Trinity County News - Breakout

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Can you beat this? Two Groveton Indians on the national stage again.

Cody Johnson’s song, “Til You Can’t” won a Grammy and Lane Johnson is playing in the Super Bowl for the Eagles. How proud are we? Also, we have several other outstanding Indians who have been recognized for their accomplishments.

Please check out our ex-student’s association page on Facebook for an update on our latest postings. We are so proud of our Groveton Indian family.

A reminder to our college students; the deadline to apply for your Spring 2023 funds is Feb. 15. Make sure you get your required information in to us now to so we can fund your scholarship.

We will be taking applications for scholarships for the graduating class of 2023 as well as our current college students March 1-April 15. Applications for graduating seniors are available from the GHS counselor’s office, Mrs. Page.

Current college students will submit a letter of interest and their transcript to our secretary, Liz Ledbetter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mail to the Groveton Ex-Student’s Association, P.O. Box 70, Groveton TX 75845.

Please note: our deadline, April 15, is non-negotiable. No late applications will be accepted. We will hold our scholarship meeting in May and look forward to meeting our current seniors and funding our college students for the fall of 2023. We are here to help you realize your educational dreams.

Our Groveton Indian family has suffered several losses in the past month. Our sincere condolences to the families of John Freeman, Class of 1965; Bill Terry, Class of 1947; Steven Floyd Minch, Class of 1969; Phillip Anthony Bennett, Class of 1974; Laura Thomas, Class of 1980; Katie L. Rhodes, Class of 1978; and Lee Brooks, Class of 1960. So many good people who were great influences on this little town; our love and wishes for comfort go to their sweet families.

I hope you are enjoying this break from rain and the beautiful sunshine we are finally seeing. We look forward to flowers and vegetable gardening as we anticipate Spring.

Jo Ann Anderson Beken is president of the Groveton Ex-Students Association.

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I did not think I could have had a better weekend than the one in Las Vegas in January, but I was wrong. Sunday, Feb. 5, was the greatest day. My children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, and friends converged on the Trinity Community Center to celebrate my 80th birthday.

We had food, music, decorations, and gifts galore which was not supposed to be, but nevertheless people are so thoughtful and kind. They gave presents anyway. I can’t wait until my 85th anniversary, maybe the kids will send me to Paris.

•Friday is the fifth annual Boys and Girls Club of Trinity’s Valentine Dinner and Dance at the Trinity Community Center, located next to McDonald’s, with the doors opening at 5:30 p.m.

This will be a great event with music, food, a dessert auction, a silent auction, and a live auction. People and businesses were very generous this year and their donations reflect that.

In our live auction we have the following gifts: a 50-inch flat screen TV, a porch swing, a workbench, an antique quilt, a deer feeder, a camping tent and accessories, a barbecue pit, four designer purses, a chainsaw and tools, a sunflower metal artwork, a handmade wooden state of Texas clock artwork, and a vacation rental and bouncy house rental.

The silent auction is everything you want for your sweetheart, friend, mother, brother, or pet. We have Valentine wine baskets, automotive baskets, beauty baskets, a pet basket, a candy basket, girls night out basket, Valentine wreath, Messina Hof gift certificate for a wine tasting for six people, Crockett Civic Center concert tickets, and much more.

Don’t forget the food. We have ribeye steaks, twice-baked potatoes, green beans, salad, and drinks and a dessert auction that is provided by some of the best bakers in Trinity. You can purchase tickets at the door for $50 each, but tables have to be purchased by Thursday, by calling me at (936) 537-8171 or Andrea at (936) 594-0778.

•This weekend had two good benefits for Donna and Tom Hester. On Saturday, Agavales Mexican Food Restaurant was filled to the brim with guests all day long to help participate in discounted luncheons and dinners toward the benefit of this couple who recently lost their home to fire. It was a huge success.

Then on Sunday, the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department hosted a drive-through barbecue benefit for the Hesters. It was a beautiful day and people were lined up from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. to purchase the sandwich, chip, and drink to show their support for this couple. Trinity is the most caring city in Texas.

•Next weekend is the Lovelady Love Fest in Lovelady Texas. It is a two-day event with a chili, rib, brisket, and bean contest for the best cook and team in East Texas. There are vendors, games, music, and a local parade. It starts on Friday night and ends on Saturday at dusk.

Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day. At 11 a.m. that day, Martin Senior Citizen Center is hosting a Valentine luncheon to benefit the center with filet mignon, asparagus, scalloped potatoes, salad, drinks, and dessert. The cost is $20 each.

The event starts with homemade dips, and a complimentary glass of wine. Music and gifts will abound with drawings throughout the luncheon and lunch will be served at noon. For more information or to reserve a space, please call Brenda at (936) 594-2625. Come support the meals that are served every day to the handicapped or shut-ins in our community by attending this luncheon Tuesday.

•There is a basketball game Friday night here, so go watch the Trinity Cheerleaders perform their UIL-winning routines. Also there is a Lansberry Elementary dance for the fifth- and sixth-grade students given by the high-school seniors to raise money for the junior/senior prom this year.

•Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, is Presidents Day. It is a National Holiday, so schools and all federal offices will be closed this day.

•It is hard to believe it is almost Spring break and Easter time. Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday are activities we all look forward to in March. In addition to these celebrations, TISD students go on Spring Break from March 13-March 17.

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, and the children of Trinity County participate in the Groveton County Fair that weekend.

Next week I will announce all of the dinners and luncheons church related to start the first of March so send me you schedule and watch for it to appear in this space. See you Friday at the Trinity Community Center.

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — Groveton schools began operating on a 4-day week in January, and the administration will collect data to find if the new schedule will remain.

Superintendent Jim Dillard told the Board of Trustees during the Jan. 23 meeting that the district has moved to the second part of its hybrid calendar.

He said they are trying to collect data to determine next year’s calendar and has polled the staff and some students. He also said there will be an online poll for the residents of the community to fill out.

“We will want to see how February plays out, but we do want to have calendar approved by March,” Dillard said. “However, the legislative session won’t end until after that, so we may have to deal with new issues as well.”

Dillard asks all residents of the district to visit grovetonisd.net and take the survey.

Early information shows that average daily attendance had been slipping in the last half of the semester, with September at 95 percent, October at 94 percent, and both November and December at 92 percent.

However, in January, the rate jumped to 96 percent, a significant change, Dillard said.

The numbers also will help with funding, he said.

In other business, the board:

•discussed enrollment numbers, and the district has been holding steady at 766 students;

•held the first public hearing on policy updates submitted by the Texas Association of School Boards;

•approved updates to the district improvement plan;

•honored board members in light of School Board Appreciation Month; and

•approved extending Dillard’s contract another year.

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The Groveton ISD Cosmetology students visited the Groveton nursing home and the Crockett Kaylin Center recently to hand out blankets that they have been making since the beginning of this school year. These blankets are for their SkillsUSA Community service competition. The time is now to make a difference in these residents and children’s lives. The students hope that these handmade tie knot blankets can make a difference and show the love that was put into making these blankets. Courtesy photos