Seguin Today: November 2023 by Seguin Today

NOVEMBER 2023, Vol 3 l

A MISSION TO PERU

Local church members work to change lives

Blake Bertling’s car

2023 COUNTY FAIR RESULTS A look back at this year’s big winners

Seguin Office 109 W. Court 830-372-9466 New Braunfels Office 480 S. Seguin Ave 830-214-6002 ANDERSPIERCE.COM

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THIS ISSUE

NOVEMBER 2023, Volume 3 l Issue 10 It’s almost Turkey time, Seguin. That one day where it’s okay to eat until you have to loosen your pants before tossing off your shoes in front of the TV for a little post-feast nap. Some NFL teams will kick off in a football battle as it’s broadcast to homes nationwide. Commercials will play in the breaks, and eventually, it will all wrap up, and everyone will head home. Despite the over-commercialization of the holidays, Thanksgiving is as good a time as any time to take a moment for thanks. It’s easy to get swept up in the Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday discounts. I know my negative tendencies often blind me to the good things I have right in front of me –– and there are a lot of good things in my life. This November, may you share your table with loved ones as you give thanks. After the dishes are washed and the turkey is all but a memory, remember to shop local for your holiday gifting needs, and visit our advertisers who help bring you the stories you love. So whether your Thanksgiving feast includes turkey, ham, tamales, take-out, or all of the above, may you have a happy Thanksgiving, Seguin! Lizz Daniels, Creative Director

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22 6

COVERSHOT When it revs...it ROARS.

TAKING LIFE FOR A JOY RIDE

In the garage & behind the wheel with Blake Bertling

FOLLOWING GOD’S MISSION

Local church members change the world & their own lives

GUADALUPE COUNTY FAIR RESULTS

2023 winners, photos & more

Blake Bertling owns many cars, but one of his

favorites is the one that

EVENTS CALENDAR

Community events & special promotions happening in the area this month.

started his collection – this Dodge Viper. Photo by Lizz Daniels

DIY: RECIPE TO TRY

Butternut stir fry for the Holidays

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Pair of Marion businesses celebrate 50 years

NOVEMBER 2023, Volume 3 l Issue 10

GENERAL MANAGER Darren Dunn

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lizz Daniels

WRITERS Cindy Aguirre-Herrera Lizz Daniels

MARKETING DIRECTOR Nick Spence

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Laurie Ann Heideke Linda Duncan

DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER Jarred Kindles

OFFICE MANAGER Priscilda Rodriguez

Seguin Today is published once a month by: KWED, Seguin Daily News in Seguin, Texas. www.seguintoday.com

Taking Life for a

JoyRide In the garage & behind the wheel with Blake & Landon Bertling Story by Lizz Daniels Photos by Lizz Daniels & Jarred Kindles

here’s nothing quite like the freedom of the open road. Driving with no destination, windows down, and radio on, can bring a sense of serenity and peace of mind to drivers. Weekends are, without question, the most popular time for gearheads to hit the road with their favorite cars, and Guadalupe County local Blake Bertling is no different. He got into cars when just a teenager, and with the help of his family, has been growing his collection ever since. “Whenever I was in like ninth grade, Motor Trend magazine came out with the Dodge Viper,” Blake said. “It was red at the time, convertible only. And I said, ‘Man, I want to get one of these one day.’ Well, of course, you know, ninth grade, couldn’t afford it. So, whenever I started my business and started working, I bought a Corvette convertible. And my brother was at Bluebonnet getting his truck serviced and he said, ‘Hey, there’s a viper over here, you need to come look at it. It’s

pretty awesome.’ So I drove over there. Well, I had my friend who was the president of First Commercial Bank with me, and he said, ‘Why don’t you buy it?’ And I was like, ‘should I?’ and he was like, ‘do it. You only live once.’ So it was like, ‘alright,’ and then that started my collection -- that blue Dodge Viper.” When the Viper pulls out of the garage, the sun highlights its swooping lines and sleek blue paint, but the real wow factor is the sound. When Blake gives it gas, she rips into a rumbling roar. You can feel as much as you hear. Blake’s son, Landon, shares a love of cars with his dad and said that it was his suggestion that truly clinched the deal on the beloved Lambo. “First, he wanted to get a purple one, and it looked more like the Barracuda,” Landon said. “So I told him, ‘well, you should get a Lambo that truly looks like a Lambo if you really want a Lambo. Look for one of those ones that are wider than real skinny,’ and he

found that one. He said how’s this one, and I said that one’s really nice.” While Dodge may be the car that started the collection, Blake’s favorite is something a little more luxurious –– a Lamborghini. But the Lambo isn’t the only luxury piece in his collection. He recently added an Infinity stretch limo to the mix. “We were going to the journey concert,” he said. “And we were going to rent a limo. We couldn’t find one to rent. So then I was like, ‘I’m gonna see if I can find one to buy,’ so I bought it. Then David (my friend) got the suite at the ATT Center, and I provided the transportation. It’s just a fun thing because it’s got a really good sound system, and it’s got alligator skin seats and a light show in it. So on the weekends, if people don’t want to drink and drive –– I don’t drink. I haven’t drunk in 19 years, so that’s my fun. I’ll haul people around and keep them from being out on the streets drinking and possibly killing someone.”

