W h a t i f y o u d o n ' t h a v e t o r o l l t h e d i c e w h e n l o o k i n g f o r a c a r e g i v e r f o r y o u r l o v e d o n e ? W h a t i f t h e t e a m y o u h i r e d o n l y h a d g r e a t o n e s ? T h a t i s e x a c t l y w h o w e a r e a t T h e G r a n d s o n . W e a r e p r o u d t o s a y w e h a v e t h e b e s t c a r e g i v e r s a n d t h e b e s t c l i e n t s i n t h e W a c o a r e a . T o u s , o u r c l i e n t s a r e f a m i l y . N o l o n g - t e r m c o n t r a c t s , n o o b l i g a t i o n s , j u s t o l d - s c h o o l p e o p l e - f i r s t b u s i n e s s . F e e l f r e e t o r a i s e y o u r e x p e c t a t i o n s w h e n i t c o m e s t o H o m e C a r e . G i v e u s a c a l l f o r a f r e e c o n s u l t a t i o n . W e ' d b e h o n o r e d t o m e e t y o u !
Hewitt lost a long-time supporter and city official when City Council member, Charles “Charlie” Donald Turner died unexpectedly at his home on November 15 after decades of service to Hewitt. He spent 19 years as the city’s mayor, led efforts to build the Hewitt Public Library, and spearheaded modernizing the growing city’s utility system. Turner was 70 and had not had any known health problems, family members said.
Friends and colleagues said Turner’s love for his city was at the forefront in everything he did in 40 years of service to Hewitt, where he moved with his family in 1977, following his upbringing in Waco.
He served his first term on the City Council from 1981 to 1983, and supported the passage of Hewitt’s home rule charter in 1982. He became a charter member of Hewitt’s Board of Adjustment in 1984 and served on that board for nine years.
He served a total of 25 years on the Hewitt City Council, including terms as Mayor from 1996 to 2013 and from 2019 to 2021, and was then elected again as a Council member. Charlie also served as an ambassador of the Greater Hewitt Chamber for more than 10 years.
City Manager Bo Thomas said public safety and Hewitt’s sewer and water utility infrastructure were two key issues in Turner’s time as a Council member. His wife, Brenda said when she and her husband moved to Hewitt, the city’s water was privately-owned. Thomas said Charlie would share stories about the city from a time when the water system couldn’t pump enough water for the city’s use. “He told a story about how the police department had to drive around Hewitt and use a bullhorn to tell people not use their water or flush their toilets,” Thomas said.
Others who knew Turner said he loved to share Hewitt’s history. “He had such a vast knowledge about the streets and roads and the people who live here… he had a very fond love of Hewitt and loved to talk about those early days,” Library Director Waynette Ditto said.
Turner was an early advocate for building a new Hewitt Public Library, which opened in 2016 in a $4.5 million complex it shares with Hewitt City Hall at 200 Patriot Court.
Hewitt residents may not know of Charlie’s involvment with other agencies outside of Hewitt. Donna Baugh, director of life skills training at Friends for Life, said Turner was their perfect choice for opening the organization’s new retail tool shop. “He made such a difference in the lives of the clients he worked with,” Baugh said, “What (the shop) is today is because of him.”
1952 - 2022
Friends said Turner loved family vacations to Branson, Missouri, playing instruments, taking photos, telling stories—and most of all, spending time with his family.
Special thanks to Waco Tribune-Herald, Greater Hewitt Chamber of Commerce, and the family and friends of Charlie Turner for their contributions to this article.
BY JESSA McCLURE, HEWITT PUBLIC LIBRARY
December was a big month for Hewitt Public Library (HPL) as it celebrated 40 years of serving the Hewitt area and surrounding communities. The Library hosted a festive anniversary celebration for the community on December 8, and offered special holiday activities during the first 12 Days of Christmas.
HPL began in 1983 when two Hewitt residents started a small library at First Baptist Church Hewitt. Eventually, the burgeoning library outgrew this location and in 1984, the library moved from the church to a shopping center. Growing even larger, it relocated to the Hewitt Community Services Building in 1993, and eventually found its new home in its current state-of-the-art facility on Patriot Court in 2016.
