Trinity County News - Breakout

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I am here to report that everything that took place this past weekend was a huge success. Starting with Friday night, the TISD High School Fine Art Department hosted a Southern Charm Gala for the public to enjoy, and what a wonderful and talented group of students we have.

The food was great, the artwork displayed was unbelievable, the skits and actors were exemplary, the Jazz Ensemble was fantastic, and the three singers were perfect and beautiful. The culinary class of Trinity High School provided appetizers, complimentary sweet drinks, cooked the menu for dinner, and made desserts. They equally matched the gifted and talent skills of all the Trinity High School students that participated in this event.

Saturday, the Martin Senior Center garage sale and barbecue plates were a huge success. Dan Barnes and local people donated items for the garage sale, and we made over $1,200 dollars. The barbecue fundraiser sold out of the Old Timers barbecue plates before noon.

The food drive was respectable, but that needs to be a separate fundraiser. It was cold and windy, but we were thankful for the community’s support. In May the Center will host another fundraising event. Watch this space for new details.

I left Trinity downtown about 11 a.m. and the parking lot was packed at the old Alco Store with garage sale items. When I returned to Trinity, 8 hours later, the event was cleaned up and gone, but the River of Life Church Youth Building Parking lot was filled with many dates who had come to see a movie and enjoy a special dinner. Both events were amazing fundraisers.

One fundraiser for the elderly and one fundraiser for the youth.

•Bingo Games at the VFW Post 6899 are in full swing, and my friend who loves to play bingo is loving it. The VFW also has Texas Hold’em Poker on Saturday afternoon and evenings, but bingo is still the favorite game at the Hall during the week. Monday, Thursdays, and Fridays the doors open at 4 p.m., and the games start at 6 p.m.

•Earth Day at the Blanche K. Werner Public Library was attended by over a hundred people to help celebrate this birthdate. There were all sorts of activities and games, and the guests got to view skulls, seashells, and green leaves. The library was open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. for this special day, and a fun time was had by all. For more information on upcoming events, please call Monday through Saturday, (936) 222-3838.

•May 1-7 is Teacher Appreciation Week. In honor of this week the Martin Senior Center is going to host on Friday a Mexican Pile-On, along with their usual fried fish. (If you don’t want to dine on the Cinco de Mayo Luncheon, you can still purchase the usual Friday menu). The cost is $8 for either luncheon.

However, the Mexican pile-on is a special treat being donated and prepared by Julia McMichael that she and the local PTA used to prepare for the TISD teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, several years ago. It will start at noon.

•There are so many activities going on Saturday, May 6, I probably will miss some, but here goes nothing.

First, do your civic duty on Saturday and vote. Early voting ended Tuesday, but you have two locations to vote on Saturday, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. for you late comers.

The School Board election is held at the TISD administration office on Jefferson Street. To vote on the Trinity City Council candidates, it is being held at the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department Station on Elm Street or next to City Hall.

On Saturday at 9 a.m., a parent-led fundraiser for the Trinity Tigerettes is being held in the parking lot of Higginbotham Brothers store. The car wash and bake sale is being held during Higginbotham’s Appreciation Sale, and all donations in the parking lot go to the Tigerettes. Come support your TISD students.

On Saturday, the Ed and Maxie Dance starts at noon at the VFW Hall on 400 Caroline St. and ends at 4 p.m. Cost is $12, and the band is Shadow Road. Oldies and country music is the genre. Call Dawn at (936) 355-9634 for details and reservations.

Also Saturday, at 9 a.m. 17 teams are teeing off to play in the Liberty Over Texas Republican Women of Trinity County’s Annual Golf Tournament. Each person pays $75 which includes a meal, golf, and golf cart rental, and two mulligans. Golf Hole sign sponsorships are still available. Contact Barbara at (936) 222-2590 to advertise your business or organization and support the GOP Ladies.

On May 5 and 6, Sebastopol Community Church is having a garage sale and a barbecue brisket and rib plate fundraiser. The church is located at FM 356 and FM 355. Both events start at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. each day. The garage sale is Friday only. They are selling furniture, housewares, and other bargains.

The barbecue brisket or rib plates with potato salad, beans, drinks, and a dessert will be served on Saturday only. I have no number to contact or the price of the barbecue fundraiser, so call the Church maybe?

Trinity Community Fair Association is hosting their fifth annual Trinity Scholarship Crawfish Boil on Friday, May 12, at 6 p.m. at the Trinity Community Center Pavilion and grounds. The cost of a table is $450, and the single ticket price is $55. Prices go up after May 9. Please call Jolie Lane at (936) 661-5082 for more information.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14.

•Sometimes I feel like I am spinning my wheels trying to keep up with the community’s activities, then I get a call from an old timer who reads my column and corrects my reporting, gives me updates, or gives me new information.

Mary Abshire, a Trinity County Girl who has lived in many towns in Trinity County and now lives in Groveton, called to correct my number on the meals that Charles Lee serves to Groveton residents. I said 8-10 meals each day and Mr. Lee serves around 35 to 37 meals to shut-ins daily.

•I got another call from the past about the history of Trinity, and it was from Larry Turner, the son of Billy Turner, who was a great donor of the Martin Senior Center years ago. Another citizen asked if I knew Floyd McMichael who was a second cousin of my husband, George McMichael. I never know who I will sit next to and learn new stuff like at the Trinity Art Department Gala Friday Night.

•Last weekend I attended a bridal shower for my great-niece who is to be married in June in California. She had a themed shower celebrating the Kentucky Derby Horse Race. The bride’s maids to be and the other guests were beautiful dressed in flowing dresses and stylish hats. Mint julips, roses, wonderful food and desserts was the décor and treats for the day.