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Read, EAt & drink LOCAL! That decision to stop drinking came after a moment in the Bertling’s lives that changed everything. In 2016, a driver fell asleep at the wheel, striking the car carrying Landon, his siblings Christian and Bethany, along with their grandmother Ann. Bethany and Ann were killed in the accident, while Landon and Christian were left with scars and anxiety to overcome. Learning to drive with his dad has helped, and maintaining the car Bethany loved most helps keep her memory alive. “She would always say that the blue car will be Landon’s –– the Viper. She goes, ‘I want the Corvette the black Corvette.’ I got a son that’s blind, so she said, ‘we’ll give Christian the Yellow Taxi because he can’t see anyway!” That’s the ugliest one,’ but it’s the most collectible car out of all really 68 Roadrunners. So basically, that’s why I still have that Corvette because it would have been her car and she’s been gone eight years now.” The cars in the garage help provide a space for Blake and Landon to bond as father and son, while also working with their hands and building something new. From installing roll cages to rockers and lifts, they’ve done it all to customize the driving experience in each car. No two drive the same, and Blake can always find a car to fit how he’s feeling.

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“I like the way each one of them drive,” he said. “Every one of them has a different feel. So you can hop in the Viper, and it drives different, feels different, and handles different than the other cars. So like your moods change –– one day, I feel like, man, it’s a Lamborghini kind of day. The next day, maybe I really want to spin the tires today because I’m frustrated, so I’ll drive the Viper. I don’t know, sometimes you wake up and you feel like today’s a day to ride a motorcycle. I’ve got a little slingshot motorcycle that I drive around sometimes if you want to be open and free air. I was dirt poor growing up, so I pinch myself sometimes like, man, is this really, you? This shouldn’t be me. You know, this ain’t me.” And as Landon inches ever closer to the coveted sixteen-year birthday mark, he’s already planning on starting a collection of his own. He’s thinking something fast. And while he decides what his perfect first car should be, Blake is focused on starting a new hobby –– drag racing. Just outside his multi-car garage sits a roughed-up speedster with Hoosier brand racing tires. In the mid-day sun, the tires look flat and deflated but drag fans know that changes once the driver heats them up, allowing for better grip on take-off. “I think we’re fixing to get into it,” Blake said. “That’s why I bought it. Probably Colby, who works for me, will drive. He wants to drive it. He said, ‘Man, I said, we ought to start going to Temple.’ So I said, let’s go.” With tire smoke and speed on the horizon, Blake and Landon remain enthusiastic about their projects. They focus on the road ahead while keeping cherished memories visible in the rear-view mirror, a steady reminder to create 10 happy moments one joy ride at a time. •

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Following God’s

Mission Local church members set out to change the world while changing their own lives

Story by Cindy Aguirre-Herrera Courtesy Photos

eru is home to many Indigenous communities whose names, for the most part, don’t ever make it onto the folds of a map. That remote living, off-the-grid existence, however, recently welcomed a bit of the outside world – a world that included the hearts and compassion of nine members from Living Waters Church in Seguin. In August, Living Waters Executive Pastor Shawn Bouldin indulged in a leap of faith, steering eight others, including his wife Amanda, into a part of the world that not many have ever visited. Living Waters, known for its mission trips to Eagle Pass and parts of Mexico, recently returned home from a weeklong evangelism trip up the Amazon River. Getting to and through those throngs of the jungle was simply a roadmap guided by God. That’s because Bouldin says Manati II zona, a three-hour boat ride outside of Iquitos, Peru, and its surrounding villages are where he believes the group was called to serve. However, despite the calling, setting foot in the villages was not that simple as Peru, one of the most vaccinated locations in the world, took the consideration of welcoming foreigners very seriously.

