Log in

Top Stories        News         Sports

San Jacinto County News - Breakout

City council hears pitch for park idea

Write a comment
Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

City Of ShepheardBy Tony Farkas
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SHEPHERD — While a proposal for a park was found to be a good idea, ultimately it was stalled as Shepherd City Council members had no way to assist in the request.

City Secretary Debra Hagler said that at the March 11 meeting, the council heard a proposal from Cary Stallings about the creation of a disc golf course. Stallings said a course could be a tourism draw, as there are groups in the area that travel to different sites to play the game.

Stallings asked the council to give the blessing of 10-20 acres to create the park; however, Hagler said the city does not have any available land.

Hagler said Stallings will next approach the County Commissioners Court to see if there was any land available.

In other business, the council:

•denied a request from Tammy Russell to abandon a portion of Ross Avenue;

•discussed drainage in the Biddle development on the south end of Bird Avenue;

•tabled a request from Jose Martinez to place a manufactured home at 51 Page Ave. Hagler said the home is a premade home from Amazon, and information is needed to see if the home meets city codes;

•took no action on potholes and resurfacing of Richey Road, but will have the street evaluated for repair;

•approved the reimbursement of sewer fees to Tyler Stowe since he is not connected to the city sewer system but was being charged; and

•approved the waiver of rental fees for at the Community Center for a benefit for Justin Pitrucha.

  • Hits: 318

Coffee pots Old and new

Write a comment
Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Luke’s old camp coffee pot finally sprung a leak after many years. He will put the handle from the old one on the new and keep the tradition going. Photo by Luke ClaytonLuke’s old camp coffee pot finally sprung a leak after many years. He will put the handle from the old one on the new and keep the tradition going. Photo by Luke Clayton

By Luke Clayton
Outdoors writer

We outdoor types have a habit of getting the most out of the outdoor gear we use. My friend Larry Weishuhn has been wearing a comfortable pair of handmade shoes for as long as I can remember. Several decades ago, he had them made by a cobbler while hunting and shooting a TV show in Africa. He says he has never worn a more comfortable pair of shoes. Another old friend still hunts with the Model 94 Winchester 30-30 he used while in his teens.

Twenty years ago, I was gifted an old enamel coffee pot by my friend the late Dubb Wallace. The age of the pot is undetermined, but Dubb was well into his 80s and he had used the pot for decades and it showed.

That old pot was so stained from past campfires that it was next to impossible to determine the original color. I think it was blue enamel, like the old pot that always set on the stove at Marshall Dillion’s office in the TV serial “Gunsmoke.” I had watched Dubb make camp coffee on the pot for many years and one day he just up and handed it to me.

“Here Luke, this is yours, you are the coffee maker from now on,” he said. I was at first hesitant to take the ancient old pot, but Dubb knew I would take good care of it and more importantly, use it. The old pot has served me well and became a staple in my outdoor cooking arsenal, right next to my old cast iron skillet with lid that I’ve used all over the country at many fishing and hunting camps.

But last fall, Dubb’s old coffee pot gave up the ghost, it sprang a leak. At first, I did some research, looking for some sort of epoxy that would plug the pin hole leak and not taint the coffee. I found several possible solutions but none that I was convinced would work long term and the last thing I wanted was to be the coffee maker at camp and have the old pot fail me. So, I began looking for a replacement “old pot.”

I found many on the internet at varying prices and then stumbled onto a brand-new pot that held about 20 cups and looked very similar to my old standby.

After placing my order on Amazon, my new pot arrived in 3 days. There it was all shiny and new, a far cry from my stained, battered old faithful. But it was solid and seemed to be well constructed. But it had a thin diameter wire handle which somehow just didn’t look right. I promptly replaced the inferior handle with the one from my old pot, which has a wooden grip that makes handling much easier over brewing coffee over a campfire, which is how I usually make coffee at camp.

It will take some time for my new pot to gain character; it will have to be used many times at various places before it takes on a persona of its own. The old handle will be a constant reminder of the good times and great coffee that was created by its predecessor.

I gave “New Blue” its inaugural run a couple weeks ago at our Luke Clayton’s 50th Annual Campfire Ron De Voux at Top Rail Cowboy Church In Greenville. After brewing and serving three full pots which equated to 60 cups of coffee, my “New Blue” is not officially broken in, it’s beginning to take on some of the characteristics of “old blue,” but it will take many exposures to campfire flames until “New Blue” is fully accepted into my outdoor cooking arsenal.

Possibly you have an old coffee pot that you’ve used making creek or cowboy coffee for many years. If so, you understand how one can become attached to such an item. Old Blue is no longer fit for making coffee, but the old pot has turned out eye-opening brew for many of my friends through the year, there is no telling just how many gallons of stout coffee it’s brewed.

