San Jacinto County News - Breakout

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SJNT staff

SHEPHERD — To facilitate learning and growth for both students and instructors, Shepherd ISD has opted to move to a four-day school week.

The new calendar was approved during the Feb. 17 meeting of the Board of Managers.

The board, based on information provided by the school administration, approved the measure to allow the staff to learn and grow within its profession in an environment that continues to change regularly. 

The move was made since 60 percent of the teaching staff has three or less years of experience in a classroom, all of which has been during a global pandemic. This has led to a 35-40 percent turnover rate, which means almost half of the staff is new to Shepherd ISD each year. 

The district plan, VISION 2025 is about growing students to read on grade level, exhibit math proficiency, developing positive learning environments, life lessons and social values, College and Career Readiness and growing extra-curricular and co-curricular activity; in order to meet the goals in VISION 2025, teachers need to grow as well.

Administrators say the calendar is about building capacity amongst teachers, administrators, auxiliary staff and to make Shepherd ISD better. 

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By Tony Farkas

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COLDSPRING — Incumbent County Commissioner Mark Nettuno outlasted a challenge by Tammy Betancourt in the Republican Primary Election on Tuesday.

Since no Democrat filed for the seat, essentially Nettuno gets to keep his post, once the November General Election results are in.

In the GOP primary for Justice of The Peace Precinct 4, Kim Webb picked up 896 votes, or 60.95 percent, to gain the nomination and ultimately the position, as no Democratic challenger filed.

Other candidates for the spot were Bill Cooke, who picked up 302 votes, and Mike Selmer, who gained 272 votes.

District Judge Travis Kitchens held off a challenge from Polk County DA Lee Hon in San Jacinto County, winning with 2,576 votes over Hon’s 1,571. In the three counties that make up the 258^th District —Trinity, Polk and San Jacinto — Kitchens garnered 7,505votes, or 54.86 percent, to Hon’s 6,176.

No Democratic challenger filed for this position either.

The results of the other unopposed local races, all Republican, include:

• State Board of Education District 8: Audrey Young, 3,505
• State Senator District 5: Charles Schwertner, 3,499
• Criminal District Attorney: Todd Dillon, 3,712
• County Judge: Fritz Faulkner, 3,723
• District Clerk: Tammy Currie, 3,756
• County Clerk: Dawn Wright, 3,718
• County Treasurer: Deedee Adams, 3,726
• County Commissioner Precinct 2: Donny Marrs, 571
• Justice of The Peace Precinct 1: Christina McGee, 919
• Justice of The Peace Precinct 2: Harris Red Blanchette, 598
• Justice of The Peace Precinct 3: Randy Ellisor, 890

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Members of the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce congratulate the Best Grand Business of 2021 Brookshire Brothers. More banquet photos can be seen on page 6A. Photos by Tony Farkas

Banquet raises funds for students

By Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — The Coldspring Chamber of Commerce honored its best and brightest and raised more than $8,600 for scholarships for students.

Chamber President Barbara Justice said at the annual banquet on Saturday that the chamber did an outstanding job 2021,  doing more than $8,700 dollars in profit.

Justice also was named the 2021 Board Member of the Year and said that between being blessed with a third year as president, as well as winning an award during Black History Month, she is “over the moon.”

“We are ready to focus on more,” she said. “The annual car show will be featured in Texas Hot Rod Magazine, and we will be signing big sponsorships for T-shirts.”

The car show, the chamber’s premier event, is scheduled for the third weekend in October.

Also, Justice said Christmas on the Square was wonderful, and that remapping the Square to get more booths in helped raise $7,600.

“With the aftermath of COVID, we had only a few events, but we regrouped,” she said. “We expect nothing but good things for 2022. We already have seven new members.”

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Will Hall Motor Co. will offer services including U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment and moving supplies. Courtesy photo

Special to the News-Times

SHEPHERD — Will Hall Motor Co. signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer for Shepherd, according to U-Haul Co. of Texas.

Will Hall Motor Co. at 2800 S. Byrd Ave. will offer services including U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment and moving supplies. 

U-Haul has teamed with independent dealers to offer moving equipment since 1945. With the COVID-19 outbreak creating challenging times for small businesses, more than 20,000 dealers across the U.S. and Canada are creating supplemental income through their U-Haul partnership. 

When a customer rents from a U-Haul dealer, they are directly supporting an independent small business in their community.