“They had not had visitors from foreign nations in over four years,” Bouldin said. “They are isolated anyway, and they were isolated because of all the travel restrictions (following the COVID pandemic).” He says on top of any hesitation that the villagers might have had, things became even more strange as the group inched closer to arriving. “Now, you are talking about the weirdest thing to prepare for -- this is the weirdest thing that happened to us,” Bouldin said. “We started looking at the news a couple of weeks before in that area -- so the news that was real hot and fresh down there (and) the breaking news was alien attacks. I’m not joking. The area around Iquitos, they had to bring in the navy. They were getting reports of lights flying over villages and so that peeked the attention of the village that we were going to go to and up until 48 hours before we got there, they were still very very hesitant on letting us come in because the villagers and all around the Amazon region especially around Iquitos, it was buzzing that this village (was) getting attacked. It wasn’t the one we were going to, but it was in the area.” Despite reports of humanoids with large eyes and folks being dragged outside their villages, Bouldin says it didn’t take long for the group to bring a sense of peace to the people.

“They were really hesitant,” he said. “So, when we arrived, we knew of that ahead of time and there were only two to three people that greeted us. Now, when we left, the whole entire town said goodbye to us. But as we got there, we did some church services. We started feeding the families and went house to house. It relaxed all of (them) and by the end of that, no one was talking about it. No alien language or any of that stuff ever came up. I kind of add that because it was super weird. That is just one of the obstacles. You are dealing with a different culture. I mean they are a supernatural culture. They are a little more primitive and they don’t have outside news, so they go by word of mouth and what is kind of being spoken around and their reality is their reality. Regardless of what it was or what anybody believes, what really matters is what they believe, and they believed that something was going on and we could have been connected with it somehow or someway, but we were obviously able to do really good work and they were able to receive us.” Bouldin says this trek south of the equator was not an easy feat, but it was a journey that his group was ready for, thanks to the help of its mission trip partner, Praying Pelican Missions. In fact, the group’s decision to travel to Peru couldn’t have received a better sign from God. Bouldin says as soon as they arrived along the riverbanks of the jungle, they were greeted with a downpour of rain – rain that gave the group all the assurances that it needed in knowing that serving the families deeply rooted in the Amazon Rainforest was where they needed to be. “The first day right out of the gate, we knew everything, all of the challenges -- it almost took 24 hours to get there, three planes, two boats, two buses -- and us pulling up to that river area and just being in a place that none of us had ever been before or seen before and just being able to pull up and to look up at that river in that little village and as soon as we set foot on the bank, there was a torrential downpour,” Bouldin said. “I mean it started pouring rain and it’s a dry season. They were having a two-month season where there was no rain and rain in the Bible represents the sovereignty of God. You see that in Genesis. You see that in several places in the Bible where rain is connected to life. It’s connected to the washings. It’s connected to the sovereignty of God and so we set foot on the shore, and we were like, ‘are you serious?’ This is awesome and we just knew God was with us. It’s those little things. It’s simple for God but it’s things like that that really speak to your heart and your soul to go ‘wow, God is with us.’ And, going throughout the week, looking back on the moment that was right at the beginning, he just gave us peace and confidence and it really increased our faith right on the front end.” The journey to Peru, however, resulted in more than just changing the lives of the villagers. It also instilled changes within each of the nine making the journey. In fact, folks like Cora Dabbs said those changes began way before packing her suitcase. She says not only did God speak to her to go on the trip, but he remained by her side throughout the entire experience. “This mission trip impacted me significantly by allowing me to see God in his fullness and inspiring me to look at life differently -- observing his nature and how he placed things strategically in every environment -- such as how certain plants grow in certain areas,” Dabbs said. “Even though the locals were custom to that environment, I was amazed. Although looking at their situation, not having what society says (you) need in order to succeed, they had it better because the solitude in the Lord and with the Lord is where I believe he shows his glory more. There are no distractions. Like in the old biblical day, and today, we Christians still pose a question ‘Lord, are you hearing me? Where are you?’”

CONTINUED on page 26

2023 results

tri-color home arts winners ANTIQUES: Jay Derrickson Mariann Bielke (2) Loni Garza (2) Bryan Tweksbury Carrie Glass Arthur Salazar Joshlyn Stover ART: Overall Adult-Vernelle Jones Overall Youth-Joshlyn Stover Adult - Paige Pieper High School - Joshlyn Stover Middle School - Reagan Sugarek Elementary - Dorothy iddings Pre-k/Kinder - Wyatt Wallace Class Projects: Leap Ahead Learning Teacher: Carly Guiterrez BAKE FOODS YOUTH: Cora Germann Luke Anderson Kaylee Poe Carlee Beabout Millie Hart Emma Poe Mandee Rilley Meagan Ohnheiser (4) BAKE FOODS ADULT: Nicole Kuntschik (2) Lorelei Hathcoat

