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Coldspring to restart cleanup process

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By Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — After putting an ordinance banning nuisance properties within the city limits, the Coldspring City Council authorized the city attorney to begin contacting property owners.

At its regular meeting on Oct. 4, the council directed the attorney to write a certified letter to property owners and give them time to respond. Should the city receive no response, the properties will be cleaned up and then the owners will be billed.

The city approved the ordinance in August, saying it would be more appropriate dealing with junk storage, leaky exterior pipes, certain types of waste discharge, and grass and tree growth, as well as unkempt properties.

The ordinance also would ban the accumulation of abandoned or derelict vehicles, unless it’s for a business such as a scrap yard.

The ordinance also states that if a property owner is notified, they have 10 days to clean up the property; after that, the owner could be subject to a $500 fine per day, and each day would be deemed a separate offense.

The city had originally demanded the property owners at 210 Slade St. and two pieces of property in the Park Place addition clean up their properties; however, the demand was made through an ordinance which only dealt with substandard structures.

This was the first meeting since August, as the September meeting was cancelled due to lack of a quorum.

In other business, the council:

  • accepted the completed audit for 2016, which was turned in with an unmodified opinion;
  • approved replacing front and rear doors to include panic hardware at a cost of around $16,000;
  • approved replacing both air conditioning units at city hall at a cost of around $11,000;
  • denied a waiver of a $25 parade permit fee for the San Jacinto County Fair Association, saying it could not because of existing ordinances;
  • approved a contract with San Jacinto County for a city election to be held in May 2022; and
  • approved a change of the water meter serving City Hall to lower costs.
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Plant sale options come straight from member gardens

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Plant Sale

Special to the News-Times

SJC Master Gardeners will be at Livingston Trade Days on Oct. 16 for a fall propagation plant from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Members from Polk and San Jacinto counties have been propagating their own garden favorites throughout the spring and summer so buyers can choose from perennial, pollinator, succulent, and hopefully, herb and winter veggies.

Long-time SJC Master Gardener Shirley Baker conducted a survey of plants that best survived our frozen week in February to provide suggestion for the plants best suited to our unpredictable weather. Many of the plants available are proven survivors of extreme Zone 8 weather. 

Most plants will be half-gallon size, ready for planting in the ground or larger containers. Some of the hundreds of plants available include  bromeliad, white/yellow plumerias, amaryllis and giant crinium bulbs, sweet almond verbenas, multiple salvias and sages, passion vines, vitex trees, blackberries, redbud trees, copper canyon daisies, spider lilies, John Fanick phlox, and Peggy Martin roses, and more. 

Members of SJCMG will be available to answer questions, help identify plants for your landscape and garden renovation projects and to make your selections.

SJCMG will be in Building A, Booths 20-22, Livingston Trade Days, at Joe Pedigo Park, 925 U.S. Highway 59, in Livingston.

Check the SJC Master Gardeners’ website, www.txmg.org/sjmg, and https://www.facebook.com/SJC-Master-Gardeners for complete lists of plants and trees that will be available. Come early and bring wagons.

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Coldspring Chamber to host annual car show

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100721 car show 250SJNT staff

COLDSPRING — The 36th annual Wolf Creek Car, Truck and Bike Show opens Oct. 16-17.

Sponsored by Coldspring Chamber of Commerce and the Trinity River Authority, it is one of the largest events in the county. It is held at TRA Wolf Creek Park, FM 244 at Park Road 60, in Coldspring.

It features old classics and new machines; vendors will be present; and there will be activities for children. Of course, awards will be given out for the different categories.

Those categories include:

  • Cars and Trucks (34 categories)

Pre-war cars and truck 1939 & Older; Street Rods; Cars 1940-1954; Cars 1955, 1956, and 1957; Cars 1958-1965; Cars 1966-1979; Cars 1980-1999; Cars 2000-present; Trucks 1940-1969; Custom Cars 1970-1999; Custom Cars 2000-present; Trucks 1940-1959; Trucks 1960-1969; Trucks 1970-1979; Trucks 1980-1989; Trucks 1990-present; Custom Trucks (all years); SUV 1960-2000 (Blazer, Bronco, Jimmy, Tahoe, Suburban); 4x4; Muscle Cars 1960-1972; Imports; Imports Muscle Tuner/Sports Car; Rat Rods; Convertibles; Under Construction; Survivor; Corvette 1953-1999; Corvette 2000-present; Mopar Classic 1928-1999; Mopar 2000-present; Camaro 1967- 1979; Camaro 1980-present; Ford Mustang 1964-1979; Ford Mustang 1980-present

  • Motorcycles (six categories)

Street Machine; Trike; Early Iron Pre-1970; Import Custom; Import Street; Trike

  • Special

Best of Show Car, Best of Show Truck, Best of Show Modern, Best of Show Bike, Ladies’ Choice, Passing the Torch and Kids Choice

Entry fees for vehicles is $25 prior to Oct. 12, and $35 thereafter.

