San Jacinto County News - Breakout

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Shepherd High School Principles of Health Science students toured the health science programs at Angelina College recently to learn about the vast array of healthcare careers that are available to them. They are led by Sarah Dean, RN. Courtesy photo

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Dr. Stanley Kelly of Sam Houston State University explained to students how the muscle blade sits inside of the cow and what cuts of beef come from each area. Due to the muscles in the front shoulder being used often, the muscles in the shoulder are tough and should be cooked low and slow in order to become tender and palatable. Photo courtesy of Ashlie Taylor

Special to the News-Times

WINNIE — Coldspring-Oakhurst High School students were treated to extensive lessons on cattle, from children to grilling.

Advanced Animal Science students and sponsors traveled to Winnie, on Oct. 27 to attend the Southeast Texas Beef Symposium hosted by Texas AgriLife Extension with the assistance of professors from the Texas A&M and Sam Houston State University Agriculture Science departments. 

Students spent the day attending hands-on sessions including an anatomy and physiology dissection lab, a blood draw for pregnancy checks on cows, performing ultrasounds on cattle for carcass traits and fat thickness, taste testing tenderness of different cuts of meat, identifying parts of cattle including where their bones are located and where each cut of meat comes from, and digestion featuring a cannulated cow. 

“Cannulated cattle are those which have a surgically placed cannula, or porthole-like device placed in their side into the rumen,” explained COHS Ag Instructor Ashlie Taylor. “This allows veterinarians and researchers to examine content digested by the animal for various purposes.”

The afternoon concluded with a lesson on safe food handling and proper cooking temperatures, followed by students being allowed to season and grill their own hamburgers. 

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On Oct. 18, Shepherd Middle School invited parents and guests to come to a Fall Family Night. Every student that was in attendance received a ticket for a prize. Several students won games, books, and even a camera! We appreciate everyone that was able to come out and join us. Courtesy photo

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Coldspring Candy Shack has yummy treats. Courtesy photo

Isn’t this weather wonderful? Let’s look for good weather for all our upcoming events. We will have some ribbon cuttings in the near future with our new members celebrating joining our Chambers. 

Coldspring Chamber of Commerce is very happy to welcome Coldspring Candy Shack at 20 TX Hwy 150, on the Courthouse Square. My husband and I enjoyed some treats there recently and the menu is amazing. 

Look online for more information and yummy photos of the sweet creations available. Call (936) 653-3301, hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday they open at 10 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. The owner is Jocelyn Goffney Taylor, who also owns the next business.

God’s Precious Creations Daycare is located at 61 Church Ave. in Coldspring. Established in 2010, it is a 4-Star facility, open from 5 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information about it go to www.godspreciouscreationsdaycare.com. 

You can view videos of the children enjoying activities, read about the teachers for each classroom/age group, view the fees for each group and so much more. Phone (936) 727-0198 for an appointment to tour the Daycare and talk to Jocelyn.

•Coldspring Chamber welcomes attorney Lana Shadwick of Shadwick Law. 

Shadwick is renting an office space in Coldspring Chamber to make it easier for her in her expanding business. She has an office in Livingston but would like a space in Coldspring to talk to local clients here. Board members won’t have far to go when she has her ribbon cutting. 

For more information on her law firm go to https//:lanashadwick.com/ or call (936) 327-4529.

•SJC Historical Commission celebrates Haunted Jailhouse for Halloween on Oct. 28-29. This is in Old Town Coldspring and food and drinks will be on sale for those who like to be frightened by spooky goings on inside the Jailhouse Museum.

•Shepherd and Coldspring chambers are working on Christmas events. Shepherd is first on Dec. 3. A change in venue this year will be a return to the park between the Library and VFD. This is where the parade lines up starting at 4 p.m., the Parade moves off at 6 p.m. 

Vendors , food and home-made goods, toys, the Library’s Spin the Wheel will be there as well as many other vendors. Forms for the parade and vendors are available on our website or at Shepherd Library. Santa will be in the Gazebo for photo taking and entertainment will be live music and DJ Joe La Blanc. We are hoping to have a Kids Community Choir singing carols. 

If your child is interested, call the chamber for more information. Go to www.greatershepherdchamberofcommerce.org.

Coldspring has vendors booking for their place around the Courthouse. Their day is Dec. 10. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and there are forms online at www.coldspringtexas.org. Coldspring VFD has its Fire Fest Oct. 29 at Coldspring Shelter.

•Early voting has started and is available at Coldspring Administration Office through Nov. 4. Voting in precincts is Nov. 8.

We have watched some beautiful sunsets in our county. It is always a reminder of how we live in an area of natural beauty, often taken for granted. And now, after Halloween, we will be getting ready for Thanksgiving.

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 secretary of the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce.