Log in

Top Stories        News         Sports

San Jacinto County News - Breakout

Chamber heralds new members, new events

Write a comment
Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Ernest Bailes receives award from Coldspring Chamber board members at the capitol in Austin. Courtesy photoErnest Bailes receives award from Coldspring Chamber board members at the capitol in Austin. Courtesy photo

DidYouKnow ColumnHeadHello March. What is in store for us this month? Trinity River Food Bank will celebrate their first anniversary in Coldspring on March 14. From 11 a.m.-2 p.m. guests may tour the facility, enjoy a light lunch while supplies last, and have fun.

There will be free books and goodies for children and the Reading and Resource Van will be there so guests can see inside. Trino the Mascot will be there too. Located at 201 Highway 150 Suite A, all are welcome to come and share in the celebration.

•Coldspring Chamber welcomes new members Jennifer Hoff from JLA Realty and Deborah Black from Avon Cosmetics. The Impact Center from Shepherd is also a new member. Ribbon cuttings are slated for this coming week for the first two businesses, and a date will be announced soon for the Impact Center.

Shepherd welcomes new member Will Hall Towing and Shepherd Super Store. There will ribbon cuttings for them this coming week as well as a Grand Re-Opening for Texas Glam Girlz. If you would like to see more of last week’s new business in Shepherd, you can find information about Daiquiri to Go on Facebook. Go to Family Restaurant Daiquiri To Go.

•San Jacinto Republicans announced the new date for their fundraiser Reagan Dinner. It will not be on April 1 as previously announced, instead it will be on April 29 from 5-9 p.m. at the Coldspring Center Shelter. Chairman Dwayne Wright assures everyone it wasn’t an April Fool’s Joke.

The guest speaker Michael Berry has had surgery and needs time to recover. This event will have a tremendous live auction. Items include a Kimber Special Edition two-tone Rapide 1911 .22; a Henry 25th Anniversary Edition .22; and a Sig Sauer .22 Pistol and Range Pack. There are many other items and you can go to the www.sjcgop.com web site for more information.

Everyone who attends will have VIP status and the evening begins earlier so that photos can be taken with the guest speakers. Food will be catered by American Private Chef Phillip and barbecue comes from the award Republican winning team.

•San Jacinto County Democratic Chair John Michael Adams has changed the meeting dates back to the third Thursday of the month, starting in March. Meetings will be held in Coldspring Community Center at 6 p.m. Democrats can enjoy a Wine Down on April 29 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. in Huntsville at 22409 Augusta Place.

Guest speakers at this event will be Gilberto Hinojosa, who is the Texas Democratic Party Chair. With him will be Dr. Carroll G. Robinson, President of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats. Tickets are available at www.secure.actblue.com/donate/sanjacwinedown .Tickets begin at $50 each. Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

•On Feb. 23 it was Deputy Neil Adams Day celebrated on the Courthouse Square in Coldspring. Dale Everitt opened the proceedings, and the ceremony was a moving way to recognize the man who so many people knew and loved.

The Rev. Dalton Currie gave the prayers, with the American Legion Commander of Post 629, Sheriff Greg Capers and Constable Roy Rogers speaking about Neil and how important he had been to our county. His widow DeeDee Adams and her family, with friends surrounding her, were able to see and feel how much Neil Adams meant to our community as well as to them.

The National Anthem was sung during the ceremony and the poignant sounds of Taps ended it. The day was sunny and warm and a picture of a Sheepdog rested beside a photo of Neil which declared “I am the Sheepdog Adams. Protect the flock, confront the wolf.”

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 a member of the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce.

  • Hits: 352

County to lose some GLO grant subsidies

1 Comment
Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Contractors pours cement for the parking lot of the Innovation Center on Friday morning. Courtesy photo by Mark WoodContractors pours cement for the parking lot of the Innovation Center on Friday morning. Courtesy photo by Mark Wood

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

COLDSPRING — Because of a drop in applications, San Jacinto County will lose some grant funding from the Texas General Land Office for purchasing property damaged during Hurricane Harvey.

The County Commissioners Court on Friday approved an amendment to a contract with the GLO at its regular meeting.

County Judge Fritz Faulkner said the county was awarded $11 million for recovery, and after a push by the GLO, 111 applications were received. After doing due diligence on the applications, many dropped out, and the county has a little more than 40 applications.

County officials asked for an extension in the application process; however, when the GLO looked at the information, it was determined the county would never spend the full $11 million, but $8.8 million only, which includes demolition, Faulkner said.

The GLO wanted to revise the contract and put the funds back into the grant pool.

“The request came from the GLO, not us,” Faulkner said. “They won’t release funds until contracts are signed, and cannot get more applicants since the deadline has passed.”

