San Jacinto County News - Breakout

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By Tony Farkas
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SHEPHERD — The Shepherd City Council passed a business-as-usual budget that lowers the tax rate but raises fees for city services.

City Secretary Debra Hagler said the council approved a tax rate 0.16442 per $100 of property valuation, which will bring in no new revenue, at its regular meeting on Sept. 11. That rate is lower than last year’s rate of 0.17674 per $100.

Hagler said the city did approve, as part of the budget, an increase in water and sewer rates to take effect in November. An increase of $3.50 will be on base rates for sewer and water bills; also, tap fees have been raised from $600 per tap to $700 for water service and $750 for sewer service.

The council said customers will be notified of the increases as well.

The council approved the FY 2023-24 budget with expected general fund revenues and expenditures at $640,000.

Also, the utility fund budget was approved, with projected revenues at $1,033,300 and expenditures at $998,736; and the Economic Development Council budget was approved with expected revenues at $124,000 and expenses at $119,000.

In other business, the council:

•discussed the balance on taxes owed by Z Executive Inn and Suites, which has been paid in full;

•declared all candidates for the upcoming city election unopposed and cancelled the election, which will save about $13,000;

•appointed reserve officer Tammy Nave as assistant chief of police. Hagler said it’s a volunteer position; and

•approved the auction of surplus items.

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At last, we had some rain. I know a lot of prayers have been answered and we can look for more rain to come soon. September brings fall with it on Sept. 23, and clubs and groups are coming back onto their new schedules.

Coldspring Garden Club heard all about the importance of the soil we use in our planting — what to add to it for best results and how add to the structure of the soil in our gardens to aid growth. James Roberts, helped by his daughter Savanah, gave a very interesting talk and slide show on the subject and invited us out to The Growers Outlet a mile south of Willis at 11173 N. Highway 75.

The pictures of his Outlet look wonderful and worth checking out. Call him at (936) 856-5001 or go to www.growersoutletinwillis.com. Come to the next meeting on the first Thursday of the month at the Community Center in Coldspring. The meeting starts at 1:30 p.m.

•Women’s League will be back on Sept. 14 at 11:30 a.m. with lunch at noon. Members will enjoy a wonderful lunch and talk and catch up with those they have not seen for a few months. Coldspring Community Center is the venue as always and the tables will reflect the creative abilities of the ladies who take turns in delighting the membership every month with their beautiful centerpieces.

•Coldspring Library will hold its annual Garage Sale fundraiser on Oct. 11-14. If you have items to donate, big or small, call (936) 653-3104.

The Garage Sale is held in Coldspring Community Shelter on Highway 150 and is the biggest source of donations for the library. It is always a wonderful place to find bargains. People are usually very generous with donations.

If you would like to volunteer to help with this event, call the library for information. Don’t forget Sept. 29 is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Celebration. It will be one year since this wonderful program started in our area. This party is for the little ones who are the receivers of the books every month. Adults are welcome too of course.

The event is from 4-6 p.m. It will be in Coldspring Library, and Shepherd Library will be there, too.

•State Rep. Ernest Bailes is inviting businesses owners to a Coffee and Kolaches breakfast in his office at 8.30 a.m. on Sept. 19. He was so pleased with the meeting with elected officials recently, that he thinks this will be a good way to hear from business owners and managers and for them to network with each other. Elected officials are welcome.

The office is in Shepherd on Highway 150. Located at 10501 Highway 150 Suite B, call (936) 628-6687. Please R.S.V.P. to let them know you are coming.

•Shepherd Chamber of Commerce gave Business of the Month to TD’s Supermarket and Gas Station last week. This store has everything from tasty hot food to drinks, snacks, gifts and toys and so much more. The staff are friendly and very helpful and the owner is very community-minded.

Thank you, Michelle Gipson, Kat Schrock, Samantha Snyder and Biggins Haffart. Call (936) 628-3341 at 10911 Highway 150, or the Shepherd Chamber at (210) 995-7420.

•Don’t forget the Impact Crisis Emergency Center Fundraiser on Oct. 20 -21. This is called the Boo Bash Benefit BBQ Cook-Off. Quite a mouthful. Which is the intention of the Impact Center Team, to make mouthwatering barbecue, chili and cocktails contests.

There will be some great musical entertainment with Jon Dameron and the Awesome Bootleg Country Band and Joe Le Blanc, DJ extraordinaire, will keep the music going too. Call Brenda Myers at (936) 499-2632 for information on becoming a competitor.