Gayle Anderson Kathy Anderson Shawna Simpson CANNING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: Adult-Mariann Bielke (2) Adult-Julia Grimm Youth-Rainor Germann Youth-Cora Germann CANNING JAMS AND JELLIES: Mariann Bielke Julia Grimm Kathy Anderson Jude Herell Rae Ann Culp CANNING PICKLES AND RELISH: Sophia Shefielv-youth Jude Herrell-youth Dorletta Wheelington-Adult Trenton Mills-Adult Barbara Castro-Adult Gladys Jackson-Adult CLOTHING: Adult-Patricia Sheffield Middle School-Ashlyn Schmoekel CRAFTS: Adult-Briley Strey High School-Megan Ohnheiser Middle School-Anthony Moore, Aubrey Jaroszewski Elementary-Karlee Eby, Brooks Baker, Carson Jaroszewski Preschool and Kindergarten-Deacon Lain

HANDWORK/KNITTING: Michelle Fussel Patricia Fiesenhahn Isabel Iarra Megan Ohnheiser Rolene Sprouse HANDWORK/NEEDLE: Melanie Engels ORNAMENTAL HORTICULURE: Gayle Anderson-Adult Potted Plants (Rooted) Claire Huebinger-Adult Cut Specimen Pat Schultze-Adult Flower Arrangements Luke Anderson-Junior Potted Plants Luke Anderson-Junior Plant Specimens and Arrangements PHOTOGRAPHY YOUTH: Youth overall: Joshlyn Stover

tri-color youth:

Joshlyn Stover Kase Kelso Railee Childs Aryanna Totan Carlos Tryillo Sadie Simpson Rhett Rohde Rex Rohde Said Rohde (3)

PHOTOGRAPHY ADULT: Adult overall: William Pieper

tri-color adult: William Pieper Paige Pieper (2) Joshua Blankman Keum Esparza (2) Yessenia Cano Anthony Castillo

QUILTS: Maria Bailey-Best of Show Heather Jackson-Tri Color Alma Rosebrock-Tri Color Melanie Engels-Tri Color Sherry Duringer-Tri Color Barbara Wright-Tri Color Judy Abbey-Tri Color Viola Simmons-Tri Color HORTICULTURE: Grand Champion -Chuck Leverich and Tri color ribbon Grand Champion Luke Vogel and Tri color ribbon Reserve Grand ChampionSara Williams and Tri color ribbon Reserve Grand ChampionBellah Rosales and Tri color ribbon Kate Schnautz Myrtle Huebinger Luke Anderson Caroline Vincent Bentley Wells PUMPKIN DECORATING: Best of Show-Bella Jo Schultze Most Creative-Mandee Riley Most Original-GVNC Most Technical-Sienna Chandler Most Pumpkinality-Briley Strey CONSUMER DECISION MAKING YOUTH CONTEST Gonzales - Intermediate Team Jack Irving, Sam Irving, Kayden Cheatham, Liam Thompson - 1st Place Team Bexar - Senior Team Caroline Terrell, Olivia Floyd, Alexander Salazar, Morgan Vern - 1st Place Team DESSERTS ON DISPLAY YOUTH CONTEST Leanna Smith - 1st Place

guadalupe county fair results 2023

FOOD CHALLENGE YOUTH CONTEST Hays County - Juniors, Pastry Princesses Everly Shumway, Elizabeth Cates, Brooklyn Barnett - 1st Bexar County - Intermediates, Salt & Pepper Karis Vess, AJ Chavez, Audrey Belzung - 1st Wilson County - Seniors, Zesty Besties Nicole Lee, Amber Ellebracht, Mercedes Gonzalez - 1st BBQ COOKOFF Reserve Grand Champion – Smokin Los BBQ – Carlos Calzada, head cook Grand Champion – Triple Up BBQ, Sam Fries, head cook Cook’s Choice Savory – Smokin Los BBQ – Carlos Calzada, head cook

Cook’s Choice Dessert – Smokin Los BBQ – Carlos Calzada, head cook Jackpot Beans – CARSTAR Shanafelt BBQ – Kenneth Gibson head cook Chicken – Triple Up BBQ – Sam Friese, head cook Pork Ribs – Smokin Los BBQ – Carlos Calzada, head cook Pork Butt – Electricuers – Rick Spaw, head cook Brisket – Electricuers – Rick Spaw, head cook BEEF CATTLE: Grand Champion Overall Exotic: Tucker Wells (receives a $500.00 scholarship spon-

Mary Douglas Reserve Champion Heifer British: Carlee Hoffmann Cattle Showmanship Senior: Trenton Martin Cattle Showmanship Intermediate: Ali Thayne Cattle Showmanship Junior: Bentley Wells American Heavyweight Grand Champion: Bentley Wells American Lightweight Reserve Champion: Reese Thayne

sored by Seguin Cattle Company in honor of Benno Luensmann)

