s m a l l t o w n . E v e r y o n e a l r e a d y k n e w w h o m y h u s b a n d w a s a n d t h a t I h a d a d a u g h t e r . ”

B e t t y o f t e n s a i d s h e i s o v e r a l l t h e t h i n g s t h a t h a p p e n e d d u r i n g h e r t i m e i n o f f i c e , b u t s h e ’ s n e v e r f o r g o t t e n h o w h e r f a m i l y w a s h u r t d u r i n g h e r f i r s t f e w y e a r s .

T h e r e w e r e s o m e m e n w h o t o o k t i m e t o w a r m t o t h e i d e a o f a w o m a n m a y o r , b u t B e t t y m e t c o m m e n t s w i t h a s e n s e o f h u m o r . h e n C i t y o f S e a l y e m p l o y e e s t o l d h e r t h e y c o u l d n ’ t w o r k f o r a w o m a n b e c a u s e h e r p l a c e w a s i n t h e h o m e , s h e l a u g h e d a n d s a i d , “ ‘ G o f i n d J o h n R e i n b e c k a n d t e l l h i m m y p l a c e i s i n t h e h o m e ’ ”

D u r i n g h e r 1 8 - y e a r t e n u r e , B e t t y l e d t h e c i t y t h r o u g h t r e m e n d o u s p h y s i c a l g r o w t h ( 4 0 % i n c r e a s e ) a n d p o p u l a t i o n ( f r o m 4 , 1 0 0 t o m o r e t h a n 6 , 0 0 0 c i t i z e n s , n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l t o t o d a y ’ s p o p u l a t i o n ) . T h e p o l i c e d e p a r t m e n t m o v e d f r o m a t e m p o r a r y b u i l d i n g t o a p e r m a n e n t f a c i l i t y , a n d t h e c i t y ’ s w a t e r a n d s e w e r c a p a c i t y d o u b l e d

T h e C i t y o f S e a l y a l s o a d o p t e d i t s H o m e R u l e C h a r t e r a l l o w i n g t h e c i t y t o b e m a n a g e d u n d e r l a w s t h a t a p p l y s p e c i f i c a l l y t o t h e c i t y ’ s n e e d s a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s . T h e C i t y o f S e a l y s e a l w a s c r e a t e d a n d d e d i c a t e d i n A u g u s t 1 9 9 3 .

T h a n k s t o B e t t y ’ s l e a d e r s h i p , t o d a y w e e n j o y a 2 7 - a c r e p a r k w h e r e L i t t l e L e a g u e B a s e b a l l p l a y e r s l e a r n t o t h r o w , h i t a n d c a t c h . N o w k n o w n a s C h a p m a n B & P p a r k , i t a l s o f e a t u r e s a l i g h t e d b a s k e t b a l l c o u r t , t e n n i s c o u r t , p i c n i c a r e a , a n d a 1 . 5 - a c r e f i s h i n g l a k e .

In 1986, two Chamber of Commerce officers a oached Betty and asked if she would support a Fantasy of Lights festival in what is now Abe & Irene Levine Family Park and a antasy of ights Parade, a can’t-miss holiday event now in its 36th ear

Also, when illamette Industries' corrugated box facility and Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle Systems Division opene n Sealy, they brought jobs and the attention of other businesses with them. The almart Distribution Center project also ot underway, which she credits to City Manager John Maresh’s pre ration and team mentality. The delicious breakfast Sealy served the almart team didn’t hurt either.

Betty also oversaw the Outlet Center project and managed the property for seven years.

In 1998, after being nominated by the Sealy Chamber of ommerce, Betty received the American Hometown Leadership Awar nd a $5,000 community improvement grant from almart and the National Center for Small Communities given to “outstanding leaders of cities with populations of 25,000 or less.”

In 1996, Betty found time to run for the U.S. 8th Congressional district seat, which Jack Fields had vacated. rom the deck of her sister and brother-in-law’s RV, she campaigne gainst five male candidates, including Rep. Kevin Brady, who still olds this seat.

