Trailhead Magazine - Fall 2020 by Matt Hellman

T RAILHEA D BANDERA BULLETIN

G AT E WAY T O T H E T E X A S H I L L C O U N T R Y

FALL 2020 WWW.BANDERABULLETIN.COM

T RAILHEA D BANDERA BULLETIN

OUR TEAM Publisher JONATHAN DEELEY Editor BILL PACK Office Manager & Bookkeeper FRAN FOX Magazine Designer MATT HELLMAN Contributors CHUCK MCCOLLOUGH TRACY THAYER LINDA PILLOW

Since 1945 The Bandera Bulletin has been reporting events in "The Cowboy Capital of the World.” We cover all of Bandera County including Bandera, Medina, Pipe Creek, Lakehills, Tarpley, Utopia and Vanderpool. We find out what is happening by attending local events, contacting local authorities and most importantly, by listening to you tell us what is going on.

P.O. Box 697 606 Hwy 16 South Bandera, TX 78003 For advertising, call 830-796-3718 www.banderabulletin.com

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

TABLE OF CONTENTS.............................................................................................PAGE 2 WELCOME FROM THE PUBLISHER �� PAGES 4-5 BANDERA CITY PARK RULES...................................................................................PAGE 6 BANDERA COUNTY PARK AT MEDINA LAKE RULES ��PAGE 7 WE'RE BACK! WITH BARBEQUE ��PAGE 8 WANT TO MEAT?...................................................................................................PAGE 9 HILL COUNTRY STATE NATURAL AREA BUSY IN FALL ��PAGE 10 FALL FUN AT THE PUMPKIN PATCHES �� PAGES 12-15 'BANDERA HONORS VETERANS' RECOGNIZES SACRIFICES ��PAGE 17 THE BIRDING ADDICTION............................................................................ PAGES 18-19 FROGS FOR FREEDOM RIDE OCT. 3 ��PAGE 21 GET READY FOR COWBOY FELLOWSHIP RODEO & GALA ��PAGE 21 ROARING 20S CHOSEN THEME FOR MUSEUM’S GALA ��PAGE 22

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VOL. 2, NO. 3 | FALL 2020

Welcome to the Trailhead into action when you start pulling on that rope. The deer exploded. Bandera Bulletin Publisher The second thing I learned is that pound for pound, a deer is much stronger I had this idea that I was going to rope than a cow or even a colt. A cow or colt in a deer, put it in a horse stall in the barn, that weight range, I could fight down with fatten it up on corn for a couple of weeks, a rope and with some dignity. then kill it and cook it. That thing ran and bucked and twisted The first step was getting a deer. Since and pulled. There was no controlling it deer congregate at the cattle feeder and and certainly no getting close to it. As it do not seem to have much fear of me, I jerked me off my feet and started dragfigured it should not be difficult to rope one, toss a bag over its head (to calm it ging me across the ground, it occurred to down) then hog tie it and transport it to me that having a deer on a rope was not nearly as good an idea as I had originally the horse barn. I filled the cattle feeder then hid with imagined. The only upside is they do not have the my rope. stamina as many other animals. After about 20 minutes, three deer Ten minutes later, it was tired and not arrived. I picked out a likely looking one, nearly as quick to jerk me off my feet stepped out and threw my rope. The deer and drag me when I managed to get up. just stood there staring at me. It took me a few minutes to realize this, I wrapped the rope around my waist since I was mostly blinded by the blood and twisted the end so I would have a flowing out of the big gash in my head. good hold. The deer just stood and stared At that point, I had lost my taste for cornat me, mildly concerned about the rope fed venison. I just wanted to get that devil situation. creature off the end of that rope. I took a step towards the deer. The deer I figured if I just let it go with the rope took a step away. I put a little tension on the rope and then received an education. hanging around its neck, it wouldn’t end The first thing that I learned is while a well for the deer. At the time, there was deer may just stand there looking at you no love at all between me and that deer. funny as you rope it, they are spurred At that moment, I hated the thing and I