Reserve Champion Overall American: Bentley Wells

British Heavyweight Grand Champion: Tucker Wells British Reserve Grand: Ali Thayne

Grand Champion Heifer American:

Exotic Heavyweight Grand Champion:

Cambrie Simpson Breeding Ewe Champion: Lottie Owen Breeding Ewe Reserve: MaKenna Kelm Fine Wool Champion: Abbie Own Fine Wool Reserve: Marlena Moore Fine Wool Cross Champion: Mason Simpson Fine Wool Cross Reserve: Kenzi Phillips Southdown Champion: Lacey Matney Southdown Reserve: Kambrie Boeder Dorper Champion: Emily Hrubetz Dorper Reserve: Emily Hrubetz Medium Wool Champion: Lacey Matney Medium Wool Reserve: Mason Simpson GOATS: Market Goat Grand Champion: Kyleigh McKissack (receives a $500.00 scholarship sponsored by Seguin Cattle Company in honor of Benno Luensmann) Market Goat Reserve Champion: Luke Bauer Guadalupe Goat Shootout Champion: Brooke Clements Guadalupe Goat Shootout Reserve: MaKenna Kelm Goat Breeding Doe Champion: Holt Prasek Goat Breeding Doe Reserve: Libby Molnoskey Goat Senior Showmanship Champion: Luke Bauer Goat Senior Showmanship Reserve: Brooke Clements Goat Showmanship Intermediate Champion: Holt Prasek Goat Showmanship Intermediate Reserve: Libby Molonskey Goat Showmanship Junior Champion: Damian Guerrero Goat Showmanship Junior Reserve: Paityn Pape Goat Peewee Showmanship: August Engelke

LAMBS: Market Lamb Grand Champion: Lacey Matney

American class 1 Heifers grand champion: Mary Douglas American class 1 Heifers reserve: Mary Douglas

Market Lamb Reserve Champion: Lacey Matney Guadalupe Lamb Shootout Champion: Ava Clark Guadalupe Lamb Shootout Reserve: Kase Pierson

British Class 2 Heifers Grand: Carlee Hoffmann British class 2 heifers reserve: Apple Ibarra British class 4 heifers reserve: Ryan Johnson Exotic class 1 heifers grand: Abigail Pollock Exotic class 5 heifers reserve: Clayton Kerlick

(receives a $500.00 scholarship sponsored by Seguin Cattle Company in honor of Benno Luensmann)

Lamb Showmanship Senior Champion: Ava Clark Lamb Showmanship Senior Reserve: Mallory Box Lamb Showmanship Intermediate Champion: Mason Simpson Lamb Showmanship Intermediate Reserve: Kate Phillips Lamb Showmanship Junior Champion: Lottie Owen Lamb Showmanship Junior Reserve: Abbie Owen Lamb Peewee Showmanship:

BEST WESTERN WEAR WINNERS 2023-2024 Best Western Wear Queen Maizy Robles Best Western Wear Overall Boy Kayden Airhart Best Dressed Overall girl Amora Briones Pictured with 2022-2023 Fair Queen Harley Thornton 2022-2023 - Best Dressed Western Wear Queen Hadley Riedel 2023 Miss Rodeo Texas Brylee Johnson RODEO COUNTY STEER ROPING 1st Justin Garza and Porky Garcia 2nd Caleb Macias and Dylon Morrow

guadalupe county fair results 2023

Tucker Wells Exotic Reserve: Preslie Ivy

Goat Breeding Doe: Division 1 Champion: Riley Titsworth Division 1 Reserve: Tommy Teboe Division 2 Champion: Kyleigh McKissack Division 2 Reserve: Luke Bauer Division 3 Champion: Makenna Kelm Division 3 Reserve: Luke Bauer

CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

2023 MISS RODEO GUADALUPE COUNTY Lauren Ferrell

October 10 - 13, 2024

Visit www.gcfair.org for more info

guadalupe county fair results 2023

2023-24 GUADALUPE COUNTY FAIR QUEENS COURT Queen - Harlie Bode, Princess - Rylie Wilke, Duchess - Kamryn Parsons

