Trinity County News - Breakout

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TCNS staff

TRINITY — The Trinity City Council bought some and fixed some of its aging equipment and fleet at its Thursday meeting.

The council OK’d the purchase of two Chevy Tahoes for the Police Department, and a sewer machine, lawn mowers, a tractor, a backhoe and two trailers for the Public Works Department.

City Council Member Scott Womack said the purchase carries a $300,000 price tag which will be paid over five years.

Additionally, the council approved the purchase of a dump trailer for heavy solid waste hauling at a cost of $12,500, which Womack said will bring the city into compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in regard to hauling trash.

Also trash-related, the council approved $33,000 in repairs on two vehicles used in daily trash pickup, which will give the city two front line and one backup trash hauler.

However, the council tabled measure to hire Trinity Muffler to perform regular maintenance on city vehicles in order to get bids from all shops in town.

In a separate matter, the council discussed options on adding Back Porch Bar to city utilities.

Womack said all options were discussed, but the matter was tabled until discussions with TCEQ can be had.

Womack said the bar’s pre-treatment system is not sufficient; in addition, the bar is 1½ miles outside of city limits.

In other business, the council:

•contracted with County Elections Administrator Priscilla Rasbeary for a May 2023 city election;

•named two private streets Foley Street and Netta Street;

•set the date of July 1, 2023, for the city’s Fourth of July celebration, and approved spending $10,300 for fireworks; and

•approved the annual audit performed by Dianne Sollock, which was presented with an unmodified opinion.

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Santa (Mark Cole) heard Christmas wishes from talkers and non-talkers alike. Photo by Tony Farkas

TCNS staff

GROVETON — The annual Christmas celebration put on by the Groveton Community Association was a smooth success, despite a small hiccup with a wanted felon.

Sheriff Woody Wallace along with deputies have arrested 65-year-old Mr. Ethan Grinch, aka Grinch the green, pot-bellied, furry, pear-shaped, snub-nosed creature with a cat like face.

Old man Grinch was escorted to the old Trinity County Jail where he will be fed Green Eggs and Ham until his day in court. Hopefully the trial will be held this Monday. Also, the Grinch’s dog Max has not been seen since the Grinch’s arrest.

The Sheriff has expressed concerns about the near 100-year-old jail being able to hold the Grinch securely until his trial. Stating that the fact that Max is at large, and the Grinch is known for having cat like reflexes with the ability to mimic Houdini are of a major security concern.

Still, the city square was filled with music, vendors and happy faces.

Later on, the town was regaled with a lighted Christmas parade, one of the largest the town has seen.

Susie Hammond of the GCA said they are excited the parade is growing, and offered thanks to the many people who helped, including fellow organizer Jolynn Wars.

She also thanked Jason Due and Citizens State Bank for the use of a building for storage, Wallace and his crew , Neal and Vallerie Knoerzer for all of the many donations, including colored lights and arches.

Hammond said so many people volunteered that the event was a success.

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — The Trinity County Commissioners Court discussed the current jail status and options for the future at a special meeting on Dec. 5.

Brandon Wood, executive director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, informed the county it was currently in compliance as far as its jail and plans for housing inmates.

Wood also presented some alternatives to use an existing building as a location for a new jail, as there is the possibility of using a defunct sewing factory as a shell for a new jail, or to build a new jail from the ground up.

The county has been discussing its jail facility, since the current one only can house seven inmates, but the county maintains an average prisoner population of 45. At one point, the county considered construction of a temporary housing facility, but County Judge Doug Page said the TCJS has shied away from a temporary facility.

Page said the consensus of the county was to look into a 48-bed facility to be constructed, mostly because of the cost, and the county hopes to get a bond issue together to present to voters in May 2023.

“We will probably present it to the people as a bond issue to build a 48-bed jail,” he said. “DRG Architects are drawing up plans as we speak, and probably will present those plans at the Dec. 27 meeting.”

A study commissioned earlier this year showed the overall need of a 96-bed facility; however, the county disagrees.

“When arrests for minor infractions are curtailed and the courts can catchup with COVID backlog of cases, a 48-bed jails should serve the county’s needs adequately,” Page said.

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Many vendors showed up to sell their goodies at the Trinity Christmas at the Crossroads Countdown to Christmas extravaganza Saturday. Photo by Tony Farkas

I have survived another Countdown to Christmas Show. Christmas at the Crossroads begin for me twenty-five years ago when I moved to Trinity, Texas in June of 1997. I moved to Westwood Shores Subdivision for my husband to practice retirement, and in three years that it took him to retire, I had already joined the Trinity Chamber; helped secure an after-school program for children (called the Boys and Girls Club of Trinity); and helped re-organize the Trinity PTA volunteer group on all three campuses.

The movers and shakers of Trinity were from the best Trinity families, and believed it was their responsibility to carry on their family legacy with great teachers, workers and volunteers who shaped Trinity into the great place we reside in now. At the end of this article is my tribute to all the people who supported this event. Please thank them too.