BY JONATHAN DEELEY

TRAILHEAD MAGAZINE

would venture a guess that the feeling was mutual. Despite the gash in my head and the several large knots where I had cleverly arrested the deer's momentum by bracing my head against various large rocks as it dragged me, I could still think clearly enough to recognize that there was a small chance that I shared some tiny amount of responsibility for the situation we were in. I didn't want the deer to have to suffer a slow death, so I managed to get it lined back up in between my truck and the feeder – a little trap I had set beforehand, sort of like a squeeze chute. I got it to back in there and I started moving up so I could get my rope back. I never, in a million years, would have thought that a deer would bite somebody, so I was very surprised when I reached up there to grab that rope and the deer grabbed hold of my wrist. Now, when a deer bites you, it is not like being bit by a horse where they just bite you and then let go. A deer bites you, shakes its head and holds on. The proper thing to do when a deer bites you is probably to freeze and draw back slowly. I did the opposite, including screaming and shaking. My method was ineffective.

While I kept it busy tearing the tendons of my right arm, I reached up with my left hand and pulled that rope loose. That was when I got my final lesson in deer behavior for the day. Deer will strike at you with their front feet. They rear right up on their back feet and strike right about head and shoulder level, and their hooves are surprisingly sharp. I learned a long time ago that, when an animal – like a horse – strikes at you with their hooves and you can't get away easily, the best thing to do is try to make a

loud noise and make an aggressive move towards the animal. This will usually cause them to back down a bit so you can escape. This was not a horse. In the course of a millisecond, I devised a different strategy. I screamed like a woman and tried to turn and run. The reason I had always been told not to turn and run from a horse that paws, is that there is a good chance it will hit you in the back of the head. Deer may not be so different from horses, besides being twice as strong and three times as evil, the sec-

ond I turned to run, it hit me right in the back of the head, knocking me down. Now, when a deer paws at you and knocks you down, it does not immediately leave. What they do instead, is paw your back and jump up and down on you while you are laying there crying like a little girl and covering your head. I finally managed to crawl under the truck and the deer went away. So now I know why when people go deer hunting they bring a rifle with a scope to sort of even the odds.

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VOL. 2, NO. 3 | FALL 2020

A crowd of people cools themselves off in a section of the Medina River that runs through Bandera City Park in this recent photo. The park is open from 8 a.m. until a half-hour before sundown each day. BULLETIN PHOTO/Bill Pack

BAND

E RA CI Borderi TY PA ng Highwa the Medina Ri RK RU ve y 173 b ridge th r, Bandera Ci LES ty rough t he bend Park continu e

PARK OPERATIONS ARE GOVERNED BY THE FOLLOWING RULES:

• Park hours from 8 a.m. daily to 30 minutes before sundown; • No camping; • You can no longer park on the lower level. Do not cross the boundaries inside the park; • Speed limit is 10 mph; • No glass containers; • No swimming nearby or standing on dam; • No off-road or all-terrain vehicles allowed; • No swinging from ropes or tree limb. You may only enter the water from the river bank; • No entering on the south bank of the river as that is private property; • No loud music; • No littering; please use park garbage cans; • No loose animals; all animals must be attended or on a leash at all times; • Do not move picnic tables; • Park only in designated areas; please read the signs; • No horse trailers or recreational vehicles allowed; • When park gates are closed due to bad weather, visitors can park outside the gate and walk into the park; 6

TRAILHEAD MAGAZINE

in the r

s south of the ear Pec an Stre et.

iver to n

• No refunds issued for park admission; • Admission fee on weekends and holidays are $5 per person ages 4 and up, $3 for seniors, military representatives, veterans, police officers and firefighters; • Anyone with a Bandera utility account can get two park passes; • The Bandera City Park season pass is valid for a car of no more than five people; each additional person will be charged the normal park fee; • Fees for park pavilions are $65 per day plus a $50 deposit for cleanup or damage that will be refunded if the pavilion is left cleaned and undamaged; • Pavilions available on first-come, first-served basis; • No refunds available if party changes date or mind; • Fees must be paid when reservations are made; city will not hold a date without a payment; • Pavilion may not be rented more than 30 days in advance; • Pavilions are for citizens of Bandera and visitors; they are not to be used as concession stands for food and drinks; • Pavilion rentals are available during park hours only; • Reservations are to be made at City Hall in person.

