San Jacinto County News - Breakout

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The Shepherd seventh-grade girls basketball team placed in consolation in the district tournament. Photo by Tony Farkas

By Tony Farkas
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SHEPHERD — After a year under a hybrid schedule to determine if a four-day week is viable, the Shepherd ISD Board of Managers is considering whether to keep it at four days or to return to a regular five-day schedule.

Superintendent Jason Hewitt said during Thursday’s board meeting that a recent survey commissioned by the district had 435 responses from staff members, parents, students and community members, and offered three calendars to choose from.

However, Hewitt said the board may want to discuss the matter more, and possibly even send out another poll.

He did say that some things to consider are the fact that Shepherd is surrounded by school districts that have moved to a four-day week in order to attract and retain quality teachers, which means Shepherd could possibly lose teachers.

“We have 14 classes covered by folks in the NSpire Program, or by paraprofessionals and long-term substitute teachers,” Hewitt said. “My fear is that since 85 percent of the people working here drive into Shepherd, we could lose teachers.”

Hewitt also said that how they pay teachers is helpful, since at this time they pay more that surrounding districts, but a four-day district closer to a staff member would be just as attractive.

Board President Yvonne Johnson said that it was important for the district to make sure parents are surveyed; she has children attending school as well, and understands both sides of the issue.

The board will study the matter, and could at a later date schedule committees for further discussion.

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Layla Howton picked up a calf in the annual Calf Scramble. Courtesy photo

Special to theNews-Times

FORT WORTH — Layla Howton, a member of San Jacinto County 4-H, caught a calf during the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s Calf Scramble on Feb. 1, earning a $500 purchase certificate for a show heifer and the chance for up to $16,000 in scholarship awards.

Howton’s parents are Amber and Jackie Howton of Shepherd. Her award was sponsored by Peter and Kristen Martin.

Howton will use the purchase certificate toward the cost of a heifer that she will raise and exhibit at next year’s Stock Show. Exhibitors that submit monthly reports and a final essay may be eligible for scholarship awards that can range between $500 and $16,000.

One of the Stock Show’s most iconic and popular events, the Calf Scramble gives 20 students an opportunity to catch 10 calves during one of 23 performances of the legendary Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo held Jan. 13 through Feb. 4.

Those not catching calves receive a pair of Justin Boots courtesy of the iconic Western footwear maker. Justin Boots and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are overall underwriters for the legendary Calf Scramble Program.

Since the Fort Worth Calf Scramble began in 1987, the program has distributed almost $4 million to nearly 8,000 Texas students providing funds for the purchase of their beef or dairy heifer and more than $3.6 million in scholarships has been awarded to more than 1,600 students in recognition of their hard work and completion of the program.

With rodeo in Dickies Arena, livestock shows, equestrian competitions, shopping, food, carnival midway and more, the scene at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is the place to be every January and February. Come be a part of the western lifestyle experience that’s tightly woven into the fabric of Fort Worth – January 12 through February 3, 2024. Go to www.fwssr.com or follow on social media @fwssr.

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Special to the News-Times

COLDSPRING — The Coldspring Garden Club visited Coldspring-Oakhurst High School on Feb. 2.

The group enjoyed a tour of the Ag Facilities and a hands-on experience of what goes on in the high school CTE classrooms.

Students in Advanced Floral Design paired with 20 members of the Garden Club for a tour of the high school facilities. The visitors were introduced to the Coldspring FFA Chapter and learned more about the program from the Coldspring FFA Officer Team and were each able to participate in the creation of a Bud Vase arrangement to take home.

Students in Advanced Floral Design assisted them step-by-step through the process and answered any questions they had along the way.

Floral Design Instructor Ashlie Taylor said the garden club members were impressed with the courses offered to COHS students and the skills that are being taught in the floral design program.

“They were very grateful for the opportunity, loved their flowers, and said they looked look forward to another chance to tour our greenhouse later in the spring,” Taylor said.

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As a parent and grandparent and an active member of the Council for a Strong America, where I have served continuously since 2015 on the committee Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, I place a high priority on the safety of our children.

According to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, child means a person under 18 years of age; missing person means someone 18 years or older who’s disappearance is possibly not voluntary; and missing child means a child whose whereabouts are unknown to the child’s legal custodian. The circumstances of their absence could mean that:

•The child did not voluntarily leave the care and control of the custodian, and the taking of the child, was not authorized by law;

•The child voluntarily left the care and control of the custodian without the custodian consent, and without intent to return;

•The child was taken or retained in violation of the terms of a court order for possession, or of access to the child; or

•The child was taken or retained without the permission of the custodian, and with the effect of depriving the custodian of possession or of access to the child unless the taking or retention of the child was prompted by the commission or attempted commission of family violence.

While child abduction is rare, it’s important to use good sense as a child or a parent of a child when confronting these issues.

Share a secret code word

You and your parents should agree on a code word that is easy for you to remember. This way, if anyone tells you that you need to come with them because your parents were hurt or are in the hospital, you can ask them for the code word.

If they really are a friend of your parents, your parents would have given them the code word. If they do not know the code word, you should move away from them as fast as possible and report the incident by calling 911. If you are not able to call 911, enter a convenience store, shopping center store, gas station, etc. Then ask someone to call 911 and your parents as well. Stay where you are until law enforcement arrives and follow the instructions that will be provided to you.

Stay away from strangers

Who is a stranger? If you’ve seen someone hanging around your playground at school or in your neighborhood, this does not mean that you know him or her. Although they might have a familiar face, they still are a stranger to you.

•Strange grown-ups should never ask kids to help them

Do not go with or get in a car with a strange adult.  They should not ask you for directions, nor should you help them find their lost puppy or kitten either. If someone does ask for your help, tell them to wait. Go for help as quickly as possible by calling 911.

Losing track of parents

If you lose your parents in a public place, like a store or a park, do not go looking for them. Immediately ask someone who works there for help to find them. Tell them you have been separated from your parents and you need help finding them. You should also know your parents telephone number either cell, home or both.

Other items to remember:

•Always ask your parents before going anywhere with anybody, leaving the yard or play area, going into someone’s home, or getting a ride home with someone other than your bus driver or your usual ride.

•Once you have permission from your parents, tell them where you are going, tell them how you will get there, and tell them when you will be back.

Call them and tell them if you are going to be late, and give your parents the phone number and the person’s name of where you will be going.

•If someone follows you on foot or in a car, stay away. You do not need to go near the car or talk to anyone inside a stranger’s car.

I will introduce the Amber Alert system as it relates to recovering abducted children; the system as of Jan. 2, 2023, was responsible for the recovery of 1,127 children.

To learn more about the Council for a Strong America, and specifically the committee I’m on, Fight, Crime, Invest in Kids, please go to www.strongnation.org and click on the Texas link.

Greg Capers is Sheriff of San Jacinto County.