PARADE WINNERS Grand Prize Trophy - Best Overall Entry The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Grand Prize - Seguin Matador Theatre Best individual or Club - Guadalupe County Jeepers Most patriotic - Thomas Jefferson Lasso Festival Float - Guadalupe County Fair Queen Commercial Float - Texas Farm Bureau Best Out of Town Float - San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Ambassador Committee Best Heavy Equipment - Guadalupe County Sheriff Office SWAT vehicle Best Animal - The Country Church Buckaroos Local Entry - Lifegate Christian School Marching Band - Seguin Matador Marching Band Best Commercial Entry - RFBU 41ST ANNUAL FIDDLERS CONTEST J. Box Roberts Memorial Fiddlers Award Ed Henson - Decatur, Texas Grand Champion 1st Place: Roberta Rast Smith - Dallas, Texas Division 0-12 - 1st Place: Luke Moody - San Augustine, Texas Division 13-18 - 1st Place: Clara Mitchell - Grapevine, Texas Division 19-64 - 1st Place Robert Rast Smith - Dallas, Texas Division 65+ - 1st

Ed Henson - Decatur, Texas Accompanist - 1st Place: Hyatt Hopkins - Porter, Texas MUTTON BUSTIN BONANZA CHAMPION Rodeo Thursday - Ryder Wiley -Woodsboro Tx Rodeo Friday: Shane Virdell LaVernia Tx Rodeo Saturday: Laredo Doss Seguin Tx SCARECROW & SKELETON CONTEST Best Overall - Tarpon Blue Real Estate & Insurance 1st Place - Teatro De Artes De Juan Seguin 2nd Place - KWED 3rd Place - Austin Street Vintage The Sold-Out Award - Keepers Interiors & Furniture Most Trendy - Glam By Laura Ann Best Business Theme - RE/MAX GO Best Nonprofit Theme - Guadalupe Co. Democrat Club Prettiest Entry - LULAC Council 682 Seguin Best Fall Theme - Kari’s Kuts Most Original - Mercer Blumberg Learning Center Most Shocking - Seguin Electric Company Scariest Entry - Seguin Art League Most Crafty - You’re So Crafty Most Hair Raising Seguin Beauty School CORNHOLE 830 OG CORNHOLE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER

Buckle winners 1st Place - Roland Trevino & Michael Norris Hay Show Champion Overall (Tri Color) Division 5-Avery Sisak Reserve Champion Overall: T&A Wood Services (Division 1) Division 1 Champion: T&A Wood Services Division 1 Reserve Champion: Emma Hartman Division 3 Champion: T&A Wood Services Division 5 Champion: Avery Sisak Division 5 Reserve Champion: Isabella Hartman Division 7 Champion: Lilly Zimmerer Division 7 Reserve Champion: Avery Sisak 2023-24 GUADALUPE COUNTY FAIR QUEENS COURT Queen Harlie Bode Princess Rylie Wilke Duchess Kamryn Parsons 2023 Miss Rodeo Guadalupe County Lauren Ferrell PET SHOW Smallest dog First Megan Davidson & Wallen Best Trick First Megan Davidson & Wallen Most Unusual Pet First Millie Hart & Sadie Best Costume First Cindy Baker & Marble

NOVEMBER

Upcoming events and special promotions happening locally!

To promote your event on this page contact advertising at 830-379-2234 or email communitycalendar@kwed1580.com

November 2023 6

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19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 30 HOLIDAYS 7th - Election Day 11th - Veteran’s Day 23rd - Thanksgiving

FeaturedEvents Events Featured

November 16

November 18

The Holiday Stroll Parade will be held at 6:30 pm. Thursday, Nov. 30 in downtown Seguin. Entries are free and the deadline to enter is Thursday, Nov. 16. Entry forms and parade rules can be found online at www.seguintexas.gov/784/ Holiday-Stroll-Parade. For details about all the upcoming Holiday Stroll events planned in downtown Seguin, visit www. seguintexas.gov/255/Holiday-Stroll.

The Seguin Public Library will host its free Preteen STEAM Night at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16 for preteens ages 9-12. This event is on a first come, first serve basis, space is limited to 20. Preteen STEAM Night will meet on the third Wednesday of each month. Call 830-401-2422 or visit www. library.seguintexas.gov. for additional information.

The Seguin Public Library and GRMC Inpatient Rehabilitation will host Tai Chi for free at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Seguin Public Library. Classes are led by Tai Chi instructor Barry A. Jackson for all skill levels every third Saturday. Call 830-401-2422 or visit www.library.seguintexas.gov for additional information.

Holiday Stroll Entry Deadline

KWED Holiday Food & Toy Drive

Seguin Radio, KWED will have its Holiday Food and Toy Drive from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 1 outside the KWED Studios located at 609 E. Court St. in Seguin. Both nonperishable food items and new unwrapped toys will be collected. Monetary donations will also be collected. For more information, call 830-379-2234.

