Trinity County News - Breakout

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Groveton ISD cosmetology students headed to state include (top row, from left) senior Hailey Bergman, sophomore Adriana Vazquez, and junior Hannah Smith; (middle row, from left) sophomore Emily McCaleb, sophomore Allisyn Cleaver and junior Tanaysha Cole; and (bottom row, from left) freshman Bailee Reed, senior Madison Nash and junior Kaylee Velasquez. Courtesy photo

Special to the News-Standard

GROVETON — The Groveton Cosmetology Department used their skills to garner an appearance at the State Competition.

The students competed at the District SkillsUSA competition in Beaumont Feb. 10-12. 

Hailey Bergman, who will graduate this year, competed in the Nail Art Hand Skill Competition, and placed second and advances to state competition. Juniors Hannah Smith and Tanaysha Cole and sophomore Adriana Vazquez each placed third in Community Service, receiving medals. 

Some students had more than one project. 

Cosmetology Instructor Victoria Robertson said she is very proud of all of her students for their the hard work and dedication, and all of the students will be competing in Corpus Christi at the skills USA state competition on March 31-April 3.

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The Republican Women of Trinity County donated several books for young readers to both of the Trinity County libraries. The books are a part of the National Federation of Republican Women Maime Eisenhower Library Project and thoughtfully chosen by Lily Guerin. Pictured are the Blanche K. Werner staff and volunteers (Joy Jackson, Sophie Evans (Director), Paula Holcomb & Lily Guerin) with RWTC’s Monet Lasater, Barbara Chamberlin & Sally Harrington. Courtesy photos

February is Library Lover’s Month. This would be a good time to come to the library and get a library card or renew your existing library card. We have 79 active library patrons. Your librarian has a goal to have 100 at the end of this year. Think of how you can support your local library. 

•America saves week is Feb. 21-25. Started by nonprofit organization America Saves and now supported by thousands of participating organizations, America Saves Week is a five-day annual celebration that encourages people and communities to commit to saving money. The theme this year is “Building Financial Resilience.” 

Each day, the event will highlight a different aspect of saving, such as making it automatic, planning for the unexpected and setting aside money for retirement. After two years of dealing with a global crisis, being conscious of your spending is more important than ever, and America Saves Week is a great opportunity to do a financial check-in with yourself.       

•Your librarian is already working on the Children’s Summer Reading Program. This year the program dates are June 1-July 29. Our theme is “Oceans of Possibilities.” We had a great time last year and this year will be better. Mark the dates and tell all children that there will be much fun at the library this summer. 

•The Republican Women of Trinity County has graciously donated children’s books to the library. These books include “One Flag, One America” (the story of the American Star) by Michelle Hirstius; “Counting on Katherine (How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13)” by Helaine Becker; “The King of Kindergarten” by Derrick Barnes; “Mae Among the Stars” by Roda Ahmed; “Give Please a Chance” by Bill O’Reilly and James Patterson; “Little House on the Prairie,” “Little House in the Big Woods,” “On the Banks of Plum Creek,” “By the Shores of Silver Lake,” “The Long Winter,” “Little Town on the Prairie,” and “These Happy Golden Years” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

The Republican Ladies also donated two of my favorite books that the youth or adults would enjoy. One book is “Sacred Duty, A Soldier’s Tour at Arlington National Cemetery” by Tom Cotton, United States Senator, and the other book is Condoleezza Rice, A Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me.” Your librarian is excited to have these new books in the library. 

•Donations for our new library fund collected between Jan. 28 and Feb. 11 are $29.64 and this brings our total to $713.01. Our Library Building Fund is growing a little every week. Please put your change in the donation jars at McClain’s Hardware, One Stop Grocery and Pizza, Pruitt’s Auto, and Susie Q’s. Thank you to these businesses for their support. 

The library offers copy services and fax services and Notary Public services to the public. We are here to help our community any way we can. 

If you are aware of any person that is homebound and cannot get to the library but would like to have books to read, please call the library. We will work on a time for delivery and pickup of books if someone shows interest. This is your library. Please let me know how I can be of service to you. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m.Story time is at 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. ESL class is at 2 p.m. Friday

The library phone number is (936) 642-2483, and the location is in the rock building just east of the courthouse.

Cathy Czajkowski is director of the Groveton Public Library.

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Special to the News-Standard

Each year, more than 4,000 high school students from across the country participate in the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. 

Students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools., who are U.S. citizens or nationals are eligible. 

Foreign exchange students, students age 20 or older; GED and adult education students, or national winners of previous Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contests are ineligible.

Students participating will be judged locally at the VFW Post 6899 Auxiliary in Trinity and awarded $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place. The winner will be forwarded to our District 19 judging for additional recognition and awards. 

