Group hands out donations

Women’s League of San Jacinto County met on Thursday for the first meeting of the season. This was a very special meeting when the money collected throughout the year was disbursed to 13 organizations in our county. 

The program also welcomed Kara Danny of Dabney Cattle Co. and Coldspring Farmers Market Plus who gave a very interesting talk about her family’s history in the cattle company and how Farmers Market Plus got started in Coldspring. 

The caterer also was new to the League and was a big success. India Love produced a three-course meal with a good variety of teas, coffee and punch to go with the food.

The organizations included two scholarships to the third-ranking senior at both COCISD and Shepherd high schools. These had already been accepted by the students at an earlier time. 

COCISD Education Foundation and Shepherd ISD Project Graduation also received checks. Coldspring Library, Coldspring Community Center, Shepherd Senior Center and Shepherd Helping Hands as well as Casa and Care Share were recipients of checks from the League. Quilts For Kids is a very worthy organization who received a check. The Coldspring Senior Center MOW Program was included on the list and the total amount shared among the grateful beneficiaries was $7,700. 

The members of the Women’s League worked hard to make this amount so that they could give it away at this luncheon.

During the meeting, Kara Dabney gave the very full house a short history of how Farmers Market grew from a few to many home-grown businesses selling their produce, leather goods, eggs, baked goods, crocheted works and more in the shop on the Square. 

This is open on Tuesday and Saturday as well as on the Square on Trades Day in Coldspring. As Kara said, they are “homemade, handmade and home-grown.” Look them up on Facebook.

Next month, SJC Women’s League will have Dale Everitt as their guest speaker. He will talk on San Jacinto County, Facts and Tales. Dale is a well know personality in our area who, with Charles Ballard, started the SJC Radio, a free internet radio station. He is also a long-time member of the SJC Historical Commission. Please make a note to hear him on Oct. 13.

•Shepherd Library is looking for some volunteers to help out at the library. The hours involved will be up to the volunteer, but a commitment is required so serious volunteers are invited to talk with Terri, the Library Director at (936) 628-3515. 

Help is needed with the programs for children and adults, welcoming people and using the computer to check in and out the books, films, etc., and to generally enjoy being in a bright, air conditioned and welcoming place. This is perfect for those who like to read, watch movies and join in with the community events. 

•The SJC Democratic Party met Saturday morning at Coldspring Community Center. This was the first meeting chaired by John Michael Adams, who just took on the position of Chair recently. 

The group will meet regularly from now on at the Community Center. Meetings will be announced. 

This time training for phone banks and block walking were discussed and John Michael said that the Vote by Mail Program had sent out about 350 applications in our county. The party is looking for an office to rent in our area. Inquiries, if you have a place to rent, can be made by calling John Michael at (601) 434-2035 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Adams is one of the youngest chairs in the state and says he is a regular rural Democrat having lived in the country, this area, most of his life, although he was born in Mississippi, He is also a cancer survivor, which he overcame when he was a teenager. 

The SJC Democrats became a member of the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce, and a ribbon cutting will be announced soon.

•Health Center of Southeast Texas welcomes a new doctor to their practice. Dr. Carlos Escobar is a practicing psychiatrist and is a very experienced professional . 

To learn more about him and his practice, call the HCSETX at (281) 592-2224. The main office in our area is in Cleveland at 307 N. William Barnett Ave. They have an office in Shepherd also.

Contact the Shepherd Chamber at (936) 628-3890 or the Coldspring Chamber at (936) 653-2184. 

Yvonne Cones is president of the Greater Shepherd Chamber of Commerce, and secretary of the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce.