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Texas state parks present prime viewing for total eclipse

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Special to the News-Times

AUSTIN — Less than a month remains until the highly anticipated total eclipse adorns Texas skies. On April 8, a total eclipse will shade 31 Texas state parks along the path of totality.

With the exception of Old Tunnel and Lyndon B. Johnson State Parks, where visitors will gain entry on a first-come, first-served basis, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department encourages visitors planning to view the event from state parks to reserve a day pass in advance.  Many of the parks in the line of totality are already fully reserved and Texas State Parks staff anticipate all will reach capacity.

Observers will be able to see this rare event along a line spanning across Texas from Del Rio to Texarkana.

The phenomenon will start around noon and totality will begin at 1:30 p.m. near Del Rio, tracing a line northeast across Texas. Totality will last from a few seconds to about 4 and a half minutes depending on position along the path. Only those in the path of totality will get the full eclipse experience. A partial solar eclipse will be visible throughout most of the state before and after the time of greatest coverage.

Texas State Parks provide an ideal setting to enjoy this rare astronomical sight. Due to its anticipated popularity, entry to the parks listed below on eclipse day will be restricted to those who pre-purchased day passes or camping permits. A state park pass does not guarantee entry, so reserve your campsite or day pass as soon as possible.

To maximize your eclipse viewing experience at a Texas state park, we recommend the following:

•Make safety a priority- Use proper eye protection to view the eclipse except during totality, when the sun is entirely covered by the moon. Visitors can bring pre-purchased eclipse glasses or use an indirect observation method like a pinhole viewer. Please note that eclipse glasses will be available for purchase at many parks, but quantities are limited.

•Come early and stay late- Expect traffic delays as parks anticipate visitors from across the state and nation.

•Pack more than a snack- Plan to bring enough food, water and fuel in case of delays.

•Park in designated areas only- Stay off roadways and do not park off pavement unless directed by park staff.

•Attend a park program- Many parks will offer ranger-led programs before or after the eclipse.

•You may not be able to connect- Some areas of totality may experience limited cell phone and internet connectivity.

•Read through our Eclipse FAQs for more information on viewing the eclipse at one of our parks.

Thanks to a donation from Lyda Hill Philanthropies through Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF), a variety of specialty equipment to enhance eclipse viewing will be available at parks along the eclipse’s path. The equipment list includes 20,000 eclipse safety glasses, tabletop sun-spotter telescopes, telescope tripods and solar filters, binocular filters, smartphone sun photography adapters and eclipse-themed books. They will be distributed among the 31 Texas state parks within the path of totality ahead of the eclipse.

The entire state will be able to see a significant partial eclipse from their own backyards, so if you can’t get to a state park, visit Texas State Parks eclipse viewing webpage to learn how to make a pinhole viewer for out-of-this-world family fun.

State parks in the path of totality:

•Atlanta

•Blanco

•Bonham

•Cedar Hill

•Cleburne

•Colorado Bend

•Cooper Lake

•Daingerfield

•Devil’s Sinkhole

•Dinosaur Valley

•Enchanted Rock

•Fort Parker

•Garner

•Government Canyon

•Guadalupe River

•Hill Country

•Inks Lake & Longhorn Cavern

•Kickapoo Cavern

•Lake Bob Sandlin

•Lake Tawakoni

•Lake Whitney

•Lost Maples

•Lyndon B. Johnson (No advance reservations available; entrance will be first come, first served.)

•McKinney Falls

•Meridian

•Mother Neff

•Old Tunnel (No advance reservations available; entrance will be first come, first served.)

•Pedernales Falls

•Purtis Creek

•South Llano River

•Tyler

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Trinity County site of future movie

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By Tony Farkas
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TRINITY — The city of Trinity and surrounding areas, including Groveton, could be the site of a future movie.

At the Thursday Trinity City Council meeting, writer-producer-manager Terry Weaver said he plans to produce a film in the county, “The Beast of Trinity, Texas,” and sought the council’s blessing to use the name in the title.

Weaver said he first learned of Trinity from his children attending camps at Carolina Creek, and that he has been drawn to small towns, particularly as settings for his writing.

He described the movie as a mystical/mythological drama, one that will have a positive message and undertones of spirituality.

Council Member Bubba Smith said Weaver did not need the council’s blessing, but the council did give it unanimously. However, Council Member Scott Womack expressed concern about how Trinity was portrayed, as there were two television shows filmed in the county previously, and while one was good, the second made the townspeople look like hillbillies.

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Woman faces felony charges for grade changing

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — An employee of the Groveton school district was arrested Wednesday for allegedly altering grades.

Breanna Faye Abshier, 35, is facing a third-degree felony charge of tampering with a government record. She is listed on the Groveton ISD website as the registrar for the junior high and high schools.

According to the affidavit for arrest warrant, Texas Rangers were alerted to the case by Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace and Chief Deputy Jeremy Carroll on Feb. 26 that a student’s grade averages and class rankings were believed to have been manipulated.

The affidavit states that approximately 145 entries were changed between the 2021-22 school year and the current year.

Texas Ranger Christopher Cash met with school officials, who told police that the suspects job duties included using the schools’ Ascender software to change grades, but only with teacher authorization.

The affidavit states that the changes were made without authorization, changed a student’s class rank from around 15th of 56 students to fifth; the adjustments were made to the student’s class average for a 6-week period, which would then affect that student’s semester average for that class.

The timestamp information within the system pointed to the suspect, the affidavit states.

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Local ranch wins at Houston Livestock Show

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Casaray Ranch cattle were big winners at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Red Brahman competition. Courtesy photo from the Brahman JournalCasaray Ranch cattle were big winners at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Red Brahman competition. Courtesy photo from the Brahman Journal

Special to the News-Standard

HOUSTON — Casaray Ranch of Groveton’s Casaray SF Noble Pasco won Grand Champion red female at the 2024 ABBA International Brahman Show at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, held Feb. 26-March 1.

Several other cattle won awards as well, and owner Cesar Castro was elected for Area 1 of the American Brahman Breeder Association Board of Directors for the year 2024-2025.

Other awards for the ranch include:

•Champion Junior Yearling Female, Casaray Sharapova

•Reserve Champion Intermediate Female, Casaray HG Karen

•Reserve Champion Intermediate Bull, Casaray Derek

Additionally, Registrar of Renown, an award designed to recognize the sires and dams of showring winners at ABBA-approved shows, was awarded to Casaray Winchester.

Castro’s election to the board makes him one of 44 elected directors, and his area is comprised of Angelina, Chambers, Newton, Orange, Grimes, Hardin, Polk, Sabine, Saint Augustine, San Jacinto, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Shelby, Trinity, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Tyler and Walker counties.

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Mobile home damaged in fire

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Firefighters from Trinity Fire & Rescue examine the scene of a fire.Firefighters from Trinity Fire & Rescue examine the scene of a fire.

TCNS staff

TRINITY — Trinity Fire & Rescue responded to a structure fire Thursday afternoon at approximately 3:40 p.m. at 114 Creekside Court.

Fire Chief Keith Johnson said the first unit on the scene reported smoke billowing from a single wide mobile home. Two neighbors were using a water hose on the fire and helped keep the fire contained to the kitchen.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and rescued the family cat from the back bedroom, Johnson said.

Firefighter Allen Ramsey and Ventura EMS Paramedic Keith Shelly gave oxygen to the animal, and the pet’s owner transported it to a veterinary clinic.

Johnson said the fire appeared to have started with an electric pressure cooker on the cabinet.   

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