Preteen STEM NIGHT: Hovercraft

Community Tai Chi

November 30

December 1

The City of Seguin Holiday Stroll Lighted Parade will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 along Austin St. in downtown Seguin. For more information, visit www.visitseguin. com/events.

The Cocoa Sip ‘n Stroll will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 in downtown Seguin. The 2021 Sip ‘n Stroll mug are available for sale from downtown merchants through Friday, Dec. 1. For more information, visit www.visitseguin. com/events.

The City of Seguin Parks and Recreation Department will have a Youth Pickleball Clinic for ages 8 to 10 from 9 to 10 a.m. and ages 11 to 14 from 10:15 to 11:15 on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Seguin-Saegert Pickleball Complex, located at 418 W. Mountain St. in Seguin. The cost is $5 per youth and all equipment will be provided. The deadline to register is Friday, Dec. 1. Register online at https://web2.myvscloud.com/wbwsc/txseguinwt.wsc/ splash.html&nbsp. For more information, call 830-401-2480.

Downtown Holiday Stroll Lighted Parade

Cocoa Sip ‘n Stroll

Youth Pickelball Clinic

DIY: Recipe to Try

Squash your

Holiday Hunger Butternut Stir-Fry with Peppers and Peas

Many foods are inextricably linked to certain growing seasons. That might be why these squashes are commonly featured in holiday dining, which dominates the third quarter of the year. This recipe for “Butternut Stir-Fry with Peppers and Peas” offers a new take on the familiar butternut squash. Serve it as a side dish for the holidays or any time you desire subtle, Asian-inspired flavors. Enjoy, courtesy of “300 Best Stir-Fry Recipes” (Robert Rose) by Nancie McDermott.

1. Heat a wok or large deep skillet over high heat. Add oil and swirl to coat pan. Add ginger and toss well, until fragrant, about 15 seconds. 2. Add squash and spread into a single layer. Cook, undisturbed, for 1 minute. Toss well. Cook, tossing often, until squash is browning lightly around edges, 2 minutes more. 3. Push squash aside and add red pepper and peas. Scoop squash on top of vegetables. Add water, pouring in around sides of pan. 4. When everything is sizzling away, add barbecue sauce and salt. Cook, tossing once or twice, until vegetables are tender and evenly coated with sauce, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a serving plate. Serve hot or warm.

INGREDIENTS SERVES 4

TABLESPOONS VEGETABLE OIL

TABLESPOON CHOPPED FRESH GINGER ROOT

CUPS CUBED PEELED BUTTERNUT SQUASH (1/2-INCH CUBES)

1/3

CUP DICED RED BELL PEPPER

1/3

CUP FROZEN TINY PEAS

TABLESPOONS WATER

TABLESPOONS BARBECUE SAUCE

TEASPOON SALT

In Case You Missed It

Looking back at

50YEARS Pair of Marion business staples celebrate their role in the community

Story by Cindy Aguirre-Herrera

f you ask Karen Scheffel, the owner of Helping Hand Hardware in Marion, about opening the business next door to Penshorn’s Meat Market during the same year 50 years ago, she will tell you that it was just a coincidence. That coincidence, however, has since evolved into a long lasting business relationship -- a relationship now described as the heart of the city. A 50 year celebration took place for the neighboring businesses located on San Antonio St. in Marion at the end of October. As part of the celebration, the businesses served free sausage wraps and hosted special drawings. Scheffel says for her, the celebration was a look back over the decades and the customers who have stood by them along the way. “It’s been a great success because of our customers,” Scheffel said. “We enjoy providing the supplies that customers need to do their job and we feel very fortunate when we can help them and we have great employees and we have a great community and we get business from all over. They just say it’s more convenient and some of our prices may be higher but we have good service but they don’t want to drive that far and I had a man call me the other day and he wanted to drive all the way from Runge to come buy a chainsaw and I thought that was really nice.”

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Keeping a business “in business” is always challenging. Yet, Scheffel, who shared in the celebration with her late husband Roger, says it’s the pride in her community that has always helped to fuel the passion to stay in operation. “At times, it’s challenging because I work long hours and I did before and just keeping the store open and competing with other big box stores but it’s been really an honor to serve the community and to be able to help them,” Scheffel said. “That’s my thing -- my husband and I and our children and grandchildren are all ‘Marionites’ so that makes it that much special.” Tradition and pride is also what has helped to keep Penshorn’s Meat Market in operation since 1973. Owner Kim Penshorn says she and husband Robert just officially took sole possession of the company earlier this year after her brother-in-law Elroy chose to retire. She says the two brothers had been operating the business together ever since it was gifted to them by their parents Leroy and Leona Penshorn in 2010. Kim says family is everything and believes that Penshorn’s has not only been the key component for keeping her own family together but also becoming a foundation for the Marion family. “I think it’s amazing,” she said. “My husband said he started working here like when he was 8 and he wanted to stay until it turned 50 and continue the family business and tradition means a lot to him so it was very important.” As for the success of the business, Kim says the answer is easy. “It’s our loyal customers. We have some of the best customers around and community. Marion has a wonderful community. We are tight knit and always willing to help each other out and that means a lot,” said Kim. •