BANDERA COUNTY PARK AT MEDINA LAKE RULES RULES

• Speed limit inside park is 5 mph; • Gates locked daily at 8 p.m.; • No loud music; • No glass containers of any kind; • No firearms or weapons permitted in park; • No swimming or parking in the boat launch area; please use care when approaching swimming area by boat; • Obey the “No Wake Zone;” • No overnight camping; • Small bbq fires permitted but charcoal should be used and care should be taken; fires subject to burn ban; • Please deposit trash in cans or dumpsters in the park; • Dogs and other pets must be kept on leashes; • Stay within park property at all times; all property surrounding park is private property and no trespassing allowed; • Any criminal behavior and violations of rules will be reported immediately to the sheriff’s department.

ADMISSION FEES

• $5 per person for Bandera County resident; • $10 per person for non-Bandera County resident; • Free for anyone age 6 and younger; • $10 day use for any boat; • $10 for jet skis; • $35 annual pass for county residents for both park and jet ski user, $5 for additional person in vehicle; • $20 annual pass for county residents age 55 and older, $5 for additional person in vehicle; • $25 annual pass for county resident for boat ramp use only; • Please display the park guest pass on front windshield of the vehicle while using park; • No passes available for non-county residents Winter hours from September through May are Saturday and Sunday only, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

BANDERA COUNTY PARK AT MEDINA LAKE IS LOCATED IN THE 14000 BLOCK OF PARK ROAD 37 NEAR LAKEHILLS

A line of cars and visitors fill up Bandera County Park at Medina Lake in a photo taken in August. County officials are keeping crowds at half the park’s capacity and have tried to keep groups adequately separated to comply with safeuards implemented to fight the COVID-19 outbreak. BULLETIN PHOTO/Bill Pack

VOL. 2, NO. 3 | FALL 2020

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Lake Hills UMC returns for their annual BBQ fundraiser Lakehills United Methodist Church Mens group will be hosting their annual barbecue chicken dinner fundraiser Sunday, October 4. This year, due to concerns over the corona virus, the fundraiser will be a totally drive thru event. For more than 10 years, the United Methodist Men have prepared over 400 chickens on their home-made Barbecue pits. Church members assist with cooking the side dishes and serving the meals. The dinner cost $12 and includes half a BBQ Chicken, slaw, beans and dessert. “All proceeds go to purchase of Christmas gifts for the children in our community who may not have any

other means to receive a gift,” explained Sam Martin, a member of the Men’s group. “These gifts are wrapped and delivered to each family with a Christmas meal. This year due to social distancing recommendations, the Christmas for Kids will also be a drive-thru event. “The primary purpose of the United Methodist Men’s Group is to serve our community by showing the love of God,” Martin added. “We hope that you will join us and help us support our mission. God Bless each and every person reading this article.” Lakehills United Methodist Church located on the corner of 8th and J Street in Lakehills.

Men of the Lakehills United Methodist Church barbecue chicken for the church’s annual fundraiser. Work begins at 2 a.m. and continues till 2 p.m. Pictured (left to right) are James Stein, Martin Rivera, Ralph Hover, Jack Trenkelbach, David Schwartz, Sam Martin and Craig Smith. Courtesy photo

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Want to

Meat? Barbecue dinner benefits wildlife association BY TRACY THAYER Special to the Bulletin

Mark your calendar now for Oct. 4 at the Medina Community Center at 13869 Highway 16 North in Medina. The Medina Livestock and Wildlife Association, also known as the Wolf Club, will host its annual Cabrito and Barbeque Dinner. Plates will consist of cabrito, brisket and sausage with sides. The event will be open from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. or until the food runs out. Adult plates are $12 and children under age 12 are $5. Dinner tickets will be available at the door. Takeout is available and seating outdoors will be provided. The afternoon will also include a raffle and silent auction to help support the organization. Raffle tickets are $10 each and may be purchased from Lowanna Jackson or from Andy Lautzenheiser at the Ace Hardware store in Medina. Only 500 raffle tickets will be

Nothing is better than a relaxing Sunday BBQ dinner with all the fixins’! sold. Items to be raffled off include a Glock .44 22LR semi-automatic pistol with two ammo magazines, a Tri-Star semi auto 20-gauge shot-

gun, a Heritage .22 LR Revolver with an extra .22 Magnum cylinder, 100 gallons of propane, $200 gift card to Daddy Jim’s Quality Meats, $150 gift card to H-E-B and a $100 Visa Gift Card. The raffle drawing will take place at 1 p.m., and you need not be present to win. Raffle sponsors include Charlie Seale of the Medera/Escobar Ranch, Andy and Patty Lautzenheiser, Pico Propane and Fuel of Boerne, Daddy Jim’s Quality Meats, H-E-B and the Old Timer in Medina. This is the association's only fundraiser. The funds raised at the event will go toward helping Medina area ranchers with predator control through the employment of a government trapper. For more information contact Jackson at lowanna@hctc.net or at 830-589-2876.

