San Jacinto County News - Breakout

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By Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — The Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD Board of Trustees OK’d a raise in pay for substitute teachers.

The move was done during the board’s regular meeting on Oct. 23.

Superintendent Dr. Bryan Taulton said the administration, and subsequently the board, felt the pay for subs was relatively low compared to other area schools, particularly Shepherd ISD.

He said the board felt the lower pay was a detriment to keeping substitutes teaching in the district.

The new rates per day for short-term subs will vary from $75-$100 for non-degreed persons and $95-$120 for subs who have degrees and certification.

For long-term subs, the new rates will be $85-$100 per day for non-degreed persons and $110-$135 for long-term subs with degrees and certification.

In other business, the board:

•approved an agreement with Safe Harbor, which uses the old police department building;

•approved the purchase of pumps for diesel fuel and unleaded, which Taulton said were very old; and sewage pumps for high school will be replaced for more efficient ones; and

•discussed the disposition of a piece of property behind junior high school campus.

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Coldspring — Robert Duke, a resident of San Jacinto County and an active resident of Coldspring, declares his candidacy for the position of Texas State Representative House District 18, which includes Hardin, Liberty, Montgomery and San Jacinto counties.

Robert Duke is a Veteran of the United States Navy who swore an oath to defend the rights of citizens of the United States. He continues to uphold that oath as he defends the rights of citizens specifically in Texas.

He is a sixth-generation Texan with family origins dating to 1840. Duke actively participated in Texas representation in government. He served as Republican Precinct Chairman in Harris County and led Republican caucuses at State and Senatorial Conventions.

Duke believes that government exists to be the voice of its citizens and is prepared to listen to constituents of Texas House District 18 by presenting fair and equal representation to all citizens regardless of political standing or affiliation.

Texans currently face many issues that are affecting our quality of life and safety in America. The Constitution of the United States and The Constitution of Texas were established on ideas such as “One Nation and One State Under God,” and Robert Duke desires to see us all return to those core conservative values that protect our freedoms, faith, and families.

Duke is very much aware of the current need for securing our border and protecting our citizens. Texas and the United States are currently experiencing an invasion of illegal immigration.

Robert Duke believes that a Declaration of Emergency Invasion of Illegal Immigration is in order to assure our way of life here in Texas and the United States.

Citizens of Texas need a voice in the House of Representatives and Robert Duke is ready and willing to listen to and represent House District 18’s concerns. He will craft and vote on legislation that will ensure the protection of Texas Citizens’ rights. Border Protection, Property Tax Elimination, and Parental Rights in Education are at the forefront of current issues that Robert Duke will address as your House District 18 Representative.

For more information about Robert Duke, visit www.dukefortexas.com.

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The Impact Crisis Center fundraiser was a big hit on Saturday.

Celebrities came out to support the cause: Termite Watkins, Derrick Woods, Carl and Tina Ducena, Chuck Foreman and Jeremie T. Rex showed up to support Brenda Myers and her team of volunteers.

The cornhole tournament was won by the youngest player; he is 8 years old. He and his dad live near Austin, but when they heard there was a cornhole tournament in Shepherd, they made the trip. You can see why — he is an expert already and won against some very strong adult players.

Brenda says that the Impact Crisis Center made more than $14,000, and this was on the same day as the Wolf Creek Car Show.

•The Wolf Creek Car Show, now celebrating 38 years hosted by Coldspring Chamber of Commerce, draws a huge crowd. More than 2,500 people visit over the two-day event. Live music, food and regular vendors and Kids Valve Cover Races, are only some of the entertainment offered as well as the incredible show of antique, vintage, rat rods and bikes entered into the competition.

Winners will be found on the Chamber website soon. This was a great day to be out and about in our county.

•It soon will be Thanksgiving. Before that we have a Step-UP Gala hosted by San Jacinto County Democrats in Coldspring Community Center on East Cedar Avenue on Nov. 11.

Tickets are $50 each, which includes dinner with a cash bar available. Keynote speaker will be representative of District 22, Christian Hayes. The program starts at 6 p.m. with doors open at 5:30 p.m. The dress code is business attire. Please RSVP by Nov. 3. Go to www.sanjacintocoountydemocrats.org or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

•Both chambers are working on their Christmas events. Shepherd starts on Dec. 2 and Coldspring follows the week after on Dec. 9. Go to the websites for forms for vendors and parade entries or call the offices at Coldspring at (936) 653-2184 and Shepherd at (210) 995-7420.

Santa will appear at both events for photo ops. Coldspring will be around the Courthouse Square, and Shepherd will be at the Community Center and Park with the parade in the usual place, starting on Liberty Street by the City Hall and Library.

•San Jacinto County Senior Center has its Fish Friday on the fourth Friday each month, when birthdays of the month are also celebrated with birthday cake. This month the sponsor was Billy Burchett. Charline Smith, administrator of the Center, said that there was a full count of meals ordered, it was an excellent lunch.

Mr. Burchett came with friends and enjoyed his baked fish lunch as did everyone else. If you want to eat at the Senior Center in Coldspring or Shepherd, call them the day before to let them know. Numbers can be found, along with the weekly menus, in this newspaper.

•This week I would like to introduce you to Clint Headley. You may remember he is Shepherd’s new chief of police. He has an Assistant Chief, Tammy Nave; a deputy, Mark Gustafson; and a host of reserves to help with traffic control and patrolling our area.

We still have our Constable, Ray Atchley, who is part of the Sheriff’s Department.

Clint and his wife Julie settled in East Texas after Covid looking for a more settled life after working in the city. Clint’s dad was a policeman, and he also became a police officer a week after his 21st birthday. He served for 10 years in Houston and then changed to a different life.

Having gained a business degree cum laude at Houston UT, he became the manager of U.S. Express with 100 employees to organize. This was a very stressful job too, although he stayed there for 10 years.

He became general manager of a large security firm doing, among other things, professional investigations. Still he missed being a cop, though, and kept his license all through the years so he started to work part time for Chief Jeff Sparks at SISD.

He credits Chief Sparks and Constable Ray Atchley with motivating him in coming back full-time. He was a deputy with Ray, who he says helped him enormously.

Clint’s wife Julie had a liver transplant and this change, along with a move to the country, seemed the answer to living a life among people he has come to know and consider friends. All the experience he has had in business has given him the knowledge to take on the job as chief of police in a small but quickly growing city.

He has a son, Taylor, who is making his way as an IT specialist. He credits his wife Julie in looking after him and they love their life here in our beautiful country.

Contact the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce at (210) 995-7420 or the Coldspring Chamber at (936) 65

3-2184.

Yvonne Cones is president of the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce.

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Beautiful weather and beautiful cars made for the perfect weekend during the 38th annual Wolf Creek Car, Truck and Bike Show, held Saturday and Sunday at Wolf Creek Park in Coldspring. Courtesy photo