VITAL STATISTICS

Steve Watson, of Seguin, died recently at the age of 67. A memorial service, for Steve Watson, is set for 4 p.m. Saturday, February 25 at Clearview Baptist Church in Kingsbury. The services are under the direction of Crenshaw Funeral Home. Survivors include daughter, Kimberly McAlister; and brothers, Billy Watson and James Watson.

MSgt Sam Guytino DePalermo, USAF (Ret.), age 79 of Seguin, passed away on February 13, 2023. Sam was born on August 1, 1943 in Houston, Texas to Dale Joyce Fields and Sam DePalermo. Sam graduated from Dickinson High School in 1961 and after a brief time at Sam Houston State University he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1964. While stationed at Randolph AFB, Sam met Karen through mutual friends. In October 1966 they were married and shortly thereafter deployed to Izmir, Turkey. While there, first son Troy was born. Upon moving back to the U.S., they were stationed at Barksdale AFB, LA where Brant was born. Other memorable places that Sam served during his military career were Colorado Springs where he earned his Bachelors of Behavioral Science from the University of Southern Colorado and Austin, Texas earning two Masters Degrees from Webster University in Business and Health Service Management.

He retired with 22 years of military service.

After retiring, Sam began his career as a Nursing Home Administrator managing several different nursing homes over the next 20ish years. He used his career progression to get jobs near the Texas coastline that he loved so much. Sam quickly reclaimed his hobbies of fishing and boating along the gulf coast after his retirement. He particularly enjoyed it when his kids and grandchildren came to visit the beach house. He passed on his love of the Texas coastline to each of them in their own special way.

Sam was a member of First Methodist Church Seguin, Kingsbury Masonic Lodge #887, Guadalupe Masonic Lodge #109, American Legion Post 245, and the Alzafar Shrine. He was also very proud of his Cherokee Indian heritage. The Cherokee Nation awarded him the Medal of Patriotism and the Warrior Award in appreciation for his military service.

Sam is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Michael DePalermo; nephew, Jeremy Larsen.

Survivors include his loving wife of 56 years, Karen DePalermo; sons, Troy DePalermo and wife Melissa, Brant DePalermo and wife Lissa; grandchildren, Colby DePalermo, Kacey Rodriguez and husband Jalen, Kaitlyn DePalermo, Cole DePalermo, and Cash Pooley; brother, Tom DePalermo and wife JoAnne; sistersin-law, Cyndi Cano and husband Cliff, Debbie Farmer and husband Rich, and Candice Ivory; brother-in-law, Bob Larsen; nephews, Derin DePalermo, Gregory Farmer, and Dan Larsen; nieces, Ashley DePalermo, Diane Summers, Alexi Stuart, Heather Herrera, and Desiree Glassinger; as well as numerous cousins, other loving family members and many friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Tres Hewell Mortuary. A funeral service celebrating Sam’s life will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 2:00 pm First Methodist Church with the Rev. Ray Perales officiating and under the auspices of military honors and masonic rite. A reception will follow in the Christian Life Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Methodist Church in Seguin or Kingsbury Masonic Lodge or Guadalupe Masonic Lodge or the charity of one’s choice.

You are invited to sign the guest book at www.treshewell.com. Arrangements

Esther Hilda (Mache) Vecera 92, passed away Sunday, February 5, 2023 in a local hospital. She was born on April 17, 1930 to Julius Mache and Minnie Lorfing and raised in a family of ten siblings in Schulenburg, Texas.

Shortly after her marriage to Joseph Vecera, the couple moved to Seguin, Texas to live and raise their family. Esther enjoyed cooking, canning vegetables from her garden, quilting and spending time with her great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; all nine siblings; her loving husband, Joseph Vecera of over 55 years of marriage; daughter, Carolyn Vecera; sons, Carlton Vecera and David Vecera as well as grandson, Phillip Griffin.

Esther is survived by daughter, Shirley Markgraf (Arthur, Jr.); 6 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers: Arthur Trey Markgraf III, Chris Markgraf, Brian Griffin, C.J. Markgraf, Matthew Markgraf, Caleb Markgraf.

Honorary Pallbearers: Jason Hill and Lyric Lalley. A brief viewing will be on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at Palmer Mortuary beginning at 1:00 p.m. A Prayer Service will follow at 1:30 p.m. a funeral procession will depart concluding the service and interment will follow at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park in New Braunfels, Texas. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Palmer Mortuary and Cremations located at 1116 N. Austin Street, Seguin, Texas 78155; 830.379.9430. Please log on to www. palmermortuary.com to sign and view the guest book.

Scientists May Have Figured Out Why Some People Don’t Get COVID

(Australia) -- A team of researchers from the University of Sydney may have determined why some people never get COVID-19 while others experience severe symptoms. They say a naturally occurring protein in the lungs attaches itself to the coronavirus and prevents it from binding with other cells. The researchers found that people who never experienced symptoms of COVID had higher levels of the protein in their blood than those with a severe infection. Armed with this new information, the scientists now hope to use it to create new treatments that could prevent infection and work against all variants of the virus.

CDC Adds COVID Vaccine To Routine Immunization Schedule

(Atlanta, GA) -- The CDC is adding the COVID vaccine to routine immunization schedules for kids and adults. It joins the flu, polio, measles mumps and rubella, and other shots. However, that doesn’t mean the CDC is making the shot mandatory for children. It means that it’s joining their current recommendation for regular vaccines.

State Attorneys General Weigh In On FDA Abortion Pill Approval

(Austin, TX) -- Over 40 state attorneys general are weighing in on a landmark lawsuit that seeks to overturn the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of abortion pills. The Texas suit was filed in November by an anti-abortion group seeking to overturn the FDA’s approval for the medication. New York Attorney General Letita James along with 22 other attorneys general filed a brief in support of the defense, arguing that reversing the approval of abortion bills would have “devastating consequences” for women in the U.S. Meanwhile, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch led a group of 22 Republican attorneys who filed their own brief, claiming the FDA approval is “deeply flawed.”

Colorado Bill To Let Psychologists Prescribe Medication To Patients

(Denver, CO) -- A Colorado bill could soon let licensed psychologists prescribe certain mental medications to their patients. House Bill 1071 will also require psychologists to undergo more training and education before they’re allowed to prescribe. The bill passed the Colorado House of Representatives last week with bipartisan support. With Senate President Steve Fenberg and State Senator Cleave Simpson as prime sponsors of the legislation, the bill is likely to get similar support in the Colorado Senate.