Oct. 4 at the Medina Community Center at 13869 Highway 16 North in Medina VOL. 2, NO. 3 | FALL 2020

Hill Country State Natural Area Busy in Fall TRAILS Trails range from easy to challenging, from one-mile strolls to miles-long rambles. The easy Heritage Loop takes visitors past remnants of the former ranch. The West Peak Overlook is a staff favorite, with a steep climb leading to expansive views of the western Hill Country.

BY CHUCK MCCOLLOUGH Special to the Bulletin

Hill Country State Natural Area Park Supervisor Paul Hendrix expects more visitors in the autumn months. “Fall is one of our busiest times of the year. When temperatures get more moderate more people want to come visit and camp here. We are really excited to see more folks enjoying themselves at our beautiful park,” the park supervisor said. Hendrix, who has been at Hill Country for three-and-ahalf years, said last month that the park was at 80 percent capacity, compared to 50 percent at start of summer. Hill Country, located at 10600 Bandera Creek Road, is over 5,000 acres of rugged canyons, scenic plateaus and tranquil creek bottoms at this

former ranch in southern Bandera County. It has more primitive camping than Lost Maples State Natural area.

THINGS TO DO Hill Country State Natural Area offers primitive camping, backpacking, nature-watching and multiuse trails for hikers,

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mountain bikers and horseback riders. Help keep this natural area pristine by following these rules: - Trails and backcountry campsites may be closed to protect sensitive areas or for bad weather; observe closure signs. Call or check the Facebook page or Twitter feed for updates before your visit. - Campfires are allowed only in fire rings. Visitors must bring firewood; visitors may not gather dead wood or cut standing timber there. - Pets must be on leashes no longer than six feet. Fire danger conditions can change rapidly, leading to burn bans with little notice. Check before visiting. Hill Country does not have a park store or potable water, so visitors must bring everything they will need, including drinking water. Automotive Diagnosis, Repair and Maintenance Servicing travel, horse and utility Trailers Bearings, Electrical, Brakes, Axles and Fabrication

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HORSEBACK RIDING Visitors can bring their own horses to explore the natural area (they must present proof of a current Coggins test). Trail terrain ranges from flat, broad prairies to steep, rocky canyons. The equestrian arena is available by reservation only; contact the natural area for information. CAMPING Visitors can get back to nature at one of the primitive walk-in or hike-in campsites. These sites have vault toilets nearby, but no showers or running water. The lodge is available for those with and without horses. It has a kitchen and bathroom and sleeps nine. Five stalls, two pens and corrals are nearby. Horseback riders can reserve an equestrian campsite or the group camp. The group camp comes with a barn and nine stalls. This camp has water for horses and a vault toilet nearby, but no showers or potable water. For more information about Hill Country SNA, call 830-7964413.

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VOL. 2, NO. 3 | FALL 2020

Fall fun at the

Pumpkin Patches BY BILL PACK

bill@banderabulletin.com

Two pumpkin patches are scheduled to be held in Bandera County on weekends through October to celebrate the return of fall. One is the Great Hill Country Pumpkin Patch put on by Love Creek Orchards on a 10-acre tract at 13558 Highway 16 at the eastern entrance to Medina and the other is the Pipe Creek Pumpkin Patch put on at the Pipe Creek Christmas Tree Farm at 805 Phil’s Road in Pipe Creek. Both will have pumpkin painting stands, petting zoos for youngsters and plenty of activities that provide families with loads of photo opportunities and the chance to get outside and enjoy the colors of fall.

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Bryan Hutzler, the owner of Live Creek Orchards, said it’s been a popular feature at the orchard for about 26 years, and Jim Hingst, who owns the Christmas tree farm with his son, said it’s been a “huge attraction” in Pipe Creek as well. The Pipe Creek Pumpkin Patch will open the first weekend of October, Oct. 3, 4, and will be held each Saturday and Sunday through the month, closing at the end of the month, on Oct. 31, which is a Saturday. It will not be open On Nov. 1. Its hours will be 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. The admission fee will be $6 per person, except for those age 2 and under who will get in for free.