“ e all became friends There was no yelling, throwing things, criticizing others,” she said as she explained the fferences between the climate then and now. “ e learne ow to enjoy each other. e got our points across and then let the voters decide. That’s how it used to be.”

Her most prized accomplishment is how the City of Sealy government and, by extension, the community came together after a time of opposition and corruption.

“You cannot do a good job if you don’t have ood people. I surrounded myself with people who knew more than I did,” she said. “I told the people I worked with that I’d put them u gainst any other local government in the state. And I truly meant it!”

B e t t y s h a r e s t h e s p o t l i g h t w i t h C i t y M a n a g e r M a r e s h , a w a r d - w i n n i n g D i r e c t o r o f F i n a n c e S t e v e n K u t r a , c o u n t y o f f i c i a l s l i k e f o r m e r C o u n t y J u d g e a n d c u r r e n t M a y o r C a r o l y n C e r n y B i l s k i , a n d m a n y d e d i c a t e d c o u n c i l m e m b e r s , c i t y m a n a g e r s , a n d e m p l o y e e s o v e r t h e y e a r s . S h e s a y s t h a t t h i s a b i l i t y t o w o r k t o g e t h e r f o r t h e c i t y ' s g o o d l e d t o t h e c i t y ' s s u c c e s s a t t h e t i m e .

B e t t y ’ s l e a d e r s h i p e x t e n d e d b e y o n d t h e c i t y l i m i t s o f S e a l y t o t h e G o v e r n o r ’ s o f f i c e . G o v e r n o r G e o r g e . B u s h a p p o i n t e d M a y o r R e i n b e c k t o t h e S t a t e A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e , w h i c h r e v i e w s a n d a p p r o v e s i n f r a s t r u c t u r e a n d c o m m u n i t y d e v e l o p m e n t g r a n t s S h e s e r v e d o n t h e r e v i e w c o m m i t t e e f o r s i x y e a r s u n t i l s h e r e s i g n e d a s m a y o r i n 2 0 0 4 .

D u r i n g t h i s t i m e , B e t t y a l s o s e r v e d a s t h e T e x a s F a c i l i t i e s C o m m i s s i o n ' s c h a i r a p p o i n t e d b y G o v e r n o r P e r r y .

B e t t y a l s o b e f r i e n d e d U . S . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e M i c h a e l M c C a u l , r e p r e s e n t i n g b o t h S e a l y a n d T o m b a l l . A t h e r r e t i r e m e n t f r o m t h e T o m b a l l E D C , h e e x p r e s s e d h e r c o n t r i b u t i o n s i m p l y , “ S h e h a s b e e n a w o n d e r f u l a s s e t t o h e r c o m m u n i t y "

B e t t y R e i n b e c k h a d n o p l a n s t o b r e a k t h r o u g h t h e g l a s s c e i l i n g o f S e a l y ’ s a l l - m a l e g o v e r n m e n t d u r i n g t h e 1 9 8 0 s a n d 1 9 9 0 s , b u t i n d o i n g s o , s h e l e f t a l a s t i n g l e g a c y f o r t h e c i t y ’ s f e m a l e l e a d e r s

G o v e r n o r R i c k P e r r y a l s o a p p o i n t e d B e t t y t o t h e T e x a s B u i l d i n g a n d P r o c u r e m e n t C o m m i s s i o n , n o w t h e T e x a s F a c i l i t i e s C o m m i s s i o n . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , s h e a l s o s e r v e d o n t h e O f f i c e o f R u r a l C o m m u n i t y A f f a i r s t a s k f o r c e a n d t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f R u r a l C o m m u n i t i e s i n T e x a s b o a r d o f d i r e c t o r s .

F r o m 2 0 0 5 t o 2 0 1 1 , B e t t y l e d t h e T o m b a l l E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t C o r p o r a t i o n ( E D C ) a s E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r , w h i c h p r o v e d t o b e o n e o f t h e m o s t d r a m a t i c t i m e s o f c h a n g e f o r t h e t o w n n o r t h w e s t o f H o u s t o n .