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Following God’s Mission

pon returning home, Dabbs held a whole new perspective in praising the Lord and showing “that love” to others. “Although they may have been losing sight of God’s purpose and may be believing that he was not hearing them (he sent us), I am forever grateful that I listened to the voice to go,” Dabbs said. “It changed me because it allowed me to be a vessel for God to pour into and for them to pour into us. His words say, ‘with the love and kindness have I drawn thee.’ It impacted me in ways that we as Americans are so full of social media and other things that we don’t need. (It) distracts us from hearing from God and getting back to the basics in really seeking him concerning his things. When I left, my heart was full and amazed at how sovereign the God I serve truly is.” Among those also making the journey to Peru was the youngest of the bunch, 16-year-old Jaden Del Val. “I wanted to go on the trip since I had first heard about it,” Del Val said. “So, later on, my mother and I had a conversation, and I told her I wanted to go for the opportunity to see how the elders in the church go about these mission trips so I can learn from them. I have previously been on two youth trips but none with adults, so on the Peru trip, I got a new perspective on not just life outside the US but the missionary lifestyle. Plus, I love mission trips and being able to be the hands and feet of God and to just be part of His blessings for others.” Perhaps it was being a teenager that equipped him to make even deeper connections with those he encountered, especially the youth in the villages. “One of the days, we went and visited the kids at their school. When we arrived, I had a stampede of at least 20 kids running at me while yelling my name, and when they got to me, they hugged me and asked for high-fives, fist bumps, and my bracelets,” Del Val said. “I wear a bunch of little bracelets with Bible verses. They were from other mission trips I had been on. I handed out almost all of my bracelets to them just because it was hard to say ‘no’ to them. This is my favorite memory because just to see someone that happy to see me made my day.” Now, having returned home, Del Val says things are no longer just normal. He says it has all now become gratitude. “The mission trip really just reminded me how blessed I am and opened my eyes to see people the way God wants us to see people,” Del Val said. “We have so much in the states that we complain about, which other countries would say is a blessing to have. Yet, the amazing people we met in the village had so little and were still overwhelmingly filled with love and joy.” Unlike Del Val, who got an early jumpstart in missionary work, others like Glenn Davis said he had to wait until now to fulfill a lifetime dream of going on a mission trip. Being a career history and geography teacher, Davis says he’s always wanted to see that part of the world. Also, having been a coach for the past 38 years, his schedule has never allowed for such opportunities. “The chance to go to the Amazon Jungle region in Peru was just too appealing, I really felt a calling to go. The chance to go and serve and minister to these villagers was just too much to pass up,” Davis said.

Davis says while most people travel to relax and see the landmarks, this trip was about appreciating the people and making sure you take a piece of them back home with you. “My most lasting memory will be the smiles on their faces,” Davis said. “They don’t walk around feeling sorry for themselves. This is their life, and they live every day to make the most of it. They were happy to see us every day. They were appreciative of what we did for them, but happy to help out and serve right alongside us as well. They are truly God’s people.” Now, although they were able to support the schools, feed the families, build much needed projects, and minister to families, Bouldin says the real prize came in being able to put on God’s armor and help sow the seeds of faith. “Some of Jesus’ last words is recorded in Matthew 28 and he said, ‘Go into all the world and baptize people in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’ and ‘teach them everything that you have observed in me’ and then he says, ‘to make disciples,’” Bouldin said. “So, he kind of gives his people the last marching orders.

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As Christians, we take that very seriously and when it says, ‘go into all of the world,’ we want to know what parts of the world have not been reached. What part of the world are there people that need the good news of Jesus? We can easily kind of sit here at church and we can have really good work here locally and be very fulfilled but there is something about the specialness and the challenge from Jesus to be able to tell his people, ‘You need to go into all of the world.’ Now, here’s the thing, somebody had to come into this part of the world. He’s standing in Israel 2,000 years ago, commissioning his people. Somebody had to take that message seriously and to spread it even over here in America.” So, while the Peruvians return to their usual lives living humble, off-the-grid existence, the Seguin locals who met them will carry the lessons learned with them as they continue to work toward living a life reflective of their beliefs. •