A beautiful photo shoot entitled “Off to the Alter” was displayed and shared by all. Questions and answer games rounded out the afternoon party.

Saturday is the Kentucky Derby Race in Louisville, Ky., at Downhill Downs. Oh, to be 30 again.

More information about next weekend’s events in the next article.

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — Trinity County Commissioners approved some temporary help for the District Clerk’s Office in order to help collect past debts.

At the Commissioners Court meeting on April 25, District Clerk Jill Steptoe said the civil cases in Trinity County that were from the state Attorney General’s Office had not been billed for several years.

Steptoe said extra help was needed to wade through the cases for the billable ones, and the office will then bill the Attorney General. She also said the office only could bill back to 2021.

In other business, the county:

•tabled action on bids for lights as the county received no bids;

•approved personnel action forms;

•approved the monthly financial report, at which the county has received 86 percent of budgeted funds while spending only 51 percent of budgeted expenses;

•approved a contract with Auctioneer Express;

•approved revisions to the county’s grant application policy;

•approved the future funding for interns;

•approved an order exempting Trinity County from elements of the safety code regarding animal control officers;

•approved cleaning the ditch at the end of Arndts Lane; and

•set Oct. 21 as the fall County Cleanup Day.

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The Trinity School Board recognized UIL winners (from left) Alyssa Loesch, Lilliana Gurene, Bianca Perez, Candida Guzman, Jamarian Corley and Jamie Sency, and coaches (from left) Stephan Green, Colton Campbell, Margaret Rodriguez and Trinity Coe. UIL winners include Bianca Perez, 1st Current Issues; Candida Guzman, 3rd Current Issues; Allie Ancira, 5th (Team) Current Issues; Ja’Marian Corley, 9th (Team) Current Issues; Natalyn Jordan, 1st Computer Applications; Brooke Arnold, 2nd Computer Applications; Garrett Craig, 3rd Computer Applications; Lilyana Geurin, 3rd Copy Editing, 2nd Editorial Writing; Karrisa Musachia, 3rd Feature Writing, 3rd Ready Writing; Alyssa Loesch, 1st News Writing; Ja’Ciyah Debose, 2nd New Writing; Cade Mauldin, 2nd Science; and Jamie Sency, 2nd Accounting.COURTESY PHOTO

By Tony Farkas
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TRINITY — The Trinity Independent School District has joined the other county school districts in moving to a 4-day school week.

At the regular meeting on April 24, the board approved the shift to a 4-day week with a unanimous vote.

Superintendent John Kaufman said the new calendar, which also was approved, is a hybrid; the first 12 weeks will be 5-day, and after Oct. 20 the district will convert to 4-day week in the coming school year.

Kaufman also said there was no public participation during the meeting, but he has not heard a negative comment about the change.

In the new calendar, the district starts in-service training for teachers Aug. 1, and students start back Aug. 8.

Once the 4-day week starts, Fridays will be used for staff development days and, if necessary, for remediation days should the schools close for weather or other reasons.

Spring break remains the same, Christmas break begins with a ½ day on Dec. 22 and ends Jan. 8, 2023. Students graduate on May 25, and school ends June 6.

Kaufman said the scheduled minutes for instruction are 7 days more than what is required by the state. High school and middle school students will attend a total of 80,004 minutes, while the elementary students will attend a total of 78,100 minutes. The state requires 76,500 minutes.

He also said school start and dismissal times remain the same, except for the elementary school, which will start 5 minutes earlier.

“This is new territory for a lot of schools,” Kaufman said. “If this doesn’t work for us, then we’ll consider other options.”

In other business, the board:

•approved travel for the Beta Club, which will attend the national competition in Kentucky;

•approved travel for the Future Business Leaders of America Club, which will attend the national competition in Georgia;

•gave annual approval for TEKS certification;

•approved updates to policy as suggested following a TASB review;

•approved hiring an engineer for the school’s HVAC and lighting project;

•approved using the buy board to pay for the projects;

•approved renewing contracts with teachers; and

•honored the Houston Art Show winners.

Lansberry Elementary: Eli Walters, 3rd Grade - Best of Show; Audrey Delacruz, 1st Grade - Gold Medal.

Middle School: Aliana Reyes, 7th Grade - Best in Show; Asis Cerda, 7th Grade - Gold Medal.

High School: Alyssa Loesch, 10th Grade - Best in Show; Alyssa High, 11th Grade - Gold Medal; Kaitlyn Smith, 12th Grade - Gold Medal.

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Donna Blackerby and Kamrya White, Photo by Joyce Wilson

By Mollie LaSalle
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WOODVILLE – Last Wednesday, for the Rotary Club of Woodville’s weekly program, Rotarian Donna Blackerby and Woodville High School Junior Kamyra White presented an informative program on the local FCCLA chapter at the school. Blackerby teaches the class, and White is the current vice president of the chapter.

Blackerby explained that the program had been idle for about the last four years and was recently revived.  FCCLA is an acronym, which stands for Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, and effectively has taken the reins from what used to be referred to as FHA, or Future Homemakers of America.

FCCLA offers several areas of study for her class of 66 students, which at the present are female; there are a handful of males taking the classes right now. Programs offered run the gamut from Human Services; Hospitality and Tourism; Education and Training; Visual Arts and Design and Culinary Arts. These programs help prepare students for their future.

The Rotary Club offered a big word of thanks to the FCCLA chapter for all the help they give during Rotary events. They were a big help at last year’s Rotary District Conference; they provided some beautifully decorated and delicious cookies for the conference.