“ ( B e t t y ’ s ) e x a m p l e o f t a x p a y e r a c c o u n t a b i l i t y a n d f i s c a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y r e g a r d l e s s o f p e r s o n a l s t r e s s a n d s a c r i f i c e c o n t i n u e d d u r i n g h e r l e n g t h y t e n u r e a s M a y o r a s w e l l i n a l l h e r o t h e r e n d e a v o r s , ” s a i d m a y o r B i l s k i , w h o s e r v e d w i t h B e t t y a s a m e m b e r o f C i t y C o u n c i l f r o m 1 9 8 6 t o 1 9 9 4 a n d t h e n a s C o u n t y J u d g e . “ S h e h a d t h e g i f t t o b a l a n c e d i g n i t y a n d r e s p e c t w i t h a n o - n o n s e n s e a p p r o a c h t o s e r v i n g t h e p u b l i c . S h e r e p r e s e n t s a l l t h a t i s g o o d a b o u t p u b l i c s e r v i c e w h e t h e r y o u a r e a m a l e o r f e m a l e e l e c t e d o f f i c i a l , a n d I c a n t e l l y o u I w i l l a l w a y s d o m y b e s t t o h o n o r h e r l e g a c y a n d s e r v e o u r c i t i z e n s w i t h t h a t s a m e i n t e g r i t y a n d f i s c a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . ”

Betty turned 80 this year and continues to live in Sealy While she stays away from politics these days, she does have dreams for Sealy.

“I love this town. I hope it will continue to deal effectively with growth and maintain its small-town charm and atmosphere,” Betty expressed

For future women leaders, she advises to “Believe in yourself. Don’t let people tell you that you can’t do it Stay informed Speak up when you know you have to ” "And always use a firm handshake."

1. AGE

6signsyou mayneeda newHVAC system

If the HVAC system is more than 10 years old, it could be time to begin budgeting for a new unit. Many modern, efficient systems may last 12 to 14 years with routine maintenance. But it's good to keep an HVAC system's age in mind so you can readily recognize when it might start to fail.

2. LONGER OR CONSTANT RUNNING TIMES

An efficient, properly working system will quickly heat or cool the home and then turn off. A system that is turning on repeatedly or having to run for awhile before the set temperature is reached could be nearing the end of its utility.

3. STRANGE NOISES

Groaning, banging or loud humming noises should be addressed. While these noises may indicate that certain components need maintenance or replacement, they also could be symptoms of age and a system nearing failure.

4. FREQUENT REPAIR VISITS

Knowing the HVAC company's repair person by name is a sign that the system has required too much work in recent months. Repeated issues and repairs are probably signs that it's time to consider a system replacement.

5. HIGHER BILLS

Sticker shock when receiving electricity or gas bills likely mean the HVAC system isn't working efficiently and might need to be replaced.

6. POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY

If the home is dusty or humid or even if allergies seem to have cropped up out of nowhere, this could indicate a poorly functioning HVAC system. HVAC systems are vital to keeping indoor environments comfortable and safe. Such systems may exhibit certain signs that indicate they need to be replaced.

Art of the Race Car

By Holly Galvan-Posey

When Maverick turned to Goose in Top Gun and said, “I feel the need, the need for speed” he might not have been talking about cars, but at Austin County’s Bumbera Performance, the line hits right at home.

If you are looking for a place to add a little more pep and speed to your vehicle, then look no further than Austin County’s Bumbera’s Performance. In Austin County, you will find businesses that are truly like no other. Bumbera’s can take almost any vehicle and turn it into a speed machine by adding some special performance enhancers.