VOL. 2, NO. 3 | FALL 2020

The Great Hill Country Pumpkin Patch is fun for children of all ages including apple orchard tours, farm animals, games, hayrides, hay maze, story telling, scarecrow building and sing-a-longs.

Photo courtesy Love Creek Orchards

At the Great Hill County Pumpkin Patch, the festivities will be offered on three straight Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays starting Oct. 10-12 and will end with a two-day celebration on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, but not Monday, Nov. 2. Its hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, but Hutzler said guests should plan to not wait until the last minute. The last activity each day will begin at 3 p.m. The cost of admission in Medina is $7 per person, with the exception of those age 2 and under who are admitted for free. The list of activities Hutzler mentioned at the Great Hill Country Pumpkin Patch include a hay maze, a scarecrow attraction, a hay ride, story telling and a singalong with entertainers and a program in the barn showing youngsters how apples are processed into apple cider and 14

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how pecans are processed. A new event planned this year is an obstacle course for youngsters, but the apple eating contest has been cancelled due to health concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Pipe Creek Pumpkin Patch, the activities will include a scarecrow feature, plastic duck races, a cornhole competition, a kiddie barrel train and a large, shaded sandbox where youngsters play. Large pumpkins, corn stalks and hay bales will be available to purchase as decorative items, and food items will be for sale as well. Hingst said his pumpkin patch won’t have face painting this year because of the safety concerns associated with that activity. Both operators have taken steps to make people feel safe about coming out to their sites while the COVID out-

break is still active. Face masks will be required of visitors at the Pipe Creek venue, while face coverings will be recommended at the Medina patch, but not required, except for a few possible exceptions when people are brought together in a more confined area, like the barn. Both operators expect turnout to be smaller this year because of the concerns associated with the coronavirus, but each is looking forward to a good fall celebration again as long as the weather cooperates. To find out more about the Great Hill Country Pumpkin Patch, go to https:// lovecreekorchards.com and click on the “Events” link. A link to the Pipe Creek Pumpkin Patch’s itinerary is available online at pipecreekchristmastrees.com. under the “Pumpkin Patch” heading.

Pumpkin Patch at PiPe creek Christmas Tree Farm DATES OPEN IN 2020

• October 3-4 from 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM • October 10-11 from 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM • October 17-18 from 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM • October 24-25 from 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM • October 31 from 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM ADMISSION: $6.00 per person (2 & under – Free) INCLUDES: hayride, haystack, hop ball, scarecrow dressing, visiting farm animals, large sandbox, rubber duck races, pumpkin painting (with purchase of a pumpkin), photo ops and strolling through 6000 Christmas trees

MASKS REQUIRED

Pumpkin Patch

at Love Creek Orchards DATES OPEN IN 2020

• October 10-12 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM • October 17-19 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM • October 24-26 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM • October 31 & November 1 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM ADMISSION: $$7 for kids 3 years and older (2 & under – Free) INCLUDES: Pumpkin Painting (you buy the pumpkin, we provide the paint), Apple Orchard Tours, Farm Animals, Games, Hayrides, Hay Maze, Story Telling, Scarecrow Building, and Sing-a-longs VOL. 2, NO. 3 | FALL 2020

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‘Bandera Honors Veterans’ recognizes sacrifices Special to the Bulletin

“Bandera Honors Veterans” will once more celebrate those who fought to obtain and protect our democratic way of life on Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Planning is underway to expand the family displays that are always set up on the Bandera County Courthouse lawn to include informational booths by veteran-oriented nonprofit and government organizations focused on support to veterans and their families. The Bandera American Legion Post 157 is hosting the event, which will include a program paying tribute to our local veterans with special music, VIP seating for World War II and Korean War veterans, a keynote speaker, comments by local dignitaries and the annual parade. “We want this to be a spectacular display of Americanism, Bandera style. We ask all business owners and families to fly their United States flags all week and sign up to display your family military pride and ride in the parade,” said Susan Junker, commander of Post 157. The displays must be ready for public viewing starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 7, followed by the program at 11 a.m.