The first-place winner at district will be judged at the state level with one winner moving on to compete at the national level for national awards totaling $33,000.

Submission requirements include: 

• Two-dimensional art must be on canvas or paper. Watercolor, pencil, pastel, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen, ink, oil, marker or other media taught may be used. Do not frame two-dimensional pieces. Submit canvas entries on a stretcher frame or canvas board. Other entries must be matted in white. Do not use color mats. Reinforce the back with heavy paper. Mounted and floating mats may also be used. The art should be no smaller than 8x10 inches but no larger than 18x 24 inches, not including mat. 

• Three-dimensional art can be paper, papier-mâché, pottery, clay, metal work, fabric, etc. Pieces should be no larger than 18 inches in any direction. Art cannot be more than 5 pounds in weight. Digital art, photography and jewelry are not accepted. 

A completed entry form must accompany the entries, as well as a typed explanation of the patriotism expressed in art at 250 words or less. The deadline is March 31.

• The Red, White and Blue! Music Contest open to youth in grades K-12 and a U.S. citizen or national. 

Video of contestant’s solo vocal performance of  “The Star-Spangled Banner” must be recorded between July 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Contestant may sing a cappella, with backing tracks or instruments.  Contestants may sing in the arrangement and genre of choice. Contestant may not change the words.

Entry will be judged on vocal ability, mastery of lyrics, originality or interpretation and entertainment value. The contest consists of two grade divisions: K-8 and 9-12. Each grade group will receive a first-, second- and third-place award locally.

The Department of Texas first-place winner in each grade division will be forwarded to Auxiliary National Headquarters. There is one National winner in each grade division, with awards for first, second and third place in each grade division.

•Illustrating America Art Contest is open to any students in grades K-8 who is enrolled in a public, private or parochial school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions; or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools. Student must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national. 

Entries will be judged on patriotic theme and technique. The contest consists of three grade divisions: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. Each grade group will receive a first-, second- and third-place award locally.

The Department of Texas first-place winner in each grade division will be forwarded to Auxiliary National Headquarters. There are National awards for first, second and third place in each grade division. The first, second and third place in each grade division will be displayed at National Convention.

Entry forms, eligibility requirements and contest rules are available at vfwauxiliary.org/what-we-do/youth-activities. The contest deadline is March 31.

Submit entries to VFW Auxiliary Post 6899 at 400 W Caroline St. in Trinity.

For more information contact Judy Henderson, VFW Auxiliary Scholarship Chairman at (512) 934-4336 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — There is no question that that county needs to build a jail, but there are many questions as to the path to that goal.

At the Feb. 8 Trinity County Commissioners Court meeting, hours of discussion resulted in no action either on building a temporary jail facility or hiring a contractor for consultation services.

The consultation would deal only with preliminary information, such as population measures and site recommendations.

Sheriff Woody Wallace said that the contractor firm — Brinkley, Sargent and Wiginton Architects of Waco — would be able to provide information such as water tables, utilities use and more.

County Attorney Colton Hay said that given the information is necessary, if the county did not contract with the firm, what firm would it contract with to get the necessary work done?

“We’ll lose momentum if we don’t jump at this right now,” he said. 

County Judge Doug Page said there have been questions about this being the only firm, and that other firms needed to be given the opportunity to bid, and Commissioner Mike Loftin said the court needed more than one option to consider.

However, Wallace said that was the purpose of the Jail Committee, since the committee had met with other architects already.

“We’re going to kick this can down the road and end up in a huge bind,” Wallace said.

Wallace also said that hiring the contractor was not hiring for jail construction, but only for preliminary investigation, which has to be done.

Commissioner Neal Smith said that the county will build a jail, but in a cautious manner, and the final vote will be up to the people of the county.

Wallace cautioned again that the county is facing a time limit, and it needs to stop kicking the can down the road.

In a related matter, the county also tabled building a temporary jail on county land near the Groveton Fire Department.

Page said that the more it’s talked about, more he is opposed to building such a structure.

“Why spend money for a temporary jail and then jump to building a new jail?” he asked. “We need to build a jail, but there is a process.”

In other business, the court:

• tabled a request from Apple Springs Volunteer Fire Department for funds;

• tabled a request from Pennington Water Supply for money for projects;

• tabled the purchase of a spacesaver roller unit for file storage;

• approved the sale of a pickup truck for $3,200;

• hired a part-time clerk for Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Richard Steptoe through the Texas Workforce Commission;

• approved a contract position for the District Attorney’s Office;

• approved the demolition of a county-owned building adjacent to the Groveton Fire Department; and

• discussed the county’s portion of a settlement from an opioid lawsuit, which will be more than $100,000.