Kenny Bumbera, the owner of Bumbera's Performance, said his love for cars had been a lifelong passion. "I've always been into speed and horsepower since I was a kid. Not coming from a wealthy family, I had to teach myself how to build the bikes and cars that I wanted. That's where it all started," Bumbera said. Bumbera's Performance was opened by the husband and wife team. "My wife, Cheri, and I started this business 30 years ago. Our first shop was off Highway 6 and Memorial Drive in Houston. I had worked for other shops in the area, but we decided to open up our own place and do things our way and we've never looked back," he said. The business has changed over the years, with Bumbera's Performance focusing on a specific type of auto work. "When we first got started, we did a lot of general auto repair. We no longer do that type of work because the restoration and performance side of things really took off about 15 years ago," Bumbera said. "It's important to know that we have two sides to our business: old cars and new cars. We do classic car restoration and performance work as well as late model highperformance work on newer domestic vehicles," Bumbera explained. Customers can choose from various performance packages and modifications to make their cars faster.

"Our late model high-performance side of the business is where you really see the horsepower come from. We fabricate cold air intakes, supercharger systems, and turbo systems that can add anywhere from 20 horsepower to 400 horsepower and beyond," Bumbera explained. "It's not uncommon for us to take a customer's brand new GT500 and make it produce over 1,000 horsepower."

No two jobs are ever the same, especially when it comes to the restoration side of the business, Bumbera explained. "Our customers come from all over to bring us their "baby," and they expect us to treat it as such. We take great pride in the work that we do whether it's a simple engine replacement or a full frame-off restoration. Oftentimes, we have customers that come to us with big imaginations and it's our job to make it happen. This means that we often are tasked with projects that have never been done before, like our '69 Hellcat Swap or our '56 Dodge Power Wagon."

The World's Fastest Naturally Aspirated 2018+ Mustang record was set by Boyd Bumbera, the son of Kenny and Cheri, in 2021 and built by Bumbera's Performance in Sealy. "So naturally aspirated means that there are no forced air power adders on the car like a supercharger or turbo. The car is making the maximum power it can with just the motor and a few supporting modifications like our custom cold air intake, aftermarket suspension, lighter wheels, lighter body panels, etc. Boyd decided he wanted to go after the NA record for the Gen 3 S550," Bumbera said. "Achieving a record like that in this industry would bring a lot of notoriety to our business and so after 4 months of testing different methods, parts, and tunes, Boyd was able to attain the record and make a big splash in the process."

Bumbera's Performance is operated by appointment only, which is easy to schedule on their website at bumberas.com/schedule-appointment. Visitors can schedule a tour of the shop and a consultation about their potential project.

Another name that might come to mind when thinking about cars in Austin County is none other than John Hennessey, founder, and CEO of Hennessey Performance. Hennessey has been a car enthusiast for as long as he can remember and has been tuning cars to make them go faster since he was a teenager.

“In the late-70s, I was fortunate enough to have a 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 convertible with a V8 engine. My first modification was to that Oldsmobile – it had the 400 cubic-inch V8 and a Rochester Quadrajet carburetor. I simply took the lid on the top of the airbox and flipped it over. It was as simple as removing the wingnut and reassembling it upside-down, just for a bit more airflow,” Hennessey said. “That Olds was foreshadowing my future, as I was addicted to speed and the enjoyment of wrenching on cars.”

After tuning a Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 from 300 hp to more than 450 hp and winning the Silver State Classic, a high-speed race in Nevada, Hennessey Performance was born.

“The press coverage was good, and soon I had enthusiasts calling me to do the same mods to their vehicles. So, I closed my small contracting business and started a performance company in Houston to satisfy the demand,” Hennessey said “The company grew rather quickly. In 2004, we bought the Lonestar Motorsports Park dragstrip complex in Sealy to build and test our tuned vehicles in one place – it’s 142 acres right along Interstate 10. We expanded to 51,000 square feet a few years ago and plan to grow again in 2023.”

In terms of making fast cars go faster, Hennessey Performance is one of the best places around. “Our customers are passionate about high-performance cars and trucks, so they send their vehicles to our facility in Sealy, where our professional technicians can modify them for more power – effectively making their fast vehicles faster. Once it’s tested and inspected, it’s delivered back to the customer with warranty coverage for all our work,” Hennessey said. With being in business for more than 30 years, Hennessey shared how customer requests have changed over the years.

