San Jacinto County News - Breakout

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It is ribbon cutting time for bth Chambers. Coldspring held two this week. Deborah Black was welcomed to the Chamber. Deborah is an Avon representative; you can reach her at (713) 818-4432 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Jennifer Hoff of JLA Realty also joined. She and Jeri Bailey are both agents for JLA Realty and all three ladies are now also board members of Coldspring Chamber. Jennifer works in the Livingston office but lives locally. Her cell number is (713) 825-5890. The web site for the company is jlarealtylivingston.com.

In Shepherd, Shepherd Superstore owner Marvin Green was welcomed into the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce. This store is a big surprise on entering. Once Lakeway Store, it has been transformed into a bright, clean and fascinating place to shop.

New and some secondhand items fill the large space. Clothes, jewelry, decorative kitchen ware, furniture and decor along with toys and tools, artwork and bird feeders — the list is long. Everything is very reasonably priced, and Marvin and his sister Joyce offer a really special addition to the area residents looking for a bargain.

Call (832) 620-8700. Located at 11403 Highway 150 and Frontage Road going south on Highway 59.

•Coldspring Chamber will hold its quarterly lunch on April 25 at noon. The guest speaker will be John Fletcher of the Small Business Development Center. Call the Chamber office to reserve your place. Tickets are $15.

•Coldspring Garden Club held their meeting this week. Jessica Jones of the Lake Livingston Water Willow Project explained how volunteers helped with this event which is supported by the Trinity River Authority, Friends of Lake Livingston and Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Planting willow shoots along the shores of the lake serves many worthwhile endeavors. Fingerlings can hide from predator fish till they can grow. Water is purified by the plants which also clarifies the water. Floating islands have been constructed on the lake and all this effort helps to make the lake a place of learning for students from High Schools who help plant the Willow shoots. They also help propagate them in school.

It is a learning experience for everyone involved.

•On March 22 from 1-4 p.m., the Texas Division of the Disaster Recovery Roadshow has partnered with the County to hold a presentation in Coldspring. It will be at the County Shelter and all are invited, especially those who will deal with any disaster in our area.

First responders, elected officials, volunteer groups and private non-profits as well as those who work in maintenance and for the City or County are encouraged to attend.

The presentation will include programs which touch on recovery, grants, preparedness and much more. Personnel from our area involved with this Disaster Recovery program as well as state agencies will talk and answer questions.

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.

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Shepherd ISD’s One Act Play troupe placed second in district competition and received the opportunity to advance to Bi-District, as well as several students winning new accolades as well. The all-star cast includes Ty Jipson, Taylor Connick and Charles Minton, and the all-star technician is Jacob Davis. Courtesy photos

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Houston County Judge Jim Lovell leads the toast to Texas. JAN WHITE | HCC

By Chris Edwards andJan White
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CROCKETT – On March 2, 1836, 59 delegates gathered at Washington-on-the-Brazos to sign a Declaration of Independence from Mexico, creating the Republic of Texas.

Throughout the years, Texans have celebrated the event with re-enactments, festivals, parades, cookouts, fireworks, and other festive, celebratory methods that show their Texas pride.

Texas Highways magazine has been a curator of the state’s history since 1974.

When the magazine suggested that all Texans stop whatever they are doing at 2 p.m. on March 2 (the precise time when the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed) and raise a toast to the Lone Star State, the idea caught on. In 1993, historian and writer Joe Franz, a frequent contributor to the magazine, composed a poem, titled “Texas Toast” to use as a toast to commemorate the signing.

Many cities and towns across the state now use Franz’s “Texas Toast” as a model to celebrate Texas Independence Day. While Franz suggested the toast be done with spring water, other Texas-centric beverages have been used in toasts to Texas, like with the celebration in Houston County last Thursday.

At 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2023, local officials, Houston County Historical Commission members, and a handful of die-hard Texans gathered on the steps of the Houston County Courthouse to hear County Judge Jim Lovell read the toast and raise their red solo cups filled with Dr Pepper in remembrance of Texas’ independence.

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COCISD Superintendent Dr. Bryan Taulton joined CIS Principal Paula McClendon, SJMG Presi-dent Shirley Baker and members of the organization, along with CIS third-grade students and teachers to dedicate the new pavilion on Thursday, March 2. Photo by Cassie Gregory

Special to the News-Times

COLDSPRING — Coldspring Intermediate School students will enjoy the benefits of an outdoor classroom for their Junior Master Gardeners program thanks to a $5,000 donation from the San Jacinto Master Gardeners to help build the facility.

COCISD Superintendent Dr. Bryan Taulton joined CIS Principal Paula McClendon, SJMG President Shirley Baker and members of the organization, along with CIS third-grade students and teachers to dedicate the new pavilion on Thursday.

Baker said it was the culmination of a five-year goal of the SJMG to help COCISD provide an outdoor classroom for its Junior Master Gardener program.

“Five years ago, when we began to sell our two gardener-submitted, very successful cookbooks, ‘The Garden of Eatin’’ and ‘Second Helpings’, we voted as a group to support our JMG program with an outdoor classroom facility,” Baker said. “We strongly believe in our state-recognized Junior Master Gardener program.”

“JMG is an international youth gardening program of the university cooperative Extension network, with a mission to engage students in unique, “hands-on” group and individual learning experiences that provide a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment, and cultivate the mind,” JMG Coordinator Dr. Judi Benestante said. “This is our 10th year to work with COCISD and are very proud of our COCISD third graders this year.”