The parade is scheduled to kick off at noon from the Bandera City Park and follow a route down Main Street in Bandera. The traditional barbeque on the courthouse lawn will begin right after the parade, about 1 p.m. All veterans and their spouses are invited to participate free of charge. More music, fellowship and honors will continue throughout the lunch. “This has been such a challenging year. We are super ready for a huge patriotic showing in 2020. There’s so much to be proud of in our community, our military and our veterans who continue to serve after their time in the military,” said Dennis Birchall, Bandera County

Veteran Service Officer. Birchall is also leading the Parade Committee. Contact the Bandera American Legion Post 157 for more information by calling 830-796-7528, by sending it an e-mail at amlegion157@live.com, going to its Facebook page or stopping by any Wednesday at 205 12 St., across from the Chevron Ice House. The American Legion is also celebrating its 100th Anniversary as a chartered post this year. It was chartered in September 1920 within a year of the end of World War II. Watch for upcoming Bulletin articles on the founders and contributions over those 100 years.

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VOL. 2, NO. 3 | FALL 2020

e h t y l n o s It' n i y b b o h #2 ! y r t n u o c e th

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am! Lockdown. Our world was turned upside down. We had nowhere to go and not much to do. We cleaned closets, made bread and watched enough Netflix. Now what? The people went outdoors. The air was fresher with no cars about and springtime brought green grass and flowers. Oh, and birds. Once people started noticing the birds, they went wild for birdwatching, all across the country. Watching birds. Feeding birds. Purchasing nest boxes and bird baths, and squirrel baffles to keep the little buggers from getting the seed. This country truly became obsessed with birds. How obsessed you ask? Cornell University Lab of Ornithology reported that their bird identification app, Merlin, was downloaded 8,500 times over Easter weekend alone, and 150,000 times during the month of April. That is up 102 percent increase. Their live bird cam viewership also doubled. eBird, a popular app for logging what you are seeing was up 900 percent, logging 50,000 downloads a day. People really went crazy for our little feathered friends that were right outside their door. With all the chaos that the pandemic brought, most of us needed a way to decompress and being out in nature can do that. Just hearing birds singing can distract you from your worries. Once folks started noticing the birds, they realized the next logical step was to feed them. Bring them in close, to observe their behavior. Since the lockdown started in the spring, the birds were all returning to their nesting grounds, which meant people now got to observe the magic of birds nesting in their own backyards. Kids and parents alike became obsessed with birds. It got people focused on something else. Something fun and new. Raising awareness and appreciation for the birds and nature in general. This hobby has often been thought of as a nerdy pastime. However, birdwatching and/ or bird feeding is the number two hobby in the U.S., second only to gardening. In 2018 there were an estimated 12.34 million birdwatchers in the United States! People love their birds. It is a hobby that is relatively inexpensive to get into and there are birds literally everywhere. You can enjoy this hobby no matter what setting you reside in. You can challenge yourself to identify birds by sight and sound, even keeping a list of what you have spotted. The hobby of birdwatching has been one bright spot in such uncertain times. It is a hobby that once you start with, you will have trouble stopping. It is addictive. It is calming. It is just plain fun! VOL. 2, NO. 3 | FALL 2020

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GET READY FOR COWBOY FELLOWSHIP RODEO & GALA BY TRACY THAYER Special to the Bulletin

Frogs for Freedom ride October 3 The 10th Annual Frogs for Freedom Hill Country Motorcycle Ride put on by an area veterans group to raise money for widows and children of fallen SEAL team members and Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen, or SWCC, Warriors will be held at the 11th Street Cowboy Bar on Saturday, Oct. 3. Fred “Doc” Cox and Karen Cox came up with the unusual name. “Frogs” in the name is for the old frogmen special underwater war group that was a predecessor to the SEALs. Doc Cox served as a SWCC Warrior in Vietnam. At a reunion a decade or more ago, his group was looking for a benefit to sponsor. “One of our guys said he had been to a motorcycle event recently, and it was fun. I said the Hill Country in Texas is perfect for motorcycle riding, and that is how it started,” he said. The first Frogs for Freedom event

raised $9,000, Cox said. About three years ago, a record amount of $43,000 came in for the survivors of the special warfare veterans. Doc Cox said he expects the COVID-19 pandemic will have and impact on the ride this year, but organizers with the SEAL Veterans Foundation still were determined to hold the fundraiser again. The event will include live music, dancing, a live auction and brisket-and- sausage barbecue plate sale. Donations to the sale are tax deductible, officials said. The bike rally will begin with registration at 9 a.m. The first bike will leave at 10 a.m. The cowboy bar is at 307 11th St. in Bandera. For more information contact Doc Cox at fmdoccox@aol.com or call 301-751-4327. Information also is available at www.SealVeteransFoundation.org.