For information, contact the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce at (936) 653-2184 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Coldspring-Oakhurst ISD board discusses the future

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COCISD Special Programs & CTE Director Jeff Eichman and Child Nutrition Director Amanda Dunaway stand in line for the delicious meal prepared and served by the Coldspring-Oakhurst High School advanced culinary arts students for the COCISD Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, Sept. 27.  (Photos Courtesy Cassie Gregory)COCISD Special Programs & CTE Director Jeff Eichman and Child Nutrition Director Amanda Dunaway stand in line for the delicious meal prepared and served by the Coldspring-Oakhurst High School advanced culinary arts students for the COCISD Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, Sept. 27. (Photos Courtesy Cassie Gregory)

Special to the News-Times

COLDSPRING — The Coldspring-Oakhurst ISD board heard public comment on the consideration of developing a District of Innovation Plan to commence with the 2022-23 school year. 

The Board of Trustees held its regular monthly meeting on Sept. 27. 

Special Programs Director Jeff Eichman presented the results of a public survey on the subject, which reflected overwhelmingly positive support for opportunities a DOI makes available, such as starting the school year earlier, personnel flexibility, and other innovations that would improve student outcomes.

In a separate matter, principals campus enrollment numbers as of Monday, Sept 27. James Street Elementary has 409 students, Coldspring Intermediate has 304 students, Lincoln Junior High has 363 students and the High School is reporting 496 students. 

JSE Principal Shalonda Washington discussed the new Literacy Bags that will be going home with students each week for families to participate in reading with their children. CIS Paula McClendon gave an update on benchmark testing and the upcoming CIS and JSE Open House and Fall Festival from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19. LJH Principal Nikki Henderson gave an update on LJH campus events, and COHS Principal Dr. Matthew Bess gave a campus update and discussed events for the 2021 Trojan Homecoming Week, Oct. 4-8.

After the campus reports, Stephen Lee with Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott LLP gave a Delinquent Tax Collection Report, followed by Superintendent Dr. Bryan Taulton, who shared with the Board that the new cases of COVID-19 in the district have dropped to zero for the first time since school started.

Two outstanding Lincoln Junior High students led the pledges of allegiance at the COCISD Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, Sept. 27: eighth-graders Averi Tucker and Lane Madison (pictured with LJH Principal S. Nikki Henderson). Tucker is a member of the LJH National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and is an LJH Student Council Representative. Madison is also a member of the NJHS, serves as the LJH Student Council Vice President, participates in the UIL One-Act Play competition, and plays football.Two outstanding Lincoln Junior High students led the pledges of allegiance at the COCISD Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, Sept. 27: eighth-graders Averi Tucker and Lane Madison (pictured with LJH Principal S. Nikki Henderson). Tucker is a member of the LJH National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and is an LJH Student Council Representative. Madison is also a member of the NJHS, serves as the LJH Student Council Vice President, participates in the UIL One-Act Play competition, and plays football.Before the meeting began, trustees and staff were treated to a delicious meal of chicken and sausage gumbo with rice, and a dessert of blueberry bread pudding with vanilla bean sauce prepared and served by Coldspring-Oakhurst High School advanced culinary arts students under the supervision of Chef Joel Casiday.

The invocation was led by Board President Paul Buchanan, followed by the pledges of allegiance led by two outstanding Lincoln Junior High students: eighth-graders Averi Tucker and Lane Madison. Tucker is a member of the LJH National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and is an LJH Student Council Representative. Madison is also a member of the NJHS, serves as the LJH Student Council Vice President, participates in the UIL One-Act Play competition, and plays football.

In other business, the board:

  • approved local investment policy and strategies;
  • approved revisions to the board Operating Procedures Manual;
  • approved nominees to be placed on the ballot for the election of Board of Directors of the San Jacinto County Appraisal District; and
  • approved the purchase of three 77-passenger school buses.

The next regular meeting of the COCISD Board of Trustees is Oct. 25 at the Jones Educational Complex. Unless otherwise posted, school board meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month, starting at 6:30 p.m. Agendas are posted at least 72 hours in advance on the district website at www.cocisd.org under the School Board tab.

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Lady Pirates dominate Livingston

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Lady Pirates go to block a shot. (Courtesy Photos)Lady Pirates go to block a shot. (Courtesy Photos)

Special to the News-Times

SHEPHERD — Shepherd Volleyball had a big district win against the Lady Lions on Friday night. 

Head Coach Sarah Evans said the team went four sets, losing the first set 15-25, and winning the next three 26-24, 25-20 and 25-22. 

The Shepherd Lady Pirates volleyball team enjoys a moment.The Shepherd Lady Pirates volleyball team enjoys a moment.

“It was a big team win including Crista Hinds (front row) and Nevaeh Murphy (back row),” Evans said. “Both added to the team's success with digs and blocks.”

Evans said Grace Ramos, Kaylee Barlow, Crista Hinds and Valentina Beiza all had crucial kills and digs on the front row, and the back row was on fire with digs and coverage. 

At the game against Liberty, Evans said Crista Hinds was a blocking machine and helped keep Shepherd in the game. 

“We fought hard throughout the game but we just didn't have it that night,” he said. “We lost in three sets.”

The Lady Pirates face Hamshire-Fannett on the road and Huffman this week.

 

Going for the kill.Going for the kill.

The Lincoln Junior High seventh-grade A Team won second place out of eight teams at the Trinity Tournament on Saturday.The Lincoln Junior High seventh-grade A Team won second place out of eight teams at the Trinity Tournament on Saturday.

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