“Initially, we were modifying just about everything customers would bring us – everything was a la carte, and we primarily worked on sports cars,” Hennessey said. “Today, following the industry trends and what our customers have asked us for, our business is a nice blend of cars, trucks, and crossovers. And we have a well-defined product line of proven upgrades for each brand, such as Ford, GM, and Dodge.”

Hennessey shared that most of our customers have upgraded their vehicle’s performance with different superchargers, fuel injectors, and air intakes, making the engine more powerful. “We also add our new wheels, bumpers, accessories, and badging. Those make the vehicles more aggressive and visually distinctive,” he said. When it comes to what differentiates Hennessey Performance from its competitors, Hennessey said there are plenty of companies out there tuning engines, but we don’t consider ourselves in the “tuning” business. “Instead, we make fast cars faster with professionally engineered upgrades backed by a comprehensive warranty. Our customers want to drive their vehicles daily – enjoying the enhanced performance – without worrying about reliability. That’s the Hennessey difference,” he said. For anyone looking to make performance enhancements to their vehicle, Hennessey shared the following advice. “Think about your objectives. People want to enhance their vehicle’s power for many reasons. Are you trying to increase power for towing or off-road capability? Or, are you simply trying to make the vehicle quicker for on-street performance? We’ve got a professional sales team that walks each customer through the order process to ensure their results match their wishes,” he said. Hennessey doesn’t just modify production vehicles – they also engineer and produce their own hypercars. “Our first hypercar, the world record-setting Venom GT, was introduced in 2010. Last year, we followed that with the Venom F5 – an all-carbon-fiber 1,817-hp hypercar engineered to go a blistering 300 mph. Today, we’ve got a parallel production facility right here in Sealy, where we are making the world’s fastest hypercar,” Hennessey shared.

BY HOLLY GALVAN POSEY

Picture it: you ' ve been in a relationship for a while, how do you know whether to stay and take the next step or to move on? Luckily there is an expert and they are here to help

Jerrell Trulove is a relationship coach based in Houston He helps single people learn how to position themselves for marriage

“I got into relationship coaching because I know the pain of having relationships fall apart again and again After over a decade of relationship failure, I finally made intentional changes to how I approached meeting people, and I found my wife,” Trulove said “I am passionate about helping single people avoid the pitfalls of bad relationship choices, and ultimately, I want to see more people get married and stay married ”

When it comes to why people choose to end relationships, it can really vary from couple to couple According to marriage com some of the top-ranking reasons that relationships don’t last is due to poor communication skills, no emotional connection, and unrealistic expectations

Trulove said that regardless of the reason that couple chooses to end their relationship, it’s always a tough decision

“Ending relationships is always a tough decision, regardless of the reason However, I have noticed that in the information age, people tend to leave relationships much faster because they believe there will always be someone else waiting right around the corner that will give them what they want That can be problematic,” Trulove explained “I would never tell someone to stay in a relationship that is failing, but just because things aren’t perfect doesn’t mean your relationship is ‘failing ’ Perhaps you two need to put in a little more work and have more intentional conversations rather than being so quick to walk away ”

This relationship coach shared a piece of advice for those that find themselves single after choosing to end a relationship

“The most important thing a single person can do is position themselves for marriage The three steps to doing that are getting crystal clear about what you want, learning to articulate what you want, and only entertaining the people who want what you want If you follow those three steps, you’ll take a quantum leap toward marriage,” Trulove said

When it comes to the signs of whether someone should stay in their relationship or try to work things out with their partner, Trulove shared what those signs would be

“There are two very strong signs that you should stay in your relationship, and those are if you and the person you are with can take accountability and admit when you are wrong and if you two have developed the skill of resolving conflict It’s never a matter of if problems arise, but when And any problem can be solved with two people that are selfless enough to say the words I’m sorry and can navigate disagreements effectively Life isn’t perfect But two people who are on the same page can always take a step in the right direction,” he said