To celebrate the library’s history, HPL hosted a celebration that included live music, hors d’oeuvres, pictures with Santa, and an art gallery highlighting the work of Dr. Spencer Moore. “It’s really just a time of fellowship to celebrate the last 40 years and to recognize those that helped along the way,” said Hewitt Public Library director, Waynette Ditto.
Along with thanking contributors and patrons of the library with the anniversary party, HPL also celebrated the holiday season with 12 Days of Christmas from December 1–12. “It’s just a little something extra we provided for the community to celebrate the start of the holiday season,” Ditto said.
For each day of the 12 Days, the library offered one free Christmas-themed event including pictures with Santa, holiday story times, a Christmas scavenger hunt, adult/teen/kids craft days, a Christmas curiosity cart, holiday music and movement class, and more. “These events were a chance for you to do something special with your family and enjoy a good time at the library,” Ditto said. “We thought it was a magical season.”
For more information on all the things Hewitt Public Library has to offer, stop by the library, visit the library online at either cityofhewitt.com or the library’s Facebook page, or call (254) 666-2442.
778 Sun Valley Blvd. Hewitt, TX (254) 732-9823
Convenient
Minutes away from Baylor University, McLane Stadium, Fixer Upper’s® Magnolia Market at the Silos, the Dr Pepper Museum and Cameron Park Zoo.
Conveniently located just off I-35 between Aus�n and Dallas.
Stay at Ramada in Hewi�, and experience Southern hospitality at its finest.
legal documents can be an overwhelming headache just to think about. It’s not fun. It’s rarely understood clearly, and it can be expensive hiring attorneys to draw up the documents.
Good news, though! I’ve simplified it here in non-legal speak to understand. In addition, the state of Texas provides a free, downloadable template for all of these that you can complete yourself. Send an email to me (brett@ thegrandson.org) and I will send you these documents!
My advice: just bite the bullet and do it. You’ll feel great after doing so.
In Texas, the ‘Durable Power of Attorney’ document gives the designated person authority over financial matters in the event the person is no longer able to act on his/her own behalf. Why can’t they just call it the ‘Financial Power of Attorney’? Handling a senior citizen’s finances toward the end of life can almost become a full-time job, especially when medical costs begin to pile up. Having this document in place is essential.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. If your loved one (or yourself) becomes unable to make medical decisions, who will be the one to talk to doctors and be the decisionmaker? This is the document to use for that. Do not wait until an emergency when it is finally needed to establish this document. Do it now. It is fairly quick and simple.
Here’s another confusing document: 1) it goes by two names, and 2) it is not a will that sets forth who gets what after a person dies. This document is purely medical.
This document allows a person to say what medical procedures they would like (or not like) in the event they are unable to make the decision for himself/herself in the
future. This document can be very helpful for both the patient and family members if tough decisions have to be made regarding his/her health. In fact, most seniors have already thought about the ‘What-ifs’ of various medical scenarios, and have specific desires for each situation. Now it’s time to put those desires into a Living Will so that it will be acted upon if/when that time ever comes.
Most are familiar with an In-Hospital DNR document; but like its name implies, it is only effective while at the hospital. What if you don’t want to be resuscitated in an emergency while at home? This is the document for that. DNR stands for ‘Do Not Resuscitate’, which means that the person does not want CPR or chest compressions performed on them if they stop breathing and lose pulse.
Some might want this document, preferring to die naturally. Others might not want this document—it is optional.
This document is not created when a person has mental health issues, but before they have them. It ensures that a senior’s medical decisions regarding mental health are enforced in the future, if needed. It’s similar to the Living Will, but is more specific toward mental health issues. This document is the most overlooked one, and I understand why, but if you’re already doing the other documents, why not just complete them all so all of your bases are covered?
I hope these 5 tips have been helpful for you in your wise preparation for caring for a loved one or yourself. For any other questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (254) 242-0772.
My advice? Just bite the bullet and do it. You’ll feel great after doing so.