Coldspring Chamber of Commerce is well under way with the Wolf Creek Car Show. This is on Oct. 21-22 at the beautiful Wolf Creek RV Park by the lake. Vendors spaces are filling up, entry forms for vehicles and more information are avaiable online at the website or call the Chamber at (936) 653-2184.

•San Jacinto Women’s League will have its ribbon cutting to Coldspring Chamber at their first meeting in this week. Look also for some remodeling on the outside the Coldspring Office.

Contact the Shepherd Chamber at (210) 995-7420 or the Coldspring Chamber at (936) 653-2184.

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

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SJNT staff

COLDSPRING — The annual San Jacinto County Fair kicks off next week with barbecue and babies.

The annual event starts on Thursday with cook-off competitors and registered vendors moving in, a cornhole tournament and a parade on the following Saturday.

Fair events get started Sept. 25, with all the shows, awards events and the midway.

For more information, visit sjcfairandrodeo.com.

Fair Schedule

Thursday, Sept. 21

•5-8 p.m. — Barbecue cook-off early bird move-in

Friday, Sept. 22

•Campers, vendors move in per schedule

•8 a.m.- 6 p.m. — barbecue cook-off move-in

•5:50 p.m. — registration and practice for cornhole under the barn

•7 p.m. — cornhole tournament

•6 p.m. — barbecue cook-off

Saturday, Sept. 23

•10 a.m. — parade, followed by state 4-H Roadshow fun and games

Noon — baby contest registration

1 p.m. — baby contest

4 p.m. — barbecue contest winners announced

5 p.m. — queens’ first horsemanship pattern

6 p.m. — third annual Tame the Beast Bull Riding

9 p.m. — dance with David Allen Band

Monday, Sept. 25

3-4 p.m. — swine check in

4-7 p.m. — educational barn projects check-in

4-5 p.m. — poultry (4:30) and lamb (4) check-in

5 p.m. — poultry show begins

7 p.m. — lamb show begins

Tuesday, Sept. 26

9 a.m. — fine arts/handicraft interviews

4:30-5 p.m. — rabbit check-in and pre-inspection

4-5 p.m. — goat check-in

5 p.m. — poultry show begins

7 p.m. — lamb show begins

Wednesday, Sept. 27

9 a.m. — horticulture/food interviews

4-5 p.m. — steers and all heifers check-in

TBA — carnival

7 p.m. — market swine show

Thursday, Sept. 28

9 a.m. — ag mechanics judging

TBA — carnival

5 p.m. — educational barn awards

7:30 p.m. — rodeo and queen’s second horsemanship

Friday, Sept. 29

9 a.m. — breeding heifer show, followed by commercial heifer show, followed by market steer show

1 p.m. — auction setup

TBA — carnival

7:30 p.m. — rodeo

Saturday, Sept. 30

10 a.m. — onsite buyer registration

10:30 a.m. — awards and recognition

11 a.m. — youth project auction

TBA — carnival

7:30 p.m. — rodeo and crowing of 2023 queen

9 p.m. — dance with DJ Joe LeBlanc

Sunday, Oct. 1

8-10 a.m. — animal check-out, all grounds cleaned up.

7-11 a.m. — vendor load out

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STOCK PHOTO

By Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — The San Jacinto County Commissioners Court approved resolutions to aid area senior citizens center, as well as gave its blessing for county employees to service equipment for the center.

At its regular meeting on Wednesday, the court, with commissioners Mark Nettuno and Donnie Marrs absent, the county signed resolutions authorizing the grant program for senior citizens centers in Coldspring and Cleveland.

County Judge Fritz Faulkner said that the county provides funds annually to the centers for those agencies to provide services, such as Meals on Wheels. Additionally, the county must approve the organizations’ accounting and other matters in order for the centers to receive state grants from the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Faulkner also said that the Cleveland center was included because it covers the south end of the county and many county residents use those services.

In a separate matter, the court approved allowing the county Maintenance Department to service the generator for the San Jacinto Senior Citizens Center.

In other business, the court:

•approved another 30-day burn ban. expired, and judge can issue one for 7 days. Had some rain recently, but not enough. Approved new one

•approved adding a color copier and maintenance agreement for the Maintenance Department;

•approved the fee structure for all county fees;

•accepted a $100 donation from K.M. Johnson for road repair on Cemetery Road;

•approved an agreement with Shepherd ISD for road work;

•approved naming three roads Jasper Lane, LaRue Lane and Holiday Road for 911 addressing purposes; and

•discussed changes to the General Land Office grants, and projects which would help the county secure additional funding.