Trulove shared the following advice for anyone who is thinking of ending a relationship: “I would suggest two things 1 Dive Deeper: Make sure you cover what I call ‘The Big 6’ and have deeper conversations about trauma, conflict resolution, marriage, children, finances, and lifestyle Perhaps there are some issues you two haven’t discussed? Gain clarity on if you are aligned in these six foundational areas 2 Self-Assess: Ask yourself what part you play in why things aren’t working out We tend to blame the other person almost reflexively, but it may not be their fault,” he explained

A relationship coach is not for everyone, but if you feel that you need that extra help, Trulove is available to lend a helping hand

“Right now, my first book, Friends First, is available on Amazon. You can also visit jerrelltrulove.com to buy online courses or get on the waiting list for my 12-week, 1:1 coaching program. Like any coach, if you struggle in relationships and have been for some time, it may be time to seek outside help,” Trulove said.

Trulove offers a free one-hour consultation call to discuss relationships and see if working together would be a good fit.

“My greatest hope is that we can begin to slow down and approach relationships with thought and careful consideration I always say that if we learn how to pick better relationship partners, we only have to get it right once. I hope people can learn to focus on making the best choice possible,” Trulove said.

If you still feel this person isn’t right for you after diving deeper and self-reflecting, Trulove said it might be time to explore other options. He also shared one of his top pieces of advice.

“Pro-tip Your next relationship will still have issues because no one is perfect If you aren’t intentional about the next person you pick, you may find yourself in the same predicament all over again Be careful,” he explained

Taking Care of Yourself is Productive

Mental Health and Veterinary Professionals

By Roxanne Avery

owns a pet? According to the latest report on pet ownership statistics, at least 85 million families in the United States have a dog or a cat and 90% of them consider them to be a member of their family. That’s great news, especially with mental health professionals finding that pet ownership has mental and physical benefits.

Lately, a lot of attention has been given to the pressures of first responders and nurses, but what about the staff at veterinary clinics where stress levels are also high? Veterinary

medicine is filled with long work hours and people who are compassionate about the challenges of treating patients who cannot vocalize their ailments. These professionals continue problem-solving their way through emotional and difficult cases with the additional challenge of people treating their pets like children.

Additionally, when end-of-life decisions must be made, it can be incredibly draining and devastating, not only for the family but for the veterinary staff as well. In a profession where staff spends all day caring for others, it has become more important than ever to commit to self-care and have a plan for mental and physical health.

Everyone knows a dog is man’s best friend. Did you also know that today almost everyone

If you are a veterinary professional, here are key steps you can take to improve your mental well-being: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Assess your well-being. Take the free Professional Quality of Life Assessment test to measure your current balance of negative and positive experiences. Use these results for creating a self-care plan and find the areas where you need to put more time and energy. Here’s a link to the test: https://proqol.org/proqol-measure

Focus on a healthy and supportive workplace environment. Take breaks throughout the day to help reduce fatigue. Step outside for a few minutes when feeling overwhelmed. It may also be time to plan a vacation. This will not only boost your productivity but will also increase job satisfaction and improve the quality of patient care.

Debrief often, especially after a stressful situation. Have a staff meeting emphasizing the strength of every employee. Build self-confidence and share ideas for performing better in the future. Take ownership of your mental well-being. Sign-up for webinars and training, as well as in-person events where you can learn about how to make healthcentered decisions at work as well as at home.

5. Know the risks. Learn the risk factors for compassion

6. Learn when to ask for help. The most

fatigue, depression, and burnout. Train yourself to watch for the symptoms of these mental disorders, and what to do to combat them. important part of your well-being is knowing that you need to reach out to others for assistance and then do it. No one is capable of handling everything alone. If you think that you are in a crisis, reach out immediately to the local helpline center.

