Trinity County News - Breakout

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — Trinity County has been chosen as a site for a program designed to improve the health of residents, and participants can earn a little cash for their efforts.

Deborah Alvarenga, Health Agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for Trinity and Polk counties, said the Change Club Project will be in four separate areas of state, one of which is Trinity County.

She said she hopes to have a group in both Trinity and Groveton.

“We’re looking for people to enroll in the club, which is designed to help improve the health of the people involved as well as the community at large,” she said. “This will consist of 12-15 people in each town; they will go through educational meetings where members will learn about food, nutrition, diet and exercise, and after that, then there will be meetings about community planning, assessing the environment to see what could be done to improve the health.”

Following that, the group will undertake a project of their choosing, and they will be given up to $5,000 toward that. Projects include creating community gardens, creating a walking trail, a fun and fitness area for children and adults, or even improving school lunches or lobbying for longer recesses. Other groups have created a nutrition awareness program to promote healthy eating.

While the county isn’t quite on the brink, according to an AgriLife health assessment on the county, there are certain areas in Trinity that made it a better candidate for the program, such as 23 percent of the population of the county reported being in fair or poor health.

Additionally, 25 percent of the people are classified as obese and 26 percent are physically inactive. Moreover, the county shows higher than average percentages in areas such as diabetes prevalence as well as cardiovascular and premature deaths.

Alvarenga said they would like to get started soon, and hopes that people will register to be part of the program.

Registrants will be asked to fill out a health questionnaire, and then will be asked to track their steps for 7 days and keep a food diary. A pedometer will be provided if the participant does not have one.
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he project is scheduled to last three years, and has several benchmarks. Each participant will be compensated for completing certain areas of the project. For full participation for the three years, registrants could earn up to $450.

For information or to register, contact Alvarenga at (936) 642-1421, visit the Change Club website at changeclubproject.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Christopher Hatler won reserve champion showing his longhorn mini steer during the 2022 World Expo in Belton. Hatler won a trophies and ribbons for his efforts. Courtesy photo

TCNS staff

BELTON — Christopher Hatler, 12, brought home the hardware, a rare feat given that his was his first year showing.

The Trinity boy, son of Adam and Nicole Hatler, has won several grand and reserve champion awards in his first year, the latest being Reserve Grand Champion at the 2022 World Expo held June 22-26 in Belton.

He took the honors out of a field of eight contestants in his class.

The preferred animal for Christopher is the longhorn mini steer, a breed that originally was to be just the family livestock.

Adam Hatler said Christopher was parent-motivated into showing livestock, but he loves animals, especially cows. Still, it was happenstance the family got into it.

“We were looking for a family cow, and someone told us about this breed,” Adam said. “We went to a show, and while watching we found that’s what we wanted to do. We bought more cattle and went from there.”

Christopher signed up for show camp and had great teachers, Adam said, and picked up the process quickly.

From here, he is working on perfecting the craft, and the family is looking forward to shows this next season and expanding the herd.

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — The Trinity County Commissioners Court approved payment of accrued vacation time for jail employees who are unable to take time off because of staffing issues.

At its regular meeting on June 28, commissioners revised the vacation payout policy, which previously was not allowed. The amount will be in the area of $7,000.

However, the county added a codicil that it will pay only for hours accrued above 40, and that as a case-by-case basis.

Commissioner Neal Smith asked if the payout will be at the pay rate when the time was accrued, or at the current pay rate of the employee; County Auditor Bonnie Kennedy said its paid at the current rate.

Smith, who made the motion to change the policy, asked for the issue to remedied as soon as possible.

In related business, the court approved an agreement between DRG Architects and the county for architectural service, including completing a feasibility study to cost no more than $60,000. The study must be completed by Aug. 9.

Additionally, the court approved an agreement with Bracewell LLP for services related to issuing bonds, which is expected for the county to raise funds to construct a jail.

Bonds will not be issued until the county approves a jail design and finds out the related costs.

Fees for Bracewell are on a contingency basis, meaning it will only get paid should the county decide to borrow funds for the jail.

In other business, the commissioners:

•approved bonds for Dana Cathey and Devin Evans;

•approved personnel action forms;

•approved budget amendments to allow for the purchase of vehicles; and

•approved raising the mileage reimbursement rate to the current IRS rate of 62.5 cents per mile, up from 58 cents per mile, for the remainder of the fiscal year.Jail issues top county agenda

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Mayor Tommy Walton said that Shasta Bergman of Circle B Farm and wildlife rehab requested a $2,500 donation at the regular meeting on June 27.

TCNS staff

GROVETON — The Groveton City Council will consider a request for a donation for a local wildlife rehabilitation center, but also will consider changing policy to include signed agreements.

Mayor Tommy Walton said that Shasta Bergman of Circle B Farm and wildlife rehab requested a $2,500 donation at the regular meeting on June 27.

The council told Bergman that the request will be considered in the budget process but going forward any monies the city gives out as donations will have to have an interlocal agreement signed with the city.

Walton said this is a new policy the City and County are working on implementing.

In a separate matter, Walton said the city has started stripping and painting the exterior of City Hall. The old paint was peeling off and the city decided to power wash and repaint the walls to do its part to beautify and clean up the city.

In other business, the council:

•approved paying a bill for Inframark for $10,142.83. Walton said the extra this month was due to equipment repairs at the sewer plant and changing out old water meters. He also said leaks in the lines are increasing due to the extreme dry weather;

•approved Ralph Bennett to continue as Mayor Pro Tem; and

•approved the July 4 Lions Club parade.