The 9th Annual Buck Wild Rodeo, a family friendly event sponsored by the Ridin’ the River Cowboy Fellowship, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Mansfield Park Rodeo Arena, located at 2886 Highway 16 North just outside of Bandera. Gates open at 6 p.m. so registration for mutton bustin’ can begin, and the rodeo will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the rodeo are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 8-12 and no charge for youngsters under age 8. A buckle prize will be given to the winner of the rodeo events held that night. On Friday, Sept.r 18 the church will also sponsor a Western Gala with a Mexican style supper, door prizes, a silent auction, raffle, gun raffle and live music by the Ricky Adams Band It will be at the Mansfield Park show barn behind the rodeo arena on Highway 16 North. Individual tickets are $10 for the meal and entertainment. For those wanting to sponsor a table for 10 participants, the cost will be $500. That price will cover the cost of dinner, entertainment and entry for all 10 to the Buck Wild Rodeo on Saturday night. Proceeds from both events will go toward the construction of pens and a warm-up arena at the church rodeo arena and to further the church’s rodeo ministry. The mission of the Ridin’ the River Cowboy Fellowship is to share the message of grace and mercy through Jesus Christ in a way that respects the Western way of life. For more information about the Buck Wild Rodeo, contact Troy Crow at 830-446-9284 or Ron Mildenberger at 970-371-9943. For information about the Western Gala, contact Debbie Earl at 830-431-0520 or Samantha Earl at 830446-2866.

VOL. 2, NO. 3 | FALL 2020

The late J. Marvin Hunter, Sr., former Bandera resident and founder of the community’s Frontier Times Museum, once remarked that he did not collect items so much as they collected him. Courtesy photo

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Roaring 20s chosen

theme for Museum’s Gala BY TRACY THAYER Special to the Bulletin

Bandera’s oldest continuously operating museum, The Frontier Times Museum, will hold its annual fundraising gala Oct. 29, at the Antler Oaks Lodge and RV Resort, located at 3862 Highway 16 North, just outside of Bandera. The theme this year is the Roaring 20s. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. Dinner and drinks are included in the ticket price, which is $85 per person. There will be a live and silent auction following the dinner. Those interested in purchasing a full table at the fundraiser, contact Rebecca Norton, the museum’s executive director, at 830-796-3864. Key sponsors are Jake and Kari Short and the Falling Rock Ranch. The Frontier Times Museum was founded in 1933 by J. Marvin Hunter, a local author, newspaperman, printer and history expert. The museum building is built from petrified wood, fossils and formations from area caves. The museum houses an exceptionally eclectic collection

of Texas and Bandera County memorabilia. It contains over 40,000 historical artifacts. Of particular note is the Doane Art Gallery, which contains a variety of art by Western artists. The museum is the host to the Western Artists Roundup, a presentation by a group of six celebrated western artists. These award-winning artists are Jack Moss, David Godfrey, Bob Penny, Doug Trine, Gary Ward and Charlie Bullock. The museum also houses a research library, as well as the Fagen Gallery, the Chisholm Gallery and a gift shop. The Frontier Times Museum is a privately funded museum and all proceeds from the annual Roaring 20s Gala will go to its programs and operations. The Museum is located at 510 13th Street in Bandera. Its entrance fees are $6 for adults, $4 for seniors, military $4, children 6-17, $2 and children under 6 are free. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday 10:00 – 4:30 PM. To contact the museum, email information@frontiertimesmuseum.org or call at 830-796-3864.

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VOL. 2, NO. 3 | FALL 2020

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Trailhead Magazine - Fall 2020

Articles inside

BANDERA COUNTY PARK AT MEDINA LAKE RULES

WE'RE BACK! WITH BARBEQUE

ROARING 20S CHOSEN THEME FOR MUSEUM’S GALA

BANDERA HONORS VETERANS' RECOGNIZES SACRIFICES

HILL COUNTRY STATE NATURAL AREA BUSY IN FALL

WANT TO MEAT?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BANDERA CITY PARK RULES