The old pot is now hanging on a nail under the porch of my little cabin nestled in the trees behind my house. Its days of coffee making are over, but I will keep it right there as a reminder of my old friend that gifted it to me and the many hunting and fishing tales its brew sparked around many campfires.

How to brew good coffee

In order for coffee to reach its full flavor, the grounds have to be heated (boiled) and there is no better method than using an old-fashioned pot and placing the grounds directly into boiling water. I begin by filling the pot with fresh water and bringing it to a rapid boil. Next, I toss in a handful of coffee grounds (you be the judge as to how strong you want your coffee) — about a tablespoon of grounds per cup will make coffee that will get you motivated quickly.

Allow the grounds to boil a couple minutes at a rapid boil and then take the pod away from the heat and pour a little cold water into the pot, this caused the grounds to sink to the bottom. Boiling will release the oils in the coffee and result in a full flavor coffee that is a far cry from what your standard electric coffee brewer can create.

White bass run

Runoff from rains a couple weeks ago coupled with much warmer than normal temperatures created an early push of white bass into creeks. I haven’t heard of any heavy stringers in north Texas just yet but several of my friends have caught fish in creeks.

Guide David Cox with Palmetto Guide Service has been enjoying great action in the Trinity River above Lake Livingston for the past couple of weeks. Reports of white bass in the creeks above Lake Fork and Tawakoni are steadily coming in. The Sabine River below Toledo Bend is also stacking up with spawners.

The key is locating clear water and sometimes this requires going into tributaries feeding the main channel. Small Roadrunner jigs in black/yellow (for stained water) or white/black in clearer water is a good bet. A very slow retrieve, just enough to get the spinners turning is usually best, and I like to toss baits parallel with the bank.

Make sure and carry extra bait because getting snagged is common with creek fishing. I carry a plastic 5-gallon bucket for my gear and the fish I catch. With warmer weather ahead, expect more and more white bass to pack into creeks above lakes with a good population of white bass.

  • Hits: 399

Speed limits to change

Write a comment
Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

coldspringcityBy Tony Farkas
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

COLDSPRING — Following approval from the Texas Department of Transportation, speed limits on State Highway 156 will change.

Mayor John Benestante said that at the Coldspring City Council meeting on March 4, the council passed a resolution in favor of the change. That resolution was sent to TxDOT, and following its approval, the signs will be changed.

The resolution was passed following a study performed by TxDOT.

The new limit, which will be from State Highway 150 to the city limits, will be 40 mph, down from 50 mph, and the change to the school zone speed near Lincoln Junior High School will be 25 mph.

In other business, the council:

•discussed amending its sewer ordinance regarding multiple taps and multiple meters, and rolling back residential taps to flat fee instead of metered;

•discussed moving the Coldspring Community Center under the umbrella of the city, and has requested information from City Attorney Greg Magee;

•discussed constructing storage building on land the city owns instead of purchasing new property;

•approved a permit for a Christian motorcycle rally set for May 11;

•canceled a city election as there were no contested races. Benestante and council members Dianne Griffiths and Nichole Gatewood will retain their posts, and the city saves $15,000 to $20,000 in election costs;

•discussed the city’s mobile home ordinance as it would apply to an investor looking to put two double-wide mobile homes on a 2-acre tract;

•approved drafting an memorandum of understanding with San Jacinto County Permitting Office; and

•discussed the donation of right-of-way on Perry Drive from Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD.

  • Hits: 506

Coldspring opens season with new digs, fanfare

Write a comment
Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Mayor John Benestante throws out the first pitch of the season. PHOTOS BY CHARLES BALLARDMayor John Benestante throws out the first pitch of the season. PHOTOS BY CHARLES BALLARD

By Charles Ballard
SJNT correspondent

COLDSPRING — Kraig Erwin, President of the Coldspring Dixie League, kicked off opening weekend with a “Thank You” to all that was there at the City Park in Coldspring.

The League joined the Chamber of Commerce and had a ribbon cutting ceremony, featuring members of the Chamber and Coldspring Mayor John Benestante.

There also was a special Thank You that went to the general contractor that built the new concession stand and rest room building, Travis Dean of Team Dean Construction. Erwin also was the MC for the auction of a lot of cakes and baked goods, the funds were used to replenish the bank account for the League.

Benestante also got to throw out the first pitch of the new season.

“I grew up playing on ballparks just like this, we (the City of Coldspring)  are not through with the improvements for this ballpark,” Benestante said.

He also said the ballpark is a needed facility for the community.

Erwin said this was the largest turnout for league participation ever. The ages ranged from very young, Kindergarten all the way to teenagers.

  • Hits: 447