The first program in the United States to specifically address the mental health crisis in the veterinary profession, VMHI provides free, multi-level emotional support to veterinarians and their clinical staff, facilitated by expert clinicians, via Zoom. Because veterinary professionals can struggle with high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality, in addition to other mental health diagnoses, there are designated groups for veterinarians, veterinary techs, and veterinary support staff.

The reasoning behind the segregated groups is that research found that veterinarians wanted to talk to other veterinarians. Techs wanted to talk to other techs and support staff wanted to talk to other support staff. These are all peer support groups and not actual therapy sessions because “it’s therapeutic to talk to another person who’s going through the same thing you’re going through,” according to participants.

The most recent data (from 2019) states that the suicide rate is higher among veterinarians than the general population – 1.6 times higher for male veterinarians and 2.4 times higher for female veterinarians. Veterinary technicians and technologists also have a higher suicide rate than the general population – 5.0 times more likely for males and 2.3 times more likely for females.

Veterinary Mental Health Initiative (VMHI) was founded in 2021 because veterinarians and veterinary technicians are currently an underserved population with regard to mental health care and support.

The “new normal” has become the verbiage of the world after COVID-19 when the world irrevocably changed, and uncertainty became exceptionally difficult to deal with. We all must learn to adapt to the new normal, not just in our workplace but also in our personal lives. Just remember, it’s okay not to be okay, and always trust when you need to reach out for help. If you are one of the fortunate few who can deal with current circumstances on your own, remember to check in on colleagues.

Among the difficulties veterinary professionals face, there are also rewards and those are the memories to hang on to. Remember the patients who came in sick, were taken care of it and were able to go back home, happier and healthier. The veterinary profession needs all of us to help patients and advocate not only for them but also for each other.

If you are a pet owner, remember to say “Thank You” to your Veterinarian and Staff

These two words are powerful and make a lasting impact because they leave the receiver feeling valued and appreciated. Here are more ideas:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Write a thank you card. Include a photo of your pet on the front and a handwritten note inside letting the staff know how much they are appreciated. Go to social media. Post photos of your veterinary staff (with their permission) assisting your pet and make them the star of your social network. Share heartwarming stories of visits to the clinic, surgical recoveries, or just annual check-ups.

Honor the staff with a seasonal basket. It can be Thanksgiving or Christmas, or just a random day in the summer but fill it with themed items, candy, and gifts for everyone!

Give a gift. You can give enough for all the staff or just to the one specific person who helped you the most. It could be a complimentary product or service, a basket of cookies or candy, hot apple cider, or a gift card to their favorite restaurant!

Support a charity in honor of clinic staff. Find out what charities staff members support and make a donation in the name of the clinic. This is an impactful way to show staff how much you appreciate them while supporting the community. It could be to a local animal shelter, Habitat for Humanity, or any other local charity. Write a review on social media. This can include platforms such as Facebook, Google, Yelp, Yext, and any other review site to let others know about the exceptional customer service at your veterinary clinic. Surprise the staff with lunch. Because clinics are so busy, many work through lunch hours. Pick up lunch from their favorite restaurant and surprise them with sandwiches, cookies, or whatever makes them feel appreciated.

There is awesome power and positive impact from even the smallest kind word or deed, and you may never know how much impact it has on someone’s day or life. Remember to let those around you experience the beauty in your simple kindness, especially at your veterinary clinic.

The Civil War Years in Austin County

By Nancy Naron Sealy Area Historical Society

In the early 1860s, there were m ny in Austin County w o op ose secession rom the Union n o pose sl very. To o ose the w r o e ly brou ht serious risks. One of the most violent su ressions occ rred in Cooke County, where orty peo le sus ected o bein Union sympathizers were convicted by a ka aroo court n n ed. T is inci ent bec e k own as the Gre t a i at Gai esville.

Wi W th a ee for more soldiers r , t e Con nfederacy c est blishe Conscri i tion for Te Tex ns in 1862 6 . Obj b ections to the draf aft in Te Texas were most ronounced mon n German Te Texans and Te Tejanos in Central Te Texas and t e Te Texas Hill Co ntry r . As word s read o these obj b ections, Con nfeder te aut orities decl red Te Texas to be u de d r m rti l l w. M ny n German Te ns from both re e io s c ose to o to Mex e ico to voi bein n dr d afte on wh t they e considered to be the wron side.

