San Jacinto County News - Breakout

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The COCISD Board of Trustees showed off the fun gifts they received at the school board meeting on Monday, Jan. 23, for School Board Recognition Month. Pictured from left: Trustee William B. Baker, Board Secretary Barbara Moore, President Paul Buchanan, Superintendent Dr. Bryan Taulton, Trustee Alec McGowen, Trustee Berlin Bradford, and Trustee Tony Sewell. Courtesy Photo by J.W. Kirkham

By Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — The Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD officially approved the district’s move to a four-day school week on Jan. 23.

Superintendent Dr. Bryan Taulton the district has studied the matter for several months, finding that 80 percent of parents and guardians were in support of the move.

Taulton said the district will take Fridays off, which will allow the staff to prioritize education, as Fridays have a higher than average absenteeism and early leaving, as well as children losing education time to extracurricular activities.

Along with education, the move will help with the recruitment and retention of teachers.

“We have mathematics deficits across the district, state and nation, and we need better teachers to combat that,” Taulton said. “We will provide kids with a high-quality education, and this will allow us to do that, as well as market the district and compete for the best educators.”

Taulton said it has been his focus to keep the best teachers in front of the students, and since the country at large is dealing with a teacher shortage — last year, COCISD lost 49 teachers — the four-day week is a way to hire and retain educators.

“Our pay is disparate; to have a competitive edge for recruitment, we needed to go this route,” Taulton said. “Without high-quality teachers, it compromises the value of education. Research will tell you that the biggest impact in the classroom is the teacher, and it is my mission to recruit and retain the best.”

In other business, the board:

•approved school board elections for May 6 and contracted with the San Jacinto County Elections Administrator for the event. The board position formerly occupied by Ashney Shelley, of which Alec McGowen currently fills, as well as Danny Williams, Barbara Moore and Paul Buchanan are up for election;

•updated the district’s insurance policy for risk management; and

•approved updates to policy based on Texas Association of School Board recommendations.

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COLDSPRING — On Jan. 21, 29 Shepherd ISD students placed in several events in the District UIL competition in Coldspring.

In art, Kallie Hammond placed second, Jeremy Cutia sixth, Emily Marcial-Gayton fifth, and Ellie Aills placed fourth.

In chess, Theo Waterman placed second and Stephen Parker placed fourth.

In dictionary skills, Paul Jimenez fifth and Kadience Smith sixth.

In editorial writing, Addyson Morgan took first place, Karolyn Hollingsworth second, Jayla Fisher sixth, and Jordan Thomas placed fifth.

In impromptu speaking, Brooklyn White placed first, Kaylie Medrano third, Felipe Aureliano fourth, and Bree Chamblee placed first.

In mathematics, Michael Watson placed fourth and Jake Papp placed fifth.

In modern oratory, Kaylee Kangas placed second and Bree Chamblee third.

In music memory, Faith May placed first and Adrianna Miles fifth.

In number sense, Richardo Lucio placed third.

In ready writing, Olivia Morales placed fifth.

In science, Jake Papp placed first and Harley Newton third.

In social studies, Jacob Wesley placed third.

In spelling, Riley Holloway fifth and Alivia Whitworth fourth.

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Teddy Elliot reacts to his winning Volunteer of the Year award during the Best of San Jacinto County banquet put on by the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Tony Farkas

By Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — The Coldspring Chamber of Commerce celebrated not only San Jacinto County’s best and brightest, but the return to pre-COVID form as well.

At the organizations annual banquet on Saturday, more than 40 winners in as many categories, from best restaurant to citizen of the year, received accolades for their efforts over the last year.

Teddy Elliot and Robert Elledge share the volunteer of the year award for 2022, while Shepherd’s Brenda Myers, director of the Community Impact Center, shared Citizen of the Year honors with Sandra Houston.

Yvonne Cones, a Coldspring Chamber member as well as president of the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce, was named Board Member of the Year.

Chamber President Barbara Justice said she feels abundantly blessed to be able to speak with the people without a mask.

She also said the chamber’s accomplishments in the past year was like “a new beginning,” and compared this year and last year for effect.

For instance, she said, last year’s Best of Banquet was a small affair for chamber members only, and focused on business size, not individual business categories, as well as a few other individual positions. This year, the Best of awards were open to all businesses throughout the county, as it was in years past.

The chamber also was able to rekindle its lunch and learn program; gave out more scholarships ($7,700) than in other years; Wolf Creek Car Show had record attendance; Christmas on the Square was back at pre-COVID levels; and the office was remodeled to provide better services.

Justice said great and innovative things will be on the slate for 2023.

Rep. Earnest Bailes also spoke about the comings and goings of this year’s legislative session.