Jake was born and raised in Waco, graduating from Midway High School in 2012. After high school, he attended Oklahoma State University, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Marketing. After college, Jake was a full-time competitive cheerleading coach at Cheer Athletics in Plano. Most recently, he was a high school math teacher and cheerleading coach. He also graduated in 2021 with a Masters of Education in Coaching and Sports Administration from Concordia University Texas.
In his free time, Jake enjoys spending time with family, friends, and his two dogs. He is an active member of Harris Creek Baptist Church and its Young Adult ministry. Jake enjoys all sporting events, attends concerts regularly, and enjoys CrossFit at Train Waco most weekdays. Welcome to the Greater Hewitt Chamber, Jake!
2 3 w o r d o f t h e y e a r :
E D O R E A L E S T A T E D I F F E R E N T L Y . . . A S K U S H O W ! W E D O R E A L E S T A T E D I F F E R E N T L Y . . . A S K U S H O W !
Looking for a unique location to host your next concert, performance or event? Check out the Creekside Amphitheater in Warren Park, located at 450 South Old Temple Road in Hewitt. The park offers 36 acres of land, plenty of open green space and a nearby pavilion. The Amphitheater is able to host a variety of mid-sized events, but is charming enough to accommodate more small and private gatherings. Seating consists of 42 stone benches for 120+ guests. A large concrete apron in front of the stage allows for placement of chairs or other seating during smaller events. In addition, there are four electric and water hook-ups for food trucks and/or other vendors. We can help you plan your next event at this beautiful and very special location. For more information, contact Linda Fish at (254) 296-5698.
Business Locksmith LLC is run by Joseph Hester, an 8-year Army veteran with a bachelor’s in business administration. We specialize in operation, management, and marketing, and our goal is to help small business-owners “unlock your true potential” and grow your company to your dreams. Small businesses don’t always have a large staff, a team to turn to for advice, or someone to run ideas by. Business Locksmith LLC is a business navigator, where we guide and go along with you on your business journey. As a small business-owner, there is no reason you must go about it all by yourself. You can trust Joseph Hester to be honest, driven and fun. If you have just one area to improve upon, or want help in all that Business Locksmith LLC provides, set up an appointment at Business-Locksmith.com or call us at (254)709-2394.
The Donut Hole Hewitt has quickly become a local favorite! Seyla and Molly Kim established their third family-owned donut business in October at 690 Sun Valley Blvd. Their menu includes freshly-made donuts, delicious apple fritters, cinnamon rolls and several varieties of cherry, apple, lemon, custard and apricot-filled treats. Breakfast specialties include Eckridge sausage in a bun (hot or mild), boudin kolaches, spinach feta-cheese kolaches, and three choices of breakfast burritos. There is a drive-thru window for your added convenience from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily. When placing larger corporate orders, please call (254)300-5009 at least 24 hours in advance.
Mac’s Fry House is your premiere Southern comfort mobile food truck and catering service! Locally-owned and operated, Mac’s Fry House owners (the McDonalds) are natives of North Carolina—turned Texas transplants of nearly eight amazing years. Together in partnership, they are known for their deep frying, grilling, and Southern side dish favorites like their baked macaroni and cheese and collard greens! Their reputation of excellence in customer service and food quality has the community raving over their best-selling creative hot dogs and mini funnel cake dishes! The McDonalds invite you to catch them as they roam throughout the greater community, preorder online, or reach out for catering services for your next event! For up-to-date information, follow Mac’s on Facebook/Instagram, call (254) 307-1244, or email macsfryhouse@gmail.com.
Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar is a fun and vibrant Louisiana Restaurant that provides a game day atmosphere perfect for watching any game or celebrating any event!
5601 CROSSLAKE PKWY, WACO, TX 76712 | (254) 732-9200 | WALK-ONS.COM
In order to ensure the perfect work placement, our personnel service does our best to match specific types of jobs with employees who have the desired skill set. We have job counselors on site who are consistently interviewing candidates, which allows us to choose from a large employee base. We can be your temporary staffing company as well as your source for permanent and as-needed positions.