Commissioner Mark Nettuno said the county was giving back $2.9 million; Commissioner David Brandon added that the county can’t reapply for returned money.

In other business, the court:

•approved another $10,000 for overtime for jailers until positions are filled;

•approved the purchase of software which will link certain county offices;

•proclaimed Feb. 23 and Deputy Constable Neil Adams Day;

•accepted the resignation of Precinct 4 Constable Alvin Wyatt;

•appointed Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Brian Cosme as constable to replace Wyatt;

•approved a memorandum of understanding with the Shepherd Police Department for communications;

•approved designating county equipment as salvage;

•approved a lot split for 60 acres in the Berry Beasley Survey for the Allen Estate; and

•approved an agreement with the Texas Division of Emergency Management for office space.

  • Hits: 742

Shepherd seeks input on schedule

Write a comment
Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Shepherd ISD LogoSJNT staff

SHEPHERD — Shepherd ISD administrators are seeking community input to a possible switch to a full-time 4-day week.

Because of feedback offered previously from staff, students, parents, guardians, and the community, a 4-day calendar has been created.

Administrators say the move is needed in order for the district to be competitive in the job market, as it offers an incentive that is attractive to recruit and retain quality staff, particularly since East Texas has much larger districts offering more salary than SISD can afford.

Additionally, surrounding districts have adopted 4-day instructional weeks which allow them to fill positions with highly qualified teachers, aides, bus drivers, etc.

Other benefits the schedule change offers is improved student and staff morale, improved student and staff attendance rates and a decrease in disciplinary issues.

In the future, the district will host a “hybrid” town hall-type meeting through Zoom, and a digital attendance area at SISD.

More information about the survey and 4-day weeks can be found at shorturl.at/mnqzN.

The 4-day Academic Calendar 2023-2024 Survey can be found at http://ow.ly/4U7n50N1ZAy.

  • Hits: 242

County honors fallen hero

Write a comment

User Rating: 5 / 5

Star ActiveStar ActiveStar ActiveStar ActiveStar Active

The family of Neil Adams stands with Sheriff Greg Capers.  Photo by Charles BallardThe family of Neil Adams stands with Sheriff Greg Capers. Photo by Charles Ballard

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

COLDSPRING One year after the tragic death of Deputy Constable Neil Adams, family, county residents and law enforcement personnel came together in honor of this local hero.

Thursday, Feb. 23, was proclaimed Deputy Neil Adams day in San Jacinto County.

The Rev. Dalton Currie offered prayers, and Sheriff Greg Capers and Constable Roy Rogers spoke about Adams to the assembled crowd.

Adams died Feb. 23, 2022, while working a second job as a security guard in PlazAmericas Mall in Houston while he was attempting to arrest a mall patron who was threatening a store employee.

While Adams and the suspect were engaged in an altercation, the suspect took Adams’ pistol and shot him.

Adams was San Jacinto County’s Environmental Officer, also served as deputy constable for Precinct 1 Constable Rogers. He started as a dispatcher at the Sheriff’s Office, and then attended the Police Academy in 2012. He returned and went on patrol for the Sheriff’s Office, and in January 2020 began as the environment officer.

  • Hits: 471

BAILES named to caucus policy committee

Write a comment
Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive

Special to the News-Times

BAILES7215AUSTIN — The Texas House Republican Caucus elected Rep. Ernest Bailes to represent the East region of the Policy Committee for the 88th legislative session.

The Policy Committee is responsible for providing analysis and vote recommendations for members of the Republican Caucus. The committee consists of 16 Members: two within each of the six geographic regions; and two at-large members appointed by the Caucus Chair.

“I’m honored to be chosen to represent East Texas in the Republican Caucus Policy Committee, and to bring a rural and pro-business perspective as we navigate issues this session,” Bailes said. “It’s important that we protect the individual freedoms and the path of less government, as we support a pro-business environment with conservative values here in the Great State of Texas.”

A lifelong rancher and agriculturalist, Ernest Bailes was raised on his family’s dairy and beef cattle operations in East Texas. He grew up in Shepherd and earned his B.S. from Texas A&M University in 2004. After graduation, Ernest founded his company, Repro Select, an advanced reproductive services provider for cattle and whitetail deer producers across the south-central United States.

Ernest serves on numerous boards and committees, including the San Jacinto Farm Bureau, Texas Deer Association, and the Shepherd ISD Technology Advisory Board.

Ernest and his wife Courtney have been married for 17 years and have two sons, Cinco and Rigby, who attend Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD, where Courtney is a schoolteacher. The Bailes family are active members of the First Baptist Church in Evergreen.

  • Hits: 358