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Most people today perceive law-enforcement’s role in the community as participating in a game of “cops and robbers” where we, the “cops,” assume responsibility for catching the “robbers.”

While that might have been acceptable in the past, it is no longer enough, at least, in my opinion, which is why I have dedicated myself and members of my office staff to a more comprehensive approach to law enforcement.

Toward that end, here is some information on child safety in and around your vehicles and addressing such issues as heatstroke, backovers and other dangers to children.

Heatstroke and asphyxiation

Heatstroke and asphyxiation are one of the leading causes of non-crash vehicle-related fatalities among children. Vehicle heatstroke and asphyxiation occurs when a child is left in a hot vehicle, allowing for the child’s temperature to rise in a quick and deadly manner. Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches about 104°F. Core body temperature above 107°F is lethal.

As a parent, caregiver or bystander, you need to understand the children are more vulnerable to heat stroke than adults.

Prevention tips

•Make it a habit to look before you lock your vehicle to be assured that no child is left inside the vehicle.

•Keep your vehicles locked and keep your keys out of reach of your children; three in 10 heatstroke deaths happen when an unattended child gains access to a vehicle’s keys.

•Act immediately if you notice a child alone in a vehicle. Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility.

Backovers

Many children are killed or seriously injured in backover incidents. A backover incident typically occurs when a vehicle coming out of a driveway or parking space backs over an unsuspecting child because the driver did not see the child.

Prevention tips

•Teach your children not to play in or around vehicles.

•Always walk around your vehicle and check the area around it before backing up.

•Be aware of small children, the smaller the child the more likely it is you will not see them.

•Teach your children to move away from a vehicle when a driver enters the vehicle.

•Make sure you look behind while backing up slowly in case your child dashes behind your vehicle unexpectedly.

•Many vehicles are equipped with rearview video or warning devices, but they cannot take the place of actively walking around your vehicle to make sure children are out of the way. Do not rely solely on these devices to detect what is behind you.

Power windows

Children can hurt themselves with power windows. Children can be injured when a window closes on their fingers, wrist, or hand. Many children have died through strangulation by power windows.

Prevention tips

•Teach your children not to play with the window switches.

•Properly restrained your children in car seats or seatbelts to prevent them from accidentally activating, power, windows, or sunroof.

•Always make sure your children’s hands. feet, and head are clear of windows before raising the windows.

•Never leave the key in the ignition or in the “on” or “accessory” position when you walk away from your vehicle.

•If available, activate the “power window lock” switch so that your children cannot play with the windows.

Seat belt entanglement

A child within reach of a seatbelt may become entangled if the child pulls the seatbelt all the way out and wraps the belt around his or her head neck or waist.

Most seatbelts have a locking mechanism that is activated when the seatbelt is pulled all the way out from the retractor. This feature is designed for a car seat installation. In instances when the locking feature activates, the child may not be able to free him or herself resulting in a serious safety situation.

Prevention tips

•Do not let your children play in or around vehicles.

•Always ensure your children are properly restrained.

•Teach your children that seat belts are not toys.

•Never let your children lie down or sleep on the vehicle seat instead of being properly restrained. This can result in your child becoming entangled.

Trunk entrapment

Children are naturally curious and love to explore their surroundings. If you leave your children unattended, in or near a vehicle, it may not be long before they are playing in it.

Hide and seek is a game where a vehicle trunk could be a target for an unsuspecting child’s hiding place. As of Sept. 1, 2001, automobile manufacturers are required to equip all new vehicle trunks with a “glow in the dark” trunk release inside the trunk compartment.

If your vehicle is older, and does not have the “glow in the dark” trunk release, ask your automobile dealership about getting your vehicle retrofitted with this truck release mechanism

Prevention tips

•Teach your children that vehicle trunks are not areas for playing.

•If your child goes missing or is late returning home from playing around your vehicle don’t hesitate to check your vehicle trunk immediately.

•Lock your car doors and trunk and be sure keys and remote entry devices are out of sight and reach of your children.

•Keep the rear fold down armrest closed to prevent your children from climbing into the trunk from inside your vehicle.

•Trunk Entrapment has similar risk to heat, stroke and asphyxiation; even in cooler temperatures, your vehicle can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. Outside temperatures in the mid-60s can cause a vehicle inside temperature to rise above 110 degrees in a matter of minutes.

In conclusion, it’s my hope that you will find the information I am providing helpful, and I look forward to sharing more of my knowledge and experiences, and the knowledge and experiences of my senior law enforcement professionals with the community of San Jacinto County and beyond.

Greg Capers is Sheriff of San Jacinto County.