In Au u ust o 1862 6 , a party t o 61 6 Germ n Te Texans fleein n to Mex e ico from the Hill Cou try r was overt ke by b the Te Texas Con nfede d rate Cav lry r o the Nueces iver. Shots t were fired nd, s result, 34 Germa Te ns were killed, wit some bein ex e ecute after bein n t ken risoner.

Th T e Germ n Te a s from Ce tr l Te as were fort nate to avoi s ch violence. T ey e success sfully l tr vele to Mex e ico City t nder t e le ders r hi i o a l Machemehl from Tr T avis, a small communit t nort west o Bellville. M cheme l’s ’ rand dfather, Mic el Machemehl, member o t e German Forty ti hters r , led his family l an com m nions to the Bellville area from the Germ n city t o A naber r , Saxony n i 1849. I t e Machemehl rou u were Mich el, his wi ife Charlotte, their son, Jo J n , da d u ter-i -law Henriett , an Jo J n ’s ’ yo n son, ul. T e Machemehl family l urchased lan from t e Burlseon family l that now com m rises Sy S camore Hill ubdivision on Ol Hi i hway a 36. 6 Th T e family l cemetery r is locate on Hillview oad i Sy S c more Hill, a d rem ins of o the sto e chim ey e fr f om the M c emehl’s ’ home c n be still be seen on a hi i h oint overlookin n the Mill Creek valley e .

At the time ul M c emehl le fellow German Te ans to Me e ico, he was 1 ye rs r old. d He and t e others r from Central Te Tex s rem ine in Mex e ico until the en o the Civil Wa W r. After returnin , ul became success sful farmer d c ttlema a d acq ired la in other rts t o the co nty t s well. In 1913 1 , a l n is wi ife Hermine Brune from Colorado County t , b ilt the o se located t 103 0 4 So t Te T sch in Bellville n le eft t e farm.

Approximately l two ye rs r be efore Machemehl le eft t e Tr T vis communit t , ucy c ier Steve s rrive i Tr T vis fro Ohio. ucy c , t t e a e o 21 years r , came for a e tende visit with her ot er’s ’ sister, u Merry r ier, d her ncle, Ja J mes Brad dfor ier. Not foreseein n t e lon n con nflict head, ucy c became traap e in Te Tex s n w s un ble to return home until she took the risk o boardi d n a Con nfederate block de run er’s ’ s ip i in 1865 6 .

Althou u h ucy c ’s ’ sy s m athies lay with the Un U ion, she bec me very r fon o m ny n livin n i the Tr T avis re , an s oke o “ our” losses an wins whe s eakin n o outcomes for the Con nfederacy c . A tremendo s mou t o detail abo t li ife i Austi Co nty t d rin n the Civil W r can be le rne from ucy c ’s ’ diary r that has been published, with ex e tensive annotations, under the title o “A “ nother Ye Y ar Fi F nds Me in Te Tex s” by b Vi V cki Ada d ms To T n ate. ucy c ’s ’ firs r t im m ressions o Bellville were recorded in her di ry r , in which she describe the town as “ . . . a very r sa dy d l ce o r d lly l risin n oi t of o ro nd so th t you c n look do d wn on s rro ndin n country r o cotton fields d an op o en r irie covere wit v st herds d o c ttle.” ucy c continued with “I “ n the center o the ublic squ re st nds the court ouse, a fine two-story r brick buildin with reen bli ds d a d surrou de by b shade trees. It is the fi est buildin n i t e villa a e d is quite an ornament to the l ce.” cy c was re eferrin n to the second courthouse built in Bellville in 185 854, which w s the firs r t brick buildi d n in Austin County t . Th T e more well-known courthouse t t burne i 1960 6 w s built in 1888.