At six o’clock in the morning we had a little rain, but the day turned out to be perfect even without the sunshine, and the show was awesome. We had visitors stopping through our city and they were very generous.

The vendors were very creative with their wares, and the different aromas of BBQ and hamburgers filled the air. The Stage was set for the wonderful array of entertainers, and we were privy to some of the best local talent in Trinity County. First was the Trinity Lions Club Singers, followed by the Trinity Tabernacle Pentecostal Church Choir, and then Kelly Hartsfield and her repertoire.

After Santa arrived and passed out bags of candy, Keren De Bose took the stage and sang songs from her new album. She and Kelly were both fantastic singers. Everyone was in awe at what talent we have here in Trinity, and it is a joy to know we are so blessed by these entertainers.

The vendors were very generous in donating door prizes, and we had drawings all day long until the parade started. Trinity County Crime Stoppers sponsored Santa Claus’s bags of candy and the children loved Santa in his beautiful beard and exquisite suit. Mark Cole has played the role of Santa Claus for many years for the Trinity Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and plays Santa for many other organizations as well.

I must tell you one of the vendors had a beautiful mannequin of the Grinch who Stole Christmas, and her friend JoAnn Kennedy said,” the grinch did not steal Christmas, because the Grinch was the was first thing to be sold at their booth.” (I wondered later if he came back later in the parade and tried to steal our Christmas again.)

Santa’s will reappear at the Martin Senior Citizen Center on Friday, Dec. 16, at noon to take free pictures for the “elder” children, and the Center will provide a Christmas Dinner for $10 per person. The Thanksgiving dinner was awesome, so, don’t miss you chance to eat another wonderful meal here at the Martin Center located at 400 Walker St.

The menu will consist of turkey, ham, dressing, gravy, sweet potatoes, several vegetables and green beans, all kinds of salads and desserts, and drinks. There will be door prizes, music, and lots of fun. If you want to sit or bring new friends, please call Brenda at (936) 594-2625 and reserve a table if you have more than two people in your party.

The Christmas at the Crossroad’s 6 p.m. lighted parade delighted the crowd with music and dancing. The THS Drill Team did a dance in front of the Judges stand and they were in step and perfect formation. The THS Band marched in the parade a head of the fire trucks and sounded great.

This year’s winners were presented a miniature State of Texas plaque announcing what they won that were handmade by Tyrone De Hass. They will be rewarded with Trophies as soon as they arrive from the Trophy Case in Huntsville. The winners were:

·Best of Show: River Pointe Rehabilitation Center Santa Claus Float

·First Place Most Creative: Higginbotham’s the Christmas Story

·First Place Most Traditional: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas presented by the Trinity County Crime Stoppers.

·First Place Decorated Car: Little Miss Snowflake, by Mr. and Mrs. Tyrone De Hass.

·First Place Decorated Truck: Del Rio

·First Place Most Decorated Emergency Vehicle: Trinity Volunteer Fire Department.

·First Place Walkers: The Trinity High School Tigerettes.

The Sam Houston State University’s Jazz Ensemble was a real hit before the parade, but next year we would like for them to play sooner and pay more again after the Tree Ceremony.

The Tree Lighting Ceremony was perfect, and Mayor Billy Goodwin was there to welcome the people. Clegg DeWalt blessed the season and gave us the reason for the season through his prayer. The tree was lit and then the winners of the parade were announced by Clegg and Billy, and then the event was declared officially over.

The list they announced to thank some wonderful people who without their help we could not have put this show on are listed below.

·Trinity City Council and Mayor

·Trinity Police Department

·Trinity Fire Department

·Trinity Public Works Department

·Trinity Independent School District

·Trinity Community Fair Association

·Trinity County Crime Stoppers

·Trinity Country News-Standard

·Trinity Lions Club

·Trinity Florist and Gifts

·Dulce Vida Hair Studio

·Jonathan Minson

·Becky Girouard and Chey Dilda

·All Around Electrical Services

·Asset Marketing Pros, LLC

·State Farm Insurance

·First National Bank of Trinity

·Angie and Rossel Gomez

·Mark Cole

·Dan Barnes

·Caroline Crimm of Historic Tours of East Texas

·McMichael Construction Co.

•The Blanch K. Werner Public Library of Trinity is having holiday-themed story time all month. Tuesday, Dec. 13, the patrons, and children are being served cocoa and making snow. The snow will be made outside, and each person can take a bag home.

Afterwards, Paula Holcombe will read a story while they have more cocoa and cookies. Later in December the Library will have its annual Storytime Christmas party, so watch this space for details.

In December the Library will offer curbside assistance for anyone feeling under the weather. Just give them a call at (936) 594-2087, tell them what books you would like to check out, and they will bring them out to you. Also, in December they are having a DVD sale at two for $1.

The next issue I will report all the Churches’ cantata times and places, and places you can attend to receive toys for children and food supplies.

Thanks for your continued support for Julia’s Tidbits.